Is One Backup Roster Spot Already Set?
August 11th, 2018
Catching a job?
We are a little over three weeks from finding out just who will be on the 53-man roster to open the season. But Bucs coach Dirk Koetter may have already tipped his cap on one backup that will make the squad (if healthy).
That would be tight end/fullback Alan Cross.
Depending how one slices things, Cross is either the No. 3 or No. 4 tight end. The past two seasons, Cross has bounced on and off the roster from being active to being on the practice squad to being outright released. In January he had hernia surgery.
But when Koetter was asked yesterday about Cross being on the bubble, Koetter waved off any suggestion Cross is bubblicious and seemed to indicate that, if healthy, Cross’ spot on the 53-man roster is secure.
“I’d say he’s not on the bubble,” Koetter said. “Alan Cross is a pretty good football player and does a lot of things behind the scenes that people don’t always see. He’s a guy that is in the shadows sometimes but then all of a sudden when you need him, if a guy’s hurt, he knows all the positions. I mean, he plays fullback, he plays tight end, he can play in the slot, he plays on all the special teams. Heck, he could probably coach the special teams. Just a good football player and that was just a beautiful route and throw on his touchdown.”
Joe is guessing Cross is a type of player that Koetter calls a “glue guy.”
It’s pretty cool that an undrafted free agent keeps hanging in there and doesn’t give up after being cut multiple times. Apparently, Cross has done enough to gain the trust of Koetter.
On Thursday night, Cross caught two balls for 24 yards and a touchdown.
August 11th, 2018 at 5:16 am
Hard to believe you’re not reading between the lines Joe and taking that statement by Koetter to mean that he’s not happy with his special teams coach.
Good for Cross though.
August 11th, 2018 at 6:02 am
Awesome snag by Cross of that high pass in the end zone.
This dude has done a really good job of molding his game into one which cannot be easily nor casually done away with.
He’s like an offensive swiss army knife. Doesn’t necessarily excel at anything. But he can absolutely be counted on to get the job done in a pinch about 20 different ways.
Yet another “freebee” picked up along the way by Jason Licht who has quite an eye for legit UDFA talent.
August 11th, 2018 at 6:26 am
Cross was the offense when he was at Memphis
August 11th, 2018 at 6:48 am
Dooshlarue Says
“Hard to believe you’re not reading between the lines Joe and taking that statement by Koetter to mean that he’s not happy with his special teams coach.”
Prime example of how fans can make wrong assumptions. How do we know you are wrong?
Because Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter had complete justification to replace any coach this off season, and the special teams coach is still here.
August 11th, 2018 at 6:55 am
Pickgrin, I completely agree.
Also, Cross is the same size Mike Alstott was at that age. If they actually put him to work the same way, we might see some good production. I’m not saying he’ll be anywhere close to Mike, but when we get down to the 3 yard line and are on 4th down, a hard hitting fullback could score us a TD instead of settling for a field goal.
Jason Licht has a great eye for youth.
August 11th, 2018 at 6:57 am
Not an assumption bonzai, just used to Joe reading between the lines.
August 11th, 2018 at 7:11 am
@Pickgrin … “Yet another “freebee” picked up along the way by Jason Licht who has quite an eye for legit UDFA talent.” No question that Licht has added some real UDFA keepers on the offensive side of the ball Pickgrin (Barber, Brate, Humphries, Cross, etc). But on the defensive side? Not so much. Wondering if maybe it’s because offense is so much easier to play than defense (‘See ball. Catch ball. Run with ball.” … How hard can it be?).
August 11th, 2018 at 7:13 am
Probably should’ve added that was written tongue-in-cheek huh (some JBFers like 813bucboi take everything literally).
August 11th, 2018 at 7:18 am
Whether he is a “glue guy” or not, one thing is certain. The guys hands are made of glue. Over the past few years it seems like that in those games he played, and was thrown too, he simply did not drop the ball.
August 11th, 2018 at 7:24 am
“I like to throw passes to Cross and have OJ Howard to block…
Dont let this cheesey beard fool you”
Klueless Koetter
August 11th, 2018 at 7:35 am
Will someone please explain to me the reason Ryan Smith hasn’t been released. This guy is awful!! This is his third year n he’s “lost in space”. The two rookies Davis n Stewart played aggressive and like seasoned veterans. Even on the fumble by the Dolphins Ballage, Smith wrapped his arms around air on an attempted missed tackle. This dude should be released. Dolphins picked on him all night.
August 11th, 2018 at 7:42 am
Off topic…..where are the armchair gms bashing licht for not drafting derius guice? He is done for the SEASON after 5 rushing attempts. Sure injuries can happen to anyone and it is unfortunate but bashing licht for not picking YOUR guy is utterly stupid. Armchair gms are too funny.
August 11th, 2018 at 7:53 am
dmatt – not sure why you chose this article to go so off topic – but the answer to your question as to why Ryan Smith hasn’t been “released” – is because he is an exceptional gunner on special teams firstly – and because the coaches believe he has the speed and general skillset required to ultimately become an effective NFL CB.
Smith was a 4th rd pick from a small school who only played 2 years at CB in College and has 1 year under his belt at CB in the NFL. Still lots of room to grow and improve for this guy and the coaches are going to continue to give him opportunities to develop into what they believe he can become.
Josh Robinson makes more than double what R. Smith does and has never seen the field on defense since he’s been here that I can remember – yet has continued to stick because he is an “ace” gunner.
So on that basis alone Ryan Smith isn’t going anywhere – at least for the next 2 years while he’s still on his inexpensive rookie contract.
August 11th, 2018 at 8:03 am
@ pick
You know we live in the microwave society in an era of the armchair gm where facts and the obvious no longer matter. What does matter to the masses is the narrative or alternative facts.
August 11th, 2018 at 8:03 am
I agree that Smith will stay. He has a bad game for sure but he has skills that will eventually translate to performance…..CB is one position that can take some time to master but if you don’t have the basic skills or instincts, you never will….He has them.
August 11th, 2018 at 8:16 am
JBF Throwback
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/05/sleeper-tight-end/
August 11th, 2018 at 8:22 am
Well trying to convert him to saftey did him no favors. He’s looked decent at times and bad as well but a lot of starters in this league have, Breeland comes to mind and a lot of people here wanted him. Not sure I’m sold on Maxie. I haven’t seen an improvement in guys under his watch and he never seems to stick at any place more than 2 years.
August 11th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Cross’ headfake on that route was as sweet as the catch. Lb almost fell down.
August 11th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Draft Night 2016 – Throwback
August 11th, 2018 at 9:02 am
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/04/nfl-draft-day-three-open-thread-3/
August 11th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Alan Cross is a refreshing, Old School, hardnosed, versatile football player and valuable to the Bucs. He reminds me of the versatility of Karl Williams.
August 11th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
Karl Williams?
Since he can also sub as a Long Snapper – I was thinking more along the lines of Dave Moore.
August 11th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
Dave Moore (Throwback)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBRj1IMTReg
August 11th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Kotter said a beautiful route and throw on the Cross TD but left out the twisting reaching catch which was the highlight of the play.
August 11th, 2018 at 4:44 pm
dmatt Says
“Will someone please explain to me the reason Ryan Smith hasn’t been released.”
Because stat-wise, he had the best game of all the secondary vs the Dolphins. I know, it did not seem like it, but he did.
August 11th, 2018 at 9:21 pm
‘matt Says
“Will someone please explain to me the reason Ryan Smith hasn’t been released.”
Because stat-wise, he had the best game of all the secondary vs the Dolphins. I know, it did not seem like it, but he did.’
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I don’t know whether to be frightened or amused.
We need more guys like Cross.