FAB 5. SR’s BUC SHOTS
• Bucs wide receiver Adam Humphries ended the season on a high note, catching a career-high 10 passes for 94 yards against Carolina, the team he grew up rooting for as a Spartanburg, South Carolina native. The reason? He was excited over Clemson’s victory over Ohio State in the college football playoffs.

“Adam had a big game because Clemson whooped Ohio State last night,” Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston said after the Panthers game. “He was ready. He wore his purple Clemson fleece to the game so I was like, ‘Adam’s going to have a great day.’”

Humphries more than doubled his production from a year ago when he caught 27 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown as an undrafted free agent signing. In 2016, Humphries finished as Tampa Bay’s third leading receiver with 55 catches for 622 yards and two touchdowns.

Bucs WR Adam Humphries – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It was definitely a good way to go out,” Humphries said. “Ending the year with a win at home, we ended it on a good note. It was awesome to go out like that.”

Now Humphries will turn his attention to his Clemson Tigers, which will once again play the Alabama Crimson Tide for the national championship, but this time the game will be in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium on Monday night.

“I’m hoping for a win,” Humphries said. “I would love to see them come down here and win. I have all my friends texting me to see if they could stay at my place. I told them, ‘No!’ But it would be cool to have some of my friends from Clemson come down here this weekend for the game and I could show them around.

“I think we’ll win. We’re three-point dogs and I’ll take that all day long. Go Tigers!”

• No one was happier for Tampa Bay punter Bryan Anger than kicker Roberto Aguayo. Anger serves as Aguayo’s holder on field goals and extra points, and also serves as a role model for the rookie.

“Bryan has been big for this team and he’s very deserving of all his accolades and being an alternate Pro Bowler and signing his contract the other day,” Aguayo said. “He’s helped me through the process of being a rookie and been a good mentor and friend. I’m looking forward to going into this offseason and helping me build onto next season.”

After signing a one-year deal worth $1.75 million with the Bucs, Anger signed a five-year deal worth a reported $17 million before the regular season finale against Carolina. Anger had five punts downed inside the 20-yard line against the Panthers, earning him the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

“What a great day,” Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said. “Five punts, five inside the 20. He had a heck of a year. Great job by Jason (Licht) to get him back. We’re very excited about having him.”

Anger was extended right before the deadline to do contract extensions in 2016 and did not want to leave Tampa Bay.

“It’s very exciting and I really like here,” Anger said. “Dirk is doing a great job. Our special teams were great this year, especially our punt team. It was awesome – Josh Robinson, Ryan Smith, Keith Tandy and Shep (Russell Shepard). All of those guys playing special teams did a great job and helped make my job a little easier. We have a lot to build on, but there’s more work to do.”

Anger hinted that Licht had some work to do as well this offseason, namely re-signing Robinson, the team’s top gunner.

“It would be huge for us to re-sign Josh,” Anger said. “What did he end up with, 11 tackles? I think he had eight of those on punts, gunning people down from outside. And all of the downed punts, too. He’s a game-changer on special teams. It’s the same with Shep and with our young guy, Ryan Smith. Those guys played a very high level for us and made a huge difference.”

• Bucs safety Keith Tandy also finished the 2016 season with a bang, posting 12 tackles and recording a career-high two interceptions in Tampa Bay’s 17-16 win over Carolina. Tandy’s four interceptions tied him with Pro Bowl alternate cornerback Brent Grimes, who recorded his fourth pick of the season on Sunday, returning the ball for a touchdown to help the Bucs beat Cam Newton and the Panthers.

“I feel like I left some plays out there,” Tandy said. “I had my hands on a couple of balls that I didn’t catch that I’m thinking about, and the play at the end where Kelvin [Benjamin] beat me on the dig route. I was right there but he’s 6-foot-5 and I’m 5-foot-10. It was a fun game and it was exciting. It was great to see so many guys flying around, making plays and pitching in. That’s how we’ve been this year.

“I know if the NFL had the end zone angle of Chris Conte’s play it would have been a pick. I didn’t see (Javien) Elliott’s play, but we got Cam a lot. Our D-line and our linebackers played their tails off with a couple of sacks. Every time we were in zone I would look back and Cam would be running for his life. When a quarterback has to do that he kind of tells you where he’s going with the ball.”

Bucs CB Brent Grimes – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Conte, Elliott and middle linebacker Kwon Alexander all dropped potential interceptions on Sunday, so Tampa Bay could have finished with at least six picks had they held on. Tandy has no problem sharing the Bucs’ interception lead with Grimes, whom he greatly admires. In his first season in Tampa Bay, Grimes had a career-high 24 pass breakups in addition to his four interceptions.

“He’s the most athletic guy I’ve ever seen in my life,” Tandy said. “Pound-for-pound, he’s the best. I used to say that about Tavon Austin and Noel Devine, but Brent is on another level. He explodes out of his breaks and the guy never needs help. He’s got it covered. All the pass breakups and the picks he’s had. Throwing at that guy is a big mistake.”

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• Don’t get too excited about new Tampa Bay wide receiver Derel Walker. Like any receiver, he has a chance to make the team, but don’t let the gaudy numbers in the CFL fool you. He was in Canada as opposed to the NFL for a reason. Walker was timed at 4.65 at his pro day and is more of a possession-type receiver without much upside.

The Bucs need receivers for offseason work and for training camp, and Walker doesn’t have any more chance of making the team next year than Donteea Dye or Freddie Martino. Walker’s addition will not deter Tampa Bay from drafting a wide receiver – or two – this coming April.

• I think Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith may get a head coaching job this offseason, although I personally hope he returns as Tampa Bay’s defense is going in the right direction under his leadership. Smith has already interviewed with Jacksonville and San Diego, and either destination would be fortunate to have him.

If Smith does depart, I hope that Bucs linebackers coach Mark Duffner gets a look from head coach Dirk Koetter as a possible replacement. Duffner has some defensive coordinator experience at the NFL level in Cincinnati and the continuity that could be achieved by of keeping the same defensive scheme has to be appealing.

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