Why J.R. Sweezy?
April 1st, 2016
Questions persist
Joe hadn’t seen such crying since chicks reacted to “Titanic” when it premiered in theaters.
Joe is referring to the numberscrunchers who pitched a collective juvenile tantrum on social media when the Bucs signed guard J.R. Sweezy. It was as if someone stole their Game Boy.
Mike Sando is not spreadsheeter, but even he has concerns with the signing of Sweezy. In a look at the top alleged questionable signings of free agent season, Sando, typing for BSPN, includes the Bucs signing Sweezy.
The Buccaneers want to further enhance their ground game to support quarterback Jameis Winston. They think Sweezy can add a physical dimension to their run-blocking schemes. They could be right, but they paid $6.5 million per season for a converted college defensive tackle without a record of consistently strong play. Evaluating interior offensive linemen is always a challenge because so much depends on factors unknown to outsiders and beyond the players’ control. But it’s not a stretch to say this signing seems quite speculative.
Here is the thing: Sweezy was signed by a guy who himself was a former offensive lineman, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Let’s just say Joe trusts Licht at that position.
Combine that with how George Warhop molded a line made up of two rookies and two guys signed off the street in August and September into one the NFL’s best. Let’s also just say Joe also trusts Warhop to further develop Sweezy.
April 1st, 2016 at 9:21 am
I trust licht absolutely when it comes to linemen.
April 1st, 2016 at 9:24 am
I don’t think it was that big of a reach. sure they probably overpaid slightly for him but losing teams that have not won a playoff game in 13 years HAVE to overpay until they start winning. Sorry but the weather and no state taxes are not as big of a draw as some might like to think. Sweezy is still learning the position as long as he keeps progressing under Warhop / Koetter he will be fine.
April 1st, 2016 at 9:33 am
Trust? Didn’t this GM sign Collins after saying he really stood out to him? Hopefully he’s learned a few things since then.
April 1st, 2016 at 9:33 am
Amen to what Meatloph said. Not to mention he looks demented.
April 1st, 2016 at 9:42 am
The guy looks like someone stole his lunch.
April 1st, 2016 at 9:56 am
63 here’s a thought,maybe Collins did standout to him but maybe football in general didn’t standout in the heart of Collins.
April 1st, 2016 at 9:59 am
Not eveyone in a uniform does it for the love of the game bro. We all know this.
April 1st, 2016 at 10:04 am
licht has made mistakes collins is one of them but he has also hit a grand slam which has not been done in tampa history. In licht I trust…
Nole..
he does look a little demented… I like it…
April 1st, 2016 at 10:05 am
We may have paid a bit more for Sweezy but how else would we get him here….surely their were other teams wanting him.
Let’s give him a chance to perform.
April 1st, 2016 at 10:21 am
I love the sweezy signing….like joe said combine that with the coaching of warhop we will be just fine…hopefully we can avoid the injury bug…doug has a chance to lead the league in rushing…GO BUCS!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 10:26 am
Great points about Licht and Warhop… I’m sure they will get every drop of talent from sweezy.
April 1st, 2016 at 10:30 am
Given Jason Licht’s previous record in free agency, I don’t trust him at all. Lovie was a convenient target for people to blame the last two years…I always said it was on Licht.
He cannot blame Lovie now.
If he is so worthy of trust…why is he following the exact same pattern of behavior in free agency?
Think about it. What positions did we sign last year? Going into those signings, what was the overall consensus? A year later?
No one wants to admit it, but Jason Licht sucks at free agency. He isn’t worthy of trust in that area.
April 1st, 2016 at 10:31 am
Yea tmax Duke look like he munch on kids for a snack. Him and Mongo up front man I can hardly wait. Dougie gotta be rubbiing his hands together right now.
April 1st, 2016 at 10:31 am
Meatloph just needed this comment section with his 100 percent accurate post
April 1st, 2016 at 10:37 am
Maybe so Bonzai but long as he continues to hit in the draft it’ll all balance out bro. I’m not the biggest fan of free agency personally. I like “Young and Hungry” football players because they play hard.
April 1st, 2016 at 10:43 am
@bonsai…I agree 1000%…if we start out rough(which I hope we don’t) I bet fans and maybe even joe will blame lovie for “setting this team back” when dirk and licht now only have 1 side of the ball the fix/worry about…i’ll continue to say, 10-6 with playoffs or both need to be on the HOT seat…GO BUCS!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 11:13 am
What Sando wrote was spot on. It is a speculative signing because Sweezy was not consistent in the passing game. That said even Licht would have to admit he is expecting Sweezy to grow and get better. If he doesn’t or even regresses he will be off the roster in a few years. It is possible to see both side of a signing Joe, even if you can’t.
April 1st, 2016 at 11:28 am
I respectfully totally disagree with your “hot seat”assessment 813. I do agree with 10 wins and a playoff berth. But the owners speak way too glowingly of Licht after the success of last years draft for him to be on anyone’s hot seat no matter how this season plays out.
April 1st, 2016 at 11:35 am
I think Sweezy fits into what this O-line is!! Power run and play-action type offense. Does anyone on this O-line have a better pass-pro than run block?? I don’t think so. It also sets up for our slower receivers and TE that need the play-action to help get separation from secondaries and LBs.
April 1st, 2016 at 11:36 am
Bucs paid to much for this guy. Sure hope he performs. I mean last year Wilson spent a lot of time..Running for his life behind that Offensive line of Seattle. We shall see.
April 1st, 2016 at 11:53 am
We won’t really know about Sweezy until we see how he fits in with the rest of our group. Yes he was expensive – but that’s what happens when you have lost twice as many games as you have won the last 10 years and need to fill some holes in free agency. We outbid quite a few other teams for Sweezy’s services. He was in demand and decided to come here and hopefully be part of something special that everyone hopes the Bucs are building.
Dudes picture above says it all. He’s ready to knock some defenders on their asses. The more nasty we get up front the better.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Geez, let’s give the poor guy a chance. He is still young, and young at his position too.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Did a nice job finding two offensive linemen off the scrap heap last summer.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Last off-season: Warhop sucks, he must go!
This off-season: Thank god for Warhop. He has been outstanding!
April 1st, 2016 at 12:29 pm
I think we are going to smash people early and often with this group – not just inside, but on pulls and traps too – cant wait to see the play action open up from this type of ground game…Sweezy/Marpet/Hawley are just nasty plain and simple – pray they stay healthy, Dougie could really have a better season than last if we do
April 1st, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Joe Says
“Did a nice job finding two offensive linemen off the scrap heap last summer.”
Hah!
According to EVERYONE here, Lovie had full control. I feel differently, but I find it ironic that he gets credit for the good and NONE of the bad.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Joe Says:
April 1st, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Given Jason Licht’s previous record in free agency, I don’t trust him at all.
Did a nice job finding two offensive linemen off the scrap heap last summer.
Yes he did. I have no beef with Licht’s FA record. FA acquisitions tend to be busts more often than not. The true measure for Licht is how he drafts, which has been sterling so far, and how he manages the cap.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:37 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
April 1st, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Joe Says
“Did a nice job finding two offensive linemen off the scrap heap last summer.”
Hah!
According to EVERYONE here, Lovie had full control. I feel differently, but I find it ironic that he gets credit for the good and NONE of the bad.
Any of the Lovie had full control beef is just icing on the cake if you even consider it. I don’t judge Lovie for that. I judge him for sucking as a Head Coach. When you are billed as a defensive guru and your defense allows a 70% completion rate to opposing Qb’s, then you sir, suck at being a coach. Simple as that.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Lovie did have full control. This is not even debatable. It was in his contract.
Of course, when Joe Hawley and Gosder Cherilus were signed, Lovie was in the middle of training camp. He wasn’t scouring free agents and talking to agents. Lovie didn’t have the luxury of sitting in his Chicago suburban basement to monitor free agents in August and September. That was/is Licht’s job.
Of course, if Lovie didn’t approve of them, they wouldn’t have been on the roster, just like Jameis.
April 1st, 2016 at 2:44 pm
Jameis would have been on this team regardless of what lovie would have wanted. Iam not sure why joe can’t see that. Sources says the bucs comtemplated firing lovie after the 2-14 season. It has also been reported that the whole building fell in love with jameis during the draft process including the glazers. There is no way in he11 that lovie could/would have over rode everybody if he had prefered mariota. He would have been fired then before the bucs would have let jameis slip through their fingers. Not sure why joe doesnt see this. Jameis was always going to be the pick. Its as simple as that.
April 1st, 2016 at 3:20 pm
@nole…so you agree that playoffs is needed this year but if we finish 8-8 missing the playoffs and showing no signs of progress that will be acceptable?…he would be on the hot seat if we fail to make the playoffs…all of his actions suggest we are ready to win right now…firing a coach after 2years, hiring someone you feel is capable and not improving to reach the playoffs should land you on the hot seat regardless of how he drafts…the glazers spoke highly of lovie and was advised by licht to can him…if some how we finish 8-8 and show no real signs of progress(playoffs), he will be on the hot seat weather he knows it or not just like lovie….I bet he gets a phone call at night from the glazers saying, “we need to talk, can you come to the office”…GO BUCS!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 3:26 pm
@Nole…”But the owners speak way too glowingly of Licht after the success of last years draft for him to be on anyone’s hot seat no matter how this season plays out.”
1 draft has never earned a gm an extension…”w” are the key….no matter how well he drafts(imo your giving licht a bit too much credit) if he doesn’t produce wins, he’ll get canned….or should at least…GO BUCS!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 3:33 pm
@813,
I don’t believe that the Glazers approved the firing of Lovie because of Licht’s advice solely. The Glazers spoke highly of Lovie when he was hired, there was no deep love after going 2-14. It was pretty obvious that Lovie didn’t have what it took after last year. The team was half-stepping because there was no accountability. If you don’t have a team that demands accountability of itself, then you better damn well have a coach like a Tom Coughlin that will demand accountability. Believe me, the Glazers had seen enough. The firing came more from the Glazers than it did Licht. I’m willing to bet Licht had a tough time letting go of Lovie but knew it was the right decision.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:05 pm
@cmurda…that makes zero sense….if they wanted to fire lovie after going 2-14, then why would they need to be advised he wasn’t doing a good job after the team went 6-10…I think 6-10 was good enough for the glazers but licht advised them we should’ve been in the playoffs…which he is correct…we should’ve been…your right he didn’t have what it takes…HE DIDNT HAVE TALENT ON DEFENSE…and the little bit of talent he did have on the defense continued to shoot themselves in the foot due to immaturity(dumb penalties)…regardless if he and licht hand picked the players, those were the best players they could find at the time and also knew the “system”….now that licht and dirk only have the defense to worry about, there should be no excuses this year….if we don’t reach the playoffs licht will/should be on the hot seat just like lovie….GO BUCS!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 4:09 pm
@813 when I said I agree I was meaning we will be good enough to make the playoffs this season. Now if you’re telling me going 8 and 8 not making the playoffs would constitute Koetter and or Licht being placed on some proverbial hot seat then sir you’re fooling your self.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:11 pm
@tmax agree with your observation about us overpaying for FA’s. And I also concede part of that is because of the history of our franchise.
I think FA’s are alway overpriced to some degree, I do not disagree with you that we pay a premium because of our history…but most FA’s worth having are always going to command top dollar.
It’s pretty easy to figure out. You have two players of equal measurables, college success, and talent and in fact they may even be identically successful in the NFL.
But the guy who has already proved it is always going to get more than the rookie still waiting to show his stuff.
I find this a fascinating part of managing an NFL franchise. Balancing the proven talent and yet finding enough talented draft picks who will produce for far less dollars. Like you though I have faith in Licht to get the balance right.
@BucBonzai
I take your point about having it both ways…if Lovies gets all the fault then he deserves some credit in the area of player selection…but I tend to side with Joe.
The answer for me will come this year. Let’s see how this group of FA’s compares with the past two groups. If they are better…especially if they are significantly better…then it would appear that Lovie made the original big FA mistakes with Ghost and Collins and not Licht.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:14 pm
@813 I put my number on here the other day. I love betting real money. If we don’t make the playoffs this season I’m willing to wager whatever you like Koetter nor Licht will be on some hot seat. Maybe that’s what you would want but the reality is I highly doubt that would happen.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:34 pm
“Joe Says:
April 1st, 2016 at 1:43 pm
According to EVERYONE here, Lovie had full control. I feel differently, but I find it ironic that he gets credit for the good and NONE of the bad.
Lovie did have full control. This is not even debatable. It was in his contract.”
Lovie had full control over the final 53 in his contract. Not full control over all personnel moves.
The final 53 is important for coaches because they may like a certain player on the roster at cut down day over the GM who will give draft picks and signings the benefit of the doubt because GM’s are judged more or those facets than wins while coaches are judged almost exclusively on wins.
If anyone thinks Lovie was the doing the GM’s job during his time here, you are mistaken.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:53 pm
we could’ve kept lovie for 8-8…GOD forbid we regress…licht maybe out mid year…I guess we can agree to disagree…10-6 with playoffs or licht is on the hot seat….GO BUCS!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 4:54 pm
@813
What part doesn’t make sense to you? Here’s a quick synopsis. Lovie went 2-14. Glazers not happy, Licht unimpressed. Lovie gets a franchise QB and because of the failures on defense, the team goes 6-10 after being 6-6 through 12 games. Glazers had already seen enough. The point was the Glazers were already considering the firing of Lovie with or without Licht’s input. You suggested the Glazers spoke highly of Lovie and I am correcting you because that was BEFORE he sucked for 2 straight years. I digress.
I agree with NOSBOS. If we go 8-8 and fail to make playoffs, there’s no way on Earth that Dirk will be on the hot seat. And how exactly do you not consider that improvement? If you polled the majority of NFL experts, the vast majority would not have us going to the playoffs. I personally don’t think we will be going to the playoffs this year but I expect an 8-8 or 9-7 and then have us finally get over the hump next year. Obvioulsy I hope we do go to the playoffs but I’m getting more pessimistic aka (Buc Realist) by the day after my 10 years of optimism was shattered.
April 1st, 2016 at 6:03 pm
@ tom s
I have been trying to tell joe and this board that for a long time. Lovie is a coach and not a scout. Now i am not naive to the fact that lovie requested and received certain players in free agency that he wanted. I am equally sure that licht put many of the 90 players lovie took to training camp on the roster. It was then lovie’s power showed itself from who made the team and who played. Some gms around the league tell the coach who is the starter etc. Lovie did not have to worry about that. Thats one reason your secondary played musical chairs.
April 1st, 2016 at 6:14 pm
@Cmurda
If we go 8-8 and fail to make playoffs, there’s no way on Earth that Dirk will be on the hot seat.
I agree. One thing though that keeps getting left out of these conversations is that it is more than the record…it’s how you get there..and what part of the season you win the games.
If Lovie had won the final three but lost three more mid season games and finished 6-10 with an improving defense and offense and some PROGRESS he would still be here.
If Koetter went 8-8 but it was a six game win streak to start with a six game losing streak at the end his seat would start to warm but no way would it be truly hot.
I believe Lovie was fired as much for the direction of this franchise as a six and ten record
April 2nd, 2016 at 1:15 am
@Stpetebucsfan
Solid points. I agree on all of it.
April 2nd, 2016 at 3:34 pm
Yes, Lovie was fired because he was stubborn with the defensive scheme but more than anything else the injuries hurt us just as bad if not worse. Our record had everything to do with it too and it was after he had a sit down with the Glazers about the secondary. Lovie suggested to bring in a consultant. Then the meltdown before the Saints game when Sheppard was speaking. Man, people need to get over Lovie Smith and focus on the team this year. I am sure we paid to much for JR Sweezy but when other teams are interested you are going to have to be the highest bidder if you want to lure that player. Warhop must of had input and saw something in Sweezy that set him apart. Sweezy, Marpet and Hawley were made for each other. Just imagine if we draft Jason Spriggs OT Indiana 6′ 6″ 310 in round two?
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