Gauging Tim Wright’s Instincts
February 3rd, 2014
His position coach is studying
Undrafted Rutgers man and rookie tight end Tim Wright stunned Bucs fans and the National Football League last season with 54 catches and five touchdowns.
The converted tight end flashed great hands. He improved steadily. He had his best games against good teams. But is Wright a tight end?
Bucs tight ends coach Jon Embree met local media for the first time last week. In this Buccaneers.com video, Embree talks about how Wright doesn’t always look so “instinctive” because of his limited experience.
Joe wonders how Jeff Tedford will evaluate Wright, who played with less than 235 pounds on his 6-4 frame last season. Tedford, as Joe wrote last week, spent time with Bill Belicheat in 2012 and walked away eager to incorporate more double receiving tight end sets and more.
Outside of Wright, the Bucs don’t really have another tight end or a slot receiver right now.
Tedford, if nothing else, is an offensive guru who will craft his system around his players (not vice versa) and is willing to be unconventional. It would not surprise Joe to see the Bucs turn Wright into a hybrid slot receiver/tight end, especially if Lovie Smith is going to launch his regime by building — and buying — the best defense known to man.
The Bucs don’t have a third round pick this season. And does anyone really think the Bucs would draft two offensive players in Rounds 1 & 2?
The Bucs are likely to be a little thin on offense in 2014, and the best way to combat that is to have a versatile roster. Wright’s potential is untapped, and Joe would expect Tedford to explore using him every way possible.
asd
February 3rd, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Must have been hung over on this one… Guaging! Is that a Chinese word or something?
February 3rd, 2014 at 12:46 pm
A) Can Wright gain weight??
B) If he plays at 235, why NOT use him in mulitple-receiver sets??
February 3rd, 2014 at 1:02 pm
“Tedford, if nothing else, is an offensive guru…”
Can we wait to call him a guru until he actually proves he is one?
February 3rd, 2014 at 1:08 pm
if tedford likes how the patriots attacked with 2 TEs, i would say Wright is better suited as the second TE, not the every-down type guy. he lacks the bulk and won’t develop the aforementioned instincts in a single offseason to be the top snap-getter at TE on a balanced and dangerous offense.
February 3rd, 2014 at 1:32 pm
Why not drop a few lbs. and check him out in the slot ?
February 3rd, 2014 at 1:34 pm
I think he’s good at TE. Maybe we trade down and take TE Eric Ebron, Jace Amaro, or Austin Seferian-Jenkins depending where we trade down.
February 3rd, 2014 at 1:45 pm
I like Wright a lot, but I would trade him. When you are starting with a blank slate on offense, keeping the players you have doesn’t matter too much, and you can probably get good value for him from a team whose system needs a versatile tight end. Use those players or picks and make the roster better overall by making it deeper.
February 3rd, 2014 at 1:53 pm
Thin on offense? Right now, yes. But with one or two pieces at WR or TE and a healthy Mike Will and Dougie, Glennon wouldnt have too many excuses.
Ive said it before and Ill say it again -the Bucs need to do something with VJax in order to line their ducks in a row at WR. Mike Williams is a solid starter but will never light the world on fire and VJax is earning over $12 million over the next three years. Jackson must be traded before the Bucs find themselves in a situation where it will be too late and they will have to think about cutting to save room against the cap.
February 3rd, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Unless Clowney falls there is no defensive player worth taking at #7. Mack and Barr are 3-4 guys and Barr is a bust waiting to happen. Watkins or Robinson at #7. 2nd round…ASJ if he is there, Donald or Ford maybe if they slide…
February 3rd, 2014 at 2:04 pm
One of the very few bright spots from last year……and people are talking about moving him to the slot?
I hope not –
C’MON MAN!!!!!!!!!!!
on a side note- I wasn’t sold on the coaching hires, but they are growing on me. should be a good year in that the locker room should be a whole lot different.
February 3rd, 2014 at 2:31 pm
There are good TEs beyond rounds 1 and 2. C.J. Fiedorowicz is a gifted big TE who can block and catch. So is Crockett Gilmore. Tedford himself recruited a TE that he was high on at Cal, Richard Rodgers, that is slotted for the 6th or 7th round. Tim Wright is a keeper, but will have company. We will have another playmaker TE. Count on it!
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_24799998/local-digest-tight-end-richard-rodgers-leaves-cal
February 3rd, 2014 at 2:35 pm
Wright remind me of an Aaron Hernandez without the criminal history.
February 3rd, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Honestly , is Wright not considerably better than Dallas Clark? Sure we want a Gonzalez — or a MacKey — but Wright did well in a position that is becoming more widely used and recognized — TE split from the formation. But doubt he will ever serve as a blocking/receiving double threat.
February 3rd, 2014 at 2:54 pm
‘guru’ is such an overused word. Like ‘genius’ it implies more than the reality. I hope he works with Wright and improves his size, mobility and route running. I liked what i saw, would like to see him targeted more in the upcoming year.
February 3rd, 2014 at 3:06 pm
IMO,
We need Balance & Versatility
(Strong Options)
(Blocking TE)
• TE Brandon Pettigrew (28) 6-5 265
• TE Tom Crabtree (28) 6-4 245
(Vertical Threat/Slot Out Wide TE )
• TE Tim Wright 6-4 220 (4.6) (Conversion)
• TE Brandon Coleman 6-6 220 (4.5) (Conversion)
*Prospect -Brandon Coleman (WR/TEConversion) (Mid- Round Pick)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zhPTLZ3Tdc
February 3rd, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Guys, Wright probably wasn’t even close to 235 last season, he checked into his Pro Day at exactly 6’3 (on the nose) and 219 lbs…and for those of you that are misguided enough to think he can simply drop weight or add weight and maintain effectiveness… he ran a very subpar (for a WR) 4.65-4.71 handtimed.
Any weight he gains will make him slower…and he doesn’t have much speed to spare at this point.\
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=85049&draftyear=2013&genpos=WR
February 3rd, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Weather they will or not (draft an offensive player in the first 2 rounds) remains to be seen. But…seeing as we have not taken a 1st round offensive player (with the exception of Doug Martin) in the first 2 rounds sense we drafted Arrelious Benn, I think it is imperative that we do draft some top talent for the offense or we will continue to suck. The defense can be patched with FA, we do not have that many holes there. I believe we should take Sammy Watkins with the first pick (if hes there) and Austin Seferian-Jenkins with our second pick. If we add these two to the mix we could be a very dangerous offense.
February 3rd, 2014 at 4:00 pm
I thought Wright did fine just the way he is. Let’s fix what is broken first. No?
February 3rd, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Why in the hell would we trade wright? Bucsfanforever what are you crazy? He was an undrafted fa rookie that we scored on. Keep him see how he does in year 2. Bet u wanna trade him to new England huh? U and schiano on belicheat payroll?
February 3rd, 2014 at 5:12 pm
@sneedy
LOL my thoughts exactly, he is a weapon and I think he could be really good moving forward. As good as Hernandez doubt it but he will be on the field.
Someone mentioned Pettigrew? Must not watch a lot of Lions games, dude drops tons of key passes and fumbles as well. Fans have been down on him for years, huge target though.
Bucs are going to add a lot of potential talent on both sides of the ball this year which we desperately need.
February 3rd, 2014 at 5:20 pm
He’s proven to be one in all the leagues he’s coached in up till now, no reason to think it will change now.
February 3rd, 2014 at 6:07 pm
I like Wright. He’s got great hands and can get open. Don’t know if he knows the position well enough though. I really hope Tom Crabtree comes back 100% and gets a shot. That guy has got big potential and is a power house. I know regardless of what happens at the TE position I would love to see another WR at 6’4 or 6’5 to play across from Vjax. I would stick Williams in the slot. Hope to see them throwing to our RB’s a lot more next season as well. But when you look at chicago’s offense, especially after an offensive minded coach came in with Jeffery and Marshall on the outside and Bennett at Tight end that is a hard offense to stop. So stick Williams in the slot we got Vjax get a big receiver and then we got Martin and James in the back field.
February 4th, 2014 at 12:13 am
I love Tim Wright. He is a quieter, but tougher version of K2. And MUCH less mileage. Hands like glue and enough speed the create a mismatch against most safties and linebackers… Tim Wright is a keeper, and a weapon.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:18 pm
The question is does the guy has speed to be a slot receiver? I don’t think so, let’s try to see if the guy can pickup some pounds because he is clearly a threat at his current position. If the current staff where to move him to slot he would be just like the rest of our receiving corps a bunch of POSSESSION receivers.