The Preparation, Patience And Brilliance Of General Manager Jason Licht
September 8th, 2016
Game-changer
Joe is really taking pause this morning to honor Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht. What this guy has pulled off at the 11th hour in August and September of the last three seasons is downright stunning.
And it’s no accident.
Licht’s confidence and preparation has led to fabulous acquisitions and should leave Bucs fans feeling in skilled hands.
First, take the signing of 28-year-old wide receiver Cecil Shorts this week. Shorts quietly has 216 catches and 13 touchdowns in the last four years. Shorts was cut Saturday by the Texans, which drafted receivers in the first and third rounds this year.
Shorts is healthy and represents the quality depth — and talent and experience — the Bucs desperately needed.
For months this offseason, Joe hammered away repeatedly about the scary-low level of talent, experience and health at the back end of the Bucs’ receiving corps. Dirk Koetter said there was hope to draft a receiver, but the draft didn’t fall that way. The head coach also recently acknowledged the unit was light on the back end.
But Licht stayed patient and fully was prepared to pounce on Shorts this week.
Joe learned at least two other teams were hunting Shorts, and the Houston Chronicle quoted Shorts saying he had multiple options to consider. Licht, though, made Shorts a priority long ago and reached out immediately when he became available. Then he closed the deal.
Think back to when Demar Dotson went down with a knee injury last year in preseason. Within minutes the Bucs were on the phone to the camp of veteran right tackle Gosder Cherilus, who signed and did a heck of a job in 13 starts last year. Cherilus remains on the roster as a backup tackle, one of the most expensive, experienced and talented in the league.
Again, it’s not luck that Licht and his team have stayed patient and focused, and executed their plans.
Remember the trade for Logan Mankins in late August 2014? The Bucs sent Tim Wright and a fourth-round pick to New England.
Mankins not only made last season’s Pro Bowl, but he had a heavy hand molding the core of the Bucs’ young O-line: Ali Marpet, Donovan Smith and Kevin Pamphile. And Cherilus had a huge mentor role there, as well.
One of the most glaring examples of Licht’s patience and preparation was the overall approach to the O-line last year. Entering the 2015 offseason, the line had massive holes and concerns, but Licht ignored it in free agency. Joe was stunned.
Instead, Licht’s personnel team had complete faith in its ability to draft the two linemen they desired — in the second round.
The draft played out. Cherilus was added in mid-August, and starting center Joe Hawley was plucked off the street a few weeks later. And the line is now a huge team strength.
Joe believes the Shorts signing is incredibly significant and important to the hopes of the 2016 season. And it’s equally noteworthy for extending Licht’s streak of A+ moves in late August and September.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:21 am
I’m still pounding the drum for lifting the Den of Depression moniker that RJS has been slapped with and renaming it the Licht House if (when) we get a trophy.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:28 am
There are always solid veteran depth players available after cuts and late in FA. Draft starters, build depth with with shortterm FAs vets. #SeigetheDay
WTF Joe, no fancy #SeigetheDay emoticon? Sad! Ha!
September 8th, 2016 at 9:28 am
Patrick VA
Only way to remove that moniker is by winning and stepping on a couple of visiting teams throats. By the end of the year den of depression will simply be Winston’s House
September 8th, 2016 at 9:29 am
Wow a few you this morning. The first statue should be of Licht not Famous.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:31 am
Licht a str8 G man,some of y’all sleep when it comes to this guys meticulous Aquarius mind. I took “this team will be built in the mold of the New England Patriots” seriously.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:36 am
WHEN we start winning, I’m on board with the renaming.
So far so good. Time will tell and winning cures all.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:45 am
Licht House vs. House of Winston? Hmmmmmmmmm….
September 8th, 2016 at 9:55 am
Lol at this post
I’m guessing none of you watched the Texans vs Cardinals nationally televised week 3 preseason game on Fox. If you did you would’ve heard the announcers clearly say that looks like Shorts is the odd man out in a young deep talented receiving group. Then I immediately paired shorts and Koetter together and came to this here site with the info before we even released Bell. I don’t want any credit at all or nothing. I’m just stating we don’t have to over blow this signing like Licht pulled it out of nowhere.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:58 am
This year’s Lindy’s NFL Magazine praises Shorts ability to earn yards after his catches. He also has 14 touchdowns in the NFL so is no slouch in the red zone too. This is a quality pickup right when we needed it. Joe, your appraisal of Licht is right on the money!
September 8th, 2016 at 10:01 am
One thing is for sure it will not take long for Licht to be the greatest bucs GM of all time if they have a decent run the next 6 to 10 years. McKay and Dungy fielded some of the worst offensives the NFL has ever witnessed totally embarrassing. Even the Ravens won with Dilfer with arguably less than a defense than bucs. Gruden and Allen drafted bad and paid over the hill veterans more than Social Security handed out during their tenure. Whyce gave dungy his defensive of stars. Dominick well, he simply stunk it up. None of Dominicks draft picks will achieve legendary status with the exception of LVD. It always depressing going back over bucs history. 6 decent years and 1 great year out of 40 is pretty depressing. obviously, there is not a lot of competition for all time greatest GM or Coach. If the current bucs front office and Winston go on a run for 6 or 7 years they ALL could hold every franchise record for gm, coach and qb.
September 8th, 2016 at 10:20 am
Tmax consider that last line a done deal my dude.
September 8th, 2016 at 10:24 am
Patrick in VA….Raymond Jameis Stadium…c’mon man.
September 8th, 2016 at 10:25 am
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:
September 8th, 2016 at 10:20 am
Tmax consider that last line a done deal my dude.
Yes, Sir! I believe it…
It’s always a double sided coin when looking back. I get burnt when the living in the past crowd make it sound like the past was great. 1 great year and a few decent sprinkled is hardly great. I think the fact the bucs had a decent defense for close to 10 years, covers up how BAD the offenses were. We are do for a run of consistent winning seasons.
September 8th, 2016 at 10:45 am
This is Crazy! OMG!
Anybody that watched a minute of tampa football last year knew we needed a huge addition upgrade reciever when VJ gets hurt and missess games this year….
Its been 9 months since the last 2015 game and Forrest Gump finally picksup a cut often injured reciever 5 days before the 2016 season and he is worshipped?
9 long months!… draft, offseason, otas, traing camp, 4 presason games…
5 days before the season starts!
no practice time, timing, no playbook,repetition…
I think that is important. So does Minnesota. The vikes paid a ransom to get Bradford with a 1st and 4th round pick and he probably wont even start the game! because…
repetition,timing,playbook
*I am now 100% convinced Joe and Jason Gump has been playing ACDC records backwords.
Kobe is very scared because the satanic messages kind of sound like Ira Kaufmans voice
September 8th, 2016 at 10:48 am
Kobe…Shorts is for depth, right now. They don’t need for him to start right away.
September 8th, 2016 at 10:54 am
Preach it tmax !!!
September 8th, 2016 at 10:58 am
Plus Humphries is in his 2nd year, Brate as well. Let things play out everyone. Jameis will have adequate enough weapons.
Evans
Jackson
Martin
Sims
Brate ( Big fan of and will have a HUGE season)
Humphries
ASJ (If the light bulb ever comes on)
Weapons and the team is STILL young all over the place in key positions. Give it time and have patience.
Jameis will make it right for everyone, the team and the fans.
September 8th, 2016 at 10:59 am
Would be interesting if he makes a play for disgruntle wideout – Kendall Wright.
Word is – he wants out of Tennessee. Probably take a 4 or 5th round pick pry him away – but its a solid Belichick type move.
September 8th, 2016 at 11:02 am
This is a RIDICULOUS article, loaded with ridiculous comments. We’re 8-24 with Licht as GM. He traded a 4th round pick for Mankins, a 2 year rental. And some of the commenters here are trying to compare him to Rich McKay…that is beyond RIDICULOUS
September 8th, 2016 at 11:03 am
As far as legend status, Licht still has not shown he can rule the draft. While he has made some good moves in FA; he has made equally bad moves in the draft, which is more critical. You need not look any further than 2 years ago when they drafted OL heavy early and had a opportunity to get a first round graded player (Collins) in the 7th round and did not pounce on it. Rather, we let the Cowboys get him after our pick and he is now a starting Guard. Who did we get? The fullback from Hawaii who never made the squad and really had no chance.
Most NFL know it alls, will tell you the team is built through the draft and not FA. The pickup of Shorts is pedestrian as best. I do not believe Licht will ever be mentioned in the same breathe as Wolf, Polian or Newsome who have an uncanny ability to find talent in the latter half of the draft.
September 8th, 2016 at 11:11 am
disagree
same stagnant personnel 2015 20th offense
Im pissed because Forrest Gump only needed a few moves to take us to the playoffs this year.. a travis Bengamin or Anquan bolden would have done that. It was a easy move that forrest should have done
***Doug Martin is going to regress this year. I dont like the way Koetter has babied him this preseason
Doug isnt the strongest and fastest…He needs to be worked hard to be in tip top tuned condition…he will be ineffective and injury prone this year
he is slow and fat ($$$ he is human)
September 8th, 2016 at 11:22 am
I disagree with a lot of you who are disparaging Licht’s FA resume. Until we become a winning franchise again, it’s going to take truck loads of cash to bring FAs in. We’ll have to overpay for the kind of talent that won’t put you over the top. That’s the way bad organizations operate. He saw that throughout his career and dipped his toe in those waters his first year and he got burned. He probably did make a play for a number of those people that have been mentioned above, but he ultimately let the bad teams continue to pay too much for them. He clearly has a vision for what he wants the team to be and it’s working. The team is becoming markedly better. For those of you who want to point to his record as an indicator of his GM abilities, I think you’re seriously overlooking the fact that his first two seasons were marred by having an HC that couldn’t adapt to the players he was given and insisted that players be brought in that fit a very narrow (and outdated) definition of what a player should be.
September 8th, 2016 at 11:32 am
one open roster spot… make some magic
September 8th, 2016 at 11:33 am
I like Shorts, but Braxton Miller in the 3rd round would have been nice as well.
September 8th, 2016 at 11:40 am
Lakeland
beyond RIDICULOUS – that’s a great way to describe McKay / Dungy offenses… Nice Job!
September 8th, 2016 at 11:57 am
Love all the armchair GMs on here who think every FA signing works out for every other team every time except for us. There are lots of misses in FA folks.
How about Licht’s work with UDFAs like Hump, Brate, Jac Smith, and Howard Jones?
September 8th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Kobe Faker….I’m going to remember you said that about Martin.
September 8th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
*Anquan Bolden would have been a perfect reciever for us and would have made us a playoff team
If Tampa and Forrest gump wanted Bolden, He would have been here in pewter getting reps/timing with Jaboo ready to rock against the chickensh!ts
Bolden is the man in his community just a few hours south of tampa. He is a ex FSU legend and big brother of jaboo.
**for those (it take 2 to tango lol) smucks that think Bolden would rather spend money on a new house/furnise furniture/relocate his kids/wife and mother and probably 4 girlfiends….in beautiful warm in december playoff bound detroit…think for once
But the person who needed Anquan Bolden the most is Mike Evans
For being a 6’4″ 225lber he is the least physical reciever in the nfl. Yes Monken will and is helping ME in the routerunning and mental game but the physicality at the line with the hands and body….that is Anquans wheelhouse
Bolden made his career being out physically tough to create separation. Bolden would have made ME top 5 WR and maybe a HOF player
*Im not a Mike evans fan
Run! Forrest! Run! (away from Tampa)
September 8th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
That’s where you lost all credibility.
JESUS H CHRIST, MAN!!!! How many times does it have to be repeated that Collins was not, I repeat NOT, going to play for any team that drafted him past round 4? He stated it during draft. Why is it so hard to understand?
Also, the rest of your statement is a blatent, flat out lie.
He was undrafted and DECIDED to sign with the Cowboys. Ever other GM in the league listed to him when he said that he would not sign a contract if drafted beyond the 4th round and would re-enter the draft the following year if he was.
September 8th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Right. Because all you have to do is say, “hey, sign with our team” and the player has to sign. Lets take all the free will out of the player because, you know, it’s just like Madden and the player HAS to sign with us.
OR would you have prefered if Licht would’ve offered him the most ammount of money available? And then complain that we over spent for a player?
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I want players that WANT to be here. Ones that you DON’T have to offer the max amount of money to.
But hey, what do I know.
September 8th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
Well stated Celly. I had forgotten about that little wrinkle.
September 8th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
celly speaking some serious truths right now. Preach brotha
September 8th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
@DoNUTS you can not criticize Licht for not taking Collins in the 7th round when 31 other teams also passed on him. This was a unique situation involving a player that basically could pick his landing spot by stating he would not sign if he was selected in the draft.
Using Collins as a critique against Licht is just as silly as knocking Licht for failing to sign a player that signed somewhere else in the offseason. It’s ridiculous that people forget that most free agents have several choices where to sign and not all of them are going to sign with the Bucs, regardless of the money being offered.
Now, having typed all of that, I think it’s still too early to really judge the overall performance of Jason Licht. He’s had some incredible draft picks but he also went out and signed an injured offensive lineman that might not even be that good. We don’t know yet, but this season the Bucs have to improve on the wins and finish the season stronger than last season, when they lost four straight.
September 8th, 2016 at 12:35 pm
@thegregwitul
Using what you said to further back up my point.
Albert Haynesworth stated that when he was a free agent (the first time) and he had to choose between Washington and us, WE actually offered him significantly more money than Washington did.
He CHOSE to sign with Washington because he believed there were a bigger market and a better team.
Free agency only gives you an opportunity to sign a player, it doesn’t guarantee that you sign a player that you want.
Again, this is real life NFL, not Madden, where you can just reset the game and try again when you don’t get the trade you like.
September 8th, 2016 at 12:49 pm
@Buc1987
I dont believe in giving out big 2nd contracts to runningbacks
DM has an injury prone inconsistent career. cant convert 3rd and short and will continuously drop key receptions during the season
alot of fresh leg runningbacks in the 2017 draft
hate to say it but after 5 years, high mileage runningbacks are disposable
September 8th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
I’ve been saying since his first season as GM, that he would eventually rank as the best GM in team history. It was clear the first season forays in free agency were about Lovie, and that Licht was a more methodical personnel guy who preferred a patient and restrained approach to free agents. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s built a pretty solid roster ready to take the next step. Those who still bash him are just complainers and haters. I have 100% confidence in Licht.
September 8th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
Well said Salish
LakelandBuc, doNUTS and Kobe Faker are all blind if they can’t see that Jason Licht is doing a good job as GM.
September 8th, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Any praise of his low key FA signings would be incomplete without taking note of the huge money he’s spent on guys that ultimately proved to be a waste of resources. I like what he has done in the draft, but lets not pretend he’s batting 1.000 here either.
September 8th, 2016 at 3:54 pm
I really don’t care what other people think of Jason Licht. I just look at how much the roster has improved since he’s been GM. I look at the attitude of the team, and the competence of the coaching staff. Anyone can isolate individual mistakes, but if you look at the whole picture, things are looking up for this franchise, and Jason Licht is the main reason.
September 8th, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Gotta win (at least) five games in a season at home first.