The Frantic DE Dance
April 12th, 2015
Notice a trend:
Tampa Bay has attempted all kinds of free agency maneuvers to shore up its hole at right defensive end, yet the team has done nothing to fix its woes along the offensive line.
Tomorrow is judgment day for the Bucs and George Johnson. He’s the six-sacks-last-year DE, still property of the Lions, who the Bucs extended a three-year, $9 million contract offer sheet, per FOX Sports. Detroit must match the offer by tomorrow or Johnson becomes a Buccaneer.
Restricted free agent deals are rare in the NFL, but the Bucs seemingly refuse to be denied an offseason fix at right defensive end.
In March, Tampa Bay was in hot pursuit of Trent Cole and put significant guaranteed money on the table, Joe learned, but Cole opted for the Colts. The Bucs even soiled themselves courting Greg Hardy and oily super agent Drew Rosenhaus, but Dallas scored the troubled Hardy. Then came the surprise Johnson offer, what many believe is a calculated overpayment for a guy who emerged from nowhere last year to be an excellent rotational defensive end (no starts).
A stuffed nose can smell the Bucs want to enter the NFL Draft with another live body — not lifeless like Michael Johnson and Da’Quan Bowers — at right defensive end.
That sure feels like Tampa Bay wants no pressure to draft a DE after selecting Jameis Winston a quarterback No. 1 overall.
April 12th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
it was not worse than watching Adrian slowborn the last 3 years. The D-line has been bad for many seasons now! they bring in draft picks and they bust! Free agents look the same! Hopefully Licht will be able to draft his way out of this mess with another top 5 draft pick next year!
At least the Dominick sheep now realize that the roster was garbage the whole time!!!
April 12th, 2015 at 1:19 pm
If you can’t find a one shot, do-it-all stud at DE then you have no choice but to use a committee approach. It worked for Seattle, and that’s what it looks like we are attempting to do by gathering as much average talented DEs as we can. And as much as I would like us to draft a stud DE in the second round, our O line is in far worse shape and needs immediate attention. If we pass on an offensive lineman in the second, our attention in that area will be borderline negligent. No worries though, I’m confident we will be drafting an offensive lineman in the second.
April 12th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Correct! BUCS want to get a QB (still two choices) then draft OL. They have been pretty clear lately……
April 12th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
OL is highly overrated…..Lovies defense will compensate….the season does not start until November so plenty of time for the patchwork over 30 cast off OL crew to come together…..
April 12th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
Leave it to Joe to sneak JW’s name into an article about DEs
April 12th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
George Johnson is unlikely to be the answer at DE. But short of drafting or signing a FA who is a legit stud – the Bucs are doing what they can. Talented DEs are hard to come by in this league – just like OTs and QBs. We need all 3 unfortunately.
OL is the priority. It HAS to be. We can get by this year with stop gap measures on Defense – but unless L&L fix the OLine – this team is going nowhere!
Bucs will have a TON of $ to spend next year. Greg Hardy might be the long term answer once his 1 year stint with Dallas is completed. Cowboys are unlikely to have the $ to re-sign him next year to a long term expensive contract.
April 12th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
@ fungi nails
I really hope that was a sad attempt at sarcasm. If not, you really have no idea.
April 12th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
You know coach love will screw this up.and I hope JW violates joe and uses the butter from his crab legs as lube.
April 12th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
@gotbbucs…..it was intended as sarcasm….but after futher thought it appears to be closer to the truth
April 12th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
The Buc Realist Says
“it was not worse than watching Adrian slowborn the last 3 years.”
How can you watch someone that was injured all the time?
When he was healthy, he produced. He just never stayed healthy.
April 12th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Unless we can get a stud Center in round 2, we should go MLB. Good ones are hard to find in later rounds, whereas most current starting OL players are drafted in round 3 or later.
I want the OL fixed too, but there is no chance of it being fixed this year. We need 3-4 spots filled.
We need MLB and safety for defense. DE can be patched another year…when we replace Licht.
April 12th, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Good thing you crossed that out…