Another Rave Veteran Review
May 9th, 2017
GM talks D-Jax.
We’ve already heard general manager Jason Licht and winning head coach Dirk Koetter talk about how spectacular Doug Martin looks in April conditioning drills, such as running in a sandbox and around cones at One Buc Palace.
Hooray!!
April, May and June exploits excite Joe about as much as room-temperature beer in the searing sun and fine sands of St. Pete Beach.
Most Bucs players should be in great or impressive shape. They’re professional athletes! And many are trying to win a job. A guy like Martin, especially, should be looking the part in April. His career fell on hard times after he got benched by Koetter in the Bucs’ biggest game of 2016, followed by a four-game drug suspension by the NFL.
But one guy who didn’t need to bring his A-game early is free-agent receiver DeSean Jackson. The 30-year-old just signed a giant guaranteed contract, about $11 million per year, and his resumé is special.
Jackson, though, isn’t cruising through what many veterans consider rather meaningless early-spring work.
General manager Jason Licht joined PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio this morning and raved about Jackson.
“He looks fantastic out here, so far,” Licht said, adding that the team is “thrilled” with Jackson.
Welcome to May around the NFL. Everyone is pumped. And hey, so is Joe. The Bucs should be a 10-win team this season, barring a quarterback disaster.
Licht, though, added a little reality to the euphoria.
“It’s exciting. I know that we’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s not, you know, we can’t declare ourselves the paper champions right now,” Licht said. “You got to jell, you got to come together, and you gotta produce.”
May 9th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Gotta produce is key
May 9th, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Save those hamstrings for the season
May 9th, 2017 at 12:42 pm
It’s awfully cold sometimes here in the Tampa area around January.
He better have his pool heater checked for the winter.
May 9th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
Stay healthy VJAX
May 9th, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Seriously Jason? Paper champions? Is that like a reference to paper airplane contests as kids? If so, I need a tryout over at one buc.
Side note, I got caught trying to toot my own horn once. Very, Very embarrassing.
May 9th, 2017 at 12:58 pm
DEFF JEFF,
Are you to young to remember when Steelers safety Lee Flowers declared the Bucs “Paper Champions” back in 2001?
May 9th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
All 32 NFL Teams fan sites are saying the exact same thing.
May 9th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
I remember around 2 years ago this time that everybody, invluding the joes were talking about how good doug looked in practices and team drills. How he looked determined and focused and ready to go. That turned into a #2 rusher in the league. I would hope we see that doug this year, but cant really expect it. I woyld be suprised however if he isnt on the roster at all, like joe suggests.
May 9th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
This article is funny seeing as Desean wasn’t at workouts today or yesterday. FYI
May 9th, 2017 at 1:08 pm
@Buddy
The article is refering to the workouts in April, which he was at.
May 9th, 2017 at 1:13 pm
Well if you didn’t know Martin was suspended for drugs you would learn it by reading virtually every article in this blog.
May 9th, 2017 at 1:17 pm
I was watching nfln last night and they have the Bucs at #12 power ranking. They expect the Bucs to take detroits playoff spot from last yr.
The league seems excited about the upcoming season.
As for me I’m looking at those first 4-5 games like, hmmmm, could go either way. Obviously hoping for 4-1 or 3-2 but with a lil bad luck could go 0-4 to start which would be detrimental.
May 9th, 2017 at 1:18 pm
Like Ali Marpet said about Doug, even in underwear football, you can’t fake this, if you are not in great condition, that’s what players are saying…
May 9th, 2017 at 1:20 pm
@briandorry55
Nope…just having a little fun with words. I’ve been rooting for the bucs since 1961
May 9th, 2017 at 1:21 pm
You the comments about how a player looks during offseason workouts don’t matter… Yet if there were indications of the opposite everyone would be yelling “The Sky is Falling”!! Including you guys…. “Fake News”
May 9th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I’ll go out on a limb an I hate to say it…Jackson will be hurt by Week 10…Honestly I’m excited knowing his capiabilities and resume is impressive…
They paid way too much. The Offense Is Stacked On Paper, especially the passing game…(Duh)…Let’s say he goes out with an injury at least 4 games…
I’m guessing the guy gets less than 8 looks a game…Keep In Mind 30 years Old There Is A Wall In The NFL for Most Players…I’d expect about 6-700 yards an 7-8 TDs….(If He Even Stays Healthly/Best Case Guess Here) (Called Miliage Boys 30 years old is not 20)
This Will Be Mike Evans First Season Not Posting 1,000 Yards Season As Well…
May 9th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
the same misguided fans that want the bucs to put their trust in a proven unreliable Doug Martin are similar to the same fans that were confident in VJAX and Murphy the last few years and that did not work out at all… you can not trust martin simple as that 3 of the last 5 years prove that drugs aside he’s just a part time unreliable gerbil.
May 9th, 2017 at 1:39 pm
I just read a report that the Bucs signed CB Robert McClain.
May 9th, 2017 at 1:58 pm
I think the Jell part is going to take some time. I look for there to be a few hiccups on offense as there are a lot of new pieces. It will get there I just don’t see it being right away but we shall see.
I know I already picked out what game I’m attending this season ( can’t afford to go to all of them) Dec.18th Monday night football when the Falcons come to RAYJAY BABY!!!! WHOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
I agree with the Bucs 12th power ranking….seems about right, but now they have to live up to it.
Comparing Doug Martin to Murphy and Vjax isn’t even close man. Martin is a strong back and if the Bucs cut him and he lands on a halfway decent team with a good offense he will make us look STUPID!!! Let’s not do that again like we have for so many years letting good players walk out of the door.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:05 pm
I hear you regarding Martin tmax, BUT, which one of our other backs is reliable?
May 9th, 2017 at 2:10 pm
^
None of them lol
May 9th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
DB55-0-4 seriously lmfao wow go join maxi pad in the line at Walgreens for depression medicine
May 9th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Bucsfanman
martin has had a few good games and a lot of average and below average games. very replaceable. not sure the answer is on the roster but it’s a fact that martin can not be counted on regardless of drugs. but Settling for a proven unreliable back surely is not the answer.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Agreed Kevin, it will take a bit of time.
Bucs fans need some patience as the new pieces get a few games under their belts. Plus lets not forget that TE is a position that typically takes a year or 2 to really adjust to the NFL, so fans need to be patient with OJ Howard as he figures things out. I expect a modest season from him, but he’s not going to walk in and be Gronk 2.0 on day 1.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
you guys are acting like martin was dominate. he was dominant in oakland get over it. he never scores hell blount almost matched martin’s career total last year alone. the legend of martin has surpassed his accomplishments… no 2 rusher means nothing if you are on a losing team and did not score touchdowns then those yards are garbage or meaningless. martin’s unreliability trumps his positives.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:15 pm
That’s the point Joey. Behind Martin, we have 2 more injury-prone RBs, an untested Barber and a rookie. Suspension aside, Martin’s the best option.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
now need to worry about a QB disaster, we can always call the Bears and get a back up for a 7th round pick
May 9th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
passthebuc
glennon will be available by mid-season sooner if the CBA allowed more on field practice time.
bucsfanman
the best option still might not be on the roster but it sure the hell is not martin.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
I don’t disagree that Martin is unreliable. His history proves that. However, he’s more experienced than the rest of the field. I feel better with him back there.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Yeah, tmax, maybe the draft next year perhaps.
May 9th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
@Tmax he’s been a top 5 player at his position twice.
3rd leading rusher in 2012.
And 2nd leading rusher in 2015. The same year he lead the league in forced missed tackles and yards after contact.
I bet you were part of the crowd that didn’t want to resign Michael Bennett because he had a bum shoulder…
May 9th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
With all the draft stuff you forget that we have 13 and D Jack!
holy crap
May 9th, 2017 at 3:18 pm
Those sandboxes look dangerous to me.
May 9th, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Lakeland
I hear ya…many teams fans are happy right now because everybody is undefeated but trust me they’re not all giddy like us.
My son lives in Columbus, is a Browns fan and they are always prepared for double digit losses. They haven’t had their hopes up since they went to Baltimore. Brown fan expects to suck!!!
And I haven’t checked their blogs but their papers aren’t exactly on fire with praise in Chicago!!! First give MG8 all that starter money and then trade up to draft….WHO? Mitch Trubisky!!! Bears fans are not happy like us!!!
May 9th, 2017 at 3:34 pm
Stpete…I’ve been on Bears blogs. They aren’t too thrilled at all with the Bears.
May 9th, 2017 at 3:37 pm
I read the Bears had Glennon as their guest of honor for their draft party, then they proceeded to draft Trubisky 2nd overall. All while Glennon was the only Bear in attendance. Tha tplace is a dumpster fire. I’ll be a Buc fan any day.
May 9th, 2017 at 3:42 pm
87
But you didn’t have to go too far back down memory lane to relate to the poor Bears fans eh? LOL
Thank heavens things have finally turned for we Buc fans. Time now for our time in the spotlight.
May 9th, 2017 at 3:54 pm
“The Bucs should be a 10-win team this season, barring a quarterback disaster.”
MY BIGGEST FEAR…..Who do we have backing America’s Quarterback????
May 9th, 2017 at 5:57 pm
They really need that indoor practice facility because August is a ball buster.
May 9th, 2017 at 6:37 pm
DB55 you looked at the first four games of the schedule and you think 0-4 is possible. You must be complete troll. I was looking at the schedule today and thought the exact opposite. I think 4-0 is definitely possible and the easiest part of the schedule.
May 9th, 2017 at 7:36 pm
TDTB says:
“easiest part of the schedule”
Might want to look again – In the 1st 5 games only 1 team we play had a losing record last year (Da Bears) – 3 teams were in the playoffs (Miami, NYG and SB Champion Pats) and the Vikings are no slouch.
May 9th, 2017 at 9:53 pm
If the bucs get 700 yards and 8 tds out of Jackson they will be happy!! If 3 can improve his deep ball you may have two rec over 1000 but that is a real big if !!!
Especially if they keep tying up 3 s feet on deep balls and he can’t stride and get on top of the ball. Being Marino and Spurrier short is great until it greatly affects your accuracy !!! There has to be a common ground and other adjustments ,all routes are not the same !!!
May 10th, 2017 at 7:19 am
More bashing of players on our team and camp hasn’t even started. Go Bucs.
May 10th, 2017 at 8:02 am
DB55..crazy man, just slap crazy dude….TDTB….correct my brother.
May 10th, 2017 at 9:46 am
Man I love how you guys overanalyze schedules. SOS is a joke!! It is never consistent. Some dude said we play the falcons twice and the pats. Well last year we played the Broncos and Panthers twice. Swept the panthers who were one of the worst teams in the league and the broncos regressed substantially. We should have won that one.
Parity exists in the NFL. I never count on how difficult the teams will be. Because like I said SOS IS BS!!
Also, we play the pats at home, on a short week. Don’t forget they are 1-3 in Miami the past 4 years. They do not play well in Florida and they have to do so with 4 days rest and travel. I’m not as nervous about them as I was initially.
SOS IS BS!!!