Crazy Week For Solomon Patton
September 9th, 2014
Last Sunday, Solomon Patton was one of the very few bright spots on the field for the Bucs in a debacle loss to the Stinking Panthers. He averaged 26 yards a kick return fielding only two.
A day before, he had no idea he would even play.
Sunday marked the end of a rollercoaster-span of eight days for Patton, where he was unsure where his next paycheck would come from, or his occupation.
Eight days prior to the opening game, Patton found out he was not on the final 53-man roster, though he thought he had a good shot.
“I was keeping count on how many guys they cut,” Patton said of the final weeks of preseason “‘Maybe I will be OK?’ Then, I got the phone call.”
And that phone call wasn’t to invite Patton to a day of fishing in the Gulf. The phone call was from the turk. He was no longer a Bucs player.
That didn’t last long. A few days later, Patton, surprisingly, cleared waivers. Even more surprising was yet another phone call from the Bucs on Saturday.
“When we had our walk-through Saturday morning, I left the facility and I got a phone call,” Patton said. “That call was to inform Patton he was on the team’s 53-man roster, would be active for Sunday and would return both kicks and punts.
“I just believed everything would work out,” Patton said.
Currently, Patton said his goal, per the Bucs coaches, is to always get over 11 yards a punt return each time he touches the ball. Anything more than that is gravy. The NFL average is 9.4 yards, so if Patton to get 11 yards (or more) a punt return, that’s quite good.
Patton noted it’s not as easy as it sounds on paper. He echoed a theme former Bucs commander Greg Schiano told Joe last year, that punt return may be the toughest task in the NFL.
“It’s a big job,” Patton said. “You are the only one standing there you hope your guys hold up [on blocks]. You are looking at the ball and you have guys coming [after you] full speed. it is pretty tough, There’s a lot to think about.”
As for as his kick returns, Patton gives credit to the guys blocking for him.
“Everybody did a great job holding their blocks,” Patton said. “It is all about making those blocks and about timing and we are getting on the same page with me catching the ball and the blocking.
“Everyday we work on the timing with both kickoff an punt return. It is all about timing.”
And phone calls.
September 9th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
The Mamba…is wearing Karl “The Truths #…..good sign !!!!!
September 9th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Hope he brings back the Michael Spurlock days!
September 9th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This kid is going to bea beast. He might not get much action at wr but he’ll make a good returner
September 9th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Micheal Spurlock was overrated, the only good returner we had was Clifton Smith
September 9th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Mike Washington had something like 100 punt without a fair catch…..and Karl Williams was excellent returning punts for many years
September 9th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
What happens if they lose to the Rams?
Are we going to see 80% of our offense?
Are we going to see calls for Glennon from the masses?
Are we going to see calls for lovie’s head?
Are we going to bring in Incognito?
How about next year we have a drama free football team.
September 9th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
but can he play QB?
September 9th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
Solomon Patton wasn’t the only one on the team with a CRAZY week.
Too many to list
September 9th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
RastaMon Says:
September 9th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Mike Washington didn’t return punts. You’re thinking of Danny Reece – he never fair caught, but he also never got anywhere with the ball either. KW was a good punt returner though.
September 9th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Danny Reece..you are correct…
September 9th, 2014 at 5:15 pm
@Pablo. … cant say overrated to the first player in franchise history to return a kickoff for a TD. Or how about the punt return for TD in New Orleans to help us win the game in the 4th qtr? Etc….Get ur $hit straight son. I could see if you said Dexter Jackson the pride of Appalachian State was overrated. Not Spurlock. Keep your head on a swivel. Ray Ray has a viscous left hook Petey Pablo.
September 9th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Joseph the Dreamer aka Jesus Jr aka Dionysius aka Sokratis
LOVES THIS DUDE!
September 9th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
pablo Says
“Micheal Spurlock was overrated, the only good returner we had was Clifton Smith.”
Spurlock was not overrated, and Clifton SUCKED at returns, which is why the Bucs brought Spurlock back.
Williams was barely acceptable. Average at best.
Page was very slightly above average, but improving. He only had a year.
Michael Spurlock would have done better, but by the time a team showed confidence in him, he was slowing down because of his age. The thing that made Spurlock good was not his average, but that as long as he was in there was a chance he could score and save us from a loss. Smith didn’t give us that, nor did Williams. Certainly not Owusu. Page? He only had one year to develop, but he had done it in college several times, so at least there was a chance.
I wanted Page to stay, but…I also felt the one person I could accept replacing him was Solomon Patton. When both were cut, I was shocked. I DO feel like it is a matter of time before Solomon Patton takes one to the house.
September 9th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Also, there was Michael Smith, who briefly returned punts or kicks.
September 9th, 2014 at 7:08 pm
Curse of Eric Page