Emeka Egbuka Gives Flashbacks
May 28th, 2025
Makes an impression.
Watching Bucs underwear football Tuesday morning, Joe witnessed something not seen in a while. It gave Joe the warms.
Back in 2014, the Bucs drafted a lanky receiver by the name of Mike Evans. Whatever happened to that guy?
In his rookie minicamp practice, Evans made a crazy catch where it looked like he bounced off a trampoline, skying high over defenders to pluck a pass out of the air like he was picking an orange off a tree.
Joe can still envision that catch and knew right away this Evans was different.
Well Tuesday, Joe witnessed something similar from another Bucs rookie, only this guy’s name is Emeka Egbuka, the first-round pick from Ohio State.
This catch, while stunning, wasn’t quite as spectacular as Evans’. Still, it was very impressive.
With Evans not at the OTA session and Chris Godwin sidelined, Egbuka got a lot of snaps with the first-team offense guided by Baker Mayfield.
On the play in question, Egbuka was 15 yards or so down the left sideline. He was in a crowd. Jamel Dean had good coverage. Mayfield throws the ball high. Joe isn’t sure if Mayfield was trying to throw it away or just putting the ball in a spot where only Egbuka had a shot at it.
Regardless, Egbuka rose high above Bucs defenders and came down with the ball with two hands. Very, very impressive.
Joe often refers to Egbuka as a Godwin clone but Joe isn’t sure he’s seen Godwin sky like Mike (Evans or Jordan) to pull down a throw like that.
That wasn’t the only impressive play Joe saw from Egbuka. Like he did in rookie minicamp, Egbuka is a smooth receiver. Always finds ways to get open.
Another play that stuck in Joe’s mind was a catch over the middle maybe 15 or 20 yards out. Egbuka, shoulders square to the line, made the catch. Then, in the snap of a finger, the dude was racing upfield.
The speed with which Egbuka went from facing Mayfield and the line of scrimmage to tearing it upfield the moment he controlled the ball was very impressive. If that is a normal for Egbuka, there aren’t too many linebackers or safeties that will be able to keep up with him.
Egbuka going from flat-footed to throwing it into overdrive and racing upfield was something you’d expect from the “Waco Kid.”
Gene Wilder as the Waco Kid in Blazing Saddles (1974) shows why you shouldn't mess with him. pic.twitter.com/WTyHAo3JIk
— Stephen Gibbons (@Gibboanxious) July 27, 2024
May 28th, 2025 at 7:28 am
And he’s just getting started. After not so positive of a prognosis regarding Godwin’s return, this pick looks better and better.
May 28th, 2025 at 7:29 am
“The Waco Kid”. 😁
If he’s that quick, we’re doing alright.
Possibly a new moniker for the kid.
May 28th, 2025 at 7:33 am
But Joe, he’s not an edge rusher. No, but he might be more valuable than any edge we could’ve drafted at 19. With Evans career whinding down, and Godwin on the mend, thank God we drafted him.
May 28th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Just hope he can stay healthy.
QB has an accident and throws an INT that is one thing. When a QB throws a laser like in first day of OTA’a into double coverage and “in a real game would have taken a hit” is ignorance. With a mindset of make the completion as all cost is an ‘accident’ waiting to happen.
Brady and other Top tier QB’s don’t make that throw. Not because he can’t but you don’t win Championships with your best guys on IR.
Mayfield needs another great year to get a bigger bag so there will be plenty of those kind of throws this season.
It’s a good thing that the Bucs stocked up in the Draft.
May 28th, 2025 at 7:42 am
Trey Palmer made many incredible training camp catches, just never translated to the regular season
May 28th, 2025 at 7:44 am
McMillan is serious about his game. He’s coming off a great rookie year and he’s getting stronger and better. He’s super talented. If Evans and Godwin go off for another 2 or 3 years, and we’re talking about Evans and Godwin! Of course they will! And now we get maybe one of the very top players in the draft? Egbuca! Holy effing chit!! Mayfield may win the MVP-of the Super Bowl!!
May 28th, 2025 at 8:01 am
All players are individuals with their own skill sets. Perhaps EE is actually a combo of ME and CG.
But any thread that has a reference to the great Mel Brooks and Blazing Saddles is a WINNER! Perhaps my all time favorite movie. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen it.
So many to choose from but my favorite line is…”More beans Mr Taggart? No boys I believe you’ve had enough beans!” as the cowboys sit around the campfire farting away. I laugh at even the though of that scene.
So props Joe on your movie taste!!!
May 28th, 2025 at 8:06 am
D@mn Joe…the way you describe EE gives me Amon-Ra St. Brown vibes!
May 28th, 2025 at 8:22 am
how exciting
May 28th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Baring injury he could become one of the best receivers in the league. Brady had a habit of not throwing his guys into bad spots, I hope Baker does the same.
May 28th, 2025 at 8:41 am
LFG
May 28th, 2025 at 8:47 am
It takes time for a QB to gel with his WR.
May 28th, 2025 at 8:51 am
Love the kid, but not the pick.
They just extended Godwin so they expect him back in full force. Evans is getting older, but still great. And McMillian had an impressive rookie season.
So, did they draft Egbuka to replace McMillian, a guy with a future? Did they draft him to fill Godwin’s role until he returns? I won’t even mention Evans.
As I’ve said, and we all know, a first round pick is someone who is expected to start and contribute immediately.
This team’s weakness is without question, DEFENSE!
Counting on second rebound picks and greater to contribute is a far greater risk, especially when the overwhelming need was overlooked in Round 1.
As a round 1 pick Egbuka should start and play full time, but where?
Are there no great receivers coming into the 2026 draft?
To repeat, love the kid, but not the pick.
Reminds me a little, but not as bad, of GM Matt Millian picking ,2003: Charles Rogers (2nd overall), 2004: Roy Williams (7th overall) and 2005: Mike Williams (10th overall), all wide receivers when his team, the Lions, needed defense, defense, defense!
Superfluous vs Needs? I say needs!
May 28th, 2025 at 8:59 am
Brady will always have his place in Bucs history. He’s the GOAT, ok, I get it! Enough already! I never cared for his game. There, I said it!
May 28th, 2025 at 9:13 am
I’m greedy. I want Godwin back for week 1. Those early games are just as important as late season games.
May 28th, 2025 at 9:14 am
StPete—
My child brain loved it at the time, but you know what they say about movie fart jokes?
Heard one you’ve heard em’ all!
As for Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles was good, but Young Frankenstein was GREAT!
May 28th, 2025 at 9:18 am
JA
Hard to argue against Young Frankenstein.
And one of the great comedic actresses of all time in BOTH of them.
Madeline Kahn almost stole both of those films but there were so many greats not to mention obviously Gene Wilder who was terrific in both and funny with Richard Pryor as well. I love comedy movies. Perhaps my juvenile mind.
May 28th, 2025 at 9:19 am
Oh JA, JA….Do you know the last time both Godwin and Evans played full seasons? Which as an aside, should be bare minimum expectations given that receivers don’t get hit anywhere near like they used to, but I digress. Back to the point – the answer is 2018. Freaking 2018. In conclusion, you are telling me that you were/are comfortable going in to the year with 2 30 yr old receivers with a strong likelihood that one of both would miss extended time? Youre telling me, that after what you saw after both Evans and Godwin were out last year – that you were comfortable with rolling that dice again? Sweet brah. But hey, to be fair the Bucs just gave a sweet deal to Godwin because hes a good guy and likes puppies. Although Rod the moron munch will point to the Patriots making an even bigger offer to Godwin like that somehow reinforces his point as if the Patriots have ever made good decisions at receiver over the last decade.
May 28th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Gofor—
Yes, I’m telling you that all teams suffer injuries, and you can’t automatically put Evans and Godwin on the “to be hurt list.”
I’m telling you it’s important to fill weaknesses in lieu of potential injuries. What if LVD goes down? Dennis … again or Kancey … again?
Yeah, better to have four receivers on a team who has little problem scoring points than filling holes in a defense known to fold at the end of games.
May 28th, 2025 at 9:32 am
StPete—
Yes, Kahn was the best!
Priceless when Wilder tried to kiss her goodbye at the train station …
May 28th, 2025 at 9:36 am
I watch a lot of CF and my wife is a Buckeye. I went to FSU, so I have been stuck watching OSU a lot more. E2 is a player. He can run every route and can get down field. He is a mix of ME and CG. I wanted this pick months ago. Thanks JL. JMAC and E2 will also free up money in a year or two when ME and CG move on, as they will still be playing on their rookie contracts.
May 28th, 2025 at 9:48 am
Great movie!!!
May 28th, 2025 at 10:09 am
The Bucs front office was so excited to draft him. I am starting to get excited too after hearing about his early practice efforts!
May 28th, 2025 at 10:23 am
As far as old western comedies go, I personally think Paint Your Wagon is funnier than Blazing Saddles.
May 28th, 2025 at 10:32 am
“Candy-Gram for Mongo!”
Thanks for the laughs, Joe. BS is prolly my fave movie, Airplane a close 2nd. I do believe I have both movies completely memorized and still ROFL each viewing even though I’ve seen both maybe 30 times each.
My wife once told she enjoys watching either with me just to crack up at me cracking up non-stop.
They just don’t make good movies like that anymore.
Can’t wait to see EE develop….hope that when Licht picked him, he had decided it was a good time to stop sniffing glue.
May 28th, 2025 at 10:49 am
“Watching Bucs underwear football Tuesday morning, Joe witnessed something not seen in a while. It gave Joe the warms.”
Has Joe hired Blaine Edwards and Antoine Merriweather?
May 28th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Blazing Saddles is one of my top favorite movies (NOT the watered-down TV version that leaves out many great scenes) (( the eating beans group for one)).
But I, too, am worried about Chris. After all, they say he just dislocated his ankle, not that it was broken. It seems like a long time to recover from that.
May 28th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Loving the Blazing Saddles reference, Joe!
May 28th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Always hated spoof movies….yes even Blazing Saddles.
May 28th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Buc1987
Nothing wrong with showing your individuality.
May 28th, 2025 at 4:48 pm
Dude starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
May 28th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
@JA : Who would you have taken at 19? The 5th best edge? 4th best corner?
Injured line backer? or….(arguably) the best receiver?
May 28th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
last year bucky wqs a steal in fantasy sounds likes this dude will be this year
May 28th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
That’s awesome to hear. When does training camp start again, can we move it up a few weeks?
May 28th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
CG will be back, but he doesn’t have to rush “Plan Emeka” is underway.
WHEN CG is ready – man is this offense going to have another dimension!
Let’s Go!
May 29th, 2025 at 3:55 am
Like I said before if you want to crown EE then crown him already. Would much rather hear about feats of greatness and super human abilities in underwear football from the defense. But I have yet to read about that here.