First Quarter Grades for the Buccaneers
Wide Receivers: B-
Mike Evans has been everything he wasn’t last season. He’s reliable, a playmaker, and is now making a name for himself in this league in a positive manner. In fact, he and Antonio Brown are the only receivers in the top ten in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Outside of Evans is a different story.
Adam Humphries has been solid, but it doesn’t appear he’s garnering the number of targets he should at this point. Despite setting career highs in yards and receptions over the last two weeks, Humphries had only one catch against Denver despite all the attention being on Evans. Humphries has shown playmaking abilities when given the chance, but needs to be utilized more.
Vincent Jackson is the guy bringing this corps down. His inexcusable lack of interest, running wrong routes, and taking plays off is not what we’ve come to expect from a team captain. On the What The Buc? Podcast, Mark Cook of PewterReport.com said there were times during run plays Jackson made absolutely no attempt to block his guy almost as if he was avoiding contact.
With Cecil Shorts and Louis Murphy still out with injuries, the Buccaneers are relying on Russell Shepard and now Jeremy Butler to fill the gaps.
Jameis is doing the best he can with the offense they have right now, but this receiving corps needs to step up and help out Evans and Humphries.