“I Love Russell Gage”
March 23rd, 2023
Russell Gage.
So what does new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales think is special about wide receiver Russell Gage?
There are various things.
Joe suspects No. 1 on the list is that Gage is healthy, but Canales’ appreciation for his 27-year-old No. 3 receiver runs deeper.
“I love Russell Gage. He’s just got that blue collar work ethic type of style to him, and he’s a fantastic receiver,” Canales said passionately during the latest Below The Surface epsiode at the official Buccaneers website.
It’s a huge 2023 season for Gage, who won’t have Julio Jones around to take snaps from him this season. If Gage is the player he was in Atlanta before the Bucs signed him for $10 million per season a year ago, then he will have a load of opportunities and 1-on-1 coverage.
Gage sort of took a pay cut to stay with the Bucs, and Canales appears to be counting his blessings when it comes to his loaded receivers corps.
Joe appreciates how passionate Canales is about his players. He didn’t have to say how he loves Gage; he easily could have referenced only being eager see what he’s like in practice.
Joe sure hopes the number of fans who love Gage grows a ton this season. He did little last season to earn that kind of admiration.
March 23rd, 2023 at 1:49 pm
I’d also love…for him to stay healthy.
March 23rd, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Don’t sleep on Thompkins either. All that little guy does is make something out of nothing, unlike the Dardung (good riddance, what a waste).
March 23rd, 2023 at 1:52 pm
Gage had some juice when healthy, I like his chances for redemption. I think there’s a good chance receiving yardage across the board will be down with a new QB and system. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing if we are far more efficient with scoring, even if watching 5,000 yds of passing and 30 snickers handed to defenders can be quite entertaining. 500 yards receiving in the new system from WR3 could end up being quality production from Gage paired with a big jump in team rushing.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Must upgrade the trenches for run blocking.
Watch JL find another small college gem. C’mon, Jason, let’s see your magic, we need someone a lot better than Goedonkey.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Gage or our 3rd best receiver better have 500 yards if we expect to be good. Name me a Super Bowl team that does not have their 3rd best receiver getting 500 yards in a season. That seems like a low bar.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:26 pm
We are fine at WR with Evans,Godwin,Gage & Thompkins with a couple of draft picks or UDFA.
We do need lots of help in the trenches and at S. Could use a real stud RB also.
Lots of needs.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Our receivers are strong! We need to have a strong o-line in front of BM for success. Pass blocking and run blocking! Will be really disappointed if the games look like last season. Really disappointed.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Gage is a good name for him. We got gaged when we signed him.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:36 pm
I love Russell Gage as well. He was uncoverable during training camp last season. If Evans, Godwin, and Gage are all healthy and at 100% and our o-line gives the QB sufficient time, opposing defenses will need divine intervention if they are to have any chance to stop our offense.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:55 pm
Gage probably reminds Canales of Doug Baldwin
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 pm
‘Joe sure hopes the number of fans who love Gage grows a ton this season. He did little last season to earn that kind of admiration.’
I assume that this is the OTHER JOE who just wrote that. You know, not the one who wrote just this morning …
‘The Gage bashers are out there, but they sort of speak to the guy’s talent. He had 51 catches and 5 touchdowns last season and he’s being labeled a massive underachiever. Think about that for a moment.’
March 23rd, 2023 at 3:14 pm
Good QBs always find the slot receiver. It’s usually the third corner guarding. Aaron Rodgers always toasted Belichick defenses because he knew this fact. Like has been said, health is key for Gage. I don’t think he ever played without a nagging injury. However, I don’t think he ever played on a team with as much expectation as last season. Plenty of guys cut up big numbers when the lights aren’t on. ATL. Really sucked the years Gage produced, if memory serves. Now that the lights are out, and nobody nationally is looking in, he may return to what he was in Atlanta.
March 23rd, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Looked very impressive and exciting in TA until he got a bad hamstring. With no Godwin, they continued to put him on the field. Excited to see Canalas compared to no biscuit, no risk it.
March 23rd, 2023 at 3:48 pm
I think Mark Alstott is great!
March 23rd, 2023 at 4:13 pm
We could do much worse, not often does a rookie play like Evans or any of these prime receivers. Draft a receiver anyway for insurance but I think any offense would be better than what we ran last year
March 23rd, 2023 at 4:28 pm
PP, I suspect they’ll fill out the wr room with 7th rounder’s and udfa’s. Like my friend cobra says, how much do you really rely on 4th and 5th recievers
March 23rd, 2023 at 4:39 pm
Yeah, well if he loves him so much why doesn’t he marry him?
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.