The Forgotten Receiver
June 3rd, 2019
Climbing up depth chart.
Could a receiver many Bucs fans overlook be one of the team’s biggest contributors?
Of course, Mike Evans is one of the best receivers in the game and the best receiver in Bucs history. Then there is Breshad Perriman, a lightning-fast receiver the Bucs signed in free agency who should stretch the field. Fan favorite Chris Godwin will likely get more snaps this year than at any time in his short NFL career, and there is nothing to suggest he won’t be dangerous.
And of course, the flavor of the month is lightning-fast rookie Scotty Miller.
It seems second-year wide receiver Justin Watson is almost forgotten. Perhaps he shouldn’t be? The Penn graduate very likely is the Bucs’ No. 4 receiver behind Evans, Godwin and Perriman. Given enough of an opportunity, who knows what Watson can do?
“Yeah, everything seems like it is slowing down this year,” Watson told Joe after a recent underwear football practice. “Everything was flying like a million miles an hour for me last year. This year the game has slowed down and it is more like the football game that I have played my whole life and that I loved to play.”
Last year Watson was dinged up in underwear football. This possibly slowed his growth, though Watson was pretty good on special teams. His six tackles led the Bucs on special teams. As an NFL suit once told Joe, if you are not a starter, you better be able to play special teams or you will be a target to be cut.
Given Watson’s speed (4.42 in the 40) and size (6-3), he’s an interesting blend offering coaches a variety of options. Watson could line up outside or he could line up in the slot.
“I still think I am growing as a receiver,” Watson said. “More so as there are higher expectations [from] a year-two guy. The rookie mistakes should be out of my system by now.”
Watson said he is having a lot of fun with Bucco Bruce Arians’ offense. Not so much because he has a good chance to remain on the roster for the 2019 season, but he seemed to indicate Arians’ offense is built for receivers to rack up explosive plays.
“The one thing that I love is that we are always attacking,” Watson said. “It is all about playing smart but playing really fast. It is something that we love as receivers.
“[Arians] allows us to go out there and make plays and we will correct [mistakes] in the film room. He loves to see us playing fast and making plays out here.”
Watson is good depth because he is versatile. And with malcontent DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries on new teams, Watson has a shot for more snaps on offense.
June 3rd, 2019 at 12:17 am
Adam Humphries was malcontent?
June 3rd, 2019 at 12:18 am
Watson impressed me alot last year in his limited time. He seems like the perfect insurance policy if (god forbid) Evans got hurt. Dude is long, and can really move.
June 3rd, 2019 at 12:30 am
I would not be shocked if Watson passed Perriman on the depth chart. Looks like the Bucs have a lot of depth at WR even with the last of Djax and Hump. I think Scotty Miller and undrafted rookie Damarkus Lodge could also make this team… Daddy likey!
June 3rd, 2019 at 12:35 am
🤦🏼♂️ smh
June 3rd, 2019 at 1:08 am
@joe
Hes right. You should add an adjective before Humphries. Like the “the tough and reliable” Humphries.
By the way- you guys see how many concussions Hump played through? He took some shots in his career. And kept getting up.
Adam Humphries is one of the baddest gringos in America today.
Go Bucs!
June 3rd, 2019 at 2:22 am
If CG12 is gonna be filling the Larry Fitz role in offense then I’d hope Watson gets on the field a lot as the outside receiver opposite Mike in 3 receiver sets.
June 3rd, 2019 at 2:48 am
Letting go of Adam Humphries was a BIG and foolish mistake-
Solid player on every level- offense will not be near the same without him.
Consistently dependable. This will be our downfall. Watch and see.
June 3rd, 2019 at 2:49 am
Arians is arrogant and Licht is a fool
June 3rd, 2019 at 3:12 am
Clean House, thank god we have you! What only should we do without your great posts helping us to build optimism for the upcoming season? It is such a pleasure to read your sophisticated, well verbalized and unbiased opinions.
The only thing I’d like to ask from you is: Why don’t you just leave and root for a team you don’t hate?
June 3rd, 2019 at 3:24 am
I’m looking forward to seeing who the Vets are that are coming to try-out this week. Honestly don’t think this roster will start taking shape until Aug but wtfdik
Hump has already been replaced by several people, it’s really ridiculous the low standards some of you have. As for Watson, the jury is still out, not enough reps. Judging Watson would be like judging RoJo at this point but again wtfdik
June 3rd, 2019 at 4:28 am
Uhhhh…..the plural of malcontent would have covered both DJax and Hump…but it was singular. Two adjectives not required. He’s just Hump.
On to football, Watson should have a better chance to show his stuff year. But hopefully we don’t see him TOO much for that means the unthinkable has happened.
June 3rd, 2019 at 4:51 am
I’ve always liked Watson. Thought he was a great pick last year and think he’s likely to beat out Perriman
June 3rd, 2019 at 5:42 am
@Clean House … “Letting go of Adam Humphries was a BIG and foolish mistake”. It doesn’t really matter if the Bucs wanted to keep Humphries or not. Our salary Cap situation prevented us from paying the man what Tennessee was willing to pay him.
It’s really quite simple in today’s NFL … you can’t keep everyone. The optimal strategy for being a successful team, from a personnel standpoint, seems to be to draft intelligently, develop your young players well, and retain only the best performers & leaders within the various position groups.
Adam Humphries was a solid performer (and tough as nails) for the Bucs, but his departure for a more lucrative contract simply opens up opportunities for other young receivers like Godwin, Watson, Miller & possibly others. Someone will grab the opportunity and run with it.
June 3rd, 2019 at 6:07 am
Xavier Ubosi!
June 3rd, 2019 at 6:34 am
Even with the loss of Humphries and Desean Jackson, I don’t feel we miss a beat and we may be actually better off this year.
June 3rd, 2019 at 7:07 am
Don’t sleep on Perriman….I suspect he will match or exceed Djax’s production…..not a slight on Watson.
I love our receiver corps and it is made even stronger by having two pass-catching TEs.
Our receivers will be even better because they will be tested by a much more aggressive and faster group of DBs in practice.
June 3rd, 2019 at 7:21 am
Watson is a big physical dude that plays special teams
I’m guessing he can block better then most receivers
He will get on field.
June 3rd, 2019 at 8:04 am
I like Watson’s combination of size and speed…he’s also a very fluid athlete and a high effort guy…
L have to give Licht a some credit, (with the exception being that Kenny guy we took out of Nebraska a few years back) he really does have a good eye for WR’s..
June 3rd, 2019 at 8:58 am
With Perriman’s history of not completing full seasons due to injuries, Watson may get a chance to display what he can do.
June 3rd, 2019 at 11:37 am
SteelStudBuc Says
“Adam Humphries was malcontent?”
That’s not what he said.
June 3rd, 2019 at 11:39 am
Tampabaybucfan Says
“Don’t sleep on Perriman”
I think he could have matched Jackson (not hard) if the young guys were not doing so well, but with Miller seemingly doing very well, Godwin starting and Watson possibly emerging, Perriman may not have the opportunities to rack up yards.
June 3rd, 2019 at 11:41 am
Clean House Says
“Letting go of Adam Humphries was a BIG and foolish mistake-
Solid player on every level- offense will not be near the same without him.
Consistently dependable.”
It wasn’t a mistake, it was unfortunate. I hated losing him (one of my favs) but I understood it had to happen because of the cap.
Which is going to make next year very, very hard.
June 3rd, 2019 at 3:11 pm
DeSean Jackson was a brat and from what the Joe’s sometimes allude to, much worse. Adam Humphries was solid all around, but not someone a team with receiver depth pays 9 million a year to. (Slightly above average players getting paid big money in free agency is still mind boggling to me).
Watson has all the measurables but there are plenty of 6’3 fast dudes that can’t play a lick of football. I wish em luck and may the cream rise to the top…
June 3rd, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Shhhhhhhh! Shut your yap Joe. Delete this post. Bucs want Watson under the radar dood!
June 3rd, 2019 at 3:58 pm
I’ll be going to the first practice of mini camp tomorrow can’t wait to see them play and I hope I can record on my phone !
June 3rd, 2019 at 11:52 pm
Perriman’s history suggests that he will miss games or at least snaps this year. Our #4 is almost certainly going to be a #3 for stretches this year at a minimum.