“He Just Looked Effortless”
May 31st, 2020
Buccaneers seventh-round pick running back Raymond Calais was labeled “a very smaller version but much faster version of David Johnson” by Bucco Bruce Arians.
He also picked up a Hall of Famer’s appreciation before the draft.
Back at the NFL Scouting Combine, Terrell Davis was talking up Calais on NFL Network, saying he had a “hey-look-at-me” Combine.
“You talk about being smooth,” Davis said of Calais.
“He just looked effortless. Watch him in his game film; you see how he can cut the field up.”
Davis went on to say the smoothness and explosiveness Calais showed in Combine drills “translates to the tape” from his days at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
At 5-8, 188 pounds with returner skills, Calais is a dream player for optimists from Lakeland to Largo. Maybe, finally, the Bucs have found a gem of a dangerous and versatile speedster weapon at running back late in the draft.
Hey, it’s the 31st of May; Joe can dream.
“I wouldn’t say he’s Tarik Cohen but he’s kind of that style guy, that, you know, joystick type guy. He can go out and play wide receiver and would be a mismatch,” Arians said of Calais.
May 31st, 2020 at 6:45 am
Not much of an investment (7th round)…..hopefully, at least he will become our KR…..maybe PR…..and occasional RB……perhaps we can be creative with his play calls.
May 31st, 2020 at 6:57 am
Agree Joe! I love this pick!
May 31st, 2020 at 7:03 am
Calais ran a 4.42 (40 time) at the combine, making him the third fastest running back behind Wisconsin’s Johathan Taylor (4.41). He won the 100-meter dash state championships in High school making him a track star.
Although he is on the smaller size (5’9″, 188) he is strong for his size (posted 20 reps on the bench press). Calais will probably be better suited to make the team as a kick returner but he does have large hands (9.25) for his height, perhaps making him a good 3rd down pass catcher. As a kick returner in college, Calais returned 99 kicks for 2,493 yards averaging 25.2 yards per return and scored 2 returns for touchdowns, making him the All-Sun Belt First Team honors.
I am guessing he will compete with T.J Logan as the last spot for RB on the roster. Should be interesting.
May 31st, 2020 at 7:19 am
I was hoping the Bucs would bring in Killins JR. from UCF as an UDFA, same type of scat back, returner, good 3rd down pass catcher. I was happy with the Calais pick for the same reasons I liked Killins. I think this kid might open some eyes in camp put him down as a camp sleeper who unseats the veteran.
May 31st, 2020 at 7:30 am
What if he IS a Tarik Cohen? We won’t know until a game is played!
May 31st, 2020 at 7:38 am
His kick returning potential is exciting. That area has been a Buc weakness for a long time. Hope he makes the squad. I think he has a very good chance. Excellent pick, a sleeper, imo.
May 31st, 2020 at 7:40 am
YES, I personally believe Calais will be our ace in the hole specialty back on 3rd down duties. Use him in a 2 back formation, I.E. (I-form or pro-form) send him wide into some space as a receiver and with his quickness and elusiveness he could certainly makes some hay.. Just don’t have huge expectations that he’d be a great blocker at his weight. Matter of fact, don’t even ask him to throw chip blocks at 188lbs.
May 31st, 2020 at 7:47 am
if i remember correctly, warrick dunn wqas 5’9” 187lbs and was one hell of a running back for tampa, and played for atlanta for 6-7 years after gruden let him walk, this guy could be a steal or a hidden gem we will see, what if him and ke’shawn vaugn turn out to be thunder and lightning, this could be a magical season, as both these guys are young hungry and ready to prove their worth
May 31st, 2020 at 9:10 am
I like his vision good value for a sevenrh round pick
May 31st, 2020 at 9:25 am
If he could be 75% warrick dunn we got a steal in the 7th
May 31st, 2020 at 9:41 am
Liked this pick a lot. Even if he is just a special team we it’s still a good pick.
May 31st, 2020 at 10:06 am
For a 7th round pick, it’s about as ideal as possible. There’s a lot of different ways he can be used and hopefully he will only get better with time.
May 31st, 2020 at 10:08 am
Couple of years ago we drafted Michael Smith a RB out of Utah St in round 7. Everyone said he was fast and he would be our returner for years. He was cut, I don’t think Calais even makes the roster and will go to practice squad.
May 31st, 2020 at 10:41 am
Yes we need a guy like this. Like Davis said he’s not a Tarik Cohen type but if he makes the team my question would be can they get creative with the kid. As we all saw last year there wasn’t much creativity in the offense. Remember BL likes for things to happen “organically” instead of scheming guys open. Which to me has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard from a play caller.
May 31st, 2020 at 10:51 am
Alabama,
9.25” hands seem pretty big for a 5’-8” guy.
A lot of 6’-2”+QBs are lucky to have 10” hand spread.
May 31st, 2020 at 10:52 am
^^^^
Sorry, misread your post.
May 31st, 2020 at 10:53 am
Cam Brate and Adam Humphries were both UDFA’s. Our GOAT QB was a sixth round pick. 7th round is obviously a gamble but it can pay off big time.
Not hard to imagine how a tiny guy, playing at a tiny school, against sub standard competition could fall through the cracks.
When you consider Calais out of the backfield…along with Tyler Johnson…this offense is loaded and is getting depth.
May 31st, 2020 at 11:16 am
Dewey…pretty negative…isn’t that?
Who knows what this guy can do? But if he has the heart for it, in addition to the talent, he could be a nice contributor. We can only wait and see.
Seems to me we have gotten our draft house in order the last couple years…so glad to see it.
May 31st, 2020 at 11:21 am
This guy can be a real weapon , has allot of Warrick Dunn in him .
The other thing he has than very few players his size have is Great top end speed , his top end speed is very good !!
May 31st, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Wouldn’t it be great to finally have a return guy that can change field position and possibly score a touchdown! Jackson was supposed to be that guy a few years ago but he was too busy pi$$ing on his team mates to run kicks back. If you really want to be a super bowl team, you have to be good in all 3 phases of the game. And we all know that 3rd phase has been a joke for sometime now. Get a return guy and a kicker that can make almost everything and you take another big step for a good playoff run.
May 31st, 2020 at 12:36 pm
Agree / 7th round pick
If he turns out to be just a solid return guy…that is a win
May 31st, 2020 at 12:36 pm
A 7th round pick sticking around even as a practice squad the 1st season isn’t too bad or negative.
The Bucs later round picks were all about adding speed and athleticism to create a standard and competition.
May 31st, 2020 at 12:44 pm
The only ones I care about their 40-time are huge dudes like Vea or Wirfs to proove athleticism. Really don’t care and doesn’t matter about WR,, RB,DB that can run a. great 40 time.
May 31st, 2020 at 1:43 pm
I cracked up when the Sage called Calais “a human pogo stick” instead of “joystick” that BA called him.
May 31st, 2020 at 2:51 pm
SOEbuc Says:
May 31st, 2020 at 12:44 pm
The only ones I care about their 40-time are huge dudes like Vea or Wirfs to proove athleticism. Really don’t care and doesn’t matter about WR,, RB,DB that can run a. great 40 time.
Agree…….but how about a LB who runs a 4.42……….Devin White….
May 31st, 2020 at 6:23 pm
@ SOEbuc says “The only ones I care about their 40-time are huge dudes like Vea or Wirfs to proove athleticism. Really don’t care and doesn’t matter about WR,, RB,DB that can run a. great 40 time.”
I disagree. High twitch muscles in most sports makes a difference if you are going to make it in the pros. For DBs it gives you recovery time if you are beaten. For WR, it gives you that extra separation from your opponents. As for RBs, it gives you break away speed. Rojo had it last year but Barber did not, and if memory serves me correct, Barber never broke a run for more than 20 yards. Both Sean Bunting and Jamel Dean was selected in the second round due to the incredible 40 times. Both seems to be thriving. M.J. Stewart and Vernon Hargreaves ran average 40 times and both were often beaten. I doubt either makes it again as starters.
May 31st, 2020 at 9:01 pm
The 40 yard dash was originally put in to measure special teams prospects. 40 yards is the average length a gunner would run to cover Punts and kickoffs. The 3 cone & split times are much more important for most positions to show burst, agility and quickness.
May 31st, 2020 at 9:48 pm
@ Stranglassman “The 3 cone & split times are much more important for most positions to show burst, agility and quickness.”
I would suggest 3 cone drill test a players hips. Some guys have a great burst and top speed but don’t have to the hip to change direction.