How Much Firepower Will The Bucs Buy?
February 28th, 2014
Andre Roberts?
Clearly the Bucs’ biggest mystery lies at the quarterback position. But the second giant question mark is how much the Bucs will invest into improving the offense next month
As glaring a hole as the Bucs have at defensive end, there’s a bigger crater in the receiving corps.
The Bucs have nobody at No. 3 receiver, the modern NFL equivalent of Joe going to a bar with no money.
Joe would be giddy to see wide receiver Sammy Watkins drafted by the Bucs, assuming Johnny Football or Teddy Bridgewater are unavailable. As Joe’s written before, that would feel like landing Julio Jones without coughing up loads of draft picks like the Falcons did. But Joe doubts the Bucs will go the Watkins route.
Frankly, the Bucs should not wait that long to find another receiver.
Yeah, the NFL buzz says this year features an extraordinarily deep draft class of receivers. That may be true, but it’s still just talk. There are always Arrelious Benns and Michael Claytons and Maurice Stovalls in every draft.
That brings Joe to 26-year-old Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts. He’s expected to be on the market when the free agency bell rings in 11 days. He’s an established slot guy with speed and toughness. He won’t be too expensive, and Arizona is not expected to open their wallets for their No. 3 receiver. You can watch former players Heath Evans and Solomon Wilcots rave about Roberts here on NFL Network. Presumably, Bucs general manager Jason Licht knows Roberts intimately after spending last season in Arizona.
Roberts told FOX last week that he wants to go where he has a shot to be the No. 2 receiver, and he doesn’t think Arizona will pay him No. 2 money to rank behind Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. For the Bucs, who at least publicly are concerned about Mike Williams, Roberts could represent a smart move. And if Jeff Tedford wants to run a load of three-receiver sets like most NFL teams, then selling Roberts on Tampa might not be so tough.
Joe is aching to see how the Bucs attack improving the worst offense in the NFL. The salary cap is higher than expected, and the Bucs will have a chance to make upgrades on both sides of the ball very soon. Joe can’t envision the Bucs waiting around in hopes one of their high draft picks — the Bucs don’t have a third round pick this year — is a savior.
February 28th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
He’s better than Tiquan Underwood.
February 28th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
The great thing this year, is that just like the TE Tim Wright. MG8 does not need top end talent to make the position better than it is.
February 28th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Joe, just think in less than 2 weeks, we will have a good idea of what the Bucs plans are based on what they do or don’t do.
Yes, that will be wonderful. –Joe
February 28th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Good catch on Roberts, Joe.
February 28th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
With the exception of maybe Keenan McCarrdell, we should ALWAYS try to pay as little as possible for any receiver.
When we pay them well, they go to hell.
Why is that?
February 28th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
So, if we are able to put together a decent passing game, will we still be able to call RayJay the “No Fly Zone”?
February 28th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
We should have some idea what direction we plan to go in the draft (at least early) by some of the FA acquisitions. Bringing in Roberts wouldn’t exclude Watkins in the first or Benjamin in second…but it would make picking them less likely.
February 28th, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Two weeks and it begins, substance, something real to write about.
I have it on good source the entire Offense will be replaced by the Despicable Me MINIONS.
February 28th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Eric Decker
February 28th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
I love this idea Joe – great find. He seems like the perfect fit. He had almost 800 yds in ’12 and almost 500 in ’13. He could challenge Williams for sure. Part of me is surprised he won’t cost too much given he is only 26. I guess the deep WR draft is a contributing factor to that. What nice weapons for MG8 that would make: VJ, Williams, Roberts, TE Tim Wright and RB Doug Martin, and all are in their prime, except for VJ
February 28th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Unless they cut out VJAX or MW, that’s never gonna happen
February 28th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Joe,
Your first sentence is 100% wrong.
The QB position is not this team’s “biggest mystery”. The biggest mystery is Edge rush/OT.
Those positions are in far worse shape.
Good day,
February 28th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
If nothing else, depth, depth, depth!
February 28th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
The_Buc_Realist Says:
February 28th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
The great thing this year, is that just like the TE Tim Wright. MG8 does not need top end talent to make the position better than it is.
Nope, MG8 can go 4-12, and have the last place offense in the league- with virtually any talent.
Did he do something spectacular, that I missed? Kinda thought he disappeared at the half in every game.
February 28th, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Add me to the list of people who suddenly has computer trouble on both my computers on as soon as I open JBF. Love the site otherwise.
February 28th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Pshh,,, we have no one at the number 2 either.. Mike Williams isn’t explosive enough, we need more of a threat there along with the slot position aswell.. Vincent Jackson is all we have but even he’s losing a little speed apparently… We need us a Julio jones, aj green type of receiver that can stretch the field effectively and can also be a home run at anytime from any part of the field..
February 28th, 2014 at 2:13 pm
Robert Meachum. + Bucs, – Saints.
February 28th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Roberts would be an upgrade, as would another guy who wouldn’t break the bank and is a solid kick returner: Dexter McCluster…
February 28th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
Secret is out about McCluster, he is going to get paid and the Bucs have invested enoigh cash in their wideouts. However, the idea of Andre Roberts is 很好.
February 28th, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Jacoby Jones… Return Game. Good Slot to stretch the Field = better than Roberts for us. JMO
February 28th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
The QB position IS in fact the biggest mystery to BucNation right now.
February 28th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Capt Tim
I dint understand the thought process that you and Joe are using to come up with the statement that Glennon can’t score in the second half.
His coaches not only refused to make adjustments at half time and when Glennon was calling the shots and matching down the field in the no huddle, the coach pulled the plug…..
Both of these are clean cut, clear as day examples that 2nd proformance had less to do with Glennon and more to do with coaching.
Can someone, anyone, explain to me why you think Glennon is responsible for the lack of 2nd half points given the above mentioned FACTS.
February 28th, 2014 at 3:28 pm
I shud profreed whhen possting frm mi iPhone
February 28th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Captain Stagger…good luck with all that.
February 28th, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Not pushing an agenda, my opinion is could go either way, but until now, I have yet to hear a valid argument to substantiate the concept that Glennon should shoulder the weight of lackluster 2nd half’s.
February 28th, 2014 at 4:43 pm
I think the veteran we are likely to sign at QB is david carr lol
February 28th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
No question that we have holes at receiver to fill. In hopes that Jackson can gain a step or two this off season he could be solid. Although Williams didn’t go Hernandez on anyone he should have something to prove. Especially off the field. If he can’t get that done his future is in serious jeopardy. If I were coaching staff the mere rumor of any off field issues would be his last. Time to grow up and earn your millions for God’s sake.
February 28th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
Josh Gordon
February 28th, 2014 at 7:37 pm
Yea, computer trouble here also every time I log on to JBF. Thought it was my computer but just got a new one and same problem. Everything slows down, back button doesn’t work, logs off… other than that, I love coming on here. Just hate coming to a sudden slow down..
February 28th, 2014 at 8:23 pm
Let’s face it how do we win more then 5 games with the talent we have on offense- we have to go o line or wide out with nearly every pic- oya thank you dom for buring a 6th on carimi……
February 28th, 2014 at 9:09 pm
Captain Stagger
Because every NFL QB has numerous audibles at his disposal.
If Glennon walked to the line, and the play called wasn’t going to work against the Defensive alignment- then you call an Audible. Nearly every play has several audible options in the play book.
If you see a blitz, you call a “hot read”, which is a quick pass to take advantage of the blitz. Both safeties in the box? You audible from a run to a pass.
It is a quick decision, that seperates backups and insurance salesmen, from NFL QBs.
Second half Glennon repeatedly audibles in to the wrong play. The most common example was on 3rd down. With no Blitz showing( or coming), he would audible a “hot Read”.
This meant on a 3rd and 5, the Recievers ran 2 or 3 yard patterns! With no blitz, our guys were covered and stopped short of a first down.
That happened ALOT!
Which is why most “in the Know” think the Bucs are offering guys like McNown
Starting jobs to come here. Gotta have nerves of Steel to be A QB
For all of his brains, Mike often looked Jumpy under center.
That’s the biggest concern about Glennon right now.
That and the dead ducks he throws when the pass is over 15 yards!!
February 28th, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Tim,
I hear what you are saying…however, if his issue was calling the wrong audibles at the line, wouldn’t that be an issue in the first half too? And that is my point, the Bucs were the only team in the league that did not make adjustments at half time, and we were the only team that could not move the ball or score in the second half. That correlation seems so obvious. If it was as simple as “Glennon calls the wrong audible” then how did he look so much better in The first half of games?
Also note that Glennon looked his best in the no huddle, where he has much more control, which in my eyes debunks the “Glennon make the wrong audible” concept.
March 1st, 2014 at 1:43 am
The reason Glennon looked better in the first half than the second is the pressure on the QB to win the game increases the closer he gets to the end of the game and Glennon always collapses under pressure. Name one comeback win engineered by Glennon last year? That is something Tedford can not fix. Glennon would get his goofy deer in the headlights look and drop the ball without contact, throw picks, or try to run backwards and get sacked, or ground the ball and get penalized. Glennon is a hopeless loser and was Schiano’s pet who got preferential treatment in the preseason because otherwise his backup would have beaten him out of a job hands down. If the Bucs don’t get a winning QB in the first round or Grappolo in the second round they will waste a year playing Glennon and I will be telling you I told you so!!! And they won’t get Winston in the draft next year because he has already agreed he is staying at FSU two more years. We will continue to be a joke then.
March 1st, 2014 at 5:55 am
Stevek,
No, you are wrong and Joe like he said is correct. If you payattention to every detail when you read you would already knowthis because as the TITLE says Joe is speakingly OFFENSIVELY, therefore he is correct in saying that slot/#3 WR is the second most glaring need. Sheesh. Some of youwill try sohard to prove Joe wrong but always fail. Quit trying already.
March 1st, 2014 at 9:20 am
Owly,
You do not represent your case very well. Your “analysis” is clearly biased, and has zero facts to back your statement. A shame you spoke up because a more thought out response would have gone further the bridge the gap in opinions.
March 1st, 2014 at 10:34 am
Capt Tim And Owly. You don’t like Glennon. We get it. No matter the post is about, you always bring up your dislike for MG8. Give it a rest already. Jeez.
March 2nd, 2014 at 3:26 am
So captain stagger I am still waiting for you to name just one comeback win by Glennon. You couldn’t could you and you blame me for no facts to back up my analysis! The fact is Turtle Glennon blew a bunch of first half leads. So who do you try to blame for that–the OL? The OL play was consistently bad first half or second half, so that cannot account for all of Glennon’s losses. Heck even our former Freeman was able to pull off many come from behind wins and he didn’t even have Jax when he did them. Even this past year with all his troubles and the same OL Glennon had for the most part Freeman almost beat the Saints. You Glennon lover tell me how your great loser of a QB did against the Saints in the second game last year. Come on and just tell me that fact.