“They Caught Everything”
May 7th, 2016
Dirk Koetter recalls rookie camp gems
Presiding over his first rookie minicamp as head coach this weekend, Dirk Koetter knows what he’s seeking in the mess of tryout guys, undrafted free agents and draft picks.
Last year, a couple of no-name, off-the-street dudes were shining at rookie minicamp and got to keep rolling with the team into training camp.
They ended playing a lot of regular-season snaps and finishing with a combined 38 catches and two touchdowns. Their names are Donteea Dye and Adam Humphries.
Joe asked Koetter yesterday to reflect on what made them stand out in their rookie camp.
“Well, they caught everything and they showed both quickness and speed and they showed they could learn,” Koetter said.
That was a theme yesterday for Koetter, talking about how long-shot guys need to be able to adapt fast. He estimated about 19 of the 51 in rookie camp will still have jobs with the Bucs on Monday.
That’s a lot of shattered dreams on Sunday night.
May 7th, 2016 at 8:27 am
Just what I wanted to hear…””they caught everthing…” A couple of those WR were very effective(at their level of comp), have size, and speed. Hoping and praying for a couple of diamonds in the rough.
May 7th, 2016 at 8:29 am
It must really suck to have to look all of those guys in the eyes and tell them thanks for everything, but we no longer have any need for you. Football is the only thing for a lot of these guys
May 7th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Ummm its that because they have 19 spots open on the 90 man TC roster?
May 7th, 2016 at 9:05 am
You have to empathize with these kids…..they play football for years…..dream of getting drafted….don’t get drafted, then are relegated to either tryouts or UDFA…..still such an uphill climb to reach their dreams…….like actors going through auditions only to not get the part.
It’s too bad the NFL doesn’t have minor leagues so these guys can still play organized football.
May 7th, 2016 at 9:19 am
History probably tells us that if the Bucs find just a couple of ‘keepers’ out of that 51 they will have hit the jackpot. Heck, it’s doubtful even that all of our draftees will make the final 53-man roster.
May 7th, 2016 at 9:28 am
One try-out guy I like and worth to keep a eye on is the the speedy WR/KR out of toledo Bernard Reedy. I think he ran a 4.43 and was with coach Koetter in ATL, he stood out in preseason but was let go. He put up some nice numbers in college and could compete at the Return game and slot receiver. He’s a little short but is very quick. Size is probably the main reason he has yet to stick with a team but the talent and speed is there.
Career stats at toledo: 194 rec 2,747 yards 23 td
And he also returned 3 kickoffs for TD’s as well as a TD on a punt return.
I would take him over Dontae Dye in a heartbeat.
May 7th, 2016 at 11:01 am
Well, all those let loose could try to catch on with Cleveland.
May 7th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
The NFL ain’t for everyone boys! It certainly isn’t for DD and Adam Humphpries. They cheated on a test or something to get here
May 7th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Dontae Dye had stone hands in games and needs to be the first cut. Humphrey was dependable and should be a key backup slot receiver.
I hope Bell can be developed by our new WR Coach to be the successor to VJAX when he retires. That will give us a reliable deep threat! Murphy gives us great speed out of the slot position so we can use the four deep offense Koetter is a master at.
May 7th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Humphries & Dye have roster spots on a 6-win team w/ a thin WR corp. They do not win matchups against good DB’s. We HAVE TO invest in receivers that can win at the NFL level to be real contenders.
May 7th, 2016 at 2:34 pm
My guess is..Bucs are gonna rid themselves of a lot of..dead weight at the receiver position this year. Sorry harry..You’re to much weight..to carry!
May 7th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
I’m sue a number of these guys who don’t make it will wind up in the arena league or in Canada