Fourth Preseason Game Matters
September 6th, 2017
Wins final showdown.
Regular readers of Joe know Joe would rather watch America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, call play-by-play of two cockroaches fornicating than to watch the final preseason game of a particular year.
Roughly 90 percent of the guys in that game will go on to do something else with their lives other than play for the Bucs. Some might even run away from the team when a contract is placed in front of their face.
But for a very few players on the field, the final preseason game is the difference between a spot on the 53-man roster or a spot on the practice squad.
As “Hard Knocks,” in its season finale last night, built up the drama for the war between bouncers and bedpan cleaners final preseason game, so too did “Hard Knocks” build up the battle between Riley Bullough and Cam Lynch for the final linebacker position.
Bullough, as Bucs assistants had noted through the “Hard Knocks” series, had one weakness and that was pass coverage. In the final preseason game, Bullough got burned a couple of times in pass coverage, “Hard Knocks” showed.
Lynch? He made player after play and even forced a Redskins fumble.
It was clear by watching “Hard Knocks” that Lynch was ready to make an impact if called upon in a regular season game.
Bullough? Just needs a little bit of polish, which is why the Bucs brought him back on the practice squad.
September 6th, 2017 at 3:06 am
Hey Joe why is it when teams release players its just business? However, when a player CHOOSES the right to play on another he’s a quitter. Yet its Licht and others who did all the crying.
I had no problem with the Bucs cutting him. Just another Licht draft pick especially in a draft loaded with good rbs that he missed out on. However, Licht getting mad that Jeremy deciding to play elsewhere is a bad look. If you wanted him so bad keep him on the 53 man roster. After that things change. Just like many players who thought they were locks on the roster and yet get cut all the time.
September 6th, 2017 at 3:25 am
Riley just needs some more time in the system – he’s a half step slow but with pure hard work and desire you can overcome a half step. I think he’ll be with us next year and take the long Tandy route into one day being a big contributor.
September 6th, 2017 at 4:58 am
See Rod – you CAN come up with something intelligent to say every now and then. Its a much better look for you than the trolling BS. Trust me.
September 6th, 2017 at 5:49 am
Hansborough looks way better than McNichols.
Hansborough looks like a faster Bobby Rainey, who was damn good and underused.
Just so you know,
Mason Foster is still starting in the NFL.
He should have been resigned and plugged in at SLB.
Patrick Omameh is starting and sucking for the Jags.
Ted Larsen has started many games for the Cardinals.
Jeremy Zuttah is still starting.
Arrelius Benn is still in the NFL.
Donald Penn is a top 5 LT.
LeGarrette Blount is still scaring the crap out of DB’s.
Connor Barth is still a starting kicker in the NFL.
Wasted picks?
Aguayo (Barth), Donovan Smith (Donald Penn,) Devante Bond (Mason Foster), Kenny Bell, Clay ( Aurellious Benn) McNichols (Blount)
Imagine if we had kept some of these guys instead of drafting their replacements.
We would be even better today and much deeper.
September 6th, 2017 at 6:21 am
Deeper? Deeper? Ooooh Deeper!….Colin sign Colin before it’s too late!!
September 6th, 2017 at 8:06 am
I so bookmarked this for next year, Joe, lol.
September 6th, 2017 at 8:12 am
teacherman – you are reaching with that list first of all.
– Foster is OK but certainly nothing special. We have at least 3 LBers who are better.
– Omameh and Larson have both always sucked
– Zuttah is no better than Evan Smith and was just cut so is looking for work
– Benn came into the league 8 years ago – career totals? 64 catches for 978 yards IN THE LAST 8 YEARS.
– Penn could have been retained – but 2013 was BY FAR his worst year – he was pretty bad that last year with the Bucs and was due 8.5M the following year which was certainly more than he’s worth as evidenced by the fact that Oakland signed him for just over half that and he’s never averaged more than $6M per ever since. Think Penn would have stayed if we’d offered him the $4.5M Raiders paid him or we have to let him go? Of course not.
– Blount? Ask Pittsburgh about him.
– Barth? Ok sure – we should have kept him
So you were 1 for 8 with your examples.
Secondly – letting players go who can play in the NFL is a pretty natural occurrence when you change coaches every couple of years over and over.
September 6th, 2017 at 9:27 am
Heart and determination will only get you so far, you can’t teach speed. Riley’s best hope is to become a ST standout. He is still two to three players down at the LB spot. Yeah, I like his heart and hustle, but unless we are playing Luke Stocker type tight ends, he is too slow, you heard the coaches. It does make sense to keep him on the PS, but if he is any good, you will see hime snatched up by another team and added to the 53. He will be the leader of the PS.
September 6th, 2017 at 10:09 am
Riley is a future coach but not future NFL player. He can’t make enough plays at this level. His heart is in the right place but that can’t get his body there to make the play.
September 6th, 2017 at 10:49 am
What Pickgrin said in BOTH of his posts.
September 6th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Was just thinking the same thing st. Pete.
Pickgrin on fire today.