How Desperate Are The Bucs?
October 3rd, 2017
Hunting for a DE?
In case you missed it (and it’s rather easy to miss), the edge rush of the Bucs currently is in a sorry state.
Of course, a wisearse would ask, “What edge rush?”
Exactly.
So Joe was keyboard hunting and pecking last night with the Redskins-Chiefs game on in the background and came upon a story at BSPN.com that offered the most likely players on the trading block.
One name that sort of stuck out was San Francisco defensive end Aaron Lynch.
Of course, Lynch has issues with the 49ers. He was a 2014 second-round pick out of South Florida and the 49ers since have drafted three defensive linemen in the first round. If Lynch was any good, why spend so much collateral on defensive linemen?
The article, typed by Mike Sando, all but called Lynch a lazy quitter, which is one reason he may be traded. Lynch had 12.5 sacks his first two seasons and since has been in the Witness Protection Program. Lynch does have one sack this season which, if he was on the Bucs, would tie with Noah Spence for the team lead.
The Bucs, to no one’s surprise with that paltry number, are dead last in the NFL in sacks. Sure, the Bucs have played one less game than most others, but Miami has four sacks in its three games. The Bengals and the Charges, dreadful teams each, are tied for third-most sacks in the NFL.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. No team is going to give up a decent edge rusher. Maybe, just maybe, Robert Ayers kicking Lynch in the backside every other day would motivate the guy. Perhaps returning to Florida might rejuvenate his head? Lynch is currently listed as third stringer on the 49ers’ depth chart.
In a perfect world, you never ever want a guy in the locker room who has a rep for loafing. This just in: the edge rush of the Bucs is far from perfect.
Given the issues of this Lynch, he could probably be had for bag of old footballs and a couple of kicking tees. The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. on Halloween. Someone in the NFL headquarters has a sick sense of humor.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:05 am
That is apparently all that Ayers is good for. He surely can’t play worth a sht. Money and roster resources well spent?
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:12 am
For Licht being a stellar GM he sure has left the team in a bad spot at DE, CB, RB and OL…
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:14 am
AYERS has been a bust pretty much. We need help on the edge badly.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:22 am
The Bucs pas rush is what it is.
I doubt the Bucs make a trade before the deadline.
No matter if the Bucs win the Super Bowl this year it is obvious the Bucs must address the pass rush in the off season. There does not appear to be too many top notch pass rushers available in free agency for next year except Ansah with Detroit.
However, it is a very good draft for defensive ends.
The Bucs have somewhat put themselves in a corner to draft at least one if not two DE’s in next years draft.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:24 am
IIRC, going back to recruiting out of HS, Lynch has always been talented but had some issues with his mom forcing where he went to school, then, I think he left Notre Dame for USF to be closer to his gf.
Being on the other side of the country didn’t help. Maybe coming home might.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:28 am
Don’t get why folks are picking on Ayers. He & Will Gholston are pretty much the same player, and that type of DE is very valuable … good against the run, can play inside when needed, etc. Bucs problem isn’t Ayers or Gholston. For quite a few years we’ve drafted poorly, let 1 pretty good DE go (can anyone say ‘Michael Bennett?’), and have done a terrible job snatching up FAs (can anyone say ‘Ghost Johnson?’). This is a management issue … or lack thereof. Nothing more, nothing less. We have what we were willing to pay for … in the draft & in free agency.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:29 am
The pass rush will come together once Kwon and David are back on the field….no need to panic..
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:29 am
KA58 being out is killing our “exotic” packages on defense!!!! With the rookie LB (that are playing well because Coach Smitty is putting them in easy positions to win) But, keeps adjustments and defense very vanilla!!!!!!!
Once again, this team is 2-1 and neither side the ball is clicking and the defense has been really banged up with injuries!!!!! What an amazing job by the Coaching staff to hide the deficiencies of the team!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:32 am
How desperate are the Bucs???? so desperate that they will wait until next year’s free-agency/draft to add a DE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good thing NFL GM Licht did not panic and trade a valuable 2nd round pick for some RB like some wanted!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:32 am
This is a big failure on Jason Licht’s part. Too many Bucs fans are not willing to be critical enough of Jason Licht. In four years he has failed to get an edge rusher and he missed on Calais Campbell. I don’t care if he was only interested in the Broncos or Jaguars. He needed to find a way to make him interested in the Bucs.
If the Bucs don’t make the playoffs this year or fails to have a 10-6 record Jason Licht should be fired. The Aguayo pick, free agent misses, ASJ, and wasting Gerald McCoy’s prime years alone would be fireable offenses on many teams.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:35 am
When Kwon or Lavonte is healthy, why not put Beckwith and/or Glatton out there in passing downs, both have shown huge potential to fire their gun on RB’s in the backfield.
Also, just another reason I haven’t believed in Spawn, he just isn’t ever going to dominate anyone with power or speed. Tackles are too long for him and he’s not strong enough with his bull rush.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:37 am
“Mr. Busting robert ayers”
Fixed it.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:42 am
It’s just amazing to me that even BY ACCIDENT the Bucs can’t get a sack. I watch other games where the OL will occasionally miss an assignment or the QB turns the wrong way into someone. It looks like when the ball is snapped, four Bucs DL slam into the chests of the OL and just stay there.
Remember when every mocked Schiano’s stunts? Might not be such a bad idea now.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:46 am
No need to panic we will get sacks in bunches soon we as a team have a lot of QB pressures we are almost there I know almost doesn’t count but I’ll take it for now plus we have to change a lot scheme because Lavonte David was out he’s are best blitzing LB in my opinion plus KWON so patients is a virtue my fellow fans
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:47 am
@TBR…..Spot on!!!
The LBs will be back and Jameis will start hitting DJax in the money. All will come together.
We are 2-1.
Go Bucs!!!
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:48 am
“Mr Beasting”? What an absolute joke. Nicknames are fun I guess regardless of whether they are in any way attached to truth in lived reality. It’s just fun in lieu of making plays and rushing the passer.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:50 am
Licht was trying to be an outside the box thinker building this team with some kooky moves that he has been consistent with as opposed to just getting the pieces that a team needs to be a consistent winner, like rich mckay did and sam wyche helped with…..go get lynch from 47 lynch
Nerw Tampa Chris right on, schiano despite his over bearing regulations for players is a great DC and gameplanner for the most part
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:51 am
is Mr.Licht really an excellent gm? I don’t think he has done enough ,especially when the bugs have lots of cash not spent and holes that should have been filled.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:54 am
What i dont understand is how a unit was okay last year, and with almost no changes, is infinitely worse. GMAC is still beasting on every play…. Has Noah Spence regressed significantly? has Ayers lost what little he had last year? Are the blitz packages not working wihout Kwon and LVD?
What the hellamajig is going on.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:57 am
I do blame licht for not getting an end.
I dont think he should be fired for it.
He has had to build an offense around jameis.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:02 am
You guys ripping on the GM make me laugh. If you have not seen improvement in the team you must not be paying attention.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:03 am
Jolly, injuries are the answer to your question.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:23 am
I wish I had time to watch game film, but I try to watch Spence on most downs. And I apologize if I miss this, but he doesn’t appear to have an inside spin move.
It seems that he continues to work the right side of the RT and come in from the back of the pocket/force the QB into what logically should be McCoy and or Baker/McDonald.
However, we don’t seem to consistently collapse the interior of the line on passing plays, so we are not generating sacks.
Am I the only one seeing this?
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:27 am
My Jarhead friend put it spectacularly! We need to get by on the resources we currently have available. And, if memory serves, Beckwith did rush the passer at LSU. We are not going to get a quality DE at this stage in the season without parting with good talent elsewhere.
Semper Fi brother!
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:29 am
Ayers is a very solid player, much like Gholston. Did you not see him blow through the line and stop the Giants RB on 3rd and 1? He’s not a fast twitch DE that scares QBs though. That’s obviously what the Bucs are lacking.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:32 am
Stud Says
“For Licht being a stellar GM he sure has left the team in a bad spot at DE, CB, RB and OL…”
The offensive line is developing, but it is already better than any oline the Buccaneers have ever had. We have young guys there. Give them a little time to gel and develop and they will be elite (mostly). Their pass blocking is exceptional. Its the run blocking that needs developing.
As to Running Back, I don’t think it really matters. Once the offensive line gets its run blocking down right, just about any running back will be able to succeed there. While we don’t have an elite running back, we don’t really need one. Most successful teams don’t have elite running backs…they just have good ones. Doug Martin is good when he’s turned on. Rodgers is good enough once the oline gets it in gear).
Aside from the offensive line needing to improve run blocking, Dirk is a passing guy. Because of that, he has not even considered putting in a good lead blocking fullback. If he did, the numbers would explode in the running game…because tight ends are not getting that job done.
Defensive End is the glaring need on this team, and soon Defensive Tackle will be, because McCoy is getting older. We have a franchise quarterback and only a limited number of picks each year. Licht’s number one job was to protect Winston and get him weapons in the passing game. That meant building a good, young offensive line to grow with him and getting great receivers. Now that that is done, Licht can focus on the defensive front in the early rounds of the next draft.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:33 am
Hmmmmm Joe’s found us a “lazy quitter”??? Yeah, that’s the ticket, the formula to improve the rush….
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:36 am
Oh, and cornerback is fine for the moment. Brent has at least 1-2 more years in him, and VHIII is getting better each year, which is what we want.
People tend to forget this, Ronde Barber wasn’t great until his fifth year. Up until then he was barely usable.
So it takes time for an elite CB to develop.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:37 am
@Tom Edrington
Yeah…sometimes J0E makes me wonder, lol.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:45 am
Bonzai what games have you watched that VH3 who is a top 1st round draft pick is getting better? he is trending towards a bust and seems to only be able to play zone, perhaps that is smith’s defense not sure….99-06 were a super bowl built team…this squad isnt close
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:58 am
Pistol to answer you,NO.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:02 pm
When have we ever had an elite DT next to GMC? Everyone always says “oh we never get good DE”, but we also need an elite DT next to Gerald to help collapse the pocket. I guarantee you this starting Dline would have more sacks seeing as how we are one of the top QB pressure teams. I would love to draft Poona Ford out of Texas. 6’1, 305lb and looks like GMC with his very quick hands off the snap and good hand motion skills.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:03 pm
We are paying for our putrid 2016 draft
VH0
Nowhere spence
yippy a
ryan griffen smith
celeb beno,,,
dick vitale
“2016 draft= nickle corner on passing downs and a shoulder harness”
Kobe Faker
“Kobe Faker is a psychopath”
The Buc Realist
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Folks we are 2-1 and we have no LB , we are playing poorly but winning and if we can continue to get better and win games we should while doing it than let’s give it time. We played like crap last season and still went 9-7.
We get the starting defense healthy i think SMITH will release the hounds.
2-1 , I take 2-2
Home crowd should be going crazy against PATS
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:06 pm
But to respond to you BIG Bill Belichess philosophy for a few years now has been to merely push the pocket and control the los. His talent level has fallen so executing this has proven impossible so far this season. Belichess could actually care less about sacks,he only wants to make you one dimensional forcing you into elaborate pass coverage schemes. So for as much as we here at jbf complain about a lack production in this area we’ve all witnessed titles being won without high sack totals. We are near the top of league in time of possession. If we’re going to the playoffs this season that will be the calling card as to why.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:06 pm
I think with the collective rotational pass rush we are at least putting pressure of opposing QB’s and while many believe that sacks are an indicator of a great pass pass rush, I believe its all about pressure. We’ve set around since Simeon Rice and bitched about a certified Sack-Master. Not going to happen. J Smith may help but I would focus on collective pressure and good DB play.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:07 pm
NFL GM Licht deserves a 10 year extension for the simple fact that “he” fired lovie!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:11 pm
See cowgirls last season. If you can’t rush’em effectively just keep’em from possessing the football.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Is it too soon to question if N Spence is a bust. I along with everyone else was ecstatic when we were able to draft him in the 2nd round. However, he hasn’t done much of anything since he got here.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:13 pm
And how do we accomplish this??? More dink and donk and less bombs over Baghdad. Oh and running the rock.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:17 pm
just call greg hardy!!
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Someone needs to start kicking Baker in the backside
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Ayers needs to kick his own a$$ once in a while…..
Perhaps if we can’t rush the QB….we can take a 15 yd penalty & a fine and rough him real good early in the game.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:27 pm
I think far too many here are just caught up over the excitement of seeing sacks occur. Joe just pointed the bolts and bengals lead the league. Not sure either will be in the tournament this year. Control that clock Fameis. Make them one dimensional and drop 8 in coverage Mike Smith and Thursday we win.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Pass rush will improve this year with the players already on the roster. We will be drafting DL help early in 2018 along with CB.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Lynch needs a kick in the butt and maybe Ayers kicking him in the butt will work. Hm. If a guy needs a carrot on a stick to motivate him then you don’t want him, but another guy might respond to a kick in the butt you are okay with. Not good. Not good. Gotta be more consistent than that. This snacks of hypocrisy.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Supposed to be smacks of hypocrisy. Snacks of hypocrisy wouldn’t make sense. They would taste good and bad at the same time.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Just figured out why I enjoy JBF so much … All of us commenters on JBF are like a litter of kittens playing with a ball of yarn. (And yes, Joe is usually the one who provides the ball of yarn for us to play with).
That ball of yarn in this case was the Bucs’ edge rush. Thus far we’ve beaten up on Ayers, on Licht, on Spence and VHIII. We’ve praised Schiano for his stunts, Belicheck for not caring about sacks & Poona Ford as the next great Bucs DE (Poona … really?). We’ve solved the pass rush problem by using Beckwith out at SAM or more likely waiting until Lavonte & Kwon return so we can blitz our LBs more.
But … We need to face reality: We are who we are. Right now we’re hurting at DE & LB. And oh ya, our depth right now at Safety & CB leaves a LOT to be desired. Our offense has to step up to the plate or we’ll be in trouble. They need to score more points, minimize turnovers and control the clock to give our defense a chance. Bucs focused on offense for the last several drafts. Now they need to step up and git ‘er done.
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Yeah, well, the lazy quitter has as many sacks this year as the entire Bucs team. And he’s a backup!
Always helps to think before you click “submit comment.”
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Comments here are definitely entertaining and sometimes comical.
You got to love it
October 3rd, 2017 at 12:51 pm
we have to create a pass rush!!!simple as that!!!…GO BUCS!!!
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Gee if we just had 3 first and second round picks for the next 3 years we could solve all the woes this team has.
Well, us and every franchise.
This board is so down on this team its amazing.
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:09 pm
No one could be serious about wanting Jason Licht to trade with John Lynch for the Niners worst DE. Joe, if you’re going to stir the pot, at least do it with something constructive for crying out loud.
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:38 pm
Lynch might just need a change of scenery and come back to tampa to fix everything and make him come back like an all star player
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:50 pm
813 good coaches figure out other ways to accomplish wins. Joe Pointe out last Belichess once dropped 9 in coverage to best mannning. Last the chiefs were dropping 8 in coverage to best kirk,didn’t matter they have an elite rusher in Houston they were running bodies around that backend.
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Joe found a long shot, I think it’s worth a try Seattle took a shot
on Michael Bennett. When the bucs thought he was expendable.
Sometimes it takes the right fit, anyways it’s better than doing nothing!
October 3rd, 2017 at 1:57 pm
Now tell me what did kirk do late to compensate??? He s scrambled right,cause there were no windows. Are really worried about brady doing that..
October 3rd, 2017 at 2:01 pm
@Joe:
Better to have the guys we have than a “lazy quitter” as those guys are pure poison…..and yes, did think about that before we hit “submit”……
October 3rd, 2017 at 2:29 pm
What the hell is up with these Noah hater’s all of a sudden? He has the only sack this defense has had this year so you people need to take it down a notch.
October 3rd, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Ayers a bust?!??
He is great against the run, Rushes from the inside on obvious passing downs and had 6 1/2 sacks last year
Ignorant football fans. Probably the same people who think McCoy can’t play
October 3rd, 2017 at 2:38 pm
@denjoe the only people who thought Bennet was expendable were a coach and GM who are both now unemployed.
That was one of the worst moves this franchise has made in the last 5 – 6 years, along with getting rid of Matt Bryant.
And for you guys who are giving credit to Schiano’s defensive game planning, I think you may have forgotten we had the worst pass defense in the league under him.
Next year’s biggest draft needs are DL, CB, and RB. Followed closely by OL and S.
October 3rd, 2017 at 2:42 pm
Regarding Ayers, I believe people are sour on him because he was brought in as a defensive end who could rush the passer.
What we ended up with is basically another Will Gholston, which is great for our run defense, but not helping our pass rush one bit.
Fully agree with others who have stated our blitzing will pick up when Kwon and LVD get back in the game.
October 3rd, 2017 at 2:54 pm
even ayers’ best season sack-wise was shy of double digits. anybody roasting him for the lack of pass rush is expecting something he has never been known for in the nearly decade-long career.
the bucs are once again guilty of thinking too highly of the guys in the building when it comes to their pass rush, and it’s hard to understand why. their top edge rushers were linebacker-sized DE in spence who lost MORE weight this offseason in addition to rehabbing a significant injury and another player who missed all of last year and never been available for more than a half season. I hope Justin Evans turns into a certified stud, because he and roberto aguayo are what we have to show for passing up on qualified pass rush depth on Day 2 of the past 2 drafts
October 3rd, 2017 at 2:54 pm
Shoulda hunted one in the 2nd round, then again in the 4th. Those picks licht is trading away are always what ifs. Im a licht fan but i do think he trades away too many picks in the draft. While we are waiting for a trade or someone to step up we need to disguise.couple blitzes and send them! Go bucs
October 3rd, 2017 at 3:14 pm
This D line is actually more talented at stopping the run than rushing the passer but if you can stop the run then you can do some things.
The Bucs are in 5th place in the League in giving up the fewest rushing yards by an opponent. Denver is the trendsetter at #1.
I think our two All Pro Lb’s will make a significant impact if they can come back healthy with their great speed. For one thing both of them are good blitzers…especially LVD…Beckwith is also not bad there….if they were healthy our linebackers are clearly the strength of the defense.
October 3rd, 2017 at 3:49 pm
NOS
I hear ya…smitty has to do something…obviously the we cant get pressure in our 1 one 1 match ups….
dallas did that last week vs the cardinals….the DC dropped 6 into coverage and had carson out of sync…
if smitty wants to be an HC again, beating brady and bill would be another feather in his cap and put him on notice….GO BUCS!!!
October 3rd, 2017 at 3:59 pm
He wants to be traded and come back to South Florida
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:08 pm
@Joe
If we all thought before we clicked “Submit Comment,” then you’d have blank space under all of your posts…
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:28 pm
That’s real 813..
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:38 pm
lol NewTampaChris…
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:42 pm
Jason doesn’t spend hardly anytime on a players pride or heart for the game anyway.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:58 pm
Allow me to state the obvious….”IF” we do not pressure Brady this Thursday we will be destroyed.
@JOE…..Lazy quitter or not anything is better than the Ghost Johnson clones we have now.
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:15 pm
Pass rush can always improve but the line is def getting back and hurrying the QB just not finishing the sack. I’d much rather see our RB and CB get an upgrade first, unless there’s another Calais Campbell type prospect for the taking of course. Faith in Licht.
October 3rd, 2017 at 7:06 pm
We’re that desperate?
I’d rather make a trade for lying, dramatic Bennett
October 3rd, 2017 at 7:26 pm
Top four rounds of the draft next year need to be DL DB, no BS on best player available.
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:15 pm
Totally disagree Ghost. How do you pressure 2.5 seconds??? You can’t. But if I drop 8 in coverage I bet you I can get him to increase that time.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:19 pm
You think the Seahawks would trade him? Think again.
Joe was just tossing out a viable option. Teams with playoff aspirations aren’t trading Pro Bowlers mid-season unless they gouge someone for a ton picks.
The earliest this problem can be solved will be March.
October 4th, 2017 at 12:21 am
We are supposedly dead last in sacks but FIRST in QB pressures per game … sacks aren’t that important of a stat … look at the Pats last year and yet the won the SB.
October 4th, 2017 at 5:18 am
Not sure who the Vikings have but if they have anyone
worth trading Martin for a DEnd get him cooks down they are looking
then pick one up in the draft and another RB
We need someone who will 1 help McCoy 2 help our
DB’s and 3 help get our defense off the field
October 4th, 2017 at 8:56 am
*TYPO* AARON LYNCH WAS DRAFTED IN THE 5TH ROUND.
Go Bulls