Chris Owusu Getting Noticed
August 4th, 2013
Right now, if there are two training camp stars Joe could point to, they would be wide receiver Chris Owusu and cornerback Rashaan Melvin.
An undrafted free agent out of Northern Illinois, Melvin has had a few snaps with the first team defense and, going aginst the likes of Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, has not embarrassed himself at all.
But Melvin hasn’t had near as many snaps with the first team defense as Owusu has had with the first team offense. One thing is clear, Owusu is going to make Bucs coach Greg Schiano’s job of making the final cuts at receiver all the more difficult.
Owusu simply makes plays. Hard catches, easy catches, short catches, bombs. Doesn’t matter. He’s getting the job done. He’s even caught the attention of Schiano, which is not a bad thing.
“He did make some plays,” Schiano said of Owuso at the daily post-practice press conference Saturday. “I wasn’t studying Chris, but he jumped out to me a few times as well, so that was good.”
Owusu was pressed into playing mostly with the first team yesterday as Schiano held Mike Williams out of practice with a sore hamstring, despite protests from Williams.
Now there is no way that Owusu, barring a major injury, will unseat Williams or Jackson. But if Owusu keeps up this kind of play for the next month (yes, the regular season is still a long month away) and continues to shine in preseason games, it’s hard to see how Owusu won’t be the Bucs No. 3 receiver.
August 4th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
I’ve been waiting for this story…..Owusu as the #3. I haven’t made it to a practice yet, but his smaller stature and speed might make him a good for to work the slot, and still be a deep threat when Jackson slides inside. How are his route’s compared to underwood and Ogletree?
August 4th, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Even if he doesn’t get #3, he will most certainly make a fine #4 or #5. Stay healthy and continue to impress and he will be here at the end. We are lucky to have so many quality receivers competing for a role. I think the guys who don’t make our team will be playing for somebody this season. In fact even if we sign a couple to our practice squad they will be pilfered away before the end of the season.
August 4th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Owusu will be starting in the slot.
August 4th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
We need a PR & KR….has anyone risen to that yet. The best news I’m hearing is that Glennon is performing, so perhaps a roster spot will be saved by having only 2 QBs.
That means we can keep an extra RB or WR.
Jackson Martin
Williams Leonard
Ogletree James
Underwood Lotig
Owusu Smith
And then……..there’s maybe DEMPS!!!
August 4th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
look like 80 from newyork giant
August 4th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Joe loves him some JFro six pack no matter how bad he is!
August 4th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
I like Demps but the longer he is away the more unlikely it is he makes this team. Now if he shines at KR/PR when he does get here that might be a different story but I’m just not seeing it. Especially with the new added depth at RB.
August 4th, 2013 at 6:26 pm
@Couch Fan
You may be right about Demps….but he can’t be counted out until the very end and maybe not even then.
August 4th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Owusu ran a 4.3. In the 40 and a 10.6 in the 100 dude can fly but had a few concussions …hope he stays healthy cause he can play.
Coach Wannstedt has a simple special teams plan so Demps could pick it up quickly .
August 4th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
Joe, I agree.
I think Owusu has the edge at slot. Ogletree, if you look at his breakout games with Dallas, often operated on the outside with Austin moving in. The Bucs don’t need that type of receiver, they need a shifty, versatile guy like Owusu. I think he can definitely be the player the Bucs need to diversify their offense. Let’s face it, as good as Jackson and Williams are, they are deep-ball, jump-ball receivers; the Bucs need a compliment to that style.
August 4th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says: August 4th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
We need a PR & KR….has anyone risen to that yet. The best news I’m hearing is that Glennon is performing, so perhaps a roster spot will be saved by having only 2 QBs. That means we can keep an extra RB or WR.
Jackson Martin Williams Leonard Ogletree James Underwood Lotig Owusu Smith
And then……..there’s maybe DEMPS!!!
– –
Don’t forget Eric Page. He returned 5 kicks for TDs last year. He is probably the on who will get the job. I don’t think we’ll ever get to see Demps play.
August 4th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
On Eric page
Kickoff return average is the best in UT history… Only player in FBS with three TDs off kickoff returns in 2010… Led MAC and was 12th in country in all-purpose yards (156.5)… Accounted for five TDs in 42-31 win over CMU… Caught 12 passes for season-high 127 yards and two TDs; returned two kickoffs for TDs; threw a 28-yard TD pass… Became first player ever from Mid-American Conference to return two kickoffs for TDs in one game. Five kickoff return TDs in 2012.
August 4th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
“Glennon is performing, so perhaps a roster spot will be saved by having only 2 QBs.”
I agree, Orlovsky has become fodder.
August 5th, 2013 at 1:06 am
In real time, in the real game against opposing teams! Owusu has my attention and Im pulling for him. But…..(see my first sentence)….
Get it Owusu, you’re shining right now….keep doing it!
August 5th, 2013 at 6:08 am
Captain Stagger: Owusu is fast, but he is not small at 6′-2″ and 200#.
August 5th, 2013 at 7:03 am
Owusu is the guy who volunteered to wear a special helmet that measures concussions while at Stanford.
He, then proceeded to get two or three concussions while wearing thiss helmet.
Talk about the law of attraction!
But thank god, he can still play.
I am rooting for him.
We need a 4.3 reciever.