The Battle To Replace Russell Gage
August 17th, 2023
Roster construction: Receivers.
Last year the Bucs kept seven wide receivers in their initial cutdown to 53. So based on that, here’s Joe’s stab at receivers in the wake of Russell Gage’s season-ending injury yesterday.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are no-brainers. The way Trey Palmer is playing of late — he’s getting better by the day it seems — Joe will pencil him in as the Bucs’ No. 3 receiver. Deven Thompkins is right there. So that’s four.
Rakim Jarrett has gotten quite a few looks with the first-team offense in training camp. So Joe is going to guess him and Kade Warner will be Nos. 5 and 6.
The seventh is a toss-up between three guys. Veteran David Moore, who played for Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales in Seattle, Ryan Miller and Kaylon Geiger.
Joe has a hunch Moore may have an edge here just because he’s a veteran and he led the Bucs in receiving against the Steelers. Miller and Geiger have had a ton of targets with the first and second teams through training camp, ore than Moore.
Joe also gives Moore an edge because Joe doesn’t think the Bucs will keep four rookie receivers.
Geiger spooks Joe. Last year in training camp this guy couldn’t catch a cold. He’s only slightly better this summer.
Cade Otton and Geiger really need to either change their gloves or start using illegal stickum.
Again, this is if the Bucs keep seven receivers. Who can play special teams will likely determine who sticks. That’s a good thing for Thompkins and Palmer, who are also return specialists.
August 17th, 2023 at 8:04 am
I like the list but I would let Moore and Palmer duke it out for that third spot. They are head and shoulders above the rest.
August 17th, 2023 at 8:17 am
I like the WR room.
If there is a positive to the injury it’s that guys like Palmer have a chance to ascend/develop now a lot faster. For all we know we drafted a legit weapon for the future which would be amazing and Licht’s first real late round WR hit. We knew he had speed already and in one preseason play he basically showed route running / amazing foot work / hands. let’s go lol
August 17th, 2023 at 8:21 am
Come on we all know it’s Moore’s job to lose at this point.Moore and Palmer will be moving around the formation
August 17th, 2023 at 8:26 am
I think they were probably (should have, anyway) already eyeballing Gage’s replacement considering his injuries before this one.
The best players should be on the field. If they can’t catch, they shouldn’t be there.
August 17th, 2023 at 8:28 am
Thompson will be the 3rd WR and Palmer will be the 4th.
August 17th, 2023 at 8:38 am
I think the Bucs only keep six WR. The bucs are moving away from pass first team to a more heavy run first team. Bowels will want to keep a extra outside line backer.
August 17th, 2023 at 8:59 am
IMO, with the change in offensive philosophy I don’t think the Bucs will keep seven WR’s this year. They’ll keep six and that seventh spot goes to an extra TE RB or OLB.
I think the final six will be ME13, CG, Palmer, Thompkins, Moore, & the sixth spot is between Jarrett/Warner.
They’ll try to stash which ever guy (Jarrett & Warner) who doesn’t make it on the practice squad.
August 17th, 2023 at 9:00 am
We keep 6 receivers. They give Palmer a chance to replace Gage, but the veteran Moore is right behind him if he is making too many mistakes. Thompkins and Jarrett will see the field mostly on special teams but still occasionally come in for designed plays. Kade Warner makes the practice squad.
Evans
Godwin
Palmer
Moore
Thompkins
Jarrett
Kade Warner on the practice squad.
August 17th, 2023 at 9:03 am
The loss of a then healthy Gage is major.
This was supposed to be the year he shines after a slew of injuries in the last year. I still don’t get how a professional athlete does that kind of damage doing routine non contract drills. Dude is cursed. And now are we.
August 17th, 2023 at 9:09 am
Sad as it sounds, i like that Gage is out of the picture early. We all know he was going to get hurt at some point and now we can focus on younger guys.
August 17th, 2023 at 9:20 am
I expect the top six to make the team and several of the rest to be kept on the practice squad. It’s also possible that one or two may be grabbed off the waiver wire if they are better than what the Bucs already have. Same thing for linemen. They could really use more capable backups at any o line position.
August 17th, 2023 at 9:22 am
Joe, was Gages knee injury on the same leg as his hammy?
August 17th, 2023 at 9:23 am
Maybe Gage did like Christian McCaffrey after he got his huge new contract. The guy worked out and trained even harder than before and suddenly became more injury prone. Too much af any good thing becomes a bad thing.
August 17th, 2023 at 9:28 am
And what exactly was he doing when he went down?
August 17th, 2023 at 9:32 am
George … ‘Bowels will want to keep a extra outside line backer.’
I hope you’re right George because we’ve got several youngsters at OLB who, with some development, could serve the Bucs well in the future.
August 17th, 2023 at 9:54 am
Geiger & Warner would last on the PS…….Moore would not….neither would Jarrett…….
i think we will keep 6
Evans, Godwin, Moore, Palmer, Thompkins, Jarrett
Our WR corps is fine as long as we don’t lose Evans or Godwin
August 17th, 2023 at 10:02 am
Bucs will keep seven WRs just like last year.
– Evans
– Godwin
– Palmer
– Jarrett
– Moore
– Thomkins (KR/PR)
– Geiger
Warner and Miller to the practice squad.
I pick Geiger over Warner based on their performance against the Steelers. This could change after the next two preseason games…
August 17th, 2023 at 10:11 am
good breakdown joe
August 17th, 2023 at 10:39 am
I believe the Bucs will keep 6 too. They will use Moore as the 3 because he is a vet and is familiar with DC and his playbook. Palmer could very well close out the season as the #3 if he continues to make plays when given the opportunity. Although Palmer may have way more upside, the Bucs will make him earn that #3 spot, because he is unproven as a rookie.
_ Evans
– Godwin
– Moore
– Palmer
– Thomkins
_ Jarrett
Warner, Geiger,& ? on the practice squad.
August 17th, 2023 at 11:16 am
I can’t imagine them not keeping Moore, or him being on the bubble even at this point. He has an NFL body, unlike Tompkins, Geiger, and Warner. Also, he looked like a reliable target in the game and on Monday’s practice. Like Gholston playing late against USFL and XFL guys, when more was in there, he looked like a man amongst children.
August 17th, 2023 at 11:24 am
For the 6th spot you just casually threw in Kade Warner… why? Has he performed better than Moore? I seriously doubt it. I’d be shocked if Warner made the club over Moore. Moore is a vet and way more of a threat than Warner. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the 3rd WR in game one.
August 17th, 2023 at 11:25 am
infomeplease Says:
August 17th, 2023 at 10:39 am
I believe the Bucs will keep 6 too. They will use Moore as the 3 because he is a vet and is familiar with DC and his playbook. Palmer could very well close out the season as the #3 if he continues to make plays when given the opportunity. Although Palmer may have way more upside, the Bucs will make him earn that #3 spot, because he is unproven as a rookie.
_ Evans
– Godwin
– Moore
– Palmer
– Thomkins
_ Jarrett
——————-
This is my exact list and in the exact order as well… the only thing I would change would be to add a P to Thompkins’ name. 🙂
August 17th, 2023 at 11:28 am
Agreed Moore will be the 3rd WR for now, but Palmer could displace him if he keeps playing like last week.
August 17th, 2023 at 11:42 am
Geiger is too drop-happy, he needs to be cut and not signed to the practice squad. I need to look at the Pittsburg game again for Special Teams and run blocking (yes run blocking). I saw quite a few run plays where our WR’s made zero effort to block the DB, and the DB got involved in the tackle. The lack of effort is unprofessional.
August 17th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
I think they need to keep 3-6 based on the future upside so I like Joe’s list.
August 17th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
Not sure.
Because Warner has shown a lot more in practices. Moore — to Joe’s eyes — just looks like a guy. Nothing special at all. Hasn’t done anything special (that Joe has seen). Hasn’t been targeted that much (that Joe has seen — Joe’s been to every practice). No different or better than Rakim Jarrett.
At least Moore can catch better than Geiger. That’s something.
August 17th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
We’re completely ignoring the 1,000+ players getting released in a couple weeks, very likely to have some decent options in the group.
August 17th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Yup!
Problem is, do those guys want to play for a team led by Baker Mayfield (Kyle Trask?)
August 17th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
@BucU – he caught a pass and a defender from the Jets pushed him down, thought it was not hard tackle or big hit. Just kind of routine shove (according to reports). So it wasn’t “no contact”, but it wasn’t like he collided with someone or was tackled to the ground. Probably just landed / planted his foot awkwardly.
August 17th, 2023 at 1:27 pm
*though it was not
August 17th, 2023 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for the info!
August 17th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
Does Cade Otton even wear gloves? I thought he was old school with just taped fingers
August 17th, 2023 at 3:01 pm
That’s not good news about Otten, he is supposed to be our best tight end and if he can’t catch we might as well just put in an extra O-lineman in to block. There has been a huge drop off since Gronk left at that position. Granted there is only one Gronk but at least they should be able to catch the damn ball.
August 17th, 2023 at 5:39 pm
Who say da Buccos won’t keep four Wookie Weceivers?
August 18th, 2023 at 2:53 am
I’m in agreement with Joe on WR 6 being Warner.
The dude just gets open and does not drop many.
Go Bucs!
August 18th, 2023 at 5:31 am
“Problem is, do those guys want to play for a team led by Baker Mayfield (Kyle Trask?)”
Obv Tampa isn’t the draw is was with TB, but playing here does still have a few perks. If the Evans deal gets restructured, wouldn’t be surprised to see us land a decent FA WR and possibly another OT to compete with Goedeke.
August 18th, 2023 at 7:24 am
I hope the 4 (or 5) receivers that make the team after Evans and Godwin are selected based on their future upside and special teams ability. Whether they keep 6 or 7 depends on How many RBs and TEs they keep for for Special Teams and Depth.
This means Palmer, Tompkins and Jarrett at WR for sure..Assuming
Then you are looking at Warner, Moore or Geiger versus RBs Sneak, Ronnie Brown or TEs Wells or Payne (keep 5).