Bill Polian’s Do’s and Don’ts In Free Agency
March 4th, 2015
The free agency dinner bell rings in six days
Soon-to-be Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian penned a long free agency guide behind a paywall at ESPN.com.
A couple of things really jumped out at Joe.
Polian’s top three do’s and don’ts were as follows:
| 1. | Do fill needs and make sure the player has a specific scheme fit |
| 2. | Don’t sign a player and change his techniques |
| 3. | Do know the player you are signing very well |
Joe read this and immediately thought of ghastly and ghostly defensive end Michael Johnson, the Bucs’ biggest prize in last year’s free agency.
Johnson was not a scheme fit and admitted he had a learning curve lining up much wider than he did in Cincinnati. And per the stunning comments of Johnson’s own agent, the Bucs didn’t know Johnson very well.
Also, Polian identified and graded 100+ viable players expected to hit the free agency market. Mason Foster and Dane Fletcher, two middle linebackers the current Bucs regime thought could handle the position as a starter, didn’t even make the list. And neither did Da’Quan Bowers.
Adrian Clayborn, however, got a passing grade.
March 4th, 2015 at 11:33 am
@Joe,
AP listed Tampa as one of his 5 targets… You can delete the link just wanted to share it.
March 4th, 2015 at 11:37 am
I think if your Adrian clayborn your going to make the bucs regret not signing you to atleast a one year deal which would have been smart to do even if you draft a rookie, how many rookies outside of first round are day one starters and ready to go mechanic wise…..the learning curve is just as big for pass rushers..jac smith has been around 3 years and this year the light finally came on, once again lovie is making a mistake by getting rid of veterans….im sure the guy will play hard for that long term deal or even trade value
March 4th, 2015 at 11:47 am
I think it’s key that we resign clayborn to a cheap incentive based contract. Injuries have been an issue for him, but he’s shown the desire to be great that I don’t see from guys like Bowers or Johnson
March 4th, 2015 at 11:48 am
Don’t project…. like sign a back up and think he will do the same as a starter like collins and mccown ( although mccown had an oc and line in chicago).
March 4th, 2015 at 11:53 am
Lovie and lapdog screwed up so bad with this bum. The only possible way they can make it worse is by not cutting his sorry ass. Going to be very telling because if they don’t cut him they are clearly just trying to save face but losing all credibility. You are send a message to all the actual football players on that team that if you get paid enough you are not accountable. Fans should read that and also take offense that Lovie and lapdog care more about bruised egos than improving the worst team in football.
March 4th, 2015 at 11:59 am
Clayborn should be retained for minimal money. He could at least be a rotational player. Otherwise, Licht and Lovie need to do their homework and bring in guys that fit right in. They projected too much with most of their signings last year.
March 4th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
sethb22 Says:
March 4th, 2015 at 11:33 am
@Joe,
AP listed Tampa as one of his 5 targets… You can delete the link just wanted to share it.
________________________________________________________________
Cool, doesn’t matter slightly and trading for him would be a disaster. Other than that…
March 4th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
I would keep MJ through at least training camps. The 2 million risk is far less than the potential he may have if the injury and scheme learning curve are true.
March 4th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
I’m so glad I don’t have to see Bowers or Clayborn in a Bucs uniform ever again.
More Dominik busts.
March 4th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
The bucs can easily replace Clayborn. Surely there are 6th 7th and undrafted free agents that Lovie can find to replace Clayborn’s skill sets.
#1 able to be exposed in screens
#2 able to be stonewalled by TE’s
#3 able to give no QB pressure
#4 able to give a couple of late hits so bucs fans can call him a ” beast ”
if you guys are still not convinced we can make him wear fake dreads so it looks like his is “hustling and giving his all” with that non-stop motor, which means he cannot get there!
March 4th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Lovie and Licht projected too much with the free agents they signed last year?
What do you think is happening with Media Mariota? He’s being projected because nobody thinks he’s ready for the NFL today.
I can see him in the huddle now, not knowing how to call a play and the guys around him losing confidence in him as their starter one OTA at a time.
Bust.
March 4th, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Is this an article on “managing an NFL team for dummies”? …No $hit… If L+L need to be reminded of what should be fundamentals, we’re in for another long year..
March 4th, 2015 at 1:16 pm
@the bucs realist LMAO…
March 4th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
And who is responsible contractually for final personnel decisions???
Lovie Smith.
I’m convinced that given enough rope Mr Smith will continue to hang himself because he’s NOT a good player personnel guy. He’s a good DCoord type with a above average resume because of a good staff and surrounding veterans.
This year FA and draft will say a lot about him.
Again I don’t like the situation with Licht because he’s attached to Lovie.
March 4th, 2015 at 2:47 pm
“…Adrian Clayborn, however, got a passing grade…”
@Realist, lol man, come on and show AC some love bro!
March 4th, 2015 at 4:33 pm
(a classic)
mikeh Said:
March 4th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
subhuman? not a word genius.
March 4th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Lurker get a dictionary…and make sure you look stuff up before spouting your pearls of wisdom.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subhuman
March 4th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
hey fool, that was a direct quote from mikeh hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
March 4th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Sorry I cant distinguish between your idiotic posts…you say so many dumb things its hard to tell when your talking or mikeh…
I got to hand it to you and the 2 brain cells in your head that must have collided when you came up with the nick “lurker”…so brilliant.
March 4th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww you were shown to be wrong and all you can do is namecall.
you silly little person. away with you.
jameis christ is coming to resurrect the buccaneers and be the franchise savior.
March 4th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
ps how many names are you going to go by?
March 4th, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Michael Johnson played a wide 9 technique at Georgia Tech. He was very accustomed to lining up far outside and running the arc around the LT… at Cincy he played more of a 5 and 6 technique… who’d a thunk he would’ve struggled doing something he did well in college?
March 4th, 2015 at 8:41 pm
@Joe
Could Curtis Lofton b coming in to replace Foster? NO is apparently shopping him and his almost 10 mil salary to help try to get them and their 21 mil ovr the cap selves back undr it…I wouldn’t trade 4 him, but at 21 mil ovr the cap, he’s bound to b released.