Ogletree Followed “Favorite Coach,” Freeman
May 30th, 2013
Now that the Steve Smith revival tour is over, it’s all but a lock that offseason pick-up Kevin Ogletree and Tiquan Underwood will be your Nos. 3 & 4 Buccaneer wide receivers (not necessarily in that order).
Both are versatile. Both are overachieving fifth-year veterans. Neither is a standout. So they should stage one of the more fun position battles of the preseason, especially if yesterday’s practice was any indication. Both guys looked sharp.
Ogletree told Joe how he left Dallas and followed his “favorite coach” to Tampa. That would be John Garrett, the Bucs new wide receivers coach, who was working with tight ends coach and passing game coordinator in Dallas and was Ogletree’s position coach at the University of Virginia.
“He’s very lively and never embarrassed to admit he loves football and coaching football. He’s one of my favorite coaches, if not my favorite coach I’ve ever been around,” Ogletree said of Garrett. “That amount of passion he has for coaching really helps out our whole group and the whole team.”
Garrett, a former NFL receiver, loves to mix it up on the practice field. It’s common to see him grab guys and direct them physically.
“He doesn’t hit us (laughs), but he’s definitely physical and hands-on, for sure,” Ogletree said. “He does a really phenomenal job getting guys familiar with details inside the film room, and especially out when we get out there. Attention to detail. That’s where he’s exceptional.”
Ogletree also said Josh Freeman’s big arm and desire to “rip it” was another attraction to the Bucs.
Joe’s really not quite sure what the Bucs have in Underwood and Ogletree. Here’s a quote about Ogletree from Tony Romo in late October, regarding Ogletree somewhat disappearing in the Cowboys offense after Week 1.
“A lot of it’s been dictated by the coverage and by what teams are doing [defensively against the Cowboys],” Tony Romo said yesterday. “Kevin’s playing well. He just needs to go get the ball every once in a blue moon. He’s worked on that very hard this year.”
The “blue moon” comment is hardly inspiring.
Regardless, the Bucs didn’t lose games last year because of their No. 3 receiver, and Joe doesn’t expect any issues from Underwood and Ogletree this season. Whether one or both can have a standout year — ala Preston Parker in the slot in 2011 — is a bigger question mark.
May 30th, 2013 at 11:15 am
I can see the 3rd and 4th ones getting a lot of playing time this year. WRs currently on roster are:
Jackson, Vincent
Williams, Mike
Underwood, Tiquan
Ogletree, Kevin
Boyd, Jheranie
Crump, Terriun
Douglas, David
Johnson, Jerry
Owusu, Chris
Page, Eric
Wright, Tim
I think we’ll likely keep at least 6 guys. Maybe 7 but more likely 6.
Who amongst those left is the best to keep?
May 30th, 2013 at 11:30 am
I like Crump. Big dude receiver.
May 30th, 2013 at 11:40 am
3rd and 4th receiver are only important if the Qb can get to those progression or look there way. We all know that Jfro has a better chance of making a decent throw if the receiver can get 2 yards of separation on a defender.
May 30th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Dont rule out Page…
May 30th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
What happened to the practice squad WR last year that had enormous potential. Cant remember his name, started with a D I believe.
May 30th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
I thought it was Douglass on the PS last year. Bucs will be keeping an eye on the waiver wire, should be some pretty decent talent out there.
May 30th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
@biff barker
I really hope that Bucs do not do that. I am very tired of the Pop-star having to dumbster-dive to fill a roster because of bad drafting and poor free agency decisions.
May 30th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Was it Douglas? The name doesnt sound familiar but i could of sworn in a previous article had said Douglas came from another team.
May 30th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
We don’t have much depth past Underwood, but it wouldn’t surprise in the least bit for Underwood to get the axe if he doesn’t win the #3 spot. A major requirement for wide receivers that aren’t starters in the NFL is to play special teams, and Underwood is not much of a special teamer.
May 30th, 2013 at 7:55 pm
@the_buc_realist
So from your response I take it we should trash all of our GM dumpster dive players. What about Penn? He was taken off of a practice squad. I agree some of the players we brought aboard have not worked out. Just like some of other teams GM’s draft choices, FA and dumpster diving players do not work out. I get it you want a winner, just like all of us want a winning team. Not every good/great college player, makes it in the NFL. It is a tough business.
I hope we are doing or best to find quality players, looking on waiver wire, practice squads, arena league players, CFL players, former players, tryout players to find them. If you have a way to make sure every player we bring in is successful, RUN don’t walk to One Buc and beg, plead, or break in so you can share this with the Buccaneer organization.
Keep it real realist.