Russell Gage … Julio-Trained
March 21st, 2022
For the past couple of years, Bucs fans watched furniture-hurling, team-quitting Antonio Brown play at a different gear.
Brown is a future Hall of Famer, unless Hall voters get all whiny and finger-wag rather than look at the numbers and the talent, and he’s a truly unique player.
The guy replacing him this season, freshly-acquired free agent Russell Gage, is no Brown, but he does play fast and have a gear with the ball that’s not possessed his new teammates.
Fans who haven’t paid attention to Gage will see it in training camp. He told NFL.com last year that it’s partly a result of years learning from another future Hall of Famer, former Falcons great and free agent Julio Jones.
“Run. That was [Julio’s] biggest thing,” said Gage. “Speed off the ball and running. A lot of guys get too caught up thinking into their routes. Understand that even if you make a mistake, make it full speed. A receiver’s biggest asset is his speed. Whatever it is, you need to display it.”
Joe loves Gage’s versatility and productivity. The Bucs have had awesome No. 3 receivers in past years — Chris Godwin in 2017 and 2018, Brown in 2020 and 2021 — and a damn productive one in 2019 with Breshad Perriman. Joe expects Gage to keep the streak alive.
March 21st, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Mike Evans, Godwin, Gage, Perriman, Cyril Grayson, Johnson, Miller, Dardens,
?
Looks like someone is getting cut this year.
And if we add Julio Jones?
March 21st, 2022 at 12:11 pm
One Word to describe Russell Gage … Dependable
750 yards per year
66% catch rate (slightly better than Evans)
4.5 speed
No serious injuries
That’s a money ball signing.
March 21st, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Julio, Julio, where art thou Julio?
March 21st, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Darden is good as gone. Grayson, Miller and Tyler Johnson are on the bubble.
Who is going to be our return man?
March 21st, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Darden is a bust
March 21st, 2022 at 1:00 pm
I’m all for giving young guys opportunities and not writing them off early but Darden is here because of his speed… he’s tiny… and what shows up on his tape is that he is tiny and plays tiny… and isn’t nearly fast enough… or maybe even fast at all, to make up for his severe lack of size. I love Licht, but pretty sure this guy isn’t NFL caliber.
March 21st, 2022 at 1:25 pm
I’m willing to let the training camp & preseason determine who is in and who is out…….not ready nor do we need to be ready to cut anyone yet.
March 21st, 2022 at 7:59 pm
If Tom has his way we will sign Julio. He loves the guy and he can still make an impact. If any of our receivers get hurt, it’s an enormous signing. The only question is will Julio take that fourth receiver spot mentally. He knows what it means coming to a team with Tom Brady on it, just load his contract with incentives.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Brady has already asked John he’s to come to Tampa. What’s the latest on this ?
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:52 am
We still have john brown right?? That dude is still good also UNFINISHED BUISSNESS LFGO