Experienced Orange Receiver Added
April 30th, 2018
Joe doesn’t get all hot in the pants for undrafted free agents like a lot of fans do, but there are always a few Bucs prospects every year who are at least interesting.
One this season is wide receiver Ervin Phillips. The four-year player for Syracuse is a new Buccaneer, per The Post-Standard.
Phillips has 223 career catches and, per the newspaper, is one of only two players in ACC history with two seasons of at least 85 receptions. In 2017, he hauled in 89 balls for 904 yards for four touchdowns. He also has 104 carries through his Orangemen career for 521 yards.
Syracuse hasn’t had more than four wins in any season since Phillips has been there. Bad teams. But Phillips has been steady.
He’s a slot-type guy who set the ACC record last season for catches in a game, 17 for 188 yards in a loss at N.C. State.
You can’t say he doesn’t know how to get open.
If Phillips fits the new Buccaneer mold of dogged worker, then it should be fun watching him battle guys like Bobo Wilson, Freddie Martino and fifth-round pick Justin Watson in training camp.
First stop is rookie minicamp in 11 days.
April 30th, 2018 at 2:55 pm
Bobo and Martino are way under-rated. Looks like licht looking to replace them both. Damn shame really.
April 30th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Great competition at receiver cause I like the penn receiver as well
Also. Check out the safety from northwestern Godwin iguebikue . Projected as high as round 5. He is smaller in height but other measurable as pretty nasty.
April 30th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Are^^^
April 30th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Bobo should be the 4th receiver already.
April 30th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Can’t have enough receivers & LBs……..all depends on special teams play….
One of the players that could be on the bubble instead of a receiver is Josh Robinson CB…..another is LB Cameron Lynch…
These guys are mainly ST contributors and could be replaced by an additional LB or WR.
Stevie T may be affected by Vita being drafted.
You look to versatility with your bottom tier players…..
April 30th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
The Duke RB deserves a look too. Can return kicks. And punts?
April 30th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
Great hands…not much history of returning…no real speed ….glad he is getting his shot in the NFL…wish his the best but the odd Gods are not smiling
April 30th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Injuries happen
April 30th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Joe I can’t remember, is rookie mini camp open to the public/press?
April 30th, 2018 at 3:24 pm
@TBBF … “Stevie T may be affected by Vita being drafted.” Right now Bucs have GMC, Allen, Unrein, Vita & Stevie T listed as DTs, plus Lambert listed as DL. Can’t imagine them carrying 5 DTs on the roster when season starts. Guess is that Stevie T will be saying hello to the Practice Squad, if that.
April 30th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
with all the injuries that happen during the season it surprises me that the NFL has not increased the number of players each team can carry???
Someone is going to tell me that its because the players association wants to keep the players take high. However if you told me that I could take a few snaps off, or not play when I am hurt, a little less money would be well worth it.
April 30th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Glad to see Licht not just sitting back admiring the WR group he has assembled.
Bringing in a UDFA like this and drafting Justin Watson in the 5th just goes to show that Jason is intent on keeping the WR cupboard fully stocked.
DJax was always intended as a “bridge” and the sooner we can see young potential develop into legit NFL productivity – the better.
We pretty badly need that $11M to be “available” next year.
Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see DJax traded this year sometime before the trading deadline if these young receivers behind him show themselves to be as good as we all hope they are.
Hump is already established as a solid, reliable No.3 or 4 NFL WR. Godwin flashed 1st rd talent in his rookie year – leading to the belief that he is likely able to take over the #2 spot seamlessly at any time coming into his 2nd year. Martino has developed pretty nicely for a borderline if not sub-53 type of player thus far in his career. Bobo Wilson seems to have a ton of potential for a UDFA and has displayed legit NFL type talent more than once already in live game situations his rookie year.
Now we’ve added two more solid hopefuls to ascend the depth chart in 5th rd pick Watson and UDFA Ervin Phillips.
Way to keep filling that funnel with good prospects Jason! Planning for the future always begins with NOW.
April 30th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Iguebike was a good pickup I agree. Likely he makes the team if he can figure out where to be. A lot more upside than Tandy. (Or Conte, I mean, good lord a HS kid might be better than those clowns)
April 30th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Still only 1 DE (more like a 3-4 OLB Spence), drafted in 5 years, playing with fire, other than no sack Ghoston, our DEs are 29, we need some young talent to groom or we will be right back where we started
April 30th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Silliest comment of the day….Bobo should be our #4 reciever already
Seriously are most Seminole fans just dumb?
April 30th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Adam hump needs upgrading! I’m not saying draft to replace him but if a udfa can come in and push for playing time that’s a bonus. I think Bobo and Martino are those complacent dudes. With talent but are just happy to be in the NFL there is legitimate competition for everyone hanging in the balance this year. Go hard or go home
April 30th, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Really don’t think Bucs want to run off Humphries. He was one yard shy of leading the Bucs in YAC. He did lead all receivers in YAC.
April 30th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
These WR’s are going to have a very tough time making the team this year – you already got your top 4 set in stone, then the last two spots are most likely Bobo and the Penn kid. However next season the Bucs will almost certainly lose DJax and Hump, so if you’re playing the long game and you’re willing to sit on a practice squad for a year you might have a chance. Also there is always the possibility that Bobo talks himself to the unemployment line, which would be a shame since I think he’s shown enough talent to step in for Hump when he’s gone.
April 30th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
“Really don’t think Bucs want to run off Humphries. He was one yard shy of leading the Bucs in YAC. He did lead all receivers in YAC.”
I wouldn’t run off Humphries this year, but I doubt he’s around after this year since he’ll get money from someone. As for YAC, when every other pass you catch is on 3rd and long and you’re at the LOS and can run forward 8 yards before a defender is even near you, it’s not hard to be a YAC leader. Hump is a great 4th WR, but those wanting him as #3 are nuts, since while he might be an OK #3 that means he’s one injury away from being the #2, which we’ve already seen- and that was a total and complete disaster.
One note however, in Dirk’s offense Humphries can’t be a top guy, not in a deep ball offense. But should he go to a Patriots style of offense, where you need quick shifty guys that rely on those attributes more than speed and size, he can be successful.
April 30th, 2018 at 4:45 pm
Here is Bucs 4th rd pick S Jordan Whitehead/Pitt breaking up a pass to Bucs UDFA WR Erv Phillips/Syracuse at the 2:05 minute mark. Coincidental roommates? It’s a small world. Lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j4R1fxeGnU
April 30th, 2018 at 4:54 pm
Lmao FSU homers
“Bobo should be starting he should be the 4 th receiver already”.
I’ve never seen more propels with a distorted sense of reality more than FSU fans.
Bobo isn’t worth sh it. He’s lucky he’s even on the team!!
But all you homers once again think every FSU player is a sure fire HOF
It’s pathetic really.
April 30th, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Went to high school with Erv Phillips.. he is a sleeper. Explosive, smooth, good hands and can also return punts. One of my best friends was co captains with him in high school.
Think my friend is also worth a look also worth a look 5’9” 230 lbs center no college experience but heart of a lion and great at drinking busch lights with the boys. Can easily take Jensens spot!
April 30th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
I would not be surprised at all if we traded Djax……one injury out there to another team’s 1 or 2 and he could be gone.
It would make sense to trade his salary for a G & S or CB.
Now….if we are the one with an injury, all bets are off……but Djax is a luxury a team with a lot of needs can’t afford.
April 30th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Hump is the #1 Y (slot) receiver. Evans is the X and Jackson the Z.
The battle behind them looks like a fight between a bunch of flankers. We really don’t have another Evans, although Godwin is closest to that. Wilson and the rest are low-budget Jackson wanna-bes.
So this (and perhaps Wilson) makes sense in having a different kind of more-quick-than-fast Y-slot backup.
April 30th, 2018 at 7:04 pm
Joe tito,a 230 pound center?He may want to come join me for a few shots of Jack Daniels before you get him killed!I would hate to see what you would do to your enemy!you did say the 230 pound center is your “Friend”right??are you sure he is your friend?it just seems to me you are trying to get him killed!🤔🤔🤔
April 30th, 2018 at 7:12 pm
JOE TITO,I really need to know if that 230 pound center is really your friend!I’m confused and extremely concerned for his safety!
April 30th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
JOE TITO,you sure your last name isn’t Hernandez???
April 30th, 2018 at 9:20 pm
I will never understand the way people like Bobo and his ONE RECEPTION in the three games he played.
At least Freddie has some production under his belt (13 times what Bobo has).
Does the new guy return kicks? What’s his 40 like?
May 1st, 2018 at 12:28 am
Godwin is a deep threat who could easily replace Jackson next year if we need Jackson’s salary. Our new 5th round receiver is not quite that fast but he is a 4.4 40 receiver with great hands and lots of production and he will make the team as a backup to Evans if he gets hurt this year. Bobo is no competition for him.
May 1st, 2018 at 6:36 am
I can see them trying to upgrade the number 4 and 5 receivers on this team. Martino and Bobo are serviceable but nothing to fear. Humpries will have his role reduced some due to RoJo and I really think they will be more creative with Desean this year, using him on shallow crosses and slants, to let him run with the ball. OJ should also have a bigger pass catching role. Watson looks legit, if he’s as crafty finding holes in zones, bye hump. And I like him, but not nearly as tall or fast as Watson but he knows the playbook at least. One year left for him tops. Plus Desean will prob be gone next year.
May 1st, 2018 at 9:37 am
Jarvis Landry, Alvin Kamara, Jalen Richard, and Pharoah Cooper didn’t have a blazing fast 40 times and are pretty damn good returning kicks and punts.. Vision and elusiveness > 40 time
Also a 40 time is something drilled and practiced numerous times leading up to the draft to shave a tenth of a percent off because people go crazy if you can run a sub 4.5. Newsflash running a 40 time is not how you are going to run when trying to chase down the opposition (regarding the slow defensive backfield)..
Lastly.. I’m sure Grimes can’t run the same speed as when he came out of college and he seemed to do okay in both 2016 and 17
May 1st, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Bird Says:
April 30th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Great competition at receiver cause I like the penn receiver as well
Also. Check out the safety from northwestern Godwin iguebikue . Projected as high as round 5. He is smaller in height but other measurable as pretty nasty.—————————————————
Godwin Igwebuike (gotta make sure I learn his name)… was not just good with the measurables… he was a top notch tackler at NWU. Made 2nd team all conference twice, was among the nation’s leaders in tackles for the past four years (possibly first among DBs). He’s short, but he’s explosive and can and will tackle. Watching his tape reminded me of another Buc, Jordan Whitehead. Good tacklers, not big, but both play fast, and are always around the ball Godwin I. has a good shot at sticking if he shows he can be good on special teams.
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Philllip-
As far as 40 times… you have a better standard to measure speed? True, a 4.45 and 4.50 might be absolutely no difference on the field… but when Randy Moss blazed a 4.33 and Chris Johnson ran 4.24 (or was it 4.28?), we knew these guys could really run. Dwight Freeney (4.38), Jevon Kearse (4.47 at 265 lbs), if a guy runs really fast in shorts, there’s a good chance he’ll be able to run fast in pads… and conversely, if a guy runs slow in shorts, there’s a good chance he’ll run slow in pads There are always players that don’t play up to or play well past their timed speed, they are usually the exceptions.
The 40 yard standard was first used by the Dallas Cowboys as their tool to measure how long it would take for a player to get down the field on special teams. At that time, there was no greater distance to run as kickoffs didn’t go all that far and neither did punts. Either way, the Cowboys were innovators and gold standard in scouting for many years (70’s) in large part to their contributions in tools to measure physical standards. That being stated, there are often anomalies in times when comparing hand-timed to electronic-timed which is one big reason that players often run much faster at their Pro Days than at the Combine. Igwebuike ran a 4.44 at the Combine so it is safe to say that he isn’t slow.
May 1st, 2018 at 1:04 pm
I’m not saying it isn’t a tool or a useful one.. But I also don’t think a KR/PR first stat should be worried about a 40 time and whether he ran under a 4.6 same goes for DB’s.
DB’s rely on reading a play, positioning, and angle more than their make up speed when they are in coverage and chasing down a potential ball carrier.
KR/PR can have all the speed in the world but if they have poor vision or elusiveness they are likely to be average at best returners. (Alvin Kamara ran a 4.5 or 6 and I didn’t see him being caught from behind very often just an example)
I would consult the tape then look at numbers and see if they fit. They might be more an athlete than a NFL player sadly or might just be a freak athlete that can be dominant in the NFL
May 1st, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Tavon Austin would be an example of what you’re talking about
May 1st, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Speaking about YaC, can someone tell Mike Evans he doesn’t need to fall down to catch the ball? He’s big. He might even actually break a tackle and
Score once in a while!
May 1st, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Have heard this about Evans before. Not that it is false, but man, talk about nitpicking. Dude is a baller.