Sickening YAC
February 14th, 2017
Bucs’ YAC = YUCK!
Joe is irritated and has been slamming beer mugs on the bar the past year because the Bucs did not see fit to upgrade the wide receiver position.
And to not do that again this offseason would be not only irresponsible, but downright criminal.
And Woody Cummings offers details. If you think the Bucs don’t need at least two new receivers, whether by free agency or the draft or both, then check out the numbers Cummings dug up on Florida Football Insider.
The Bucs weren’t very good in [in YAC] in 2015 either, finishing the season with a total of 1,514 yards after the catch and averaging 4.85 yards after the catch per reception, according to SportingCharts.com.
But they were worse last year, ranking 29th in the league in total yards gained after the catch with 1,433 and 31st in the league average yards gained after the catch per reception with 4.04.
Just how bad is the Bucs’ YAC? It makes Joe want to yack!
(Please tip your waitresses. Joe’s here all week.)
Joe will state once again, it wasn’t the defense (or safeties) that caused the Bucs to miss the playoffs, it was an offense that went impotent due to a lack of playmakers and no running game.
It’s high time to get some #WeaponsForWinston, damn it!
February 14th, 2017 at 7:08 am
only one option :
WEAPONS FOR WINSTON !
February 14th, 2017 at 7:11 am
I don’t understand why ATL’s management is kicking our ass. Why did we not sign Sanu and Gabriel last year when we so clearly needed help at WR? Gabriel was a nice ‘free’ pickup – it did not cost ATL anything. I love ya, but step it up Licht
February 14th, 2017 at 7:11 am
Part of this falls on the QB not throwing behind receivers or too high so they constantly have to adjust to the catch. If Winston was better in that area and lead the receiver better it would allow for more YAC. Weapons will help but Winston has to be better as well. Much better.
February 14th, 2017 at 7:12 am
No question- receiver is biggest need. Receiver position in free agency is second biggest position ranking (overall talent level) so that is sweet. And then draft one in 1st or 2nd or 3rd depending if they are able to draft OJ Howard tight end in 1st who is basically a receiver in a tight end body who can block
February 14th, 2017 at 7:14 am
@Harry-That was one of Licht’s biggest errors not even bringing in Sanu, Boldin or Marvin Jones for a look. Let’s hope he doesn’t make the same mistake this year
February 14th, 2017 at 7:32 am
Licht needs to go into the FA season with one thought, “I only have one receiver and need more”. Simple as that. Nobody but Evans is locked into a job. I like Hump but even he needs to ball for a job.
February 14th, 2017 at 7:36 am
Convenient once again that the overrated oline gets no mention in the discussion of why the offense didn’t produce. This line was blown back on passing downs and blown up on run plays throughout much of the year and especially down the stretch in the last quarter of the season. This giant blind spot will cost us again this year if idiot Licht doesn’t address it competently.
February 14th, 2017 at 7:47 am
I went and looked at the same website to see where the potential free agent WRs ranked in YAC.
Garcon: 361 YAC (37th) 4.3 YAC/REC
Britt: 305 YAC (55th) 4.5 YAC/REC
D-Jax: 287 YAC (60th) 5.1 YAC/REC
All were behind Humphries who had 402 YAC (22nd) 7.3 YAC/REC
That stat doesnt tell the whole story obviously but that is what we are looking at in FA.
February 14th, 2017 at 7:47 am
The Bucs have been near the top of the league in air yards (receiving yards completed through air) as opposed to YAC. They are built for creating explosives DOWN the field. Shows how little Cummings really knows…
February 14th, 2017 at 7:59 am
@Tampa Tony,
I agree. I like Licht, but the thing that scares me is if we – the peanut gallary – can see such a glaring need, how does Licht not see it? He completely ignored the WR group’s needs last season. I don’t get it. And on top of that moved up to take a kicker?!?! Hopefully that cured Licht of being cute in his draft philosophy.
February 14th, 2017 at 8:10 am
Mike Evans is clearly a number 1 receiver and Adam is a #4 or #5 guy.
We need a #2, #3 and a #5.
So it’s not out of the question that we need to draft two receivers and still get one or two in free agency.
February 14th, 2017 at 8:17 am
Too many routes are designed with the receivers squared up to Jameis.Now if the receiver gets the the ball with his feet on the ground the receiver has a chance to make a move.Nowhere near as good as if he catches it on the run.
Also high passes on this type of route limit the YAC yards because the defender has time to catch up and deliver a hard hit.
Jameis has done really well extending plays and his leadership is off the charts ,but just like anybody else there are things he can work on to improve.
He knows it and I think he will do his best to improve.But he must have a
better running game,more weapons at both WR and tight end.
February 14th, 2017 at 8:29 am
People are talking and I’m hearing things…I know for an alternative fact that DeSean Jackson is coming to the Bucs.
February 14th, 2017 at 8:30 am
DallasBuc–EXACTLY!!
February 14th, 2017 at 8:32 am
Said this months ago!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
November 7th, 2016 at 11:57 am
All one has to do is look at the Yac stats!!!!!! Then you will see that these weapons are not really getting open and when they do catch they are tackled immediately!!!!! The Bucs are very near the bottom of team YAC!!!!
Just wait until the offseason to see what the coaches and front office think of all these “weapons”!!!!!!
2017 NFL Bucs draft Wr, Te, and Safety!!!!!!!!
February 14th, 2017 at 8:36 am
I still love Kenny Stills:
Yds: 726, Tgts/Catch: 81/42, Yds/Catch: 17.3, TDs: 9
And I don’t see the downside as some do for T. Pryor:
Yds: 1007, Tgts/Catch: 140/77, Yds/Catch: 13.1, TDs: 4
2 things that are interesting about the above two players. Stills made twice as many TDs as Pryor with far fewer yards, but I can’t help but wonder if Pryor had a real QB like Jameis and a WR like Evans to take the focus off of him, how much better could he get?! I think A LOT! And as far as Pryor being inexperienced, that is another reason I think he would explode as a Buc!
February 14th, 2017 at 8:37 am
@joey poppins
that’sinteresting,a lot of Humps yards are on hard earned WR screens where he is very effective.That said,I like to see a 3rd receiver that has more speed at slot to get those YAC.This is also where Jameis’s accuracy will be important.
He has improved it overall past 60%.But he also had games where he struggled to break 50%.
February 14th, 2017 at 8:39 am
And I know that CLE has a lot of cap room. But any player who wants to be great (and Pryor obviously has a big ego) why the hell would he stay in CLE with NO QB? It will be interesting to see what Pryor decides to do.
February 14th, 2017 at 8:40 am
@Wausa … “we need to draft two receivers and still get one or two in free agency.” Ain’t gonna happen as they say; too many other competing needs in the draft. However, grabbing one in FA (preferably a #2 WR who can stretch the field) AND drafting another (preferably with speed and good hands) is essential for the Bucs to make a run at the playoffs. Several decent WRs available (like Desean Jackson). If Licht is able to land one, then using a Rnd 3-5 pick for a WR becomes acceptable. If not, we’ll have to use one of our Rnd 1 or 2 picks.
February 14th, 2017 at 8:49 am
Hoping it’s not the case, but maybe evaluating skill positions are the Achilles heel of our GM, other than Jameis and Evans top 10 picks, what has this team gotten out of any of the skill decisions Licht has gotten that improved the talent, Brate and Hump really were the only options outside of Evans, someone had to get the bulk of the work outside of Evans, not exactly Witten and Edelman like production from those two, same thing with Quizz, compared to Drug Martin, Quizz looked like Barry Sanders. VJax, Loser Murphy, Drug Martin, these were the decisions that tanked our season last year
February 14th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Jason Licht is a master of finding those obscure WR talents that no one else dare touch, i mean like the new guy they signed from the Des Moines destroyers of the Roller Derby league he is 5-6 155, but tore it up in the roller derby and will be a gem in the slot, and OL don’t worry ol lichty has that reved up too, i mean protecting jameis should be priority #1 I would think…at least the fans see that, but grabbing a K in round 2 100% supersedes both OL and WR….
February 14th, 2017 at 8:58 am
JA I’m not quite smart enough to figure out what “alternative fact” means but IF Deshean Jackson ends up a Bucs that will all but confirm to me they are going after DC in the first. If my assumption of Samuels being the target in round 2 is correct because of Koetter’s fasination with OU players then this offense would become the “Greatest show on Grass” virtually over night.
February 14th, 2017 at 9:05 am
@Bob in valrico
Yea that is why the YAC stat is kind of misleading. People equate Desean Jackson to being explosive and then you see he is 60th in the league in YAC and it doesnt add up.
Of QBs who had over 1,000 yards passing, Jameis Winston led the league with 66.1% of his passing yards traveling through the air. In 2015 he was 4th with 62.5%. Our offense revolves more around pushing the ball down the field through the air which naturally limits YAC opporotunities.
Again this is why I’ve been saying stats don’t always tell you everything.
February 14th, 2017 at 9:05 am
Deshean would make it all but impossible to double ME. Ain’t many CBs in the league that handle ME one on one for four qtrs.
February 14th, 2017 at 9:08 am
The thing about YAC is the qb must hit the reciever where he can continue to move up field. When Winston throws the ball and the reciever has to slide or in Evans case stop, gather himself and jump – then there ain’t going to be any YAC. Accurate passers lead to YAC. Chris hogan, and Danny amendola aren’t playmakers, but the yac is there because they don’t have to stop and jump on every catch. Sheppard and Martino spent a lot of time open, but when the qb can’t get them the ball, theres a problem.
February 14th, 2017 at 9:36 am
Licht did NOT totally ignore the WR position last year…or targets for #3.
He gambled and lost on VJAX’s health. I shall immediately concede to all the hindsight Charlies here that VJAX was banged up in 2015 and had reached an age that called his health into question. But there are at least a dozen WR’s in the league who are still excelling in their 30’s.
Again hindsight is 20/20 and we can all say…how could Licht gamble…why didn’t he sign Sanu or Boldin? But VJAX had averaged over 70 catches per year for the Bucs before his injury plagued 2015. He put up over 1,000 yards annually in the previous three years with the Bucs.
The Bucs had many needs not just WR. So it’s not outrageous to imagine if VJAX had simply returned to form what might have transpired..another 1,000 yard 70 catch season from him with Hump where he should have been in the slot and our passing game looks dramatically different.
If “Molly’ laden “Muscle Turtle” had even an adequate year with ME13…VJAX healthy…Hump and Brate and it would have been a totally different story.
Yeah that’s a big IF…Licht rolled the dice and came up snake eyes..but he didn’t totally ignore the position.
We still have guys here who want to spend the farm on building a Cowboy like OL…others want to bet the ranch on more DL’s and particularly DE’s…we desperately need an RB…I’m not sure what some folks believe is possible.
Perhaps we should simply keep #3 and trade away EVERY OTHER PLAYER…think of the massive number of draft picks we would have…then we could fix EVERY position in just one year. (OK snark font off now)
February 14th, 2017 at 9:47 am
@Stpetebucsfan
Am I a hindsight chalies
The Buc Realist Says:
August 3rd, 2016 at 7:25 am
Thats why I think the most clamoring by fans will be for a WR in next year’s draft. VJ83 turns 34 at the end of the year, and will have this year to prove he can stay healthy. And technically if you look at Head Coach Koetter 4 vert offense, ME13, VJ83 are 1 and 2, A TE out wide is 3, and then AM11 should be lined up on teams #4 cb which will help his match up as well!!!
February 14th, 2017 at 9:52 am
🙂
February 14th, 2017 at 10:04 am
You got it Pete would’ve been a totally different story. And people wouldn’t be around here lamenting the o line.
February 14th, 2017 at 10:06 am
H3ll to be honest I wouldn’t be here be shouting for Dalvin.
February 14th, 2017 at 10:11 am
I would be all for giving Josh Gordon a shot at redemption here.
February 14th, 2017 at 10:19 am
I guess some are a little more sympathetic than others. If I put my trust and belief in you and you Let me down. You’ll never have trust and belief again.
February 14th, 2017 at 10:35 am
honcho i am with you on that…if you could get gordon for the league minimum….maybe he turns into antonio bryant part 2 for the bucs…if they did that and gordon is cleared to play now, not sure on that status but that would be a great addition at very buc friendly contract and then go and get D cook if possible, I am for getting some OL but if there is a shot within reason for d cook, and you are able to get gordon, those are some weapons for winston, but i again believe the bucs need OL help drastically
February 14th, 2017 at 10:40 am
I know we’re a very long way from the draft and I don’t like to listen to ANYONE’S mock draft this early, but I would at least like to know the “range” of where Corey Davis could go? Talk about YAC. I wouldn’t mind moving up a couple spots if necessary cus he is just the type of receiver we need at #2.
February 14th, 2017 at 10:46 am
@Dusthty Rhothdes
So you bash Licht for signing Doug Martin when “people knew about his issues” and now you want to sign Josh Gordon who is coming off idk his 3rd drug suspension. Interesting lol
February 14th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Licht signed martin to a big time contract when there were whispers around town to a bunch of people that martin was doing what he was doing….signing josh gordon who has gone through rehab and again i do not know what his status is with the NFL, but those are 2 completely different cases….it seems everyone in the “KNOW” knew martin was using except the guy who gave him the millions of the glazers money, not too sharp on the great jason gump…..i am all for giving gordon a league minimum and buc friendly contract….id be for bringing martin back for league minimum as well….but if martin is done go get OL or if there is a shot get D Cook….martin and gordon are 2 totally different cases, and gordon could be the absolute worst decision a GM could make, well 2nd after drafting a K in round 2
February 14th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Well said StPete! It was a gamble. Nobody “knows” what’s going to happen year to year. We could draft/sign a guy that goes down in pre-season. “Well, Licht should’ve signed….” and it goes on and on.
One thing’s for sure, we need weapons for Winston!
February 14th, 2017 at 11:17 am
People comment on Doug Martin having a illegal drug habit as if it is gospel truth. Can any of you to cite one legitimate person in the know who has gone on record with proof? I hate when wanna-be insiders imply stuff like there were whispers… Whispers by who? and if you have proof and know it to be a fact why whisper? As a Bucs fan I don’t care if they re-sign him or release himas I know he will be playing for someone either way. But as a man who knows Doug to be a decent guy, I detest people besmirching a mans character when they have no idea what they are talking about.
February 14th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
@C2
He tested positive for “illegal drugs” by failing an NFL drug test!!! That is pretty good proof!!!
February 14th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
I have seen a lot of people go back on forth on specific players and whether we should draft OR pick up a FA. To me we need to do it all… I would like to see Desean as the #2 and bring in Stills who is a younger player that will be more than capable. We have the money I don’t even want to debate the numbers we will have more then enough. As for the draft I would take whatever is best available of the RB/WR or even T/E positions.
February 14th, 2017 at 1:38 pm
There will be no YAC until the ball is put on the wr in stride. How hard is that to figure out?
February 14th, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Yards after the catch or YAC yards can be a good measure of a quarterback’s ability to throw the ball accurately and on time because they’re an indication of a quarterback’s ability to hit a receiver in stride or lead him to an open area of the field.
February 14th, 2017 at 2:20 pm
@ joey
agreed stats are as good as the presenter and his understanding of them and all the variables that affect them.If you leave one out you skew the pooch.
February 14th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Settle down J0e. #WeaponsForWinston are coming. I have no doubt.
February 15th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
He tested positive for an un-named banned substance. That could be robitussin, could be an energy drink, could be steroids, molly, anything… My point is those who have no idea should not be making statements like there have been whispers that he was taking molly for years. If you heard a whisper name the source, short of that you are defaming someone by spreading unsubstantiated rumors.