Waiting On The Golden Hands
September 11th, 2015
When the Bucs invested a third-round pick on Charles Sims, despite not needing a running back, Tampa Bay officials and national media were lauding the golden soft hands of Sims.
He caught more than 200 balls during his college career, and 45 for 401 yards and three touchdowns as a senior at the University of West Virginia. Former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms was an announcer on West Virginia games and said at the time Sims might be the best wide receiver for the Mountaineers.
It was speculated that Sims might work as a slot receiver under former Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, and he could split wide or at least be a unique threat out of the backfield with very sure hands.
Joe is waiting to see any of this materialize.
Watching every training camp practice, Joe never recalls the Bucs doing anything creative with Sims as a receiver. There was no hint of that this preseason.
Joe would really like to see the Bucs capitalize on these alleged golden hands. They might be something to keep an eye on against the Titans, when the Bucs roll out an offense that should look much different than what was seen in preseason.
September 11th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
All I know about Sims is that he should’ve been a guard. Hopefully he turns into the guy we drafted. Wait, I also know that fans keep spelling it Simms for some reason.
September 11th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Gronk had 3tds at least 1 he was spread out wide. You have to be creative to win in this league. One could use humphries and sims on some picks plays vs 1-1 coverage for example.
IMO, The worst part of Sims game is his pass blocking. It’s non-existent. None! Zero! Now you add that up with his 5 rushing attempts for 0 yards in the last PS game and you got yourself a golden egg. Great use of a third round pick.
September 11th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
I told you before , RELAX joe
September 11th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Hey Sims if you run into Tavarres King tell him I said hi. Lmao. I crack my self up!
September 11th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
I’m waiting too on Sims.
September 11th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
That 3rd round pick would have been much better spent on the OL IMO.
September 11th, 2015 at 5:59 pm
I have’t seen enough of Sims play to cheer or boo yet. I thought the pick was odd when it was made, but I still hold on to the possibility that he will favorably impact the Bucs this season with a catch and run or handoff run that goes the distance for a TD.
September 11th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Wasted pick that they’ll never get back. Sims will be cut by next year’s opener. Lovie and Licht should have done it this year and given him a chance to catch on with another team.
September 11th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Doesn’t seem to me that he catches any better than the other backs. And they run harder. A poor pick, imo. May have to let him go – in some manner or other. Don’t need four RBs.
September 11th, 2015 at 6:31 pm
I don’t see any reason to force the ball to a guy who hasn’t proven anything at the NFL level
September 11th, 2015 at 6:33 pm
Luke Keuckly signed an extension this week, but he’s still looking for Charles Sims, I see the possibilities and I believe Dirk will too.
September 11th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
Please go to the NFL web site and click the link about Jameis and log into facebook and blast the moron who goes by Zounds Joy. This douche bag is constantly bashing Winston and I do not have a facebook account to dot it myself. Thanks for your support Bucs fans!!!
September 11th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
Huge whiff! Didn’t really need a RB and even worse that he doesn’t seem to have NFL talent. Oh well nothing you can do now but learn from it. Go Bucs!
September 11th, 2015 at 7:19 pm
5 years of wasted picks. Notice how much better the patriots two rookie o line men looked last night compared to our 2 2nd round picks have looked all pre season. Lavonte David great later round pick all others ……. Simms complete wasted pick with the depth we have at RB
September 11th, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Bucs backfield is ranked 32nd in the polls I’ve seen. Obviously Koetter is hoping Martin has a huge year, but we don’t really have any horses behind him. Sims, Rainey and James are all average at best. The difference-maker is our OLine … even an average RB can do well behind an above-average OLine. I just hope that’s what ours turns out to be … above-average.
September 11th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Don’t sleep on Rainey. He’s elusive and can actually gain yards behind this line. He stays health, he’s an okay blocker and can catch the ball. But he fumbled the ball and hasn’t gotten out of Lovies doghouse since but I would definitely move Rainey or James above Sims in the depth chart.
September 11th, 2015 at 8:03 pm
O line argument better explains why Sims was a wasted pick. Rainey who no one is comparing to Adrian Peterson had multiple 200 yard games behind a line that Lovie could not wait to dismantle. We spent 2nd and 3rd round picks on TE and RB when o line and d line were by far our biggest needs. Not hard to figure out why this team had sucked for years.
September 11th, 2015 at 8:12 pm
I remember Mike James looking pretty great before breaking his ankle his rookie year. What happened, I wonder?
September 11th, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Fact: Sims was on IR first half of last year and should have stayed out the entire year. We will see if the pick was wasted soon enough.
Stating the 2 second round picks are inferior in any way is WAY premature. We have to see how they progress over the season, not one game, and definitely not exhibition games.
Licht arrived late last year and Lovie and former scouting staff made a lot of the calls for the draft last year. Scouting staff has been revamped and Licht is fully installed as GM. Stop lumping him in with the Dominator. How well he did with this draft will be revealed as the season unfolds.
This fan bases lack of knowledge is second only to the lack of patience.
September 11th, 2015 at 8:47 pm
After a little research: The WR position in pro football has evolved over time. The term “slot back” or “flanker” is now known as a “slot receiver”.
Today, it is a common feature of play design to send a fast, sure-handed RB into motion to gain a favorable match-up, usually against a LB.
Among some of the more successful NFL RB to WR transitions were:
* Bobby Mitchell, Cleveland Browns (1958-1961)
Washington Redskins (1962-1968) – NFL/HOF (1983)
* Charlie Taylor, Washington Redskins (1964 – 1977) – NFL/HOF (1984)
Charles Sims (6ft – 215lbs – 4.48/40) seems to fit the physical mold of the prototypical “slot” receiver we’ve been hoping to draft or acquire through FA. His draft profile also said: “Sims runs great routes and is quick in and out of cuts.”
So, what gives..??
Considering his well documented durability issues as a RB, I hope the Bucs realize his potential as a slot receiver and make that transition sooner, rather than later.
Dude can flat-out BALL….!!!!
September 11th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
@Mo Downs
I’m an old dude who grew up watching Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor…both awesome receivers.
Agree that Sims is more receiver than RB and if ME continues to struggle with his hammy Sims may yet go the Mitchell/Taylor route.
Sims and ASJ both had injuries hamper much if not most of their seasons last year. This is basically their rookie years. Given that L&L did not hesitate to cut high priced FA’s that didn’t work out I suspect that they have seen something in these two that has prompted them to not give up yet. I do not believe they’re hanging on to them simpy because their egos won’t let them admit mistakes.
If they can admit wasting millions and millions of dollars on FA’s..draft picks seem easy to cut, especially since Licht is on the record as learning to cut mistakes quickly from Belicheat.
I trust L&L here and so I’m willing to give these guys what amounts to their rookie years.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:44 pm
I agree we needed to take offensive line with the pick…probably center, rather than guard. HOWEVER…to say we don’t need 4 RBs when that’s what most teams carry is wrong.
Sims is good enough depth. a 3rd rounder CAN be depth you know. If Martin goes down, don’t expect James to last long. He’s too fragile. Sims just needs more experience. He hasn’t exactly gotten a lot of opportunities.
Martin is the man, but Sims was not a wasted pick. And this is coming from someone who completely disagreed with the pick at first.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:47 pm
I also don’t think Rainey is all people make him out to be.
September 11th, 2015 at 10:19 pm
Bonzai you are right. Statically it’s a push with Rainey having a slight edge, maybe.
September 11th, 2015 at 10:20 pm
I didn’t like 14 draft, I thought Simms pick should have been ol and that asj was taken to early. Hopefully I’m wrong it’s early, but look at the other picks from that draft – Edwards heron pampile.
September 11th, 2015 at 10:42 pm
This may be Sims last year
He runs too top Heavy and does not do much after first contact
I hope that 2015 proves different
if not he will be gone like Tedford’s other “speed in space” guy Herron
September 11th, 2015 at 10:58 pm
I’d love to be wrong but I predict a BUST. It was a head scratching pick at the time and if you go back and watch film of him, there’s nothing to there to make you believe he is the next Matt Forte. Golden hands? Where did anyone see that? I mean he’s not stone hands Herron but seriously Chris Simms called this dude the best receiver on a team with Kevin White? That’s laughable. I’m beginning to think Licht picks up undrafed players better than he drafts.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:24 pm
Sims hasn’t had a healthy chance yet.
Hopefully he will be healthy this year and they’ll see what they got.
I haven’t seen much in the running game with him though, but with no one having a clue about Doug Martins health, it wasn’t a bad pick last year. It was surprising, but understandable.
Anyway, we shall see.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:47 pm
The problem is that licht and Mr lova lova though they were getting the next Matt Forte but so far Charles Sims has shown he has no forte at all in his talents. Hope this is not another blown high round pick by this franchise. An offensive line player with that pick would have made a ton of sense.
September 12th, 2015 at 12:52 am
Vega
I hear you. Hindsight says OL
Personally I hate playing a second guessing game with the draft. It’s s crap shoot
September 12th, 2015 at 5:45 am
Mike James has great hands and had huge games when he started , guy doesn’t get fair look and she he did he performed but you always have to justify a #1 pick when team sucks so GM and COACH DONT LOOK BAD.. when your good you can playa late round pic over a high pick and people praise you cause they know you do whats best not what need to be justified..
Simms has not shown enough to be better than James or Rainey, Doug seems to be back and i hope he is and doesn’t start running with head downline he did last year
September 12th, 2015 at 6:52 am
Golden hands. Nickel plated boosach. He picks up a block like I pick up a ham sandwich. Drafted Doug in fantasy football. Dougy fresh
September 12th, 2015 at 11:41 am
StPeteBucsFan… Quit saying you are old at 67, damn your a regular Methuselah. When you hit 75 you will look back at how young you felt at your present age. lol
September 12th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Buccfan37
LMAO. Yeah point accepted. Especially since I have my health and can still do a hard spinning class and feel about 37.