Jason Licht Calls Noah Spence “An Animal”
March 27th, 2017
Huge talk today about Noah Spence from the Bucs’ general manager.
Yes, Joe and Ira Kaufman had a private sitdown with general manager Jason Licht this evening at the swanky posh Arizona Biltmore resort, the site of this week’s NFL Owners Meetings.
(For those wondering, Joe is staying at a common-man hotel about 20 minutes away.)
Among the topics on the table were the Bucs’ pass rush and the impact of Noah Spence.
Is Spence ready to come back after shoulder surgery in January? Joe didn’t even get a chance to ask that question. Licht came out firing with enthusiasm about Spence, the kind of chatter that gets Bucs fans running through walls and buying jerseys.
“I think he’s going to do nothing but get better, I mean, that guy’s an animal now,” Licht said of Spence. “He just eats, drinks, breathes, sleeps football. And he told me the other day. I said, ‘How are you feeling?’ He said, ‘I don’t even remember which shoulder is hurt. I’m ready.’
“We love the guy. Because once again he’s a fanatic about playing football. That’s all he cares about. “
Joe’s been leery of counting on Spence’s full and immediately recovery. But Licht certainly swayed Joe in a more positive direction.
Licht added that Spence will mature from what he learned managing the injury and it should further add to him continuing to improve steadily.
March 27th, 2017 at 9:09 pm
He played most of the year (his rookie year no less) with the injury and played really well. I think he’ll be fine, Joe.
March 27th, 2017 at 9:13 pm
Sick’em son
March 27th, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Spence had the best time from snap to sack in the NFL last year.
Playing with one arm the guy will be a beast!!!!
March 27th, 2017 at 9:19 pm
Still can’t believe we got him in the 2nd!
March 27th, 2017 at 9:20 pm
In a year or two, with a little more weight and muscle, Spence is going to dominate.
March 27th, 2017 at 9:41 pm
Ain’t gotta buy one thanks to my G SB.. Spawn bout to rip s@$!.. Know them young bodies heal like Wolverines.
March 27th, 2017 at 9:45 pm
Spawn could play with missing limbs and still beast out. He could bleeding out on the field and still play like an animal.
Love this guy..I am still in shock we were able to get him..
Lol @ Joe and his common man hotel comment! lol!!!
March 27th, 2017 at 10:07 pm
He’s definitely a talent , has great hands and more technique and moves than some veterans but he is a long long way from playing on first down.
Not real good against the run !!
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if J Smith isn’t on the roster come training camp or at least at his current salary
March 27th, 2017 at 10:10 pm
Licht had balls of steel when it came to getting Spence. We know he really wanted him – but had enough nerve to sit there and wait multiple picks in the 2nd rd while all the other “good” DEs came of the board. I was yelling at Jason through the TV to “Trade up for Spence – Trade up for Spence!” at least 5 or 6 picks before we got him. But Light gutted it out and still got our pass rusher. That to me was quite impressive.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:14 pm
Issac
Given Jac Smith’s injury history and unreliability I would guess he’s more likely to be in the tub than on the roster. Time for bucs to stop gambling on injury prone flash in the pan type players which Mr Smith is a poster child of.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:14 pm
@Pickgrin,
You and me both!! I was screaming “GO GET SPENCE!!!” Thank God he was still there, and I literally danced in my living room.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:23 pm
When we drafted this guy I was jumping up and down. Could end up being the best defensive end in the draft.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:23 pm
He needs to gain weight and strength as he looked out matched at times last year against larger guys on edge.
Spence has tons of talent and potential. I think he will bloom in year 3 late season based on what I saw last year. These things take time but if anyone can get 110% out of him it will be Coach Hayes
March 27th, 2017 at 10:29 pm
this is the guy we been desperately been waiting for since simeon !! i’ve been saying since the day he got drafted he was going to be our sack specialist if he keeps his nose clean and he seems to be on a good track i could see i break out year for him next season maybe even the elusive double digit sacks!!
March 27th, 2017 at 10:35 pm
Loving the way Spence is developing! Kid has heart! Now get another beast to place on the other side of that D line to help him…. Barnett! I know he wont make it to 19 though 🙁
But I have seen Solomon falling in some mocks and would be just as happy with him too!
March 27th, 2017 at 10:43 pm
He is like that alien in the John Carter movie who said…”give a Tarks and arm and his head, and he’ll yet conquers!”…lol….love this guy (Spencer). Licht, go get some more like him! I love what you’re doing! Go Bucs, dammit!
March 27th, 2017 at 10:45 pm
I too was elated when they landed Spence and can’t wait to watch him grow some more in 2017.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:47 pm
I’m expecting 72 sacks next season from Spence.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:49 pm
Kwon jacked up for next year.
https://twitter.com/Showtime17Kwon/status/846554253103529984
March 27th, 2017 at 10:49 pm
Da…..Bucs
March 27th, 2017 at 11:23 pm
@DoNUTS
Hell yeah. He prolly seen 813bucboi talking crazy earlier and had to let him know whats up XD
March 27th, 2017 at 11:25 pm
A healthy Spawn is going to do wonders for our entire D. We need another young guy to groom to eventually take over Ayers place. But this kid is going to be special. We need more guys who eat and sleep football and have the desire to perfect their trade.
March 27th, 2017 at 11:31 pm
Lest we forget, he was a contender for Defensive ROY, WHILE wearing a shoulder brace that no doubt, impaired his true ability. Now that he’s totally heathy, and with a year in Mike Smith’s defense? I see him making a jump on stats this season.
March 28th, 2017 at 12:39 am
Excited about Spence.
Now, lets draft him some help. Baker will be a great help to McCoy. A good draft, and our D-line can be intimidating!
March 28th, 2017 at 7:57 am
Joe,
ask Licht about Brate’s back injury he sustained against the Saints, is he full go 100%
March 28th, 2017 at 8:18 am
In Phoenix, stay at the Hotel Palomar..downtown, great place, right by Chase Field. Bucs stayed there last year and it was quite the time seeing them take over the place. Good to know Spence is healing well. Of course, last year Jason was pretty positive on Sweezy…at least publicly. Draft, Schedule release…OTAs, camp…pre-season. Can’t get here soon enough!
March 28th, 2017 at 8:19 am
Kwon caught a O linemen like that in the cowboys games. Destroyed the guy.
March 28th, 2017 at 10:31 am
I love this kid!!! Happy as hell he is on our team! Go Bucs!
March 28th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Getting Spence in R2 was the most excited i’ve been about a pick since Winston. I kept watching the picks ahead of us saying “please don’t take Spence please don’t take Spence”
Then we got Aguayo and i was like what? lol. My wife is an FSU fan and immediately liked the pick and tired to make me feel better – she didn’t even understand why i was not too happy. Now she’s ready to cut bait if needed Light style after last year haha
March 28th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Get the kid Willis from K state or Harris from Mizzou, and we’ll have bookend DE’s for the several years.
March 28th, 2017 at 11:54 am
JAMEIS
EVANS
KWON
MARPET
SMITH
HARGREAVES
SPENCE
THE BEST “YOUNG 7” IN THE ENTIRE NFL!
March 28th, 2017 at 3:19 pm
@blake…nawl…he knows what jarrad davis can bring to the table….the same thing he possess…..GO BUCS!!!!
March 28th, 2017 at 4:44 pm
He only had a flesh wound
March 28th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
BUCS “D” WILL RE ROCKIN Raymond James next year!! D-Line will be a dominating force this year. SPENCE 8-11 sacks; BAKER 5-6 sacks AYERS 6-8 MCCOY 6-8; (GHOLSTON,MCDONALD,SMITH) 12 SACKS. That’s 38 sacks not counting Linebackers (DAVID, ALEXANDER) 10+ SACKS. We SHOULD GET 50 SACKS next year, which will make our (? ) Secondary appear better than they are. HELL YEAH!! I want a Dalvin Cook or stud tight end in the first round. I still don’t understand why LICHT / KOETTER think we have a solid offensive line. Our offensive line BLOWS!! What I see is one bonafide NFL Starter w/ four backups. Either move MARPET to center or get one via free agency. Then we need to go out and get a a frickin Left TACKLE then move Donovan Smith to a guard spot. I’m just afraid if we don’t do something about our O-LINE, then one or more of our fancy new toys on offensive will get broken/injured. GO BIG 2017 BUCS!!!
March 28th, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Wish list: Dalvin in the 1st; Jordan Leggett in the 2nd, Corn Elder in the 3rd. Eddy Jackson Round 4. Licht extended 3 years.
March 29th, 2017 at 11:34 am
Love that quote from Spence! Get em Spawn!