YAC’ing With The Bucs
June 9th, 2017
Numberscrunchers like him.
Joe has made clear an overall distaste for the PFF tribe, though they do decent things like tracking missed tackles and YAC, which, frankly, any well-trained orangutan can do.
One stat-heavy outfit Joe respects is FootballOutsiders.com. Why? They are not slaves to stats. Often, they research and openly question their own findings using common sense and — gasp! — by watching tape. Imagine that?
The PFF tribe? They believe their (dubious) stats are both absolute and Gospel, and anyone questioning them is an abject moron (even though NFL types do much more than question the PFF tribe and their cute numbers).
Scott Kacsmar of Football Outsiders, as stat guys do, concocted some made-up stat called “YAC+.” His definition seems to read like WAR in baseball, which is the biggest bunch of BS Joe has ever come across and it depresses Joe. WAR demonstrates how baseball has been absolutely hijacked by the nerds.
Despite this, YAC+ is an interesting window.
It seems to take YAC (yards after catch) and sprinkles in a lot of pixie dust and hocus-pocus. In layman’s terms, YAC+ guesses a receiver’s ability to play over his head and get more YAC than his ability. Sort of outkicking one’s coverage in a thumping south Tampa trendy hotspot on Friday night loaded with heavily-perfumed, scantily-clad, nubile lasses.
So what jumped out at Joe was that Kacsmar has Adam (Rudy!) Humphries ranked as the No. 2 receiver in the NFL for YAC+.
A stark difference in teammates is always interesting, though it’s pretty self-explanatory in Tampa Bay with Adam Humphries (No. 2) and Mike Evans (last at No. 88). Humphries caught very short passes for the Buccaneers but still had some success, while Evans could often be seen [contorting] his body to bring down wild balls from Jameis Winston. That’s not very good for YAC, but they make for incredible highlights. Humphries may not see many targets this year after the offense loaded up with DeSean Jackson and rookie tight end O.J. Howard.
Perhaps this is why Bucs types over the past year have been so sensitive to Joe’s critiques of Rudy? Perhaps, like a lot of football people do, they love seeing guys maximize their talents?
If you buy in to Kacsmar’s mumbo-jumbo, Rudy does just that.
June 9th, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Well, according to most other local media outlets, that have been in attendance at OTA’s as well, Adam Humphries has looked every bit as good or better than Chris Godwin.
June 9th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
I can see Humphries doing well in this category due to how many times he caught a wide receiver screen at the line of scrimmage and bobbed and weaved for 8-15 yards.
June 9th, 2017 at 2:31 pm
All you have to do is watch. Humphries is a football player. He’s consistent, he finds a way to get open, and he catches the damn ball. The fact that he’s never gonna be a deep threat or a starter outside isn’t even relevant. He’s a quality player who could be a starting slot player for a lot of teams in this league. And he’s pretty good with the ball in his hands.
June 9th, 2017 at 2:37 pm
It’s a long season Humphrey will get his.
June 9th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Joe, what is your Gospel?
June 9th, 2017 at 4:14 pm
With the field stretching additions of Howard, Jackson the Hump screen might be opened up even more. More YPC for Hump this year.
June 9th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
Well said 365!!
June 9th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Hump is definitely a good example of “maximizing talent”. Adam did not have good enough “measurables” to be drafted – but you can’t measure heart nor want to at the combine. Hump and Brate are both excellent examples of UDFAs finding success in the NFL – and why having good scouts and a GM with an eye for young talent is so crucial for sustained success in this league.
ASJ was the opposite as were Bowers, (the bad) Dexter Jackson, Gaines Adams, Rod “toast” Jones and a long, long list of former Buccaneers who never maximized their talent.
June 9th, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Football Outsiders tell a very different story, one that matches what I saw last year.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/wr
June 9th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
If Rudy is your #3 all season your not a playoff team.
Hopefully we can get Godwin in there and the other two stay healthy.
That way Rudy can rotate in and Godwin can play outside.
June 9th, 2017 at 6:37 pm
Don’t know what the Bucs will do with their 3rd and 4 th receiver.Hump is
extremely dependable to move the chains especially on wide receiver screens.
No Doubt he gets a lot of his yards the hardway .While Godwin on paper has the potential with his speed to create explosive plays in the slot .So its a good problem for us to have.
I think the authors point on Evans is good one,I am looking for more time
from the o line for Winston to nail our receivers in stride and create more YAC yards.
June 9th, 2017 at 7:11 pm
As far as I can tell Hump is every bit of Eddleman or Welker. Work ethic and Heart set him apart from most. Anyone that thinks he isn’t a starting no. 3 in this league has lost their mind.
June 9th, 2017 at 10:42 pm
Rod Munch:
The story Joe cited is a Football Outsiders story published yesterday.
June 10th, 2017 at 8:00 am
Humph is the man, His work ethic makes everyone around him see him and work harder. Hearing the same of Chris Godwin so far as well
June 10th, 2017 at 8:12 am
Friday night loaded with heavily-perfumed, scantily-clad, nubile lasses.
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That, and the glitter usually gives me away.
June 10th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Rod “toast” Jones HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Thanks for that memory I had forgotten. Glad I can laugh about it now, not the case then.
June 10th, 2017 at 8:57 pm
I haven’t seen any unfair critiques over Humphries. You can’t put the game on him to win. But still, “Rudy!” reminds me of Earnest Graham as far as his popularltiy with fans. He really wasn’t that good on the field, but he managed eight seasons with the Bucs, and he was always a favorite in the locker room and out and about with fans. I don’t really think he’s a solid #3, but he does what he’s told, and makes some good plays when he has to. Worthy of hang around for sure.