Da'Quan Bowers And Arrelious Benn Pass Physicals, Cleared for Camp!

[Senser81]

LOL. Dont care what NFL.com says, Benn didnt play in 15 games. He didnt see the field until like week 7 and was injured the last game or few. He probably was a gunner on ST the 1st half of the season but he didnt see any time at WR.

Thats always the sign of a great NFL WR. When he doesn't actually play WR and he's "probably a gunner on ST".

I remember a couple years ago New England went undefeated in the regular season, and Randy Moss caught 25 TDs despite not seeing the field until week 7 and playing gunner on ST.

[RyanLeaf16]

I'm not in the business of defending the Buccaneers anymore. Nor am I in the business of coming to BigBucs aid, but, I do feel it is necessary to point out some numbers.

Benn actually played pretty good when given the opportunity. He only had 25 catches, but, he snagged 65% of the balls that came to him. Mike Williams, on the other hand, caught just over 50%. This number does not take into account overthrows. However, Benn also led the team in YAC avg. Each reception led to about an additional 6.5 yards after the reception. Also, higher than Mike Williams. Neither player is terribly spectacular in that department as they aren't necessarily explosive players. They are bigger, physical receivers. Finally, Benn also had 5 catches go over 20+ yards in limited playing time. Over the last 5 years or so, most league leaders in receiving yards averaged about 18 catches of 20+ yards.

I think it is a valid argument to say he played well in limited playing time. What the future holds for him, I don't know. It was one season, but, he did play well when given the opportunity and I would think he will earn more reps this season based off of his performance last season.

[Senser81]

I'm not in the business of defending the Buccaneers anymore. Nor am I in the business of coming to BigBucs aid, but, I do feel it is necessary to point out some numbers.

Benn actually played pretty good when given the opportunity. He only had 25 catches, but, he snagged 65% of the balls that came to him. Mike Williams, on the other hand, caught just over 50%. This number does not take into account overthrows. However, Benn also led the team in YAC avg. Each reception led to about an additional 6.5 yards after the reception. Also, higher than Mike Williams. Neither player is terribly spectacular in that department as they aren't necessarily explosive players. They are bigger, physical receivers. Finally, Benn also had 5 catches go over 20+ yards in limited playing time. Over the last 5 years or so, most league leaders in receiving yards averaged about 18 catches of 20+ yards.

I think it is a valid argument to say he played well in limited playing time. What the future holds for him, I don't know. It was one season, but, he did play well when given the opportunity and I would think he will earn more reps this season based off of his performance last season.

Since I am in the business of not coming to BigBucs' aid, I would like to point out the following...

Benn started 9 games last year
1 game he had over 100 yards
1 game he had over 50 yards (1 catch, 53 yards)
His high-catch game was 4.

Benn played in 15 games last year
He had 8 games when he had 1 catch or fewer

He had 2 TDs all year

Those are terrible numbers.

[FirstTimer]

I'm not in the business of defending the Buccaneers anymore. Nor am I in the business of coming to BigBucs aid, but, I do feel it is necessary to point out some numbers.

Benn actually played pretty good when given the opportunity. He only had 25 catches, but, he snagged 65% of the balls that came to him. Mike Williams, on the other hand, caught just over 50%. This number does not take into account overthrows. However, Benn also led the team in YAC avg. Each reception led to about an additional 6.5 yards after the reception. Also, higher than Mike Williams. Neither player is terribly spectacular in that department as they aren't necessarily explosive players. They are bigger, physical receivers. Finally, Benn also had 5 catches go over 20+ yards in limited playing time. Over the last 5 years or so, most league leaders in receiving yards averaged about 18 catches of 20+ yards.

I think it is a valid argument to say he played well in limited playing time. What the future holds for him, I don't know. It was one season, but, he did play well when given the opportunity and I would think he will earn more reps this season based off of his performance last season.

How dare you imply Josh Freeman overthrows anyone.

[BonesMahoney95]

Benn was slow to pick up the offense(is that really uncommon for a rookie WR coming from a spread offense?), so regardless of how many games he appeared in or started he was not really out there all that much. He was on the field for 360 snaps(for comparisons Mike Williams was out there for 955). Thats 24 snaps a game. Account for the snaps where they put him out there early in the year because of trick type plays like reverses or having him out there because hes a better run blocker than all of the other WRs... He didn't have all that many opportunities to actually catch the ball(37 targets on the year). Once he started to "get it" late in the year he played well. And people are saying he didn't? Watch some Bucs games before you comment on this stuff.

[Senser81]

Benn was slow to pick up the offense(is that really uncommon for a rookie WR coming from a spread offense?), so regardless of how many games he appeared in or started he was not really out there all that much. He was on the field for 360 snaps(for comparisons Mike Williams was out there for 955). Thats 24 snaps a game. Account for the snaps where they put him out there early in the year because of trick type plays like reverses or having him out there because hes a better run blocker than all of the other WRs... He didn't have all that many opportunities to actually catch the ball(37 targets on the year). Once he started to "get it" late in the year he played well. And people are saying he didn't? Watch some Bucs games before you comment on this stuff.

So, Benn is like Kevin Kolb...he gets better when he DOESN'T play.

He isn't very fast. He isn't a good route runner. He doesn't get separation. Perhaps thats a reason why he only had 37 targets all year.

He had a 100-yard game against the woeful Redskins in the latter-half of the year. He followed that game with a 3 catch, 34 yard effort in a terrible loss to Detroit. Sadly, that 3 catch game was one of Benn's career highlights.

Here are Benn's numbers over the 2nd half of the season...I've indicated whether Benn "get's it", "doesn't get it", or "forgot it".

2 catches, 14 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
3 catches, 9 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
1 catch, 28 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
4 catches, 122 yards, 0 TDs = GETS IT
3 catches, 34 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it
1 catch, 16 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it
0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it

[RyanLeaf16]

How dare you imply Josh Freeman overthrows anyone.

I lol'd.

[RyanLeaf16]

So, Benn is like Kevin Kolb...he gets better when he DOESN'T play.

He isn't very fast. He isn't a good route runner. He doesn't get separation. Perhaps thats a reason why he only had 37 targets all year.

He had a 100-yard game against the woeful Redskins in the latter-half of the year. He followed that game with a 3 catch, 34 yard effort in a terrible loss to Detroit. Sadly, that 3 catch game was one of Benn's career highlights.

Here are Benn's numbers over the 2nd half of the season...I've indicated whether Benn "get's it", "doesn't get it", or "forgot it".

2 catches, 14 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
3 catches, 9 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
1 catch, 28 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
4 catches, 122 yards, 0 TDs = GETS IT
3 catches, 34 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it
1 catch, 16 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it
0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it

I think in all fairness, you have to remember he only had 39 passes thrown his way. Freeman was locked on to Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow a lot last season. Sometimes to a fault. 45% of all passes thrown last season went to Williams (25%) or Winslow (20%). Benn only got about 8% of passes thrown his way last season.

I'm not trying to argue that Benn is a top-notch WR. I just think that he did play well when given the opportunity. However, I still don't believe there is a big enough sample size to judge what he will do at this level.

[BonesMahoney95]

So, Benn is like Kevin Kolb...he gets better when he DOESN'T play.

He isn't very fast. He isn't a good route runner. He doesn't get separation. Perhaps thats a reason why he only had 37 targets all year.

He had a 100-yard game against the woeful Redskins in the latter-half of the year. He followed that game with a 3 catch, 34 yard effort in a terrible loss to Detroit. Sadly, that 3 catch game was one of Benn's career highlights.

Here are Benn's numbers over the 2nd half of the season...I've indicated whether Benn "get's it", "doesn't get it", or "forgot it".

2 catches, 14 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
3 catches, 9 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
1 catch, 28 yards, 0 TDs = doesn't get it
4 catches, 122 yards, 0 TDs = GETS IT
3 catches, 34 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it
1 catch, 16 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it
0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TDs = forgot it

That's cute that you brought up his week 17 stats considering he was already on IR at that point. 1 catch for 16 yards week 16, he tore his acl on the tackle on that play. So of course he wouldn't have anymore catches that game.

The only thing true about this post is that he really got it against the Redskins("got it" being things started clicking for him, Freeman started trusting him more, etc..). Followed that up with a 3 catch game then got hurt. But regardless of all that just watching the games you could tell he was getting open more and getting more opportunities, basically just playing well/decent whatever word you'd like to use. Not really sure why this is being argued so much, you are acting like someone said he was the second coming of Rice when all I've seen anyone say was that he played better before he got hurt.

[Senser81]

That's cute that you brought up his week 17 stats considering he was already on IR at that point. 1 catch for 16 yards week 16, he tore his acl on the tackle on that play. So of course he wouldn't have anymore catches that game.

You are making it seem as if I had to manipulate the numbers to make Benn appear so terrible. I didn't. Before he got hurt, 1-catch, 2-catch, and no catch games were the norm, too. I don't see any gradual statistical ascent or even a plateau. I see an outlier game where Benn had 4 catches (career high) for 122 yards (career high). Thats it.

I've watched Benn his entire football career. You said "Once he started to "get it" late in the year he played well". This obviously wasn't the case.

[BigBucs]

Dont bother with Senser.

[Senser81]

Dont bother Senser.

FIXED

[Wrath]

I like how the whole Bucs D-Line is looking this year. BB you might actually be able to play your (MY) scheme this year. Don't say the name please.................

[s@ppisgod]

I think in all fairness, you have to remember he only had 39 passes thrown his way. Freeman was locked on to Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow a lot last season. Sometimes to a fault. 45% of all passes thrown last season went to Williams (25%) or Winslow (20%). Benn only got about 8% of passes thrown his way last season.

I'm not trying to argue that Benn is a top-notch WR. I just think that he did play well when given the opportunity. However, I still don't believe there is a big enough sample size to judge what he will do at this level.

While that's true, I think it's easier to argue the contrarian view. Senser hath shown me the way.