Get On The Field!
August 26th, 2018
How injuries hurt bubble guys.
The NFL can be a cold business. And that will be evident in six days when the Bucs, and teams throughout the NFL, cut their rosters to the mandated 53 players by Sept. 1 at 4 p.m.
Yesterday, during Bucs coach Dirk Koetter’s day-after-game press conference, he was asked about bubble players. In so many words, Koetter said bubble guys who are nursing injuries have little choice but to try to suck it up and get on the practice fields.
Bubble players who can’t get on the practice field are all but setting themselves up, Koetter said. He wasn’t trying to be mean or degrading, just acknowledging the NFL calendar stops for no one.
“This is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind league,” Koetter said. “It’s one thing if you’re a proven player and you’ve got time on tape, but when you’re not a proven player, those guys were all competing and doing a good job. There’s nothing wrong – you can’t be mad at anybody for getting hurt. That’s not their fault that they got hurt. They’ve got to recover. But we are on a timeline here. There’s just no way around that.”
This is especially true on the offensive line, which has a lot of injuries overall and a couple of bubble players in shorts due to injuries. It is unlikely the Bucs will save a space a roster spot for a young offensive lineman who spent much of training camp in shorts watching practices.
As Koetter hinted, it is hard to put out tape that justifies being kept if you can’t practice or showcase yourself in a game.
August 26th, 2018 at 10:28 am
That’s right… unless your name is J.R. Sweezy
August 26th, 2018 at 10:44 am
And I quote- “It’s one thing if you’re a proven player and you’ve got time on tape,” there was plenty of tape on Sweezy, just bad evaluations of his progress, whether by Koetter, or by the training staff, or both…not the same as the subject of this article. Player evaluation is performed by humans, about humans, and will always be imperfect. Even those acknowledged to be great at player evaluation will have spectacular failures. All anyone can do is give it their best shot.
August 26th, 2018 at 10:55 am
But Vea was a first round pick 😂😂😂
August 26th, 2018 at 11:26 am
Helluva ‘calf strain’. I had one once, and it def kept me out 10 days or so. But a month??? Gimme a break.
August 26th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Been attributed to several coaches…so don’t know who to credit…perhaps Father Dungy.
“The most important ability is availability.”
I think JW is going to have a big year…but he’s going to suckk the first three games for sure. No doubt! But we know what we have in JW…a franchise QB which is why he gets a pass…but guys fighting to make the team…what horrible luck to get injured during TC. It’s like going for your SAT with a raging migraine headache that impairs your thinking ability.
August 26th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
First Joe ever heard of that was Bill Parcells.
August 26th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
All calf strains are not the same. Pretty sure you didn’t have to take on double teams from two 300+ lb men as well. Why would we rush him back and have him tear his calf and be done for the season? He’ll be a part of our rotation this year, calm down
August 26th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Sorry Radsy
But Vea can’t make it through one padded practice with little to no contact and he gets such a severe calf strain that he hasn’t touched the field since?? Doesn’t sound like he can take on much of anything..
The dead silence from OBP doesn’t smell right here….
August 26th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Radsy- I almost wrote the same thing but figured if people want to say something so stupid, let em. Think to yourself why would Vita want to sit out a moment longer than he has to?
I think it time for a JBF confidence poll of Koetter beard.
August 26th, 2018 at 12:51 pm
Jmark:
When Vea was first hurt, Joe tried to talk to him. He just smiled, shook his head “no” and put a finger to his lips as if to say, “Ssshhh.”
Joe’s not knocking the guy at all. He just doesn’t talk. That’s cool with Joe. Just adds to the silence you are referring to.
August 26th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Jmark, no doubt it’s shiitty situation and not a good look. The man looked like he put in a lot of work on his strength and physique in the offseason though. He likely overdid it and created an imbalance that gave way when push cane to shove. He was a durable player in college and I’m sure he’s more frustrated than you or I. They’re just wary of creating a lost rookie season for him. He’ll be fine
August 26th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Any update on Segrio Bailey’s injury?
August 26th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Bailey on IR he had surgery on his ankle yesterday. Maybe next year.
August 26th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Watson number five receiver and Martino PS.
August 26th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
You guys need to look up calf strains.
There are 3 types and grade 2 is the most common and takes 4-6 weeks.
If it is a grade 3 it takes 3 months.
@Kalind Just because you had a grade #1 strain getting off of the couch, doesn’t mean a 347lb man colliding with another 325lb man full force caused the same injury.
We should be glad they think it’s only grade 2 and so far, he is right on track with the timeline.
I fully believe it was unfortunate and he will be back putting smiles on our faces soon enough.
August 26th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
That cutdown come Friday is gonna be straight up Brutal. I’m 100% positive some of our receiver/tight end cuts will be picked up though. I guess you got a lotta guys who already see the handwriting on the wall. Guess they gotta go out and play like Lawrence Taylor’s… Crazed Dogs on Thurday. Good Luck!!
August 26th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
VV had a partial tear of his Achilles no calf strain. GM trying to keep it quite to avoid catching flack for yet another crappy draft. Ronald Jones won’t see the field until a game becomes a blowout. Pretty sad.
August 26th, 2018 at 6:51 pm
Achilles? Says who?
If Vea sits a year they should be fine with their depth now.
August 26th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Don’t make up an Achilles injury Godeep66. That’s just being a ass.
But it doesn’t look good for Vea no matter how you slice it. But the silver lining is we haven’t seen him yet and when he does maybe he’ll turn some heads. The other good news is that Licht reworked Vitas position so we are deep there and don’t need Vea to start right away.
Still unsettling hearing no news all preseason though.
August 27th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Godeep66 Says:
August 26th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
VV had a partial tear of his Achilles no calf strain. GM trying to keep it quite to avoid catching flack for yet another crappy draft
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A partial tear of the Achilles has the same prognosis of a full tear. Surgery and out 6-9 months. If he had partially torn it the team would’ve had him have surgery ASAP and he would be pushing himself around on a stability cart, not in a walking boot.