Buccaneers Round Table: What about Adam Humphries?
The Buccaneers have not had the season most of us thought they would, and wide receiver Adam Humphries is one player whose future hangs in the balance as much as any player.
In 2016, the Buccaneers’ undrafted steal had recorded 39 catches for 430-yards and a score through ten games. This season, the former Clemson receiver has 35 catches for 339-yards and has yet to find the end zone.
Looking at the numbers, it’s clear this year has not gone as well as the last.
One problem is consistency. This season, Humphries has at least two catches in every Bucs game to date, but he also has five contests where he contributed fewer than 20-yards of offense.
He had just six such games in all of last year, and only three leading into game eleven of 2016. However, in contrast, he had nine contests with 30 or more receiving yards. He has less than half that amount with a little over one-third of the season remaining.
His best stretch of games this season came in weeks three through six. In these four games alone, Humphries amassed 21 receptions for 140-yards. Sixty percent of his catches, and over forty percent of his yard production in less than forty percent of the year thus far.
Outside of those games, Humphries has just fourteen more catches, although those have totaled nearly 200-yards of offense for the Buccaneers.
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Following the first four games of the year, and with a healthy Jameis Winston, Humphries was on pace for 68 catches and 828-yards. Now, he’s on pace for 56 catches and 542-yards. One more catch than 2016, but 80-yards shy of his production last year.
More troubling, Humphries has just six catches for 42-yards. A strong downward turn since the re-injuring of Winston’s shoulder, and the emergence of Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starting quarterback.
There are other reasons for this inconsistency though. For one, the addition of weapons like O.J. Howard and DeSean Jackson certainly don’t help in keeping Humphries involved as the third receiver.
Season struggles have led to a lot of games playing from behind, and a lot of series being played from behind schedule. These have forced Tampa’s passers to look down field where Humphries is less comfortable, rather than in the short passing game where he thrives.
The question isn’t why he has been unable to find consistent production, although it may have just as much to do with the answer to the actual question as anything. The question this week is:
What is Adam Humphries‘ future with the Buccaneers?
As an undrafted free-agent in 2015, this young man has shown talent well above what any NFL scout expected of him.
He’ll be a restricted free-agent in 2018, so will or won’t the Buccaneers bring him back, and at what price?
Our writers weighed in. After you’re done reading their thoughts, please leave your thoughts as to where you see Humphries and the Bucs for the future.
Comment below, on Facebook, on Twitter, or at walkingtheplankpodcast@gmail.com to give your ideas.