Plan On Lots Of Changes At Lower Cost
February 29th, 2012
Yes, many Bucs fans are panting over the free agent list like Joe does over his poster of Rachel Watson. But before Bucs fans begin hyperventilating, perhaps a cold shower might be in order?
Yes, Joe has read and heard Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik say the team will open up the checkbook and shop the free agent aisle this offseason. “The Professor,” John Clayton of BSPN, believes that Bucs fans under the belief Dominik will land nothing but top shelf talent in free agency will be bummed.
Speaking to Buccaneers.com multimedia guru Scott Smith at the NFL combine, Clayton believes the Bucs will go bargain shopping more often than not in free agency.
“I don’t think [the Bucs’ free agency plan] is necessarily going to be the top of the line guys. Certainly it’s great to go for quality but what I think it comes down to is depth. What was missing last year, particularly in the middle of the defense, not adding a linebacker through free agency, not adding a safety because you saw what happened when Cody Grimm went down, then all of a sudden you have a real shortage of safeties.
“Do you get three of the top guys at a position or go out and get eight guys who fill things out. I think it is going to be more of the eight. Clearly with all the cap room last year and to only come out with a punter, clearly that was not good enough and I think the team suffered from that.”
It’s an interesting thought that Joe has never really pondered too much, but it does make sense. The Bucs roster, aside from the defensive line and maybe wide receiver, has no depth to speak of, not even backups for Josh Freeman at quarterback.
Clayton went on to say that whenever there is a coaching change, a team generally has 20-25 changes in the roster. Given how many players gave half-efforts during the grotesque 10-game losing streak that resulted in Raheem Morris being jettisoned, that number could be more like 25 than 20 with Greg Schiano at the helm.
So, yeah, Dominik may be going more for quantity than quality.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Need starting LT, LG, C, & RT no one else but Davin Joseph should feel safe. Get Bob Bostad some pro bowl talent and watch what a great offensive line coach can do. It all starts up front and our O-line stank it up last year.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Exactly my thought process. We need depth on this team not a whole slew of top notch FA’s. I predict one or two splash signings and then the rest will be depth players that will upgrade the players that we cut.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
We’re not cutting Penn. If we sign Hicks and move Zuttah to center we’ll be fine. Definitely need some depth for the O-line but if we run the ball more Trueblood will be fine at RT. Our O-line looked so bad because the opposing defense knew exactly what play we were going to run before every snap. Hell, everybody did.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
So we should get rid of our Pro-Bowl LT? Really? If we should get rid of our Pro-Bowlers, what should we do with our non-Pro-Bowlers? You do realize we have to have 53 players on the active roster right?
February 29th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@Winsconsin Bucs Fan Whats all the hate for Donald Penn about. Hes arguably one of the most underrated LT in the NFL. We could do a whole lot worst then Penn.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Whats the use of getting mediocre depth when your starters suck….this team needs a few talented free agents!
February 29th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
If this be the case, WTF is it gonna take for the Glazers to sign a 1st tier free agent?
0-27? We’re already on a 0-10 streak for Christ Sake!
February 29th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Yeah Carl Nicks isn’t nearly as good as any guards we have! They go the cheap route after last season they can kiss this fanbase good bye!
February 29th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
@JB….Nobody said they aren’t going to sign ANY top FA’s. My gosh…quit being a baby and read. It said they aren’t going after the top tier FA’s they are going after depth but did Dominik say this or did Schiano say this???!! This is the opinion of one guy from ESPN and all of a sudden your wetting your pants. I believe they will go after depth but they will probably make one or two splash signings. Don’t forget…opinions are like #@!holes, everybody has one. Doesn’t mean this guy is right.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
25, bare minimum – if they are good enough for rahrah morris, they are not good enough.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
@ Everyone
We’re 2 weeks away from free agency. No one knows what is going to happen. Enough speculation already. Joe, I respect what you do and this is a slow newsday. I don’t know how you are able to fill these articles for the next 2 weeks.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
@Bobby
You said it all!
February 29th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Penn’s “matador blocking, minus the red cape, is my problem with him, he got paid and quit trying. Bob Bostad can even get him back to pro bowl if he can get him to try.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
half the team needs to be cut and replaced with 70 million in free agents. If Glazers don’t spend a minimum of 55 million on free agents then they are who they are.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Uh, he actually made the pro bowl AFTER he got paid buddy. Get your facts straight before you start making accusations that someone quit. He had a couple not so great games late in the year (who on our team didn’t), but perhaps you forgot all the great DE’s he faced – and completely shut out. Ask Freeney how good he is. Every LT gives up a sack or two. Hello, they are going against the best pass rushers in the game. Most of Penn’s sacks he gave up were blown assignments, which unfortunately are most likely a result of poor coaching.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Joe keep the updates and speculation comin … It only gets better from here
February 29th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Heard the Steelers are going to release Ward. Anyone think we could bring him in to help ?
February 29th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Wisconsin- apparently, the hypothesis I made , while in Wisconsin, has proven true
” looking at fat, cottage cheese thighed Wisconsin Women destroys huge amounts of brain cells.” first theorized by me, 8 years ago, during a brief visit to dairyland.
Your continued rants against our best OLineman prove that, if it’s from Wisconsin, and it isn’t cheese- ignore it.
IF we acquired Nicks, abd moved the talented but slightly undersized Zuttah to Center- our OLine would be exceptional( Wisconsin- that means “good”)
A new RT would be the next move, but not urgent. Think we have a couple young tackles that could step up.
As far as “the Professor” predicting Dom going cheap- no psychic abilities required there! This team has been the cheapest in the league for the last 7 years!! Cheapest player payroll, cheapest Coaching staff! No reason to expect changes! Dom is talking alot, but that’s about all he does- talk
We’ll probably sign some third string scrubs, draft some injured or injury prone guys, and dive into FA by signing a longsnapper.
Oh, I forgot- we’ll sign Gino Hayes to a huge, long term deal. Gotta reward him for do nothing!!
No wonder we are still trying to hire a staff!
Meybe they’ll surprise me, once FA starts. But they are already spewing the same retoric
February 29th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Our best O lineman is Penn LMFAO Davin Joseph is night and day. Our o line will be night and day better because of a coach from where? UW 🙂
February 29th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Personally, I challenge Clayton to show me an instance where a new coach was hired and he replaced 20 guys on the roster that off season.
As far as I know, that has never happened to any NFL team.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Also, as long as the drones keep saying to move Zuttah to center, I will keep saying they are wrong. We can use our second pick on one, have himback up Faine this year and. Start him next year.
Zuttah won’t suddenly become consistantly good by switching to center. You people are fooling yourselves. He’s depth. A starter in case of injury.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Alright- ya got me there! Big believer in our new O- line coach! Wisconsin has always had a great OLine
Joseph is our best run blocker, but is a very average pass blocker. Penn consistently grades out above average in both categories. If both were FAs, Penn would have 90% of the league courting him. Joseph would draw interest, but he wouldn’t be nearly the hot commodity that Penn is.
I actually liked Wisconsin- damn, you guys know how to drink Beer! But wouldnt wanna swap the Florida girls for the Wisconsin ones!
February 29th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Pete- worst back 7 in the league, and you wanna draft RBs and Guards??
What, you don’t EVER want this team to win a game??
He’ll, let’s just draft 7 QBs and be done with it. If we are just gonna ignore what the team needs, 7 QBs will work! Or better yet, 7 kickers!
February 29th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Capt. Tim
Where did I say we should draft a RB or Guard?
What are you drinking tonight, pal??? Lol.
I have consistantly said we need to go CB, LB & Safety in the draft. The only exception is my suggestion of a Center with our 2nd pick.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Yes John, all we need is a bunch of backups to our backups.
If you don’t try to get the absolute best free agent at as many positions as you can afford, you’re kidding yourself. I hope and pray Dominick has learned his lesson and doesn’t make another huge mistake. Quality is far better than Quantity. Quality wins but it usually takes time. If they get 4 good draft picks and 5 top tier FA’s (Steven Jackson) they will be in much better position to compete. If they get 8 – 10 mediocre players they will be last in the Division again and probably get the number 1 pick in 2013. Brilliant! Lets just be the Lions and get the top pick every year.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Oh, Pete- I told Clayton you challenged him!
He said” what the hell is a Pete Dutcher??”
February 29th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
I still don’t believe anything about this untested staff yet, and Dom should have went out the door with Raheem. He really dodged a bullet, contract or not. Dominick needs to go shopping like the Eagles do (almost) and get several big guns to straighten things out. Quality Vets. Dominick’s big splash will be going back to get Barrett Ruud at $7Mil/yr.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Pete- ok, those three make sense- not the center so much though. We Have Ted Larsen, who played Center at NC state his entire college career.
I thought you were on the “draft The RB!” club- my bad
I’m not drinking. I friggin should be! But I’m not! Lol
February 29th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
The twerp I mean professor is just going strictly off the last 5 yrs of free agency spending. You are what past record shows.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
coming out with only a punter was bad?
really?
never consdered that.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
To all you people who THINK/ASSUME that the Bucs are going to get any top FA’s this off-season I have this to say:
YOU’RE LIVING IN A DREAM WORLD.
The Glazers haven’t really spent any money since 2008. Sure they’ve given Penn and Winslow big contracts but come on now. Leopards don’t change their spots and the Bucs could have $100 million of cap space – doesn’t mean that they are going to spend it boys.
The 2010 Bucs got LUCKY with a crappy schedule and people taking them for granted. The Bucs don’t have enough ‘true’ NFL starters as the team currently stands.
When it comes to free agency for the Bucs you guys are like a newborn baby at the Mons Venus!
Free Agency for the Bucs will be like this……crickets…..crickets…..crickets….
February 29th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
The rule change on salary cap spending has to change everything though. They have to spend the money by next year. Period. You guys can continue to complain about what happened in the past, or buckle up and look forward to what is coming.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Word problem for the Algebra gifted fans: If the Glazer’s spend $2, then how many top end FA’s can they buy for $1 and how many low end players can they buy for $0.50?
Solution:
February 29th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Simple answer.
Solution: 2 top FA’s at $1 or 1 top FA at $1 and 2 low FA’s at $0.50 or 4 low FA’s at $0.50 or no top FA’s at $1 and no FA’s at $0.50 and they pocket the $2.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
This Clayton guy looks almost as geekish as that third Glazer boy.
Im confused as to why we need so much FA help, I thought rockstar had us stacked.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
MichiganBuc- ya might wanna read that lil document! It’s on a sliding, prorated scale. By the time the Glazers have to pay the same as the rest of the teams- we will all be dead of old age.
Nope- they got a loop hole- and they will use it- hello, another 5 years of lowest payroll!
February 29th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
The correct answer is no top FA’s at $1 and no FA’s at $0.50 and the Glazer’s pocket the $2
February 29th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Eric- he does! It was all Raheems fault, according to Dom!
I expect the ProBowl will look like a Buc home game this year!
February 29th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
If Dominik doesn’t want to be fired he will not only sign some top FA’s but add depth as well. Clayton is only guessing like he always does and he’s just going from history. Dominik has to get this fan base on board again and signing quantity vs quality won’t get it done. I’d rather 2 top FA’s than 10 mediocre guys.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
@Capt. Time
I would love to. Where exactly could I find this document to read?
February 29th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Except there will be people in the stands, of course.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Capt. Tim* sry dunno how that e got in there
February 29th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
NFL labor agreement- google that, it should get ya there. Then go to section about Payroll cap- minimum.
But you won’t love it, unless you love reading legal Jargon. But you should be able to get the gist of it.
There is an easier read at sporting news, in archives, that is in laymen terms.
We all hoped that the new agreement would force the Glazers to spend enough to field a competitive team. It was a false hope. It leaves them a way to stay cheap for the foreseeable future. Several posters have detailed it previously- I hope one of those intelligent types will detail it here.
Im personally to lazy to decipher all of that, but am grateful to the JoeBuc readers who will do that unpleasant task!
February 29th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Brad- I thought that last year, when we had the same lousy back 7. No way I believed we would try to win with that bunch!
Yet, we did! And had a losing season, as I said we would( didn’t think we would suck THAT BAD, though!)
I don’t think Dom is worried about getting fired- because he is doing exactly what he’s told to do- go as cheap as humanly possible.
I think be should worry- because he will be the next scape goat! It’s an old scam- blame somebody, fire him, proclaim massive changes!
Do nothing, the blame another guy
“what? The check my partner wrote you Bounced!! Sorry, here, let me write you a NEW check, to cover that one!
Kinda how this franchise has been ran lately- broken promises and bad checks!
Hope it changes- bet it don’t
February 29th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
I think I can see Clayton’s pony tail.
February 29th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Are you guys REALLY that stupid that you think Dominik’s getting fired has anything to do with the Bucs winning?
Dominik’s job #1 is this: To make $$$ for the 1% Glazer Family. That’s it.
The payroll bottom does NOT have to be implemented until the END of the 2013 season. Having $65 or $100 million is cap space doesn’t matter to the Bucs.
Clayton is going by past history of the Bucs and as I’ve said again leopards don’t change their spots and Glazers don’t go out and spend on free agents – unless they are punters that is.
February 29th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Donald Penn is a top 10 tackle in the NFL, anyone who thinks he should be replaced clearly knows nothing.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
@Pete
Found this on ESPN as far as roster turnover from end of 2009 to start of 2012 season:
A few numbers within the numbers:
Five players who started for Seattle in Week 17 of the 2009 season remain with the team. Cleveland (six), Buffalo (seven), Carolina (eight), Washington (eight) and New Orleans (eight) are the only other teams with fewer than 10. The Saints were an exception because they rested some starters in that final game.
Seattle (five), Detroit (five), St. Louis (five) and Baltimore (six) have the fewest backups from 2009 Week 17 remaining on their rosters. Philadelphia (seven) and Washington (seven) were not far behind.
The most consistently strong teams over the past few years naturally rank near the bottom in turnover. They’ve had good players, for the most part, and kept a lot of them.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
Definitely expect some substantial turnover, not sure if it’ll be 20-25 players, but could be close.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
I’m sure the bottom half of our roster will look very different this year, but there absolutely needs to be at least 5 new starters combined on both sides of the ball. Probably two on offense and three on defense. It’s going to take probably a third of our available cap space just to build depth behind our starters.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Is it just me or does John Clayton look creepier and creepier each passing year? He seriously looks like he’s a cross between the crypt keeper & a decaying alien; plus he has some weirdo pony tail on top of it all. He literally freaks me out now when he pops up on ESPN.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
@Matthew,
LOL, Always think the same thing when I see him, except it’s the CryptKeeper and Al Davis.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:15 am
@ FlBoy84
I was talking strictly in the year the coach came in, which is what Clayton inferred.
Over 2-3 years is certainly possible.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:20 am
@Capt. Tim
The reason I mentioned center was the link below. The guy reminded me of Sapp’s attitude.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/29/david-molk-im-the-best-center-in-the-draft-and-its-stupid-to-say-im-not/
March 1st, 2012 at 1:21 am
I went to high school with ms. watson. Her parents live right down the road from me.
March 1st, 2012 at 2:00 am
Details, FIRETHECANNONS, details!
March 1st, 2012 at 2:06 am
The 2013 salary floor is not as unforgiving as Cap’n Tim suggests, but he is right. It is a rolling average and not a hard floor as everyone seems to think!
http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/2/1/2763259/spending-and-the-cba-salary-floor-does-not-go-into-effect-until-2013
March 1st, 2012 at 3:17 am
There will be a team specific spending floor of 89% of the salary cap from 2013 onward, but it will be accounted for in two four-year periods: 2013-2016 and 2017-2020.
That will be the key. They must average “at least” 89% of the cap over the 4 year period of 2013 – 2016. That really means they can be at 80% for a year or two, then at the cap the last couple and still comply. So, they can still hold the bottom of the payroll line until 2015 if they so choose. Doing so will force the spending in 2015 and 2016 though. That still could mean 3 years of low payroll.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:57 am
I really don’t understand all this salary cap talk. THEY HAVE TO SPEND MONEY. Is that so difficult to comprehend?? Now, that doesn’t mean they have to listen to their fan base and spend stupidly. They realize that they need help but primarily they need depth. If we can keep our D-line healthy we have a solid front 4. However, that’s a big IF so we need depth. We need two corners. We will probably get one in the first round and another in FA. With T-Jack, Grimm, & Black we are pretty good at safety but we’ll probably bring in some competition there also.
The greatest need is LB in my opinion. I expect us to bring in a vet MLB in FA and draft another OLB. Hayes will be gone and Quincy will be used as backup unless he begins to excel under the newly applied pressure that this coaching staff will bring.
The cure to all problems is winning and don’t think that the Glazers aren’t aware of that. Doesn’t matter how pessimistic the fans are, how empty the seats are,….start to win and the fans get back on board and the seats start to fill up. I believe the Glazers are in it to win it and I don’t expect them to spend in FA just to please the fans…I expect them to spend in FA because they want to win.
March 1st, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Bobby- no, they don’t
The salary minimum doesnt go into effect until 2013. Then, it is based on a four year scale. They only have to spend 80% the first two years to be compliant
Do you think that it’s an accident, that we have had the lowest player payroll, and lowest paid coaching staff, in the NFL, the last four years?
Lowest player payroll for last 7 years?
It’s not an accident, a mistake, or an oversight.
It is a well orchestrated strategy. Which Dom is now the chief official .
NFL football is a product. Not a religion, not a political affiliation
The Glazers continue to give us the very cheapest product they possibly can, and are making Maximum profit. They have done so for nearly a decade
While I admire your trying to be positive, I’m afraid you are ignoring the truth, history, and the facts in the matter.
It’s blind faith, which is what they are counting on, as they continue selling us Spam, and telling us it’s Prime rib!
March 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 am
No, it’s because the CBA was in limbo and who in their right mind would spend a bunch of money on long term contracts when the future benefit of that expenditure was in doubt?? No smart businessman.