Ed Gant Flashes; Micheal Spurlock Odd Man Out?
September 2nd, 2011
Bucs wide receiver Ed Gant was one of those annual preseason wonders, a guy who has splash plays in training camp before throngs of overheated patrons and quickly becomes a fan favorite despite doing little in games.
In recent years, that man was Kareem Huggins, for example.
While fans clamored for Gant, the wide receiver position is deep for the Bucs. Gant, who prior to Thursday night had done little against teams with a different color jersey, changed all that against the Redskins.
Gant blew up last night, looked like a star, as much as one can look like a star playing against guys who will drive beer trucks and work as bouncers next weekend.
Gant was so special last night, Bucs fans were pretty much universal on Twitter: Preston Parker should be concerned. Prior to the game, Parker was seen as a bubble player and Gant pretty much an afterthought, perhaps a practice squad candidate.
Those positions flipped in a matter of hours.
But former Bucs linebacker Ryan Nece is not of the mind that Parker should be updating his resume. Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network postgame show, along with co-host and Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski, Nece believed another Bucs receiver is now in danger of losing his job thanks to Gant blowing up.
That would be “Run Micheal Run” Spurlock.
Spurlock has made clutch plays for the Bucs as a receiver, but he is mostly known as a return man first, so Nece believes, a kickoff returner specifically. With the new rules this season having kickoffs from the 35-yard line, kickoff returners have pretty much been neutered, and this is why Nece believes Spurlock is the odd receiver out.
“Now with kickoffs this preseason, five of every six are touchbacks, so how valuable are kickoff returners now?” Nece asked.
Gant’s play “hurts Michael Spurlock,” Nece said.
It’s an interesting theory. If Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik values Spurlock more as a kickoff return man than a receiver, the NFL may very well have phased Spurlock out of a gig with the Bucs.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:19 am
Spurlock will not be cut.He also can be emergency QB. Stroughter hopefully is cut,he does nothing and people use excuse he was hurt.He still had 24 catches in 12games last year,weak production.He reminds me if Willie Drewery but not as productive.#18 manages to fool people with the perception that he is productive.12 games/24 receptions is the sad reality.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:22 am
I agree with Mike I see the receivers as so:
Mike
Benn
Briscoe
Spurlock
Parker
Gant
Sammie didnt make the cut sorry…. he hasnt got any better as a receiver. Hell you can argue hes regressed since his rookie year, and isnt a special team guy like Spurlock is.
Spurlock does everything Sammie does, and plays special teams, and is an emergency qb.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:22 am
Spurlock is the emergency QB right and with the possibility of keeping only 2, does that not leave Parker the odd man out especially with Stroughter sticking?
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:22 am
Throw Gant on the practice squad. He is doing what Paris Warren did(minus the brutal looking ankle dislocation)i.e. showing up in training camp and the final preseason game.
Really, Paris Warren destroyed the 2007 preseason. I think he had something like 13 or 14 receptions for 200 yards and 4 TDs. Clearly Gant didn’t hit that mark, but he played big with the small he was given. Who knows what he could do with more play time and training. I say, put him on the PS. Lets see if he can beat out Stroughter and Briscoe next year or perhaps even midseason.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:24 am
PArker has flashed enough explosion and Spurlock seems to valuable in his versatility, including being an emergency QB.
I see Gant on the practice squad for now.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:24 am
Stroughter will be on the team this year. There is zero possibility of him being cut/let go/released/etc. Get that out of your heads.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:28 am
Joe here,
Written a lot here about Spurlock’s role as emergency QB, but you never know. More putting on Nece’s take than anything else. Can’t imagine Strougther isn’t a lock for the club.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:39 am
funny I remember michael spurlock return a touchdown against the saints as of last year as a punt returner. it cracks me up when a guy has a good day against 4th stringers
and he is the second coming of jerry rice.
I also remember when dexter jackson blew it up in the fourth
preseason game a few years ago
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:17 am
@jvato Hence why fans are calling for Gant to make the PS.
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:26 am
@javato I don’t remember Dexter Jackson ever blowing up anything outside of kick return responsibilities. He had 3 receptions for 28 yards and 2 rushes for 19 yards in the preseason. That was it.
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:38 am
Ill admit, I had the instant lust for Gant, but I’m not gonna fall in love that quick. The catch was spectacular, but a WR with mediocre talent can make a great catch every once and a while. Thing is, if he goes to the BUCS practice squad he WILL be picked up by another team and thrown in rotation. There won’t be an opportunity to continue to develop him into a great receiver for the BUCS on the PS. They have to sign him and activate him to keep him. Problem with that is, I think they did that with Stroughter and he hasn’t shown much progression. What a hard decision…
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:42 am
I doubt even Dom would cut Spurlock and go with the unproven Gant. The kid had a great night, but that ninety yarder was because two defenders took themselves out. Team is young enough.
I felt a little sorry for that Redksins kid who almost threw the the ball away when crossing the goal line. Then the buc kid dropped the punt. All fired up and get a shot on the big stage and the nerves take over.
I don’t agree with the conclusion that our receiving corp is “deep”. Were behind the Saints and Falcons in that department IMO.
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:58 am
The only ones on offense I would keep if I was raheem morris is gant,madu based on last nights performance our TE’S are weak. Besides winslow but stocker must be nice to be considered while not healthy. Elbert Mack is good and gaitor showed me something all pre season
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:20 am
Gant needs to go to PS…He had a fantasic game and it was great to see the young man show out but his potential does not equal the value of Spurlock or Parker @ this time in my humble opinion
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:33 am
Remember it’s not just kickoffs that are returned, but punts also. Last time I checked they didn’t get rid of punts. Spurlock is by far our most exciting return guy. Even when he makes a catch as a WR there’s always a dynamic feel to his play, like he’s capable of making a big play any time he touches the ball.
I honestly believe this team would be better if they cut Stroughter to allow room for Gant. Travis is right…he hasn’t shown anything at all since his rookie season. He hasn’t improved. Will he be cut, though? Probably not. This team has shown an inability to quickly admit mistakes with draft picks other than punters and let them go in favor of UDFA’s. That needs to change.
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:41 am
I agree with Old School, I think it’s between Parker and Gant. Spurlock is not going anywhere he has value other than WR. I would be surprised if Stroughter is cut. Williams, Benn, Briscoe are a lock. Parker in my opinion hasn’t looked that great, but he has had his moments. The coaches and GM might feel that Gant may have a better upside and may not want to take the chance of trying to hide him on the PS, this redskins game has brought too much attention to him. However I do hope we can find a way to keep them all. All of these receivers have heart and work hard, I’m just glad I’m not the person who has to make the cuts.
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:43 am
Lol Sammie won’t get cut. He has return value as well. It’s shocking what u people remember/misremember. Parker or Spurlock (who was out there dropping passes in the 4th qtr) will be cut. Sammie has way better hands than Parker.
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:44 pm
All Spurlock does is return punts for touchdowns and big yardage, make clutch plays and step up his game every year. Two plays should not land the Gant kid in his roster spot.
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Parker couldn’t catch a cold if he was nude in a field in Fargo in the dead of winter, he gets the axe. Stroughter is your slot, he’s not going anywhere. Spurlock has special teams value, and has made some really clutch catches in real games (Bengal’s in the 4th quarter?) Gant goes to the PS if someone else picks him up …. who cares …. we have 3 recievers that are clearly better, and 2 that are most likley better with game experiance.