“Energizer Bunny” Sterling Shepard
October 1st, 2024
UPDATED: A theme was rolling at One Buc Palace today.
Veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who got his first targets of the season Sunday (3 catches, 51 yards), is a high-energy guy whose juice is felt by the offensive across the board.
Between injuries and his success, Shepard played 50 percent of the snaps Sunday against the Eagles.
“”Still making plays,” Mayfield said today of Shepard. “You really can’t replicate the in-game experience and understanding how to win routes on leverage, and just the playmaking ability that he had, strong through the catch. Yeah, he’s a little Energizer Bunny on the sidelines. So, I think the guys enjoyed it.”
Prior to Mayfield speaking, offensive coordiantor Liam Coen noted Shepard’s all-game energy without being asked about it.
Joe was intrigued to hear Mayfield glow about how Shepard’s experience and knowledge is special. He spent eight years with the Giants — from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones. That sets Shepard apart from other receivers on the depth chart after Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
It’s likely Shepard will be the Bucs’ No. 3 receiver Thursday night in Atlanta. Trey Palmer is recovering from a concussion and it’s unclear how severe the hamstring injury is to Jalen McMillan.
If Shepard plays well against the Falcons, will the job be his?
**Per NFL Network, Shepard formally was added to the Bucs’ 53-man roster this afternoon.
October 1st, 2024 at 1:03 pm
It seems like Evans and Godwin are 1 and 2, obviously, then it’s like 3a, 3b,3c with Shepard, McMillan, and Palmer. We have an outstanding WR room.
October 1st, 2024 at 1:12 pm
Let him start!
October 1st, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Great teammate! saw him play a lot of Giant games in the freezing cold, very reliable if he stays healthy. Makes clutch catches when you don’t expect it.. Go Bucs!!!
October 1st, 2024 at 1:16 pm
I’m surprised they haven’t tried working Culp in as a WR behind Evans. He’s more of a big WR than a small TE.
October 1st, 2024 at 1:16 pm
His energy level has never been his problem
Staying healthy has been his kryptonite
This entire team will need it energy against Atlanta
They’re playing on a very, very short week
And they have to travel to the A
While this will be the Birds 3rd consecutive home game
They haven’t left the nest in weeks
October 1st, 2024 at 1:17 pm
Before Shep got hurt in camp, he was trending as WR3 anyway. He needs to stay healthy and do his job. If our WR’s can improve their blocking I think Bucky can rip some long runs. The crowd will be loud in ATL and I hope a quick start will shut them up.
October 1st, 2024 at 1:18 pm
The more unfamiliar offensive weapons we have for the Falcons, lets do it. Falcon’s defense is for real ! Bucs better watch out. Don’t come in again flat like the game against Broncos
October 1st, 2024 at 1:28 pm
I think Otton will have a BIG Game
hit cousins early and he’ll fold…
GO BUCS!!!!
October 1st, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Can’t have too many playmakers. And Sterling is the type player the team wants on its roster. Great attitude. If he is on the practice squad he will stay prepared. If he can help the young guys he will. Without all the injuries he’d have been an awful good pro. He’s the kind of guy you keep until he leaves.
October 1st, 2024 at 1:38 pm
?
October 1st, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Well after rewatching the Atlanta-Saints game, it was easy for the Saints to run the ball against Atlanta, especially Gap runs. Saints also had a ton of penalties that cost them successful drives. I didn’t think Atlanta was that good on defense. Matt Judon will need to be accounted for, but their secondary can be beat. Their LB Anderson is limited but he is 6’4”238 and looks slow to me. That pick 6 was just lucky from a tipped pass right to him. I think we can control the LOS on both sides of the ball. Pitts was non existent against NO so they will probably look to get him involved against Britt. NO ran a lot of Dime with only 1 LB and it looked to help. I really hope we play with just 1 LB and 6 DBs and get pressure inside.
If we do, I really think we might blow out Atlanta. Especially after all the BS about them being the best in the NFC South.
I will say Allgeir and B Robinson can run behind that line, so our safeties and slot defenders will need to have big games. They run a lot of zone.
Feeling good about this game though and limiting Cousins.
Really don’t think they can stop our offense.
October 1st, 2024 at 2:00 pm
@BillyBucco
It is nice to see someone know what they are talking about or at least appear that they know what they are talking about on this website lol. Solid breakdown and I agree with everything you said!
I think this is a solid matchup for the Bucs and one that I think if the team prepares correctly for and comes out with their hair on fire it shouldn’t be a close game. GO BUCS!!
October 1st, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Shep looked like he was 26 out there Sunday. Love that guy, loved him as a Giant. Fantastic get by Baker and Jason. He is the number 3. Now get the youngster WRs healthy and have fun with 5 wide — once the glass eating donkey is back and we can put Drule the turnstile back in the box.
October 1st, 2024 at 2:21 pm
Does anybody, anybody at all think Callijah Kancey will FINALLY make his 2024 debut on Thiursday night? I didn’t think so.
October 1st, 2024 at 2:38 pm
Still not practicing
October 1st, 2024 at 2:47 pm
We have to travel to Atlanta on 2-3 day rest. This will be their 3rd consecutive game at home.
Advantage goes to them
It won’t be easy beating them on a short week
Especially on the road
October 1st, 2024 at 2:56 pm
If the o-line is able to give Baker the kind of protection he had against the Eagles, we’ll be fine. Coen had an excellent game plan Sunday, and hopefully he’ll have another one for Thursday. As long as the players stay focused and the o-line holds steady, a W is within reach. When’s the last time we were 4-1?
October 1st, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Shepard needs to be on the active roster, while Johnson needs to be on the PS, not that Johnson will be on the PS for long considering the extremely high likelihood of Shepard getting injured.
Still, use Shepard until he does get injured. The guy is a quality WR, was once a strong #2 WR, and his career was completely derailed by injuries. But, even through that, when he’s been healthy, he’s looked good – and on Sunday he looked good. So keep using him while you can.
October 1st, 2024 at 3:24 pm
PSL Bob Says:
October 1st, 2024 at 2:56 pm
If the o-line is able to give Baker the kind of protection he had against the Eagles, we’ll be fine. Coen had an excellent game plan Sunday, and hopefully he’ll have another one for Thursday.
———–
The offensive line didn’t do anything special, and Sucke was still awful, but the game plan finally adjusted to having the worst player in the NFL starting as the RT and not being able to hold up a block for more than a split second. Baker getting the ball out in 2.2 seconds which basically complete negates pressure, and the poorly coached Eagles were too stupid to make adjustments, which would have been to come up and play on the LOS.
Morris is a much better coach than what the Eagles have, and even on a short week will watch the tape, see immeditially what the Bucs were doing, and will be ready for it (plus the Falcons have better corners – that’s worth noting as well).
I hope Coppertop is making adjustments for the Falcons adjustments – and to me that means keeping Otton in to help block on basically ever play. They got Otton a bunch of targets the last two weeks, so he shouldn’t be complaining if he’s told just to be a blocker this game.
I think the offense can resume to taking deep shots once Luke is back, but you’re very very limited in what you can do when your RT literally can’t hold a block for half a second.
October 1st, 2024 at 4:25 pm
Shepard did good on Sunday and he and Baker have that chemistry vibe. Number 3 WR sounds perfect. That is great that he made the 53 man roster this afternoon.
October 1st, 2024 at 9:16 pm
shepard in there replacing mcmillen is just fine for now…
he and bake are on the same page…
also i’m pretty convinced from watching trey palmer galavant around on the sidelines, that he’s got a screw loose…and now after the concussion, those screws are gonna get even looser
October 1st, 2024 at 9:35 pm
I fail to believe that Rod Munch is a real live person.