Geoff Schwartz And The Bucs
March 2nd, 2014
Is Geoff Schwartz a free agent guard Jason Licht should sign?
Yes, the clock is ticking down to the ringing of the dinner bell which opens the floodgates to free agency at 4 p.m. on March 11. In fact, tomorrow, March 3 at 4 p.m., is the deadline for teams to tag players. So Bucs fans should know by the end of business day tomorrow a potential pool of free agents Bucs general manager Jason Licht may target.
If Licht actually channels the same thought process as the numbers crunchers at ProFootballFocus.com, then he’ll go after Chiefs free agent guard Geoff Schwartz.
Joe isn’t sure why or how Davin Joseph has gotten under the skin of the stat geeks but these cats lay awake at night not dreaming of Star Trek journeys, but tossing and turning constantly mumbling Joseph’s name, as if he sent them a virus that corrupted their Xbox.
Peter Damilatis believes if Licht signs Kansas City free agent Geoff Schwartz, then he may get a restful night for a change, hoping that Schwartz would replace Joseph.
Free agent fix: After overpaying and overcommitting to a former first round pick in Joseph, the Buccaneers may want to switch things up with the ever-underappreciated Geoff Schwartz. The journeyman backup was never a heralded prospect, but all he’s done is excel whenever he’s been asked to step on the field. His dominant run blocking would be a good complement to the skillset of breakout right tackle Demar Dotson, who shines more as a pass protector.
Frankly, Joe is of the mind it is left guard the Bucs should be more worried about (or right tackle). As much as Joe wants to see Carl Nicks play, to bank on that is beyond foolish. He hasn’t played in a year and a half.
If Schwartz doesn’t try to overprice himself out of the running, then it appears he may be a nice pick-up. If there is an area Joe feels the Bucs will be looking for value picks in free agency, it would be offensive line.
March 2nd, 2014 at 9:09 am
Fine with me….we need lots of help.
March 2nd, 2014 at 9:19 am
It all starts in the trenches, ask Atlanta? They are also retooling their offensive line. It’s not the sexiest think to do but a necessity if a team wants to compete. In fact, I bet Atlanta selects one of the OT with their first pick.
March 2nd, 2014 at 9:46 am
Need a guards in the worst way
March 2nd, 2014 at 9:56 am
Every day Joe is whetting our appetite with the many good choices we have to fill the many holes that we have at the Bucs. But the reality is that we can’t have our cake and eat it too!
I’ve given up trying to keep up with cap space as I’ve read since the NFL raised the cap to 133mil, we have about 19mil in 2014 cap space. That is not going to go very far if we want a quality DE edge rusher and make any starter-level improvements in the O-Line.
When the cap goes up, salaries go up. I fail to see the incentive in getting Joseph and Penn to play better by cutting their salaries. So I think we will see more 2nd tier – depth or so-called value pick-ups than the Alex Macks, De la Puentes, Dietrich-Smiths, Alberts, or Schwartzs that are out there. The Ravens are even going to let Eugene Monroe test FA. When FA opens, we’re going to be surprised at some of the prime beef that is going to be there. The Bucs aren’t the only team that have to make tough decisions.
I could be wrong, but I think Licht is going to have to make some tough decisions right out of the box. With only 5 draft picks, this is going to be interesting. Not going to get into the Revis debate – done with that!
March 2nd, 2014 at 9:57 am
If we don’t make changes on the o line we won’t win 5 games this yeAr- remember we have a 2nd year qb learning a new system.
March 2nd, 2014 at 9:57 am
Big money has to pay off in gamebreaking plays to counter that injury risk that is present for all players. While O-line is important, you don’t have that, particularly in the pass-happy NFL. A stable of affordable o-linemen makes more sense than the high-priced “pro-bowler” linemen the Bucs have sought in the past.
March 2nd, 2014 at 10:01 am
Why is this guy so targeted? He is a career backup who couldn’t start over Jeff Allen (awful) for the Chiefs in 2013. If he’s your sixth guy, cool. But as a starter you’re just looking to replace him in 2014.
March 2nd, 2014 at 10:25 am
Bill, I TOTALLY agree with you. This shouldn’t even be an article except it’s the off season and Joe 2 had nothing else to write about!
If Schwartz is starting for the Bucs look for another losing season. He’s good for depth only
March 2nd, 2014 at 11:08 am
Start working on the O line by drafting Lewan please.
March 2nd, 2014 at 11:11 am
What if we can get Mack 1st, then trade Revis and a 2nd to move back in quickly for Lewan? hmm…
March 2nd, 2014 at 11:23 am
Revis ain’t going nowhere.
March 2nd, 2014 at 11:31 am
I know…just a thought out loud
March 2nd, 2014 at 11:37 am
We could use a good Guard backup so nice article, Joe. We need to cut our backup center who was a bust there and at LG. Meredith can’t be our only Guard backup.
March 2nd, 2014 at 11:47 am
One expensive guy is not enough. Two cheaper guys won’t win!
March 2nd, 2014 at 12:07 pm
@BoJom
I am sure that is what Jets fans said last year.
March 2nd, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Dotson was our best lineman last year…….stop worrying about RT
March 2nd, 2014 at 1:48 pm
(Draft):
• Taylor Lewan
• Billy Turner
• JaWuan James
• Spencer Long
Sign Free Agents
• Alex Mack
• Geoff Schwartz
• Mike Pollak
New Rotation
• LT –Taylor Lewan
• LG -Carl Nicks- (Billy Turner)
• C -Alex Mack-(Mike Pollack)
• RG-Geoff Schwartz- (Jace Daniels)
• RT-Demar Dotson- (JaWuan James)
@Joe
Note: (Another Tedford Connection)-Tedford, attempted to recruit Geoff Schwartz to play for the Golden Bears. Wounded but not defeated. Tedford would later recruit Geoff’s younger brother Mitchell Bryan Schwartz.
Mitchell Schwartz (First-team All-Pac-12 2011), was drafted by the Cleveland Browns (Round: 2 / Pick: 37-2012). Where he plays next to, you guessed it (C) Alex Mack. Small world indeed.
March 2nd, 2014 at 3:21 pm
LuvmyBucs that sounds great for Madden but how are we going to afford any defensive upgrades?
March 2nd, 2014 at 5:03 pm
@Espo
When I last checked releasing the underperforming/overpaid offensive line talent, +the potential trade of one Darrell Revis. Will lead to an access to over $55 million in usable cap space. Plenty of cap space to make necessary changes across the board. Wouldn’t you say?
March 2nd, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Lovey has always preferred to take O-linemen in Free Agency rather than in the draft. yes they have drafted them and sometimes high in the past, but lovey prefers to have NFL game tape on the guys he brings in.
They may draft on late, but look for 2-3 to be brought in from free agency.