The Disturbing Numbers Of Michael Clayton
July 22nd, 2010
Just about any Bucs fan who doesn’t use a white cane knows Bucs blocking icon Michael Clayton has had trouble hauling passes in.
Joe’s not going to get into why, but Joe does have some numbers that will alarm Bucs fans.
Per FootballOutsiders.com, a thoughtful site that sometimes goes a bit too far trying to mirror baseball with mindless, empty convoluted stats that give 30-year old virgins a reason to beat their, um, chests, has a list of NFL receivers who have the most trouble hanging on to the football.
Clayton’s name is found second on the list.
Joe’s not even going to try to find out what the obscure statistics are that Bill Barnwell of FootballOutsiders.com uses because it bores Joe to tears (Joe’s into football strategy, not algebra), but of the 45 times last year that Bucs quarterbacks threw the ball to Clayton, he caught only 16 of those passes.
In short, Clayton only caught slightly more than a third of the passes thrown his way in 2009. That suggests either Clayton received blanket coverage from opposing defenses or he had terrible quarterbacks throwing him the ball, or that he simply couldn’t catch.
More likely, it’s a combination of all three.
This seems to tell Joe that maybe Josh Freeman shouldn’t target Clayton unless he is totally wide open.
That is, if Clayton is on the Bucs roster come the second Sunday in September.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:15 am
“30 yr old virgins”… LOL nice joe.
Trust me I hate Clayton as much as the next guy, but for some reason I think he will turn it around this year. Not saying he will light it up, but he has to know this might be his last chance in the league. And its not like he doesnt have the potential as we saw in his rookie season. There is a new WR coach too.
I think the competition will bring the best out of him. Watching rookies come in who everyone expects to start over you would piss me off in my job. Lets hope it finally, finally, lights a fire under Clayton.
If not, oh well, atleast he will set some nice blocks for Benn/Williams!
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:19 am
Gary:
Joe sure hopes Clayton can turn it around. The guy really is a nice guy so Joe takes zero pleasure going after him. And he is a good blocker (not being a smartass). But as Joe has pointed out many times, the first and primary job of a receiver is to catch the ball, hence the name of the position.
How many offensive linemen are signed because they can catch the ball?
Thanks for the compliment.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:28 am
Clayton couldn’t catch a cold, if he licked the floor of a walk-in clinic!
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:39 am
The only thing Clayton hangs on to is his roster spot… again, this year…
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:59 am
LOL.. nice oar and Calico.
At the very least, you would think he knows EXACTLY what not to do after having a good rookie season. Hope Benn/Williams listen.
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:50 am
He willnot turn it around just like every year since his rookie season for gods sake go away clayton!!!!!
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:01 am
A couple of months ago on Twitter, I asked him, “How bout a 1,000 yard season?”(sarcastically). And I had just joined Twitter, and he got angry and replied, “How bout a follower on Twitter!”. Apparently, he doesn’t want to have a good season..lol!
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:22 am
Hey Joe, even the white cane using fans know this…they listen to Gene on the radio. I would guess only dead Bucs fans do not know this.
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:50 am
Even Jimbuc and the other sheep must admit that this was a COLOSSAL mistake by the org signing this guy to a 24+ million dollar deal and guaranteeing him 8 figures +.
I can’t imagine who ranks lower than Clayton on any list of the leagues worst receivers.
Oh – but he can block!
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:13 am
@Thomas…I would imagine there are a few worse, but none of them are making the jack he is. They took a gamble and lost on Clayton. It is too bad, the guy has so much potential, but just can not keep it together. Also, just because people want to have a posative attitude about their fav team, does not make them sheep. The people in Atlanta were saying the same thing a couple years ago, all doom and gloom, but that team tunred itself around. I for one like to think the Bucs are going to turn around as well. NO was horrible jsut a couple of years ago too. Car goes up and down, so anything can happen. You have to love the NFC South.
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:13 am
Wow…should have run that thru the spell checker…before anyone else tells me that.
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:27 am
Water? Wet.
Sky? Blue.
Clayton? Catchless.
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:59 pm
He was better than Reggie Brown last year.
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
@Eric…True! Let’s hope Reggie goes back to his old ways from his first few years, Man, I just looked it up and it was not pretty for Reggie last year.
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I seriously just don’t understand how they re-signed him!! Raheem and Dominick had to have been drunk or something.
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:23 pm
McBuc, Let’s hope, cause sometimes a new team(change of scenario) can make a difference in a players re-newed attitude and production. I think Clayton needs that too!
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I hope reggie plays well also.
However, I must note the willingness of fans to go back years on Reggie, but AB is dismissed for a poor 2009, when he played great just in 08 on this very team.
Not sure what Reggie did not like about Andy Reed and Mcnabb, but maybe he will have new life here.
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Eric said: “He was better than Reggie Brown last year.”
Wait! Does that mean we have 1 clayton and another Clayton Jr. on the roster now? Damn it!
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Clayton’s at #2…
But did anyone notice Jerramy Stevens at #4?
TWO Bucs in the TOP FOUR? Wow.
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Eric…I never give AB a hard time. I wish he was still here as well, but he is not so I will support the new guy.
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Have Raheem give him a chest bump everything will be OK
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:56 am
With 3 or possibly 4 new receivers, no way Clayton stays on the team. Williams and Benn (high picks)are locked in. Stroughter is locked in (returns). Stovall & Williams both are excellent special teams guys. That’s 5. If they keep 6, it should be Parker to have as another return man, especially if Peanut is still messed up in the head. I think it would be different if Clayton played special teams or was proficient at something other than dropping the ball and facilitating turnovers.