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Beginning to bloom.
Regular readers who read the daily practice notes know Joe has been impressed with rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst.
It’s because Hurst is 6-4, which is impressive. It’s not because Hurst is fast with his 4.4 speed in the 40, which is impressive for a big guy.
No, what is impressive to Joe is Hurst’s consistency. Every day, play after play, Hurst makes catches. Often contested passes. He has reminded Joe more of Chris Godwin than Mike Evans. Hurst doesn’t look anything like Godwin except that he makes contested catches look routine, like Godwin.
Hurst hasn’t really made any “wow” plays. Until today. While Joe thinks Hurst is more like Godwin, today in the final Bucs training camp practice open to the public, Hurst looked more like Evans.
Because of injuries, specifically to Jalen McMillan, Hurst has been getting a lot of snaps with the first team. And he has shown he belongs.
Then came the bomb.
Baker Mayfield launched a pass deep down the left sideline. Josh Hayes had really good coverage on the play. In fact, Hayes would have had a pass defensed. “Would” is the keyword.
The ball was a little high from Mayfield and Hurst decided to use his height and go up and get the ball. He fought with Hayes in midair for the ball and he grabbed it and fell flat on his back.
But the rookie from Georgia State held on for the highlight play of practice. It was impressive and may be the first wow play Joe saw from Hurst in training camp.
Hurst wasn’t done.
Later in goal line drills, Mayfield launched a ball high on purpose so Hurst could use his height. Hurst looked like Jamal Mashburn going up for the rebound. And Hurst got it and came down with a touchdown.
Joe has been impressed with Hurst. Very impressed with his consistency, even without the wow plays. Joe hopes Hurst can carry that over to the games.
While Hurst hasn’t made many wow plays, he’s content with being Godwin-like consistent and reliable; today, he decided it was time to be like Mike.
And Hurst succeeded.