A Reason Bucs Still Have Hope For Russell Gage
July 24th, 2023
Bucs receiver Russell Gage.
Joe put this up on Twitter and it’s gotten a lot of run. Props to the dudes who are lifting it and not giving Joe credit for recording it and sharing it first.
Just a hunch Bucs receiver Russell Gage will have a visit in the principal’s office when he reports for training camp tomorrow — tomorrow!
On his Instagram stories account last week, Gage showed a 2022 play he made in a rarely seen end zone video of an 11-on-11 practice. (For those unaware, video vanishes on Instagram stories after 24 hours unless someone like Joe records it.)
It was a helluva pass route and a pretty damn good catch of a late throw.
Gage was clearly studying practice film on his laptop when he recorded and uploaded the video to his Instagram stories.
And that play demonstrates why Gage is still employed by the Bucs. “This Joe” has stated on several occasions no player was a bigger disappointment last year than Gage. Dude was always hurt with a big salary. He started off this year the same way, missing OTAs with a mysterious injury.
Will this fall be a repeat of last fall when Gage kept Bucs trainers busy?
The video below is why the Bucs didn’t turn the page and are marching forward, hopefully with a receiver who spends more time on the field and less time in the tub.
From Russell Gage’s Instagram stories account. *Rare* Bucs practice video from an end zone camera. Can see from this clip why Bucs still have hope for Gage. pic.twitter.com/OgURMCZXjU
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) July 21, 2023
July 24th, 2023 at 6:24 am
Thats not even from this year is it?
July 24th, 2023 at 7:05 am
Ahhhh the Bucs still have hope for the porcelain doll AKA Russell Gage.
That’s lovely. Until we all see him practicing every day like everybody else and actually contributing something positive to this team then he’s still a BUM in my book.
July 24th, 2023 at 7:07 am
That had to be before he pulled his hamstring in camp! He was never that quick last year. His effort was great and he showed grit but like Joe said we hope he plays healthy this year!
July 24th, 2023 at 7:26 am
That’s a slant in slide out. Every good receiver should be able
To do that to a 3rd string corner. Yawn*
July 24th, 2023 at 7:42 am
Classy Twitter descriptor …
JoeBucsFan@JoeBucsFan
15th year delivering Buccaneers news & analysis 24/7 (literally). Credentialed NFL & Bucs media. Hall of Fame voter
@ikaufman76 works here. Tampa’s go-to site.
15 years is very impressive & much appreciated by all of us Joe. I have to ask though … Do you make Ira change his email address every birthday?
July 24th, 2023 at 7:43 am
I have a lot of hope that Gage stays healthy. I still remember what a handful he was for defenses when he played for the Falcons. He should be a helluva number 3.
July 24th, 2023 at 7:49 am
Gage will have youngry receivers who want his spot , better stay healthy and produce , there will be no excuses this year as Coach knows he needs to win now.
July 24th, 2023 at 7:51 am
TBBF doesn’t blame a player for injuries……sure, it’s disappointing but when on the field, Gage performs well.
July 24th, 2023 at 8:00 am
I am banking on WR Trey Palmer to take the #3 WR position.
July 24th, 2023 at 8:09 am
It is said it is not possible to cover Gage, when he is healthy ?
I hope he has a big year for us
July 24th, 2023 at 8:14 am
For some reason I feel like I assumed he’s been injured like his whole career after last year lol; but he only missed like 2 games over 4 years before we signed him.
He also averaged more YPC every year besides 2022.
He was overpaid hardcore for what he did last year, and was not a signing I was super stoked over because we already had a lot of $$ in the WR room. Probably would have been better spending that on established D-line / edge or defense and then drafting a WR instead of Logan Hall or something. But it is what it is now. Hopefully Hall becomes a beast.
July 24th, 2023 at 8:47 am
WITH A HEALTHY RUSSELL GAGE THIS TEAM (OFFENSE) COULD BE VIRTUALLY UNSTOPPABLE..TREY PALMER WILL BE THE CLEAR #4 IF NOT THE #3 RECIEVER ON THE ROSTER COME THE REGULAR SEASON..BASED ON RUSSELL’S HEALTH & PLAY DURING TRAINING CAMP & PRE-SEASON GAMES..TREY CAN TAKE THE TOP OFF A DEFENSE WITH HIS SPEED, I’D REALLY LIKE TO SEE HIM EMERGE AS THE #3 WHEN THAT 1ST GAME VS. THE VIKINGS ROLLS AROUND..BUT RUSSELL’S HEALTH IS KEY TO HAVING THE BEST DEPTH AT WIDE RECIEVER WE HAVE POSSIBLY EVER HAD..
July 24th, 2023 at 8:49 am
There’s still plenty of talent to tap into with Russell Gage, just need him to stay healthy, but blaming players for a series of injury’s that are next to impossible to prevent is moronic.
July 24th, 2023 at 8:58 am
TRAINING CAMP IS ALMOST HERE !..I’M SO RAMPED UP FOR THE SEASON I CAN HARDLY WAIT ! I BEEFED UP MY BUCCANEERS WARDROBE WITH JERSEYS OF BAKER MAYFIELD ( I GOT KYLE TRASK’S ROOKIE JERSEY IN 2021..ALONG WITH 2 THROWBACK T-SHIRTS,CAP’S & MODERN COLOR T-SHIRTS ( EVEN 2 HAWAIIAN BUCCANEERS SHIRTS WITH MY NAME ON BACK !..AM I EXCITED OR JUST “NUTS”..PROBABLY A BIT OF BOTH..LMAO
July 24th, 2023 at 9:08 am
What ever happened to Darden?
July 24th, 2023 at 9:12 am
TOMMY … Seems like you’re expecting a lot out of a rookie 6th Round receiver (Trey Palmer). Interestingly Russell Gage was also a 6th Round pick, but he at least has 5 years worth of experience under his belt. And he’s actually been healthy almost all his career like Lord C said (he only missed 4 games in his first 4 years which is better than most WRs average).
He missed 4 games last year but still did quite well IMO. I suspect that the way he was used last year probably had an impact on his health. His Average Depth of Target (ADOT) was only 5.5 yds (as compared to nearly double that the year before with Atlanta). That’s ILB & OLB territory and probably some harder tackles from much bigger guys? Russell only weighs 184 lbs.
July 24th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Hope is for children and old people who are religious and dying.
Needs results from these coaches and players.
Countdown begins on when Bowles is fired…
July 24th, 2023 at 9:32 am
Stonedbuc Says:
July 24th, 2023 at 7:26 am
That’s a slant in slide out. Every good receiver should be able
<_________
That's pretty much just a whip route. When tight ends run it, they run the out with their bodies facing the QB to shield smaller DB from ball. When WRs run it, they keep their body upfield to keep the threat of running deeper a possibility.
July 24th, 2023 at 10:03 am
@ Destinjohnny
Darden was cut last season and replaced by Thompkins…
July 24th, 2023 at 10:03 am
Sorry nothing special about that. Not even high school highlightable. Which is all we’ve gotten from him so far. Hope he lights it up this year.
July 24th, 2023 at 10:16 am
SIGN MARCUS PETERS FROM UNDERNEATH THE L.V.RAIDERS..AS LONG AS HE PASSES THE MEDICAL CRITERIA SIGN HIM ! SIGHT UNSEEN ! WE NEED A STARTING CALIBER NICKEL BACK RIGHT NOW !WE DON’T HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR WHICH INEXPERIENCED GUY IS GOING TO WIN THE JOB ! SIGN MARCUS PETERS NOW WHILE WE STILL HAVE THE CHANCE !….:ATTN: JASON LIGHT ( HEEEEEEEELP ! ) LOL
July 24th, 2023 at 10:24 am
I’m rooting for Russell Gage. You guys are unusually cruel. He doesn’t deserve that. He had a serious hamstring injury and then his season ended in the playoffs on a crushing tackle after which he was taken to the hospital. When he was available he played bravely and was a huge threat in the red zone. But it isn’t as if he was faking it or anything. The guy is a hell of a player. Why not just say that we are rooting for him and pray he stays healthy.
July 24th, 2023 at 10:40 am
Hurt Emanual 2.0
July 24th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Can we just wait till midseason to start complaining about whoever!!! If Gage balls out, then everybody will be singing his praises, if he does’nt then we can critisize him. I am a big Bucs fan and i think there was some decisions that were questionable. But i am not downing them on a season that has’nt even started yet. be patient and let the season start. i will be rooting no matter what, because i am and foremost a bucs fan, Always.
July 24th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
dont know him..
July 24th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
a waste of a spot…please stop doing that Jason!
July 24th, 2023 at 1:24 pm
Old John McKay quote: “You can’t make the club from the tub.”
July 24th, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Gage is a bum until proven otherwise. I’m eager to see what’s gonna cause him to miss training camp practices this time.
July 24th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
People bashing Gage because he was injured are just morons. The guy doesn’t have a history of being injured, and is a very good player (at least by #3 WR terms). The guy might get injured again, who knows, but there’s no reason to assume he’s now injured prone when that has not been an issue in the past.
July 24th, 2023 at 2:28 pm
That’s the route we have to hang our hat on? Come on. SMH.
July 25th, 2023 at 3:14 am
Missing OTAs with a mystery injury has me questioning. Sometimes the Bucs and/or players don’t do themselves any favors keeping this stuff under HIPAA. Maybe he is not happy with his expected role in the new offense? I don’t know.
I do however give him all the credit in the world for playing through his injuries last year. I am sure he was never 100 percent.
I also agree with Defense Rules. Running the plays at MLB depth for he and Godwin was playing with fire. But we had Brady having to get the ball out in record time because of the poor pass pro of the O-line.
Go Bucs!
July 25th, 2023 at 7:14 am
The king of the 9 yard route then fall down.