“We Need Playmakers”
February 1st, 2016
Lavonte David is sick of losing.
The Bucs have money to play with as the free agency dinner bell rings in a tad over six weeks (March 15, 4 p.m.).
Listening to the words of Dirk Koetter, Mike Smith and Todd Monken, they are dropping not so subtle hints the Bucs will be active in free agency.
In fact, they have said to build a team you must also utilize free agency.
(No, Twitter smart alecks, this is not a “Captain Obvious” statement. The best general manager in the NFL, Packers yoda Ted Thompson, avoids free agents like the Zika virus. Steelers honcho Kevin Colbert is also leery. So needing free agents to win is not a universal truth.)
The Bucs have plenty of Team Glazer loot to play with under the cap. So it doesn’t take a calculus major to figure out, given the above information, the Bucs are going to try to plug holes, specifically on defense.
This has Bucs linebacker Lavonte David geeked. When Joe caught up with David at a Pro Bowl practice last week in Hawaii, Joe asked David what he wants under the free agency tree.
“Ah, man, bring in somebody who is a great character guy, someone that will fit in with the locker room,” David said. “And obviously, we need a playmaker, man. We need playmakers. We need as much playermakers as we can. You can never have enough. Whoever can come into this locker room and win football games, I am open to it.”
Another hint the Bucs will be shopping next month like it is Black Thursday.
Combine the facts Team Glazer has shown a pattern of impatience with coaches of late, Bucs studs Gerald McCoy and David are in the prime of their careers (David still has not been on a winning team), and the growing unrest among Bucs fans, Koetter and his staff know the sands of the hourglass are running thin.
Koetter and his staff need wins. Now.
Hey, Mario Williams, can you hear the cash register ringing?
February 1st, 2016 at 7:51 am
I would like to see some “nasty” on this team for sure. Love that LVD said it out loud, play-makers, this team needs talent. I agree you take the BPA on draft day. I can not wait and see who the UFA’s are that come in to Tampa. Could be a bad ass offseason.
February 1st, 2016 at 7:53 am
Free agency is here to help us having an immediate winning season.
We need players able to have an impact on this team since training camp.
Kind of younger Logan Mankin, players who can bring a winning and positive attitude since training camp.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:05 am
Maybe those teams who have good players pay them instead of free agaents. Maybe when this team is full of good players there won’t be any cap money because we are playing the players on our roster.
Just makes sense why good teams don’t buy into free agancy in a big way.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:11 am
I am so relieved to hear that Lavonte David is sick of losing. As is the entire Buccaneer fan base.
Actions not words is hopefully what we will see in the near future.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:14 am
I suspect the new coaches will get what they want……
I have maintained that our top needs in FA are WR/DE…..
I would really like to see a WR/KR/PR….and, believe it our not, an upgrade at FB….I know Lane helped Martin become a lead rusher but we didn’t use him as a running or passing option…..he had a grand total of one run and two passes all year.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:15 am
@ wombat
You hit the nail on the head.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:22 am
Calvin Johnson might be available in free agency.
Could you imagine Johsnon, Jackson and Evans on this team????
February 1st, 2016 at 8:22 am
Packers greats
Reggie white (free agent)
Brett Farve ( traded)
Charles Woodson ( free agent)
while the majority is through the draft, even the Packers is not 100%!!!!
February 1st, 2016 at 8:23 am
Wouldn’t hurt to bring in a replacement for Mankins. Waiting on him to make a decision might put us in a lurch. And OGs are not hard to find in free agency. Usually.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:24 am
Bonzai isn’t megatron retiring ?
February 1st, 2016 at 8:24 am
@Joehelldeloxley
While I am 100% in favor of going young, I also believe every unit should have an established veteran to lead it.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:25 am
That was a telling quote. Crazy how a playmaker like Darelle Revis can so easily get run for a couple slack jaw bench warmers like Anthony Collins, Michael Johnson and the great Trash McCown. Hat tip incompetent Lovie Smith and his now legendary visions from the basement couch.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:26 am
@Wombat
I see your point but look at both of our SB teams! Look at what happened to Denver’s D when they added TJ Ward, Aquib Talib, and Demarcus Ware. And for Carolina you have, Olsen, Ginn, Remmers, and Oher really helping that offense. Like the Joe(s) have said, you just need to pick the right players…..easier said then done though…
February 1st, 2016 at 8:31 am
Wombat
NE uses free agency
The key is obvious got years – build your core they the draft and then utilize both draft and FA. Bucs have most the core.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:36 am
I get the desire for FA participation and generally agree with all the observations here.
One thing does frighten me however. We shouldn’t look at the free agency market and say hey we have lots of money let’s spend it. We should target EXACTLY the guys who could help this team without damaging our excellent locker room chemistry…something even LVD pointed.
If we can’t find what we’re looking for do not simply spend money like Lovie did that first year. It’s OK to not spend FA money if the right players are simply not out there.
It scares me if too much money is chasing too little talent. I trust Licht and hope that first year disaster was Lovie’s call but we’ll never really know.
@BucBonzai Alas Megatron has announced his retirement. He told his friends before the season this year would be his last…he told Caldwell at the end of the season and he made another announcement this week. I do not believe he’s simply trying to get more $$$. He’s already fabulously wealthy.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:39 am
Oh there are good players let go, but they are usually cap casualties or like the Bucs, got rid of because they don’t fit a scheme. There are a lot of teams I guess who watch the Bucs wire to feed off our throw aways. Free agency is real, just treat it like the draft, best player available, when you go for need, let players like Michael Bennet go and sign players like Michael Johnson.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:45 am
Bonzi – Calvin Johnson says he is retiring and wont be returning to the Lions.
If that is the case, he won’t be available. Sounds like due to years of injuries and getting beat up, he is taking his money and going home. Even if he is just thinking that, then he is not what we need.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:51 am
@Dave … ‘Bucs have most the core.’
Agree totally on offense Dave, but not on defense. We’ve still got far too many holes there, and we’ll need to do well in both FA and the draft to fill them. Plus we need some better leadership on defense.
The center of our DLine is fairly well set I think (McCoy, McDonald and Spence) but our DEs just aren’t getting the job done. Need to add 2 starters there in my opinion. Safeties are also a big concern and could see 2 new starters there also. Still don’t know what to think about our CBs … I like Banks, Moore and Verner, but I’m not sure how well they’ll fit in Mike Smith’s defense. And oh ya, could use at least 1 more LB. Lots of holes still to be filled, but thankfully we’re in a great position to take advantage of FA and the draft.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:55 am
@ Dreambig
Agree….entirely.,…we need players that want to win without any reservations…..We need to pick up players with a nasty streak……Josh Norman comes to mind.
I wish Lovie had brought in Hester instead of the host of losers.
February 1st, 2016 at 9:13 am
Cash register ringing? What is Mario buying?
February 1st, 2016 at 10:07 am
Sir DallasBuc who was the general manager when all these bad free-agents came to town?
February 1st, 2016 at 10:20 am
The very good FA’s get franchised by their team, the young very good FA’s usually sign back with their original team and all the other very good FA’s are old and go to the highest bidder. Personally, I don’t care if a player is 30 as long as they are still productive and can fill a void until we can draft a replacement. We need a DE, CB and a WR in FA. Go get DE, DT, CB and a Safety in the draft. I like DE Mario Williams but I don’t like the price tag (16M). Anyone who thinks he is going to take less money this year need to think again. I also like DE Olivier Vernon, Dolphins. He had 10 sacks and 30 QB hits. DE Robert Ayers, Giants and DE William Hayes, Rams are other DE’s who could come right in an contribute. Did anyone else see Winston in the Pro Bowl yesterday? We have ourselves a QB. Look what happens when he is surrounded by playmakers.
February 1st, 2016 at 10:33 am
Hopefully Licht can scout the players who are 100 about winning from the money grabbers looking for a payday and a vacation in Tampa. Its not just talent that is suspect, but there have been so many bad free agents brought in, players dont come in to Tampa ready to claw and fight and battle to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Being a Green Bay Packer is a privelage. Being a Pittsburgh Steeler is a privelage. Being a New England Patriot is a privelage. Being a Dallas Cowboy is a privelage. But being a Tampa Bay Buccaneer means nothing to most players. Its because we have no edge. We are needy, as evidenced by the fact that we overpay to bring in these diva’s and hope they play out for us, but they dont have to and they know it! Cause who on this team is going to get in their face and tell them there’s a way we do things in Tampa? Jameis maybe, but he is still young. Back whrn Sapp and Brooks were here, you didnt just come to Tampa for a pay day and a vaycay, you spilled your guts on the field, or you got tfo! And that pressence isnt here anymore. It dosent mean spit to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer anymore. Tbats mostly because of five years of bad drafting but its also because for every Vincent Jackson, theres an Eric Wright. For every Clinton Mcdonald there’s a Michael Johnson. .when you truly have an established core to kick the locker room in the ass, it helps weed out certain players. You think Johnson would come here if we had Sapp here to get in his grill? But when you dont have that core, its hard to weed out the VJax’s from the Wrights. And I love Jameis and Kwon. They possess that mindset. That winning mentality. And someday they will be holding everyone in pewter to their standar. But they’re not there yet.
Im not against free agency. But its so insulting when we keep bringing in players that dont give af. Players that want a payday and a vaycay. And I hope Licht can see past the bullspit, but we’ve been burned by so many players lately. It just dosent mean a damn thing to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
February 1st, 2016 at 10:51 am
Here we go with this free agency crap again. We finally hit it well in the draft and now its back to free agency. Name one playoff team this year that hit big in free agency last year??, I’ll wait.
February 1st, 2016 at 11:01 am
Laquon Treadwell – playmaker!
February 1st, 2016 at 11:08 am
LOOK…the money’s there. Most of us including be subscribe to the idea that a team is not built through FA’s but through the draft. BUT the money’s there. So why not spend it?
February 1st, 2016 at 11:39 am
Spend it on players who will fight tooth and nail for Tampa Bay every Sunday. Players who will risk it all for the jolly roger.
February 1st, 2016 at 11:41 am
Quality not quantity. Don’t just ‘fill’ holes, do your homework. I’d rather have 1 or 2 good FAs and build through the draft than try and piece an entire team together.
February 1st, 2016 at 11:44 am
“So why not spend it?”
1.) Because bringing in players who do not fit can wreck a locker room’s chemistry.
2.) Because bringing in players like Ghost Johnson, Collins and others demoralizes our good young players who are playing their butts off while other guys loaf.
3.) Because the money could be better spent elsewhere…like on resigning Martin and keeping VJAX and others.
I could go on…but you wouldn’t sent your wife to the dept store to buy a new outfit and say…honey just spend this money…if you don’t see anything you like spend it anyway.
February 1st, 2016 at 11:57 am
You want a fa name from a playoff team that made a difference…… Michael ohr to the carolina panthers
February 1st, 2016 at 12:27 pm
BigHog- the GM at the time was incompetent Lovie Smith’s lapdog Licht but everyone knows that he only fetched coffee and prepared contract documents.
February 1st, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Our Bucs are not that far away. Just gotta get a Defense on par with Carolina or slightly better. You’re up DC Smith.
February 1st, 2016 at 1:58 pm
BigHog….so you think McCown, Conte, Jennings, Jenkins, Melton, and Major Wright were all Licht’s thinking? SMH
February 1st, 2016 at 1:59 pm
SPBF….the money will be spent on players that fit the team’s needs. 1/2 the defense needs to go, so there’s that.
Thanks for the detailed bunch of nonsense. Are you bored?
February 1st, 2016 at 2:07 pm
StPete- is Licht the Glazer’s wife in this analogy?
Just checking…
February 1st, 2016 at 2:53 pm
LargoBuc- Well said my man. I agree with all of it…… You know I’d love to see us snag Wilkerson but whose to say he won’t just sign up for the money and go through the motions? Who? Who do we have to make sure this team prepares for war?
This is what Logan Mankind did for our O-Line this year……. I’m sorry rookies don’t play that well without somebody pushing them. Anybody who thinks Mankind is easily replaces is flat out wrong.
Whose going to take this role on defense….. I loved the example about Sapp, say what you want about the guts character but you can’t say the guy didn’t play to destroy……and he demanded the same from anybody who lined up with him.
Maybe Kwon’s that guy, I don’t know. But if this team doesn’t find that guy we are likely to see another pourous defense next season.
Got me fired up Largo, thanks
February 1st, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Luckily we have Jameis who will demand 100% from his players on offense. Surely he has a few guys on the same page with him. Gotta hole that O-Line has somebody step up if Mankins leaves…….cause I think that’s a different animal Jameis can only push them guys so far.
Jameis should be more vocal this year(in locker room) with a guy like Evans or Jenkins if they hurt the team again……….. If them guys don’t get their azzes together they will be run out of town by Jameis himself……..And they should be. You can win with the garbage mistakes them guys made repeatedly, and winning should always come first.
February 1st, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Can’t*
February 1st, 2016 at 3:10 pm
I think we only need 3 maybe 4 FA and that’s…Muhammad Wilkerson, Muhammad Sanu, Mario Williams and Travis Benjamin…draft a cb in the first round de second round…after that I think drafting BPA would be good…I would like for us to get Denver Kirkland from Arkansas in maybe the 4th or 5th round…this kid is huge, great run blocker and could take over for mankins right now…GO BUCS!!!
February 1st, 2016 at 6:39 pm
@buccaneers Jameis should be more vocal this year.
I have been very impressed with his leadership,but that is why Koetter
hired a good coaching staff. Now I am not saying he shouldn’t get on somebody on offense that gets him killed,blows a block.or a perfect pass.
that is part of job but correcting the defense isn’t. We have coaches and hopefully defensive leaders for that.
February 1st, 2016 at 7:11 pm
I still don’t expect them to be huge players. Maybe one splash guy and a few role players. That, plus another good draft, plus (we hope) better coaching should get them to 9 or 10 wins. No need to overpay average talent in free agency.
I’m of the opinion that the FA mistakes were largely either poor judgment from Lovie or poor coaching once they arrived. Take Michael Johnson – miscast in Lovie’s defense, he’s actually a good starter for the Bengals.
February 1st, 2016 at 8:00 pm
StPete- is Licht the Glazer’s wife in this analogy?
Just checking…
I’d say Lovie was the spendthrift wife in my analogy…but we’ll see how Licht does this year.
One beauty about the new arrangement is responsibility is more clearly defined.
Licht will now get all the credit or blame for the FA’s and draft. I like that.
With L&L we could never be sure but most of us think Lovie was the one who forced the disatrous FA signings.
February 2nd, 2016 at 6:25 pm
Travis benjiman and reggie nelson go get them two playoff time
February 2nd, 2016 at 8:14 pm
813….Getting mo Wilkerson and super Mario would cost too much Wilks is going for a Suh-like contract, but I like where your heads at but de Vernon from dolphins who looks very available plus a Demarcus Ware type contract 3 years $33 million for Mario with the 3rd year club option might be more realistic….wrong Bengal too I’d much rather have Marvin jones I’d be willing to part ways with $12 million vjax we could get jones and Benjamin for less than we pay for 33 yr old slow wr both jones and Benjamin have proved to be PLAYMAKERS why risk another injury riddle season from an old over paid receiver
February 3rd, 2016 at 2:28 am
FA’s that make most sense.
1. Olivier Vernon
2. Tashaun Gibson
3. Alex Boone
4. Kearse/ Sanu/ Benjamin
Draft: Get Hargreaves III/ Maceknzie Alexander or Buckner/ Spence in the first and then the other position in the second. Then add for depth in other positions. Would win at least 8 games with that team.
February 3rd, 2016 at 11:32 am
Bucs history in free agency is tepid at best. Throwing money for the sake of throwing money makes little sense.
A pass rusher or shut down corner is needed.
February 3rd, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Olivier from the dolphins would be a nice pickup! Wr I would love Benjamin or Marvin Jones. Draft wise I’m torn. With that #9 pick I would love Noah Spence but if we get Olivier is he a need? Smith played well at DE before injuries so I’m up in the air. We also could use Hargreaves.
February 3rd, 2016 at 11:36 pm
Gotta find out thru interviews with prospective FA’s if they still have that fire to be the best they can.
Oliver Vernon, Travis Benjamin, and Eric Weddle sounds nice.
February 4th, 2016 at 8:19 am
Can’t major in calculus…
There are some very good defenders in FA this year.
With a 4-3 under look, we’re going to need a couple vets to make it work (if that is our base.)
Cautiously optimistic that Licht will manage FA well (after lessons learned in 14) and will get the right guys for Koetter/Smith
February 4th, 2016 at 8:20 am
And I don’t think there is any way Vernon leaves the dolphins – they have WAY too many holes.
February 8th, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Bucs need the 2nd coming of Hardy Nickerson….arse kicker who will change the culture…turn he defense into a nasty bunch. Heck….maybe even break McCoy’s glasses if it’ll help.