Simply while you thought rating season was over, they suck you again in yet one more time. The Bucs have been the topic of some perceived disrespect lately when their receiving corps was ranked Eleventh-best within the league by Professional Soccer Focus analyst and former Pewter Reporter Trevor Sikkema.
The groups ranked forward of the Bucs included anticipated teams just like the 49ers, Eagles, Texans and Lions, but additionally included a couple of surprises such because the Bengals. It ought to be famous that Sikkema was taking a look at receiving teams holistically, incorporating the tight finish and operating again positions.
Bucs Receiving Choices Are High Heavy
Sikkema rightfully famous that the Bucs function a pair of high-end receivers that prime their room in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
“Regardless of their ages, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are nonetheless Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Over the previous three seasons, they’ve earned cumulative receiving grades of 82.3 and 83.9, respectively. Each completed with receiving grades above 78.0 final season, as properly.”
Evans and Godwin mixed final 12 months to supply 2,279 yards on 1,104 routes run. That mixed 2.06 yards per route ranked ninth amongst all workforce’s top-two receiving choices.
The golf equipment to rank greater than the Bucs have been Miami (3.29), Houston (2.71), San Francisco (2.61), Los Angeles Rams (2.29), Detroit (2.22), Philadelphia (2.15), Kansas Metropolis (2.12) and Dallas (2.08). Six of these eight groups rank greater than Tampa Bay this 12 months.
Bucs Endure From Lack Of Constant Third Possibility
Sikkema went on to clarify that past Tampa Bay’s “Large-Two,” the subsequent largest issue of their passing sport is their operating backs, adopted by their depth receiving corps.
“Throw in operating backs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving, who ought to each deliver plus skill within the passing sport, and younger receivers Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan, and there’s a good group in Tampa Bay.”
Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Rachaad White has ascended to being thought of one of many higher receiving backs within the NFL. Final 12 months, he ranked third in receiving yards with 549. However he additionally ranked first in routes run (451) by a wholesome margin. When taking a look at his effectivity when it comes to yards per route run, he falls all the way in which to twenty second total at 1.22.
Moreover, his -0.6 common depth of goal reveals that White actually acted as a check-down/display screen possibility greater than a full-fledged a part of the design of the offense. Rookie Bucky Irving will probably act as an analogous possibility this 12 months.
Trey Palmer had an up-and-down rookie marketing campaign, however at the moment is seen as a replaceable WR3, as evidenced by the Bucs deciding on Jalen McMillan within the third spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. Each are unproven late day 2/day three choices who shouldn’t be seen as needle movers.
Conspicuously, Sikkema didn’t point out tight finish Cade Otton. Otton ran the second-most routes of all tight ends within the NFL final 12 months (666) and nonetheless ranked simply twenty first in receiving yards, thirty fourth in catch charge and forty second in yards per route run. He’s clearly seen as a non-factor, or fairly probably as a web unfavourable.
Depth/Well being Wins Out For Some Different Groups
There have been 4 groups listed forward of the Bucs who didn’t have a top-two that positioned forward of Evans and Godwin’s mixed 2.06 yards per route run. They have been the Vikings, Bears, Bengals and Seahawks. The Seahawks and Bears can boast higher depth to justify their rankings. D.Ok. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are an in depth approximation in expertise to Evans and Godwin, however with a greater third possibility in 2023 first-round decide Jaxson Smith-Njigba as their WR3.
The Bears already had one of many 10 greatest receivers within the NFL in D.J. Moore. He averaged 2.31 yards per route run final 12 months. They added Keenan Allen by way of commerce. Whereas Allen will not be the receiver he was 5 years in the past, he posted simply 12 much less yards than Mike Evans (1,243 to 1,255) on 13 much less routes. If Moore and Allen have been a tandem final 12 months, they’d have ranked 4th in yprr.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
However then you definitely add onto that the truth that the Bears used the ninth total decide on Washington receiver Rome Odunze plus top-12 tight finish Cole Kmet, and you’ve got the makings of some of the vaunted receiving teams within the NFL. Some might balk on the concept of assuming that Odunze shall be good simply because he has not performed within the NFL but. Whereas I’m not advocating for asserting him because the second coming of Mike Evans, we will create some cheap expectations for him.
Eleven receivers have been taken with a top-10 total decide courting again to 2014. Of these 11, 9 might be thought of good-to-great receivers, together with Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, Mike Williams, Corey Davis, Sammy Watkins and Evans himself. Solely two, John Ross and Kevin White, might be thought of busts who by no means changed into viable beginning choices. The typical rookie season for these 11 gamers was 55 catches for 701 yards and 5 touchdowns. These all trounce what Palmer produced final 12 months.
As for the Vikings and the Bengals, each squads have a high-end receiver getting back from damage this 12 months. The Vikings misplaced Justin Jefferson, the undisputed greatest receiver in soccer proper now, for eight weeks in the midst of the season final 12 months. The Bengals have been with out Tee Higgins for 5 video games.
My Personal Rankings
Is Sikkema proper? Clearly, this can be a query that has no definitive approach of being answered appropriately. However I believe regardless of the preliminary response of reflexively pondering that is too low, it’s really within the ballpark. Whereas I do know folks like to have finite rankings, tiers are usually extra correct and illustrate the “gray space” higher. For what it’s price, right here could be my prime 2-3 tiers:
Tier One – Elite – 49ers, Eagles, Bears, Texans
These 4 groups have three or extra high-end receiving choices they will beat you with, in addition to depth. If their prime possibility goes down, the passing sport can proceed to function at a high-level. Put them in no matter order you’d like.
Tier Two – Nice – Lions, Dolphins, Vikings, Rams, Seahawks, Packers
These 5 groups have elite expertise on the prime two spots, however query marks behind them. If the highest receiver goes down, their passing video games will take a big hit however nonetheless be capable to function at a league-average, to barely above, stage. Or, as within the case of the Packers, vital depth to compensate for the lack of one, and even two gamers. Once more, put them in no matter order you’d like.
Tier Three – Good – Bucs, Bengals, Titans
These groups have a extremely high-end duo on the prime. However ought to a kind of gamers miss a big stretch of time, the passing sport may take a dive. Once more, you’ll be able to order these any approach you select.
Whereas I don’t have the identical order as Sikkema, I arrive at principally the identical conclusion. Name us loopy. However whereas we will not be proper, can you discover fault within the arguments?
