[ad_1]
To say the Bucs season has been a rollercoaster to date could be fairly the truthful evaluation. And they’re solely 5 video games into the marketing campaign. Up to now just one sport has seemingly gone “to plan.” Tampa Bay’s Week 1 victory over the Washington Commanders didn’t rock the soccer world.
Since then, the Bucs have skilled highs and lows on a week-in, week-out foundation that will give an EKG for a affected person with tachycardia a run for it’s cash. A shocking win in Detroit, adopted by a flat efficiency in opposition to Denver. Then Tampa Bay rounded out their present 3-2 schedule with a convincing win over the Eagles earlier than collapsing late in opposition to the Falcons.
The inconsistent nature of the group’s game-by-game outcomes paired with the relative brevity of the season thus far can result in overreactions when it comes to what is correct, and incorrect, with the present composition of the group in addition to the close to and long-term outlooks of every place group. So, with 30% of the common season within the books I needed to try every place group via each a brief and long-term lens whereas the Bucs attempt to get wholesome on their mini bye following an emotional Thursday Night Football sport.
At this time we are going to have a look at the broad receivers and tight ends. Tomorrow will function the offensive and defensive strains.
Extensive Receiver
Only a few pass-catching duos are as productive because the Mike Evans/Chris Godwin tandem. By means of 5 video games the Bucs prime two receivers are averaging a mixed 2.07 yards per route run. That’s seventh within the NFL among the many prime two route runners for every group. And Evans and Godwins mixed 132.4 receiving yards per sport is sixth most within the league.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
The 2 have complimentary ability units that enable one another to thrive and Coen has an actual knack for using the 2 effectively. Godwin is experiencing a profession renaissance of kinds, as he’s on tempo for 109 catches for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the meantime, Evans is a bit off his annual 1,000-yard tempo, however he’s averaging a landing per sport and has over 150 yards in his final two video games.
Key Stat: 0.8
Past these two, issues get extra attention-grabbing. Rookie sensation Jalen McMillan scored a landing within the season opener however was largely quiet over the following two video games earlier than lacking Weeks 4 and 5 attributable to damage. However previous to damage he was struggling to combine into the Bucs offense. His 0.8 yards per route run is at present ninth of 12 gamers who’ve run a route for the Bucs this season. He has caught simply 50% of his six targets and struggled to assist in the run sport as an add-on blocker.
Trey Palmer noticed further appears in Week 4, making an unbelievable catch for a landing early within the Eagles sport. Palmer would depart early from that sport with an damage of his personal. In his restricted work this 12 months Palmer has appeared higher than the rookie McMillan and his effectivity metrics appear to agree. Palmer leads McMillan in yards per route run, catch fee, catch fee over anticipated and goal fee.
However essentially the most intriguing possibility for the Bucs at this level is Sterling Shepard. The previous Big has at all times been a gifted receiver. He’s simply struggled with well being and mis-assignment of function. After being referred to as upon following Palmer’s damage he has proven essentially the most tantalizing potential as a further layer to the Bucs receiving corps, catching 4 passes for 55 yards and a landing over simply 55 routes.
Brief And Lengthy-Time period Outlooks
Within the quick time period, the Bucs ought to prioritize offensive effectivity. Now that Sterling Shepard is on the lively roster, he must be included within the majority of the three receiver units going ahead. Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan ought to see some however restricted motion if all receivers are wholesome. That’s to not say the Bucs ought to quit on both younger cross catcher. Each have promise however aren’t as ready to assist the offense as Shepard proper now.
This place group may see main turnover within the subsequent 17 months. Chris Godwin is a pending free agent, and his present stage of play would have him price $28 million per season or extra on his subsequent contract. The Bucs might decide to maintain the rejuvenated receiver, however it is going to doubtless require appreciable assets.
If they don’t retain Godwin, Palmer or McMillan would wish to take a giant step ahead subsequent season. Given his rapport with Baker Mayfield and scant-other gamers needing giant investments subsequent 12 months, I’d advocate for shelling out the cash to maintain Godwin. And with Mike Evans set to show 32 subsequent August, there isn’t any true “X” receiver to step into that function if and when he strikes on. Receiver may very well be excessive on the Bucs’ precedence checklist come subsequent low season.
Tight Finish
Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photograph by: USA At this time
Cade Otton’s 2024 marketing campaign has gone very like the 2 seasons that preceded it. Some truthful strong, however unspectacular play as a receiver interspersed with some extraordinarily inconsistent blocking. And whereas the blocking is best this 12 months, his inconsistencies appear to point out up on the worst potential instances.
Amongst 21 qualifying tight ends, he ranks fifteenth in goal fee, seventeenth in yards per route run, ninth in yards after catch per reception and tenth in catch fee. He would work greatest as a fourth or fifth possibility in an offense. Proper now, he’s third in targets for the Bucs. That has to alter.
Payne Durham has been used sparingly this 12 months, taking part in only a quarter of the offensive snaps and working simply 15 routes. That has left Otton to play an unimaginable 94% of the group’s offensive snaps.
Key Stat: 4.3%
Cade Otton’s yards after catch per reception rank is sort of excessive as a result of simply 4.3% of his targets have been over 10 air yards on the season. Examine that to 24.5% in 2023 and 21.7% in 2022. Liam Coen is clearly utilizing Otton in a distinct method than former offensive coordinators Byron Leftwich and Dave Canales did. And the outcomes are marginally improved.
However Otton isn’t a difference-maker. He can pop right here and there for just a few catches, however he’s not the amount driver that may maintain the offense if Chris Godwin or Mike Evans have been to go down – even for a sport.
Brief And Lengthy-Time period Outlooks
Cade Otton is the clear starter for the remainder of the season and not one of the gamers behind him are viable choices to supplant. Otton is neither a constructive nor unfavorable modifier. He’s satisfactory.
However subsequent season the group must make a concerted effort to improve their third possibility within the passing sport. In idea, the tight finish place isn’t a giant a part of the passing sport and shouldn’t be one which requires a big funding. With that mentioned, Otton is a low-end starter who in all probability profiles extra as an excellent No. 2.
If the Bucs can discover or develop a high quality third receiver, then he’s a wonderfully high-quality possibility to complete his rookie contract because the beginning tight finish. However Jason Licht and the entrance workplace can actually open up the creativity jar by trying to improve Otton and hold the tight finish because the third-most voluminous possibility in the event that they so need.
[ad_2]
Source link
