Thank You, Scott Cohen!
December 3rd, 2014
Former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik talks about signing Danny Lansanah
*Updated: Bucs fans need to stay positive in the face of a toilet flush of a season.
And one name that soothes fans’ ears is Danny Lansanah, the linebacker being talked about as the NFL’s most improved player.
Lansanah joined the Bucs one year ago tomorrow.
With Lansanah flourishing as a versatile starter for the Bucs, playing all three positions and racking up 13 solo tackles against the Bengals on Sunday, Joe thought it was time to reach out to the man who signed Lansanah. That would be former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik.
Dominik, now a frequent studio analyst for ESPN, gave much of the credit to Scott Cohen, the former Jets assistant general manager, who Dominik hired in July last year to be the Bucs’ “senior personnel advisor.” He is now listed as the team’s director of pro scouting.
Cohen still holds that position under the Jason Licht regime.
With the Bucs searching for a linebacker to replace injured starter and special teams ace Jonathan Casillas last season, it was Cohen, per Dominik, who recommended little-known Lansanah, who had been in the defunct UFL before landing on the Jets’ practice squad.
Dominik said he popped in the available film on Lansanah and saw a player with legitimate special teams talent, a player who could contribute in that area immediately. The Bucs liked Lansanah’s “thick frame” and speed. The question, Dominik said, was whether Lansanah could develop into a contributing linebacker.
Lansanah, then 28 years old, was signed and finished 2013 well.
The rest is history. Lovie Smith praised Lansanah profusely on his radio show Monday night as a guy who has not only performed but learned exceptionally quickly. He’s thrived at all three linebacker positions and with their unique assignments.
*Updated: Lansanah is expected to be an exclusive rights free agent after this season, much like Bobby Rainey was last year. That makes it easy — and inexpensive — to lock him up for 2015.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Foster will be long gone after this season IMO. Maybe Lansanah gets a look at MLB?
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:30 pm
I’ve been saying this since the pre-season. He’s a stud. LVD, Foster, and Lansanah is a solid core of LB’s. Someone brought up on these comments the other day that LVD should stay WLB move Lansanah to MLB and Foster to SLB. That would be something to look at.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:37 pm
Thank god for schiano men or we’d really be in trouble.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Well now that Cohen is pro director and the only player they “found” is Smith it’s no surprise that L&L had nothing to do with Danny or Smith. 1 for 20 in trades, free agents and draft. Sad, sad times.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:43 pm
Exactly DB55.
I would put Lansanah at the Mike and move Foster over to the strong side. Foster gets toasted in coverage too frequently.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:49 pm
Chit even lemon looked good. Kudos to you mr hardy Nickerson. Job well done.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:52 pm
I would bet money that Lansanah’s improvement is directly related to the coaching of Hardy Nickerson and Lovie Smith. Once we get some more coachable, dedicated, and hungry players on our defense, and a new coordinator(Rod Marinelli can’t get here fast enough), we’ll have a top 3 defense year in and year out. One capable of carrying even the most average of offense’s to victory, preferably one led by a young franchise Qb.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:53 pm
By the way, I think the Joes meant “Casillas” and not “Banks” when referring to the injured linebacker.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Joe can’t be certain of what you’re seeing. There have been problems like this seen on CBS sites, iHeartMedia sites and other majors. Wouldn’t worry about it unless you start downloading things. –Joe
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Joe cannot verify your claims, which may be malicious, therefore they cannot stay. –Joe
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Anyone find out if he is cheating ?
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Lansanah is the logical fit for Mike next season. I think he should be given a tryout starting this Sunday. Mason Foster is at the end of his rookie deal and has done little to prove he should stick…though he has been playing the best ball of his career since the bye.
Lansanah may prove to be an excellent Mike LB in the mold of Shelton Quarles who kicked around the CFL for a few seasons after getting cut by the Dolphins and others then came to the Bucs as a special teams guy, then Sam LB, then made the switch to Mike. The rest is history, Super Bowl history. Damn good LB.
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Hahaaaa, I’ve definitely been wondering ‘if he’s been cheating’…. I wonder why????
December 3rd, 2014 at 4:02 pm
And Foster should definitely be re-signed. There’s no reason to create ANOTHER hole by getting rid of a solid NFL starter, like we foolishly did with our OLine in the offseason. LVD, Foster, & Lansanah is a solid trio. Draft/sign Mariota, Oline, a nickel corner, a safety, and we’re playoff bound next year.
December 3rd, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Lansanah was a great addition; no doubt.
But at 29, I would still grab a few more linebacker prospects to groom.
(2nd Round)
ILB
• Denzel Perryman Miami (Fla.) 5-11/242
(5th Round)
WLB
• Junior Sylvestre Toledo 6-0/222
December 3rd, 2014 at 5:42 pm
Man, how quickly people forget the year Mason Foster had in 2013. Clearly he isn’t suited for MLB in this defense, but surely Lovie can find a way to fit him in. He is absolutely a starting LB in this league and we should keep him.
December 3rd, 2014 at 10:42 pm
I’m happy to keep Foster – but I want to see him have to fight for his starting job against some real competition. (and lose). IMO, saying we are “set” with David, Lansanah and Foster as our starters is not good enough. Bucs need an upgrade at starting MLB
Foster is a pretty solid tackling LBer and has some skills – but his coverage abilities are not adequate compared to what is needed for this defense to work properly.
The MLB position in this defense is the most important position after Undertackle, WLB and DE spots. The cover 2 MLB needs to be able to provide solid coverage over the middle 10-25 yards downfield multiple times a game – as well as be a force and an enforcer against the run or short passes in the 0-10 yard range. Foster is decent at the later – but he’s not there yet with the coverage skills and may never get there.
Go watch some 1997>’99 Hardy Nickerson tape to see how the position should really be played. Quarles did a good job at MLB as well once he got the nuances dialed in. Those 2 guys had the talent and the brains to lock that position down and play it right. Glad they are both in the bldg but neither can suit up. We need a MLB like that for this D to dominate. We need Lovie to find his new Urlacher.
If only we had been in a position to draft Luke Kuechly 2 years ago instead of….. oh wait…. LOL
Thanks DOM!!
December 3rd, 2014 at 11:34 pm
I think Lovie needs to coach, and Licht needs to manage. Teams usually get in trouble as those lines get blurred.
Sure there’s the Belicheats… but ya, i don’t need to explain..