The Fall Of Trey Palmer
November 13th, 2024
Head-scratching lack of snaps.
A year ago as a rookie, the Bucs were crowing about the potential of Trey Palmer, the speedster from Nebraska.
Periodically he showed flashes why the Bucs were so high on him. Certainly, he could take the top off the defense. For whatever reason, he and Baker Mayfield didn’t seem to have their timing sharpened.
And, of course, Palmer needed to work on his hands.
In the playoff win over the Eagles, Palmer showed he was much more than a go-route receiver. He caught a short pass on the right side at midfield, made one Eagles defender miss, and Palmer was off to the races for a long touchdown, weaving through the defense using his speed to make defenders eat his cinders.
This year? Palmer has been just slightly better than a rumor.
This has been odd to Joe because Joe had an offensive coach tell him in training camp the team hoped to use Palmer more in the short passing game, letting his wheels take over to rack up explosive plays (see: playoff win over the Eagles).
This year through 10 games, Palmer has nine catches. At this point last year as a rookie in heavy run-oriented offense, Palmer had 21 catches.
It seems Palmer, for reasons unclear, has fallen out of favor with coaches. Consider what Todd Bowles said about the receivers earlier this week and how the offense has changed in the wake of the injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
“Any time you lose two All-Pros and you have a guy that’s playing for the first time, really – ‘Shep’ (Sterling Shepard) has played in this league but it’s his first time in the system – ‘J-Mac’ (Jalen McMillan) is a rookie, Trey [Palmer] is [in his] second year, you have Ryan [Miller] coming off the practice squad, so there [are] going to be some chemistry things,” Bowles said.
Notice Bowles only mentioned Palmer right before he recited a practice squad dude’s name out of courtesy.
Palmer entered the season as sort of WR3a or WR3b, depending on the direction of the breeze. Now? Joe isn’t sure Palmer is WR5. Miller has had more targets (11) the past three weeks than Palmer (7).
Through the first 10 games last season, the fewest snaps Palmer played in a game was 23 in the season-opener.
This year? In only two of the first 10 games has Palmer logged more than 27 snaps.
It’s a mystery. Palmer is really the lone guy on the roster that can stretch the field.
So with Evans and Godwin out and Palmer reduced to part-time status, no wonder the Bucs are throwing short so much. There’s no need for a defense to concern themselves with the long ball.
TREY. PALMER. IS. GONE.
📺: #PHIvsTB on ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/gInWkEMxB9
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 16, 2024
November 13th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
It is really interesting, and honestly I have no idea either. Watching him at Nebraska he excelled in a sub par team, scored touchdowns, and racked up yards. He has been in crowded receiver rooms (see 2019 LSU) where he could get better by sitting back and watching. It seems to all be there.
Without studying the game tape I just don’t know, I’m very biased towards him because of his time at Nebraska, but what am I missing?
November 13th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
@Joe — The post really asks for you to report on Liam Coen. What does he want in small speedsters? What does he see in Palmer? and, Can Trey do much inside the system and options that the new OC runs?
This isn’t your Canales calling plays anymore.
If the answers are no good, then you HAVE your answer — Trey Palmer IS gone.
November 13th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Very unfortunate that he hasn’t gained the coaches or Bakers trust. We could really use him right now. I would imagine they trust Miller and Jarrett to not take penalties and possibly block better and there is our answer. Palmer is liable to hold his guy and cost us yards.
November 13th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
The answer is in the post. There’s more than one reference to the answer.
November 13th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
Baker wont freaking pull the trigger. He’s a terrible deep ball pssser. He missed Trey Palmer once again on a wide open explosive this past game. Let’s not forget last year all the wide open deep balls he missed to Palmer. We are probably one of the worst down the field passing teams.
November 13th, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Is it an attitude thing? Ive been wondering this all year. Because in terms of skill and explosiveness… Even hands… Surely hes the best WR on the team right now (barring the injured guys)…..
November 13th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Kenny Bell, now Trey Palmer.. I think we need to abstain from Nebraska receivers for a while.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
I was thinking about him last week. He’s been a total no show. A ghost. He’s really living up to his 6th Round status. I thought is was hilariously SO biased all training camp when all of these posters on here, were spewing that the Bucs WR-depth was “THE BEST In The NFL,” & etc. Just Laughable.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:15 pm
Long pass and Baker are. It the best match unless wr is Evans. I did like the TD by Palmer against the Eagles. Why we haven’t see that play more is baffling. We need to get rid off the pass to Miller down the side line. Twice Baker threw awful passes.
This is a very weird season. So many issues and injuries.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:15 pm
are not a match
November 13th, 2024 at 1:17 pm
I’m really thinking it may be an approach to the game type of thing with Trey & Jalen. Lack of studying the playbook, not taking care of their bodies, goofing off in meetings, not taking practice seriously, something. It seems like more than inexperience. Which is WILD considering they have two consummate professionals to learn from. They both seem to be in the doghouse. Before Mike & Chris got injured, Coen was lamenting the lack of anyone he could trust at WR3. Now with us having nobody to pass to, they’re STILL not getting involved. Pretty concerning in my book.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:21 pm
This season has turned into an abortion. The defense has waved the white flag apparently and the offense can’t sneeze without getting hurt. Massively disappointing season.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:22 pm
The former slant King from the saints made a career out of catching simple slants. This is how Palmer should be used given his speed. Not sure why they don’t throw this to him two to three times a game to see what he can do with it.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
Tough to make plays if a QB either won’t or can’t get you the ball.
ME13 makes every QB throwing to him look good.
He made Johnny Manzel a millionaire and he was an absolute bust in the NFL.
If the backup WRs aren’t NFL caliber, that’s on the GM and coaching.
Getting the WRs the ball is on the QB. And ours is a sub 500 career player.
#Facts
November 13th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
“[Lavonte is] so mentally tough and he loves the game. It’s something he grew up playing; he still treats it like he’s playing in high school, and that’s rare for a player,” Bowles told the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“You either get bored or you get bunch of money and you don’t want to play any more. He’s not like that. Every day is like a game for him, whether it’s practice or a game. He still loves playing. He’s like a 16-, 17-year-old kid.”
emphasis on “and that’s rare for a player,”
granted, trask works just as hard and has little to show for it, but i dont hear palmer’s name on any list of that type of player.
macmillen is the one i wonder, we were told he was special. palmer was a maybe from the befinning.
no way to know, like zyon, no one hyped him, but that dude bought a jugs machine like a receiver, that tells me he cares deep down.
i wish palmer finds what he does love, even if tis with his next team.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
He does seem like he’s regressed in the passing game but he is definitely terrible as a punt returner. He has had one decent punt return that I remember. Just seem to run out of bounds as soon as possible. Definitely not using his speed at returner. Seems scared or pissed off there. Wish we would try Tucker there.
We need ILB, Edge, CB, DT, LG and with the regression of Palmer and the no show of McMillian so far, we now also need WRs. Thought we were in a much better position going into the season.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:47 pm
Using him in the short game might be the problem. Maybe Palmer is shy of contact like Kenny Bell, Jayden Darden and so many other Buc recievers.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
Coen’s offense doesn’t call deep shots. Im surprised when there is a deep shot
November 13th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
It’s sort of two-fold. Baker does struggle with downfield accuracy and that is what Palmer excels at. However, Trey Palmer is on the Bucs official YT channel saying he does not want to be hit or tackled and that’s why he runs fast. That right there is why he isn’t running slants.
Additionally, he’s also had two concussions this season so he could be even more hesitant to get hit (hence running to the sideline on punt returns).
Finally, Trey has made multiple ME’s lining up and doesn’t always look confident that he knows what he is doing out there.
As per usual it’s more than one factor contributing to his slump in play.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Lovie benched Bucky when it was crunch time. Don’t be surprised by any hold back of talent from the circus clown. He’d put Miller out there over Jerry Rice if Jerry was on the roster. Clueless Lovie gotta go.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
You have to rise to fall he never rose to anything, really, he was never the definite wr3.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:24 pm
What ever the reason they need to fix it asap. We need help on offense. Even when ME13 comes back. Prob takes a few games to get back into game shape don’t want to over work him and him blow another hammy.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
I’m thinking that they don’t trust Mayfield to throw deep accurately. As a result, a deep pass would be riskier than if someone like, I don’t know, Brock Purdy was throwing it. On the other hand, our line might be run blocking well but does not seem to hold long enough for deep routes.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Gve Tucker a few more snaps too. He runs up the middle way better than white.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
We have a whole group of young receivers drafted / signed to be Evans and Godwin but so far haven’t lived up to being Ike Hilliard and Karl Williams.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:46 pm
If you’re afraid of contact you aren’t going to thrive in today’s NFL as a wide receiver. Trey and J-Mac both seem to be light in the ass and lacking in toughness… Maybe, hopefully, Liam figures out how to use them more effectively but as of now Shep, Jarrett and Miller all look like better options to me.
November 13th, 2024 at 3:26 pm
I know I have seen a lot of missed deep balls from Baker but I think that is just as much an indictment on the receiver because he sure seems able to hit Evans in the hands a lot. Ravens game should have been 2 TDs from 20+ long passes, first one slightly underthrown but safe and 2nd one hit Evans in the mitts in stride he just blew his hammy trying to complete.
November 13th, 2024 at 3:52 pm
Palmer looked really good in training camp last season, making some amazing catches. I’ve got no idea as to what is going on but I hope he can get out of the doghouse by the end of the season and show what he’s capable of.
Also, can we file a missing person report on Sean Tucker? I’ve been searching for him ever since he won an award for NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
November 13th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
J Mac is not very good
rock hands Jarret is not good
give it to Trey
November 13th, 2024 at 6:17 pm
There’s been several young players that show promise that either don’t develop or go into a slow decline. There’s something within the team/staff that isn’t bringing out the best in these young guys.
November 13th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Not sure who has been a bigger bust, Palmer or McMillian. Palmer can’t run good routes in the middle with traffic and McMillian can’t catch. Think even Miller is better than McMillian. Both Palmer and McMillian have been a disappointment this season. Neither one can replace Godwin.
November 13th, 2024 at 8:30 pm
I do wonder vs the 49ers if the idea wasn’t to just put out the best blocking WRs. I’m not nearly as high on Palmer as most people here, despite having good size and excellent speed, he was a 6th rounder for a reason – that being that his hands suck. He was very much a developmental player, and a one trick pony. In this short pass offense, he doesn’t have much of a role – although I’d certainly be using him to run fly routes in an attempt to hopefully open up some guys underneath.
But vs the 49ers, once Wirfs was out, and Sucke was in, everything was always going to be very quick passes, and Palmer isn’t good in that role. Additionally I don’t think he’s much of a run blocker either, so the combo of both of those things probably kept him off the field.
As a 4th or 5th string WR, I think he’s a much better fit, and he might end up being a lot more productive once Evans and McMillan or back since he will be asked to do a lot less.
November 13th, 2024 at 8:32 pm
I’ve said it before. I will continue to say it, he’s not a nfl player.
November 13th, 2024 at 9:31 pm
Is Palmer one of the walking wounded? Every team has unreported injuries. You don’t find about them until the season is over. Nagging injuries that are not reported for some reason.
November 13th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Is Kameron Johnson out for the season?
November 13th, 2024 at 9:56 pm
Yet Blowles said we don’t need to sign a veteran receiver. Yeah right Dudley Do wrong!
November 13th, 2024 at 10:38 pm
Another bad draft bust chosen by JL. When will the Joe-Joes stop defending JL? Time for a new GM.
November 13th, 2024 at 11:07 pm
We’ve gone from basic math to trig. with this offense. Many motions. Methinks the youngsters haven’t shown the brain power or commitment to learn their clearly defined, precise roles. Baker is not going to throw to a kid who fails to demonstrate that he’ll be where he’s supposed to be.
November 14th, 2024 at 12:02 am
Someone else on here got it 💯, by saying that you FIRST have to “Rise” before you can ever “Fall.” Someone else called him a “BUST.” He was a 6TH. ROUND. PICKKKK. #191 Overall, so closer to 7th. Please explain to me HOW a ‘SIXTH-ROUND’ Pick could EVER be a “BUST,” when it’s considered a ‘miracle’ for them, the majority of the time, JUST making the damm roster!? And, he’s no better than what Darden was even, at returning punts.
November 14th, 2024 at 1:22 am
i’ve already addressed the issue joe
November 14th, 2024 at 1:24 am
just mike him up for a game or two and see whatcha get 🙂