“Elevated Roles” For Younger Players
April 11th, 2022
Key season ahead.
In his MMQB column to kick off the week, Albert Breer of SI.com had an interesting view of young Bucs players that Joe can only assume was a seed planted in Breer’s mind by a Tampa Bay shot-caller.
Joe thinks it may very well be do-or-die for the Bucs careers of two players on this list. Both are wide receivers.
Here is what Breer wrote today:
• What’s fascinating to me about the position the Bucs are in now is how, for the first time, they’ll be leaning on players they’ve drafted since acquiring Tom Brady to take on elevated roles as a result of natural attrition. Among that smattering of guys: RT Tristan Wirfs, S Antoine Winfield, WRs Tyler Johnson and Jaelon Darden, and OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
The way Joe looks at it, this team has one goal in what perhaps is Tom Brady’s final year with the Bucs. And that is Super Bowl or bust. So can the Bucs afford to give guys space to develop?
Tyler Johnson seemed like an excellent find. Former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians fell in love with him at the Outback Bowl in January 2020. While Johnson was a up-and-down his rookie year, making special, clutch catches and dropping a few cans of corn, Johnson looked like he might just take Chris Godwin’s spot on the roster if Godwin left as a free agent.
Then Johnson pulled a stupid stunt and showed up to training camp last year out of shape. Even though he fought his way out of Arians’ doghouse, he largely had a lousy season culminating with an injury in the playoff loss to the Rams,
Jaelon Darden, a 2021 rookie, had no business on the field as a return man for a team trying to repeat as Super Bowl champs. He was pretty much overwhelmed and lost. The big, sweeping, looping, run-across-the-field returns he pulled off in Conference USA at North Texas didn’t fool bigger, faster, smarter dudes in the NFL. Darden triggered Bucs fans’ awful memories of the bad Dexter Jackson.
Both of those guys were favorites of Arians. In fact, Arians crowed that Darden was the second coming of Emmanuel Sanders. He played like the second coming of Jackson.
Well, guess what? Arians is gone and there is a new sheriff in town, Todd Bowles.
Joe guesses Bowles doesn’t have the same affection for Johnson and Darden, nor should he. And Joe will also guess Bowles won’t have the same loyalty to Johnson and Darden, nor should he.
If Johnson hopes to stick with the Bucs long-term, he may want to snap out of it and have a consistent season — a good season, that is. For Darden, if he doesn’t want to play for the Birmingham Stallions, he better produce.
Joe doesn’t know how much the Bucs will lean on Johnson and Darden. However, the 2022 season is very important to their careers.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:10 am
Darden won’t make the 53 roster. Practice squad guy
April 11th, 2022 at 11:14 am
Shouldn’t have to lean on 4th & 5th round picks for anything but special teams help…..
The fact is, we simply don’t have that many young players…….
A player not mentioned was Hainsey…….how will he contribute?……I’m thinking he will be used with Wells in the heavy packages. I’m not sure he’ll compete for LG…..that will probably be Stinnie’s job.
No problem for Wirfs or Winfield. They’ll do their part. Hopefully JTS also.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:16 am
Tyler Johnson should have been cut on the spot, when he showed up out of shape!
There is absolutely no excuse besides Injury, for a well paid professional athlete to show up out of shape.
I have never been sold on either Johnson or Darden.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:22 am
Speaking of Darden, could someone please ask Bowles how he expects to improve the lousy performance of the special teams, and will he consider firing Keith Armstrong. Arians is quick to toss a player under the boss, but when it came to one of his “guys.” he had nothing to say. Armstrong needs to be held accountable!!
April 11th, 2022 at 11:22 am
Yeah I think this regime change may end up beneficial if it means taking a closer look at Darden and Johnson and replacing them with do-ers than so be it. Scotty Miller found a way to get plays in while on the punt coverage–he has earned a spot on this team if you can’t help win then get outta the way for the next guy that can.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:26 am
I would take Scotty over either one of them. I would have Scotty returning kickoffs & punts. At least see what he can do.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:27 am
Pretty sure darden makes the team I’m not quite sure Johnson does he doesnt even play special teams so what value does he have because when they needed him to step up he failed miserably.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:31 am
Just show up in shape ready to go ffs it’s your only job !
April 11th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Tbbf
Waiting for Hainsey. I want to see him at LT. That was his official dominant position at ND. Jensen said Hainsey has put on serious weight and if Tom leaves, you can’t Donnie with you. Wells is old and sorry.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:51 am
Armstrong has always been a terrible ST coach since his days with the Falcons; but the friendship goes deeper than the end result and that is evident with the bucs ST over the past 4 years
April 11th, 2022 at 12:00 pm
These “voluntary” workouts are not voluntary for guys like Darden and Johnson
April 11th, 2022 at 12:01 pm
The stage couldn’t have been set better late last year for these younger WRs to showcase their talents. To say they “failed” is an understatement.
I’ll go ahead and lump Scotty in there as well.
Produce or go bye-bye. They say there’s a lot of WR talent in this year’s draft. You think they may want to play and catch passes from the GOAT?!
April 11th, 2022 at 12:04 pm
SOE:
Joe can assure you the Bucs have *zero* plans to run off Donovan Smith. Hainsey was being groomed to be center. That may change since Jensen came back. They could be looking at Hainsey at left guard.
April 11th, 2022 at 12:04 pm
Trade Daeden to Bellicheat. The gift that keeps on giving.
April 11th, 2022 at 12:15 pm
I have not given up on Darden, he had a HUGE step up in what he played against. He will absolutely get OTA’s , camp and preseason to show improvement. I saw flashes and crashes
April 11th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
Definitely need an upgrade from Darden but so they have not addressed that. Maybe they will in the draft with one of their 7th round picks.
April 11th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Darden was a mistake. Dude is too small and plays scared. Move on.
Tyler was a huge disappointment this season. Step up or be gone Tyler.
I’d definitely rank Scotty over both of them.
April 11th, 2022 at 12:45 pm
Same goes for Scottie Miller as Johnson and Darden.
April 11th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Bucs will draft an LT in 2023 (1st or 2nd rd) along with the LVD replacement.
April 11th, 2022 at 1:18 pm
Scotty Miller can be an effective situational player. He’s shown that. He was hurt last year and didn’t get much action when he returned.
April 11th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Another example the game passing by BA. From his antiquated offense being scrapped, to emotional outbursts and smacking players. BA is where he belongs, in a meaningless front office role, that amounts to hush money. Bowles should be a breath of fresh air for the entire organization. What my eyes told me, was the bucs were an out of shape, undisciplined and unfocused team last year. The record was a reflection of Brady’s sheer will. And, his frustrations became evident. A divisional round loss isn’t a successful season. Many here think it was. Anything other than the best record in the conference, and a Superbowl, would be a tremendous failure.
April 11th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
@GOB
Great post all around. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
April 11th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Thanks sparrow.
April 11th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Excellent article! My sentiments EXACTLY on those specific players.
April 11th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Please! The Bucs won 29 games (including a Super Bowl and four playoff games) the past two seasons and were a heartbeat away from returning to the Super Bowl again, despite half the team being hurt. You act like Lovie Smith coached the team.
All coaches should be so undisciplined and outdated!
April 11th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
@ GOB
Agreed 100%.
Super Bowl or bust!
I appreciate BAs contribution but am also grateful he has moved “upstairs”.
April 11th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
I sure did miss Mckens on returns.
April 11th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Joe the heartbeat you’re referring to was only possible because of four inexplicable Rams fumbles. They weren’t great defensive plays. The Rams simply laid the ball on the ground. The bucs were completely outmatched, and should’ve been blow out. The games final score didn’t reflect the ass kicking they received, and you know that Joe.
April 11th, 2022 at 2:18 pm
“What my eyes told me, was the bucs were an out of shape, undisciplined and unfocused team last year.”
Better go to the eye doctor. The Team just had the best record of any season in franchise history last year.
April 11th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
“The games final score didn’t reflect the ass kicking they received, and you know that Joe.”
Boy we have a creative bunch of knuckleheads in here today. The game was very close. And let’s not blame Aaron Donald going against our backups on Bruce Arians. lot’s of injury’s that were out of anyone’s control.
April 11th, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Everyone has injuries, ask the Chiefs about starting a practice squad O line in the superbowl. You can’t have it both ways. Playing three consecutive road playoff games without fans also helped.
April 11th, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Just take one of those inexplicable Rams fumbles away, and it’s a blowout. The bucs needed three more to get back in the game. You people act like they won the freaking game!!!
April 11th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
You know what I’d do? Cut em both, then re-sign them, and then cut em again!
April 11th, 2022 at 2:48 pm
Our top three receivers are easily the best trio in the league, but it gets pretty bleak from there and who knows when Chris is going to be dominant again. I’m thinking that we should go after a receiver in the third round unless Olave, by some miracle falls to us in the first.
April 11th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
It’s a bust for the next one up lol like it was for him against do I even have to say it come on Shady brady and ur post to be the GOAT maybe 🐐 licker lol real one’s don’t cheat are get caught lol
April 11th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
It’s football baby gotta you little suckeraners ready know we are
April 11th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
Joe…I don’t know about zero chance. He hasn’t restructured. Hit and miss, above average/good LT that gets paid top dollar. Had one good season in 2021. And Stinnie or a rookie aren’t going to supply anywhere near the protection on the left side without Marpet.
I’m not not keeping the faith for him and I’m not a person that thinks Brady is automatically gone to some new team next year and have to adjust to a new system and roster. That’s the best way to win a SB. Bucs were already locked and loaded on offense when he arrived.
But like I said, can’t not keep the faith for BUCS players so LFG DONNIE 2022!!!
April 11th, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Just take one of those inexplicable Rams fumbles away, and it’s a blowout. The bucs needed three more to get back in the game. You people act like they won the freaking game!!!
WTH are you talking about, how do we almost win the game and also get are A$$ kicked lol
April 11th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Johnson has potential but so did OJ Howard. Either produce or find your way on the practice team. As for Darden,since he’s with the team, I’d give him a second chance, but not going to wait either if I have better options in Perriman and Grayson.
April 11th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Almost doesn’t count Posey. Hang your hat on a divisional round LOSS if it makes you sleep better. That may have been considered a crowning achievement before Brady, but is unacceptable with the roster and the QB they had. Here’s another one for ya, if Jared cook doesn’t gift you a fumble, the saints would’ve blown the bucs out. We can play the what if game forever.
April 11th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
The biggest potential for this team is in Cyril Grayson.
Johnson has too many issues to try and get past, he is a horrid blocker, looks scared, and doesn’t secure the catch.
Dardon needs to try real cleats and not roller skates, just go north or south.
April 11th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Bucs shouldv’e went all in on Cordelle Paterson last year, may be wearing another ring, they didn’t. Never iunderstood why AB wasn’t back there returning punts from time to time, unless they were afraid of injury. Were they scared to lose Darden, they should’ve done a better job of protecting Khalil Davis (since you had the chance to bring him through the system knowing you had aging DLs, with the exception of VV)
April 11th, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Posey hang your hat on a loss if it makes you feel better
April 11th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
Darden is always slipping because he’s looking for a place to fall down. If you only weigh 165lbs you better be fearless – and he is not.
April 11th, 2022 at 5:21 pm
“Joe doesn’t know how much the Bucs will lean on Johnson and Darden”
Bucs are paying $46M+ to Evans, Godwin and Gage. Thats like 22% of the entire salary cap for 3 WRs.
If all 3 of our starters stay healthy, then the answer to the above statement/question is – not much…..
But history says neither Evans or Godwin will play all 17 games + whatever comes in postseason. So like most players sitting at 4th, 5th or 6th on their positional depth chart – these young back ups need to stay patient, play solid on special teams, and be ready to shine whenever their # is called.
April 11th, 2022 at 7:52 pm
Who the heck is this illiterate dumbass @Aaron, and why is he here?
April 11th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
Easy @saquatch don’t pick the low hanging fruit. If the internet has proven one thing, it’s that every jag has the right to a daft opinion.
April 11th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
Evans, Godwin, Gage, Perriman, Grayson.
Seems to me Darden and Johnson are fighting for one spot. I wouldn’t be surprised with another receiver drafted in this draft at some point
April 11th, 2022 at 10:09 pm
GOB Says:
April 11th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
Right, but I can’t understand these people who don’t bother to punctuate, and simply utter incomprehensible nonsense. I mean, I couldn’t even tell what opinion he was even trying to express. It’s that bad.
April 13th, 2022 at 9:45 am
Crazy to blame those two players! And good thing none of you guys opinion matters!
I see its a lot of cheek kissers who have nothing better to do than talk down on people who are doing a job NONE of you keyboard bullies could EVER do! Year three is usually the year most wide receivers show how much they’ve developed in the league. Love Brady, some of those passes were terrible and no one seems to talk about the easy drops the #1, #2 and #3rd had throughout their careers. Also this team my be much better with a mobile QB