Mike Williams And The Bucs
October 30th, 2024
Jets receiver Mike Williams.
The Bucs defense is crumbling. It is crumbling to a degree that hasn’t been seen in these parts since 2018 when the Bucs were deep in the throes of The Lost Decade.
Because of this, Kevin Patra of NFL.com believes the Bucs cannot bank on rookies, injury-prone veterans, underwhelming second-year guys and practice squad dudes to carry the team.
So to help bridge the gap because the Bucs offense must score 30 or more points to stay in a game — because the Bucs defense can no longer stop a cool breeze — Patra believes the Bucs better find another receiver to help bridge the gap until Mike Evans returns. Otherwise, it will be too late.
Therefore, Patra thinks a poor man’s Mike Evans, Mike Williams of the Jets, would help the Bucs win a game or two.
Can the Bucs keep their heads above water until Mike Evans returns from a hamstring injury? The apparent game plan against Atlanta on Sunday was to force-feed tight end Cade Otton and the running backs. That isn’t sustainable long-term if the Bucs are to get back into playoff position. Baker Mayfield has shown the ability to make plays, but he needs some help, particularly from the kind of big-bodied field stretcher he lost with Evans’ injury.
Williams wouldn’t replace Evans — no one would. But he could be the boundary weapon that Mayfield and the Bucs currently lack. It’s of little surprise that in the week after losing Evans and Chris Godwin, Mayfield’s yards-per-attempt figure fell to 6.6, his second-lowest of the season (ahead of only the anomalous loss to Denver). The former No. 1 overall pick has been impressive in Tampa, but dinking-and-dunking isn’t where he’s at his best. He needs a pass-catcher who can open the offense and land bombs.
Williams might no longer be a 1,000-yard receiver, but he can still be productive on the boundary and serve as another big-bodied target in the red zone. Playing on a one-year deal, he’d simply be a stand-in while the Bucs make a late-season push. Williams never found a rapport with Aaron Rodgers and was pushed down the depth chart in New York by midseason trade acquisition Davante Adams. Moving on from Williams before the deadline makes too much sense for the 2-6 Jets.
Well, hopefully — hopefully — Mike Evans returns for the first game after the bye. That would be Nov. 24 at the Giants, at best.
Patra makes a good point. Now with Sterling Shepard out for who knows how long, the Bucs, once very deep at receiver, are now razor thin. When Trey Palmer is now the veteran leader at receiver, well, that’s all you need to know.
If the Bucs are still serious about making a Super Bowl run, grabbing Williams would be smart. Joe sees other good teams trading for players to replace injured starters. Hell, the Crows just yesterday traded for Stinking Panthers’ receiver Diontae Johnson.
The biggest problem Joe sees with Williams is that he’s always hurt. So a team with two hurt receivers will trade for a guy that can’t stay on the field?
But he ought to be cheap.
To add to the mystery, what would Jets general manager/drama queen quarterback Aaron Rodgers think of this deal?
October 30th, 2024 at 4:10 am
i like it…
quick fix rental, that won’t interfere with bringing godwin back…
kupp coming here is a roadblock for godwin…
go with williams if you can get him at a reasonable price
October 30th, 2024 at 4:25 am
Kupp
October 30th, 2024 at 4:25 am
Before we rent a player from another team for the short term, lets kick the tires on Jarrett. He has some wheels and adjusts to the ball well. We also need to determine if he can stay healthy.
October 30th, 2024 at 4:26 am
3rd and 6th
October 30th, 2024 at 4:34 am
Joe … ‘The former No. 1 overall pick has been impressive in Tampa, but dinking-and-dunking isn’t where he’s at his best.’
Seriously Joe? Dinking-and-dunking is exactly where Mayfield is at his best. In our 8 games Baker has thrown deep 37 times … 14 were Complete for 322 yards (23 YPC average … those barely qualify as deep). And 3 of those 37 were intercepted (1 to Evans & 2 to McMillan). Baker threw an additional 5 deep passes that drew DPIs BTW (not counted). So he completed 37.8% of his deep passes, for 4 TDs & 3 INTs (3 of the 4 TDs were to Evans & 1 to McMillan).
Baker has thrown a total of 284 passes and completed 202 of them (71.1%). Of those, 37 were deep passes (13.0%) of which 14 passes (37.8%) were completed. The remaining 247 were short passes, of which 188 were completed (76.1%). IOW, Baker is literally TWICE as efficient at completing short passes as he is at completing deep passes. He’s an excellent dinker-and-dunker, but when your average deep pass completion is only 23 yards & 8% of those get intercepted, not sure he’d qualify as a good deep pass QB.
October 30th, 2024 at 4:44 am
Oh BTW Joe, pass on Williams. Last thing the Bucs need right now is another player who is ‘always hurt’.
As you said … ‘So a team with two hurt receivers will trade for a guy that can’t stay on the field?’ Duh.
October 30th, 2024 at 5:01 am
I think and this is just my opinion, the Bucs have enough offense to win some games until Evans get back but, Bowles has to do something with the defense. It seems to be that players are not listening any more on the defensive side of the ball. We know Bowles is loyal to his defensive staff but it may time for him to change up a bit, that’s if he’s back next year. I mean this is another promising year that seams to be slipping away.
October 30th, 2024 at 5:44 am
Williams is spent, hard pass. There are some receivers for the Rams like TuTu Atwater we should go after. What’s good about them is they already know the system, and Coen.
October 30th, 2024 at 5:46 am
TuTu Atwell, sorry
October 30th, 2024 at 5:59 am
Mike Williams would come a lot cheaper and paired with a vet like Shepard? You’d have a respectable set of receivers that could produce with a solid run game established. Again, if this org would make some/any moves, it would show they were serious about this season. If they do nothing, the end result of the Atlanta game was a concession. I can’t believe there isn’t an ILB ANYWHERE that could help this team out. What’s Lavonte’s status after that ATL game? Things are going to get worse unless Bowles changes the role of these guys in the middle of the defense.
Also, if Bowles isn’t fighting for his coaching career right now, i.e. pushing Licht to make moves, “anything” he would have to be delusional. It’s his defense that has lacked the ability to stop anyone, I mean, when its off it’s TERRIBLE…and now we’re ending up just like last season where we’ll need an unbelievable run in order to try and stay one game ahead of the Falcons. Wild card chances will be slim. Do the math and there is zero room for error post-49ers game and the way this team plays, I wouldn’t be surprised if we manage a miracle and pull an upset in one of the next 2 games, but then we drop a game to the Panthers. Smh.
I really want this coaching staff to work, I know many on here are ready to turn the page, most didn’t like Bowles from day 1. But I remember the lost decade. We didn’t get the hottest new coach out there, we gambled. Without Tom Brady under center, Tampa is not a popular destination. As frustrating as Bowles defense is when it doesn’t work, when it works a can create chaos. Base 4-3 without blitzes, you better have 2- JPPs on the edges to make that work. We’ve seen it here in Tampa, and it sucks to watch without the right horses up front.
If we move on, Belichick is obviously enticing, why? He brings his program with him, I don’t think he calls either side of the ball, his focus is on managing the game. Brian Flores would be really interesting, but then we end up like we’ve been the last 3 seasons with Bowles in having a defensive coach where any success on offense and we’re in danger of starting over with a new scheme. We don’t know if Coen will be plucked for anything, but the NFL is always looking for the next great offensive mind to be a head coach. Let’s hope Canales success in Carolina slows that trend a bit.
October 30th, 2024 at 6:01 am
The defense is crumbling, so let’s go get a WR. Makes all the sense in the world.
October 30th, 2024 at 6:08 am
No action by Licht is a bit telling, the potential of the offense has been voided by injuries. The defense needs substantial help and yet we don’t make any moves…..I think Licht is going to force Bowles to coach or be replaced. He’s been provided with plenty of talent, particularly on defense where guys have been in the system for a few years. Yet he needs OLBs, MLB, CB….etc. there’s really no fix for the defense, the scheme is flawed. Teams know he’s going to blitz and they know exactly how to attack it. I would save those picks for next year when we promote Cohen and get a new DC. I’m a big believer Bowles was never Licht’s ideal hire, he was forced upon the Bucs due to Arians quitting last minute. I think this team has the talent to compete but is simply being out coached in both game management and player development.
October 30th, 2024 at 6:20 am
They are not going to trade for anyone. If they were they would have already done it. Jason and Bowles know the season is over. They are going to watch it explode and then take the better draft picks. Defense is garbage anyways so this team isn’t going anywhere until that is fixed.
October 30th, 2024 at 6:24 am
Teams making moves all over the place and here we sit and wait ,,, less than a week to go
October 30th, 2024 at 6:44 am
That would be a NO for him.
October 30th, 2024 at 7:25 am
Bucs sticking to the plan–build thru the draft, pay off the dead cap. Too many holes to plug to get to the Show this year
October 30th, 2024 at 7:35 am
Can he play defense? We don’t need him if he does not line up on the defensive side of the ball.
October 30th, 2024 at 7:43 am
BucsFan81 … Never say Never. I don’t buy that the season is over. I do however buy that the odds are stacked against us of beating either the Chiefs or 49ers in these next 2 games before the BYE. That’d leave us sitting at 4-6 with 7 games to play.
But look at those 7 games. ASSUMING that we can get just somewhat healthy (Evans, Dean, Gaines, Shepard back, and some of the ‘nicks & dings’ fixed on multiple players), we could potentially run the table & finish at 11-6. Only 1 team that we’ll face after the BYE has a winning record at this point (Chargers are 4-3 & even they’re beatable).
Winning out would become much easier though IF (1) we found a new MLB; (2) found an additional pass rusher/edge; (3) found an additional CB; (4) found an additional DT. Even if we just filled those 2 first positions with quality starter-capable additions, our defense could markedly improve. We can’t rely on the draft to fix everything; that’d take years. Licht has to become better at using FA to fill some of these holes.
October 30th, 2024 at 8:08 am
Bowles said no one is coming to save them pretty sure that means they are not trading for anyone. The team is what it is unfortunately too many holes next year will be our year.
October 30th, 2024 at 8:10 am
Falcons were pretty beatable DR, see you are looking for an upside doubt you could find it with a telescope. Go bucs.
October 30th, 2024 at 8:12 am
not making the trade for Carolinas WR even if we sweetned the pick to swap 4th to there 5th seems like we just do not want to win no matter how cheap the cost is.
October 30th, 2024 at 8:21 am
this idea makes me wanna puke
October 30th, 2024 at 8:22 am
I can guess that the Bucs when pressed about trading for help will say that they value the draft picks too much to use on a rental or a band-aid unless they truly thought it was the missing piece for a deep run. While that sounds good coming from Licht or anyone else in the Bucs front office is that getting some help will cost the Bucs a day 3 draft pick, as it seems like a lot of the talent being traded is going for 5th or 6th round picks and sometimes the trading team even getting a pick a round or 2 lower in return. Now if we consider that Licht has wasted a 2nd rounder and a 4th rounder on a kicker (Aguayo) and punter just a week ago or so (Jake Caarda) as well as a 5th rounder on Matt Gay it just means that Jason can wait and sign an UDFA for these duties like most teams do instead of wasting a draft on one of these dudes as he has done so often………. A late day 3 draft pick for a guy like Williams or Tutu Atwell is not exactly like flushing a day 2 pick away on Aguayo or Logan Hall for that matter……
October 30th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Ukester, doubtful if Carolina would trade with the Bucs unless the Bucs overpaid by 2 or 3 rounds….. Now, out of division talent is a different story.
October 30th, 2024 at 8:26 am
I’m sure Licht is on the phone, but trades are tough. First the teams in our division and even the NFC are reluctant to make deals within the conference. Then you have that tricky part where players straight up refuse to go to certain teams. It was probably easier when Brady was doing the recruiting. It’s not as easy as saying hey Kupp come play for the Bucs!
October 30th, 2024 at 8:45 am
We get Big Mike back in a few weeks so I wouldn’t pull the trigger unless it’s a steal at WR… If Licht is going to make moves it needs to be for the defense. And just one guy won’t do much. Bucs need help at all three levels. Can we trade Bowles as well?
October 30th, 2024 at 8:46 am
Hell to the NO, wtf is this
October 30th, 2024 at 8:58 am
Injury prone? Sign him up. He’s a great fit!
October 30th, 2024 at 9:26 am
Sterling Shepard is out too? I can already see the Glazers using injuries as an excuse to justify sticking with Bowels.
October 30th, 2024 at 9:49 am
Actually it very much does. One guy isn’t going to fix this defense. If the Bucs went out and got Maxx Crosby, what do you think happens first, him getting a sack or him being asked to cover a tight end in pass coverage?
So you gotta score (more) points. A decent receiver will go a long way for this team.
October 30th, 2024 at 9:52 am
He couldn’t finish the game last Sunday. Joe spoke with him after the game and he seemed fine. But no idea if his injury is going to keep him out Monday night.
October 30th, 2024 at 10:32 am
Washed. I really don’t care. Go ahead and develop the young guys. Take your lumps now, & gettem over with. This is NOT a contending team going anywhere, & they won’t be next season, either.
October 30th, 2024 at 10:37 am
MadMax Says:
October 30th, 2024 at 4:26 am
3rd and 6th
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Wow! New to football? At best, Williams is worth a late round pick exchange. Your proposal is ludicrous and borderline insane.
October 30th, 2024 at 10:41 am
You guys are forgetting one thing about TB and trading for help on the defensive side. Apparently Bowles’ defensive tactics are so “complex” that our own draft picks can’t learn it (see Braswell if you can find him).
I can imagine Todd saying to Licht, “Hey man, that MLB you are considering trading for would take too many weeks to learn our defense. Pass!”
In reality, our people don’t fit the system, don’t belong on the NFL (see JTS), or the system is garbage to begin with. Can’t fix the defense with a mid-season trade.