Todd Bowles Trying To Contain The Hype?
July 26th, 2024
Rookie receiver Jalen McMillan.
After watching rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan make a freakish catch yesterday for a touchdown in red zone drills, it’s hard for folks not to get excited about the Washington product.
Just a quick search of Twitter on McMillan’s name and the hype is all over the place. Joe gets it.
But yesterday, Joe got the sense Bucs coach Todd Bowles was trying to protect his rookie. What does Joe mean?
Bowles doesn’t want McMillan to get ahead of himself. Yeah, McMillan is good but has he won a starting job yet? Joe has seen too many young receivers dominate in underwear football only to vanish when the pads come on.
The Bucs’ first padded practice of training camp is expected to be Monday, but that is subject to change. So far — all underwear football practices through the spring and minicamp — McMillan shows he belongs.
But where? Bowles wasn’t discouraging when asked about McMillan but didn’t talk of him like he’s the second coming of Mike Evans or Chris Godwin.
“[He is] still developing right now,” Bowles said. “We know he has outstanding hands and competitiveness. We know he can play all three spots.
“Obviously, you’ve got Trey [Palmer] and ‘Rock’ [Rakim Jarrett] and a lot of guys in there playing, but we’re really high on him. He’s very smart, he’s very competitive, and he has a motor that doesn’t stop. That’s only going to help us.
“I think we’re still unwrapping the things he can do to put in the offense to help us. When we get a good two or three weeks in, you’ll see more of that.”
As Joe stated, McMillan may not start. Currently, Trey Palmer is getting the majority of snaps with the first team. And Joe isn’t yet counting out veteran Sterling Shepard.
If McMillan actually improves when the pads come on next week, then the hype will be real.
July 26th, 2024 at 4:08 am
Washington Joe. Washington product.
July 26th, 2024 at 6:06 am
I didn’t really like the film I saw on draft day. I thought he looked slow. Then I watched his tape before his injury and I saw a much better prospect. I think he can be solid 🤞
July 26th, 2024 at 7:28 am
Let the rook fly, but keep him grounded.
July 26th, 2024 at 7:41 am
Reminds me of Hard Knocks with the Arizona Cardinals when they got David Johnson in the 3rd round. As soon as he was on the field with other players, he kept making plays and behind the scenes the coaches were saying we are not going to rush him. In the end, he had a good 1st season and a great 2nd season. I could see that path with Godwin being gone next season.
July 26th, 2024 at 8:55 am
He may be our best pick this year. We have a fantastic WR corps.
July 26th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Next week pads, then pre season games and scrimmages with other teams, then come September… The real deal. Can’t get here fast enough!
July 26th, 2024 at 9:59 am
Best slot receiver of the draft, this kid is amazing. Not sure if he’ll be elite outside, but he’ll be at least consistent there with Godwin back inside
I think that we’ll see a lot of QB friendly mesh concepts this year, Godwin and McMillan will be a nightmare for everybody else in the league working togheter in the middle, with Evans running the out route and White in the flat
July 26th, 2024 at 10:08 am
All 3 receivers … Palmer, McMillan & Shepard … each bring a lot to the table, but there are some significant differences too. Palmer is supposedly the fastest of the 3, and can probably do a better job of ‘stretching the field’. Sounds like McMillan has the better hands though, and that’s crucial when it comes to moving the chains. And Shepard is that kinda that in-between, wily veteran who’s shown year-after-year that he knows how to get open & whose career 11.0 Yards per Reception is outstanding.
That career Yards per Reception number, combined with the career Catch Percentage, says an awful lot about the consistency of various receivers IMO. Look at what our Bucs have on our roster …
o Evans: 10 yrs – 15.3 Y/R – 57.7 Catch % – 9.4 TD/Yr
o Godwin: 7 yrs – 12.6 Y/R – 70.2 Catch % – 4.9 TD/Yr
o Shepard: 8 yrs – 11.0 Y/R – 65.5 Catch % – 2.9 TD/Yr
o Palmer: 1 yrs – 9.9 Y/R – 57.4 Catch % – 3.0 TD/Yr
o Jarrett: 1 yrs – 15.0 Y/R – 44.4 Catch % – 0.0 TD/Yr
o McMillan: 0 yrs – Unk Y/R – Unk Catch % – Unk TD/Yr
There’s a lot of talent there for Baker to throw to. IF (and it’s a big IF at this point) our running game can come alive & keep the opposing defenses off-balance, and IF Coen is as good at play design & play-calling as we all HOPE he is, THEN this Bucs team should be able to break into the Top-10 in scoring this year. And that’ll be the key IMO to winning the NFC South & going deep in the playoffs.
July 26th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Either you can or you can’t!
Palmer…
July 26th, 2024 at 10:41 am
Surprised we haven’t heard any DB names come up. In fact, only defensive article are KJ and Yaya? That’s worrisome.
July 26th, 2024 at 11:18 am
Hey, Sly, it’s only day three of camp. BTW McCollum got a little mention too. It’ll all come full circle in time.
July 26th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Having too many good receivers is a good thing, until you have to try to stash one on the practice squad, where he’s susceptible to being snatched by another team.
July 27th, 2024 at 10:36 am
Works both ways GP. I’m hoping some team has too many good guards or backers we can snag.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
We have a few rookies who are being over hyped Joe.
Todd is rightfully concerned. We just got in to padded practice for cring out loud.
Go Bucs!