“No Special Teams Value”
August 31st, 2022
Todd Bowles closed the book on Tyler Johnson this afternoon at One Buc Palace following Johnson getting cut yesterday.
“No special teams value,” Bowles said of the third-year receiver, one of the most candid Bowles comments Joe can recall.
Bowles called Johnson a “great” pass catcher, but with the Bucs’ deep corps of receivers, Johnson had no place on the team because he’s no good on fourth down.
The head coach was clear that he believes receivers Breshad Perriman and Scotty Miller can contribute on special teams.
So there it is. Johnson, a 24-year-old receiver coming off a strong training camp, a durable guy with playoff success on his resumé, has gotten the boot because he can’t cover punts and kicks. That’s how deep this Bucs team is.
Long gone are the days of Donteea Dye and Freddie Martino.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Hopefully Jason Licht was making these decisions, and not Tom Brady. I saw some comments here saying that Brady should decide the final WR room and I laughed my butt off.
Yeah, the guy who was trying to ditch Tampa Bay for Miami should help with roster decisions.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:56 pm
I feel a little bad for him going to the damn Texans.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:56 pm
Freddie Martino. Does he still look good crooning in a velvet blazer?
August 31st, 2022 at 1:56 pm
I think he’ll catch on as a practice squad player somewhere.
I like Johnson, but it was the inconsistency, route running, and a lack of Special Teams capabilities that hurt him. Let’s hope the Bucs made the right choice.
On that note, I hope Thompkins gets signed to the Practice Squad.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:57 pm
PassingThru,
Yes happy to report that Thompkins is on the Practice Squad.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:58 pm
Speaking of possible ST players, I see the Bucs were able to get Thompkins and Geiger back on the practice squad… oh yah!!
August 31st, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Makes sense, I also thought it was because that Johnson plays the same position as Godwin and Gage. They must both healthy.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Bucs just claimed Leatherwood off waivers. Talk about desperate
August 31st, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Thompkins and Geiger got signed to practice squad.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:00 pm
That was actually the BEARS that got him, GOB.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:00 pm
No the Browns claimed Leatherwood
August 31st, 2022 at 2:00 pm
It was the Bears.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:01 pm
What doesn’t make sense to me is why did he play so much in preseason then? Didn’t they know this before preseason? He did as well as they could ahev asked in how they did play him and his special teams play wasn’t going to change. Was it just because the guys in front were so dinged up that they needed a body out there, especially to evaluate Trask? Was it hoping to get someone to trade for him? Just feel maybe others could ahev has more evaluation time
August 31st, 2022 at 2:07 pm
@Coburn
Sometimes the staff will get guys looks in the preseason to help them stick elsewhere, Tanner Hudson played a ton last preseason, caught a bunch of passes and everything, But BA clearly wanted to see his growth as a blocking TE and he didn’t do that at all so he got cut, went elsewhere, and got cut again.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:08 pm
A refreshing, straightforward response. It’s really great to see the standards are high for making this team. I hope it stays that way long after Brady is gone. I wish Tyler Johnson well with his next team.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Oops sorry guys
August 31st, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Of all the things to like about our bucs special teams isn’t it.
Our coverage and return units have been consistently and grossly bad for a while.
Gotta believe our special teams coaches aren’t so special.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Johnson got picked up by the Texans.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:16 pm
The BEARS claimed Leatherwood along with 5 others…
Nearly 12% of their team are waiver wire guys.
Reminds me of the Mark Dominik days. Poor drafting = poor rosters.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:24 pm
Bears- can’t protect Justin Fields to save their life… So they sign Leatherwood, the biggest turnstyle who gave up the most sacks and penalties from the tackle position last year. LoL
August 31st, 2022 at 2:26 pm
I was betting Dallas would pick him up, both for need and for intel
August 31st, 2022 at 2:29 pm
He’ll be good somewhere else. I wish him the best….
BUT, we’re gonna regret this if Evans, Jones, or (in Godwin’s case, again) goes down. He made some awesome catches! Im still SMDH at this decision!!!!
August 31st, 2022 at 2:30 pm
He mad some awesome catches in year one and was complete and utter crap in year two. He has no special teams value, cannot separate, and he drops balls from Brady all the time.
It’s clear Brady prefers Miller over Johnson.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Locked In –
I wouldn’t doubt Dallas (and other teams) put in a claim for Tyler. But the Texans had the 2nd waiver priority I believe.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:34 pm
JJ Howland made the Practice Squad!
August 31st, 2022 at 2:35 pm
No worries we still have Darden. The thing that would not leave.
August 31st, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Like our PS…..
August 31st, 2022 at 2:42 pm
I was happy to see Thompkins & Geiger back with practice squad. Was a little surprised at no Sterns. Maybe that will change?
August 31st, 2022 at 3:03 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
Same, Same, Same!! I like Turner & Don Gardner. We’ve got 7 UDFAs on the practice squad now and I think there are still 2 open spots for an OLB and maybe another OLmen
August 31st, 2022 at 3:06 pm
He has very unreliable hands-on top of adding nothing in special teams. I think his inconsistency had a good part in them waiving him also.
August 31st, 2022 at 3:13 pm
Anonymous don’t believe every rumor you hear. First Brady was going to The 49’ers then The Dolphins and then The Raiders. LMAO don’t believe every story you read. Brandy is in Tampa so deal with it. GOBUCS!
August 31st, 2022 at 3:35 pm
Guess who else has no special teams value: Darden; & not a great pass catcher.
August 31st, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Darden has value?
August 31st, 2022 at 3:41 pm
wish Darden was off this team, kid gets blown up without contact, it is a huge risk we will lose a game from a trip on turf accident so close to the endzone
August 31st, 2022 at 3:59 pm
I don’t think that it was because he can’t cover punts and kicks.
I think he was let go because he wasn’t willing to cover punts and kicks.
August 31st, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Yet they traded our possibly best special teams player Steward (other than Succop and the rook punter) away from our already awful ST.
August 31st, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Love you guys hating on Darden. I have no idea if he will pan out or not. However, it’s clear he has the desire, motivation and talent to be as good if not better than TJ.
As good as TJ would mean he is not as good as his potential. Better would mean he is a top 4 guy next year.
That would mean JJ is gone of course. However, I would give JJ the TB treatment, right along with ME.
If Darden fails, this year. We have guys right behind him chomping at the bit. Darden will get the TJ treatment.
August 31st, 2022 at 4:36 pm
How often was he asked to do it? What, he said no thanks?
Meanwhile, what has Darden ever done since becoming an overhyped Buc to indicate he can play special teams? I mean yeah, sometimes he’s on the field when the rest of the team is playing special teams, but he’s proven to suck on returns and can’t “gun.”
I’d rather have TJ back. Bullsp!t
August 31st, 2022 at 5:08 pm
I understand this decision, but can’t help but wonder what about next year when Brady and Julio are both gone…
August 31st, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Good luck TJ. If you could have looked more versatile you would have made the team.
Made some nice grabs and you had an excellent preseason. Pretty sure the Bucs looked at you and said:
In 612 offensive snaps last year, you had 14 1st downs.
In 89 special team snaps last year, you had 1 tackle and no downed punts.
I am not surprised the team moved on. Miller had a better 2020, seems like a better gunner. And seems like more a Brady favorite when healthy (3 of 8 longest TDs in 2020).
Also, Miller was used as a gunner and was reasonably successful with 2 tackles, and a fumble recovery in only 28 special team snaps last year showing more value than TJ on special teams as well.
August 31st, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Breshard Perriman does not really ease my mind about our ST issue. Does he even play coverage? Thats where we need help. I guess we will find out.
Scotty made plays last year in coverage. But he was only used a few times and has to proove he can do it consistently.
August 31st, 2022 at 5:24 pm
Perriman has played 6 special team snaps in 6 seasons.
August 31st, 2022 at 6:08 pm
How do you keep Darden over Johnson? Cause he can catch a punt and trip over a blade of grass? So he can watch the ball go over his head on kickoffs? Sheesh!
August 31st, 2022 at 6:13 pm
If Perriman isn’t on punt coverage in Dallas, Bowles’ crediblity tanks.
August 31st, 2022 at 10:00 pm
I mean, it’s a BS statement considering Perriman has right next to zero special teams value. 6 snaps in what, a six or seven year career for Perriman?
Most weeks Perriman will probably be inactive anyway.
August 31st, 2022 at 10:08 pm
“Foolish” Todd Bowles. Get used to saying this. The Bucs are going to desperately miss Arians. Bowles is Dungy 2.0. Selfishly stubborn.
August 31st, 2022 at 11:10 pm
Arians better be in Bowles office privately and way up inside his arse, to his small intestine. Grayson, Tyler, Thompkins all more proven and valuable
contributors than Darden. So let’s keep the guy that will never win you a game but has high potential to lose several. Great.
August 31st, 2022 at 11:23 pm
Arians better be in Bowles office privately getting way up inside his arse, to his small intestine. Grayson, Tyler, Thompkins all more proven and valuable
contributors than Darden. So let’s keep the guy that will never win you a game but has high potential to lose several. Great.
September 1st, 2022 at 5:59 am
You heard it here first. I said it long ago. Your 4th-7th WRs must have ST value. I also said Perriman would be cut for the same reason. Two injuries ahead of him are the only reason Perriman is here. Once Godwin and Gage are clear, BP is gone.