Bucs Are Home For Humphries

May 24th, 2018

King of Bucs’ YAC.

For a while there, Joe was wondering if Adam Humphries had played his final snap with the Bucs.

Humphries was a restricted free agent last year. And it seemed both he and the Bucs were maybe parting ways as Humphries went deep into free agency without a contract.

Obviously, the man who led all Bucs receivers in YAC last year did come to terms with the Bucs. And it seems Humphries really didn’t want to leave, nor did the Bucs want Humphries to get away.

Joe caught up with Humphries after underwear football practice today and he spoke about how he and the Bucs resumed their relationship.

“From talking to my agent and [him] communicating with the Bucs, I really wanted to be back here,” Humphries said. “The Bucs wanted me to be back here. We were going to make it happen. So I am glad we worked it out.”

As for Humphries leading the team in YAC, it is something Humphries said he takes pride in and it is forefront in his mind even in the middle of a play.

“We run a lot of screens and short routes and I always think, ‘Hey, I can get one more yard. One more yard,'” Humphries said. “‘Who is on me? Who is about to tackle me?'”

Humphries noted something about Koetter’s playbook that interested Joe. Yeah, it seems like a no-brainer. Humphries said Koetter will design plays specifically built around a player’s strengths. With Humphries, those are screens and short routes.

Then, Koetter, while crafting a gameplan, will set up a playsheet for the best times and the defensive looks to call one of those plays to potentially make the most out of the player’s skillset. For example, if there is a look a team gives that allows a certain pass, Koetter will call a play for a receiver who best runs the route that can expose that tendency, not just call a play for anyone to run this route.

The Bucs “have a gameplan for every player they have on offense,” Humphries said. “We all have different skills and different skillsets we can take advantage of. Getting north and south is one of my strong points.”

Still, like Mike Evans, Humphries says he has work to do in order to improve his YAC yards.

“Two years ago I was a lot better [with] YAC than I was this past season,” Humphries said. “That is something I can improve on and work on everyday to get yards after the catch.”

34 Responses to “Bucs Are Home For Humphries”

  1. mike10 Says:

    Ruuuudy!

  2. zzbucs Says:

    Probably the most underrated player on the squad!!!! Its awesome to have him with us!!!!

  3. casual Observer Says:

    I, too, like this guy Humphries. Reliable and consistent. Keep him around for a long time.

  4. AlteredEgo Says:

    So when will we see plays designed around the deep ball ?…Oh wait…Vern…

  5. Wausa Says:

    I like Adam, But he cost the Bucs the Bills game.
    With the emergence of Chris Godwin I think his roll is going to significantly drop this year. Godwin’s emergence could also cost Humphries some punt return opportunities since the Bucs may be more willing to use Desean Jackson as a punt returner.

  6. SCBucsFan Says:

    The only thing I don’t like about him – only thing – is he keeps Godwin off the field. Hopefully Godwin worms his way in and takes DJax’s snaps, leaving Hump and DJax to split snaps.

  7. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    You’ve got to have players like Hump to build a good team…..a solid, consistent performer. And, we didn’t spend a draft pick on him.

  8. teacherman777 Says:

    Give D-Jax those screens!!

    Give D-Jax more stops!

    Give D-Jax more reverses!

    Hump is a great story and we all love him. But lets be real here.

    Mike Evans, Desean Jackson, and Chris Godwin should be our 3 WR set.

    Sorry Hump. I hope you stay for years, but we gotta get better!!

  9. sneedy16 Says:

    Bucs won’t use Desean as a return man, at his age he will definitely get injured. He should split snaps with Godwin and have Desean go to Slot.

  10. firethecannons Says:

    Honestly Djax will develop an injury likely earlier rather later then Hump will benefit and likely so will the Bucs

  11. robert Says:

    he would be a pro bowler with the Brady at QB

  12. Wausa Says:

    Coach Koetter last year said he was planning on using Djax as a punt returner on a limited basis

  13. Pickgrin Says:

    Hump may not be the fastest nor most athletic slot receiver – but he sure is reliable and consistent when it comes to snagging passes and making plays.

  14. Chris K Says:

    This right here is good reading! Keep the knowledge flowing! Would love insight on what you’re hearing or seeing in the safety play. This kid Whitehead intrigues me. I also think the way Justin Evans played the 2nd half of the season we could have something.

  15. AlteredEgo Says:

    Hump is a role player…he’ll be tough to bump…but we’ll all know if someone beats him out

  16. gilhealy Says:

    Chris K, I think you’re right. Whitehead is a special talent. And Evans showed a lot last season. I think Whitehead could actually help Evans quite a bit. He was, and probably still is, an offensive threat. He knows both sides of the ball. Smart kid, and a straight baller. Those two could be hell for years. And, Whitehead will see the rock somehow, someway offensively.

  17. superslacker Says:

    1. Restricted free agents rarely leave their team unless the team doesn’t want the player. Hump wasn’t going anywhere.

    2. Regarding YAC… Hump gets yards because he runs routes that leave plenty of YAC potential. Evans goes over the middle, and Jameis usually gets it to him high… or he gets jump balls or out routes… Some of the YAC thing with Evans is the routes he’s gotta run, and some of it is due to Jameis not getting it to him with room to run. Evans rarely has an open field in front of him. There’s usually a safety in the neighborhood.

  18. Kobe Faker Says:

    What was our longest pass play?

    5 yard slant to Godwin for 75 yards vs Carolina

    LOL! hump cant pull away from defenders. Start Godwin and give him the slants and short crosses to give JW3 an outlet and put tremendous pressure on the safeties/lbers/middle of the field

    “I just love it when Godwin runs down on special teams”

    Klueless Koetter

  19. BigHogHaynes Says:

    Over/Hyped!!!

  20. Roy T. Buford Says:

    Folks I talked to said this fan favorite was not going to be allowed to leave, within reason. No, not at any price, but all thought a deal could, and would be worked to benefit all. Face it, Rudy’s not a #2 and maybe not even a #3 on most teams, but he’s got a good gig with fans and his QB here, so it works. The Bucs had the upper hand here, and it worked out.

  21. I can't see it Says:

    Overly-Hyped…..shouldn’t make the squad this season

  22. DanBucsFan Says:

    I love Hump, great attitude, and really is always doing what he is supposed to, thats the reason he is a coach favorite. IMO he is solid in the return game, not spectacular, same as a slot receiver, dependable but won’t do anything to break a game open. Two , three years ago we didn’t have depth we have now, Hump was the clear #3 possible #2 wr, but as much as I love him, I wouldn’t be heartbroken if he was unseated by a better athlete with more juice. But he is by all accounts a great teammate and consummate professional.

  23. RawBucsFan Says:

    Hump can play but undoubtedly the #4 WR. It’s gonna be a battle between Hump, Bobo, Watson & Reedy for WR 4,5,6. I think Hump is expendable & tradable. Also our 2 TE’s will more than make up for the catches in the middle of the field.

  24. Capt.Tim Says:

    Over hyped??
    On a real team, this guy would be Wes Welker
    This “team” cant keep the offense on the field long enough to utilize his talents

  25. Capt.Tim Says:

    Of course, pretty sure we know why you dont like him, big hog

  26. TampaTown Says:

    Something about Hump is so likable.

  27. Joe Says:

    I like Adam, But he cost the Bucs the Bills game.

    No, the defense did.

    Three-plays, 75-yards Tyrod Taylor.

    Tyrod Taylor!!!

  28. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    teacherman777 Says
    “Mike Evans, Desean Jackson, and Chris Godwin should be our 3 WR set.”

    Afraid you are a bit confused. Godwin is here to replace the washed up Desean Jackson. DJax will be gone after this year. He would have been released this year if his contract numbers made it easy. And just watch…if Jackson is not producing before the trade deadline, Licht will do his best to trade him. Especially if Godwin looks ready.

    Humphries will be the slot WR for years to come.

  29. SOEbuc Says:

    He has great hands. People never mention that. It’s all YAC

  30. IsrBuc Says:

    Love Hump.

  31. German Buc Says:

    With the salary cap, it’s about value for money.

    Yes, CG12 will replace a vet on our roster – he is the real deal. But IMHO the Bucs should prefer to trade DJax (who went for 50 rec for 668 yds) and his 11 mill salary and keep Hump (54 rec for 529yds) at less than 3 mill.

    Maybe there is a team out there looking for help at WR while having a proven RT to give. One can dream…

  32. Duke Says:

    GERMAN,

    Both are gone next year. Salary cap space hit that they can’t afford as they resign their own guys.

  33. Reality_43 Says:

    With Watson now on the team and a goal to be WR #3 by the end of the year, Hump will probably only catch around 35 balls this year.

    Watson is Bigger, Stronger, Faster and obviously more athletic.

    Nice guy but good luck!!

  34. Ed Says:

    Hump is in a bad offense for his skill set. He gets open quick but this offense develops slower than most with the majority of throws going in the 15-20 yard from scrimmage Windows. The screens work well but Jameis is too familiar with deeper drops and his tendency is to go deeper down the field than where Hump is running open. Koetter and the offensive coaches havnt coached Winston well enough to make quicker reads and to get the ball out faster. Many of those fumbles he should have thrown ball away or at least scrambled.