Jason Licht: “We Need A Lot Of Mentally Tough Guys On Our Football Team”
November 14th, 2016
The GM speaks
Mentality before reality, as Raheem Morris used to say.
Raheem is also the guy who said he wanted to draft Adrian Clayborn because he was half boy and half dog.
There seems to be a little Raheem in Bucs general manager Jason Licht, who had planned a sabotage of Raheem’s swimming pool recently, but that’s a story for another day.
The Bucs have faced all kinds of adversity this season, and last season, and the year before.
These are tough times, but that’s the NFL. Survive and thrive, or you’re the Browns or Jags.
“We need a lot of mentally tough guys on our football team,” Licht told the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday, and Licht explained he was talking about men who can overcome whatever adversity the team faces or whatever stands in their way personally.
Joe was most pleased with the Bucs’ win yesterday because the team shattered its losing mentality — if only for a week.
Nothing has plagued this franchise more than a broken mindset. Joe doesn’t care that Jay Cutler was dreadful. The Bucs pounded Chicago in all phases of the game. Amen!
Licht had a lot of passion in his voice talking about mental toughness.
Draft picks like Noah Spence playing hurt (see Joe’s story from earlier today) and Vernon Hargreaves bouncing back from Julio Jones abuse, those are great signs. Maybe, just maybe, Roberto Aguayo is overcoming. And surely, rookie guard Caleb Benenoch wasn’t whimpering in a corner when his number was called to make his first NFL start yesterday.
Robert Ayers and Brent Grimes have been awesome free-agent signings in the arena of mental toughness, and they’re pretty good, too.
Joe hopes Licht stays dialed in to signing guys with the right mental makeup. A strong 2017 offseason could fully delouse the team of its losing ways.
November 14th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
we neeeeeed to sign alshon. him and evans would be insane
November 14th, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Is it true that McCoy planned to quit (again) after he “injured” his shoulder but Koetter told him if he was hurt he couldn’t play FB? Is that true?
Kudos to Koetter for finding a way to motivate captain decoy.
I’m glad he stayed in the game cuz he got popped so hard on the first play as a FB. Surprised he did fall to the ground crying cuz he got hit too hard.
McDonald is outplaying pinky pie at 3tech and there can be no arguement about that. How about gholston straight beasting out there and Ayers and Spawn. I wish it wasn’t against a 2-6 team but I’ll take it!!!!
McCoy might actually be the worst DT on the starting rotation. Hahaha. He is certainly being outplayed by his teammates. Probably cuz they are mentally tough.
Oh, let it rain, I’m ready bring it.
November 14th, 2016 at 12:53 pm
2017 will be a pivitol year for both Licht & Koetter. I think their contracts will be linked together here on out. I’ve been critical of both but I do desperately want them to succeed.
November 14th, 2016 at 12:54 pm
glad we won…..now go beat a quality opponent….that’s the only thing that will cure this losing mentality….beating up on scrubs wont help…..GO KAP GO MIKE…DIRK=JIM TOMSULA…GO BUCS!!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
The difference was, that made DBs good is pressure on the QB was there, that’s it, nothing more.
November 14th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Figured you did…you’re like Steve Austin ( inflation adjusted of course ).
November 14th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
I hope josh huff doesnt go mental
Just make sure my girl jenna laine is not in the building
November 14th, 2016 at 1:11 pm
watching the Rams and Bears games, both teams dominated and was running the clock out by the 3rd/4th quarters, and fast forward to this year and they had a chance to win the rams at the end, and then the dominating win yesterday, just points to the improvement that we are seeing. This team will continue to build the roster and watch the real core mature!!!!! So much fun watching this team this year after the disaster of the last 2 years!!!!! We are just starting to see what having good coaches can do around here!!!!!
The Buc Realist has issued a 3 year pass to fix the mess of dom/lovie!!!!!!
And GO Bucs!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Was that the first week our entire starting D was healthy? Kind of seems to support the idea that we have decent starting talent but no depth. Last time we were this healthy was week 1 which was our best win to date in terms of beating a quality opponent; and we pretty much controlled that entire game.
WR/DT/DE/S/CB in offseason imo. Would love to get a beast d lineman round 1
We also played with the attacking blitzing style I think most of us expected more of this year. Please keep that up
November 14th, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Agree with 81ebucboi…..beat a team above .500, then I’ll celebrate
November 14th, 2016 at 1:52 pm
Hey Joe lets follow this article up with the DLine Stats….
IS McCoy at the bottom…???
November 14th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
@ DB55
Did McDonald even play 3tech for any given snap yesterday? I don’t think he did.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Oh gee, what a (not) surprise. The dumbass didn’t vote but is pissed off nonetheless and wants to tell us what to think.
Memo to dumbass: the day of protest was election day, november 8th. you missed it dumbass.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
ATrain
Yes, I have read before McCoy is a bottom.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
ATrain
oops i guess that read it wrong but answer still stands.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Are ATrain and DB55 the same person?
The d-line played well and it showed. It’s raining!
November 14th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
We need a “mentally stable” GM.Who trades a 3rd and 4th for a kicker?
November 14th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Mentally tough would mean leaving your politics to at least the press conferences but not on the field where the fans pick up the tab. Suck it up buttercups!
November 14th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Bucsfanman
she did not play bad but did nothing special either yesterday or as usual if you are honest with yourself. Ayers and Gholston drove that dline train yesterday with McDonald pitching in early. But nothing from the super star BEAST
November 14th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
@Lord Corn. Agreed. Even though I do like Ayers and he had a good day yesterday against a 2-6 team with two backup o lineman playing, the guy is getting old. I would love to get Derek Barnett in the first round this year. When talking about mentality you gotta keep Ayers but as a rotational and backup DE/DT. Barnett is a straight up man beast and lined up next to GMC would have opposing QBs making pre snap stains
November 14th, 2016 at 2:54 pm
@SOEBuc
That is why NFL GM Jason Licht signed RA91, DS51, and BG24 to basically one year deals with team options and then called them “Bridge players”!!!!
It took lovie 21 games to get 4 wins!!!!
Improvement indeed!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Geez, what a shocker, the stat boys are criticizing McCoy. It’s so old. Everyone is over it.
November 14th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Shout out to Gottschalk for stepping in at center too when Smith went down. Very first playing time and he did alright
November 14th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Don’t understand why some of you guys are still on GMC’s case. Focus on the center of the DLine for a game & I’m pretty sure you’ll come away impressed with the pressure that our DTs put on the middle. That INT by Conte? That was the result of pressure on Cutler up the middle. When GMC & McDonald are on their game, it makes our DE’s jobs much easier as folks should’ve seen yesterday.
Out of 9 games, GMC has played in 8 games (hurt early in the Denver game & missed the following game in Carolina). Based on the 7 games he’s played in full, GMC has been in on an average of 59 plays per game … an average of over 84% of the plays on defense for those 7 games. That’s essentially being in on 6 out of every 7 snaps on defense and in the trenches. I seriously doubt there’s another DT in the NFL that’s even close to that. Yesterday (probably thanks to having McDonald back) GMC was in for a much more reasonable 38 defensive snaps … 68%. My guess is that he was a lot fresher on each rotation, and it showed. The guy’s a beast and it really doesn’t matter how much he makes or who he helps up off the ground.
November 14th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
@defense rules
I totally disagree about the “pressure up the middle” on the CC23 pick 6!!!
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2016111306/2016/REG10/bears@buccaneers#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000738223&tab=videos
November 14th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
@Defense Rules,
Yeah, but how many tackles does he make? How many games has he taken over? How many last minute sacks, forced fumbles, returned for TD’s has he had in the second half of meaningful games has he had?
Everyone knows all you have to do to judge a player is to take a look at the stat sheet at the end of the game. Whoever has more tackles is better. If the player with a sack or forced fumble is McCoy, then you have to take in account WHEN his sacks occurred, as well as if it was the result of pressure by others. Some of the genius football minds on this site have pointed out that he “stole” a sack last year. They obviously know more than the rest of us.
November 14th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
@realist…way to pound your chest after beating a 2-6 team….way to go…the world now knows the bucs are for real….after beating the 2-6 bears I can really see the improvement…just like I saw it after the 49ers game…..we’ll see if that improvement is visible vs KC or will you come up with yet another excuse….at some point dirk will have to beat a quality team to show he’s a quality hc…..beating up on a 2-6 team gets you participation trophy….GO KAP…GO MIKE…DIRK=JIM TOMSULA….GO BUCS!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 3:56 pm
Agree Realist so they better bring in some good fresh young meat and keep those guys for depth and rotation or the Bridge player strategy is BS. Wouldn’t surprise me if at least Grimes and Ayers are starting at the beginning of next year. Barnett Round 1.
November 14th, 2016 at 4:00 pm
@813bucboi
sorry that you prediction of the Bucs not winning again this year did not come true!!! Sorry that your posts were read on the air in the afternoon on 620, and they said you did not know your azz from a hole in the ground, and asinine!!!!!! How embarrassing!!!!!
I did not say the Bucs have arrived!!! But they are way more fun to watch then anything in the last 2 years!!!! and they further in the competitive department then the last 2 years!!!! Good Coaching indeed!!! Now just need to fix the roster and change the mentality!!!! Changing the Culture has started!!!!!
GO America!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!
And Go ME13 for reducing his next contract!!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 4:10 pm
Realist is absolutely right. This team is better than last year. It might not show up in the record, but I think we can all see it. I think some of the injuries really did us in. That’s not an excuse because you have to have depth, but it is reality. We gambled with a lack of depth in certain areas and it bit us, but there’s nothing you can do about being on your 5th string RB. I really believe we are headed in the right direction, but we are in desperate need of a signature win. KC sure would fit the bill.
November 14th, 2016 at 4:21 pm
@Hawaiian Buc
Do we really need the “signature win” this year??? The injuries are abundant in the same positions!!!! The rest of the Schedule is still difficult. I just want to see the team just stay competitive (especially in the 4th quarter) The real core which is still very young, needs another year. And we can add some pieces in the off-season and next year Lookout!!!!!! the defense is still learning, and will have more of a problem with multiple weapon offenses, ( I wish that we played atlanta one more time as they need more practice with the 4/5 wide offenses!!! And the offense is not smooth and efficient until the run game is more consistent and another fast weapon in the pass offense!!!!!
We are right on schedule!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Buc, Hawaiian , I just want to see Jameis continue to look like he did against Chicago. That provides hope, a try franchise QB means you can be competitive and think playoffs every year
November 14th, 2016 at 4:40 pm
@Realist,
I don’t think we HAVE to, but it would certainly be re-assuring. Especially for all the fans on the fence (and there are a bunch of those). I think it would also be good for the confidence of the team. I think a lot of these young guys need to have the feeling of winning a game against a really good team. It’s gotta happen eventually, so I vote for having it happen this year.
November 14th, 2016 at 4:59 pm
I think some of the injuries really did us in. That’s not an excuse because you have to have depth, but it is reality.”
Agree. You to have depth and if there is a lesson to this season it’s about seeing how deep we go at certain positions. We have an extremely shallow D-line. Maybe we should not settle for 2 decent backs and make sure we have a 3rd ready to start next season. Seeing like 90% of our injuries across those 2 positional groups was pretty nuts although it was somewhat predictable with the D-line and most everyone having a history of not playing full seasons typically. Really sucks J Smith couldn’t give us at least 1/2 a season or something.
November 14th, 2016 at 5:17 pm
@Lord Cornelius,
I think if you look around the league, you would find that very few teams have D-Lines full of guys that play 16 game seasons. Those guys get hurt on a regular basis. Even though I do agree, I don’t know how any team can be prepared for the entire starting D-Line to be out (as we did against Carolina). I think it’s crazy that we were deep at CB, yet we have been injury free there (knock on wood).
We’ve only been healthy for one game – Atlanta. And what did we do? Went into their house and kicked the spit out of them (I know it got close in the end, but we dominated that game). It just makes me think about what could have been.
November 14th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
@realist….funny how your the only person who dreamed of hearing this….how cute….continue pounding your chest over a win against the bears!!!!….GO KAP GO MIKE DIRK=JIM TOMSULA….GO BUCS!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 5:47 pm
@813bucboi
and you can pound sand with lovie over the loss against the bears in 2015!!!!
Everyone is enjoying the good coaching!!!!! And the confidence is very high that the team is in the “right” direction finally!!!! The “Majority” have spoken!!!
Go America!!!!!!!
And Go BUCS!!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2016 at 5:48 pm
“I think if you look around the league, you would find that very few teams have D-Lines full of guys that play 16 game seasons.”
True; but it seems like most teams will have like 1 or 2 guys that typically are full-timers or at least guys who only miss a couple games max and we don’t really have that. GMC is the closest thing. Denver’s line stays pretty healthy but even if Miller or Ware miss time Shane Ray and Shilique Barett are both probably as good as any of our DEs if not better.
I was really into the idea of SHeldon Rankins last draft but am ok with VHIII. Would be nice to add at least add one blue chip piece to the D-line next year though; and if we stay healthier than this year then that just means we’d have an even better rotation to keep guys fresh
November 14th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Realist, you’re 100% right. I thought that was Ayers (#91) coming free from the right side of the DLine and pressuring Cutler into a premature throw because of the double teams on the DTs. But it wasn’t; it was Darryl Smith (#51) busting in from that side.
Hawaiian, a DT may never have a huge number of tackles yet still have a significant impact on the game. If they’re consistently commanding double and triple teams, that has to free up someone else to pressure the QB. No one player can have a significant impact by themselves though, and I think that’s why getting McDonald back yesterday was so significant to the DLine’s performance. GMC & McDonald had to both be accounted for, and Ayers & Noah Spence were able to take advantage.
November 14th, 2016 at 5:53 pm
BKNYfootballhead Says:
November 14th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
@ DB55
Did McDonald even play 3tech for any given snap yesterday? I don’t think he did.
—————-
I want to say 1st qrt w 8:42 he was in a 3tech and sacked cutler. I’ll double check when I get home.
November 14th, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Was really impressed with the way the Bucs rebounded yesterday
November 14th, 2016 at 6:19 pm
Licht you have roster control it’s your job to get mentally tough players in here
November 14th, 2016 at 6:43 pm
@bucboi
The Bucs have already beat a quality team with a winning record. Atlanta is a team with a winning record. The Bucs beat them this year. That means you’re dismissed.
Good nite.
November 14th, 2016 at 7:08 pm
DB55 you couldn’t have said it better.
November 14th, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Just so I understand we need more mentally tough players, when is that a new idea in the NFL? Do other clubs draft and look to sign mentally soft players? What the heck? We had three years of opportunities to sign and draft those players and now we figured that out? I said on posts we’d beat the Bears and the sheep will come out and praise the team. Win in KC and be 5-5 well then I think you can strut a little more. I am so shocked that the Buc Realist is so happy about this team. Like shocked. All the bad is Lovie all the good was Licht. That’s funny. Btw all the Dom guys should be off the team since he was so bad at being a GM, yet I count and see more than 10. Are those the problem guys, Buc Realist should we rid the team of all of them too? Please let us all know your wisdom.
November 14th, 2016 at 8:13 pm
I called for a win yesterday because we (THE BUCS) were a better team, but I got this to say, we are by no means a good team, there is no improvement over the last REGIME even though we drafted for the Defence, Improvement means moving that my scheme lead, friends and family coaching staff, no-cursing zone, 6-win team to 9 wins! 7 games to play with 5 games to win to show improvement over the last REGIME!! GO BUCS GO MIKE (BIG BALLS) EVANS STEP/UP AMERICA (DOWN WITH BANNON THE BIGOT)!! YOU WANTED TRUMP NOW LOOK WHATS COMING HOME TO DINNER!
November 14th, 2016 at 8:32 pm
Where do all this idiots grow?since when making a fool
Of yourself means having balls???
And this team is a big improvement compared to Lovie team and Dominik was horrible doesn’t mean he didn’t pick a few good players.
November 14th, 2016 at 8:37 pm
@Defense Rules,
I was being sarcastic. Incredibly sarcastic.
November 14th, 2016 at 10:45 pm
@Pit: since when does exercising your rights makes you a fool, only an idiot would think that way, I say he has BIG BALLS because it’s taken to long for a TAMPA BUC PLAYER to step up, I’m proud of him not only as a player but as a human being with enough confidence to do what he feels is his right to do PROTEST PEACEFULLY! You sir have the right to not buy his jersey, to not support any of his social projects, not to cheer when he does good on the football field, not follow him on Twitter, but you do not have a right to even feel like you know how he should live his life! Those days or long gone and no matter what SOME ( TRUMP//BANNON) may think, they ain’t coming back! I further decree that the improvement you see are illusions of grandeur!
November 14th, 2016 at 11:02 pm
Hawaiian … My bad. I’ve seen so many alleged Bucs fans write exactly the same things about McCoy that I didn’t recognize the sarcasm. By the way, stayed at Turtle Bay Resort a couple weeks ago for a week. First time I’d spent any time at that end of Oahu. It was awesome. Hadn’t been back to Hawaii for almost 40 years (used to be stationed at PACAF Headquarters back in the 70’s). Changed a bunch but it’s still a great place.
November 14th, 2016 at 11:49 pm
@bighog,
Maybe if Mike Evans had exercised his right to vote, he wouldn’t be protesting the results. Ultimately, what’s the point of “protesting” if there is no remedy.
November 15th, 2016 at 4:46 am
@ Duke: Ultimately, the right to protest is his and his alone, for he is the only one to face any consequences from it, and may I add it is his right to vote, you do know that right!
November 15th, 2016 at 8:22 am
@bighogheinous
ll is not lost for ME13, while it was a mistake to protest on salute the services weekend!!! He can still salvage the P.R. nightmare!!! And its words from Derrick Brooks that should be the path!!! First ask the team to put him in 48 “concussion protocol”!!!! Next start a grass roots movement to have a lobbyist or an adviser for race relations to the cabinet for the president!!! Call the organization Bureaucratic Urban Change Knowledge, Wellness Health Equal Treatment, Sensible Adjective Yourselves Socially, Organization of Teach American Youth!!!! or BUCKWHEAT SAYS O-TAY for short!!!! But the name is not important right now!!! The fact that you can protest in way that is productive and not insult other during their day to celebrate!!!!!
November 16th, 2016 at 11:12 am
We need a better draft!