Buccaneer wideouts ready for breakout

With the drafting of Josh Freeman in 2009, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers embarked on a complete renovation of the ball handlers on offense.  The first target was the wide receivers group, starting with Sammie Stroughter a few rounds later.  In 2010, WRs Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn were drafted.  Those three have taken more than the lions share of starts at wideout for the past two seasons.  Add in Preston Parker (2010 undrafted free agent) and Dezmon Briscoe (plundered from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in 2010) and you have a set of highly productive pass-catchers.  However, injury and youth have conspired to keep this group from reaching their potential.

The most productive pass-catcher in 2011 (and 2010) was TE Kellen Winslow, now departed in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. Enter Vincent Jackson, free agent from San Diego and one of the most coveted players in the 2012 free agent pool.  Winslow caught 75 passes for 763 yards in 2011; Jackson caught 60 passes for 1,106 yards.  Winslow produced 2 touchdowns in 2011; Jackson scored 9 touchdowns in 2011.

Based on statistics, the Winslow and Jackson moves appear to shift the emphasis from the Tight End position out to the Wide Receivers for 2012.  This does not imply the Tampa Bay Tight End squad will not be productive, it just means the proven playmakers are now on the edge. In theory, this should force opposing defenses to play from the inside out instead of from the outside to the middle. There is no doubt the Buccaneers will be looking for a new, younger TE to emerge in 2012 (a story for another day), but that person will not be option #1 for Josh Freeman down after down after down.

When going to training camp on July 29th, the Buccaneer's Wide Reciever group will bring the following 2011 production (sorted by Receiving Yards):

Wideout	Ht	Wt	Games	Starts	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Notes
Jackson, Vincent	6'5"	230	16	16	60	1106	18.4	58	9	FA (SD)
Williams, Mike	6'2"	212	16	15	65	771	11.9	42	3
Parker, Preston	6'0"	200	16	0	40	554	13.9	51	3
Benn, Arrelious	6'2"	220	14	14	30	441	14.7	65T	3
Briscoe, Dezmon	6'2"	210	16	2	35	387	11.1	46	6
Stroughter, Sammie	5'10"	189	6	0	4	52	13	29	0
Underwood, Tiquan	6'1"	183	6	0	3	30	10	13	0	FA (NE)
Wright, Wallace	6'1"	197	16	0	2	21	10.5	14	0	FA (NYJ)
Gant, Ed	6'3"	200	4*	0	5	164	32.8	96	1	* All Preseason
Ellingson, Greg	6'3"	197	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2012 College FA
Lewis, Armahd	5'8"	171	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2012 College FA

Williams and Benn have been on the field for a great majority of snaps in each of their two seasons in the NFL.  Parker and Briscoe broke out last season to demonstrate they can be productive players.  Stroughter was slowed by injury in 2011.  Gant wowed during the 2011 preseason with a 96 yard touchdown catch and his NFL size.

If I had to build a depth chart today, it would probably shake out this way:

Right side WR (Freeman's Right Hand, Primary Receiver)
Vincent Jackson - The big paycheck means make him #1
Mike Williams - Won't learn anything from Jackson if he's learning some other position

Left Side WR (Freeman's Back, Secondary Receiver)
Arrelious Benn - Can be a deep threat
Dezmon Briscoe - Extremely productive in the red zone last season

Slot
Preston Parker - Slot is a 3rd down position; Parker is Mr. Third Down
Sammie Stroughter - He may also have some kick/punt return duties

Of those six, Stroughter is the player most in jeopardy to be replaced by one of the free agents, but his punt returning skills are hard to ignore.  Gant and Ellingson have the physical size to play into the interior from the slot.  Armahd is a burner, and Underwood and Wright bring experience from playoff-caliber teams.

How good could this group be?  Here are the best seasons of the players in this group with NFL game experience:

Wideout	Ht	Wt	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Year
Jackson, Vincent	6'5"	230	68	1167	17.2	55	9	2009
Williams, Mike	6'2"	212	65	964	14.8	58T	11	2010
Parker, Preston	6'0"	200	40	554	13.9	51	3	2011
Benn, Arrelious	6'2"	220	30	441	14.7	65T	3	2011
Briscoe, Dezmon	6'2"	210	35	387	11.1	46	6	2011
Stroughter, Sammie	5'10"	189	31	334	10.8	35	1	2009
Underwood, Tiquan	6'1"	183	8	111	13.9	22	0	2010
Wright, Wallace	6'1"	197	6	87	14.5	36	0	2007

It is a very solid group when playing to their potential.  A running game which opposing teams have to respect can only make this group more productive.

It is entirely possible for the Buccaneers to open the season with more than six WRs on the roster.  New offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan will make that call. In any case, this looks like one of the more polished groups on the pre-camp roster.  Look for a breakout year!

Benn to IR

The injury bug has struck the offense this week, with Rookie WR Arrelious Benn sent to IR.

Benn was the third pick in the most recent Tampa Bay Draft.  After leaving the game yesterday, Benn was replaced by Maurice Stovall (who caught a touchdown) and rookie Dezmon Briscoe who was recently promoted from the practice squad.

Buccaneers Roll Out The First Year Players

Do not call them "Rookies" anymore.  

The youngest team in the NFL may have rolled out the NFL's youngest starting lineup last weekend, standing toe-to-toe with the Atlanta Falcons with the NFC South on the line.  It was the first half of this rivalry this year -- the rematch happens in just three weeks.  A lot may change by then, but one thing will not:  the Buccaneers have young talent and they are not afraid to use it.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started six first year players this past weekend and all contributed while playing a substantial number of minutes:

WR Mike Williams -- 4 Catches, 89 Yards, Touchdown

WR Arrelious Benn -- 1 Catch, 14 Yards, 1st Touchdown of his career

DT Gerald McCoy -- Tackle, Assist

FS Cody Grimm -- 5 Tackles

P Robert Malone -- 3 punts, 39 Yard Average (Two within the Atlanta 20-yard line)

G Ted Larsen -- 3rd Straight Start

And there were others noobs who also contributed:  RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Preston Parker, and DT Al Woods.  In fact, Woods recorded his first NFL tackle after being signed just four days earlier while Blount, Malone, and Larsen were added after training camp.  This solidifies the fact the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the coaches and support staff in place to develop young talent into a team capable of competing for an NFC playoff spot.  How much more youth can be packed on the roster?

It looks like Ponce De Leon was correct -- there really is a Fountain of Youth in Florida.

Too bad he didn't look near One Buccaneer Place.

2010 Offseason: The Wide Receivers

Plenty of excitement surrounds the 2010 draft picks in the receivers unit.  Fans recognize this as a place the team needs to improve to help the 2009 first rounder quarterback Josh Freeman elevate his game.  It should be a real gunfight to sort this position out for 2010.

Wide Receivers

Name	Strt/Gms	H/W	Acquired
Parker, Preston	0/0	5'11" 199 lbs	(2010 College Free Agent)
Adeniji, Damola	0/0	6'3" 213 lbs	(2010 College Free Agent)
Brooks, Chris	0/0	6'2" 215 lbs	(2010 College Free Agent)
Benn, Arrelious	0/0	6'1" 219 lbs	(2010 Draft Pick)
Williams, Mike	0/0	6'1" 221 lbs	(2010 Draft Pick)
Urrutia, Mario	0/0	6'6" 232 lbs	(2009 Waiver Wire)
Nunn, Terrence	0/0	6'0" 195 lbs	(2009 Waiver Wire)
Spurlock, Micheal	0/2	5'11" 200 lbs	(2009 Waiver Wire)
Brown, Reggie	0/0	6'1" 197 lbs	(2010 Free Agent)
Clayton, Michael	11/13	6'4" 215 lbs	(2004 Draft Pick)
Bradley, Mark	0/0	6'1" 201 lbs	(2009 Waiver Wire)
Stroughter, Sammie	0/13	5'10" 189 lbs	(2009 Draft Pick)
2009 Final Game Starters:
WR: Stovall, Maurice	7/15	6'5" 220 lbs	(2006 Draft Pick)

Note the number of 2009 and 2010 players competing at this position.  Looks like General Manager Mark Dominik has been working this position hard looking for deeper talent.

Players are listed in order of productivity in 2009.  The surprise on this list is most likely Mark Bradley (24 catches, 316 yards), a waiver pickup from the Kansas City Chiefs, who produced nearly the same numbers as Sammie Stroughter (31 catches, 320 yards) last season.  Bradley put up his numbers in just 13 games with six starts for the Chiefs while Stroughter played in 13 games with no starts for the Buccaneers.

At this point, one starting spot is Stovall's to lose.  Maurice has been a tremendous contributor on special teams and put up his best year in 2009.  Clearly, he currently holds the most value on this squad.  The other starting spot should be a tremendous battle between the experienced men at this position -- which could expand to include the 2010 draft picks Benn and Williams.  Clayton and Brown should have the advantage but Coach Raheem Morris has said many times that production is what they are looking for.  Clayton and Brown were the 4th and 5th most productive players in 2009 which remain on this squad.  Experience alone may not be enough to keep the very talented youth at this position out of the starting lineup.

The Buccaneers carried eight wide receivers on the roster for most of last year.  At this point, I think there are only four players who would have to lose their roster spot in order to miss the 53-man roster for 2010:  Stovall, Stroughter, Benn, and Williams.  Everyone else has to win the competition for the other spots.  It is possible three of the remaining four roster spots could captured by the most experienced remaining players in Bradley, Clayton, and Brown. 

This would leave the final roster spot for the college free agents and 2009 practice squad players.  Micheal Spurlock is also a return specialist which would give him an edge.  The three college free agents are potential practice squad targets -- Chris Brooks was impressive enough at the rookie camp to land a camp contract, can he make the roster?  Urruita and Nunn are at a pivitol point in their NFL careers and must reach the 53-man roster to stay with the team.


Tight Ends

Name	Strt/Gms	H/W	Acquired
Mastrud, Jeron	0/0	6'5" 256 lbs	(2010 College Free Agent)
Purvis, Ryan	0/0	6'4" 260 lbs	(2009 College Free Agent)
Gilmore, John	2/13	6'5" 257 lbs	(2008 Free Agent)
Stevens, Jerramy	8/16	6'7" 260 lbs	(2007 Free Agent)
2009 Final Game Starter:
Winslow, Kellen	14/16	6'4" 240 lbs	(2009 Trade)

Barring unforseen circumstances, this spot is Winslow's for the next four years.

The Buccaneers carried four tight ends on the roster last season.  With a significant push for additional receiving talent this year four may be too many.  One thing is certain -- these men are going to have to be more physical in the running game to stay on the roster.  Stevens and Gilmore must keep the youth at bay behind them.  Stevens (15 catches for 130 yards) and Gilmore (3 catches, 23 yards) are two of the five oldest players on the roster now -- they must be productive or they will not make the team.