Special Love For Jason Williams
January 25th, 2015
Joe knows the Bucs-junkie audience here is drooling for any juicy piece of Bucs insight on this football-free Sunday.
No, the Pro Bowl isn’t football, and no Buccaneer is playing anyway.
So Joe wanted to share something he learned about the Bucs’ special teams recently. Tampa Bay is very high on the work done by late-season pickup Jason Williams, a linebacker cut by Carolina in early December.
The Bucs snatched up the special teams ace, and he was considered an absolute standout for Tampa Bay in the three games he played special teams.
A 2009 third-round pick by Dallas, Williams’ never panned out as a linebacker, but he’s survived in the league for his special teams prowess. He was with Carolina in 2010 and 2011, and then picked up by Carolina in 2012, after the Eagles cut him.
In late November, the Panthers had two punts blocked en route to losing to Minnesota, and Williams was cut after that game. Joe went back and watched those blocked punts, and Williams doesn’t appear to be the guy at fault. So Joe can’t pin cutting Williams on that.
But that’s all old news. At 6-1, 245 pounds, Williams, 28, made a couple of starts for Ron Rivera at weakside linebacker. Those already making 2015 roster charts should have his penciled on their boards.
January 25th, 2015 at 11:44 am
Awwwwww I was hoping for another “Watch Out For Jameis” article.
January 25th, 2015 at 11:51 am
Joe, seems Licht can find these hidden gems, which is GREAT. Low cost, high reward guys can add needed depth. I hope Licht can make better additions in free agency.
January 25th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
So let’s draft Perryman!! We solve our MLB problems and perhaps get to move Mason Foster back to OLB where he might actually shine.
If we had Foster/Lansannah and Perryman and LD we’d have a solid LB corps.
Add in players like Williams and you at least pick up some veteran depth.
January 25th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
We need guys like this…..Russell Shepard…..Keith Tandy has been serviceable….we need to find a KR/PR that can also serve as a WR……
January 25th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Randall Cobb is an unrestricted FA going into next season. We’ve got the money. Teams will be fighting over him. Good return guy. I don’t think Green Bay can afford to keep him unless he offers a discount to stay. We have the money to spend. I think that would be a wise pickup…OR….trade atlanta for Hester. New Regime may be willing to move him and we got Koetter…
January 25th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Sign Cobb, suh. And Draft the lines. And qb. If we had suh and mccoy we instantly become one of the most feared front 4 in football
January 25th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
We gotta at least think about signing Suh.
I dont care at it takes.
Cut Mankins, cut Goldson, cut V-Jax.
Sign Suh.
Oh my god.
Talk about a scary ass defense!!
January 25th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Suh and McCoy next to each other would be a nightmare for the NFC south. Can’t see it happening, unfortunately.
Talking Craaaaazy talent up front.
January 25th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
If Suh leaves Detroit, sign him. Suh is not leading Detroit.
January 25th, 2015 at 2:47 pm
leaving*
January 25th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Supposedly the Bucs were interested in Williams when he came out of college and were even reported to have spent considerable time with him during his Pro Day. At his Pro Day he showed fantastic movement skills and really looked to have what it took to be a T-2 in space-type LB. He ran a 4.49 at his Pro Day, and jumped 39″, as well as putting up 26 reps of 225 at 241 lbs. He definitely has the physical ability to be a standout either on special teams or defense in the NFL.
January 25th, 2015 at 4:59 pm
Williams does add depth to the linebacker position even if he is much better in special teams, we need to take Denzel Perryman in the 3rd round if available; adding Perryman would immediately bolster our linebacker position. As far as Suh goes, lets be realistic he is probably gonna demand a huge contract and besides do we really need the dirty player that Suh is? To solve our anemic pass rush situation, i think we need to look to free agency and pick-up long time Giant, Jason Pierre-Paul and also draft Shaquille Riddick in the 6th-7th round(This kid could be a beast) And also to the kid that thinks we should cut Jackson, let me ask you this, who would YOU sign to replace Jackson? This is nonsense, we need to keep Jackson along with Evans, Murphy and Herron; maybe pickup Eddie Royal in Free Agency and draft Deontay Greenberry in round 5, also if they can get their hands on Levi Norwood that would be awesome, he should be undrafted due to injury. As for the rest of the draft i think Tampa should take QB, Jameis Winston in the 1st, OT, Cameron Erving in the 2nd, RB, Jeremy Langford in the 4th, CB, Ladarius Gunther in the 5th and OL,Trenton Brown in the 7th.
January 26th, 2015 at 8:51 am
Sign Suh? I hope some of you people saying this aren’t the same ones against drafting Winston. They guy has been suspended how many times and has a reputation for being dirty. I’m just saying, I’m not against signing him, but why are we giving him a pass?