Distorted Views Of Jeremy McNichols
September 2nd, 2017
Joe’s starting to feel for Jeremy McNichols.
The 17th running back taken in this year’s draft has very much been a typical rookie RB taken in the fifth round. He’s a little tentative with his playbook and his running, but he has secured the football and flashed on special teams.
McNichols also has “rare” hands, as general manager Jason Licht said on draft day, but those weren’t put to the test in preseason.
It isn’t always an immediate click for running backs. Look at the 2014 Falcons. Their offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter, had rookie fourth-round pick Devonta Freeman on his roster, yet Koetter gave triple the carries to worn out 31-year-old running back Steven Jackson.
Does that mean Koetter and then Falcons head coach Mike Smith were morons keeping the electric Freeman, who made the last two Pro Bowls, on the bench? Or did he just need more time?
Joe’s not equating Freeman and McNichols, but those ready to bury McNichols need to chill out.
McNichols’ biggest problem is Hard Knocks, which put his struggles on display for fans eager to pick winners and losers. Joe is not taking a shot at fans and their passion for the Bucs. Absolutely not. But McNichols is getting the worst of it.
How would McNichols be evaluated by fans and media without the selective editing of Hard Knocks?
All that largely would be known of McNichols is that he screwed up a blocking assignment, hasn’t fumbled and he’s behind Peyton Barber on the depth chart. And some might have been encouraged by his early-fourth-quarter, 11-yard run against the Bengals in preseason.
Of course, McNichols could get cut this morning, but that would surprise Joe. McNichols simply hasn’t been as bad as he’s been painted publicly. And it will help him that he comes from Boise State, where Koetter still has a lot of trusted colleagues who referred him.
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:35 am
Great points!
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:39 am
My only knock on him is he seems to hit the hole slow and haven’t seen one burst of speed. Barber looked like the second coming of Barry Sanders compared to him. Having said that, his numbers don’t lie from college and I think he has a lot of upside. He may be our Ernest Graham, stuck in special teams until someone goes down….
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:40 am
and we have to keep him to have his uncle seating close to Miko lol
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:43 am
To Joe and All Bucs Fans. In Friday’s Tampa Bay Times, 3C under colrumn titled They Said It, “As much as I like this team on the verge. I think the coaching staff is going to present a ceiling for this team. That’s just my gut feeling. “They might limit how far this team can go.” Fox Spors One’s Skip Bayless, talking about Buc’s and coach Dirk Koetter on Wednesday.
What’s up with this!
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:51 am
McNichols would be 5th behind Martin, Rodgers, Sims, and Barber. No way the Bucs keep 5 RBs. Keeping McNichols means cutting Barber loose. No way they’re doing that, and I don’t see them keeping five RBs. They might keep him through Martin’s suspension and then hope he clears waivers to join the practice squad.
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:54 am
Dean this was all covered in the comments section of a previous post
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:56 am
Talk about an “out of your A comment”….”I think the coaching staff is going to present a ceiling”, and “That’s my gut feeling”. Newsflash Skippy…I think Pigs will fly out of Rupert’s A, and that is my gut feeling”…and then one of those piggies will become a Fox Sports One TV personality named Skippy. Give us some tangible reasons…maybe a fact or two? Or are you just trying to be another Fox “personality”? Did you forget your blonde hair die?
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:56 am
He is a great pure runner, would be a huge mistake to cut him
Does jason ever interview or rate draft pics pride level before he makes a pick. He clearly does not do it for free agents.
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:57 am
*Running Back Option(s)
Trade Option(s)
• TJ Yeldon (23) – $4M | 2019 (UFA)
• Jeremy Hill (24) – $2M | 2018 (UFA)
• Isaiah Crowell (24) – $3M | 2018 (UFA)
• Cameron Artis-Payne (25) – $600K | 2018 (UFA)
• Carlos Hyde (25) – $2 | 2018 (UFA)
Free Agent Option(s)
• Tim Hightower (31)
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:58 am
BTW TDTB… I let it pass on the original thread as a comment from a know nothing pontificating A hole. But I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:00 am
No trades…no FA’s. We will hold on to him until Doug gets back…and then make up our mind. If the light doesn’t start to come in another month or so, then his spot could end up being Doug’s.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:03 am
Damn Luv Carlos Hyde only has a 2 dollar contract? That’s crazy. LOL.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:03 am
Out of Martin, Sims, Rodgers and Barber…who would you cut to keep McNichols?
The answer from a rational football person: none.
IMO, Hard Knocks did Bucs fans a favor.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:07 am
That’s an excellent point regarding Hard Knocks. It seems to me that his college highlights didn’t jump off the screen…at least to me. He had an excellent statistical career…just another reminder how big the jump is from college to the NFL. I’ll be shocked if he makes it to the 3 year mark of a an NFL career. No shame in that.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:08 am
Why do people keep posting that inane Skip Bayless remark as if Bayless has a large following or any credibility. Just let it go. I’ve surfed past Bayless a couple of times…stopped for about five minutes and realized he’s a tool. His remarks carry no weight!!! Who really freaking cares what Skip Bayless says…some cable sports junkies?
As for McWeapon…the Freeman comparison is good but McWeapon’s fellow BSU alum is even better. While we fear what Ajayi is going to do to us next Sunday remember Ajayi played very sparingly his rookie year…rushing for only 187 yards.
Last year over 1200.
It’s waaaay too soon to write off McWeapon. Like Peyton Barber though he may need a year of seasoning on the PS.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:11 am
@Blake_bucsfan
LOl, my bad – $2M
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:13 am
I would cut Rogers when Martin returns. Rogers is solid but has no upside and everything he does can be replaced by one of our other RB’s.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:13 am
Hansbrough cut, good news for McNichols.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:21 am
Houston chronical reporting Huff is cut
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:26 am
Cobraboy hit the nail on the head … McWeapon is the 5th in line. Until Martin returns he’ll (probably) be on the 53-man roster; once Martin’s activated he’ll go on the Practice Squad unless there’s a RB injury. We don’t need 5 RBs on the roster.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:37 am
No McNicols biggest problem is that the back left on the roster are simply better than him right now.
Doug
Rodgers
Sims
Barber
Are definitely better, do u take 5 with you to the regular season?
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:47 am
I think you guys can drop the “McWeapon” monicker. He is a typical 5th round pick. He will be lucky to make the team and will be used primarily on special teams if he does. Every year these posters think every pick made was vital and that all of them will be great. I you are picked up in the 5th round that means you are probably on the outer fringes of having NFL talent.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:52 am
Its a Doggy Dog world….. He’ll be alright, “he needs more rep.”
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:01 am
Agree Joe
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:09 am
McNichols cut. Should be no surprise.
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:14 am
Practice squad hopefully. Get his head right and see if McWeapon can be a real thing
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:16 am
He got cut….
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:21 am
Like I said the other 4 are just marginally better.
He just got cut
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:32 am
So did hard knocks distort the Bucs decision maker’s view? McNic was not good enough. Bucs fans saw it (in the games), the coaches saw it at practice, and hard knocks caught it all on tape. Joes are going to be so mad they kept MArtin and dumped mcNic. Lol
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:41 am
I think Koetter prefers Quizz and Barber over McNichols as pure runners and Simms over him as a pass-catcher, so “cut” it is for McNichols.
September 2nd, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Cobra boy nailed it.
He might make it to the practice squad though… it would prob be e best thing for him rather than him struggling to learn a new playbook.
September 2nd, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Surprise, surprise!
September 2nd, 2017 at 7:08 pm
I thought hans borough looked as good or better for the few touches he got.
But McNic was also supposed to be a very good blocker.Was he just lost or did the surgically repaired shoulder affect the way he was blocking?
September 3rd, 2017 at 1:39 am
it means koetter’s a jackass