Jalen McMillan Still Learning He’s No Longer Playing Cal
December 22nd, 2024
Too soft.
Joe has a saying, “Rookies play like rookies because they are rookies” because they often make (or don’t make) plays … because they are still learning they no longer have East Cornfield State on the schedule.
Or in Jalen McMillan’s case, he’s no longer playing Cal.
The rookie receiver had gone into the witness protection program for much of the heart of the season but of late, he’s been made an impact.
Unfortunately, tonight, McMillan made impact plays for the Cowboys. Simply put, McMillan has to learn how to secure the ball. That means not dropping the ball, and that means securing the ball.
He had a critical catch early in the game but as he rolled over he lost possession. Instead of an important first down, it was a drop.
Then the most critical came late in the game with the Bucs down two scores frantically scrambling to score, Mayfield threw down the middle and hit McMillan on the goal line.
On the replay, Joe sure thought McMillan had possession as he hit the turf. Instead of a touchdown, Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis ripped the ball out of McMillan’s hands for a pick.
That was lethal.
After McMillan has a postseason break in January, he needs to spend time in a weight room — daily! — and build up his hands and arms and learn how to secure and protect the ball.
His inability to hang onto the ball on critical plays Sunday night may have cost the Bucs the playoffs.
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:42 pm
That call is literally the death of the NFL to me it’s clearly rigged that’s a Touchdown…
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:42 pm
He needs to get into the wight room
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:43 pm
Dear Joe’s……
McMillan DID have possession when he went to the ground then The ball was pulled away from him…..
What’s sad is they reviewed the play and the Officials still f_cked it up!!!!
Is anything at the worst case, it was simultaneous possession
Based on an NFL role that always goes to the wide receiver…..
I’m sick of seeing BS refs Changing the game’s result….
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Com’on Joe…that’s a low blow…Mac played his tail off…yea he dropped a tough one early and the Dallas defender made a good play to take it away but beyond that he played pretty damn good
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:44 pm
That was a catch, that’s never not been a catch for the 40+ years I’ve been watching football. A tie always goes to the receiver, you can’t strip the ball after you’re on the ground, the fact anyone is going with that obvious blown bogus call is disgusting.
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:45 pm
Agree Joe dawgonit clutch that dad gum ball. And how many times is White going to cough up the rock in key situations !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Saints !!
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
McMillian is terrible Get a better WR!
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Can’t beat the refs
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
It was a touchdown
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Thank you Rod Munch!!!
I rewatch that play multiple times, and McMillan had possession when he hit the ground. The ball was pulled away……
TD for McMillan!!!
The refs are a giant pile of excrement!!!
I would never pay a cent to the NFL For anything that they profit in….
They have instant replay, and they should’ve fixed that call.
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
TRASK MAKES THAT CATCH
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
We just have to win out! Let’s Go BUCS!!!
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
At least Todd Bowles will be fired now & Liam Coen made Head Coach. the Decision is easy!
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:47 pm
That’s a catch refs gave the lions the calls and honestly all the calls. Tie up goes to the ground call goes to the receiver, never seen it go to the defender before
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:47 pm
He does need to spend time in the weight room and gain some weight etc
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:48 pm
Cowboys not lions
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:52 pm
@Rod I know you’re feeling vitriolic tonight, but the modern rules in the NFL state that the WR has to survive the ground in the endzone. Jalen didn’t and that’s why they called it an INT.
Even if the Lewis only knocked the ball out of his hands for a PBU it would have been called incomplete the way the rule is written now.
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:55 pm
A Bucs Fan – I’ve never seen that play called that way. From the replays I saw, both players had their hands on the ball – I didn’t see it move until after they hit the ground. That has always been a reception – I’ve never seen that not called a reception. Maybe there’s a different angle I didn’t see – but the angles I did see looked very clear and definitive.
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:57 pm
I’m gonna keep writing this…..
McMillan GOT SCREWED by some crappy-ass officiating….
TD was taken away from him on a play in a worst-case scenario, BASED ON NFL RULE should have been a catch for the wide receiver!!!!!!
I’m sick and tired of this POS NFL league and the constant atrocious BS calls that are never in Bucs favor…..
Game changing calls…….
Screw this, BUCS won this game!!!
Bowles made good adjustments at halftime and shut down Dallas in 2nd half…..
Tampa had to try & come back DUE TO MORE CRAPPY non- calls in the first half. Refs refused to call a penalty on Dallas like the BLATANT offensive push in Zyon’s back by CD Lamb on that deep pass that was OPI, and then the play before was definitely holding by Dowdle on Lavonte’s blitz when he got grabbed and taken down…..
I’m beyond tired of this crap……..
NFL, use some of the MILLIONS that you earn and get some competent refs !!!
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:57 pm
No no no Joe……
Write one up for your boy R. White also.
Or write 1 up for Bowles defense giving up CAREER HIGHS AGAIN to a backup QB.
December 22nd, 2024 at 11:59 pm
The last one in the end zone was a freak play. The defender made a special (‘lucky’) play on the ball. It should’ve never been thrown in the first place. JMAC is not a ‘burner’ and never has been. It was totally FORCED by Baker 💯- entirely unnecessary… We were driving and were beginning to really wear down that defense. It was only a matter of time. They just needed to keep the ‘tempo’ going… They were going to score. It just wasn’t needed. It was a bad (another FORCED) decision by Baker.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:00 am
A Bucs Fan, you are wrong!!!
McMillan DID survive the ground.
The ball was pulled away by defender….
That’s a TD !!!
If you wanna challenge it and call it simultaneous possession because both guys had the ball at the same time, that always goes to the wide receiver. That is an NFL rule!!
The officials screwed us!!
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:02 am
Joe too thought the same thing.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:04 am
It’s becusss he didn’t even fight for it once they hit the ground. The other guy immediately got up with it.
Wrong call IMO but it is what it is.
Shepard also had huge drops, one of which there wasn’t a defender in sight.
Defense let us down on the first half.
Offense line and wide receivers let us down in both halves.
And Bowleszo the clown wasted a timeout with 50 seconds left and gifted the cowboys 3 points, in a 2 point loss.
Another turd from the Bucs. Same as it ever was.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:06 am
Bucfan1988 Says:
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:00 am
A Bucs Fan, you are wrong!!!
McMillan DID survive the ground.
The ball was pulled away by defender….
That’s a TD !!!
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This is literally what I saw as well. I did not see the ball moving or being boobled, I saw it being held by both the offensive and defensive players when they hit the ground. Once the play hits the ground, the play is over so long as the ball wasn’t moving. Again, I did not see the ball move at all, and they had a really good shot of it, I can’t imagine there’s an angle that shows it moving.
That is a catch in literally every other game of football I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m not being a homer.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:06 am
It was an entertaining game. Bucs pass defense made some guy named Cooper Rush look like an All Pro. Familiar territory for this defense. Run D was stout and liked the final stop. Thought Mayfield would get team in field goal territory. Too bad about fumble but the effort was there. So now Bucs finish 10-7 and hope that Washington can knock off ATL.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:06 am
It should’ve been called an “incomplete pass,” because that was exactly, what it WAS (he never possessed it all the way thru and was already on the ground when the dude ripped it out). 💯 PERIOD. End of Story. I mean, HOW do they ‘allow’ the defender to get away with THAT!?
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:08 am
McMillan needed to maintain possession, not let the defender rip the ball loose. If he does that, it is a touchdown. Just a more physical defender making a play on a less physical receiver. Speaking of physical, that was a beat down by the Cowboys across the board. For those wanting to see what Payne Durham is made of, you got your answer, he is a big bodied wuss. He has no business wearing Gronkowski’s old number. Dang, another miserable after dark performance by the Bucs.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:10 am
Bucfan1988 – I don’t disagree about whether he possessed the ball when he hit the ground but he didn’t survive the ground. Ever since 9/12/2010 that was not a catch due to not completing the process of the catch in the end zone ala Calvin Johnson.
Take your gripe up with the NFL.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:12 am
It didn’t look like he “survived it” to me, because he RIPPED-IT out of his hands… When, HE WAS Already, ON THE GROUND. So, HOW is it even possibly an INTERCEPTION… I just can’t see it. Makes no sense, to me.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:13 am
MelvinJunior, it’s not an incomplete pass because the ball never hit the ground…
Buckit, McMillan DID have possession when he went to the ground and the ball was pulled away. Thats not an interception…That’s a TD for McMillan!!
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:16 am
So many plays, the dropped int, the two first down drops, 2 strips, 2 58 yard field goals smh and they just got by…… Dallas was playing hard tonight.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:16 am
There was a BIG ‘controversial’ play with Dez Bryant also (exposing that rule), in that Playoff game against the Packers in Green Bay!!!!
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:16 am
A BUCS FAN,
McMillan damn well fully completed the catch after going to the ground. When you are on the ground WITH POSSESSION and it’s pulled away by the defender, it’s NOT an interception…..
That’s complete horsecrap…
The refs blatantly screwed the Bucs on this call.
What’s sad is they could’ve taken their time reviewing to play closer on instant replay, and they still screwed it up.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:17 am
Joe a banged up Dallas team is East Cornfield University. McCarthy out coached Bowles and Coen.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:21 am
Again…Can’t beat the refs
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:21 am
I don’t see HOW you can rip a ball outta a guys hands when he never “survived” the ground & while the defender is also on the ground. You obviously, couldn’t give JMAC the TD there, but I’m not sure that the “Defender” deserved it, either.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:22 am
Please, Cade be healthy next week. Durham not quite prime time .
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:23 am
Joe, you have my permission to write an article on how Cade was missed.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:23 am
All true, Joe, but the kid runs great routes. If we can keep our top 3 receivers healthy next year, we will contend.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:25 am
@Bucfan1988- We’ll have to agree to disagree because I’ve seen variations of that play many times only the ball is just knocked out for a PBU and not intercepted.
It’s like we forget the rules: From the 2024 NFL Rule book
” Going to the Ground: If a player is falling to the ground while catching the ball, they must maintain control of the ball AFTER they land for it to be considered a catch.”
Jalen did not do that.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:31 am
We don’t BELONG in the playoffs ,with this defense!
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:34 am
He’s a rookie and it happens but yea he needs to get in the weight room. It happens to veterans also. Russell Shepard had a pass hit him right in the hands also. Just have to move on to the next play like Todd Bowles corners after giving up catch after catch
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:51 am
Good teams don’t need to worry about bad calls.
This is an above average but not good team. Fact.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:56 am
A Bucs Fan, I DVR’d that play a bunch of times and rewatched it.
McMillan went to the ground WITH POSSESSION and the defender was trying to pull as well. AFTER McMillan was in the ground with possession, they both rolled over backward, and then the defender pull the ball away…
WORST CASE scenario is simultaneous possession which goes to McMillan…..
I took a slo-mo of this play and put it on my Facebook……
I’m telling you, the refs botched this play and it cost the Bucs the game.
The NFL should be apologizing to the Bucs ownership in the morning for their screwup.
December 23rd, 2024 at 1:14 am
The NFL should be apologizing to the Bucs ownership in the morning for their screwup.
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The refs should be investigated for fixing games in this day of sanctioned gambling on those games
December 23rd, 2024 at 2:27 am
That first one was a rookie not properly following through, noticed that.
Feel McMillan learned from that and wraps those catches up in future.
That second one screamed rookie hit the weight room. Jalen is limber, but he’s surprised me past couple weeks with his TD’s and big plays.
I feel confident with him as our #3 going 4ward. I think McMillan has shown enough to know he wasn’t a wasted pick, but infact a good pick.
Loss wasn’t mostly on him
December 23rd, 2024 at 7:30 am
Godwin’ss injury really has hurt the Bucs. McMillanis a rookie and shows!
He is learning on the fly because of Godwin’s injury.
December 23rd, 2024 at 8:25 am
He had possession of the ball after crossing the goal line. TD! End of Story!
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:24 am
Let ‘em bake Says:
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:23 am
Joe, you have my permission to write an article on how Cade was missed.
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Very good and fair observation. Payne Durham played OK but he just wasn’t a threat over the middle like Otton is. Without Otton as a relief valve, the blitzers were able to tee off on Mayfield.
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:52 am
Him and Rashad White cost us to season. By far, the two softest players on the entire team.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Officiating was horrible Mac Milan had a touch once ball touched Pi line it is dead why not Challenge
December 24th, 2024 at 9:25 am
When u have a coach who barely ever complains or flips out the refs knw that they can call plays against us.. bruce would have gone pyscho.. we have a below average coach who the refs knw will just make his stupid face and not ever flip out. McMillan is all talk and no results.. he made 4 good catches all season but he acts like he is a all pro.. let’s just wait until the end of the season and draft better. I think Mike said that about him to try and bring him out of funk since we don’t have chris. We will get chris back and draft a better wide reciver. Look at bake face after that play and he it was the kid cost us another one.
December 24th, 2024 at 10:22 am
It’s rough when you have to play against the refs as well . We will be fine though, we just need Washington to take care of business and we will do our part. That’s if Bowles get on his damn job .even if we make the playoffs I want Bowles gone with his vanilla defense.