Wide Receivers Corps Not So Deep
March 28th, 2015
Led by Vincent Jackson, along with Mike Evans, the Bucs have a damned good pair of starting receivers. After that, there’s a drop off.
One could make a helluva argument that the Bucs have one of the best one-two punches at wide receiver in the NFC. Not the best, that belongs to the Packers with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, and Detroit is better with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.
Third-best one-two punch in the conference? Joe could agree. After Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, though, there’s a big dropoff on the roster.
However, Pat Yasinskas of ESPN doesn’t quite agree. He believes the Bucs’ wide receivers are strong.
Wide receiver: This is the strongest unit on the offense with Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans as the starters. The team likes Louis Murphy as the third receiver, but competition could be brought in.
Again, as starters, you can’t get much better than what the Bucs have. Depth is an issue here. Joe isn’t sold on Louis Murphy. He made a helluva play to set up Vincent Jackson’s game-winning touchdown at Pittsburgh, but outside of that catch, Murphy has been a whole lot of meh.
Remember, not only did the Raiders cut Murphy, but so too did the Bucs last year. He was re-signed off the street before Week 4. Joe sure hoped the Bucs would have signed Ted Ginn, who would have been a quality No. 3 receiver and a solid return man. Welp.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:04 am
I have nothing to complain about Joe. 2 stud WR’s is good enough for me right now, the other one will eventually come along. Hopefully before Jackson hangs up his cleats.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:05 am
Plus Jameis LOVES his TE’s. Loves them.
Just stay healthy ASJ and Jameis will make you a star!
March 28th, 2015 at 10:06 am
We sure could use a 3rd down possession receiver like a YouGoJoe, Preston Parker or even gloveless Robb Thomas (throwback). Speaking of old skool, Reggie Cobb reference is always a classic. Randall shouldn’t be offended.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:18 am
Problem is any NFL defense can take away one receiver…..
Yes, Winston loved Nick O’Leary, Buc1987, but alas ASJ doesn’t have one-tenth the toughness of Nick.
ASJ = Mr. Softeee; O’Leary: tough as nails.
Oh yes, there’s always Luke (in the tub with ASJ) Stocker.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:22 am
Lockett from Kansas st in 4th round. Bucs move up to get and take two guys in 4th. Need slot receiver in big way. Plus he is return guy
March 28th, 2015 at 10:23 am
Late pick or 2. Wr/pr speed guy….
March 28th, 2015 at 10:26 am
WR is in good shape as long as we can get some depth. I saw someone mention the other day that Benjamin made Winston look better than he is like Evans did for Manziel. I call BS on that…sorry…not sorry!! Winston did not have Benjamin last season and he was still successful. Now Evans, Jackson and ASJ and Sims out of the backfield could all be incredible targets for Winston. I do like Mariota too and think he will be a good QB but Winston is the better fit for his understanding of the Pro style offense as well as his rally the troops mentality. We need an outspoken leader with above average talent. I can overlook a few interceptions if the guy is clutch and leads us to many victories. Now, passing on the opportunity to grab one of these guys would be a travesty that I would have a very tough time forgiving. No GM is going to trade the farm for our pick to select anything other than a QB. If a team were willing to mortgage their possible immediate future for trading up, then why would we not stay put and take our QB? We still have high picks in the subsequent rounds to address some other needs and should be able to grab a 1st round graded player at the top of the 2nd and a 2nd round graded player at the top of the 3rd.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:31 am
Pick rashad in the 4th and you’re set. Jameis will make ASJ into a star and have 2 monsters with a familiar slot.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:34 am
Remember who the QB was for most of last year and how he threw? VJax and ME13 are great, but the others have to have the ball somewhere around them to catch it.
Just think if whoever is the QB this year was here last year and think about how much better the stats would be, so we will see how good all of them really are.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:37 am
Are you ready Buc fans?
It’s been a longtime coming, but SWAG is coming back to Tampa!
March 28th, 2015 at 10:38 am
I could totally see them drafting Dorial Green-Beckham if he’s still there at 2nd. Smart pick if he can mature with Winston, just hope they draft OL 3rd-5th.
WR corps goes to 3rd best to “the” best, DGB and Godzilla on the outside ASJ and VJAx in the slot. Now that be some dunkaneers.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:42 am
YOUS RIGHT 87.
Jameis will bring that warren sapp feel back to tampa. Have teams afraid to play us.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:49 am
Decent story about WR’s and the Winston freaks have to hijack this discussion too.
Joe, for the record, I believe Murphy is best suited to play outside where his speed can be put to use. Herron may never cure the dropsies either.
Me? I’d forage around league wide and find the second coming of my man Ike Hilliard. He was an absolute beast in the slot.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:50 am
Tampa is so sad. Look who talks about depth after Megatron & Tate, or the packers, or the colts receivers. Who talks about the patriots or cardinals depth at receiver? There’s supposed to be a drop off after the number 1 and 2 guys at every position because your either developing or just simply not as good. No one drafts a player thinking of he’ll be a great backup to V jack or Glennon, you’re drafting the best player available or at his position, imagine complaining about the depth behind dez Bryant when you make the playoffs. Atleast losing is great for Tampa bay media because everyone got a solution
March 28th, 2015 at 10:52 am
TheDon…the only thing I worry about with Jameis is he might get flagged a lot for taunting the other team. I truly see this happening with this kid and I have no problem with it at all.
This team needs an injection of swagger in the worst way.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:52 am
We had a couple of UCF guys last night who claim that Breshad Perriman is the real deal. Good hands and great YAC.
His size and speed combo is just eye popping. Go to the NFL.com or google to see the vide of his 40. He is a real strider. The only thing that looks fast are the giant strides and the ground he covers. But he has posted a faster time than Chris Johnson!!!
The Central Florida wide receiver’s 40-yard dash was clocked at 4.25 seconds by NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock. Other times recorded by NFL scouts on hand ranged between 4.19 and 4.27, according to NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt. Any of those would have been the best overall time at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine had he run for the same result in Indianapolis last month. Anything under 4.4 is a stunningly fast clocking for a player of Perriman’s size; he is 6-foot-2, 212 pounds.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:53 am
Tyler Lockett.
Saw him lay out at the combine to snag some catches. Love him.
If not, Kenny “Afro Thunder” Bell. Speed in the return game and catches with hands not body. Pretty impressive hands.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:55 am
Doubt koetter needs a star in the slot if his tight end can be one, Atlanta didn’t need a slot to put up monster numbers ever year
March 28th, 2015 at 10:57 am
@Joe … Joe isn’t sold on Louis Murphy. He made a helluva play to set up Vincent Jackson’s game-winning touchdown at Pittsburgh, but outside of that catch, Murphy has been a whole lot of meh.”
I think you’re selling Murph way short Joe. He caught 31 passes in only 11 games for 380 yds and a 12.3 yds/catch average. And a number of his catches were clutch and kept drives alive.
That’s not too shabby in my opinion. And when he was cut last year and was recovering from an injury at the time, I had a suspicion he’d be back once he healed up. No way the Bucs wanted to put him on IR at that point.
March 28th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Damn right Bucc1987 I’m ecstatic about that swag coming to the Bay. And mr.biff if you don’t like it you can simply scroll past homie.
March 28th, 2015 at 11:09 am
We have players that are starting for us at positions on this team that are not even NFL starting caliber. We’re not at the point where we can start questioning whether we have the level of depth at various positions that we want
March 28th, 2015 at 11:10 am
bucs4lyfe Says:
Doubt koetter needs a star in the slot if his tight end can be one, Atlanta didn’t need a slot to put up monster numbers ever year
—————————–
Fair point, but I’d greatly prefer a legitimate threat underneath to keep the LB’s and safeties in check.
March 28th, 2015 at 11:11 am
Quarterbacks get receivers paid, see mike
Your not going to have elite talent at every position unless your playing video games
March 28th, 2015 at 11:14 am
If anyone ever watched the fsu games, late in games, jameis would be leading a comeback, barking out orders with a cocky head shake. It was pretty damn epic. The man is as fierce a competitor as it gets. We are so lucky to get him.
March 28th, 2015 at 11:16 am
The last speed WR we had was Galloway. Seems like we always need a burner
March 28th, 2015 at 11:24 am
Murphy is not even nfl caliber shouldn’t be on a roster. WR Position is not deep. one injury to Evans or vjax and it’s a bad group. Need 2 upgrades for 3 & 4 wr spots
Lockett would fix 3rd wr and fix return game plus he is a beast as a gunner on special teams. He will be gone in 3rd Rd though
March 28th, 2015 at 11:33 am
we draft Florida State wide receiver Rashad Greene slot receiver punt returns kickoff returns 4th rounder.
March 28th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
@buc1987 the only “Swag” Jameis would bring to this team is if he was playing gaurd, we all know he’s fat enough.
March 28th, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Mariota don’t need ‘”swag” he wins with class, ala Russell Wilson.
March 28th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
As always, Tom Edrington posts the first negative comment on a somewhat positive story. Way to go, Tom.
Always, always, always negative.
Nick O’Leary is a college player. Talking about how great he was in college means absolutely nothing in the present. Nothing against O’Leary, but he hasn’t proved anything in the NFL.
March 28th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Do you even hear yourself? You know nothing about class. So your opinion about somebody elses class is irrelevant…
Welcome to Tampa, Jameis!
March 28th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
DeAndre Smelter! He’s recovering from an acl injury so he sits for a while, but he was talked about going 1st round or top of 2nd before his injury. Might be able to get him 4th or 5th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR8GhCSf8FY
March 28th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
I wouldn’t say a drop off! More like a bunny hill at a ski resort lol. No but honestly louis Murphy is good , big tall guy fast with hands & ups. Then we got robert herron sure he is young but he’s fast and runs routes very well just had problems catching passes in the NFL . That can be fixed with time though. Sure he’s a project but I would invest in him. He showed himself worthy last season. Shepard from LSU ain’t bad be plays mostly ST and is our ace at that position. He’s fast and can catch passes. We don’t ever use him though.
March 28th, 2015 at 6:15 pm
If anybody on here don’t think louis Murphy is good come talk too me I easily will put you in you’re place. Oh and no im not a gator fan I just saw what he did his entire career with bad QBs.
March 28th, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Louis Murphy in the games he started when healthy. Pittsburgh , he blew up coming in hot off the streets . Then he blew up in chicago . That chicago game was tanked and the pitt game we won because of him pretty much. Sure jackson caught the TD but before that jackson did nothing Hardly the entire game . Jackson is slowing down . I would expect too see more reps out of Murphy as the possible 2 spot and have jackson play the slot . That makes the most sense of you ask me. Jackson is too slow and too old too be demanding no 1 & 2 looks at WR . Next year we replace him not this season .
March 29th, 2015 at 6:40 am
@drdneast:
You just made the point why everyone shouldn’t get excited about Winston, he’s done nothing in the pros….
As for the TE comment, ASJ proved how soft he is and you might recall he single-handedly lost a game for the Bucs with his ridiculous fumble….
If you locked him and O’Leary in a room, I know which one would come out…
March 30th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Someone wrote about A.S.J. being soft. Not true I think this season you will see a healthy A.S.J. and he will be a much better T.E. IN 2015.