Bucs Haven’t Improved Yet
March 10th, 2016
Jason Licht has much more work to do
Joe’s trying to stay grounded in reality.
This week, the Bucs lost a handful of key pieces and have only replaced one.
That important cog was guard Logan Mankins, who retired. Free agent guard J.R. Sweezy, signed yesterday from the Seahawks, is the replacement who will be paid as much as Mankins.
But the Bucs also watched their return man leave town. Tampa Bay also waved goodbye to two defensive tackles, decent backups, guys who stayed healthy while the three remaining defensive tackles didn’t last year.
The Bucs also let arguably their best cornerback in 2015, Sterling Moore, hit the open market.
Free agency is a vehicle to improve your team. Day 1 has passed and the Bucs have not improved from the team that walked off the field after getting pulverized at Carolina.
There’s plenty of time for Licht to work some magic. Hell, quality starters Joe Hawley and Gosder Cherilus arrived last summer. But Joe understands the anxiety permeating the fan ranks.
Remember, Licht said multiple times that this Bucs team has playoff talent and expectations.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:02 am
Let’s trade Glennon to the Broncos for a 4th rounder and their return man.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:03 am
Lets be cool guys and ask yourself would you want to pay anyone the money they got yesterday? Those are ridiculous numbers!
March 10th, 2016 at 9:03 am
I would agree with Joe……but it is very early in the process…..have some patience…..we aren’t going to sit on 50 mil…..
March 10th, 2016 at 9:04 am
I understand not paying stupid money for some of these players. But damn, this D needs help, and there are players out there who can step right in and produce. You can’t fill every hole in the draft.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:08 am
It happens every year. Peter King was spot on. Yesterday was the day to overspend.
BTW, no chatter post today?
If so, you’d know FA CB Sean Smith is now a Raider.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:08 am
New collective bargaining agreement ….teams HAVE to pay big bucks if they are involved in free agency
March 10th, 2016 at 9:09 am
Look at Brock oswiler this guy did not play more than 4 games and got 72 million lmao
March 10th, 2016 at 9:10 am
Robert Ayers is in MiJami today. I think he’s who could help us.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:11 am
Sterling Moore. …..that’s a guy we need back at OBP.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:13 am
*Veteran Upgades
<strongOn Defensive
Terrance Knighton DT 29 WAS
Greg Hardy DE 27 DAL
Robert Ayers DE 30 NYG
Brent Grimes CB 32 MIA
William Moore SS 30 ATL
March 10th, 2016 at 9:15 am
Young Gunna’s
On Defense
• Quinton Coples DE 25 MIA
• Bjoern Werner DE 25 IND
• Jack Crawford DE 27 DAL
• Akiem Hicks DT 26 NE
• Tahir Whitehead OLB 25 DET
• Keenan Robinson ILB 26 WAS
• Chris Carter SLB 26 BAL
• Brandon Boykin CB 25 PIT
• Sterling Moore CB 26 TB
March 10th, 2016 at 9:15 am
We didn’t lose our best CB, we lost the CB who Lovie Smoth thought played best in Lovie Smith’s crappy system. We still have the best 2 CB’s on the roster in Banks and Verner.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:16 am
I totally disagree with the statement “not improved yet.” 100%.
By canning Lovie and hiring Koetter & then Mile Smith, IMO, this team has improved immensely.
A team is much more than a collection of talent. It’s how that talent is directed.
Does the team need DE’s, CB’s and other pieces? I’d say 80+% of the NFL would answer that question with a “yes.”
Keep in mind Lovie was stuck on a 4-man rush, that god-awful CBs-play-10-yds-off-the-receiver and LB’s drop back in passing zones BullPelosi which proved feckless. I doubt that is the scheme that M. Smith has in mind.
I expect to see LD & Alexander crashing to the QB in the new scheme, taking double-team pressure off the DL.
We’ve been the FA route before along with the high-expectations that come with it. And we’ve experienced FA fail. Why do we want more?
Getting The Douganator back and filling the LG hole are solid moves. No doubt more are on the way. But let’s not do a Skyway jump just yet because the Jints gave a DE $85 million, and the ‘Fins signed an attitude problem child at DE…
March 10th, 2016 at 9:18 am
we got rid of our depth on defense, like all of it, how many draft picks we got, we planning on all 7 rookies playing keys roles, talk about a recipe for disaster, at this point the only players left will be the ones we cut lol
March 10th, 2016 at 9:19 am
*Veteran Upgades
<strongOn Defensive
Terrance Knighton DT 29 WAS – Pot Roast is looking for his 4th team (Depth only)
Greg Hardy DE 27 DAL – No effing way you touch this guy
Robert Ayers DE 30 NYG – Good depth
Brent Grimes CB 32 MIA – With Mr Grimes comes Mrs Grimes, ask Miami about that
William Moore SS 30 ATL – Solid depth
March 10th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Luvmybucs….that’s like the saddest list Ive ever seen….and at this point probably the best the bucs can do
March 10th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Sounds like Mike Smith is having a real hard time, selling his style of defense to prospective free agents 🙁
March 10th, 2016 at 9:23 am
Anyone want to kick the tires on Mike Wallace…speed n cheap bit of a headcase but if you went from Big Ben to fannyhill and tiny teddy you’re be pretty pissed off too lol
March 10th, 2016 at 9:26 am
Guzzie Says:
we got rid of our depth on defense, like all of it, how many draft picks we got, we planning on all 7 rookies playing keys roles, talk about a recipe for disaster, at this point the only players left will be the ones we cut lol
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There will be some quality FA’s available after their replacements are drafted. Some others will be available simply because of scheme changes.
The new league is 17 hours old.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:27 am
Guzzie
It pains me to write it buddy – I really does. But unless there’s a few trade on the horizon.
Examples:
Muhammad Wilkerson 34DE + $15,701,000
Joe Haden CB + $13,400,000
Kam Chancellor S + $6,100,000
Then that’s probably the best we can do – outside of the draft.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:33 am
Wow….some real negativity…..surely we can improve on Lansanah, Jenkins, Carter, Conte…..and, by the way, I think they are still available.
Give it some time…..look at it this way…..we avoided making any $75 million dollar mistakes.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:38 am
How many times have we won free agency the last few years. Remember when we made it rain all over Johnson, Collins, McCown and Myers? Remember how well those paid off? Chill out people. Have you looked around at all the teams that are dumping truck loads of money at these players? It’s not exactly the company that we want to be keeping anyway. Better to let them win day one of free agency and then we can let our smart football people handle rounding the team out the right way.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:50 am
Bingo, Joe! We have not gotten any better. What’s going on at One Buc? For the last 3 days we have watched good players get signed by other teams….but not Tampa. J.R. Sweezy seems like a decent player…but so was Mankins…if we are lucky, this is a wash at best. I’m glad Dougie is back…but he always should have been!
I just don’t understand what Jason Licht is doing this year. It sure seems like they want to wait until all the real impact players are off the table, so they can go on a bargain basement shopping spree. Why? We have the cap money…why are we not using it?
It’s very frustrating that we have done so little so far. These last few days have been like going with 31 other people to one of those big buffets at the Las Vegas hotels, and while everyone else is grabbing prime rib and lobster tails, we are siting in the back munching on saltines. And before you know it all the good food will be gone….and we will have free reign over the three bean salad and the leftover meatloaf scraps.
Just don’t get it.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:52 am
Patrick in VA Says:
Chill out people. Have you looked around at all the teams that are dumping truck loads of money at these players? It’s not exactly the company that we want to be keeping anyway. Better to let them win day one of free agency and then we can let our smart football people handle rounding the team out the right way.
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The key is drafting well and mining future starters in the later rounds. The problem is that takes years.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:58 am
I’ve read on many websites like Walter Football and others that the draft is basically a 50-50 crapshoot in the top three rounds and gets worse after that.
What I haven’t read is the results of FA and the odds on one of the FA’s actually being worth the money they are paid. I’d love to see some actual analysis of FA.
IMHO most of the FA’s never pan out to be worth the $$$ spent on them…and it’s not just here with the Bucs. It’s a hard thing to analyze. What kind of numbers does an 85 million dollar player need to produce to be worth that money?
How frequently do these top enders actually earn all of that money. Even when there is no question of talent there is still the question of value. Why did Belicheat let Revis walk after a year?
I’m not upset by our lack of FA participation at all. It seems most of the really major fups occur in this initial rush for the big names..while the value players like Cherilous and Hawley show up later after training camp cuts and salary cap issues arise. Bottom line for me is that it “seems at least” like many of the bigger names simply are not worth all that money while the real value FA’s come later in the process.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:01 am
NOT EVEN 24 hours have gone by since the free agent signing period has begun. Relax guys its not over. Trust the process
March 10th, 2016 at 10:02 am
On the good news side, Bucs probably haven’t made any catastrophic blunders in this year’s free agency. On the bad news side, last time I looked we were 8-24 over the last 2 years and in dire need of some new talent, especially on defense.
Re-signing Martin was a big step forward for the offense. Signing Sweezy is nice, but again, that helps the offense.
On the defensive side, we’ve let 2 DTs, 2 LBs, 1 CB, 1 Safety walk away, all of whom contributed some starting time last year. All of them were serviceable for depth as a minimum. Our DE problem remains a primary concern, but now we’ve also got concerns in our LB strength, and in our whole secondary. Like Licht, I’m an advocate for building through the draft, but Lordy, we’ve got way too many holes to fill now, regardless of how much money we have available.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Tell me who is our starting strongside linebacker, Josh Keyes? Who is our starting Safeties? Keith Tandy and Major Wright? Back-up Cornerbacks? Jude Adjei-Barimah and CJ Roberts? Has Robert Ayers already left the building without a contract? At least sign Roddy White. It looks to me like we are going to just wait this out? It is not a matter if we make it in free agency or not. We don’t have enough starting caliber players to put on the field right now to compete competitively. Sign some of the few quality players left.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:09 am
One thing licht is good at is picking street free agents like cherilous hawley and Howard jones, but they are all just stopgap pieces, yes blowing our wad of cash on $85 million 7 sack guys is stupid, so I’m going to hope we can continue to build through the draft but patience is going get really tested if the Bucs regress next year no more scapegoats named Lovie left
March 10th, 2016 at 10:11 am
I’m not sure if they have playoff expectations any more.
Here is what I’m wondering out loud. If you’re losing guys in FA and you’re not signing guys in FA to improve your roster then where are the players going to come from? The draft? Yes, I understand there are free agents available but like the draft these are guys who are going to be hit or miss without a strong resume. In other words, I have my doubts a potential double-digit sack DE is still available in FA.
Either way, you’re hoping to hit home runs with the remaining free agents and hit home runs in the draft. As StPeteBucsFan said the draft really is a crap shoot.
Regardless, the Bucs are definitely not a playoff bound team and Lovie Smith is no longer around to be your punching bag.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:19 am
To everyone saying “we are less than 24 hours into Free Agency….” You are WRONG….we are 3 full days into it. Players started agreeing to deals on Monday! They just couldn’t be OFFICIALLY announced until yesterday….there’s a big difference!
We are behind the 8 ball, and have been for the last 72 hours…not 24!
March 10th, 2016 at 10:22 am
Time to kick the tires on Daryl Washington
March 10th, 2016 at 10:22 am
Brent Grimes anyone?
March 10th, 2016 at 10:26 am
They improved the second Loser Lovie was fired
March 10th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Guzzie Says:
March 10th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Luvmybucs….that’s like the saddest list Ive ever seen….and at this point probably the best the bucs can do
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That statement struck me, oddly enough, as hysterical…I compared all of our wishlists and this..it’s pretty scrawny…lol..
March 10th, 2016 at 10:28 am
Quality Low Tender Guys
Tony Jefferson
C.J Anderson
Update: Tahir Whitehead OLB 25 DET, is on his way for a visit
March 10th, 2016 at 10:29 am
LifeOfABucFan
lol
March 10th, 2016 at 10:29 am
Jeagan1999 Says:
March 10th, 2016 at 10:19 am
To everyone saying “we are less than 24 hours into Free Agency….” You are WRONG….we are 3 full days into it. Players started agreeing to deals on Monday! They just couldn’t be OFFICIALLY announced until yesterday….there’s a big difference!
We are behind the 8 ball, and have been for the last 72 hours…not 24!
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My choice of post of the day!
I get up and first thing I do is check to see if we got anyone we needed..Nope..nada..zilcho..
March 10th, 2016 at 10:38 am
Agreed. There are valid reasons why many Bucs fans have concerns with the team. Prior to 4PM yesterday we had a good idea on which free agents were going where.
It must be an impossible task for Jason Licht to sell 58-102 over the past ten years.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:42 am
Once Again in the land of..fairytale Bucland, we are starting to look before one game is played..for a scapegoat. We hung Lovie Smith and his staff (still hanging him), as the cause for all Buc Ills. Lovie singlehandedly did in the Bucs. And now our anger is slowly turning to Lightbulb. Get a bigger rope for him Buc fans. And now we await cape crusader on his white horse Koetter to save the day. What a pitiful little messy franchise. Although I am a critic of my Bucs, Lets wait and see the product first guys. My only wish is Licht can somehow do a spin and get us an additional 1st or 2nd rounder this year.
But there is bigtime pressure on us to improve this defense after 2 straight years of drafting offensively. But wait, Lovie, not Licht did that too huh? I’d hate to be around a lot of you talking real politics because you’s got no understanding of how inside mngt football politics work..none at all.
March 10th, 2016 at 11:01 am
Bama – Sure, let’s bring in Grimey….but leave his headcase of a wife in Miami and revoke her social media ability.
March 10th, 2016 at 11:05 am
@Mike Johnson….I can speak for no one but me….but I’m not trying to find a “scapegoat”! I’m trying to spur a call to action…while there are still some good players out there that can help this team! I’m not out for Jason Licht’s scalp…and I don’t think a lot of the others here are either. We are just perplexed as to why so many good free agents…who would have represented real upgrades on our team…have passed us by. I guarantee you that we could go through the the list of FA’s that have already signed, and find half a dozen at least, that would have represented an upgrade in talent to what we currently have on our team! We have needs and we have cap space…that’s what free agency is all about!
I really like Coach Koetter! I think Licht has hit on some good young talent in the Draft. And maybe it’s because we have gotten better in some areas, and we can see a little light (no pun intended) at the end of the tunnel, that makes us so frustrated over the last 3 days. The players to help us were there….and for some inexplicable reason, we either couldnt or wouldn’t pull the trigger on them. It’s frustrating! But please don’t put words in our mouths that we are purposefully trying to make a scapegoat out of Jason Licht…it’s just not accurate.
March 10th, 2016 at 11:06 am
Before the FA period began, heck back in January, I actually thought we were going to bring down some bad azzes from Cincy..it made sense to me..
Players came to Tampa and left Tampa..no interest?..Sad..
I read a post somewhere else that maybe we should just get these players to sign the “sign- in sheet at One Buc Place..and flip it and it’s a contract!..
UGH..
March 10th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Players and coaches are always worried about their careers. A wrong signing could cost them millions and perhaps years on a career.
This is just as true or perhaps more true for coaches. Mike Smith was a borderline HC candidate this year or next..a good turn in his next job insures that promotion. Basically Mike Smith had leverage before he came here!!! He looked at all the situations and in his mind Tampa Bay presented the BEST scenario to further HIS CAREER. Mike Smith is like all of us. He has to take care of his family first…and so we can rest assured a man of Smith’s experience, resume and possibillties liked the Bucs best!!! Why? You all can debate that. #3? Licht? Koetter? Lovie setting the bar so low Smith feels he can only look better? All of the above?
Now go through that same exercise with Jay Hayes. The only question about him is why hasn’t he already moved up to DC? He is probably Mike Smith’s heir apparent.
Toss in Dufner and especially Todd Monken who gave up an HC to come here…and you have FOUR NFL coaches with long successful resumes who are at a critical juncture in their careers who have all made a PROFESSIONAL DECISION that the Bucs are ready to turn the corner.
As much as I respect Joe and the Tampa and national media….posters here on JBF…nothing gives me more comfort about the direction of this franchise than FOUR experienced, talented, NFL coaches all willing to bet their careers on the future of the Bucs!
March 10th, 2016 at 11:29 am
This is considered a weak free agent class. Vernon hasnt proved himself outside of one half-season in a weak afc east, playing on a good line. We need young, long term talent, and proven commodities….not a lot of those in this crop. Name me some…
March 10th, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Should I order my Greg Hardy jersey now or wait another week or two….hey, beggars can’t be choosers
March 10th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Sterling Moore had a great year and proved hes a starting corner. I am not sure what Licht is thinking there. One thing I will say is that Lovie gave up way to soon on Johnathan Banks and Alterran Verner. They just didn’t fit Lovies system but both guys can start in the NFL. I am sure Mike Smith will find a way to go back to them and have a quality secondary.
March 10th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
StPeteBucsFan… that’s the way I see it too. The upgrades in coaching reveal a positive direction upcoming. What me worry!
March 10th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
So, we’re not even 24 hours into, and Joe is already setting off alarm bells about how they haven’t improved yet. Ludicrous.
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Peter King @SI_PeterKing tweeted:
Reminder to the panic-stricken that your team’s not doing mega-deals today: Lots more bad deals than good get signed on Free Agency day 1.
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https://www.crisiscenter.com/what-we-do/suicide-prevention-services/
(813) 964-1964
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March 10th, 2016 at 12:18 pm
The idea that Joe, or any of the random commenters here know better about players like Sterling Moore is literally insane. I’m sure if they thought Moore was better than what they have or was more than a journeyman cornerback, he would’ve been offered a contract. Maybe he was and turned it down. And maybe they’ll resign him at some point. It’s not like he’s a top shelf CB. Jeezus, these kind of points demonstrate one thing very clearly – Joe loves to complain for the sake of complaining… and for clicks of course.
—
Peter King @SI_PeterKing tweeted:
Reminder to the panic-stricken that your team’s not doing mega-deals today: Lots more bad deals than good get signed on Free Agency day 1.
—
https://www.crisiscenter.com/what-we-do/suicide-prevention-services/
(813) 964-1964
—
March 10th, 2016 at 12:22 pm
GhostofSchiano Says:
March 10th, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Should I order my Greg Hardy jersey now or wait another week or two….hey, beggars can’t be choosers
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You almost ruined my keyboard..lol…
March 10th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
everyday Jameis is working to get better !!!!
March 10th, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Post of the day right here. Heck, this is the post of the week! #3 is the #1 reason why I have any optimism for this team at all.
March 10th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
^^ There’s so many reasons for optimism with this team right now that the overwhelming volume of negativity on JBF strikes me as a bit looney-tunes. I am very grateful for Jason Licht and for a competent front office, a new coaching staff (the strongest staff they’ve had for years), and for JAMEIS!
March 10th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Sweezy is a major downgrade from Mankins. Mankins is a pro bowl player and team leader. Sweezy allowed the 9th most quarterback pressures of all guards last season. Sweezy can pancake a guy and then whiff on him the next snap. It is feast or famine with him. But, offensive line play is all about consistency and trust. We’ve gotten worse, not better, from a player talent standpoint.
Yet, we paid Sweezy like he is great. What a waste. The problem is not spending money in free agency, generally. Many times, spending money on free agents is a good thing — think Peyton Manning, Aquib Talib, T.J. Ward, Demarcus Ware, etc. The problem is spending big money on bad players, which is something we do way too much of. Sweezy is just another in the long line of mediocre talents we’ve brought in over the past three years.
This will continue as long as players come to Tampa and flounder or are not given the opportunity to flourish. For example, Bruce Carter played well in Dallas and was worth the $4 million or so per year that we promised him. Then he gets here and is not used at strong side after Alexander wins the starting middle spot, even though he is better than or equivalent to Lansanah. This seriously diminished his value in the market. To throw salt in the wound, we cut him after the season without giving him the chance to win the strong side job, and now he will only be worth a small, short-term contract. We ruined his career. If you were a free agent, would you take the risk this would happen to you?
March 10th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
The Bucs got infinitely better the moment Lovie was fired.
I’m not sure why everyone is getting all bent out of shape over free agents.
I read a post on this very same website a while back where Jason Licht plainly said not to expect any big splashy free agent signings. Now that he is doing exactly what he told everyone he would do it’s like the sky is falling.
So far, other than the god awful signings in year one, which I believe was more Lovie’s error than Licht’s, the man has giving me no reason not to trust his judgment.
Besides, the free agents that make the biggest impact on teams are rarely the biggest names.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Agree and disagree:
Hopefully we replaced apathy with action at the HC position.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Great, so they should be better than 6-10 right? I mean, given that we’ve lost good players, didn’t sign any free agent DEs, and have to depend on a roster full of rookies I guess that means we’re playoff bound all because Lovie is gone.
What is your predicted record? Put your name on it.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:16 pm
Predictions?? Too early to tell
A decent coach would’ve gotten the 2015 squad to at least 8 wins with the easiest schedule in franchise history
2016 who knows, depends on how the draft and rest of free agency plays out.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Prediction time already? LMAO. I thought we had 8 wins of talent last year and hoped we could get lucky in a couple of games and win 10. We ended up with six!
Does anybody believe Tennessee fielded a better team than us? That we didn’t have the Redskins game won? There’s the 8 games of talent I was referring to.
How about a half a dozen games like the Giants, Colts, Texans, and others that we could have won…I needed a couple of those to hit my ten. It wasn’t impossible after all…except for the coaching staff!!!
We are already better!!! We also fielded an incredibly young team with rookies at QB and MLB and 40% of the OL. Those rookies are now a year better.