Parker Over Spurlock?
September 6th, 2011
This one surprised Joe. It appears Preston Parker has taken over as top punt and kick returner ahead of Micheal Spurlock.
Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times, delivers the news.
Receiver Preston Parker has replaced Micheal Spurlock as the top kick and punt returner, making Spurlock more likely to be among the team’s inactive players on Sunday.
Spurlock did not return punts and kicks during the preseason. Joe asked Spurlock about it, and he told Joe a couple of weeks ago that was done to get other guys work and not a knock on him.
Joe’s not sure he’s on board with Holder’s assertion that Spurlock is likely to be inactive on Sunday, considering Spurlock is such a sure-handed receiver (17 catches for 250 yards in 2010) and returner, and the emergency third quarterback. Considering the Bucs likely will remain cautious with Arrelious Benn, Joe would hardly be surprised if all six receivers on the roster are active.
September 6th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
I have to admit, the two players on this team that have yet to impress me are Parker and Lumpkin. They must be shining in practice (or on film), but I haven’t seen them do much of anything in the games.
September 6th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
“Parker has replaced Spurlock”
Based on what? I agree with Hawiian- Parker hasn’t shown anything! Must be fetching somebody’s coffee or something.
September 6th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
I wonder if this move is telegraphing who’s gonna be released when TJax is back from suspension in a couple weeks. If this report is correct then it looks like Spurlock, not Holland, will be the guy to go.
September 6th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
I dont really understand this move. BTW Joe are we doing picks this year? lols at still not paying up for prizes. Even if there isnt prizes im still interested.
September 6th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Either that or they want to give Parker time as a starter before TJax returns so they can decide between releasing Spurlock or Parker when the time comes.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
This is just silly to play Parker over battle tested Spurlock, I don’t believe Holder. Thats asking for trouble and turnovers…
September 6th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
I never count Spurlock out. The guy has managed to stay in the league for years now and seems to always produce when asked.
The guy is way more clutch than people give him credit for. Out of those 17 catches, 12 of them were 1st downs.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Spurlock is the 3rd string qb. Parker hangs out with Rah more than Spurlock which always gives the rah-buddy an advantage. Otherwise, I cant see any reason for this move.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Parker should prove us all idiots and take one or two to the house on Sunday.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
I don’t think anyone needs Parker’s help for that.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Very true statement TrueBlue!
September 6th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
FLBoy – That might be a good call…
Spurlock has definitely been affected by the new kick-off rule. Spurlock’s best asset really isn’t an asset anymore. If you say Parker didn’t impress you this preseason, then you would have to say the same about Spurlock as well. And his sole punt-return netted zero yards. Parker looked decent at returns and had a decent average. Spurlock also dropped a few balls and the only one I remember Parker dropping was in that first game against the Chiefs from JJ. As well in camp, you didn’t hear much about Spurlock, if at all, but there was one ‘rainy’ day that Parker got a lot of praise for not dropping any balls and being the only receiver besides Williams to hold onto the ball that day. Briscoe’s performance as well has hurt Spurlock and Parker is more that Sammie Stroughter slot type receiver anyways. When you have Briscoe, Benn and Williams on those outside spots with the up and comer Gant, it really doesn’t leave much room for Spurlock. Especially with the new kick-off rule like I said earlier. I’m not hating on Spurlock because I like the guy a lot (and I think we all have since that first KO return for a TD), but Parker is younger and hasn’t gotten a chance to prove himself and now he’s getting that chance. We must remember Parker should only get better from here on out as well, seeing that he was an undrafted player last year and is only going into his second season. I will admit when I first read this news, I was a little surprised, but the more I think about it now…it does makes some sense. And we always have Stroughter as insurance as well, incase this doesn’t work out on returns.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@ Architek – Parker hasn’t shown anything that would make us believe that he would turn the ball over, nor would the coaches put him back there if they thought that. In fact, I saw him a couple times get hit hard, horse-collar tackled (Patriots game) and bent in awkward positions and didn’t turn the ball over on returns. He’s a tough kid. Trouble, maybe and that remains to be seen, but turnovers…I don’t think there is any evidence to support that claim.
September 6th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
I’m sorry, but Spurlock is the man! He’s a great returner, decent receiver, and has made big plays for us. Parker hasn’t proven himself at all. I seriously don’t understand all the hype we’ve been hearing about him for the past year.
September 6th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Trueblue- lol, true that! We all manage nicely without Parker’s help!
September 6th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Who in the heck has so much invested in Parker and freaking Lumpkin over there? It’s crazy.
September 6th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Have to go with Spurlock. He s always put up the numbers no matter what. Not too many years ago , he would have been a God and had streets and first born children named after him. Seems like many have forgotten how embarassing it was to hear that in 200 gazillion kickoffs, the Bucs have never returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Finally they find someone who can do it, and did it multiple times on kickoffs and punts, and now some want to see him go…
September 6th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Just penciled in Freeman as my starter over Tony Romo for week one. Why? Because Romo is going up against the Jets and Revis island. Even though Free was rusty in preseason, I still am hoping he can toss a couple of TDs against the lowly Lions pass defense. Come ON Freeeeeeee!!!!
September 6th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
This is the same Stephen F. Holder that said:
“Nothing on the record that I can share, but I personally think we’ve seen the last of Talib here. Guilty or not, I think the Bucs know that if they take him back it’ll be seen as not taking a stand. And what happens if there’s another incident? They’ll have no defense.”
Let’s wait and see what the TEAM is thinking first. On a side note, glad to see Luke McCown is getting a chance to lead the team in Jax. Hope he runs with it.
September 6th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Puritis – I don’t think anyone wants to see him go, as much as we want to see the new kickoff rule go. He won’t see many kickoffs to return and teams can punt away from him if need be. The onlg negative thing said on here was in my post about him not having a good pre-season, which he did not. He dropped some balls this pre-season. The only other thing I said that could be taken as negative, is if you think Parker did not impress, then you would have to say the same about Spurlock this pre-season. With Spurlock’s value decreasing because of the new rule, he needs to show more as a receiver. With the emergence of Briscoe, and then you add in Williams, Benn and even Winslow, he doesn’t have much of a chance. Again, this is not a knock on Spurlock, but a knock on the new rules. And a credit to the young talent we have at receiver now.
September 6th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
FLBoy 84 – It’s on the depth chart for this week on the official Buccaneers.com website.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
like it’s going to matter with this new bullsh!t kickoff rule.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
I think Roger Goodell should change the name of the league to the NPFL (National Pussy Football League). Cause that’s what it’s becoming when he makes these stupid rule changes and constantly fines players for just PLAYING football.
September 7th, 2011 at 12:00 am
Stroughter can return a punt or two as well.
It isn’t just a matter of how you start, but how you finish. Nothing is cast in stone and the cream rises to the top. It’s a very long season, a season that will take every single player’s contribution, and then some. Everyone will get an opportunity to shine, make big plays and be the hero. It’s all about team and not individuals. Raheem Morris understands this when most people do not. All I can say is “Hold on Tight” because it’s going to be another wild ride.
September 7th, 2011 at 12:13 am
Patrick:
To be fair, Goodell does not change the rules. That is the competition committee. Goodell can certainly strong-arm the committee to do these things, but he doesn’t have a vote on the committee.
September 7th, 2011 at 12:20 am
To be honest spurlock has proven himself more then any other wideouts on the team except for Mike Williams.. I mean he scored a td on special teams made some amazing catches and plays QB now im mean hes seems like the earnest graham of wideouts…
September 7th, 2011 at 5:11 am
Spurlock – 2 KR for TDs an 1 PR for TD in his career.
You guys make him sound like he’s Devin Hester…
September 7th, 2011 at 5:29 am
@HGO,
That’s a good point. I agree that he is not a great kick returner. For me, the thing I like about him is his knack for making big plays when they matter. One of those punt returns was to beat the Saints in the fourth quarter. He caught the game winning TD last year against Cleveland in the fourth. He also made an amazing catch in the fourth quarter against Cincy to set up a chip shot field goal. He is one of those guys that seems to make plays when they count. That’s 3 games out of our last 18 that he has won for us (I may even be forgetting another play) – nearly 25% of our wins are a direct result of him. I’m not even sure Parker has made a catch in the fourth quarter of ANY game.
September 7th, 2011 at 7:40 am
@Four Fingered
Could you PLEASE insert some paragraph spacing in your comments? lol. I’ll read them this time…but man its not easy to stay with it for old farts with ADD like me.
My guess is no. I could be off on my thinking, but here are my thoughts on it:
1) Spurlock is the backup QB…at least that’s what is claimed by the media. I don’t know if the Bucs themselves have said this.
2) Spurlock has improved himself as a wide reciever since being here. He’s great in a clutch. Maybe this means he’s going to get more reps?
3) If he were dropped, how many WRs would that leave us? Five? (I’m really not sure and not checking this early, lol). If so, I don’t see us cutting him.
4) Holland can be placed on the Practice Squad…Spurlock can not.
HOWEVER…there is one thing that MIGHT support your theory…
Spurlock’s age. I never thought I would say this…but 28 seems to be old to Morris and Dominick.
September 7th, 2011 at 7:52 am
The media also claimed that McKenzie would be the mike.
September 7th, 2011 at 7:59 am
He also has a good average return, giving our offense good starting positions.
On the kick returns
I don’t think kick returns are a thing of the past. I think because this rule is new, teams are doing more touchbacks right now, but the desire is still there to pin offenses as far back as possible.
So at some point, I think kickers are going to start trying to place the ball within the 10 again…and that’s when kick returns will start up again.
I also don’t think this rule will be there next year if there are no kick returns for TDs this year.
On Parker
Here’s the issue I have with Parker…he’s scared. Too many times he simply caught the kicks and settled for a fair catch…even when it pinned the offense further back.
With Spurlock, he was always aware of field position. If he caught the ball within the ten, he would, most times, try to at least get it out past the twenty.
And much of the time he go it well past the twenty.
Parker is either afraid of contact or afraid to take chances on costing hte team.
As to Spurlock being replaced
Last year, Raheem tried a couple other guys on Kick/Punt Returns as well. He eventually went back to Spurlock.
I think Morris is testing the waters. He knows that Spurlock can’t return kicks forever, and the team will need a replacement soon. Who knows? Maybe Parker will surprise us.
But Spurlock is as important to me as half of the old regime was. His first KR made him that much of a fan favorite. I was heartbroken when he was cut the first time, and was very glad he later returned.
September 7th, 2011 at 8:17 am
Personally I think the move is a good one. I think Spurlock is a much better kickoff returner than Parker but think Parker can be a better PUNT returner. With the new kickoff rule all but eliminating returns I’m ok with this move.
September 7th, 2011 at 10:57 am
Hey Pete, have you thought of asking Joe for a job? You write more on here than he does. It’s cool. I’m just messing with you.