Loss Exposed Lack Of WR Depth
December 13th, 2015
After Bucs WR Vincent Jackson left with a knee injury today, the lack of depth at receiver was exposed. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
The Bucs aren’t as good as we thought.
No, Joe is not going to rail on penalties, though he should, but Joe will rag a little bit on dropped passes. Those drops revealed the lack of depth at wide receiver.
Sure, the Bucs could have used Louis Murphy, their No. 3 receiver who blew out a knee in the Capital Collapse in Washington. There, too, Vincent Jackson, the Bucs’ best receiver and a pro’s pro, hurt his knee and he hasn’t been the same since.
With Jackson leaving today’s game with a bum knee, the Bucs had to rely on a couple of smallish rookie receivers who couldn’t even get drafted.
Sure, Donteea Dye, from the immortal Heidelberg College, and Adam Humphries of Clemson, are nice stories. But dammit, nice stories don’t win games. Players and, more importantly, results win games.
Dye gagged on a perfectly thrown pass from America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, that would have kept a possible game-trying late drive alive. Humphries is, what is called in football circles, a JAG (Just A Guy).
With gifted receiver Mike Evans about as reliable as cell phone service during a Bucs game at the Den of Depression, today’s game illustrated just how badly the receivers corps needs an upgrade.
Jackson, warrior that he is, is getting up in years and given his injuries this year, it seems Father Time, an unforgivable soul, is knocking on his door.
Who knows if Murphy will be able to return, and as much as Joe loves the potential of Kenny Bell, he didn’t do squat in preseason. And, if not for his injury, was very much on the roster bubble.
Given that the team has so much invested in Jameis, and that the wide receiver group is so thin, the Bucs must address this in the offseason. If nothing else, signing a decent veteran free agent receiver should be on the offseason agenda.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Dye needs to be a free agent tomorrow… The dude sucks!!!
December 13th, 2015 at 6:16 pm
Agree…..unfortunately, that drop from Dye could be a career-ender.
Would love to see us pick up a speedy WR/KR/PR combination.
We seemed to have difficulty creating separation today……ASJ had the best game of all receivers IMO.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:17 pm
Jameis did not lose this game for us. Penalties, drops, & poor pass defense did.
People blaming Jameis are morons.
It’s hard to find your rhythm with constant penalties and drops.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
We need a true speed receiver on the outside and a good route running slot receiver who can hold onto the ball. That would help our young QB a lot, but so would a defense that can get off the field.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Cut the high priced dead weight and go get Alshon Jeffrey.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Need to add that extra receiver as most suggest. One in the style that the Steelers continually come up with, the speedy big impact player.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
We seem to get down on ASJ for his injury problems but how many times has VJAX gone out of a game with some injury only to be spotted on the sideline with a hat on? At least ASJ gets listed as inactive. VJAX is brittle too, but somehow escapes the scrutiny and I’m getting sick of it.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Loss Exposed Lack OF A Defense. There, I corrected that for you Joe. I could have sworn the Saints just played against themselves the 1st half. Maybe it was my eyes. But did you even see a Bucs Defense those 2 qtrs.? Like I’ve said
before…Still a shot at 8-8 ….Maybe
December 13th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
His loss didnt expose anything we didnt know. We went a few weeks without jackson and had terrible success with our back up wrs. It was obvious then and now, we need QUALITY depth at wr. This is no new revelation.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
@BucTrooper:
V-Jax is old by football standards…..by the time ASJ is that age, he won’t be able to get through a McDonalds drive-thru without hurting himself
December 13th, 2015 at 6:45 pm
I agree! Outside of VJax and Evans the WR’s aren’t very good. They need to look at bringing in a fairly solid #3 and #4 WR to fill in for VJax and Evans next season in case they go down with an injury.
December 13th, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Vincent is 30+. ASJ is 22? 23?
Vincent took a low hit at his knees for the second time this year. Exact same hits. They said a 6 week recovery, and he returned after 2! Vincent has been reliable for most of his buc career. No need for criticizm when it isnt warranted. It’s frustrating losing players to injury, but you cant blame players for getting hurt… Vincent is a tall dude, taking a shot to his knees is going to cause some injury.
December 13th, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Well, this game didn’t really expose anything to me. I’ve been saying, here and elsewhere, that Jameis needs more weapons for at least a month. Evans is NOT a great receiver. He could be, but he needs to focus and keep working. V-Jax is getting older. Other than those two, we have little. Flashes here and there, but we can’t go on with that. We need reliable weapons. This is something that must be rectified in the draft and in free agency. Keep building around Winston. Give me more protection, more weapons.
December 13th, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Bucs need to use Doug Martin!
Whether they ofrget about him or choose not to use him, it is inexcusable to ignore their best weapon!
December 13th, 2015 at 7:26 pm
I this point I would be happy with anyone who can catch the damn ball and not bitch at the refs.
December 13th, 2015 at 7:42 pm
What exactly is Evans’ role in the offense.
He surely is not a deep threat.
Is he supposed to be a possession receiver?
With the number of drops, I would just as soon see him traded for someone of equal “potential” ability that can reliably catch the ball.
What was to be expected from a team that has Drew Brees. Just shows what JW will develop into down the road.
December 13th, 2015 at 7:49 pm
Which is why I want WR in the first round.
December 13th, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Been saying it v jack ain’t a spring chicken.
Need another playmaker we whiffed on asj and there were so many wideouts we passed on to take him
December 13th, 2015 at 8:20 pm
he too a massive low shot on his first catch. Winston was off all day unfortunately.
December 13th, 2015 at 9:06 pm
Draft a receiver in one of the first 3 rounds. Jameis needs weapons, lots of them
December 13th, 2015 at 9:28 pm
Been saying it for months. Need Mike Williams 2.0 in the second round.
December 13th, 2015 at 9:36 pm
The way Jackson landed after that early catch I thought his game was over. His loss will be a loss of some stability in the pass game. Time for the other two dunkaneers to mesh as productive reliable receivers, havent seen that yet from a big part of the Bucs planned future at the position.
December 13th, 2015 at 10:04 pm
Travis Benjamin …. He plays with attitude and he can catch for sure….
December 13th, 2015 at 10:24 pm
God you guys love to bitch. Guy above says we whiffed on ASJ and Joe is still bitching about Evans dropping passes. ASJ stepped up in a big way today and Evans snagged everything that was thrown his way. So many idiot fans in this city. Then guys bitch about Jackson get ok getting hurt. You morons need to realize it’s the NFL and injuries happen. Jesus Christ you guys are ridiculous and embarrassing!
December 13th, 2015 at 11:01 pm
Ya fine, they’re thin now. But do you know what Carolina would do to have our receiving core?! Thats a team thin @ WR, with Tedd Ginn carrying them!
I think more emphasis needs to be place on accountability Joe. These are professional WR’s that got a nod over guys that are now contributing on other NFL teams – do your job. CATCH THE DAM BALL!
December 13th, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Our depth is fine.
December 14th, 2015 at 12:14 am
Bring up Hall for F sake
December 14th, 2015 at 3:38 am
Why in the HELL didn’t we just pick up Rashad Greene instead of Kenny Bell. Rashad is tearing it up for the Jags. He couldve been a great punt returner as well as a great reliable WR. And his timing with Jameis wouldve already been there.
December 14th, 2015 at 3:39 am
Why didn’t we just pick up Rashad Greene instead of Kenny Bell. Rashad is tearing it up for the Jags. He couldve been a great punt returner as well as a great reliable WR. And his timing with Jameis wouldve already been there.