Jalen McMillan And Randy Moss
January 5th, 2025
Jalen McMillan hops over the goal line for a score last week.
Here’s a stat that blew Joe’s mind.
Jalen McMillan is on the cusp of having the greatest streak of touchdowns for a rookie receiver this century.
Yeah, Joe knows that a lot of Bucs fans were grumbling a month or so ago that McMillan was way overhyped and hasn’t come close to living up to raves that floated out of One Buc Palace this summer.
Well, as Keith Olbermann would say, that grumbling about McMillan may have been premature jocularity.
McMillan, as Sara Walsh of NFL Network points out, has six touchdowns in his last four games. If McMillan catches a touchdown today, that will be five straight games with a touchdown for the rookie.
The last time a rookie receiver had more than five straight games with a touchdown was back in 1998. That rookie’s name was Randy Moss.
Moss finished that season strong like McMillan is in his rookie year. Moss ended his rookie regular season with seven straight games with a touchdown catch.
Any time a rookie receiver is somehow linked to Moss, that’s a major compliment. Just ask Mike Evans, who was also compared to Moss as a rookie.
How’d that work out?
The Bucs want to get Mike Evans the ball Sunday, but they’ve proven there’s plenty of players who can find the end zone in this Tampa offense. #nflnetwork #bucs pic.twitter.com/Hw83EwnuQ0
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) January 4, 2025
January 5th, 2025 at 1:29 am
Go Bucs
January 5th, 2025 at 1:29 am
YAY! GO BUCS! Defrock those Saints.
January 5th, 2025 at 4:44 am
That is an excellent compliment. Randy Moss also stayed humble throughout too. Good man. Jalen is on his way to being a great WR, just like Mike.
January 5th, 2025 at 7:19 am
Keith Olbermann..dang. Forgot all about Olbermann. Way to go deep Joe.!
January 5th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Jalen should hire a marine to teach him hand to hand combat to win those contested balls.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:14 am
I’m getting Michael Clayton vibes. Hope I’m wrong.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Some people always expect too much from rookies.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Joe:
Keith Olberman is a complete lunatic. You should check out some of his opinion pieces and tweets over the last few years.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:26 am
It is going to be interesting if Bucs sign injured Godwin or go with Jalen McMillan as the #2 WR. If I were to guess, the Bucs will sign Godwin to a one year deal in the low 20’s.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:27 am
BoJim nailed it!!
“Some people always expect too much from rookies.”
Amen. McMillan is coming along nicely and what’s great is he is improving and still has upside with more experience. He has two of the best mentors in the NFL in ME13 and CG14.
I hope the Bucs can figure a way to get CG back but I fear the emergence of McMillan, along with a very serious injury to CG, and the market price of starting proven WR’s I fear he’ll be a cap/injury/emergence of McMillan casualty.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:58 am
I love this guy to. He was really awesome a couple of seasons ago 22 with the Washington Huskies . I think that knee from last year is all good and he is showing us that he belongs in the NFL. And yes way to many people put to much on the rookies. Coen showed us that he can coach and ironed those things out that were causing Jalen problems. Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
January 5th, 2025 at 9:00 am
As soon as I read Keith Olbermann, I got the douche-bumps. That guy is such a turd, and I am being real nice when saying that.
As for Jalen, I never doubted the kid. He just needed playtime to let the game slowdown for him. He’ll turn out to be a fantastic pick. I remember a certain Chris Godwin that (I think) only had 1 td catch his rookie year, and I think it was against the slimy ars saints.
Joe, I beg of you, please never bring up Keith’s name again.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:42 am
My worry is Chris Godwin may retire. 2 season-ending injuries at this point in his career?? Both due to cheating by the opposing team. Godwin is a class act like Mike Evans, and he’s smart, too. I think it’s great that McMillan is showing why Licht/Bowles drafted him. Let’s go get 10-7 Bucs!!
January 5th, 2025 at 9:59 am
J-Mac also has improved his downfield blocking. WR coach Bryan McClendon has done a great job on J-Mac’s blocking. Whenever Bucky rips a long run, I notice J-Mac in the picture stoning a DB and celebrating with Bucky on his long run.
Too bad Palmer isn’t progressing this year, as Ryan Miller has beat him out of WR4. Kudos to Miller though for stepping up, I’ve always liked his hands.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:07 am
orlbucfan
Don’t confuse a season ending injury with a career ending injury. Godwin will recover from his ankle injury. He will only be 29 next season and is in his prime. With his work ethic and attitude, we need to sign him. How awesome would it be to have Evans, Godwin, and McMillan as your starting receivers. I am not worried about Godwin’s contract because the Bucs have shown they’ll do what they need to do to sign a player they value.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:35 am
Don’t be confused about this. Bowles’ seat is very hot right now. If he loses this game, which he is prone to doing, his season is over and he loses his job with Coen as his replacement. If I was him and he does make the playoffs I would win at least one playoff game to feel secure at all.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:51 am
IMHO, the Buc’s O needs to focus, PROTECT THE BALL, use a heavy dose of BI7 and ME13!!! Feel free to sprinkle in some JM15 and RW1 too!! The D needs to make plays, get off the field on 3rd and 4th downs! Perhaps even win the turnover battle! Most of all WIN!!
January 5th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Different era. Moss had to look for guys like John Lynch who were allowed to hit him. Jalen is playing on a large basketball court by comparison. Good to see some production though.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:57 am
That is impressive that our rookie WR can do something no other rookie WR has done since 1998! Let’s go Bucs!
January 5th, 2025 at 10:58 am
If only yhr Bucs could scout and draft edge rushers like they do receivers.
January 5th, 2025 at 11:04 am
LOL Once upon a time, the guy was legit.
January 5th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Do playoff games count in that streak? (asking for a friend.) (Knocking on wood)
January 5th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
randy moss should sue you for defamation including mcmillans name next to his
January 5th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
If the Bucs don’t resign Godwin, it’s because they believe so strongly in JMAC.
January 5th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
And he did with in major fashion today! This kid is going to be tuff
January 5th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Olberman is a complete enraged IDIOT. A SERIOUS mental patient. Mind is mush. Completely, ROTTEN, And, has been for a loooong time. JMac just needed time. Hell, he got INJURED in like his very first game (had a TD too, I believe), then missed a few games entirely, & played HURT for several games after he got back. And, seems like he got a little ‘beat-up’ in training camp as well. Plus, had very few reps (if any at all) with Baker, all during the preseason AND he had Chris Godwin there in front of him, too. So, GOD… What TH Would You EXPECT From a ROOKIE WR, learning a brand new offense, & etc. with a brand new TEAM. It’s amazing what HE has done. It takes time, in order to find your way in this LEAGUE, hell. But, I cannot see CG getting anywhere near $20-MIL+ Fully-Guaranteed. No Way. I was thinking/hoping more on the lines of a 1yr/$10-MIL “prove-it” type of a deal with the Bucs, but LOADED-UP with ‘incentives’ where it could get him up to more in that $20-$25MIL range total, AFTER incentives. $20MIL, if more on his ‘normal’ (expected) numbers, & up to $25MIL (unexpected), if he hits more the ‘numbers’ he was on pace for this season… Possibly, even up to close to $30MIL, if factoring in a Super Bowl WIN, & playing in every game, Etc. I would be much more comfortable with something like that. And, I don’t believe there is any way he is retiring… Just waaaayyy too much $$$$ involved. He was too close to hitting the JACKPOT this off-season, to see him just walk away, like THAT. It’s a shame. I really felt for him & hated that. He was in the midst of one HELLUVA (career) Season, and right at THE perfect timing for it, too. Just some real bad luck.
January 7th, 2025 at 3:24 am
You could have quoted just about anyone else besides Obeman and I would have been fine with it. Please spare us.
We including myself were not wrong BTW Joe. A month ago he had one or two games that were above average and folks were raving… Now I am happy to say he has put together some stats that show he is a dude who can play.
Go Bucs!