If Grizzard had his fingerprints on anything, it was the Tez Johnson pick. Bet he sees the field this season as ST/PR team - and he gives you 3rd down vibes too.Tez should beat him out. We shall see
You have more insight than me, but he sure look the part. The Bucs post-draft videos even show him running some of our regular plays (jet sweep, screen, seam pass etc) with the Ducks
He's ELITE at getting open. He fell because his straight line speed sucks and he's small.
I thought he'd go in the 5th or 6th, so a 7th is amazing value.
Nothing is a guarantee but I truly think this kid, along with Bucky, are going to be special.
At the very least he offers us special teams help, depth, and we could try to stash him on the PS if we felt like the other guys were somehow better.
I like him, especially as a 6th round value pick. Licht seems to get immediate contributions from mid-to-late round draft picks, even 7th rounders.
It is possible Tez sticks because Grizzard was fond of Johnson as a utility player and Tez can provide that on jet sweeps for example. It is possible that both K. Johnson and Tez stick or even all three return specialists in Palmer, Johnson and Tez stick.
Keeping 7 WRs is a possibility because on defense they have players that can play multiple spots (eg Roberts, Izien, Smith, Hayes, etc).
great to have the options
I wouldn’t write Palmer off, but I think the need for competition means they aren’t pleased.
Its typically not a given that a 7th round pick from the 2025 draft is a given to replace the 6th round pick - with elite speed - from the 2023 draft but it does indicate that the Bucs are not happy with Palmer’s development & contribution.
I wouldn’t write Palmer off, but I think the need for competition means they aren’t pleased.
Its typically not a given that a 7th round pick from the 2025 draft is a given to replace the 6th round pick - with elite speed - from the 2023 draft but it does indicate that the Bucs are not happy with Palmer’s development & contribution.
I was pretty high on him when we drafted him but for whatever reason his speed doesn't translate.
Maybe we keep Tez and Palmer idk. Maybe Tez doesn't make the team.
Either way R/R here for Tez was amazing.
As an underdog who embraced that role, I want Tez to take that role.
I like the tape and the attitude.
I agree, haven’t seen that speed help us out a lot, something has to change.
Seen a lot of those Ducks lately, gotta say, I’m a fan. They put people in place who prove they can win - regardless of measurable’s. More often than not, they win, because they trust the man, not the measurable’s. I’d love it if this underweight, not-fleet-of-foot, playmaking, underdog - wins the job.
Grizzard has said he wants to incorporate more vertical elements to the offense. This favors Palmer and Egbuka for the most part and McMillan who showed some promise downfield on the boundary countless times.
But the times the Bucs want to stretch the field horizontally with end around, jets sweeps or flares this is where Tez and K. Johnson shine. Of course Egbuka is also very potent in the horizontal game which is why he was drafted in the first round.
It will be an intense WR battle for sure. But what I am certain of is that Grizzard can attack the entire field via the passing game and create some interesting formations to run out of 11 personnel. Having a cluster formation of Godwin, Egbuka and Evans blocking the way for Iriving on the perimeter has great potential.
Tez excels against finding holes in the zone and using his quickness to get YAC and convert third downs.
He's not gonna stretch the field.
We have a lot of weapons..lots of packages. Get Evans rest. Let Godwin take his time coming back
"Tez Johnson is at his best in the short-to-intermediate area of the field. Almost 80% of his career targets were at a depth of 10 yards or less, with 28% coming behind the line of scrimmage. This is where he can weaponize his lateral agility and his quick stop-start traits. That’s where you can see his agility and explosive drills on display on the field"
"The Bucs have not had a receiver with that behind the line of scrimmage, manufactured touch high-end skillset. Chris Godwin can hit singles and doubles in that game. Bucky Irving and Rachaad White have given the offense those home runs from the running back position. Last year there was hope Kameron Johnson could fill that role. But he was oft-injured and Tez Johnson represents a hedge to ensure the team finds that skillset.
He’s a smart receiver who has a feel for coverages and a knack for finding space in zone. Johnson works well in an option-route heavy system that relies on smart decision making and a strong connection between quarterback and receiver. In these situations, Johnson leverages his quick-twitch nature to make aggressive in and out cuts."
"Tez Johnson is at his best in the short-to-intermediate area of the field. Almost 80% of his career targets were at a depth of 10 yards or less, with 28% coming behind the line of scrimmage. This is where he can weaponize his lateral agility and his quick stop-start traits. That’s where you can see his agility and explosive drills on display on the field"
"The Bucs have not had a receiver with that behind the line of scrimmage, manufactured touch high-end skillset. Chris Godwin can hit singles and doubles in that game. Bucky Irving and Rachaad White have given the offense those home runs from the running back position. Last year there was hope Kameron Johnson could fill that role. But he was oft-injured and Tez Johnson represents a hedge to ensure the team finds that skillset.
He’s a smart receiver who has a feel for coverages and a knack for finding space in zone. Johnson works well in an option-route heavy system that relies on smart decision making and a strong connection between quarterback and receiver. In these situations, Johnson leverages his quick-twitch nature to make aggressive in and out cuts."
Yeah he said what I said but better...
Tez is a short field zone buster. Catch, juke, get down and don't get blown up.