Tiquan Underwood Cut
September 1st, 2013
Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik went discount shopping this afternoon for cut players who may help out the Bucs and signed a defensive tackle and a wide receiver, but those moves were bad news for wide receiver Tiquan Underwood and linebacker Najee Goode. To make room for the new signees on the 53-man roster, the Bucs released Underwood and Goode.
Per a release from the Buccaneers:
Chris Jones (6-2, 306) comes to Tampa Bay from Houston, where he was a sixth- round selection (198th overall) in 2013. A native of Brownsburg, Indiana, Jones played collegiately at Bowling Green, where he played in 50 straight games, making 43 consecutive starts. A three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection, he earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors his senior season, when he recorded 12.5 sacks, the third-most in the NCAA. He was named third-team All-American by the Associated Press.
Russell Shepard (6-1, 195), joins the Buccaneers after spending this past offseason with the Eagles. He entered the league as a college free agent with Philadelphia this season. Shepard played collegiately at Louisiana State, where he saw time at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. He finished his career with 733 rushing yards, 565 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns (five rushing, five receiving). A Houston native, Shepard came to LSU as the nation’s top-ranked dual-threat quarterback.
Joe is starting to think the Bucs are in a bad way at No. 3 receiver. Kevin Ogletree had played well in training camp, but had a nasty habit of dropping passes time after time in games. What good is a receiver who cannot catch? Joe wasn’t aware a Michael Clayton clone was so desirable.
Yes, cutting Underwood is a surprise as he is somewhat productive, when healthy. Remember, he was cut last year after a really good training camp and preseason, only to be picked back up by the Bucs.
September 1st, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Another Dominik pick off the books.
“Bad evaluator of talent.”
September 1st, 2013 at 6:34 pm
I think Eric Page is going to surprise a lot of people and become a weapon as the 3rd receiver. Not all that fast, but very shifty which is what you look for in a slot guy.
September 1st, 2013 at 6:34 pm
So much for all the Rutgers paranoia….
We picked up Russell Shepard….
He can run, catch and throw….(three things Tiquan couldn’t do well)
I can see him doing very well in a Wildcat formation. See these highlights!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOi8GaMtcNk
September 1st, 2013 at 6:39 pm
@ Adam
Yea, he was a Dominick pick that didn’t work out….but at least Dom has the sense to cut him loose…I think he learned his lesson with Myron.
Look at it this way…we just got this year’s 6th round pick from Houston….so they made the same type of mistake….they are made all the time in the NFL….the biggest mistake is to not recognize it later.
September 1st, 2013 at 6:43 pm
Nice move Dom. Goode was dead weight. I think Underwood will be back or somewhere else. I don’t think our GM is done yet.
September 1st, 2013 at 6:55 pm
Interesting no previous Buccaneer has been claimed by another team as yet.
September 1st, 2013 at 6:55 pm
@Adam L.
We never drafted Underwood…
September 1st, 2013 at 6:57 pm
@Adam L.
Ah I see you were speaking of Goode. Carry on
September 1st, 2013 at 6:57 pm
For the record, Goode was more likely Schiano’s pick. He knew him and Tandy from playing against them. Remember this staff had woefully little time to review talent last year.
September 1st, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Our #3 WR slot is weak. Very weak IMO.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Why are we still holding on to Jeff Demps? He’s taking someones spot on the roster.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Demps has an exemption….he is not taking a roster slot.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Why in the world would they release Goode? if Foster goes down they are screwed at MLB. Yes Hayward is capable but there is a reason why he has never cracked the starting lineup. He is a a liability in coverage and is considerably slower.
I like the Russell Sheppard Pick up but I think releasing Underwood could come back to hunt them.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:09 pm
When exactly have the Bucs ever run a wildcat with Schiano?
September 1st, 2013 at 7:16 pm
@ Joe
I said “I can see him”….not Schiano….but there is a first time for everything….
Don’t you agree he would be good in that set?
Maybe he is an emergency QB and we will eventually live with 2.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:17 pm
@ Adam Yeah bc Mark Barron , Doug Martin, & Lavonte David were all bad picks from that draft class…
September 1st, 2013 at 7:18 pm
He’s talking about Najee Goode.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:18 pm
So… Owusu and Underwood are both gone, leaving Ogletree, Eric Page, and Russel Shepard to man the rest of the receiving corp??? What the hell is going on?
September 1st, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Hayward runs a 4.5 40yd. Look it up. He isn’t slow and he can hit hard, just not as instinctive at times.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Owuso is on PSquad
September 1st, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Dom’s gonna pop some tags, he’s got 20 dollars in his pocket…
September 1st, 2013 at 8:05 pm
You live in China! What the hell is going on with that?
September 1st, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Underwood was terrible. Let’s not act like him being cut is something that will hurt this team.
September 1st, 2013 at 8:16 pm
@Scotty in Fat Antonio
Wrong….
Cody Wallace picked up by the Steelers
September 1st, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Underwood does not surprise me. He never showed much the last few years. Goode is a surprise. That leaves them with 5 LBs and I thought Goode was, well, kind of good.
September 1st, 2013 at 8:33 pm
We have zero depth compared to Seattle and San Fran.
And San Fran has just thrown around draft picks!
They lost last years first rounder! Traded him away. AJ Jenkins
They drafted LaMichael James AND Marcus Lattimore the past 2 years. To backup!
They have the deepest LB, OL, amd DL’s in the NFL.
To builld a complete roster takes some balls and some risks.
Seattle went through like 200 players in Pete Carrolls first 2 years.
They keep trying to find “positive” players. His words, not mine.
The Seahawks and the Eagles have HIPPY nutrionists making sure players are properly nourished.
Its incredible.
This league is evolvng.
We need to evolve and stay open.
Najee Goode SUCKS. So slow.
Amd TiQuan Underwood is a nice dude, but hes not a top talent.
We can be complacent, or we can take risks and try to upgrade.
And think ahout Seattle? They have Marshwan Lynch. But they STILL drafted Turbin last year, and Christine Michael this year. Thats 3 deep!
This past offseason, they signed Cliff Avril AND Michael Bennett. To backup and rotate! Along with last years first round shocker Bruce Irvinmand Clemons.
Anyway, we need to think outside the box more. Thats all im saying.
Still think we missed on Kuechly.
September 1st, 2013 at 8:35 pm
As far as running the wildcat, Schiano has not had anyone who could do it until now with Shepard. Whether he will try it or not is another thing
September 1st, 2013 at 8:44 pm
And teacherman, I still think you’re a Seahawks fan. That’s two days in a row you’ve brought up how good you think they are. Nothing wrong with that, every team has fans, but usually they post on their own fan sites.
September 1st, 2013 at 8:47 pm
The Buccaneers have a nutritionist and dietician who monitor the diets of of players under supervision. Schiano is very strict about diets and weight. I know the guy who prepares special meals for selected players. Of course, nobody can monitor what any player eats away from the facility. NY times at a featured article on Revis today and discussed the strictness of his diet.
September 1st, 2013 at 8:47 pm
I don’t understand cutting Tquan, he was productive, how can anyone expect much more from a number 3 or 4 reciever?
September 1st, 2013 at 8:53 pm
It’s tough to maintain much depth in today’s league, with free agency and all. That’s why the season becomes a bit of a crap shoot based on which teams are lucky enough to be healthy.
Third receiver is way down our list of worries IMO.
September 1st, 2013 at 9:19 pm
usually dom holds onto a draft pick for 3 or 4 years even when he isnt any good. i think eric stokes will end up with his job.
September 1st, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Shepard brings a whole lot more versatility to the offense than Underwood did. As far as the wildcat, I hope they give it a try even on a limited basis, it would be a great way to keep opposing defenses off balance in game planning for us. We’ll see.
September 1st, 2013 at 9:28 pm
Hasn’t the wildcat pretty much fizzled out?
September 1st, 2013 at 9:44 pm
Saw a few scouting reports that stated Shepard’s best position might be DB. Could be another project.
September 1st, 2013 at 9:48 pm
@ Mr. T
It doesn’t even have to be the traditional Wildcat….Shepard can pass and run as a 3rd reciever….or put him in the backfield with Freeman….
I can see all sorts of versatility we have now. We can even run the Benned Around but without Benn….I think this guy has quickness…good hands and can run.
We picked him up for a reason.
September 1st, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Yeah it’s tough. We still haven’t played our first game yet so it may be a little early to be overly critical. At least Dom is making moves that many of us were calling for. I still think more moves are coming, as in practice squad robbing, Dom’s favorite.
September 1st, 2013 at 10:03 pm
@FLBoy84
No more projects please….we have Tim Wright….a project right now….Tandy is sort of a project….
We can’t afford projects….Thats for NE, GB, SF, &….
the Jaguars!!!
September 1st, 2013 at 10:09 pm
Here is an NFL blog with posts about the wildcat explaining it, I don’t think it will be going away. http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/wildcat/
The Panthers, Dolphins, Redskins and 49ers run it, Jets ran it with Tebow, maybe other teams I don’t know of.
Schiano has not had a QB who could run it until now but whether he will or not who knows. It would have to be put in specifically for Shepard, whether they picked him up partially for that purpose remains to be seen.
September 1st, 2013 at 10:13 pm
I really don’t know what to gather from these moves. Either they see something in Page on offense as a receiver that we don’t or this is Segway into the next move.
Either way I’m scratching my head more and more. Shaun King is looking like Gandoff with wise predictions.
September 1st, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Architek79
Don’t fret….take a 6 day cruise….drink a lot…play some slots…eat 9 or 10 times a day….toss your old lady overboard & come home and watch us beat the “Revisless Jets”….after all this year we are the “Myronless Bucs”
Now replacing Myron Lewis with Darrelle Revis is a move you can support, I’m sure!!!
September 1st, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Freeman is your best chance to win, he can’t run a wildcat and I doubt they want to take him off the field to do it. He has a hard enough time getting into a rhythm.
September 1st, 2013 at 10:31 pm
@ Eric….
We don’t have to run the traditional Wildcat formation with Freeman absent…we can line Shepard up as the third reciever and run all sorts of plays with him in.
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:11 am
I like the russell shepard pick up. Supposedly he got compared to Percy Harvin but i doubt that, he’s fast if we can be a lil creative with him and try returns it could be a good pick up. I don’t kno why ive seen wildcat being brought up, stupidest thing i heard.
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:41 am
Adam L Says
“Another Dominik pick off the books.”
Mark Dominick did not “pick” Underwood. Try to set aside your agenda and educate yourself before posting.
I would have cut Ogletree instead. At least Underwood performed consistently last year.
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:56 am
I stand corrected, thought you meant underwood.
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:57 am
BuccaneerBonzai says
“I would have cut Ogletree instead. At least Underwood performed consistently last year.”
Underwood performed consistently??? Maybe Consistently bad. We have no third wide receiver. But it does not matter because we do not have a QB. Or a real GM is you want to know the truth
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:59 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“No more projects please….we have Tim Wright….a project right now….Tandy is sort of a project… We can’t afford projects….Thats for NE, GB, SF, &….
the Jaguars!!!”
Every new player on any team is a project of some sort. We don’t have the option to not have projects. We are trying to build a solid team still. You cannot hit on every pick or signing.
The difference with NE, GB and SF are that they are at a point that there is less risk with such projects.
ON WILDCAT
Not going to happen no matter how much people wish it.
September 2nd, 2013 at 8:02 am
the_buc_realist Says:
“Underwood performed consistently??? Maybe Consistently bad. We have no third wide receiver. But it does not matter because we do not have a QB. Or a real GM is you want to know the truth.”
He had over 400 yards last year. Name another of our WRs aside from our two starters that had more. He was not inconsistent. You are mistaken. He wasn’t thrown to all that much. Remember, he split catches with Dallas Clark.
I’m not saying Underwood was starting caliber. I’m saying that as a backup he ran good routes and had soft hands.
So far as your other comments, I won’t feed into the hate.
September 2nd, 2013 at 8:35 am
@buccaneerbonzai
I was referring to Goode. “Pick” was singular. It’s so funny that if you read the comments not only did another People understand, they POSTED that they understood.
You on the other hand are so quick to whip your claws out, you didn’t read.
I know the truth hurts, but Dominik is a poor talent evaluator.
@mitch Re: David, Martin, Barron picks. David and Martin both had 1 good year. You know who else had one good year? Michael Clayton. And that doesnt undo 3 HORRIBLE drafts with numerous high-round busts.
And Barron? A safety with the 7 overall pick when CB depth was (and became) a problem that season? If Barron doesn’t become Ronnie Lott/Ed Reed, the pick was a waste. The Bucs could get that production in FA or later in the draft.
September 2nd, 2013 at 9:20 am
ubnderwood wouldnt catch in traffic alligator arms afraid to get hit
September 2nd, 2013 at 12:08 pm
@Adam L.
BuccaneerBonzai Says
“I stand corrected, thought you meant underwood.”
Apparently you missed my other comment.
Who would you say was a better GM? Dominick or Rich McKay?
September 2nd, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Adam L. Says:
“And Barron? A safety with the 7 overall pick when CB depth was (and became) a problem that season? If Barron doesn’t become Ronnie Lott/Ed Reed, the pick was a waste. The Bucs could get that production in FA or later in the draft.”
Count the probowlers on this team. Count the guys drafted that played so well they could have made the probowl.
I hate to break this to you, but you are wrong.
No GM hits 100% on all picks. Mark Dominick started as a rookie GM. His best pick in his first draft was Freeman. Now, I realize some people do not consider that a good pick, but what if Freeman proves himself this year, in his contract year?
Mark Dominick has done well enough. Especially considering the limits placed on him by the Glazers when the lockout was looming.
First Draft
Josh Freeman and Roy Miller were the successful picks. Miller is gone now, but he played out his contract as a starter.
Second Draft Successful Picks
McCoy, Williams, Watson
Third Draft Successful Picks
Clayborn, Bowers (uncertain), Foster, Stocker,and Black.
Forth Draft Successful Picks
Barron, Martin, David
Fifth Draft Probable Successful Picks
The jury is still out on these, but:
Banks, Spence, Means. Heck, James, Gholston & Glennon might even work out. That would mean the entire draft class…which is unheard of. I realize not all of them will be starters, but quality depth counts too.
September 2nd, 2013 at 1:06 pm
I dont understand the hate for Underwood as far as i can remember he caught all but maybe on pass thrown his way, and i saw every game last year. Not saying he’s great but he did his job and was an ideal 3 or 4 receiver.
September 2nd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Scouting report on Shepard:
http://www.draftinsider.net/reports/2013/WR/Russell-Shepard
September 23rd, 2013 at 8:33 pm
How many of Mark Dominick’s draft picks are still with the Bucs?