Give Him The Damned Ball!
April 7th, 2011
Joe has made little secret of his affinity for Bucs wide receiver Arrelious Benn.
Despite the haters who labeled Benn a bust before training camp was finished, Joe knew it would take time for Benn to come around. Despite being drafted higher than heralded rookie Mike Williams, Benn played in one of those damned junk, gimmick, high schoolish spread-options offenses which made Joe chuckle every time he heard Bobby Bowden refer to that offense as a wishbone.
To Foghorn Leghorn’s credit, the spread-option was about as close to an NFL offense as a wishbone offense.
It took nearly a third of the season but when Benn began to show up, it was a thing of beauty. Not surprisingly, when Benn played well, the Bucs offense clicked, which is one reason Joe was sick to his stomach when Benn went down against the Dixie Chicks at The CITS.
Well, it seems someone else caught Benn’s eye too. The football thinktank known as FootballFocus.com has come out and said it in a headline: Give Benn the damned ball.
Give This Guy More Snaps: WR Arrelious Benn
As if hitting a jackpot with Mike Williams wasn’t enough, Tampa has another guy coming through at the receiver ranks. Benn didn’t just make plays when he was thrown to, if you watched him when they ran you could see an extremely aggressive run blocker. It was peculiar that as a starter he didn’t see the field in nickel situations, but an increased role should see him expand on the 37 targets and 25 receptions he hauled in.
Joe will write it again: When Benn shines, the Bucs offense clicked.
Damn, Joe hopes Benn bounces back from that knee injury. With him in the game, Joe’s not so sure the Bucs have ever had such an explosive offense along with LeGarrette Blount, Kellen Winslow, of course Josh Freeman and Williams.
April 7th, 2011 at 8:24 am
I think the core of freeman,blount,williams,benn and winslow can be as good as any tandems in the league
April 7th, 2011 at 8:29 am
man i am so happy because we finally, FINALLY have an offense to be proud of. Took so many long years but we can be sure that we wont lose games 9-6 anymore.
April 7th, 2011 at 8:37 am
Benn will have 60+ catches along with 6 to 8 TD’s in 2011
April 7th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Foghorn Leghorn? Show some respect!
April 7th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Foghorn Leghorn is gawt damn hilarious.
April 7th, 2011 at 9:08 am
Joe, did you have a late night last night?
“Benn went down against the Dixie Chicks at The CITS.”
I believe that Benn went down against the Seahawks.
“it seems someone else caught Benn’s eye too.”
I believe you mean “it seems Been caught someone else’s eye too.”
You looking to hire a copy editor?? 🙂
April 7th, 2011 at 9:15 am
Absolutely right about Benn, Joe. He and Williams will form a dynamic pair. And I’ve been excited about this guy since we got him- Dezmon Briscoe! He showed some real flash last year also.
3 Wrs. All 6’2″. All fast. All over 200#.
“It’s enough ta give me da goosebumps, jus thinking about it”- Foghorn.
April 7th, 2011 at 9:23 am
WHich is why I do not buy all this talk about getting a TE early in the draft. BS.
They have many pressing needs and ALL of them are on defense. The offense is going to get better just simply because they, along with Olsen, are all a year older and a year more in the same offense.
A TE later in the draft maybe, if not, then next year.
They HAVE to address DE and LB with about 4 picks.
April 7th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Explosive players on offense? It’s all a myth.
April 7th, 2011 at 10:03 am
“Ah say, Ah say, That boy’s about as sharp as a bowling ball”
April 7th, 2011 at 10:07 am
LOL
April 7th, 2011 at 10:42 am
So that he does not rush back too soon we should still draft a speedster…
April 7th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
“Damn, Joe hopes Benn bounces back from that knee injury. ”
That’s what worries me the most. I hope this guy isn’t plagued with injuries.
April 7th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
It’s scary cause there’s so many guys that have these knee injuries, and come back and play but are never the same. Cross your fingers Benn can come back and be just fine…
April 7th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
There is a newer article up at ProFootballFocus (this one is about 2 months old) that shows another statistic that puts Benn among the best in the league. In their discussion about the problems with “Yards per Catch” as a statistic, they released a “Yards per route run” with Benn among the top receivers in the league. Is it possible that Benn is actually the better receiver of the two?
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/04/01/stat-sheet-misconceptions-yards-per-catch-revisited/
April 7th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
The hit Benn took directly to the knee would have taken any NFL player out. It was a crushing blow, and I hate the Falcons for it…. still….and their commercial…..and the Saints…..and the Panthers. They all suck including Matty Lice, Screw Breeze & Clausen Pickles.
Bucs #1!!!
April 7th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
I Like that BigMac!
April 9th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
I have praised Benn since the 09 college season. This knee injury is tough, but with the procedures and doctors now. It is not a big deal. As long as he doesn’t rush it too much getting back.
I think we def. need to get another RB and could see them using a late round pick on a WR speedster to help out Williams, Benn, Briscoe, and Winslow. But another RB to go with Blount has to be gotten. We need a speed back to compliment Blount’s power. The rest of the draft needs to be defense all the way!