Digging For A Receiver
September 3rd, 2016
Why not Justin Hunter?
Maybe you haven’t read this before, but Joe believes the Bucs need depth at wide receiver.
Look at the current crop of backups after No. 3 receiver Rudy Humphries. That would be untested Russell Shepard and Evan Spencer. Spencer is a whole lot of meh with four career preseason catches.
While it speaks volumes that former Titans receiver Justin Hunter was let go by one of the worst teams in the NFL, Joe believes he could be an upgrade over Shepard, a special teams warrior, and a nobody like Spencer.
Hunter is surely better than misplaced Calgary Stampeder Donteea Dye.
A 2013 second-round pick, Hunter averages 16.4 yards per catch with a catch rate of 70 percent. He’s 25-years old. He’s 6-4, which fits right in with the Dunkaneers.
More importantly, Hunter likes America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:06 am
I hope we go after him.
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:13 am
Somebody will pick him up…..
Licht has laid back on picking up a veteran WR…..perhaps it’s because he knew he would have opportunities to pick up a younger prospect.
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:19 am
When I heard about Hunter getting released yesterday, I thought about the Bucs going after him. Don’t we have to put a waiver claim in on him first? In the mean time, there will be other WR’s cut today. I’m almost 100% certain the Bucs WILL make a move on someone….after Evans, V-Jax and Humphries, the cupboard is pretty bare!
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:25 am
I will be very disappointed if Licht does not pick up a better WR after cuts are made. Jameis needs weapons!!!
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:34 am
I Remeber that video. That’s hilarious. Jameis was already gone when they picked tho. I wonder who Hunter really wanted if it was old sunken chest…
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:47 am
Sigh.
Justin Hunter is better than what we have than all of our backups, but only just barely.
Why can we find someone that can compete to start? Or at least someone capable of 500-600 yards receiving per year?
That’s not Justin Hunter…at least not so far.
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:54 am
What’s the red flag on Hunter? Why was he released? Teams don’t just dump 2nd round picks for no reason.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:02 am
Justin Hunter was cut, not waived. He is free agent – free to sign with team of choice. If you read Titan blogs, he was outperformed by younger WRs namely Tajae Sharpe. Along with Bishop Sankey, rumor is GM Robinson cleaning house of former GM Ruston Webster picks!
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:05 am
We r back at square one from last year. No reliable kick or punt returner, n we have almost the same wr lineup from last year.VJax is a hit away from another injury n other than ME there’s been no consistency from our receivers during regular season. And remember… historically, underwear football n preseason is where the fluke originates from for guys who goes ghost during regular season especially when we need a first down. Russel Shepard had one good preseason game but special team is just that…his specialty. Let’s not get too excited about Humphries cause the hole was so wide that his punt return td could have been returned by Donovan Smith or William the Refrigerator Perry. With that said l,Justin Hunter is available, will we go for him? I still disagree with taking a field goal kicker in round 2 when a playmaker such as Braxton Miller was available to us.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:07 am
A change of scenery & stability will do this kid a world of good.
*Case in point – Instablity in Tennessee
Quarterback(s)
• Locker
• Fitzpatrick
• Mettenberger
• Mariota
Offensive Coordinator (S):
• Dowell Loggains
• Jason Michael
• Ken Whisenhunt
• Mike Mularkey
Offensively – We’ve got solid locker room a key positions
-Jameis Winston
-Mike Evans
-Vincent Jackson
-Adam Humphries
Plus we’ve got the right coaching staff – to help hone his skills.
-Dirk Koeter
-Todd Monken
Sidenote: Will ever regain his speed? Just hasn’t been the same since ACL injury (2011).
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:08 am
@dmatt
We have a reliable punt returner…but I pretty much agree with you on the other things.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:09 am
Actually, I take that back, lol.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:19 am
@ DemBoyzFromDaBay727 If I remembered correctly he wanted the titans to pick up Leonard Williams, understandable given they had a young QB in Mettenberger they could’ve tried to develop and a glaring need on the DL.
@ LUVMYBUCS That ACL didn’t stop him from running a sub 4.4 40 at the combine 3 years ago, though he did break his ankle last year.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:25 am
@joe
1.Justin hunter had 41and 42%catch rate in 2013 and 2014.so he doesn’t have
70% catch rate average.
2. his yards per catch slipped from almost 20 to 12 yards per catch from
2013to 2015.
3.that is why his catch rate improved so drastically in 2015,but he only
contributed 264 yards on 21 catches
So my analysis is,he is an unreliable deep threat and l want a receiver
that can compete with the 1’s,2’s and 3’s not the 4’s,5’s and 6’s.Our backup receivers were unable to fill in for VJAX last year.So we need somebody good enough to fill the void if one of our top 3 receivers goes down.By the way VJAX was probably on his way to a near 1000 yard season before he was injured.
Don’t think Hunter is that guy.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:37 am
His yards per catch went down because mariota can’t throw a deep ball. If it isnt a quick slant then Mariota is lost. Can’t blame that on the WR. Mariota is like Glennon, afraid to throw down field. And when he does, he is terrible at it. It is why neither of them will be successful QBs in the NFL.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:37 am
OneBucPerson
Bruh before the ACL injury – he had that silky smooth instant release off
the line of scrimmage – with little to no WASTED motion. Rare top end speed – to get over the top of defense.
Though most can regain their straight line speed – alot of folks lose that quick-twitchedness – when you rip that ACL.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:37 am
A receiver who can be a clear 4 and compete for 3rd is better than what we have now.
We aren’t getting a wr who will compete for VJs spot off the waiver wire
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:41 am
macabee Says:
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:02 am
Justin Hunter was cut, not waived. He is free agent – free to sign with team of choice.
Not correct: Here is the rule….
Players that have less than four years of experience are “waived” — meaning a player has to clear the NFL waiver wire before becoming a free agent. When a player is placed on waivers, the other 31 teams have a day to place a claim on him. The team with the highest spot in the waiver order is then awarded that player. If no team makes a claim, that player is then a free agent and can sign with any team.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:42 am
Theres gotta be someone better that gets released. I think id take mccluster over hunter. Lets not forget sims lines up at wr and we have good tes.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:56 am
With all the Titan cuts talk what about Bishop Sankey? To me he seems like a better back than Mike James, but with the Titans new RBs he was odd man out.
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:21 am
I am disappointed with GM Licht… He did absolutely NOTHING to address the WR position this off season… Both Vjax and Murphy are too old and are coming off knee injuries… Then we draft a kicker in the second round… Plus our tight ends are also below NFL average…
I like most of what Licht has done as GM but this was just fu@king stupid…
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:21 am
I agree with Jolly Bucs fan. Teams aren’t cutting guys that can compete for the #1 or #2 spot in Sept. You get guys like that in the draft or free agency, Justin Hunter is young and more than likely better than what we have at #3, #4 or #5 so he’s definitely worth a look. He also might be a better fit in Tampa’s vertical passing game than he was in Tennessee’s dink and dunk offense.
I saw his overall catch % numbers that Bob in Valrico referenced which aren’t very good but I’m not sure if those numbers also include bad throws. Prior to Mariota Tennessee didn’t have a solid QB.
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:25 am
@ Joe It’s not just that he got cut from arguably the worst team in the league, it’s who won a roster spot over him. Kendall Wright-great speed but nothing but average production for a WR, Rishard Matthews-Average receiver whose coming off an injury and has some off the field issues, Tajae Sharpe-Little slow but flashed this preseason, we’ll see what he turns into, Andre Johnson-HoF receiver, but past his prime and slow and just got released by a time with arguably one of the best QBs in the league, and Harry Douglas-old, slot receiver, nothing more than average. If Justin Hunter, at the prime age of 25 who can still run around a 4.4 40 time, in 3 years has not only been released from one of the worst teams in the league in need of receiver help AND couldn’t beat out any of the above mentioned players for a roster spot, let alone a starting job, then I don’t think he has a place here.
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:31 am
Waterboy
Tennessee still doesn’t have a qb
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:35 am
Hunter is head abd shoulders better than anyine not named evans or vjax. Hunter has more regular season TDs than everyone combined in the receivers room not named evans or vjax. Is hunter perfect absolutely not but he is much better than what bucs have and the only one who could replace vjax WHEN vajax misses games. Hunter woukd be a huge upgrade with little to no risk….
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:40 am
Oh snap eagles trade Sam Bradford to the Vikings for a first 😵😵😵😵glennon could have been had for a third how rediculous
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:43 am
Tmax I’m on the Justin hunter train not only is he better than why wee currently have but the potential is way greater what do we have to lose we stack our roster with theses D2 and CFL receivers
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:45 am
@tmaxcon
I actually agree with you on that. I’m still not sold on Mariota either but I will admit that he has proven me wrong so far because I expected him to be much worse than what I’ve seen so far.
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:49 am
Lol says a lot what they thought about glennon a last preseason performance 😂😂😂
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:50 am
WHAT! They gave up a 1st for breakable Bradford! That is ridiculous.
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:53 am
First and a fourth !
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:01 am
Waterboy
I just think mariota will be anything special.
10 to 6
Glennon and his piss poor play cost us a shot at a draft pick. The 4 or 5 Glennon fans can make all the excuses they want but its very clear all the other teams think he is hot f arbage.
Joe
Does Glennon’s whinny ass brother still have a radio show so Glennon doesn’t have to join murphy and bell at farmers insurance right away.
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:04 am
Mariota is better than #3. No accuracy issues. He’ll be around 65% comp. Every year and way better runner.
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:05 am
Bradford may not survive the first quarter of the season…..too high a price…..after this year….what they have is a 1st round backup…..
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:07 am
So teams gave up draft picks and chunks of cash for the likes of bradford, sanchez, rg3 and others but the qb desperate teams did not even contact licht about the services of the mighty glennon. It’s a sad day to be a fan of such a pathetic backup. Best wishes to all Glennon fans the mighty one is finished.
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:10 am
Poor Glennon
You have zero credibility making stupid statements like that. The fragile coach killer will be out of the league in 3 years. Mariota had 1 good game against the most pathetic coach in buccaneers history who couldn’t prepare a team if his life depended on it… how many games did the fragile one miss again last year.
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:18 am
12 games 19TD 10 Ints. If he played in the NFC he’d be a pro bowler. Head to head they both threw alot of TDs. But unfortunately they were to titan players.
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:21 am
Tmax get back to watching your preseason tape. Word is Russel Wilson is getting cut. Coaching staff mortified after his 1-3 performance the other day
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:29 am
Mariota played in an easier division last season and was still making a lot of one read throws…..
He was not better than, Jameis, sorry.
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:36 am
Poor Glennon
Grab your pink pom poms and head back over the titans site… how many wins did mariota have again.
September 3rd, 2016 at 11:54 am
Slight upgrade in the Titan running game coming. Like 1000 extra rushing yards.
September 3rd, 2016 at 12:06 pm
One guy was pro ready. The other was a bit of a project that will need some time. Then week 1 happened. Is there any Winston fans that believe. That Winston will be great and so will Mariota. Or is Mariota a bum
September 3rd, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Tampabaybucfan is correct. Hunter was drafted in 2013, so has 3 years experience. He must clear waivers before claims can be made. Media said released which has different meaning than waived. Cut applies to both waived and released. But technically “released” is language used for vested veteran of 4 years experience. Sorry for the confusion!
September 3rd, 2016 at 12:15 pm
How about snaggin Cullen Jenkins. Any takers
September 3rd, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Marihurta is RG3 2.0 He is too fragile for the nfl. And will always be hurt. I said the same thing about RG3. And at least he made it thru his whole first season. The Titans will move on from him within the next 3 years. And whatever team Chip Kelly is the offensive Coordinator for by then will give him another shot
September 3rd, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Hell! Hunter would be an upgrade over Humphries too! DeAnthony Thomas may be cut by the Chiefs would be a nice pick up and he’d be a better and more dangerous return guy
September 3rd, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Arron Dobson hit the waiver wire….
September 3rd, 2016 at 4:05 pm
Jeremy Butler, solid preseason for the Ravens, another local product, Sarasota FL.
September 3rd, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Keyarris Garrett cut by panthers. I’d love to see us pick him up. Partly because he went to Tulsa, but mostly because I think he has real potential to be good. 2015 NCAA receiving yards leader certainly doesn’t look bad on a resumé.