As a receiving tight end, Tanner Hudson has lit it up once again in the preseason for the Bucs. Through two games, he’s been one of the few bright spots on the offensive side of the ball, leading the team with 10 receptions for 122 yards. As a blocker however, Bruce Arians has criticized him for his regression in that aspect of the game, pleading with him to block anyone.

On Monday, Arians reiterated that Hudson has done great things in the passing game, but he needs to see him do more than just one thing in this offense.

“Ever since we’ve been here he’s been able to catch the ball,” Arians said. “He gives our defense fits on the card team. When he’s had opportunities in ball games they haven’t quite been the same. I want to see him do something besides preseason and do something besides catch the ball. He’s not a wide receiver. He’s a tight end, so you’ve got to be able to block a little bit. But just see him grow in that regard and be a physical presence on special teams with his size and his speed.”

Bucs TE Tanner Hudson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The combination of his above-average receiving and below-average blocking hasn’t guaranteed a roster spot for Hudson yet. Arians said there are a couple of spots that players are still competing for.

“Well, you know you’ve got 16 practice squad jobs that are really important,” Arians said. “Roster spots – it’s hard to say. There [are] three or four guys still fighting.”

To his credit, Hudson has taken Arians’ criticism in stride. When the coach is still talking about you, you know that he cares enough that he wants to see you get to that next level.

“The way I look at it, he’s a coach,” Hudson said. “If he is still talking to me and coaching me up, that means he still cares. That’s kind of the way I look at it. I just have to keep improving on the things that he says and go from there.”

Hudson has continued to work on his blocking in camp. He’s got a great deal of experienced tight ends to learn from as well in Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cam Brate.

“I’m just working on it every day and trying to get better at it,” Hudson said. “Working with some of the older guys and trying to see little techniques that might help them out. Just every day trying to listen to coaching and older players that have been there and done that.”