“Let’s See Some Explosion Out Of You”
August 30th, 2017
Under orders
The training camp roller coaster of rookie running back Jeremy McNichols was on full display last night on Hard Knocks.
General manager Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter were shown looking uneasy about McNichols in Licht’s office as they lamented his up and down play.
Licht said he was down on McNichols looking like he was playing at one speed, but Licht called McNichols “smooth” and Koetter agreed.
Running backs coach Tim Spencer shared a D- grade for McNichols (game not specified) while special teams coach Nate Kaczor served up a C+, as Hard Knocks showed McNichols making a great special teams tackle.
During a practice field scene, Koetter is heard barking at McNichols, “Let’s see some explosion out of you!”
Perhaps the most touch and telling moment with McNichols came as he received counsel from running back Peyton Barber, who was telling McNichols that he went through all this negativity as a rookie in 2017.
There is a serious learning NFL learning curve for most fifth-round picks. None of this was surprising.
McNichols may be struggling, but at least Bucs fans aren’t hearing he’s slacking or failing to shine in all areas. Joe is confident 21-year-old McNichols will have a job next week.
August 30th, 2017 at 12:19 am
I’ve had been hard on this guy recently but I have to say I feel sorry for him how hard knocks made him out to be. Bad part about hard knocks???
August 30th, 2017 at 12:22 am
He will be fine…as a Buc or on another team..just some good old fashion coaching in the NFL and he will be good..
August 30th, 2017 at 12:27 am
Rather keep him than hansboroug.
August 30th, 2017 at 12:29 am
I hope he has a good game Thursday. This awful of display of his talents being broadcast should be enough to explode
August 30th, 2017 at 12:44 am
Not good would the head honchos are saying you have one speed
August 30th, 2017 at 12:51 am
Its hard for McNichols to shine. When you screw up, they yank you.
I guarantee they wanted McNichols to play a bunch against Cleveland!
But he totally blew his blocking assignment- and gave a defender a clean shot on Fitzgerald!!
Getting your QB blown up gets you the hook immediately!
Loved getting to know Cameron Lynch and Chris Godwin better.
Not so much Bobo Wilson. First Buc player That came across as unpleasant.
Really like our coaching staff, too. Despite being Hardasses- you can tell they are really trying to help these young men become Pros!
Sure would love to be in the “McCoy Theatre”.
He is such a fun guy!!
August 30th, 2017 at 1:00 am
Is it just me or does McNichols resemble Sinbad the actor/comedian popular in the 1990’s?
August 30th, 2017 at 3:09 am
Damn ray jay he kinda does. Sinbad’s ripped little brother.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:49 am
we now have a solid nickname for this guy thanks to rayjay….
Good call buddy. As soon as I read that I was like OMG your right…
Sinbad it is…LOL
August 30th, 2017 at 4:31 am
Humm… I don’t see much of anything to like with McNichols so far, but he is a rookie – but he also seems very slow to pick things up, and being a slow learner is not a good label to have. If he was a slow learner but was making plays that would be easier to handle, but he’s not doing that either. Also the fact they were talking about him having one speed all the time, that wasn’t a compliment, that was a Michael Pittman run into the back of your offensive lineman on every play comment. I’m sure McNichols will have a job next week – just not sure it will be with the Bucs. With Martin not taking up a roster spot I guess they keep him around for a few more weeks, but hopefully he starts figuring it out because right now he can’t play without Winston killed, so he’s not going to be activated.
Anywho I’d just like to once again laugh at the people that said McNichols was going to beat out Martin for a job and could, as a 5th round rookie, come in day one and replace the only 1st team All-Pro runningback in team history. LOL! I hope McNichols figures it out and we didn’t waste a draft pick, but he was a 5th round pick for a reason, and I think we’re seeing why. The best thing that might happen on Thursday would be for him to get turf toe or something, give the team a reason to put him on IR, that might be the only way he’s here in week 4. Certainly they’d sign him to the practice squad but someone might pick him up.
August 30th, 2017 at 5:26 am
GO GET MATT FORTE !!! He is up for trade…!!!
August 30th, 2017 at 7:21 am
Agree with Rod that McNichols will probably make the team … but only until Martin returns. Any NFL RB who can’t pass-block & protect his QB won’t be around long. Imagine what’d happen when the ‘real’ season starts and the creative blitzes & stunting gets thrown at him. Get Jameis injured because he didn’t know who to take out & somehow I suspect he wouldn’t be a fan favorite.
August 30th, 2017 at 10:06 am
A couple of thoughts. Boise State is not Alabama or FSU! It’s not like McWeapon has seen this kind of competition. Sometimes it takes the smaller school guys a little longer to figure it out.
But how about this stat. Would we like to have Jay Ajayi?
His rookie year Ajayi only played in nine games had 5.4 rushes average in those nine games. He totaled 187 yards for a 3.8 yard per carry average. Can you imagine the caterwauling on this site if McWeapon puts up 187 yards this year…oh he’s a bust!!! Stooopid Licht…wasted a 5th round pick. LMAO
OH btw last year Ajayi played in 15 games averaging a workman like 17.3 carries per game and totaling 1272 with an average of 4.9 yards per carry.
If McWeapon develops like Ajayi we’ll be fine.
Chris Godwin has been the most impressive rookie so far with OJ a close second. We all know OJ is the real deal and many here suspected Godwin was a steal…but Godwin seems to have left PSU NFL ready! He’s a mature dude. Hooking up with the coaches daughter probably hasn’t hurt either. He’s been able to get some excellent coaching throughout his career.
August 30th, 2017 at 10:43 am
Doug Martin plays at one speed. You never see him setting up blocks. He just hits the hole as hard as he can. I think McNichols makes the team. He can contribute on special teams until he gets it. He has the physical tools. He wouldn’t last on the PS. Some team would take him that needs a 3rd or 4th back. The Bucs don’t want to get in a position like last year where they had to bring in Antoine Smith because they were running out of RB’s.
August 30th, 2017 at 11:11 am
@Batman Wood good point. He’s serviceable and can play special teams. He’s a keeper.
August 30th, 2017 at 11:55 am
It takes time and the roster doesn’t call for late round player to contribute beyond STs.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:40 pm
He’s another “luxury” pick by the Bucs this year. There’s no need to rush this kid, he’s not ready. Quizz, Sims, and possibly Barber AND McNichols will fill the need until Martin returns.
Is there anyone still questioning who the best running back on this roster is?!
August 30th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
late round rookie at a spot where the team has 4 veterans who they (by all reports) like and have more confidence in = Joe is confident he will make the team
a guy who has looked like his best self, which has previously resulted in rookie of the year honors and being the leagues #2 rusher = “10% chance of making the team”
There’s also the constant refrain about going for it right now. How is the same site that is touting a big trade for a 29 year old workhorse RB also pushing the angle that the 5th best RB should make the roster on potential rather than ability? Joe’s contradictions are glaring sometimes
August 30th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
Batman – incorrect on Martin only paying one speed – he all the time would hesitate and then burst forward – like all the time. One speed player – the poster boy for that is Michael Pittman he ran every play the same way – there was rarely any hesitation – he hit every hole the same – which is not a good thing. Martin and Pittman are not even remotely the same type of players. As for McNichols I think one speed this year would be OK if it was at full speed – but right now his one speed seems to be at half speed. The kid obviously has talent and his workout numbers look good – it he slid for a reason and we now know why. But being slow doesn’t mean he’s a waste of a pick – it just means his rookie year will be a waste most likely. He’s a hard guy to do anything with because he can’t play in games because he’ll get Jameis killed but if you cut him someone will pick him up as a project player. Best thing that could happen is an injury tomorrow night – like turf toe – something minor that gives them the chance to put the IR label on him for a year.
August 30th, 2017 at 5:46 pm
St Pete and Rod. Good points. My question is why is McNichols the whipping boy this year and Justin Evans is going to be fine by year 3. I know two different positions but Evans was pick 50 McNichols pick 162. Maybe we are beating on the wrong guy here.
August 30th, 2017 at 10:22 pm
Safety and TE are the two hardest positions for rookies to learn in the NFL, rookie TEs and safeties are rarely big time players. Runningbacks meanwhile can come in and play right away, even if they don’t have down the pass blocking they can still come in on obvious running downs or they can run routes and not be used as a blocker – so RBs are expected to produce. The issue is there was way too much put on the kid, people (like Joe for example) were already claiming he was the next Doug Martin and did everything Martin could do but better – which is ridiculous for a 5th rounder to say he’s immediately better than the best running back in team history. Anywho McNic hasn’t shown anything yet, he’s not making plays running or passing and he’s been slow to pickup things. Again he’s a 5th rounder, if he had all the tools AND the mental side was there he’d have gone higher, there’s a reason he fell.
For Evans it hasn’t been encouraging but again you just don’t expect much of anything from rookie safeties as they rarely play early. That’s one big positive about OJ – rookie TEs rarely do much and OJ already seems to know what he’s doing and he looks smooth out there. Evans I wouldn’t panic on at this point – although with that said on draft day he wasn’t a popular pick, a safety that can’t tackle is a tough sell to a Tampa market who got spoiled with a decade of John Lynch.
August 31st, 2017 at 12:02 am
I think McNichols could be a roster cut