“Wasting Time”
March 10th, 2016
Pressure from Booger McFarland
Former glory days Bucs defensive tackle Booger McFarland has firm words for the Tampa Bay organization and its fans.
Joe’s not talking about how Booger was adamant this morning on SiriusXM NFL Radio that defensive end Olivier Vernon is worth every nickel of the $52 million the New York Giants guaranteed him yesterday.
No Joe is referencing Booger’s hammer this afternoon on Twitter.
@SECbooger – If the Bucs don’t address the pass rush they are wasting time playing defense this season. Pretty simple. Affect the passer in the NFL
Pretty hard and straight-forward stuff there. Joe gets that the Bucs didn’t want to break the bank for Vernon, but so far, the Bucs haven’t addressed the pass rush in free agency and the crop of available pass rushers is now flimsy.
Maybe the Bucs think Will Gholston and Jacquies Smith can keep growing, and that sackless George Johnson simply had an off year? And then maybe they want that trifecta to team up with a couple of rookies and a hungry vet with a weak resumé.
Joe might have considered that’s the plan if the Bucs invested heavily in a cornerback yesterday, but that didn’t happen.
All Joe knows now is that salary cap room never won a football game.
March 10th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
I want a big time FA DE, but it has past us let’s focus on the draft. Also, I have a feeling that Will Gholston will have a breakout year and dominate on the line.
March 10th, 2016 at 1:59 pm
I like the approach Licht has. Don’t blow the cash in frantic signings. The cautious measured approach works best. Fill other holes: OL, WR. , and LB first. Then concentrate on defense in draft. Haves pile of ash for post draft cuts.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Cash not ash in above. Damn auto wrong!
March 10th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Licht drafts: A-
Licht Free Agency: F
March 10th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
@ Ed
I totally agree with ya. Have of the guys who got all that cash will get football amnesia. …build theought the draft and let guys develop for little pay. Those who pan out will get big cash in their next contract. It’s not like we are gonna win a superbowl next year. I good with improvement. 10 and 6.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
I agree that they shouldn’t break the bank on free agents but right now I don’t see any improvements that lead me to believe that the team is any better than the 6-10 team from last year. I still don’t understand him not at least kicking the tires on Mario Williams. Those are the kind of gambles you have to be willing to take as a GM if you want to improve. You don’t have time to completely build through the draft.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Light is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t with bucs fans… Poor guy. There was 3 de’s that were worth going after and 2 of them signed with their original teams and one got stupid money. R-e-l-a-x fellow bucs fans. Wait until after the draft to blast poor mr licht.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Excuse me, make that 4 de’s. I forgot about Mario.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
While we’re waiting to sign a DE, I’d like to see us go grab Nick Fairley to replace Melton, and Terrance Knighton to replace Tony Daniels.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
I can understand passing on Mario Williams. The guy quit toward the end of last season, he was often loafing and he isn’t passionate about football. Mario is the kinda guy who is into hunting/fishing and is basically still playing pro ball because he is a physical specimen. I just didn’t see him working out for the Bucs.
Vernon cost too much money, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Licht submitted an offer. The Bucs are just one of 32 NFL teams and you’ll always have guys like Charles Johnson in Carolina, who prefer to go back home rather than accept more money somewhere else.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am getting concerned. The Bucs need pass rushers. They have to land one of these guys. We are at the point where someone like Chris Long is out there and should not cost $10+ million per season, so it makes sense to try to get something done. The draft won’t be enough, the Bucs need a proven player to contribute.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Looks to me as they are trying to build a future around Jameis. Not a spend it all today. Be a one year competitor. Of course this is what happens when you don’t have the inside information and are left guessing and think YOU know more than the people hired to run the organization. The coaches spend all those hours everyday in the building for a reason. So does Licht. There must be a reason to their madness.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:20 pm
What was our Offensive ranked two years ago? Didn’t we draft all offense in a the last draft, with the exception of Kwon? I truly believe their going all Defense in the draft. Spending money on someone’s damaged goods hasn’t paid dividends for us Bucs fans for a very long time. This is the approach the teams at the top take. It’s not like we expect anything at this point to maybe this change will help us. GO BUCS
March 10th, 2016 at 2:23 pm
I’m getting the impression that the Bucs are thinking most of their defensive woes were coaching related.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
The best pass rushers for the Buc’s are hiding in the FA scap pile of pass rushers left this year or attending pro days on some campus. The big names avoid Tampa like the plague. Nobody’s fault, just need to win a few more games. Most of this years FA crop are or have pushed through 30 and they want the best chance to get a ring. Hell they take salary cuts to stay with a Super Bowl team or play-off contender. Like I posted earlier, get what we can from the draft, then win games in other ways like out scoring your opponent, or fewer penalties, or maybe a few more turnovers a game. Booger was a defense guy, ask Keyshon, or Alstott how to win games.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
I don’t know why we’re panicking. We have a LOT of issues. They’re all not going to be addressed on day 1&2 of FA.
Vernon was overrated and vastly over-paid.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Fans last year: “Lovie is wasting the players’ talents on defense”
Fans this year: “We need more talented players on defense”
I’m not saying we shouldn’t address defense in free agency and draft, but I don’t think we should say that that team “hasn’t gotten better” when we’ve never seen the players we already have in Mike Smith’s defense.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
What does Capn Fear say. “HARDY har har”
March 10th, 2016 at 2:30 pm
My theme is and always has been..DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. And I thought we should have gone after Aaron Donald instead of jameis. You guys just ohhhhed and awed about Koetter and Jameis. What a perfect winning machine right? I laughed. Because I knew we still had to stop somebody. We draft 2 consecutive years offensively and think our Defense will automatically get better. The biggest example I can give is that Washington game where they..walked us down and ran right over us. This Buc defense as it presently exist Sucks..period. It needs a major revamping..as you shall soon see. Go ahead..score fifty jameis. and watch the opposition score..51! When you had a chance to get a DE like Mario Williams..who is..gonna play with a chip on his shoulder? You go all out to get him. We sat back. And Miani gave him the royal treatment. He signed for 8 mil. I’m gonna sing to da high heavens once/If the losing starts all over. And this time, it won’t be Lovie’d fault. It will be Kotters fault..and the man who is the benedict Arnold of the Bucs..Jason Licht!
March 10th, 2016 at 2:32 pm
I like what licht is doing. He has got a plan.He brought doug back and heaped praise on him.Martin is going to be extremely motivated. Sweezy has to big plus to the running game.Offense should show good improvement over a pretty good year last year. there is still time to pick up quality free agents
that wont put us in cap hell. hope he’s got more rabbits in the hat like last year. I would also like to see what Gholston can do with new D-Line coach.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:35 pm
I have a lot of respect for McFarland and loved him as a Buc but he has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about whatsoever. If he thinks that Olivier Vernon is worth every penny of that $52 million guaranteed then he’s more retarded than the team who shelled out that money. Vernon just became the highest paid DE in NFL history making $17 million a year! That’s more than what JJ Watt, arguably the most dominant DL in the NFL, is making yearly. That’s just plain ridiculous! Vernon is stout against the run and he does provide a pretty good pass rush but he’s not an elite DE. He’s not a top 5 DE but he’s getting paid like it. He doesn’t provide a JJ Watt pass rush or does he cause pressure or disrupt plays like Watt does. So how do you justify paying him that much money? If Booger believes Vernon is worth that much then he must think that Vernon is on the same tier as Watt, Suh, and our very own Gerald McCoy.
I will agree with him that we definitely need to address the pass rush, we all know this but going out and breaking the bank on tier 2 DEs isn’t good business. Did he already forget the massive deal we gave Michael Johnson? How did that work out? Did he forget that we traded for George Johnson last year and paid him for no sacks? I understand if it’s big time pass rushers on the market and we don’t pursue any of them. But if you look at the class of free agent pass rushers who was there that deserved the kind of money that Olivier Vernon got? Vernon doesn’t even deserve the money that he got from the Giants! How do you justify paying a guy premier pass rusher money when he’s not even a premiere pass rusher?!
We’ve spent big more recently during free agency and what has that gotten us? Not much at all so I don’t understand why people are hollering for us to spend big bucks. Of course we have holes that need to be filled and that’s priority but just because we have like $50 million in cap doesn’t mean we should go and blow it. Remember this, almost in every case, the teams that spend the most during free agency rarely ever see success during the season. It takes more than just spending money to be successful in the NFL. We’ve had a few seasons where we’ve spent big during the offseason and we haven’t had much to show for it. The best free agent we’ve signed in the past 5 years was Vincent Jackson. So that’s 1 player out of how many we’ve missed on. Relax a bit, we’re still a couple years away from being real contender, but spending big every offseason isn’t going to get us there any faster.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Michael johnson showing his stupidity again. Donald and jameis was not even in the same draft. Maybe you were having that debate with yourself. That will explain alot. You debate yourself on this board often because most have started ignoring your stupidity.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
I would understand of they were making good signings on other positions in order to build the defensive line through the draft…but that’s not happening.
Doug Martin is family, so I get that…but let’s be frank…he is a 50-50 shot.
J.R. Sweezy is a depth player at best…and even that is pushing it. And yet…Jason Licht has given him a fortune…which means they intend to start the 66th worse defensive end in the NFL.
And that is all they have signed.
Now, I’m all for taking their time and getting quality players at good prices…but…the players they are rumors to be interested in are not good players. They are unhealthy players or just plain bad ones…except for Roddy White.
Roddy White makes sense because, even though he is getting up there in age, he is younger than Jackson and he has good hands…even if he isn’t fast. With all the drops we’ve been seeing, good hands are more important.
But they can also go after Jermaine Kearse, a wide receiver who is young and upcoming…almost reaching 700 yards as a backup last year. Still on the market unless he was snagged in the past couple hours.
Our starting Cornerbacks are good enough IF we get a pass rush, but we need depth and slot coverage.
Casey Hayward and Prince Amukamara would fill those roles nicely. They will never be great CBs, but they are twice as good as the depth we already have. And they don’t quit. One of them might just surprise us, and they would come cheap.
So, if they get those guys…that leaves us to address 2 DEs, RT and Safety in the draft. Four picks that could set this team straight.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
@Tiny Tim
And you go out of your way to insult him for it. That speaks volumes too. How about actually contributing to the real conversation.
Who do you think the Bucs need to go after (outside of Greg Hardy, who a lot of people here seem to want)
March 10th, 2016 at 2:53 pm
Grab nick fairley. We need to stay relatively young. Ayers and guys in their 30’s would probably have zero interest in playing for a team that has more question marks than others. We want guys but do those guys want us? After saying that i believe nick fairley could help us on the d line. Mccoy n fairley could be sapp and mcfarland. Gholston hasnt played a full season yet but he’s flashed. Jack smith fairley and gholston. Lavonte kwon zack brown/tahir whitehead verner/prince amukumara banks/ramsey/alexander macdougald and tandy/conte. Realistically speaking each of those free agents would ask for 6-8 million a year. I wouldnt mind taking a chance on any of them. My 1st round coice would be a db jalen ramsey (doubt he makes out of top 5) or mackenzie alexander. I dont see a definitive pass rusher
March 10th, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Michael Johnson 😂 Your statement is why nobody can take serious. Man, I am laughing so much at you right now. Thanks so much! I had a bad week and you just cheered me up with your bs post.
March 10th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
It’s all part of the plan, right guys?
I want some of what you’re drinking!
March 10th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
@ Mike I stopped reading as soon as I read that you think we should have taken Aaron Donald over Jameis Winston. Go back over the last 10 years of AFC and NFC championship games and tell me how many back up level QBs played and how many franchise QBs played. Everything in this league starts and ends with a franchise QB. Everything. SMH!
March 10th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Tbh there isn’t anyone left in FA that I would want here. What are the options on a trade .
March 10th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
just added a seat to the HARDY harhar bandwagon for Buccaneerbonzai
March 10th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
As much as i see a definitive db THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE at pick 9. Ramsey or mackenzie. Round 2 hmm what to do maybe safety? 3rd round a lb with speed like kwon? Tahir and zack brown are both speed demons. If we got either one of them how bout a potential pass rusher? Round 4 kick returner round 5 a cb n 6 -7 depth at our trenches
March 10th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
If we get Ayers and a DE in the draft, we should be fine. I think jac Smith will improve and be our best pass rusher. Will Gholston can develop to be a solid run stopper. Maybe the Bucs want to use George Johnson as a rotation player like he was in Detroit?
March 10th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
bet booger thought he was worth every penny when he took Sapp’s money!!! And the only reason that the Buds choose him over Sapp is because Sapp and Kiffen did not get along!!!
March 10th, 2016 at 3:04 pm
“Mike Johnson Says:
March 10th, 2016 at 2:30 pm
And I thought we should have gone after Aaron Donald instead of jameis. ”
Early onset dementia is no joke. Please see a medical professional. We joke and kid here, but, I don’t like to see anyone go through that.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:04 pm
@ Bonzai..we read your post..like 5 times..and heads up on it..I think it’s a great plan..
March 10th, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Laugh all you like..DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. See jameis throw, See jameis run..See Jameis make spectacular bombs. Yes sireeee See See..
SEE THE BUCS DEFENSE LOSE THE GAME!!
March 10th, 2016 at 3:08 pm
They paid Vernon to be something he has never been. You never do that, it doesn’t work. Stay the course. They will grab 2 d lineman and 2 d backs in this draft and we will build through youth. I like that plan and think it’s the best way to build a franchise.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Panic. Doom. Despair. All overreactions. Less than 24 hours into free agency… Booger is a fool.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:13 pm
@Mike
When’s the last Super Bowl winner with a bad QB? Even Joe Flacco is considered top 10.
You need an elite QB AND a great defense. Not just one.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Baltimore – 2012/2013 SB Champs – #12 Defense (PPG)
NY Giants – 2011/2012 SB Champs – #25 Defense (PPG)
N.O. Saints – 2010/2009 SB Champs – #20 Defense (PPG)
NY Giants – 2008/2007 SB Champs – #17 Defense (PPG)
Should I go on?
March 10th, 2016 at 3:26 pm
ATTENTION: Bucs fans the only question we should be concerned with from day one of the new league year is, has the team gotten better??? If that answer is resounding NO, then whatever the GM/owners is doing will be considered a failure…this isn’t a 9-7 team growing into a contender, this is a 6-10 team with no depth, a young QB, and absolutely no defensive presence….3 above average players on defense (David, McCoy, Kwon) and 3 above average on offense (jameis, Evans, Doug) are not enough to win more than 6 games…future may bright, and build to the future sounds great, by COME ON MAN!!!! It’s 10 years of the same BS
March 10th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
I don’t see how the Giants were able to sign all those players, even with a lot to spend.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Settle down.
—
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.
—
Is your despair over free agency destroying your life?
https://www.crisiscenter.com/what-we-do/suicide-prevention-services/
(813) 964-1964
—
March 10th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
Joe you’re out of touch with reality during the offseason. Do u ACTUALLY EXPECT US TO GIVE JENKINS VERNON OR MALIK JACKSON THAT MONEY!!?NEVER WORKS OUT. U JUST LIKE TOYS SIMPLE. We will need to resign Winston Evans Kwon all Gnna be resigned for pay days. You don’t spend until you’re ready to compete. U mention gmac at 28 needing an edge rusher. Why? So we can pay him 10 mill a year and still miss the playoffs. We aren’t a d end and a corner away. Or maybe we have enough talent as is. Nobody is better than verner Idc what lovie thinks. He’s a press man/zone guy not sag off 20 yards. Why do u think we got the cincy d line coach? Cuz he knows there’s raw talent. Jaq gholston and spence and a 2nd round corner(which you all would hope will get second contracts) is the way to go. These guys want long years. We’e not giving ayers 5 years. If ur roster is young you don’t pluck old guys. Look at mankins. Two years and he’s gone already. We replace them and you complain. I’m close to being done with this site not to mention the dozen retards that comment utter stupidity. Yeah bonzai I mean u. U actually think sweazy is 66th ranked. Pff had Rodgers like 10th best when he had he best QB day all season. Their formula is so bad and yet we have moron fans judging guards like THEY HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT GUARDS WE SHOULD SIGN. WE ARE FANS FOR A REASON. LOVIE IS GONE HAVE SOME GOD DAMN FAITH YOU PATHETIC WANNABE FANS
March 10th, 2016 at 3:35 pm
Booger, overly dramatic as usual, casts a wide net for all the sardines schooling together in the pond of panic.
The new league isn’t yet a day old. The worst shopping day of the year mind you. But many think we should be spending $15M a year on guys with pretty thin resumes.
The ongoing whining about splash previous FA’s going bust and now we’re cheap losers for not signing splash FA’s who are likely to go bust too?
We had some seriously horrific defensive coaching using a scheme that was even worse.
We resign Doug and people bitch about the money. We pick up a RG to replace Mankins and “we got fleeced!” “He’s going to be a turnstile”.
We’ve got an offense on the rise with guys we drafted returning nearly intact. A franchise QB and a pretty experienced coaching staff now.
We finally have a GM can draft too. He was trained by one of the very best.
We’ll draft heavy on D and then fill the remaining holes with FA’s thereafter.
Keep acting like whiny fat chicks not being asked to the prom, but I’m going to sit back and enjoy this offseason.
Things are better.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:37 pm
Who cares if the Bucs get good value on a player that sucks anyways? If your going to overspend, a pass-rusher would be a great way to do it and then draft another at 9 in the draft.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
@FamousKoetter, you posted while I was typing… and it was a good on too! Thx.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:56 pm
Day 2 of free agency and we’ve already failed?!
Come on guys! I know most of us are jonesing but it’s day freakin’ 2!!!! AND there’s still that draft thing that they talk about sometimes.
Goodness gracious!
March 10th, 2016 at 3:57 pm
yeah right. who cares about having all this cap room every year.
March 10th, 2016 at 3:59 pm
you have to overpay for everything now a days anyway. the nfl makes so much money. so what if we have to overpay for players in free agency? the players deserve it too
March 10th, 2016 at 3:59 pm
I don’t have issue with us not making the big splash signing ie Vernon or Charles Johnson. In my opinion Licht gets an obvious pass on those.
My issue is we are even letting the “bargain players” get away as well. There were good players sitting out there to be had that fills needs and they are just flying off the board. The Bucs are sitting ducks right now.
I keep reading Bucs showing interest in this player and that player. Yet, no scheduled visits (Ayers, give me a break) and they are signed by other teams without even stepping foot at OneBuc. And not all of the these teams are playoff bound so that excuse cant even be made.
Im so Pissed right now. WTF!!!
March 10th, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Free agent negotiations started on Monday when the legal tampering period began.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:07 pm
Here is the reason why I a panicking. First on offense. Does anyone have faith that Vincent Jackson can play the entire season without his knee going out? We have no depth at WR. Defense is a whole other story. No pass rush and no secondary. 70% completion rate. We release our best cornerback Sterling Moore and believe that Jonathan Banks, Alterruan Verner and Jude Adjei-Barimah are going to somehow perform at a high level because our scheme and coaching have changed? Our Safeties were even a bigger problem in coverage and we have the same crew less our best Safety Chris Conte, who we have yet to sign. At linebacker we have not re-signed Danny Lansanah and released Bruce Carter. We have no strong side linebacker. Defensive line we no longer have depth with Henry Melton and Tony McDaniel. My concern is not only with depth but how good do you feel about Akeem Spence, who has a history of back problems, Gerold McCoy who has had nagging injuries the past two years and Clinton McDonald who only played 6 games last year, are going to hold up the entire season? Just to be competitive, we need a quality number 3 WR. Desperately need a DE, OLB, Safety and CB and we have signed none. Zero. That would be a donut. With the schedule we face next year if we don’t hit it out of the park in the draft with four starters, we could go 3-13. One positive note is with the Eagles picking 8th now, NFL.com has a mock draft where Joey Bosa falls to us at nine and the mock actually makes sense, as long as the Niners and Browns don’t get a QB in FA.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
Don’t panic……it’s very early….there are more cuts to come…..I will say this….when you have a lot of cap space you can compete for elite players with just a few teams…..when you are bargain hunting, you compete with all of them.
I would be OK with not spending a large portion of the cap space if it can be carried over and if we have our eyes on players next year……a replacement for Vjax, for example.
We need to get younger and better….I think at the end of the FA period, you will see we have done that.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:24 pm
I was just as desperate as everyone else to see the bucs get some pass rush help yesterday, but let’s be realistic. Vernon & Malik Jackson are now making more money than JJ Watt. That is asinine.
Just think about Vernon & Jackson making $15M a yr and just producing at the same level they did before. Is that money worth 7 sacks a year? Those guys are going to be looked at as busts next year and the year after.
Now, the truth is that the rookie leader in sacks was some dude from Washington I’ve never heard of that had 8 sacks last year. The leader from first round picks was Bud Dupree, a 3-4 LB who had 4 sacks last year. If we’re going to be counting on Ogbah or Spence or any other rookie for pass rush then we’re going to be extremely disappointed.
The fact of the matter is that right now we’re going to be going into the season with Gholston & Smith as our DE’s. Depressing, but the truth is I’d rather draft a couple of DE’s this year and pray they turn out in 2 or 3 years than pay a guy who had 7 sacks last year more than JJ Watt.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Prince
March 10th, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Godzilla, good points … Bucs have a lot of holes on defense and little depth at the present time. Just in the starting rotation we need at least 1 DE, 1 OLB, plus 2 safeties (or 1 safety and 1 slot CB). But that’s 4 starting holes BEFORE injury #1 happens (the odds of 11 starters playing in all 16 games … plus the playoffs … must be incredibly low). And that’s not to mention that we have a number of guys who started last year who are still recovering from some serious injuries.
Also agree with you that Bosa would be an interesting pick, IF he really falls all the way to #9 (I have my doubts on that one). One guy I’m also really liking is Sheldon Rankins. He’s continued to look better and better since the season ended (what he did in the Senior Bowl and Combine come to mind).
March 10th, 2016 at 4:34 pm
I think the Bucs need to be looking at all of these guys. We were looking at a tackle early on if so we should go after a division opponent’s starter in Ryan Schraeder then maybe throw in a WR from FA.
On defense if they think they are worth the risk Nick Fairley and Greg Hardy. Grab Akiem Hicks, Tahir Whitehead, and Brandon Boykin. Then go to Eric Weddle and say hey look at what we have this combined with you and an all defense draft and we could have a serious playoff contender.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Some folks have a really short memory.
Just one year ago the prevailing “wisdom” was the problem was the offense because “everybody” knew the D wasn’t a problem, especially after the glorious FA period and the Great Lovie Tampa-2.
What a laugh.
I ask this: how can ~anyone~ state “the defense sucks” when we have NO CLUE as to what it will be? THE ENTIRE D STAFF WAS FIRED! An entirely NEW D staff has been hired, some serious coaches included, and that POS D of Lovie Smith is thankfully gone.
Does anyone thing Mike Smith would have gotten rid of Mark Barron, Michael Bennett or Revis? Or benched Verner and Banks?
I don’t. Those are acts of stubborn fools. I don’t think this team has stubborn fools as coaches any more.
It’s a New day for Tampa Bay Defense, and I’m OK with cutting the team some slack by trusting the new coaches.
The single biggest upgrade this defense could wish for is the new coaching staff, period.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Guys, we’ve plugged in Donovan, Marpett, Jamesis, Quan, last year. Evans, Sims and hopefully ASJ the year prior. LVD, Pamphile Banks are young enough to contribute for years.
And we’ve extended Martin. One of our own. We’ve had success plugging rookies in. Sooo, we draft more young starters, then plug the holes with FA’s like Sweezy as needed.
Did I want a manbeast FA DE? Absolutely. It just didn’t play out.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Tahir whitehead resigns with lions for two years.
March 10th, 2016 at 4:56 pm
I’m not worried about it. We’re going to have a good draft.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:01 pm
Alright, is there any way Licht can just be locked in a room when a FA comes in.
We just lost out on Whitehead.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Bottom line is we are going to suck next year, instead of building a team around our franchise QB, all we’ve done is get rid of our defensive depth, WE ARE NOT GETTING BETTER, no worries , next to go is licht
March 10th, 2016 at 5:03 pm
and CJ went to Miami..
March 10th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Whitehead used us against his team.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Yeah, I gave up on it yesterday. Seen this before and knew it was coming…..thats why I was btchin about it but was called a crybaby by those who didnt know any better….well maybe now you see where I was coming from, or not, whatever…..my opinion is mine. At least we signed Dougie and a pretty nasty looking Guard to fill a hole on the O line.
Hopefully we grand slam another draft!! I’d still like to see us move up for Ramsey but I know it wont happen 🙁
Maybe Bosa will be in play. And I still want Andrew Billings, so that would be nice….eh, whatever, till the draft……
March 10th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
We’re all like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights, we don’t know what to do with our hands now that the team is being run the right way. Let the media guys get spun up about inactivity in free agency. Not having stuff to write about means views take a dip. Don’t begrudge them a bit for that. But we as fans have been groaning for a front office that can run the team like adults for years and now that we have them you’re groaning about it not being run the way it was back when we sucked every year. It’s time to let the football people handle football things.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:07 pm
Im going to the gym, these weights about to get destroyed!!! #Frustrated
March 10th, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Why would anyone be upset with a guy who wants to stay with his own team. Who blames him for shopping or us for sniffing?
A 2 down FA SLB is a great loss?
March 10th, 2016 at 5:14 pm
Everybody here is jonesing over a DE. I get that. It would be nice. But can someone refresh my memory?
How many stud DE’s have arrived anywhere as FA’s. We were totally spoiled because we got perhaps the best FA DE of all time in Simeon Rice. Reggie White was a better player but he had more yards on his legs when he signed. Same with Julius Peppers.
Seriously think about the great defensive players in this league. How many were FA’s and how many were drafted by their team? FA DE’s worth a crap are a very rare commodity. If you’re really lucky you can pay superstar money to one and at least have him pan out as a serviceable player. But there is a reason you do not see JJ Watts on the open market.
We’re going to have to hope that Licht finds a great DE in the draft and that Jack Smith and Gholston continue to improve and that Mike Smith can also cobble some creativity into his mix and perhaps we get ten sacks combined from LVD and Kwon.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:16 pm
Let talk about all the loser team wasting time in free agency: New England, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Arizona, Green Bay, and Denver. What poor company to be in…let’s hit the panic button!
March 10th, 2016 at 5:20 pm
@Creamsickle,
That is the most competent and reasoned comment I’ve seen on here in a while!
Completely agree, those guys got massively overpaid for what they’ve done, based on the sore need for pass rushers around the league. But neither of them are JJ Watt, nor Von Miller, yet paid more. I would have been okay with Mario and his contract, but we weren’t interested in him for whatever reason.
The fact is all we really need is consistent pressure. It doesn’t matter if one guy has double digit sacks, if we could have every guy on the line getting 6+ sacks in a season. And let’s be honest, it’s not even about sacks as much as PRESSURE. We need consistent pressure, in the form of hurries, hits, pressures AND sacks.
I expect this coaching staff to be able to get more out of the guys we currently have like Smith, Spence, and Gholston, as well as develop some rookies. And you’ve got to think that our LBs will be rushing quite a bit under the new coaching staff.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:23 pm
Our new d line coach has been proven for a long time. Lovies defense fid not allow any time to get to the passer accept for the three games they actually lined our corners up with five yards of the reciever. Oh and that was also prior to the defensive guru was benching our three best corners becasue his system was flawed and he didnt accept it. Dont get me wrong I would love a new pass rush but I dont think its as bad as they looked. A little common sense will go a long way on that side of the ball but I dont expect booger to admit lovie couldnt run a defense
March 10th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
^^ and ALL of those teams have been to playoff games and some even to superbowls over the last 5 – 10 years….lol, you guys kill me.
@StPete, not knocking you, you know I love you man, but how many times have we seen former players of ours picked up as free agents and BOOM, playoffs, BOOM , Superbowl. Our last largest fluke was allowing FA Michael Bennett to walk, remember?
….ah, oh boy 🙁
March 10th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
I think saying we’ll suck is really premature. Free agency doesn’t end now. It still have plenty of time left. And I don’t know if you noticed this…but Jason Licht actually does okay in free agency after he gets past the big name players.
Especially 1st and 2nd year free agents.
I know. It is shocking that I’m saying he does anything right. But it is true.
Let’s just wait and see how the sum total of the off season goes before we judge? And maybe even watch some games? (assuming we don’t switch teams because they sign Greg Hardy)
March 10th, 2016 at 5:28 pm
The ^^ was to K2’s comment….sorry
March 10th, 2016 at 5:28 pm
This time last year all of us brilliant people were talking about why the Bucs had not addressed the oline. How’d that work out?
March 10th, 2016 at 5:33 pm
@buccbonzai
I bring thoughts to many topics. Sorry if you missed them. And as for mike johnson, all he does is troll jameis on every thread. If you are not tired of that crap then so be it. I see many other posters pointing out his continued stupid nonsense. On this thread as well. Dont tell me how and when to respond. I can speak and think for myself. I’m the real Tiny Tim and i approve this message.
March 10th, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Agree or not the bucs Gm is over his head yet he will get credit for Winston anyone could of did well last year but holding on to cap money isn’t the way to go . This is the new NFL you have to keep up or die and keeping fans excited for the upcoming season is bigger than you think . How has keeping all this cap money helped the bucs it hasn’t
March 10th, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Cobra boy. Hats off. Start a website if u keep giving out wise opinions like that
March 10th, 2016 at 5:42 pm
Ok I’m done bashing, if this is the new Bucs way of life, then so be it, if it works couldn’t be happier, 2-14 happens , whatever been there done that got the tshirt and on to the next rockstar GM and unexperienced/retread coach…
March 10th, 2016 at 5:48 pm
@bonsai
in your opinion Doug Martin is 50-50 shot.Some pretty good football minds disagree with you and they said as much.
In your opinion J R Sweezy is a backup at best.Obviously the buc front office disagrees with you.Watch the video of the road grader paving the way for Seattle backs,and listen to Tom Cable rave about him.Sweezy was very good
at knocking defenders on their backside in the videoand I think he will help open some huge hole for Doug Martin.
The above comments are just my opinions,not facts
March 10th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
McCoy and Hardy will be mentioned in the same breath as Sapp and Rice. i guarantee it
March 10th, 2016 at 5:55 pm
^LMAO
March 10th, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Freeney
March 10th, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Chicken little Bucs fans need to relax, the sky is not falling…I’m fine with what we’ve done so far; Jacksonville pretty much overpaid every player they signed…every successful franchise runs their program like a university; colleges recruit and develop, NFL teams draft and develop…some players you will be able to resign and some you won’t…The bottom line is free agency should never be the foundation of your franchise; of course it’s okay to sprinkle in solid free agents here and there, but your main goal should always be to draft, develop, and then resign the cream of the crop…this seems to be Jason Licht’s approach and I’m totally okay with that…
March 10th, 2016 at 6:33 pm
Dreambig hit it on the head…..look at this time last year and look what has changed. I not only give credit to that line, but also dirk koetter making there jobs easier by puting them in yhe correct positions and coaching them up. Thats is exactly my point in my previous post further up….draft some guys, which de is easier to accel in as a rookie than o line and let our coaches fo theyre jobs. This will be another season with an upswing and improvment due to our coaching alone
March 10th, 2016 at 6:33 pm
^^ Yes. Exactly.
The only disappointment I have right now is that we didn’t go after T Benjamin or M Sanu. I really thought we should attack the WR position in free agency, and those 2 guys have wheels, which we need.
Especially dissapointing is that now we will face Sanu twice a year. And Benjamin next year whe we play the Chargers.
March 10th, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Jeff I do believe rhe bucs eere in the top five in spending over the last 3 season of all teams. On the other hand you have to consider all of the young talent we have on this team and the cap room we will need to sign them. It would be stupid not to look ahead and have money available. He is proba ly going to end up being the best gm this team has ever had
March 10th, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Hey at least the Bucs will have the most cap room next year! YAY!
March 10th, 2016 at 7:05 pm
Waiting.
Someone let me know when the Bucs roster has improved.
March 10th, 2016 at 7:29 pm
This team has been looking ahead for 10 years that statement has been said over and over Kevin Gerald McCoy has been disappointing doesn’t show up when the game is on the line in my opinion bucs gave hi way to much for an average player how he made the pro bowl is beyond me .
March 10th, 2016 at 7:39 pm
Okay everyone is saying what a lousy job Licht is doing in free agency but let’s think, how could we possibly top the $85 mil contract that the Giants gave Verner? If we matched it he would still prefer the Giants.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:47 pm
Kearse went back to his team..
Any word on Roddy White??!!!
March 10th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
I honestly don’t understand this FA love fest there like strippers look good on stage cost a ton of money, then you go home jacked up with no relief. Miami just spent a ton and at the end of the day still won’t beat new england.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Why would you want an old slow washed up Roddy White, the guy can’t get open.