Dirk Koetter names Adam Humphries as Buccaneers’ third receiver

Well, that competition didn’t last very long: head coach Dirk Koetter named Adam Humphries as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ third wide receiver today, behind Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. The head coach did so after today’s training camp practice, in which he also noted rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves will start running with the first team defense starting tomorrow. Both of those notes from the Bucs’ very own Scott Smith.

Humphries had a solid rookie year after going undrafted out of Clemson last year, catching 27 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown. He’s a classic, diminutive, shifty slot receiver who can make cornerbacks miss in space with small changes of direction. However, he doesn’t have the short-area burst of stars like Wes Welker, and probably lacks the size and overall athleticism to turn into a real weapon on offense. Still, he’s a fairly reliable receiver who apparently does what the coaches ask of him, and there are much worse players than that in the NFL.

The early end of this competition should concern Bucs fans a little, if it is indeed the end of the competition and not just a temporary result. The team has several talented receivers, including last year’s fifth-round pick Kenny Bell, but apparently none of them are standing out in training camp. That has to be disappointing for a team that struggled with injuries at the position last year.