Baker Mayfield Gets Tough On Jalen McMillan
November 6th, 2024
There’s a divide at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. One Joe views rookie Jalen McMillan as the team’s No. 3 receiver; the other Joe never has.
What has McMillan done? He has nearly identical production this season as Trey Palmer, and McMillan has not played at the level of veteran Sterling Shepard. Plus, Rakim Jarrett sure looks like a more physical and dangerous receiver than McMillan.
One thing McMillan has done is get hurt. He’s missed three games with hamstring issues, including a new one suffered late last week that cost him Monday’s game in Kansas City.
After the loss to the Chiefs, Baker Mayfield sounded like a leader sending a message to McMillan to take better care of his body.
He noted that the team learned on gameday McMillan would have to sit out.
“We had some plays designed for [McMillan], but it’s part of being a pro, you got to take care of your body,” Mayfield said. “And sometimes unfortunate things happen, but you got to do everything you can to get ready to play for this team.”
If Joe didn’t know better, Joe would have thought that was Bucco Bruce Arians at the podium letting an injured player know — in a backhanded way — that he’s got to play through certain kinds of issues.
Regardless, McMillan (and his 10 catches) is an important piece of the Bucs’ puzzle without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans available, but the Bucs showed Monday they could rack up points without McMillan, too.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:27 am
McMillan is not ready to do a lot yet. Hopefully next year he will come on strong. Jarrett, on the other hand, has been very effective the last two weeks. I think he should get the ball more.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:28 am
McMillan looks shell-shocked when he is on an NFL field. Another training camp stand out who looks like JAG when in a real game
November 6th, 2024 at 10:33 am
He is a rookie and is the least of the bucs concerns.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:43 am
I will not bash a rookie although he has not done much.
But i remember during the summer and training camp the Bucs media saying what a steal McMillan is and what depth we have in WR position with Palmer and McMillan and so on so on.
Even before Evans and Godwin went down both Palmer and McMillan were catching like a pass per game going against 3rd tier corners. So paint me unimpressed.
Once again maybe we over value some of our players. Because what we hear and read we dont see it on the field.
Go Bucs
November 6th, 2024 at 10:44 am
McMillian struggles to hold on to the ball. He needs more time as a situational player, but fate has made him play before he is really ready. Trial by fire. Time for him to step up.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:44 am
Best ABILITY is AVAILABILITY
November 6th, 2024 at 10:45 am
When your veteran HC makes rookie mistakes time and time again, they need to go.
Godwin and Evans made no difference in the game against Denver or the first game against the Falcons.
It’s not a personnel issue on offense. The WR depth is actually quite good.
Great TE and RB play. Really good QB play.
But the one area that Bozo the clown is a supposed genius at, falls flat on it’s face every time.
We can’t outscore stupid. Cut the drift wood.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:47 am
hes a rookie the organization needs to provide his fitness. hes not the only one with a hamstring injury on the bucs
November 6th, 2024 at 11:04 am
What contributes to hammies, skipping your stretching exercises?
November 6th, 2024 at 11:08 am
Everyone should notice a pattern here. Licht drafts his skill players with the knowledge that it is going to take a year or two of development but they should be fine after that point (i.e. Otten). Palmer is looking better in the system this year, however, he most likely won’t turn that corner until next year. I fully expect McMillan to make a difference next year, but asking him to do so this year might be a little drastic. I understand our need for an immediate impact from that position, but the reality of the situation is it won’t be coming from his direction.
November 6th, 2024 at 11:11 am
HIGH CHARACTER GUYS HUH LICHT
November 6th, 2024 at 11:12 am
24 points when your defense gives up 40 burgers and can’t make a stop in OT, won’t cut it. Lovie is afraid to make his defense tired again.
Disgraceful.
November 6th, 2024 at 11:42 am
He still looks and acts like a college kid. This isn’t disrespectful just an observation. Some players come into the league grown A$$ men and others have to mature into one. Although some never do! He needs to find his inner Alpha Male and start acting like one. When that ball is in the air it’s yours so go get the damn thing.
November 6th, 2024 at 11:44 am
He got hyped a little bit playing in practices where he isn’t gonna really get clobbered.
November 6th, 2024 at 11:48 am
He fell in the draft do to injury issues. Bucs took a low risk pick on him. If he pans out, he pans out. Next year the receiver room will be completey different.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Jarrett is impressing me. I’d like to see him get the ball more and there should be no reason not to given the wide receiver room. He’s got classic WR measurables and seems to have good hands and the requisite toughness. McMillan may have the hands, or at least eventually, but he doesn’t have the toughness yet, which is probably to be expected.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
He’s probably open in practice against this defense. Everyone else is.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Why single our McMillan? Seems like a third of the Bucs will have hammies.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Shepard, Jarrett, and Palmer all look better than McMillan right now. He should be below all of them on the depth chart when he returns, from what I’ve seen.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Guessing from Baker’s comment that he must be seeing some things about Jalen that he wants improved physically and possibly his mindset. Similar to other comments, he is a rookie and probably is still in college mode. Also, hoping the Bucs are a good fit for him too. He was looking really good early on and this down time could be temporary.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
I’m guessing JMac isn’t spending enough time with the training staff or something. There’s more to this than him playing through pain. Not taking care of your body is a lot different than someone saying don’t give your opportunities to someone else.
Where’s Alex Guerrero? LOL.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:39 pm
Well our number 3 is currently our number 1 until 13 returns. We need them all to step up.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
@derek
Exactly. McMillan is thin and not cut. He’s scared man. He looks very scared.
One of the things that makes Godwin and Otton so special?
They take huge hits and they don’t GAF.
Rakim Jarrett reminds me of Chris Godwin. He likes getting hit. He has huge biceps. McMillan is very skinny with weak arms.
Jarrett can take the hits like Godwin.
McMillan is scared like Darden was.
Devin Thompkins have been 5-6 and tiny, but he was crazy!
I think to play WR in the NFL you must be more physical than finesse. More fearless than “fast.”
Millions of guys are fast. But can they take a hit? And hold on?
Like Godwin or Edelman or Adam Humphries.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
Just another self-absorbed bust.
November 6th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
Man that’s a good comparison, Joe Mac. He does have that Darden vibe going but could be just his lack of experience and will get more comfortable after a year in the NFL weight room and trial by fire. I agree with the Joe that never has.
Darden. Lol
November 6th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Rookies step up to be great receivers when they have the opportunity. Will McMillan become a great receiver? Hopefully so, I have confidence he will and I’ll be watching for him against San Francisco.
Go Bucs !!
November 6th, 2024 at 2:31 pm
When did lovie and mike start coaching our defense again
November 6th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
J-Mac has plenty of potential but he looks tentative and a little overwhelmed to me at this point.
I definitely thought Jarrett looked like our most natural pass catcher in limited chances. Good concentration, body control, and toughness. Like to see what he can do with a larger sample size but 🤞🏼
November 6th, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Licht clearly doesn’t value draft picks if he threw a 3rd rounder on an injury prone afterthought in college that is slow, unathletic, can’t catch, and now we know doesn’t prepare and is soft.
November 6th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
McMillan has to get in the weight room, he looks like he doesn’t like contact.
November 6th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
Licht, strikes again…….
November 6th, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Too skinny!
November 6th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Worthy on KC seems too skinny and weak, too.
November 6th, 2024 at 5:36 pm
I remember reading all they hype about this player during underwear football and training camp where there is little to no hitting. At the time I said uh oh, here we go again another Jaden Darden. All flash no substance.
November 6th, 2024 at 5:55 pm
Imagine how he would have felt when we brought in a few veterans to get hurt and ride the sideline. I’ve mentioned it in the past. I also feel like McMillan has to listen to the words Baker is saying cause it’s for the good of the team. We are in a hole and people just keep dropping out and it has to be aggravating. Come on guys keep your cool. Whoosa like Bad Boys lol.. Let’s Go Bucs!!!! Dig deep cause this week makes three really good teams so close together at the wrong time.
November 6th, 2024 at 5:56 pm
He definitely needs to put on at least 10 to 15 pounds of muscle. He looks like Bryce Young’s little brother. Problem is not on the offense in any way. Defense MUST get better and soon or this once promising season is going to be over. Go Bucs
November 6th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
I was struck by how much he was off after he came back from that first hammy – he’s got to learn to get right quickly- availability is a players most attractive quality.
Wouldn’t shock me that he will have to earn that starting role back against San Francisco.
November 6th, 2024 at 7:46 pm
HeavyE…………….Licht is hands down one of the NFLs best. End if conversation.
November 6th, 2024 at 8:52 pm
I said when he was drafted that there would be a chance that he could be injury prone and a certain a—h-le jumped all over me for it. Well has he done anything ? Let me know how many targets and catches he has ? Oh yeah how many games has he missed so far ? Maybe he will do something instead of suck.
November 6th, 2024 at 9:20 pm
Sounds like McMillan didn’t make the bell and the reason(s) didn’t pass muster with his QB. The team needs him, don’t care that he’s a rookie. He’s a pro now. Guys at this level have to find a way to get on the field. Otton is stepping up. Working his a$$ off and taking incredible punishment. Doing what he’s got to do. J. Mac take note.
November 7th, 2024 at 12:40 am
One minute someone pushed themselves too much and it made the injury worse. Next, push yourself through injury, even if it could injure you more. Make it make sense. What will be said if he forces himself to play and it makes it worse?
I don’t like any player questioning whether their teammates play through injuries. Every person is different!
November 7th, 2024 at 5:26 am
Give Jerrit more passes he looked like he wanted the ball kind of looks like a younger Godwin-what do you have to lose.
November 7th, 2024 at 10:21 am
he is at least partly responsible for many ints, wrong place wrong time and does not fight for ball, he’s a back up… give it to RJ
November 7th, 2024 at 11:36 am
Yeah, Jarrett needs to get the ball more..