Misguided Mob Mentality
October 27th, 2017
GM under fan fire
The masses need to simmer down.
Joe has seen the pitchforks raised and the torches lit of late because the Bucs defense is horrid beyond words. Understandably so.
Now it appears Brent Grimes’ status Sunday is in jeopardy. My God, what a horror show could be in store at the Den of Depression.
Bucs fans are irate, and they ought to be. The defense in the past three road games has ripped the Band-Aid off the too-fresh wounds and memories of the Lovie Smith and Raheem Morris days; both former Bucs coaches oversaw better defenses.
But now Joe notices a mob mentality is growing, wanting the scalp of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Are these people nuts?
The Bucs have the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL. No, Joe is not on narcotics. That’s an actual fact (something Joe never ever believed he would be see). That No. 1 passing offense has Licht’s fingerprints all over it. All but two starters on this No. 1 passing offense were acquired since Licht assumed his position with the Bucs.
Top of the heap, of course, is America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
Sure, that was an easy pick, for those not sitting where Licht was sitting.
For those with short memories, Jameis had bales of baggage coming out of college, and an ugly lawsuit hanging over his head. Jameis was the epicenter of national ridicule and scorn so badly even a United States senator invoked Jameis’ name. He was not the safe pick, not by any stretch.
Licht put his neck (and career) on a chopping block for Jameis and he (and the Bucs) hit the lottery.
Defense? Yeah, the defense is horrible. Is that all on Licht’s shoulders? When a No. 11 overall pick like Vernon Hargreaves regresses this much, Joe pins that on coaching. Young players like that are supposed to get better after their rookie seasons, not totally fall off a cliff.
Besides, look at the linebackers. The linebacker unit may never have been this deep or this talented in Bucs history. All but Lavonte David was acquired by Licht.
This just in: NFL general managers are not fantasy football general managers. They don’t get to pick from a pool of already established NFL starters and Pro Bowlers. The bust rate for first round picks is just under 50 percent and the percentages obviously grow the deeper one is selected in the draft.
An NFL general manager’s position is a position where mistakes will be made. It’s the nature of the beast.
So you have a No. 1 passing offense where 9 of the 11 starters came in under Licht’s tenure (including a record-setting quarterback), and a linebacker unit which is exceptional, all but one came in under Licht’s tenure, and folks want to run Licht out of town?
These people are first cousins of the anti-Jameis crowd and illegitimate sisters of the GMC haters.
Some folks really need to lay off the scotch.
October 27th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
The Usual Suspects on here don’t want facts, Joe. You gotta build somewhere and it just happens that the O side of draft picks have worked out better than the D.
JL cannot control effort and watching the Ravens D last night (last in rushing) sticking their noggin in on every tackle is something we haven’t been seeing.
Gang tackling seems to be a lost art around here as well… and that is squarely on Mike Smith and the players. Man the eff up D! It starts this Sunday. The season starts this Sunday. Go Bucs!
October 27th, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Calling Rex Ryan!!!…. “The YUCS need your services on line 1. Some guy named Jason is asking for a D.C.”
October 27th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
You’re right, Licht is a keeper…but it’s the same old with the Defense and confusing and frustrating how it has gone on for years with the multiple curb stompings…The draft, and I don’t want to talk draft this time of year, SHOULD be all about repairing the D and adding a halfback, maybe
October 27th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Meanwhile, Jason Licht still doesn’t have a contract extension.
October 27th, 2017 at 12:25 pm
I must have been adopted then Joe.
I hate GMC but love what Licht has done.
October 27th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
I get building the O, but the defense is bad and it does not have to be, we left some free agents and draft picks out there with the kicker pick. Found some really good LBs, I think Justin Evans will be solid, and just some bad luck with Spence health wise, but Sapp and company said it since we signed Revis, build the front four first
October 27th, 2017 at 12:32 pm
dooshlarue:
LOL
October 27th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
I like what Jason has done since he came to the Bucs, however, he knew we had two D- ends coming off surgery: Spence and Jacques and he stood by and didnt bring in any help. Throughout the offseason Joe and many others wanted Jason to bring in more pass rushers, that didn’t happen. Should we be surprised at the results? Spence on injured reserve and Jacques is not even on the team.
October 27th, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Joe, they don’t call him “Meathead” for nothing. How could he go wrong drafting either J.W.,or M.M.? He’s had his hits, but IMO, to many second round busts. At the end of the day only one thing matters, wins, and losses. Our record under him isn’t a big improvement from Dom. You can keep calling Koetter a winner, you can tell me all day what a good G.M Licht is. You can’t change the fact tho, that we have a losing record, no double digit sacker, no division title, and no playoffs. Isn’t that the true measuring stick?
October 27th, 2017 at 12:51 pm
When you spent a first and a second rounder 2 years ago on a DE and a CB and both suck, as do those two entire units, well the GM should get some blame. You allo wasted a 2nd rounder on a kicker who sucks which is mind boggling, whiffed on ASJ, and whiffed on almost every 5th-7th round pick taken, I would say there are some real reasons to criticize Licht at this point.
October 27th, 2017 at 12:51 pm
You also gotta factor in missed drafts picks by drafting busts. And also missed free agent signings. Yeah he did good on offense but lol what GM gets a extension for solving half a puzzle? He hasn’t once drafted a good pass rusher and he drafts solid 2 down line backers.. I love JAMEIS and banged the table to draft him and Gerald McCoy is the best 3 technique in the game. Go sip your scotch there’s a reason he hasn’t gotten a extension yet. Someone could have put together a better roster point blank period. Charles sims over trai turner? Roberto over omg… not drafting cook or moving up and bam he is a super start, but he moves up for a kicker! Never forget
October 27th, 2017 at 12:53 pm
It’s dirk koetters offense and play calling that established the bucs as 4th best. Imagine what he could do with a real RB and not passing and playing from behind every game cause the defense gets lit up
October 27th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
He still deserves a mountain of blame for not doing more to help the edge rush. I’m not saying he deserves to be run off, but the position was laughably thin last year and he basically did nothing but bank on two injured guys coming back stronger. Anyone could have told you that was a bad bet to make.
October 27th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
Licht needs to stay
October 27th, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Defense? Yeah, the defense is horrible. Is that all on Licht’s shoulders?
^^^^ YES.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Dylan, I like OJ Howard a lot but if Licht wouldn’t have missed on that pick there would have been no need to take him and Cook could have been here as well. All of this stuff compounds itself so it is not just missing with any given pick, but once you miss you have to address it in subsequent years. We missed on Hargreaves which was a wasted first rounder, but now we will have to use another high pick to address that problem very soon. Missing on Spence means we have to use additional picks on DE as well. Not taking Cook this year means RB needs to be addressed soon too. Rather then building depth at every position we have to waste multiple bullets trying to fill one position at a time.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Worst article ever on here!
October 27th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
You want FACTS…25 draft picks in 4 drafts and 9 of them are not on the team anymore.36% of the Bucs draft picks during the past 4 drafts has vanish. And this is a good drafting GM? If people are this stupid, I will sell them Beach Front Property in Montana.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Licht and Koetter will get this fixed. Mike Smith is also a good coach. No changes are needed with these men at the top. Secondary coaching needs to be looked at and players have to play. They’re the ones on the field. The Bucs will get this fixed. I had hoped it would have already happened but it looks like we’re at least another draft away and it is what it is. Please don’t jump on the Coaching carousel. Patience is what is needed here because overall they’re on the right track. Go Lightning!!!
October 27th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Licht has made some of the biggest personnel blunders a GM could make starting with donald penn walking out the door and then blowing an entire draft as he did in 2016….then you have the eagles and bills turning things around in 2 years and the bucs staying at 7-9…. so a 24-52 4 year run gets you a rating as a solid gm?
October 27th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
USA Today Sports
October 27th, 2017 at 1:07 pm
USA Today Sports
Ranking every NFL general manager, from worst to first
27. Buccaneers: Jason Licht
Licht has been active in free agency, but his signings haven’t always panned out, and his performance in the draft has been slightly above average. Given the capital Licht’s had to work with (plenty of cap space and high draft picks) you would have expected the Bucs to be further along by this point.
USA Today Sports
October 27th, 2017 at 1:07 pm
@LakeLand Beach front in Montana? Sounds awesome how much?
October 27th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Uh, you mean the “unwashed” masses? Jus’ wonderin’…
October 27th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
And stop crying over spilled milk. Penn, Zuttah, Revis, Bennett are all gone and not coming back. Chucks isn’t coming back. When Bill Billichick decides to leave the Patriots, that’s when you hire another coach and GM. That won’t happen though. So make the most of it, take a knee or whatever you do and enjoy the Lightning because they are absolutely killing it right now, 9-1-1. Js
October 27th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Jim Says:
October 27th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Uh, you mean the “unwashed” masses? Jus’ wonderin’…
Kinda sounds like it.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Note: First-year general managers were automatically placed at the bottom (sorry, Bills, Colts and 49ers fans.
32. Buffalo Bills: Brandon Beane
31. Colts: Chris Ballard
30. 49ers: John Lynch
29. Jets: Mike Maccagnan
28. Jaguars: Dave Caldwell
They only had the Jaquars and Jets GM lower than Licht
And both of those teams has a better record than the Bucs
October 27th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
BigMac
Agree about the Lightning. They have progressed from an excellent team to a great team…and ya gotta give credit to Jeff Vinik…he lured Yzerman who has built the best hockey team I’ve seen in awhile. He made a genius move getting rid of prima donna Drouin and getting that Russian kid on defense…he’s a future superstar.
The Bucs were nowhere near the Lightning for the past few years. Licht has to rebuild an offense AND defense. He addressed the offense last year and fixed our OL and got NFL grade receiving targets for #3. The offense is just beginning to jell and show what they have.
This next off season Licht clearly needs to address the defense. Given how well he retooled our offense I’m fine with giving him a year to see if he can do the same for our defense.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Anyway, just like the sign Truman had on his desk, “The Buck Stops Here”. If you’re losing, it falls on the GM.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Lol Joe
I’ll be a illegitimate sister of a gmc hater. I’ll be just that. I can’t help that I love rah rah leaders like Ray lewis, Warren Sapp, etc. That rivals guys like gmc leadership. It’s just Me and I can’t help it. I think it helps. One thing in common as all these coaches and players in the past 7 years is that word “FLAT” and yes that comes from Captians
October 27th, 2017 at 1:21 pm
I wonder if the article would sound the same if one were to replace Jason Licht with a GM who wasn’t very personable like Bruce Allen.
I’m not advocating for Jason Licht to be fired. As far as I know he won’t be fired. He’ll either get a contract extension or the contract will run out and the Bucs will go a different direction. That’s what should happen if the Bucs end up with a losing record. Licht cannot continue hang his hat on Mike Evans, Cameron Brate, and Jameis Winston. He’s done good things. Even bad GMs have done good things. He’s been poor in free agency and the VHIII and Aguayo picks have been disasters so far. The entire picture matters but that picture can get skewed when a reporter likes a guy.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:23 pm
He’s drafted Kwon a couple years ago, he drafted the safety and a linebacker this year. No one keeps their job by drafting well on one side of the ball. Offensive side were mostly top 10 picks
Not much different than why Dungy got canned
October 27th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Wow! Eliminate the first year GMs and Licht is ranked at 3rd worst.
Hard to argue when the total record is 19-35.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:33 pm
All he had to do was bring in a couple of descent corners and Pass rushers!
You can’t wait to address every need in the draft, If you miss on the pick what do you do, Try again the next year?
October 27th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
You can be first in passing offense, when you average 80.5 YPG rushing. But how many games will a ONE DIMENSIONAL offense win? Especially with the 30th ranked defense in the NFL.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
You’ve called vh3 a busy Joe’s. Spence is an undersized defensive end with a buddy of a linebacker and they won’t even run a 3-4 he’s not a busy but based on their needs he failed with that pick. Good player that doesn’t fit the scheme. Drafting pass rushers and run stoppers instead of well rounded players who do both and wonder why we’re past in the league in sacks. I don’t care about who gets fired I care about problems getting fixed by any means necessary. We’re the exact opposite of the Dungy era we are good on offense and horrible on defense. Only difference is were losing
October 27th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
I for one believe if you get a new d coordinator in here the defence could at least suddenly be middle of the pack…even with the pass rush holding them back.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:49 pm
last time I checked Licht was the guy calling all the shots over at One Buc. He doesn’t have a director of operations hiring the coaching staff for him and he doesn’t have owners telling him who to draft and sign.
His job with the Bucs is not to just bring in talent and judging him on only that is just wrong.
There’s still time for this team to turn it around but the current state of the franchise is that what Jason has built is not working. I could care less where our offense is ranked she the team is peddling a 2-4 record……especially when that precious #1 offense choked away several opportunities in front of its home fans on Thursday night and let the defending champs squirm away with a Win.
Jason’s job is not to acquire a team that looks good on paper and creates an off-season buzz on talk shows. The team is failing right in front of our eyes and why should the guy who has built it evade any blame?
You can cal. it whatever you want but a Home Opener win against a Bears team that had no identity and a victory against a winless Giants team(where our #1 offense left 14 points on the field to almost blow it) don’t impress me in the slightest……..This team is just not built to win big time games and that is apparent to me. They weren’t built to win big games last year either.
Fans have a right to point a finger at Licht. The goal is to build a contender. While I have gained confidence in Licht building a team that’s beyond playing for a top draft pick my confidence is slowly diminishing as it seems this team is nowhere close to challenging for a playoff berth. The guy has been here 4 years and that’s plenty of time to figure it out……… I’m willing to give it some time but the excuse of having good drafts is already starting to wear thin. The building phase was fun but that phase needs to be over and it’s time to move on to the winning phase………Like it or not that’s how it works in the NFL.
October 27th, 2017 at 1:54 pm
Lets do a Dom vs Licht analysis looking at anything moderately successful.
In Dom’s FIVE drafts
Top Talent: LVD, GMC
Decent Talent: Doug Martin, William Gholston
Just OKAY talent: Mark Barron, Mason Foster – neither on the team but I will give these to Dom as it could have been inability on coaching staffs to utilize properly.
Only 6 names even worth mentioning…
Even counting those 2, that is 2 top players and 4 OKAY at best picks.
In Lichts FOUR drafts…
Top Talent: Mike Evans, Jameis Winston, Kwon Alexander, Ali Marpet
Good Talent: Kevin Pamphile, Donovan Smith, OJ Howard
Decent Talent: Chris Godwin, Kendell Beckwith, Justin Evans, Noah Spence Caleb Benenoch, Ryan Smith (both good talent based on draft position)
Just OKAY Talent: Vernon Hargreaves (some might disagree but its too early for me to say cut him, could certainly be a good nickel corner which would be bad for the pick value but still a contributor)
If I want to give Licht the same benefit of the doubt I gave Dom for picks he made that had success elsewhere: ASJ, Kaelin Clay.
In addition to that, Licht has brought in solid, under the radar FA picks such as Evan Smith and Daryl Smith for last year.
Additionally licht has brought in solid if not exceptional undrafted talent in Humphries and Cameron Brate.
Im sorry haters. But these two GMs names should never again be put in the same sentence; the talent they brought in isnt close to comparable.
If Beckwith, Godwin, OJ, Justin Evans and others like Noah Spence continue to develop, the Bucs could be looking at more elite talent from just FOUR of Jasons drafts than any players worth mentioning by Doms.
Sure, Licht has a few busts to his name and has tried to be too “Cute” in the draft on occasion, and yes he has missed on some FA signings. Sorry guys but that is both the nature of the Draft and the nature of NFL Free Agency.
Sure. The Bucs havent turned it around yet, but the talent is significantly better and Licht is deserving of credit.
Do you really want to go back to looking at only 2 names really worth mentioning from FIVE FREAKING DRAFTS? Not me
October 27th, 2017 at 1:55 pm
SPBF same page👍
October 27th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Of course they have the #1 ranked passing offense, cuz Licht has left the Bucs with no running back to run the ball.
October 27th, 2017 at 2:05 pm
So to all the Litch lovers, what has all this “significant talent” brought in term of winning record and playoff appearances? Litch is way overrated and has brought in numerous loafers throughout the years that have infected this team. His 1st rounds picks on JW, Evans and OJ were obvious and required no advanced knowledge and the rest of his picks have been questionable at best.
October 27th, 2017 at 2:09 pm
jolly……I don’t understand where your going with that. The Mark Dominick era of this franchise included some of the most inept teams this franchise has ever seen.
That guy is so far gone from my memory. He really didn’t have a clue how to run a franchise. I’m having trouble understanding why exactly he belongs in this conversation. Are you trying to say that Dominick is the bar that Licht should be compared to? If that’s the case I completely disagree with you. If that’s not the case I fail to see any revelance for eve mentioning him.
October 27th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Joe
I agree that Jason Licht should stay and I believe he has had some great picks(Jameis was the best selection but he was an easy pick in my opinion).
However, it is borderline criminal that the Bucs have put themselves in a position of having horrific corners and pass rushers and that is on Jason Licht.
Also, the Bucs barely addressed the running back position that is still clearly a weakness.
The problem with building a team the way the Bucs have done is now they have boxed themselves in a corner of having to draft for need this coming year.
October 27th, 2017 at 2:23 pm
“Please, Please, Please…Jameis winston was Lovie Smith pick”
Antoine Winston
“When I told Licht to jump…He jumped
When I told Licht to rollover…He rolled over
When I told him to bendover…He bent over wide open
I just dont know where the hell he learned how to backstab!”
Lovie Smith
October 27th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
The Nine That Vanish
Second Round, No. 38 overall: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington
Fifth Round, No. 143 overall: Kadeem Edwards, G, Tennessee State
Sixth Round, No. 185 overall (from BUF): Robert Herron, WR, Wyoming
ROUND 6 (184): WR/KR KAELIN CLAY
ROUND 5 (162): WR KENNY BELL
ROUND 7 (231): RB JOEY IOSEFA
ROUND 2: K ROBERTO AGUAYO
ROUND 6: FB DAN VITALE (READ)
ROUND 5: RB JEREMY MCNICHOLS (READ)
October 27th, 2017 at 2:41 pm
No need to change GM’s unless the Glazer’s decide to go with our own db55. Tired of all the changeover but not as tired of that as I am of being in the NFC basement every year
October 27th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
So Licht needs to bring in radio Raheem to run the D. Then let the man do a lot of press conferences. The D sucks anyways, lets be entertained.
October 27th, 2017 at 2:44 pm
The problem is he doesnt have a contract after this season and if this team doesnt turn it around I dont see how he convinces the Glazers to give him an extension
October 27th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Joe’s dillussional. Dirk said we could throw for 5k but wasn’t sure that would translate to wins. Exactly what’s happening. JL relied on TRASH for running backs. And he’s spent a BUNCH of money and picks on the offense. Get out of here with this bs.
October 27th, 2017 at 2:51 pm
He traded up for Roberto, a 3rd and a 4th. He traded a 4th to NE for Logan Mankins ( 2 year rental). He traded a 5th and 7th to Buffalo to draft Kevin Pamphile. He traded a 5th to Detroit for George Johnson and the Lions 7th round pick. He traded the 7th round pick,2018 7th round pick to Miami to draft DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu
October 27th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Ok how many coaching changes will it take for people to say WAIT A MINUTE maybe the problem is in the players or a poison in the locker room.
Many times great teams fall apart because of a CANCER in the locker room..
Insanity is doing the same thing over an over again expecting a different outcome’
October 27th, 2017 at 3:12 pm
Yep Mike Smith should be on the chopping block. Which in theory is lichts call. No way to put this horrendous defense on licht. Theres talent there. More than last year. The defensive coaching is beyond bad, plain and simple.
October 27th, 2017 at 3:35 pm
Noah Spence has experienced a lot of bad luck. Let’s see what he does when healthy. This offense should be good for the next decade. The same critique was made against Rich McKay, though in reverse, that he couldn’t built an offensive line. The offense never did get great, but by the fifth year of the Sapp regime, we were at the top of the NFL. You don’t fire a GM who has built a Top 5 offense.
A lot of things have gone wrong this year that couldn’t have been anticipated, but three of our losses are by 5 points or less. We had the ball and a chance to win against the Patriots; the ball and driving for the win against Buffalo; and but for a ridiculous interception on the 1 yard line by Fitzpatrick had the ball with a chance take the lead against Arizona. The game against Zona showed a lot of heart even with a lack of preparation. Once we lost our bye week, I thought neither Miami nor Tampa had much of a chance at the playoffs. That was a much bigger deal than it was made out to be.
October 27th, 2017 at 3:54 pm
@ATrain
If there is a cancer in the locker room currently the odds are Licht brought him in. Dont see how that helps his case.
October 27th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
Lakeland…show me a GM who has hit on all or even MOST of his picks over the last 3 yrs please. Show me.
October 27th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Buddah you are right about the close games but that is a calling card of a losing franchise. Legitimate contending teams find a way to make the plays that are the difference. Just face it we are a team of losers right now……….49er fans were talking about how close their first few losses were too. It’s been years of us Bucs fans talking about how close we are.
The reality is that we were never really that close to being good………Now maybe your right and maybe we are that close to being that good this year. If that’s the case we will see this team play with a winner’s mentality and provide results in the only stat that matters. Until that happens, the verdict is out and we are an underachieving garbage football team.
I find it very fitting that you bring up that poor offensive line that Rich McKay was responsible for……….Just remember that we didn’t make an noteworthy moves along that line in 02. We won a title and that line played better football on that playoff run then they had ever shown. It had to be Gruden that made the difference…..If not then what?
Under Gruden that unit played at a level they had never shown. That team doesn’t win without that O line stepping up. That’s where Gruden put us over the top IMO. He came in and infused a Champions mentality for our offense………..Fast forward to this year and that is what we need from our coaching staff. This team comes out cold and lacks confidence. Worse then that is on defense where our players also look lost on the field, missing assignment and wildly out of position.
seems obvious that this coaching staff is getting the least out of the talent they have. They are a disservice to our players and seem incapable of getting the Bucs to play at a playoff-caliber level.
Getting the right mix of coaching here is part of the process and it’s Lichts responsibility. Not sure how poster Darin could say there’s no way we can put it on Licht when it’s his direct responsibility.
October 27th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Saints 2.0. Great offense, terrible defense
October 27th, 2017 at 4:39 pm
I’m not impressed by a passing offense on a losing team that always plays from behind.
October 27th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
if Winston is so great with all the weapons he has availabe ,why is M.M. rated head and shoulders above him by the nfl qb rating ? He had a great game last week but his stats for the year are average. M.M. has been rated ahead of him every year so why the right choice ?..Is the rating system just bs and Winston is really that good or just came from a great school?
October 27th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
LakeLand Says:
October 27th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
“You want FACTS…25 draft picks in 4 drafts and 9 of them are not on the team anymore.36% of the Bucs draft picks during the past 4 drafts has vanish. And this is a good drafting GM? If people are this stupid…”
You are the one who looks “stupid” even saying this. And then listing them. Two 2nd rounders and the rest are ALL 5th, 6th and 7th rd picks.
Even if all 25 selections that Licht has made were 1st round picks – 64% “success” would be 10 points above the NFL average. (did you read Joe’s link above”?)
Here’s the breakdown by round and if a player is on the team and contributing – then that has to count as a “success”
1st Rd – (Evans, Winston, Hargreaves, Howard) – 100%
2nd Rd – (ASJ, D. Smith, Marpet, Spence, Aguayo, J. Evans) – 66.6%
3rd Rd – (Sims, Godwin, Beckwith) – 100%
4th Rd – (Kwon) – 100%
5th Rd – (Edwards, Pamphile, Bell, Benenoch, McNichols) – 60%
6th Rd – (Herron, Clay, Bond, Vitale) – 25%
7th Rd – (Iosefa, Stevie T.) – 50%
October 27th, 2017 at 5:47 pm
No the Bucs look Stupid
NFC South
New Orleans 4-2
Carolina 4-3
Atlanta 3-3
Tampa Bay 2-4
October 27th, 2017 at 5:47 pm
For once I agree with Joe
October 27th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
You fools can defend your incompetent Gm all you like
The Bottom line is the record
19-35
October 27th, 2017 at 5:51 pm
People lie all of the time
Stats are Misleading
But the record don’t lie
19-35 during Jason Licht tenure
October 27th, 2017 at 5:52 pm
5th rd above should have been 40% not 60%
Now here’s the average NFL success rate for draftees by round:
1st Rd – 54%
2nd Rd – 40-50%
3rd Rd – <40%
4th Rd – <30%
5th Rd – < 25%
6th Rd – <20%
7th Rd – <15%
UDFAs – <10%
Now Compare Jason Licht's round by round success rate with the average for the rest of the league. He is well ahead of the curve across the board. And that's not even considering how very successful he's been finding talented UDFAs like Hump, Brate, Elliot, Wester, Glanton etc.
October 27th, 2017 at 5:56 pm
LOL Jolly, you are being waaaaaay too generous. Spence has been a complete bust to this point. Healthy or not, he is very ineffective at getting to the QB. Justin Evans is too young to grade as is the WR, but he does seem to be legit. Smith has done next to nothing. Where and the hell did you come up with your grades.
October 27th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
VH3 is a success, Noah Spence is a success, Donovan Smith is a success, Ali Marpet is a success, Kwon Alexander is a success, Charles Sims is a success, Kevin Pamphile is a success? Ryan Smith is a success? Successful at what? Losing?
October 27th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
And LMAO at pickgrin. Actually being on the team is not the way to measure success!!!! Hargreaves sucks and should not be in the NFL at this point. Sims sucks as do almost everyone outside of JW, Evans, Howard, Marpet and D Smith is marginal and Kwon is missing a lot of games so far in his career. Everyone else on that list sucks.
October 27th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
Your an idiot
Gm brings in the talent/potential
Their job is not to cultivate it or “win”
Coaches coaches, players play (GM DOES NEITHER OF THOSE)
October 27th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
If he was so good at drafts and free agency we wouldn’t be a 2 win team and barley 9 wins last year! Panthers threw that last game it was pathetic! And our pass offense is only good when teams play a prevent defence because they are kicking our butts!
October 27th, 2017 at 6:07 pm
I feel like everyone is also overlooking his free agency track record in this conversation.
October 27th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
These tools will never be grateful.
Once he’s gone and we revert back to an even higher bust rate like we had prior to him (if they think his is a high rate) lol Then we will see them really complain.
Like they say you never know what you truly have until it’s gone.
I kinda hope it happens so the suffering can really hit those that bitch and complain.
We already have crappy player efforts (mostly), crappy coaching, let’s get rid of the only successful thing we have going around so we can REALLY be a basement dwelling team.
October 27th, 2017 at 6:14 pm
The high hopes were universal for this team before this season started…WHY?
Because of the talent on the field and the team OUR GM has put together.
BUT THAT IS ALL HE CAN DO.
The rest is up to the players and coaches. Some of yall won’t ever understand that and frankly it’s pointless to even engage you in conversation about it. So I have said my piece. Not going to continue speaking to walls.
October 27th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
I mean, If we are bringing in players that dont want to give full effort and bringing in coaches that suck at coaching, doesnt some of that fall on the GM for signing the players at least? Lol
October 27th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
lol Like I said pointless and fruitless to continue. Good day to you.
October 27th, 2017 at 6:28 pm
And again the key to this whole situation is that Licht’s contract is up at the end of the year. This team has regressed from last year, there is no denying that.
Sure the offense is playing well so far. Does that matter if it results in losses? I just don’t know how Licht can convince the Glazers to give him an extension if the team has regressed to a losing record and back in the basement of the divisio
This conversation is completely different if he is under contract through next season.
October 27th, 2017 at 6:32 pm
A GREAT drafting GM is Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider
His gems in Round 3-7
CB Walter Thurmond* (No. 111)
S Kam Chancellor (No. 133)
G John Moffitt* (No. 75)
LB K.J. Wright (No. 99)
CB Richard Sherman (No. 154)
CB Byron Maxwell* (No. 173)
LB Malcolm Smith* (No. 242)
QB Russell Wilson (No. 75)
CB Jeremy Lane (No. 172),
G J.R. Sweezy (No. 225)
CB Tharold Simon (No. 138)
TE Luke Willson (No. 158)
DE Cassius Marsh (No. 108)
RB Robert Turbin (No. 106)
That’s how you build a team, every pick counts
October 27th, 2017 at 6:40 pm
Joeypoppems, Jason Licht Free Agency record is HORRIBLE. It’s so bad, my blood pressure rises whenever I mention it.
October 27th, 2017 at 6:53 pm
T Anthony Collins
G Oniel Cousins
LB Dane Fletcher
CB Mike Jenkins
DE Michael Johnson
WR Louis Murphy
QB Josh McCown
DT Clinton McDonald
TE Brandon Myers
C Evan Dietrich-Smith
CB Alterraun Verner
S Chris Conte
DT Henry Melton
CB Sterling Moore
LB Bruce Carter
G J.R. Sweezy
CB Brent Grimes
DE Robert Ayers
WR Desean Jackson
DT Chris Baker
S J.J Wilcox
October 27th, 2017 at 6:54 pm
@Lakeland
I know. I get what Joe is saying in this article, and I agree for the most part. Other than the 2016 draft class Licht has had pretty good success in the draft.
However, with the good comes the bad and the bad is free agency for sure.
October 27th, 2017 at 7:52 pm
I’m not saying Jason gets an F
I think he gets a C minus
October 27th, 2017 at 8:24 pm
It breaks down like this:
Licht has done a magnificent job stock piling talent and they are being missed.
or…..
The Bucs players on defense are overrated and the only people who love them are Bucs apologists and Licht himself.
It’s not both.
All I know is, you can’t tell me that GMC, Clinton McDonald, and Shaggy are above average linemen, Kwon and Lavonte are above average LBs, Grimes, Ward, Hargreaves are above average Das and the defense be this bad. Someone’s assessment is wrong SOMEWHERE.
October 27th, 2017 at 8:34 pm
Dude acts like because he can list a GM whose done exceptional work that that somehow means every GM out there is doing it that easily ahaha. Too funny.
October 27th, 2017 at 8:41 pm
LAKELAND……….It doesn’t have to about just the draft or free agency. You can draft as much talent and sign as many probowlers as you want but it’s not going to always directly coorlate to wins just because they have talent.
Coaching and team makeup has a big say so……..A perfect example to me is Mike Bennett. Everybody whines because of how successful he has been in Seattle but my guess is that he never achieves that success here. He showed flashes here but was also shut down quiet a bit. Then he goes to Seattle and can’t be stopped. You can believe he was destined to hit that prime no matter where he was but i like to think his Championship Coaching staff was able to get the most out of him where ours couldnt.
How bout a guy like Wes Welker? He did look pretty awesome as a returner with Miami but he never did much as a reciever. He moves along to superior coaching and then becomes one if the most feared receivers in the league.
Neck even look at ASJ……….We can all call the guy a tool bag and assume he fixed his own self and now can be a difference maker…….but maybe he now has a coach that’s able to get the most out of him.
There is a to of examples where players change from poorly coached teams then go to better teams and start performing. It also happens the other way when players move onto crappy teams and suddenly are less productive.
I guess you could summize that the better teams in the league are just master evaluators that know exactly when to buy and sell on players but I really think it’s more likely that they simply have better coaching that knows how to get their players playing at their peak levels.
I’ll have to argue you on the assessment of Lichts draft and free agent success. The players he brings in here have a good deal of talent IMO. The problem is that raw talent does not mean they will be successful. Our coaches have to be able to find the roles for our players to let them use their abilities. Training plays a huge role in all this.
The last guy I’d like to mention is Ayers………When he was with the Giants he was on a well trained and well prepared line. That coaching staff was well known for producing great D line play. But they used Ayers a lot differently there and he was always moving around on the ljne. The opposing offense never knew where he was going to line up and that seemed to make him more productive. Now you look at Ayers this year and he lines up primarily at end. He’s playing a different role and is now a stiff all of the sudden. So is this a lack of evaluation on the part of Licht or is it that our coaches are just wasting his talent by using him improperly?
October 27th, 2017 at 8:48 pm
The sorry thing about it is that Licht is the one who hired these coaching staff that is getting the least out of the talent we have. I tend to blame coaching for a lot of our underachieving but doesn’t that mean the guy who hired them doesn’t know how to bring in the right coaches?
October 27th, 2017 at 9:01 pm
Everyone should have known coming in to the season we were not and are not a super bowl team, playoffs yes.
A lot of people got blindsided by the winning streak ending last season and forgot how we started the season last year . We could go on a winning streak again to try and recapture the season. I wonder if the turnaround last season was more the players or coaches , lately , it seems it must have been the players.
As for licht , yes , he has made mistake in FA and draft, however , he has been our most successful and capable Gm we have had in a really long time. He has been focusing on building a lasting offense with young players and we can see the results of that. I believe if we focus the next two draft towards the defense, we will start to see results there as well. Just by grabbing CB, DE,S, DT we will shore up the defense and get younger and build a lasting core there as well just like the offense.
He just needs two more years to complete the defense , or if hurried can be done in by bringing in good FA , coupled with draft picks. Just imagine if we had a beast young DE and a quality CB . We would look very different of defense.
As for the fall guy at the end of the season, it will be and had too be mike smith , he seems to be following lovie and Greg S , just being stubborn.
The glazers promoted Dirk because they want to continue with the same coach for JW, and he has done a great job there. A aggressive DC would make a world of difference. If sexy rexy were our DC we would be set on both sides.
In closing, two yrs building the defense and a new DC and we should be super bowl bound
October 27th, 2017 at 11:27 pm
This is my beef…..I like Licht but he has done some stupid stuff. 1. You took a kicker with a 2nd round pick… that could’ve been a defender. 2. two of our first 3 picks were luxury picks and no needs. I like OJ and Godwin but the fact is we didn’t need them. We needed defensive players. 3. We have all this cap room every year yet we have the worst depth in the league. This really infuriates me. Now look at us…. we have one of the most explosive offenses in the league that still hasn’t hit on all cylinders yet and this injury ridden bucs defense is garbage and SOFT!