Todd Bowles: Tough Choices Coming At Receiver
August 12th, 2024
Bucs WR Sterling Shepard.
This is a good problem to have. A loaded position.wil;
Bucs coach Todd Bowles admitted Sunday in his day-after presser the team will have a hard time trying to find perhaps as many as six receivers to keep when cutdown day rolls around later this month. There’s no shortage of solid options. The Bucs have depth there.
This means a quality receiver may be out of work before September hits.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of competition,” Bowles said. “Three, four, five, and six are going to really be tough. We’ve got some guys that can play, some guys that can do different things, and some guys that can play special teams.
“These next two games will be important. Those guys did a good job.”
Joe is sure the first five are locked in as far as having the best camp so far, barring an injury. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard sure seem to be the best five, at this point in camp and preseason. The No. 3 position still seems like it is to be determined and the No. 4 receiver ought to get a fair share of snaps.
And Joe cannot count out (yet) veteran Shepard as a No. 3 receiver.
After that, what? Rakim Jarrett, who made a helluva catch Saturday night in Cincinnati? Ryan Miller, who has had a solid training camp?
The interesting element here is Shepard. What do the Bucs have planned for him? He got up off the couch just to play with his old Oklahoma teammate, Baker Mayfield. Is he going to want to stick around just to rot on the bench if he is deemed a No. 5 receiver?
August 12th, 2024 at 12:20 am
Not a bad problem to have.
August 12th, 2024 at 12:51 am
sterling Sheppard might not make the team and play more of a dj moore role. the wrs for this team will be Evans, Godwin, McMillan, palmer, Jarrett, and Johnson. Sheppard is too injury prone and can’t play special teams. baker got Sheppard a shot, but at this juncture, Shepard is a guy you keep on speed dial if injuries begin to pile up at the wr position.
August 12th, 2024 at 1:16 am
Agree SB not a bad problem at all. And I would guess that Shepard doesn’t play S/T which actually might hurt him in favor of a younger guy like Jarrett.
August 12th, 2024 at 1:34 am
The depth at WR is amazing this year. Ryan Miller and Tanner Knue really made a strong case for a roster spot. If Shepherd for some reason doesn’t end up securing a spot, it doesn’t look as though there’d be an issue.
August 12th, 2024 at 3:58 am
Todd Bowles … “These next two games will be important. Those guys did a good job.”
Important? Preseason games? Has TB lost his mind? Todd obviously isn’t a Joe disciple.
August 12th, 2024 at 4:40 am
Coach Bowles has gotten so much more comfortable in communications. Hard choices to come and he is letting us know so we won’t be disappointed. Similar to other comments, unsure about Shepard yet. Thinking Kam Johnson being on top.
August 12th, 2024 at 5:10 am
Thinking the same as Buclover. Sheppard probably won’t get a call from anyone else, so he’s a good safety net if need be. My only concern is the Miller/Knue battle. One will make the team as the #5 WR and the other on the practice squad. I only hope the Bucs don’t lose their practice squad guy.
August 12th, 2024 at 5:54 am
Trade for a pass rusher!!
August 12th, 2024 at 6:00 am
We don’t need Shepherd, these young guys are stepping up.
August 12th, 2024 at 7:24 am
Shepherd is not the future, he is on the decline. Keep a younger player that is ascending.
August 12th, 2024 at 7:40 am
Defense Rules Says:
August 12th, 2024 at 3:58 am
Important? Preseason games? Has TB lost his mind? Todd obviously isn’t a Joe disciple.
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I’m still chuckling, DR. Bowles/Coen will choose the best players, but yeah, an abundance of talented WRs is always a good problem to have.
August 12th, 2024 at 8:08 am
Todd Bowles: “These next two games will be important. Those guys did a good job.”
How can that be when we are told in every post how worthless they are?
August 12th, 2024 at 8:09 am
Don’t forget Tanner Knue. He exploded in the last quarter of the game. He’s rather small for a WR, but he brings back memories of Scotty Miller.
August 12th, 2024 at 8:20 am
Knue has great hands and can return kicks. I realize it was only one game, but this guy has skills. Sheppard is injured and has a history of injuries. He does not deserve a spot on the roster just because he played with Baker in college. I like Knue and Miller over Sheppard.
August 12th, 2024 at 8:21 am
My initial thought is that Shepard is expendable because he’s older & doesn’t play special teams.
Evans, Godwin, McMillan & Palmer…..in that order because Palmer will be returning punts & possible kickoffs………Probably Jarrett & then let the younger guys fight it out for #6.
Let’s use the next two “worthless” preseason games to figure that out.
August 12th, 2024 at 8:27 am
Don’t count out Kameron Johnson. He’s also a good kick returner. I’m not feeling Trey Palmer in the kick return game.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:02 am
Not sure why Shepard is a lock…….
I would wait….
I liked what I saw on saturday on rookies….
Just wait, don’t have lunch before breakfast!
August 12th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Bucs have Ryan Miller listed as 6-2 221? I wrote him of a Adam humpries type of guy but he has good size to him
August 12th, 2024 at 1:55 pm
Jarrett & Knue for 5&6
August 12th, 2024 at 1:55 pm
At worst, Shepard is the backup slot receiver behind Godwin. That route takes a lot of hits, and we need to keep a quality backup.
August 12th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
Let Shepherd go. Keep the youth. If you need him later, call him.
August 12th, 2024 at 6:46 pm
Shepard = PS
Miller is about 6’1″ @ 220lbs
Evans
Godwin
Macmillan
Palmer
Jarrett
Miller/ Johnson/ Knue
Miller has more experience & has edge as WR over Johnson but Johnson has return capabilities so keep your eye on him 1st for that last spot
August 12th, 2024 at 8:11 pm
Another tough group to prune is DB. Merriweather made an awesome play on a Burrow bomb and Isaac grabbed a pick that looked like he was the WR. Good problems to have.
August 13th, 2024 at 3:56 am
Nobody is making strides in making the roster in the 4th quarter of any preseason game. Until there’s a sighting in the 2nd quarter, maybe early 3rd, they’re just climbing over other camp bodies. Knue is a fun trinket right now, nothing more. Not in Tampa. He might do enough to make a practice squad, but even now, he’s not there yet in Tampa. It is a numbers game. Somewhere in the league, there’s a team with 3rd wide receivers not as capable as Jarrett. That might prove a bonus for Knue getting a shot elsewhere. No injuries, no opportunity here.
August 13th, 2024 at 9:26 am
I completely disagree about Shepard. He is competing for the 6th and final WR job with Miller and Johnson. And he is only being given that opportunity because of his relationship with Baker. Evans, Godwin, McMillan, Palmer, Jarrett in that order are the top 5. Personally I really liked what I saw Ryan Miller do in the first preseason game. Looking forward to seeing what Johnson can do.