Rust-Free Return
December 12th, 2016
Jason Licht broke his silence
Man, Charles Sims sure looked sharp and in midseason form during his return to the lineup yesterday.
Sims had missed 10 weeks with a knee injury and looked like Darren Sproles compared to Doug Martin on the field against the Saints.
Sims had juice in his step, busting out the run of the day for Tampa Bay, a 12-yarder. That led all Bucs rushers, who combined for 35 attempts. Sims added three catches for 33 yards on four targets. The one missed target was a deep ball at the goal line, where Sims made a nice adjustment and the catch but couldn’t get two feet in bounds. After the game, America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, blamed himself for a second-rate throw.
It was a true rust-free return for Sims.
But this was not a surprise because general manager Jason Licht said it was coming.
Licht, invisible in the media frenzy last week, including declining an appearance on the award-winning Ira Kaufman Podcast, emerged on the Buccaneers Radio Network pregame show yesterday. Licht said Sims had two significantly strong weeks of practice leading up to Sunday’s game and should be a welcome and sharp edition to the offense.
Sims is coming back at just the right time. If he can resume his 2015 role as a dangerous change-of-pace back and receiver (not a featured running back), then that will help offset the dearth of talent at receiver and the struggles of Martin.
December 12th, 2016 at 9:39 am
This is big with all the injuries at receiver…..really liked seeing him line up at at WR….need to do this more often.
December 12th, 2016 at 9:42 am
great play call by koetter to get sims 1 on 1 with an LB and then great route and jameis has to hit that layup, sims dances too much
December 12th, 2016 at 9:49 am
On the last possession for the Bucs, it was a 3rd and 2 I believe, we took at shot to Mike Evans down the left sidelines and didn’t get the PI call (tough catch, but catchable). SIMS WAS OPEN IN THE MIDDLE sitting between two linebackers. He is a great check down option for Jaboo. Need to utilize him more in the short yardage passing game.
December 12th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Speaking of next week, after watching the cowpokes last night, they looked beatable. C’mon, they rely on two rookies, excellent for rookies, but vulnerable to an aggressive “disciplined” defense which the Bucs seem to be. If the offense can click on all eight with help from returning Dotson and Humphries, then why not get that ninth win? YOU CAN DO IT!!
December 12th, 2016 at 9:55 am
The GM always does the pregame show on the Buccs Radio Network, Joe lol
December 12th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Simms could be a huge boost to their P-word hopes.
December 12th, 2016 at 10:21 am
Nice use of the word “dearth”, Fitzpatrick! Lol
December 12th, 2016 at 10:28 am
I may have to give Jason Licht some earned props.
Let’s review his new free agent record for this year.
Guard J.R. Sweezy.
A complete waste of a signing, unless he somehow becomes a superstar for us next year. Even so…still a waste of big money THIS year. 5 year contract…wow. $14+ Mil guaranteed.
Grade F
CB Brent Grimes.
He tended to run hot and cold leading up to the bye week, but I can understand that. It was a new defense, after all…and a new team for him. Since the bye week, Grimes has been pretty darn good, with only a few bad plays. He’s on a 2 year contract (maybe should have gone 3).
Grade A
DE Robert Ayers.
Perhaps the most impactful free agent signing since Jason Licht became the GM. I can almost believe that his mentality and ability to back up his words is the primary reason for the defensive turn around in culture. 3 year contract. $10+ guaranteed.
Grade A++
RB Jacquizz Rodgers.
The perfect backup for Doug Martin…and he’s good enough to push Martin to play better. 1 yr contract. Deserves an extension in my opinion, at a reasonable price.
Grade C+
WR Freddie Martino.
He’s no Mike Evans. Not even an Adam Humphries. But his kid has performed when called up, and is the perfect depth. He doesn’t get nervous, he just does his job…well.
Grade C+
All-in-all, not a bad year for Licht on the free agent front. Sure, there have been busts. And, of course, some guys left over from last year have under performed.
Free Agency still isn’t a strength for Jason Licht…but he IS improving. Given that he’s already pretty good in the draft and at cap management (so far), I think he deserves props.
And this is coming from a fan who harped on him constantly last year.
PROPS WHEN PROPS ARE EARNED…and he is earning them.
December 12th, 2016 at 10:33 am
Dude your new found angst for Dougie is trivial to me. “He look sharp compared to Doug Martin”??? Lets be clear, WE AIN’T WINNING THIS YEAR’S SUPERBOWL WITHOUT DOUG MARTIN PERIOD
December 12th, 2016 at 10:43 am
Somehow the bucs are undefeated when martin plays an entire game. Even with his putrid running and horrendous talent level. Some ho the bucs over cone both the opposing team and the hole Martin’s running constantly puts us in.
/sarcasm
December 12th, 2016 at 10:58 am
OL needs to be better. Dallas I believe has the #2 Rush D in the NFL.
December 12th, 2016 at 10:59 am
Play calling needs to better as well….
December 12th, 2016 at 11:10 am
WE GOT THE W…PERIOD
December 12th, 2016 at 11:13 am
Dusty, you need to go rewatch that play. Jameis put the ball in perfectly. Simms got turned around. The coverage was there. The only “lay up” Jameis missed was to Sheppard. That was a miss.
I thought Simms played well in the passing game.
The Doug Martin bashing, I am a bit perplexed by. His numbers were not great but he did have some of his best runs of the season. He started to get to the second level in this game, now can he get his forward lean back and turn the 5 yd gains into 13. He is getting better in his return.
People are trying to blame, Martin or the o-line. Guys this is a receiver/injury issue. By this time of year the starting receivers were slated to be Evans, Vjax and Murphy, with ASJ being our tight end. So, look at who was out. VJax, Murphy, Shorts, Humprey, Stocker and Dotson. We don’t have a true full back (something every running team should have) Most RB’s even today need a fullback on short yardage. Sacrificing our oft injured best blocking TE for fullback duties just invites more injuries. I would love a Fullback vs a 3rd string QB. If we had to rely on Ryan Griffin for anything this year, we would be screwed in any case.
All being said.. LOVE the direction of this team. They have already exceeded my expectations. Yesterday’s game was one that was lost for the previous 3 seasons at least.
December 12th, 2016 at 11:17 am
As often a Goz was flopping on the ground you’d think Cam had a taser in his pocket…..brutal….still, a win is a win
December 12th, 2016 at 11:29 am
Is there a downside to moving Simms to the slot, permanently?
Martin
Rodgers
Barber
is a pretty good depth chart
December 12th, 2016 at 11:49 am
Martin does not have a single run of 20+ yards this year. I do not understand the thinking behind force feeding him the ball. For weeks now we’ve heard during the week that they want to get (insert back-up RB’s name here) the ball more, and ever game they insist on giving Martin all the carries.
They are winning in spite of Doug Martin, not because of. Spread the Fing carries around! Martin looks like a 3rd down back this year, so use him as a 3rd down back. A mix of Rogers and Barber would out gain Martin by 2x. I don’t understand it.
December 12th, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Joe says:
“sharp edition to the offense”
edition?
addition.
December 12th, 2016 at 4:16 pm
Bonzai – you forgot to include wily vet Daryl Smith in your FA analysis.
He’s only on the field about 40% of the time – but he has definitely made some impact plays this year from the LB position.
December 12th, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Joe you need to have your eyes checked Dougie was running hard yesterday. He was getting hit constantly. Did you see his td? How quickly people forget the Eagles and Jaguars games. People act like he’s not trying or forgot how to run.