Kenny Stills A Plan-B?
February 24th, 2017
Backup plan?
Joe doesn’t know one Bucs fan upset — other than the misguided souls who demand a new tight end — when America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, said the Bucs should be all-in on grabbing prospective free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
But what if that plan falls through?
What then?
Follicly-challenged, thin-skinned stathead Bill Barnwell of BSPN (you would be shocked how sensitive the statgeeks are when free-thinking folks don’t swallow their statistical debris whole ,which is why Barnwell and so many of them have Joe blocked on Twitter) suggests a smart move for the Bucs if Jackson cannot be landed is Miami wide receiver Kenny Stills.
It would be logical for the Bucs to target a different sort of player from the guys they already have, although another Evans would be nice. They could use more speed downfield to stretch teams, given that the only notable burner on the roster right now is Evans, who is almost always attracting extra attention anyway. The need for speed could push them toward DeSean Jackson or Kenny Stills, although Stills likely had a career year in terms of touchdown percentage in 2016.
Well, the Bucs need speed to complement Evans.And speed to stretch the field should loosen things up for the running game, which needs all the help it can get.
The Bucs can do a lot worse than Stills. Just turn on tape from last season.
February 24th, 2017 at 7:18 am
Stills as a Plan-B after D-Jax is a fine idea. I just disagree with anyone who says they would rather have Stills over D-Jax.
Another thing I would add onto this is IMO if we end up with Stills and not D-Jax, we should still draft a WR early, like in the first 2 rounds. If we get D-Jax we can draft a WR late day 2 early day 3. I dont like Kenny Stills as a #2 WR.
February 24th, 2017 at 7:25 am
Stills is only 25, I believe. I would take him in a second. My choices, in order, are Pryor, Stills, Jackson… But I would be THRILLED with any of them
February 24th, 2017 at 7:28 am
I doubt MIA lets him go, I see reports where they are going to get him back. Joe(s) and fellow stick carriers, seems there is a good crop of upgrades for us at WR. Look past the big names, and there are players that could do damage in a Bucs uniform.
February 24th, 2017 at 7:29 am
What is misguided about wanting a tight end that can both block and catch passes? Given the fact that Howard has wide receiver like speed this is an added bonus,Now Joe espoused the theory that if a player can not do all the tasks well.( block and catch) in this case,they are part time players.Both Stocker and Brate fit in this category at this time.
That said we still need a quality WR and running back to give Jameis all the weapons he needs.
February 24th, 2017 at 7:34 am
Bucs are obviously desperate for a WR with speed, and Desean Jackson would fill that need very nicely I think. Not so sure about Kenny Stills however, but maybe he’d be a great pickup. On the plus-side he’s young (24) and has had 4 decent years with a very good YAC. But the purported reasons for his 2015 trade from the Saints to the Dolphins concern me & it’d be nice to know what the real reason was (poor work ethic & didn’t fit in very well in the Saints locker room).
February 24th, 2017 at 7:51 am
I have a Plan-B value option.
WR Marquise Goodwin/Bills – 4.5 million
While Adam Humphries is a dependable slot receiver, Jameis Winston needs a weapon that has the speed to stretch the field opposite Mike Evans. This man can fly, simply put. At the 2013 NFL Combine, he flew down the strip for the 40yd dash in 4.27 seconds. He would open up the short to intermediate game for Evans and Brate. The box could not be crowded any longer, opening up lanes in the running attack. He underperformed in Buffalo by playing in a system that was not tailored to his skill set. That will not happen with Koetter, Winston, and their penchant for the long ball. Why pay 10mil for DeSean Jackson or spend a draft pick on oft injured WR John Ross when the equally speedy value pick is available?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14TMkldc7Xs
February 24th, 2017 at 7:59 am
Maybe the Saints let Stills go for a 3rd pick and Dan Ellerbe. I’m sure it didn’t hurt that they are stacked with good young talent @ WR..
February 24th, 2017 at 8:04 am
Jackson seems to have a lot of nagging injuries the last few years. Stills is younger and could be a nice complementary receiver to Evans but I’d still draft another wr
February 24th, 2017 at 8:11 am
Get both and draft a WR. We finally have a big time QB. Let’s get him some options to work with.
February 24th, 2017 at 8:27 am
can’t stand the Jackson talk..he’d be another blunder…Garcon is better option and a high draft pick…
February 24th, 2017 at 8:49 am
Should be Plan A
February 24th, 2017 at 8:51 am
@Miko,
I can’t agree, IMO. We need speed to stretch the field and open things up for Evans and Brate. I like Garcon, and would not complain if we signed him, but if given a choice I would take faster players like Stills, Pryor or Jackson.
February 24th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Solid plan B. Miami won’t let him go though and he likes south beach. Who wouldn’t
February 24th, 2017 at 8:58 am
Stills is plan A!!!!! Oh and he is over 6 feet tall which helps jameis when he throws it high sometime.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:07 am
Still going strong with the straw man rhetoric eh Joe?
February 24th, 2017 at 9:08 am
Y’all are misguided, look I hear y’all talking this and that about the potential of two tight end sets. I think most of you are envisioning what the pats did with Gronk and hernandez. Ask yourself this tho can you recall a single WR from that team without looking it up??? Gronk and hernandez were the main downfield targets so that offense made sense. Show me another offense that featured mainly two TEs. I’ll be waiting. You don’t send out ME and poetically DJax and go with a predominantly two TE offense. Y’all pipe dreaming more than I am in reference to drafting Dalvin. Which really isn’t a pipe dream,not if pay attention to Bucs.com. Every single tidbit NFL network says about him ends up on that site.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:13 am
First it was “anyone who wants O.J. hates Cameron Brate.”
Now anyone who views him as a viable option doesn’t want to upgrade our receiving corps?
Where do you come up with this tripe?
February 24th, 2017 at 9:26 am
@NOS-BOS,
I was on board with OJ Howard, only if he is the BPA. But IMO, a 2 TE set of Brate and Howard would be leathal. I would prefer a WR like: Stills, Pryor or Jackson for their speed, but if we lost out on them, Howard would kick butt.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:33 am
What does wanting OJ Howard have to do with desean jackson? Youre trynna attack people that want OJ howard now? Yall can be wrong you know, Johnny maziel ring a bell?
February 24th, 2017 at 9:44 am
@Nosbos
Wes Welker was with the Pats then, Randy Moss might have still been on the team too. Deion Branch might have been gone at that point. Brandon Lloyd maybe? Lol
About the 2 TE sets, you still play 2 WRs in the traditional set. So OJ Howard wouldnt be taking snaps away from D-Jax or whoever the new #2 WR is or anything like that.
My only concern with using a high pick on a TE is now the same concern Joe has. If we do add WRs and we dont run as many 2 TE sets and run more 3-wide, then you are either pushing your early pick or the guy that led the league in TDs by a TE down the pecking order. There is no need for that.
If 2 TE sets is what Koetter wants to run then OJ Howard is a great pick.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:49 am
Personally like Pryor….better value, slightly younger then Jackson and bigger target to throw to. Pryor may just be hitting his peak potential….Jackson is likely plateaued at best. I like Pryor, Stills, then Jackson along with a 1-3 pick used on a WR/TE….We need depth badly at WR/TE. Has to be a priority.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:50 am
You go two TEs if our WRs are going to remain Freddie Martino and Speedy Reedy. Not ME and DJackson. Please.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:59 am
Nosbos…. Wtf are you talking about?
How would O.J. and Brate passibly put Mike and Djax on the bemch?
That may be the dumbest comment I see today.
February 24th, 2017 at 10:11 am
That comment had me like
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6kS_qLzPWVg
February 24th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Lol Blake said he was like
http://imgur.com/h3hxuje
February 24th, 2017 at 10:36 am
“Taking Snaps Away”
WTF is that? That is called a balanced attack – something a good OC strives to have – that is hard to defend. The opposite of that is what the Bucs had this past season – Mike Evans… Period. Stop Mike and stop the Bucs. As some point out, By drafting Howard we would take catches away from Brate (Joe?)… What is wrong with that if it makes the Bucs harder to defend?! Having a Gronk/Hernandez with Evans and a running game and whoever at the other WR spot would be tough to defend.
A little common sense please!
February 24th, 2017 at 10:45 am
It is a call for weapons for Winston, which we currently do not have enough to compete. The question is do you want bridge players like Martellus Bennett and D-Jax and draft players in the later rounds that have learned from these vets or do you want players like Ross and draft an O.J. Howard that Jameis grows with. Yeah you still got to get a vet (is it Jax, Stills, Goodwin) either way, you need weapons, don’t think Corey Davis or another Mike Williams will be available at 19. I’m primarily on the Howard train, if he is there because he can block and catch, comes from a winning program, so to me he is more than a weapon, blocking, receiving, yac, attitude, etc
February 24th, 2017 at 11:03 am
@Harry in Costa Rica
Its not about taking catches away from Brate lol. If we add WRs this offseason there is a chance that instead of running 2 TE sets we can shift to 3-Wide sets that only feature 1 TE, which is what Koetter had success with in Atlanta.
If that happens Brate and Howard won’t be on the field together at all. So you would either be leaving the guy who led the league in TDs for the position OR your 1st round pick on the bench.
This is the point Joe is trying to make people. We already have 1 good TE and if Koetter wants to go back to what worked with him in Atlanta that is all we need.
February 24th, 2017 at 11:10 am
All those complaining about 2 TE set. It’s not about the position it’s about WEAPONS & DEPTH. I’ll take ME, Djax, Brate & OJ on my team. Sprinkle in Humphries, Shepard & a nice pick at WR now the QB has options. Also protected against injuries. We also need a run game to keep teams honest. Be positive folks & remember it’s all about the making th QB better!!!
February 24th, 2017 at 11:50 am
@ joey
Injuries happen so having 1 TE does not work. What is wrong with some of you people? If the bucs go howard, its a good thing. 1 TE? Some of you are hillarious.
February 24th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Joey dude, it’s not as though Dirk requires 3 wide to make his offense work. Last year we had 1 legit receiver, no running game, and we actually improved offensively in scoring for the year.
And O.J. represents a versaltile do it all weapon. He can line up in line as a traditional TE. Line up split out wide like a Jimmy Graham, line up at H-back ala Shannon Sharpe, and most likely line up at FB like a Luke stocker. There’s not an Offensive package a player with his skill set wouldnt fit into.
“Those 2 would represent a mismatch nightmare for pretty much any Defense” – Anthony Becht
And trust me. Unlike Nosbos i’m not sayong we absolute must have him at all cost. I remain fluid and flexible. If Corey Davis falls, awesome, take him. If a can’t miss DL prospect like Solomon Thomas falls, freaking sweet, take him.
But in my mind O.J. is just the kind of Savvy pick that I can see Jason Licht making, and it would be freaking dope to get him.
February 24th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Just sign and draft some WRs, no repeat from last season when we didn’t draft or sign any WRs. Oh I forgot we did sign Cecil Shorts, Freddie Martino and Josh Huff. SMH
February 24th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Stills first jacksin second. How long will jackson last? Stills is so young and also a burner. No on pryor is is an arrogant prick. Worse than cam newton. . Stills is the best option
February 24th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
I would be fine with Kenny Stills. He’s young. Healthy. Could be taking the next step. Not a one year wonder, and could be a long term solution.
Offer a million more per year to avoid guarantees. That way if he doesn’t work out, he can be cut easily later.
February 24th, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Anyone who is saying 2te doesn’t take snaps away is a fool. You either have to run 1 wr (hurting the pass game) or no fullback (hurt running game). It all depends on what koetter prefers. If he likes 2 te sets single back then I can see Howard in the first. If not, it would be a waste of a pick. If he goes after DiMarco or another fullback like Tolbert, Howard will not be the pick.
February 24th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
Mojiska, we haven’t had an actual full bacl since Jorviski Lane suffered that horrific injury. So having 2 Wr, Mike and Djax; and 2 Te’s that can do everything our current Receivers can do and more would awesome.
February 24th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Getting Howard would make sense because even on obvious passing downs you can still have a rb lined up. Howard is a multiple trick pony while Cam is a one. ME13 and Jackson/Stills/Britt/Pryor/Goodwin can still line up. I likes the matchup problems that would give DCs. I know Fameis would!
February 24th, 2017 at 12:58 pm
@Blake
I’m not trying to back you off of your opinion or anything. I never said it did require 3 WRs to work. I’m just saying its possible we wont use as many 2 TE sets if we add talent at WR.
Its not a guaranteed thing to happen, just a possibility. His offensive scheme hasnt changed much since he has been in the NFL and it never featured 2 TE sets.
Now if he does want to feature more 2 TE sets then yes OJ Howard is a great pick, but as I mentioned he has never featured that so I dont see why he would change now. Last year was an outlier not the standard imo.
February 24th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
It’s not what we would like or we think, it’s what koetter has done in Thule past, and he seems to talk a lot about fullbacks or 3 wr sets. If we run predominantly 1 te set, upgrading Brate is not a priority at all. If they want to run a bunch of 2te sets then upgrading stocker/myers/whoever the backup is today is a huge priority. But f.a. should tell us what the direction is in the draft.
February 24th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
We do not often employ a fullback.
If we ran a 2TE set, one TE (Howard) can split out wide into the slot, thus utilizing a 3 WR set (IMO, Howard would kick butt in the slot).
And most important, I am only in favor of drafting Howard only if he is BPA – I would personally prefer a DE or a speedy WR. But, How could anyone argue against drafting Howard if he is BPA? Would you also pass on Gronk if he was that BPA and we wanted a WR?
That is what makes NE so good. They assemble the best players they can, regardless of position, and then SCHEME them up!
February 24th, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Koetter has tried to run fullback when possible. lane was awesome for him, when stocker went down (he was our fullback this year) our run game suffered. To me it seems koetter has worked harder at running a fullback than 2 t.e. set. And if that’s the case, drafting a t.e. in the first is not worth it. There are way too many holes to upgrade (rt,dt,c/g,rb,wr) and thin positions (de,cb then t.e) to think of tight end right away. To me, there are 19 guys at least that would benefit this team more than Howard in the draft, so in my opinion there is no way he can be the BPA for the team. This is all my opinion tho. And if we are looking to run a ton of 2 te sets (which I don’t think is koetter goal)
February 24th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Then get him. But he doesn’t bring more to the table that we don’t already have. We need to stretch the field, and that’s not his game.
February 24th, 2017 at 2:07 pm
You sound like someone that hasn’t watched a lick of film on O.J. Howard Mojiska. Because while Cameron Brate is a beast, and a talented receiver in the redzone, he doesn’t come close to level of physical specimen that O.J. is.
And based on the way the kid performed blocking the likes of Myles Garret and Derek Barnett, O.J. is the superior blocker as well.
O.J. might not have Desean Jackson speed, he would add positional speed, and would represent a matchup nightmare for opposing Linebackers and Safeties. Plus he would be another large catch radius target for Jameis. Targets which he excells at throwing to.
February 24th, 2017 at 3:10 pm
Grab Robert Wopds
February 24th, 2017 at 3:10 pm
Woods* Plan C
February 25th, 2017 at 2:26 am
I still like Stills or Goodwin better than DeJax. Both younger and can grow with Jawbo… bring both in and draft Howard or McCaffery in first. S – Obi Melifonwu or Baker in the second and Samaje Perine or Bucky Hodges in third.