“The Next Puka”
August 26th, 2024
Big prediction from NFL analyst.
Could the Bucs have three Pro Bowl receivers?
Usually, you have to have a high-flying offense for that to happen with a coach calling the plays who has the mentality of Bucco Bruce Arians.
Todd Bowles ain’t Arians.
And Baker Mayfield ain’t Tom Brady, either (nor is he Jameis Winston — and Joe isn’t knocking Mayfield here).
But if popular NFL analyst Ben Solak, who this summer jumped from “The Ringer” to the dark side at BSPN, is on the money with his prediction, the Bucs ought to have three Pro Bowlers catching passes from Mayfield: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan.
Solak referred to McMillan as this year’s Puka Nacua of the Rams. Last year as a rookie, Nacua (commonly referred to as “Puka”) lit up the NFL with 105 catches for 1,486 yards.
@BenjaminSolak: Was an enormous fan of McMillan. Does everything well. Very QB friendly. (Was my answer all cycle for “the next Puka”) Love that he’s there learning under Godwin, who is a great dirty work player. He was the biggest “steal” at WR against my draft board.
One thing Joe noticed that McMillan does almost naturally is something Joe’s old football coach harped on. The only other time Joe saw the following regularly was watching Penn State linebackers when Scrap Bradley ran their defense in the 1990s and aughts.
Those linebackers always had their shoulders square to the line of scrimmage. Joe’s old high school coach was a stickler about that.
When Joe sees McMillan rising for a catch, especially over the middle, Joe always sees him square his shoulders to the line, as if he was bracing for a hit to secure the ball before he even secured the ball. Good stuff!
Much more will be learned about McMillan in two seeks. It’s one thing to shine in college. And it’s another to look good in training camp and worthless preseason games.
Let’s see what happens when, as Todd Bowles says, the real bullets start flying when Washington comes to town.
August 26th, 2024 at 7:36 am
At the risk of not winning the NFCS for a 4th straight time? I can’t see how Joe would hope so.
Nakua was targeted 160 times in 2023. Next most targets was Kupp @ 95 because he missed 5 games due to Injury while other receivers missed games also.
Take Evans and/or out for five games and I think the Bucs Offense becomes a mess.
Although they are team guys I doubt that Evans and Chris would be happy getting 30% less targets than normal, Evans just got paid and might be fine letting his streak of 1000’s come to and end but Godwin being in a contract year and possibly looking for his last big payday in free agency there might be friction.
Would think that Joe would just be hoping that McMillan contributes in a big way and not shoot for the stars because Nakua’s success did not come without consequences.
August 26th, 2024 at 7:54 am
Go Bucs, this kid can catch
August 26th, 2024 at 8:16 am
I’ve said this before, but he reminds me a lot of Keenan McCardell. Their measurements are almost identical, with McMillan having a touch faster 40 time. He’s smooth and fluid out of his breaks and he has good hands. And they both seem smart. Keenan is a WR coach now for the Vikings.
August 26th, 2024 at 8:57 am
He does! Good analogy.
August 26th, 2024 at 8:58 am
picked mcmillan yesterday in the late rounds of my fantasy draft. very high on this kid
August 26th, 2024 at 9:03 am
If so the running game will POP !
August 26th, 2024 at 9:11 am
By the end of the season Evans, Godwin and McMillan should form a three-headed monster. It is up to Coen to plan their usage. It is up to Mayfield to learn how to manage their usage under fire. We should also have a similar problem with our other three-headed monster composed of RBs White, Irving and Tucker. Distribution of the football will be worked out through the seventeen games. We will have a powerful offense ready for the playoffs. It will be so much fun to watch unfold!
Go Bucs!!
August 26th, 2024 at 9:22 am
SB~LV, good WRs didn’t help the run game in the past few years, but I do agree it’s a good thing
August 26th, 2024 at 9:23 am
When do they make cuts to final roster?
August 26th, 2024 at 9:33 am
If the o-line has truly improved, then the Bucs have all the talent needed to succeed. Coen must be stoked.
August 26th, 2024 at 10:18 am
The roster deadline is 4 PM Tuesday. After that, they can fill the practice squad, BucB.
August 26th, 2024 at 10:19 am
Now the defense has to raise their game! Get those edge rushers hammering and the secondary needs to get the ball back for this offense! Ball control and points on the board!!!! Go Bucs!!!!!
August 26th, 2024 at 10:40 am
Is he as fast as Hill?
August 26th, 2024 at 10:43 am
This offense is set to shine. As LC opens up his playbook. The opposition’s DC is going to have nightmares. I expect the cannons to be working overtime. IMHO.
August 26th, 2024 at 11:40 am
The Bucs really do have the makings of a potent offense. The crazy thing is their TE Otton is looking improved over the offseason and the Bucs RB’s are great at catching out of the backfield, so a 3 WR set plus 1 TE plus 1 RB set is going to be very difficult to cover.
August 26th, 2024 at 11:56 am
Who the hell is “Hill” – I know you’re not talkin bout Tyreek???
August 26th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Palmer 3-500 yds
McMillan 6-800
Godwin 8-1000
Evans 10-1100
That’s 27-3400 yds.
Add ~500 for Otton and another 5-600 for RBs.
Comes to 37-4500 yds.
Realistically tho, Baker probably throws for 39-4100 yds much like last season with a much improved run game
August 26th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
The Bucs don’t throw the ball enough anymore to support three pro-bowlers, then again like 300 players make the pro-bowl now I think, so perhaps it happens.
I expect him to be very good, but if he has 1000 yards it means something happened to Evans or Godwin — and no thanks. I’ll take a solid 600 yard rookie year where he’s clearly the future #2.
August 26th, 2024 at 9:22 pm
McMillan might have that kind of talent, but he won’t put up those numbers unless Evans gets seriously injured. There’s just not enough targets to go around if everybody stays on the field.