Would Trey Palmer Be Misused As A Starter?
June 6th, 2023
Bucs rookie WR Trey Palmer.
There is little to take away from underwear football practice other than noting what corners can cover and what receivers can get separation and catch.
Underwear football is basically flag football without the flags. There is no hitting of any sort. It is impossible to get a legitimate read on linemen, same for running backs who can’t be tackled or read holes.
But one thing that jumps out at Joe is speed, if a guy has it. And folks, Trey Palmer has it. The rookie receiver from Nebraska has 4.3 speed.
Recently, former NFL receiver and NFL Network analyst Steve Smith spoke about Palmer and he loves the kid. As Smith said, Palmer is a major “vertical threat.”
But is that what Todd Bowles wants? Remember, Bowles spoke last year and said his goal wasn’t the no-risk-it; no-biscuit offense of former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians. Bowles wanted a more run-oriented offense, which is why he later brought in Dave Canales.
So far, Canales’ offense looks rather horizontal than vertical to Joe in practice. Arians’ offense was more north-to-south. (Joe has no idea what direction fired offensive coordinator SpongeBob was aiming for.)
So with two receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, would Palmer how might Palmer be used? Throwing this guy short-passes is sort of taking him away from his wheelhouse. Sort of like never taking a Ferrari out of the neighborhood cul-de-sac.
Let the dog hunt!
Joe believes Palmer has a shot to take the No. 3 receiver spot away from Russell Gage, provided that Palmer balls out, because Gage is hurt (again).
However, Joe thinks using Palmer just on Benn’d Arounds and jet sweeps is a misuse.
One thing Smith said in the video about Palmer is that he likes how Palmer high-points the ball in traffic. That sort of sounds like Chris Godwin, doesn’t it?
June 6th, 2023 at 6:30 am
Palmer lined up in the backfield and then catching a LB on a wheel route down the sideline certainly sounds productive. Maybe catch a team blitzing the slot corner at a crucial juncture in a big game and then Palmer running right by the Safety for 40 and Bucs kicking winning FG as time expires? Errrrrrr sorry that was a suppressed memory surfacing.
June 6th, 2023 at 6:39 am
Just because the risk it is gone, doesn’t mean it’ll be forgot. I think you’re still going to see shots downfield. Every offense in the NFL throws deep. It’s the how, and when that makes the difference.
June 6th, 2023 at 7:08 am
How did run-oriented offense work for you last season coach Bowles? If I recall, BA’s no-risk-it; no-biscuit offense won us the super bowl. Why change?
I don’t think Rachaad White scares defenses. In fact, if I recall he is a better catcher out of the backfield than a running between the numbers. Ke’Shawn Vaughn has proved to be no better than a third stringer.
June 6th, 2023 at 7:08 am
If the run game is more successful, it sets up the downfield pass…….
What irked TBBF is the constant running on 2nd & short…..that is the perfect time to throw deep…..but Leftwich would call a run almost every time.
June 6th, 2023 at 7:55 am
Seahawks QB was among the best feel ball pass last year. The offense is set up to take advantage of play action and moving the launch point which opens up some deep shots.
I see him used on jet sweeps receiver screens and deep shots.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he is our were this year by seasons end.
June 6th, 2023 at 8:01 am
If Baker starts then don’t expect Palmer get a lot of opportunities downfield. If he does, they will all end up in incompletions or interceptions. SI is predicting that Baker will only throw 16 TDs this season, so the expectation is that he will be pitiful and the WRs are all going to have bad seasons. Palmer is on the wrong team this year to be utilized correctly.
June 6th, 2023 at 8:10 am
If Palmer can be misused, Bowles will find a way. If he stays out of the offense, which he intimates he does, Palmer may be a gem.
June 6th, 2023 at 8:15 am
When Mayfield was in Cleveland he didn’t have the receiver core like the Bucs a couple of years ago.
Baker Mayfield is capable of throwing deep when you have a speedster like Palmer who can separate
June 6th, 2023 at 8:23 am
Bowles ain’t in the pocket. If a guy is open downfield, both of these QBs have a history of slinging it.
June 6th, 2023 at 8:24 am
use him like they used AB, a little bit of everything
June 6th, 2023 at 8:50 am
Too dug into what Bowles wants from the offense without knowing how much freedom Canales has to add what he feels best works for the offense. Palmer can be used like Percy Harvin in pre-snap instances then be used like a Doug Baldwin/Tyler Lockett when a situation calls for passes downfield. Seems like some are too eager to put icing on a cake that’s still in the oven, and jumping to conclusions mostly to pre-arrange the blame game should things go left.
June 6th, 2023 at 9:00 am
There are a variety of ways to use a speedster like Palmer. The long ball for sure, but the OC can also get Palmer in space and allow to him use his speed to get YAC.
June 6th, 2023 at 9:17 am
You can still use a guy deep to stretch the coverage, and it’s not like they won’t ever take a shot his way if he’s then open.
June 6th, 2023 at 9:22 am
Gage being hurt might work in our favor. Gets Palmer much needed snaps and gets him dialed in early rather than later. Gage will come back. He showed last year being able to play thru some of the pain he didn’t play a lot but he showed up when he could and that will give our QB 4 reliable options assuming Palmer pans out. Add in Otton and white from the back field and man who ever starts at QB is going to have a bunch of weapons to throw to. I’m exciting to watch this team. Let’s go Bucs
June 6th, 2023 at 9:32 am
I agree that if the run game is succeeding, it sets up the downfield pass.
LOL, Kyle Brandt of NFL Network says that Baker Mayfield has one of the strongest arms in the entire NFL.
Breshard Perriman who also has blazing speed went to the Colts where he will have Richardson to throw him the ball. Richardson can throw a football 80 yards flatfooted!
It will be interesting to see our Palmer get behind defenses with his speed, and see Mayfield hit him.
June 6th, 2023 at 9:55 am
If they bring the safeties up, you HAVE to make them pay for it, or it’s a long afternoon
June 6th, 2023 at 10:18 am
Last year under Canales, Geno Smith had the most efficient long ball in the league.
June 6th, 2023 at 10:30 am
Good stuff from Smith.
And if you scroll down to the 3rd vid on the link, you will see highlights of Alstott just TRUCKING people, which made my day!!!!
June 6th, 2023 at 10:54 am
If the run game gets rolling like Canales believes it will, the opportunity to take the top off increases. Use Palmer in the slot and let him slant to the end zone. With the coverage focusing on Evans and Godwin on the outside, Palmer would get a lot of single coverage. I’m sure Canales has a plan for him. Bowles wanted us to get younger and faster. We got a lot faster with Palmer.
June 6th, 2023 at 11:26 am
Maybe the wall Joe? ” (Joe has no idea what direction fired offensive coordinator SpongeBob was aiming for.)”
June 6th, 2023 at 11:27 am
Whether Gage is available or not, use Palmer as Johnson and Scotty Miller have been used.
The opposition won’t have much info on him, so maybe he’ll turn out to be a good deep ball specialist, but they won’t know when those plays will happen; just the threat of it could keep the opposing pass defense busy.
Baker Mayfield should work with him on it.
June 6th, 2023 at 11:34 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“What irked TBBF is the constant running on 2nd & short…..that is the perfect time to throw deep…..but Leftwich would call a run almost every time.”
.
.
I especially enjoyed 3rd and short when leftfoot would call a shotgun formation with an empty backfield.
June 6th, 2023 at 11:43 am
Hey Alabama, in Vaughn’s 79 carries and 342 yards for 4.3 avg 2 TD 12 receptions 79 yards for 6.6 avg 1 TD (from the GOAT) how do you come to this conclusion? “Ke’Shawn Vaughn has proved to be no better than a third stringer.” If anything he has been a NFL Pro and waited his turn to be called. Jones and Lenny in front of him, then Lenny and White, and now it is White and Vaughn and the rest of our RBs. I am excited to get shown what Vaughn can do with 15+ plays a game, every game. With a Run first mentality of our new offense and OC Canales. I hope we have taken the first and ten yet again run up the middle for a loss of 3 play, out of the new playbook…
June 6th, 2023 at 11:53 am
A WR with Palmer’s speed can take a slant to the house in a hurry. It doesn’t have to only be bombs, Joe. When a slant works out like that, it’s one of the prettiest things in football.
June 6th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
From what was reported all three quarterbacks threw touchdown bombs. No risk it no biscuit doesn’t mean throw it downfield coverage, down and distance be damned.
Pick your spots and hopefully we won’t see deep shot incompletions on third and short this year
June 6th, 2023 at 12:50 pm
I agree speed is fun to watch, especially on a short throw that is housed.
I think DT will be good at this as well if we go 4 wide with 2 slots.
Misdirection plays again. 🙂
Can’t wait to actually say that was a damn good call.
It’s been a minute or 2 since I reacted that way while watching the Bucs.
June 6th, 2023 at 4:12 pm
Just because it’s not 4 verticals all the time doesn’t mean we won’t take deep shots.
So tired of everyone trying to paint every single things as being black or white. I mean, you posted an article just days ago about how Geno Smith was one of the most productive downfield passers last season, and how they still took plenty of deep shots.
June 6th, 2023 at 6:28 pm
And the last time I checked Tyler Lockett went vertical quite a bit and he was usually open. Palmer is faster, I am pretty sure Mr. Canales was salivating draft night.
June 7th, 2023 at 7:49 am
Hmmm
Thinking empty backfield, Evans,Palmer, Godwin, Gage and White.
Bound to get a mismatch on one or maybe even two of those guys depending on the defense.