Would Cyril Grayson And Tyler Johnson Have An Edge?
August 5th, 2022
What did Todd Bowles learn from Bill Parcells about a 53-man roster?
Joe is thoroughly fascinated by how the reserve wide receivers will shake out in four weeks.
Mike Evans said the roster has the greatest receiver depth he’s ever seen since he was drafted by the Bucs in 2014. It’s hard to argue.
Four guys, barring injury, are locked in. Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, Julio Jones and Evans. After that, there may be two or three spots available for Breshad Perriman, the immortal Cyril Grayson, Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden and Deven Thompkins.
That’s a helluva decision to make and it’s why Joe has a hunch the Bucs may swing a trade before the end of the month using one or two of these receivers as bait (for an interior lineman perhaps?)
All kinds of stuff goes on in evaluating receivers that no one is privy to except Bucs officials. You know, does a guy know the playbook, is he reading defenses well, is he struggling with certain plays? And so on.
What will Todd Bowles do? Well, one way to guess what Bowles may do with receivers is to try to see what his early coaching mentor would do. Former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, we know what he would do. We only have to look at last year’s roster.
But remember Bowles worked for a coach even more successful coach than Arians. That was Bill Parcells. Bowles was Parcells’ secondary coach at Dallas and Parcells hired him in Miami.
In an article for The33rdTeam.com, Parcells wrote how he determined in training camp who would stay and who would go.
Now, when I was a head coach, my main objective was to get the right 53 players on the team— those that create depth and allow flexibility.
Well, currently, the Bucs have six receivers who can play both inside (or slot) and outside. Evans, Godwin, Gage, Grayson, Johnson and Julio. Evans, Godwin, Gage and Julio, again, are locks.
If we combine Arians’ philosophy that inside/slot receivers must be able to block (Grayson and Johnson surely can) and Parcells’ philosophy that he valued flexibility (Grayson and Johnson can play multiple positions) it seems Grayson and Johnson may have a leg up on the others fighting for a job.
This is why Joe feels Miller needs to continue to ball out on special teams. And last year he did just that. Joe learned years ago from an NFL guy who has indirect ties to Parcells that if you don’t start, you better play special teams or you are an endangered species.
Perriman, who always produces for Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, had one snap on special teams last year (and six special teams snaps in his six-year NFL career). And Periman is not an inside receiver. That’s not flexible. Plus he’s been hurt for a few days and not practicing.
In Darden’s case, well, he is on the field with the return teams.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:49 am
Great points. Some believe Parriman is going to make it just because his contract has 1 million on it guaranteed this year. I hope it’s just the 6 or 7 best who help the team win games makes it.
I haven’t heard anything about them changing back the practice squad to its original size. Im assuming they’re continuing the expanded version.
August 5th, 2022 at 6:06 am
Loved Parcells as a coach he didnt cater to them …. he was old school …. His Coaching tree is huge
August 5th, 2022 at 6:30 am
Maybe they will keep seven or eight receivers and only keep 3 TE’s?
August 5th, 2022 at 7:08 am
Stacked with Fast !
August 5th, 2022 at 7:36 am
I could see Perriman going on IR for the first part of the season if he is still hurt.
August 5th, 2022 at 7:42 am
Make team:
Evans
Godwin
Gage
Jones
Miller
Johnson
Grayson
Perriman cut
Darden cut
Thompkins practice squad
August 5th, 2022 at 7:42 am
@Stanglassman:
Correct. Practice squad limit will stay at 16 players with each player being able to be elevated to the active roster 3 times max before being eligible for the waiver wire. This preseason is kind of must-see t.v. in terms of evaluating what we have in our depth across the entire roster, certainly worth watching the entire game.
August 5th, 2022 at 7:59 am
TY for the picture of Bill Parcells Joe!
When I think of a football coach, his picture comes to mind.
I was also unaware that Bowles played for Parcells.
Great Information!
August 5th, 2022 at 8:00 am
Bucs can protect 4 players right? Though I think even if protected, any other team can poach them, provided they put on 53 man roster, so not fool proof.
I think Erick is right, but Perriman either hits the IR with Tampa Tuberculosis, or practice squad protection.
Darden is Dardone. Ohhhhhhh I’ll be here all day.
Suh.
August 5th, 2022 at 8:04 am
He didn’t. Bowles was on Parcells’ staff in Dallas.
August 5th, 2022 at 8:19 am
Bucs learned their lesson last year with multiple wr injuries so they will keep 7 this year. Normally I would expect a trade of a veteran but being all in with Brady tells me the vets will be kept over younger less experienced wrs.
August 5th, 2022 at 8:21 am
Everyone keeps forgetting that Perriman has a guaranteed salary of $1,047,500.
The Bucs don’t make a habit of cutting players with guaranteed salaries….
Now, could he be traded…..definitely…
A team who loses a top receiver in camp could use an experienced cheap vet with speed.
August 5th, 2022 at 8:24 am
Tompkins might prove to be a wild card. It sounds like he’s had a good camp. His value as a Kick Returner might prove decisive.
August 5th, 2022 at 9:19 am
It’s a good problem to have. I can’t recall any Bucs team over the past 25 years having this kind of problem at WR.
August 5th, 2022 at 9:49 am
That Cowboys’ coaching staff also featured Sean Payton, Mike Zimmer, Todd Haley, Anthony Lynn and Tony Sparano , along with Todd Bowles- I count 6 present and former Head Coaches.
August 5th, 2022 at 10:21 am
Passing….agree that Thompkins might be the Kick returner guy, unless Darden shows a lot more than he did last year. But could likely be a protected guy on the practice squad, if those rules are still in place.
August 5th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Tyler Johnson is getting much more praise from players and coaches. I think his versatility should be a lock above Scotty Miller in his contract year.
Evans
Godwin
Gage
Julio
TJ
Grayson
August 5th, 2022 at 10:37 am
All the praise is going thompkins way now. What happening with Jerreth Sterns? Wasn’t he the guy Bowles pointed out at the end of OTAs as the one singled out to watch.
August 5th, 2022 at 11:21 am
Erick
I agreed
GO BUCS
August 5th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Have to agree with Erick on the Bucs wr’s
August 5th, 2022 at 11:57 am
Bucs are about to put a package together of 2 receivers and a 2nd round pick for Robert Quinn. Quinn has already stated he wants out if chicago and wants to go to tampa . Bucs are currently praising certain receivers to raise their trade value .
August 5th, 2022 at 12:04 pm
Maybe they’ll keep who Brady wants.