The Development Of ASJ
August 23rd, 2015
ASJ talks about how to improve.
Bucs fans are startling to grumble over second-year tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
They’ve read about his ability and how he could be the next Tony Gonzalez, so his offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter dropped on Joe some weeks ago.
ASJ looks the part. But on the field, Bucs fans have not seen ASJ take that next step. At times he appeared dominant last year and gave fans a glimpse of what he could be. But he was hurt too often.
This year, with a full offseason of health to work on his craft, it seems ASJ has slipped through training camp and one preseason game. To say he has been inconsistent catching the ball would be polite.
Yesterday, Joe caught up with ASJ after the final training camp practice of 2015. ASJ basically said to improve he must keep grinding.
“I feel good,” ASJ said. “I just have to keep working at it. Just [need] daily improvement every single day. Get better at everything I need to do. Be a professional and come out here and work.”
In a breath of fresh air, ASJ noted every aspect of his “game needs improvement.”
Joe was confident ASJ would blow up this year, for two reasons. First, he is healthy. Throw in the fact that he and “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, are pals off the field, Joe thought that chemistry would be translate to the field. So far, that hasn’t been the case. Despite being targeted a lot in practice, ASJ said that has nothing to do with his friendship with Jameis.
Jameis “just finds open guys,” ASJ said. “Jameis has done a really good job of finding open guys, whoever that may be.”
Joe sure hopes ASJ snaps out of his funk. If that means going the slumpbuster route, so be it. For the Bucs offense and for the development of Jameis, ASJ has to have more consistent hands.
August 23rd, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Man Joe I really don’t know about this kid! JOE ! What’s up with Tim Wright???? We haven’t heard anything of or about him. If you could, could you please enlighten us with some details, kind sir’s???
August 23rd, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Catch the damn ball!
August 23rd, 2015 at 2:08 pm
When you aren’t reading/hearing anything about a player, you can do the math. As Lovie says, in training camp, you have to make yourself noticed.
There is a logjam at tight end. No more complex than that. Right now Wright is battling Cameron Brate for a roster spot and Brate has been catching a lot of passes with the first/second teams. When offensive players talk about tight ends, Brate’s name is often mentioned. Joe hasn’t heard Wright’s name mentioned much if at all.
Again, do the math.
August 23rd, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Thanks JOE!!! You are the men!!!
August 23rd, 2015 at 2:51 pm
I feel like ASJs work ethic has been alluded to a couple times. I think it was maybe koetter who said its up to him, he has the potential to be great but it’s up to him to come in and practice and prepare like the greats.
Whereas everyone says Jameis already has that work ethic to him.
August 23rd, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Whereas everyone says Jameis already has that work ethic to him.
And make no mistake Fameis is the bell cow!!! I liked both Fameis and Mariota and agree with most that Fameis is more of an NFL style and MM is more of a “new age” type QB. Most felt the desire to bring Fameis work ethic and charisma to camp to change up the chemistry. Perhaps they were correct. MM can be a leader in the right situation but the Bucs were probably not that team.
We’ve spent a decade…since Chucky brought his Raider mentality..with head cases like Talib…Williams..Winslow. We’ve had a “toes on the line” college rah rah coach who lost the players. Prior to that we had a kid younger than a few of players trying be the players best bud and the team simply got out of control
We are still cleaning up that mess. I think we’re getting close at least as far as the locker room chemistry and we now have the leadership in place.
August 23rd, 2015 at 6:39 pm
I’m going to say it:
ASJ is soft.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:43 pm
I would like to bring a sign to Bucs practice that ask just that.
“ASJ Soft?”
See how he responds then…
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:53 pm
Bucs wasted another high draft pick. ASJ talks a big game but that’s it. Kid has no heart and no desire. All he’s interested in is rehearsing his idiotic Captain Morgan pose for the next time he scores a meaningless TD when the Bucs are down by 30. Hope he proves me and all the other doubters wrong but I feel he’s more likely to cost us a game (Vikings in OT) than win us a game.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:57 pm
What hapened to “I’m here to dominate” attitude?
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:03 pm
ASJ will ok this season, this will be his breakout season. This is preseason, when the season start, you will see a different ASJ. I think that Timmy Wright and Brandon Myers will be gone. We will probably go with ASJ, Luke Stocker and Cameron Brate as our TEs.
August 24th, 2015 at 8:54 am
ASJ = another wasted high draft pick
He has all the tools…….but just cannot put it together
My guess is……he’ll be gone in two or three years……then latch onto a team and then become like TG and then he’ll win the the SB
For some reason, that’s the trend with the Bucs…..they blossom after they leave here and win the SB
MUST BE THE BUCS LOSING CULTURE
August 24th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Convert him to a FB for those short yardage situations….no catching, just hand it to him.