“They Really Want To Get Creative With Me”
June 21st, 2020
Considering the Bucs roster and the head coach comparing a no-name rookie to two former All-Pro players, how can Joe not be all fired up to see this kid in training camp.
Normally, Joe wouldn’t get all hot in the pants about a seventh-round draft pick, but Bucco Bruce Arians forced the issue comparing running Raymond Calais to Tarik Cohen and David Johnson.
That’s what Arians did on draft night.
Soon after, Calais, out of Louisiana-Lafayette, told his local newspaper that a ticket to Tampa stunned him.
“I was really surprised that they picked me,” he said. “I maybe had two phone calls with them. Bruce Arians told me to just come in ready to be used in multiple ways — as a running back, a receiver and even on special teams. They really want to get creative with me.”
Again, considering the Bucs stable of running backs, Calais walked into a hell of an opportunity. He might already be the best return man on the roster, and if his electricity in the passing game can translate into the NFL. What a spark he could be catching a few balls per game like Cohen did his rookie year in Chicago.
June 21st, 2020 at 9:03 am
If we have a seventh rounder making the roster, it will be in this capacity….
June 21st, 2020 at 9:13 am
When I saw we drafted Calais I instantly thought about Cohen and tyreek hill. Small speedsters with a special gear. I like him to make the team and contribute right away.
June 21st, 2020 at 9:39 am
I remember getting all excited about the Appalachian State version of Dexter Jackson and what he would do to the return game. I respectfully hold out hope for this kid.
June 21st, 2020 at 10:06 am
When it comes to picking stocks….you look at fundamentals of the company but you also look at the “story”. How does that pick fit into the current economic situation….how do you see it performing.
I think…that’s the same with draft picks. There are measurables that need to fit a certain criteria but there’s also an element of how you envision the pick developing. Obviously there’s a high degree of confidence in this staff developing players to achieve their max potential and it would seem that’s what we hear from Arians when speaking about this fella. His long term vision is a dynamic player….reality is he’s a 7th rd pick that merely has great speed. He’s not the first to enter the league with great speed.
June 21st, 2020 at 10:37 am
He looks like a fine pick. Sure could use help in the return game. Hope he makes it.
June 21st, 2020 at 10:45 am
I can totally see this young man making the team dont care that he was a 7th rounder. We need a gem to shine from this draft class
June 21st, 2020 at 11:30 am
Imagine if we actually had a punt/kick returner for once! Oh how special teams has been abysmal year after year. Can’t be this year
June 21st, 2020 at 11:37 am
Pryda – Ever the optimist, I think most of the pics could be gems. The only one that puzzles me is the other 7th rounder, an OLB from Temple, named Russell. Know very little about him except that he was injury prone in college. Must have some potential. Hope they all make it.
June 21st, 2020 at 12:08 pm
There have been plenty of late round and undrafted running backs that go on to shine, so there is hope for this guy. That said, wishing and hoping that we strike gold with this kid or Vaughn is ignorant and beyond dumb team building by the front office. Sign a vet already guys.
June 21st, 2020 at 2:07 pm
He’s going to be a breakout rock star. A secret weapon. A HOF-er. No one will ever believe we got him in the 7th round.
Heard it here first.
June 21st, 2020 at 2:20 pm
You never know… If he can play special teams & return kicks he will make the team…
June 21st, 2020 at 5:08 pm
TC Joe? I also liked the video of the UDFA CB from Oklahoma.
June 21st, 2020 at 6:35 pm
I see him being used in a Mecole Hardman (Chiefs) style. Return man and a Swiss Army knife style offensive player. Definitely excited to see him in action.
June 21st, 2020 at 6:56 pm
I liked this kid and his family on draft day. Then Joe did a great job finding his interview with a small town news station. That secured it for me. RC is my training camp guy. Well, mine and Todd’s
June 21st, 2020 at 11:06 pm
Bad teams ruin top shelf prospects.Good teams make late round picks stars. We shall see
June 22nd, 2020 at 12:45 am
this kid fell into the right spot here…
if he can live up to minimal expectations as a 7th rounder, we got a good one…
also brady will make him a little better as well…
we have a need for everything he does on the field…
could be a perfect fit…
to compare him to dexter jackson from years ago out of Appalachian State is wrong…he was clearly one of the worst pics in bucs history, being a 2nd rounder and all…he was kinda scared of his own shadow or something…he recently got a gig with pizza hut doing deliveries…he prefers the job for it’s “contactless delivery”
June 22nd, 2020 at 10:08 am
Calais can catch short, medium and long. He can run 98 yards without slowing up. He’s a long strider for someone so short. He gets into the secondary he can burn. Brady will love him. Will take our return game by storm.
June 24th, 2020 at 7:36 am
Adam—the contactless delivery bit was just what I needed this morning!
Licht loves the small-school fliers and BA talks the talk about only asking what a player does well—not what he can’t do well—so he will be given the opportunity. Having great hands, running crisp routes, and excellent vision are wonderful traits, but if you don’t have speed, it’s a lot harder to hit the hole at the right time or be open to draw a throw from the QB. Having speed on the other hand—that can translate anywhere on the field, from return man to change of pace back to gunner to wheel routes that catch defenses off-guard or occupy defenders that free up the flat or seam for the TE.
And after watching The Brady 6 yesterday on YouTube, I’m DONE knocking Licht’s draft record. Every other player in that NE class of 2000 was worthless—you get a Brate or Hump or Ryan Griffin on your team and they play for you for years and get second contracts, I don’t care if they’re blue-chippers, of great pedigree, or a UDFA that spent some time with a division rival—that’s good roster-building!
The rest is in if BA can put the kid in a position to succeed and whether or not the kid seizes the opportunity. For every Hump, we’ve had a Snoop McPlaybook, and that’s on the kid.
Looking forward to see if Everybody Loves Raymond!!