Showtime For Vincent Jackson
April 6th, 2014
The new regime wants more
Your beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers report back to One Buc Palace tomorrow to embark on yet another new era.
Players will hit the scales, meet the new training staff, and get the long-awaited rules of Buccaneer life from new head coach Lovie Smith.
Unspoken rule No. 1? Don’t act like Mike Williams.
Yes, tomorrow Lovie will lay down the new law and likely shock the crap out of several Bucs who got accustomed to the New Schiano Order. Regardless of how Lovie is interpreted and received, Joe sure hopes DaQuan Bowers realizes that, unlike last year, he needs to be in premium shape come training camp.
What will be interesting is learning how leadership emerges in the overhauled Buccaneers locker room.
One guy Lovie and his staff will be looking to is Vincent Jackson, the Bucs’ $10 million man for 2014. Back in February, Joe recalls listening to new Bucs receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker and hearing that the Bucs want more leadership out of Jackson.
If that’s the case, then Jackson’s going to have to perform right out of the gate tomorrow. Jackson, a team captain on the NFL’s worst offense last year, must do better in that leadership role, especially considering he likely will be the go-to guy for one or two rookie receivers. Hayes-Stoker certainly doesn’t have the strongest resume as a position coach and could use the help.
Yes, Jackson is here primarily to catch footballs and touchdowns, but Lovie wants more than that. And for Jackson’s massive salary, Jackson probably has to be a standout on and off the field to return at 32 years old in 2015.
That’s no slight of Jackson, just the reality of surviving a regime change in the NFL. Jason Licht and Lovie have no ties to V-Jax. After the ousting of Darrelle Revis, Joe can’t rule out anything.
April 6th, 2014 at 9:56 pm
It’s showtime for Mike Glennon
April 6th, 2014 at 9:58 pm
I’m not worried about him stepping up. Jackson keeps performing despite the nuttiness of the last 2 seasons. Besides, I think he’ll flourish under Lovie.
April 6th, 2014 at 10:00 pm
I was thinking the same thing, great opportunity for Tedford to personally evaluate Mike.
Might go a long way in deciding what direction to go in the draft.
April 6th, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Always bothered me that as a captain he refused to speak to the media after losses and left that to other less experienced players.
April 6th, 2014 at 10:28 pm
that’s crazy. When Jackson first got here receivers like Mike Williams described him as a tremendous leader. They would think they’d be done, and Jackson would say no we have to watch more film and they would follow.
Not sure where this is coming from, that sure sounds like a good leader already to me.
April 6th, 2014 at 10:29 pm
The team has to get VJax some help somehow at WR. VJax is our #1 but, as evidenced last season, going without a legitimate #2 and #3 WR’s the defense just rolls extra coverage over on to VJax. Not only does this decrease the reception windows, he’s being physically abused by multiple defenders on any given play. At the age of 32 it’s already apparent he has lost his 3rd gear and gets caught from behind but he is still a great leaper and precise route runner. I would love to see the Bucs draft Mike Evans to be our new #1 WR, then move VJax to the slot for his in space receiving skills and his above average blocking skills. Then let the other receivers (newly drafted or previously signed) battle it out in camp for the #2 spot.
April 6th, 2014 at 10:46 pm
If the letting go of an all pro, all world corner for nothing doesn’t shock and light a fire for these guys I don’t know what will!!
April 6th, 2014 at 11:06 pm
I think the Bucs have a good shot at moving up from 32nd in offense to about 30 or 31 this year. Are you excited yet?
April 6th, 2014 at 11:08 pm
Orlandobucsfan …every player, every fan, and their moms know why Revis was let go. It was not for lack of motivation.
April 6th, 2014 at 11:10 pm
BucFan1987,
I would hope for #31 too, but no one signed Freeman yet.
April 6th, 2014 at 11:29 pm
BucFanForever…maybe Lovie will bring him back….
April 6th, 2014 at 11:45 pm
lmao, Jackson is not going anywhere. And he will be a good mentor to whoever we draft at WR, just like Mike acknowledged that he tried to be with him. Unfortunately, you can only help a guy so much. He’s still a very productive, legitimate number 1 WR and we are sorely lacking at the position. No way he goes, even at 10 mil.
April 6th, 2014 at 11:54 pm
Garrett Gilbert has a workout here tomorrow. He may well be the “secret Franchise QB” that Tedford spoke of.
Once upon a time- he was a very highly sought after talent. Biiiig arm, big size.
Jackson is a leader, and a tremendous person- with high Character.
He will excell again- once he has a QB with a legit NFL arm
April 7th, 2014 at 12:31 am
Draft Mike Evans and release VJax. We could put that 10 mill to more WR and OL
April 7th, 2014 at 12:37 am
Joe,
I don’t know how to ask this, but…
(this is really embarrassing)
…would you make a Johnny Football post?
It’s been like 2 days.
Just for old-time sake?
Thanks.
April 7th, 2014 at 2:56 am
“Draft Mike Evans and release VJax. We could put that 10 mill to more WR and OL”
——-
Why are some people so stupid? Are they born with it, or does it just grow with time?
April 7th, 2014 at 3:19 am
“After the ousting of Darrelle Revis, Joe can’t rule out anything.”
Yep Hawaiian – I know what you mean by stupid^^^^^^^
April 7th, 2014 at 7:11 am
RELEASE VJAX???? Now thats stupid. You draft Evans and KEEP Vjax. He does need to step it up but we need him this year. Get rid of him next year but we need him if we want to win now. Ive been bashing him on his drops all offseason, but with a little pressure taken off of him…which should not have to be done at his salary, and help across the field from someone like sammy or evans will change things drastically. Vjax needs to be part of the equation until the new guy gets a year under his belt. Then draft his replacement.
April 7th, 2014 at 7:47 am
As long as he doesn’t hear from Lovie that he is looking forward to working with him then he should be safe. Funny how fans were so quick to assume Schiano was a BS’er yet Lovie said Revis would be a big part of his D…nope, Mike Williams would get a shot…nope. Wonder how many other players he’ll give a pat on the back to as he’s showing them the door?
April 7th, 2014 at 10:28 am
Buc1987 Said:
“I think the Bucs have a good shot at moving up from 32nd in offense to about 30 or 31 this year. Are you excited yet?”
I’m thinking 7-9. 😉
Vjax has got to stay 1 more year. Till we can replace him and I don’t see anyone in the draft that can produce as well now.
April 7th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Vincent Jackson is not an issue. Wether or not to draft an O-lineman or a reciever first, that is the issue for the rest of this off-season
April 7th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
@Lev
You are so right.
Evans looks like an exact clone of V-Jax!
They are the same player! Except Mike Evans wont get caught from behind as much as V-Jax.
It depends on how much cheaper Evans would be?
If hes still 7 million a year, then Im not sure we cut Vjax. It might be better to keep him as a sure fire #1.
But as everyone has proven, when we dont have a #2 reciever, we have no chance!