LeQuan Lewis Gets Official Kick Returner Nod
November 20th, 2012
Don’t look for Arrelious Benn on kick returns
It looks like Arrelious Benn will be limited to covering kicks rather than returning them.
During preseason, Greg Schiano made it clear that significant changes in the lineup would be reflected on the Bucs’ depth chart, and one such move was made public when the Bucs released all the fancy data associated with Sunday’s Bucs-Falcons game earlier today.
Benn was booted to backup kick returner and cornerback LeQuan Lewis was promoted to top returner. Michael Smith sits at third on the chart. Lewis returned kicks against San Diego when Benn was hurt, and Lewis handled the duties Sunday despite Benn’s return. He’s had two chances with mixed results.
Between this move and the Bucs apparently (hopefully) banishing the heinous Benn’d Around play, these are tough days for Benn, whose career is nosediving.
November 20th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Some Bucs fan whining about Michael Smith not being given the job in 3, 2, 1…
November 20th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Trade Benn!!! Another Wasted 2nd round pick of 2010
November 20th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Wonder if CBS Sports Shop will give me a refund on my Benn and Smith jerseys.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
I won’t whine about Smith (@FLBoyinDallas), but I would like to know what he did, or didn’t do, to have completely fallen off the radar map post the pre-season.
Benn appears to be have the football body but not the football mind…?
Hard to explain why someone with his physical tools barely get a sniff at playing time.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
With Benn it was ijuries, they have hampered his career. Smith probably is not as good as some think. Maybe we will see more of him next year. Right now I would not change the RB rotation at all. Smith looked good in preseason against the future beer truck drivers, but maybe he does not look so good at practice. At some point you just have to trust the Bucs to put the best guy on the field. Look at the Blount vs Martin, I sure am glad that Shiano did not listen to all the fans crying that Blount should be the starter. It is not too often that a running back, a rookie at that, has 1000 yards with six games to go.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
I meant I would not change the RB rotation or the return rotation…sorry about that.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
I don’t think Smith has done anything wrong. I just think it’s a numbers game. You only get 46 guys on game day so you have to make the most of those spots. LeQuan Lewis is a starting CB, Benn is a second string WR and they both also play special teams. Smith, on the other hand, is the fourth string RB behind Martin, Blount and Ware. Having him in the active 46 would take away a valuable spot from some other player who contributes more. He’ll get his shot next year I bet, but not this year.
Benn is a slower learner than the other WRs but from all accounts I’ve read and heard he’s coming along nicely lately and both Schiano and Freeman are excited about his future. You won’t see Benn cut anytime soon. He’ll be here next year, too.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
FLBoy, I agree. I think you also want to get Lewis as much time on the field as you can, even if it is not at his position. Imagine the INT run back traiing returning can give you.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Sounds like more players are finding out that to play you just can’t talk a good game, you need to play a good game. Blunt is finding out the hard way that a good attitude is also important in the Schiano team.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
“Hi my name is Arrelious Benn. I can’t play wide receiver, return kicks, or run the end around. Somehow, I still have a roster spot. Oh, and don’t worry, I was a 2nd round pick.”
Mark Dominik has had many great draft selections throughout his tenure as GM. Unfortunately, this was not one of them. Oh well, can’t be right 100% of the time. Hopefully we cut ties with this guy in the off-season and bring in a replacement that can just do SOMETHING!
November 20th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
I think the issue w/ Smith is that there isn’t a big enough roll for him on game days. I think we’re still busy trying to find something else for him to do. We already have our main RBs dressed for gameday (Martin, Blount) as well as our 3rd down back (Ware).
I am of the assumption that depending on how Martin develops this offseason, we might be able to get to the point that we can drop Ware or Blount (pains me to say that part cause i still think Byner can do wonders w/ the kid) and be able to activate Smith on gamedays, giving him the opportunity to handle returns and maybe a couple touches per game (especially in the passing game).
The one thing you CANNOT teach in the NFL is speed and Smith has it.
November 20th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Bucs fans are in foreign territory these days and do not know how to accept it. The Bucs are loaded with offensive weapons for the first time in forever!
Benn can ball and he has shown it. He just can’t ball to the level of the starters but he could be an NFL starter – believe that!
November 20th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Depth
November 20th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Whoever thinks benn will be around next year is nuts they are not going to pay him 2 round money when we need to resign Williams he has out played his contract plus freeman and bennett deals need done too this guy has 4rec this year underwood was on the streets and passed him up