“Doesn’t Shock Their System At All”
May 21st, 2025
There’s a common thread among the Bucs’ youngest receivers.
Rookies Tez Johnson and Emeka Egbuka? They came from the University of Oregon and Ohio State, respectively. Big programs with big-time talent. Egbuka has been around a dizzying array of NFL receiver talent.
Trey Palmer, who turned 24 last month, he spent three seasons at Louisiana State with teammates like Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Jalen McMillan was part of the best receiving corps in college football (Washington) a year ago.
That history excites receivers coach Bryan McClendon because he’s been handed young guys much more NFL-ready than most.
“So them coming into an NFL room doesn’t shock their system at all,” McClendon said. “They know they kind of have to go in and put the work in and try to figure out how it kind of works for them, as we do the same things as coaches.”
McClendon added how much he appreciates the caliber of young men the Bucs are bringing into their building.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:00 am
I am super excited to see how we utilize our deep crop of WRs to stress defenses. A four WR set of Evans, Godwin, Egbuka and McMillan (and sometimes 5 with Tez/Palmer) really sounds like a video game. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have at least 3-4 games with 45+ points this year. It’s hard to imagine us not being a top 3 offense. Dare I say that Baker throws 50 TDs?
May 21st, 2025 at 8:10 am
WestPhilly, don’t forget to throw Otton and Irving into the mix. It’s a hell of an offensive lineup.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:16 am
@ PSL Bob, you are absolutely right. An embarrassment of Riches. Otton is actually a hell of a weapon in the passing game and I don’t believe we have seen the best of him yet. His numbers may dip a little, but he has proven to be as reliable as they come (and Culp I believe brings a whole different dimension). Bucky is amazing. Our OLine is top 5. I am super excited to see our defense take a few steps forward. This team is poised to make a deep run.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:30 am
Too bad Trey Palmer looks more like Jaelon Darden than anyone else.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:36 am
I believe the Bucs are set at WR for at least 5 years. Fix the D and the Buc’s will compete with everyone!
May 21st, 2025 at 9:56 am
I don’t see how Trey Palmer making the 53 cut this year unless the Bucs keep 6 WRs or Trey makes it to the practice squad.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:30 am
This is a tough time of year for football fans. The WR coach likes his players. Woo hoo. The RB coach likes his players. Wow! Spoiler alert … the OL, DB, and LB coaches likes their players, too.
Can you imagine a coach saying his guys suck? Something John McKay-ish (former Bucs HC) like, “I could get more out of an empty jar of mayonaise.”
Joe, you should do a top 10 quotes from Bucs coaches. McKay would easily have the top 3-5 (maybe all time NFL, too) but I can think of some good Rah and Gruden quotes, too.
These articles almost makes you miss the offseason idiots — Talib, Winston, AB — that did crazy newsworthy stuff. Shooting yourself in the leg, groping Uber drivers, refusing to pay your furniture movers is always entertaining.
On that … Did you hear AB got detained for a shooting a few nights ago?
May 21st, 2025 at 11:14 am
John McKay was a total over-his-head college coach who benefited from corporate USC. He had the best players ALWAYS in Pac-10. I know- -I was there on the west coast. When he became the first head coach for the Bucs he did not have USC’s buffalo herd to rely on and his teams were just sh!tty. He did not understand the pro league time out concept and punted on 4th down at mid-field with 1 1/2 minutes to go. Then he became a one-liner specialist in the Tampa papers. People ate it up and the tradition of bumbling Bucs was born. Seattle Seahawks came into the league at the same time as the Bucs. They had early success and never were laughed at like the Bucs. I blame McKay for a lot of that. Not utilizing his players correctly (see Doug Williams) was another trait of John McKay.
May 21st, 2025 at 11:36 am
“No jerks.”
GO BUCS
May 21st, 2025 at 2:08 pm
McKay had Bucs in NFC championship game in about four years, if I remember correctly. He also won four national championships at USC.