It’s amazing how far the Bucs have come in one year at this position. At this time last season, all the Bucs had was Sammy Stroughter and Maurice Stovall. Fans were shouting for free agent help in the form of one head case WR after another.
Instead of being a position of weakness, it may be the strongest section on the Bucs team. And they addressed it in the three ways Mark Dominik has been doing his magic lately:
High Draft Pick, Lower Draft Picks, Practice Squad/Free Agents.
Arrelious Benn was drafted in the second round, and came with high expectations. Mike Williams was brought in as a lower 4th round draft choice because of issues that arose from his playing time in his Senior Season. Without digging up those stories which are no longer relevant, he fell to the fourth round even though he was more “pro-ready” than Benn. From the first weeks of camp Williams was named the starter.
Later in the season, the Bucs added Dezmon Briscoe who was a rookie free agent waived by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Want a perfect example of why you don’t go out and build your team with Free Agents? The Bengals have Ocho Cinco and T.O. as starting Wide outs. A Dezmon Briscoe doesn’t have a chance to get any reps and never develops. Soon the Bengals wont have the services of their starting WRs, but wont have developed anyone to replace them. The Bucs meanwhile have young talent at Receiver and they will be there for the better part of a decade.
Briscoe Was activated for the last three games, and his numbers increased each week. In his second game, the season finale over the Saints where he caught 4 balls for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Benn progressed well like a typical WR rookie, until he injured himself towards the end of the season. He finished with 395 yards, but a nice 15.8 yards per catch figure and 2 touchdowns. He had a 100 yard game too, and Benn should be ready for the start of training camp.
No one however had a year like Mike Williams, literally. He not only broke Michael Clayton’s rookie TD record, he broke Joey Galloway’s ALL TIME Bucs TD single Season record with 11.
Sammy Stroughter took a step back in 2010 as he was better suited to be a 3rd WR than a starter. Michael Spurlock continues to impress with his new found receiving ability that enabled him to hold down a roster spot as more than just a returner. Preston Parker rounds out the squad.
OUTLOOK: Highly doubtful the Bucs draft a WR below the 5th round if at all.
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