The Rookies
November 24th, 2017
Acumen on display.
Earlier this week, Joe DVR’ed “Good Morning Football,” co-hosted by Kyle Brandt, Nate Burleson, closet Bucs fan Peter Schrager and Bucs fans’ it-girl Kay “Don’t Ask Me About My Business” Adams seen exclusively on the NFL Network.
The occasion? Gerald McCoy made an appearance, fresh from wrecking the Dolphins last week.
While GMC was being interviewed, producers began showing Bucs highlights of that game. The first three highlights? O.J. Howard catching a touchdown, Justin Evans picking off bratty Jay Cutler in the end zone and Chris Godwin making a clutch 24-yard catch to set up the game-winning field goal.
What is the common denominator here? The first three highlights shown were plays made by rookies.
Now 10 games in, it appears Howard will be everything folks said about him prior to the draft; Evans will be a competent if not a dangerous safety; and Joe believes Godwin has shown enough the past two games to warrant more playing time.
And Joe hasn’t even factored in Kendell Beckwith, who is a monster.
So here we are, 10 games into the season, and the top four picks in this spring’s draft are making plays to help the Bucs win.
It appears that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may have his second grand slam in the draft in three years (the first came in 2015).
November 24th, 2017 at 8:25 am
I like the them all and obviously OJ is the jewel but I think Godwin is going to be special as well…and perhaps Beckwith as well.
But it’s Licht’s class so the must be bad picks right? LMAO
November 24th, 2017 at 8:47 am
What grand slam the bucs are aiming for another losing season and lichts handprints all over this garbage of a team, just cause they are the best of the crap teams still makes them a crap team, lcht couldnt see the bucs have no RB, no edge rush, no corners and a garbage OL, which gets you 6-10 and embarrassed by the Saints, Panthers, and Falcons
November 24th, 2017 at 8:57 am
I agree this guy is a bum
November 24th, 2017 at 9:05 am
Glad they are getting playing time and contributing…..also seeing contribution from Ryan Smith.
If we lose Sunday…..it will be time to Play Ryan Griffin and give more playing time to Devonte Bond….and put Stocker on IR and play Auclair.
We need to see what we have going forward with these players.
November 24th, 2017 at 9:06 am
Joe, tell it real… this team is NOT good and bucs gm left to many holes on roster. Bottom on own division is NOT good .
November 24th, 2017 at 9:09 am
Evans is awful.
He mad a beautiful play
But he was burned 5 times
Jason is a okay scout
He just doesn’t have a big picture view on how to build a
Roster
November 24th, 2017 at 9:13 am
Time wasn’t built in a day. Jesus you guys are impatient.
November 24th, 2017 at 9:23 am
They certainly aren’t Gruden drafts…was iffy on the Evans pick but it looks like he ‘s going to be OK…the Aguayo pick will be forever cast as one of the worst in history but Licht has been solid in selections minus the kicker fiasco…and that was pure desperation on a glaring hole…
November 24th, 2017 at 9:30 am
this season is showing His draft gambles are certainly outweighing his hits – The team mirrors his inconsistency- plain and simple
November 24th, 2017 at 10:12 am
Tight ends don’t put up good numbers in first year.
Even gronk struggled in year 1
Think Oj Howard will be filthy for years to come
November 24th, 2017 at 10:14 am
But – But we needed this – we needed that. What a crappy GM…
Drives me crazy seeing people say Licht sucks because he didn’t supply the team with this need or that need. This ain’t Madden folks. Draft picks fail at a 40-60% rate on average – and that’s just 1st and 2nd rounders.
Dom left this franchise in a Hell of a mess and JL is just now starting to get us pulled up out of the deep talent deficit hole that the “rockstar” put us in.
Licht is by and large drafting good young football players – and thankfully values talent over “need” within that process. This strategy will be paying off big time within a couple years if some of you idiots who can’t see the forest for the trees don’t manage to somehow get him run out of town before the job is finished.
November 24th, 2017 at 10:29 am
We have the second best draft behind the Saints this year. We had the best a couple years ago. Now people are trying to run Licht out of town because of one Roberto pick.
November 24th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Dusthty Rhothdes Says
What grand slam the bucs are aiming for another losing season and lichts handprints all over this garbage of a team… …the bucs have no RB, no edge rush, no corners and a garbage OL…
Actually, that’s not completely true. The offensive line is pretty much new…you have a new guard, a new center, a young tackle and technically the other guard is new too.
Which all means this: they are a developing offensive line. That does not equate to garbage. They pass block very well. As they gel more, they will run block well too.
So far as no corners? You are completely wrong on that count. And while Brent might retire after this year (maybe), that hole won’t exist until after the season. Meanwhile, Smith is improving from game to game, VHIII seems well-suited in the slot, and Grimes is…Grimes.
The edge rush and RB statement you made are accurate, but just how many picks do you think the Bucs get in the draft? Licht tried to address the RB position, but the guy turned out to be an idiot. You might say Licht should have known this…but sheesh, he hit on 4 other picks in this draft…you expect him to hit on them all?
No, I did not agree with signing Baker. Unlike most of the people here at the time, I knew he would not help the pass rush. And no, I did not care for the Ward signing either, because I knew of his behavior issues.
But again…only so many picks available and as much as we can whine that Licht did not sign certain free agents, the whole reason players want to hit free agency is so that they can pick where they go. He cannot force players to sign. Sometimes, even offering more money won’t work.
So he did what he could to buy another year until he got more picks.
On the bright side?
RB, DE and CB can be addressed in the next draft.
November 24th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Listen I do not like excuses anymore than the next guy but injuries are a serious part of the NFL and do explain things.
So take our defense this year. Our most promising edge rusher…Noah Spence goes down for the season right at the start. So subtract a super promising young outside rusher from a team in desperate need of an edge rush. That is a FACT not my OPINION.
Then take the heart of the defense…arguably one of the very best players we had..the MLB…Kwon and subtract him from the defense. Again a FACT. Was that Licht, Smitty or Koetter’s fault?
Wanna know what injuries can change. Brent Grimes our ONLY stud DB missed three games. When he played we were 4-3…when he was out 0-3. That’s a pretty dramatic swing and then you add in the others….So again is it Licht or Smitty’s fault that Brent missed three games…ALL LOSSES.
Some of you may not wish to admit but this has been a horrible year for the Buc’s injuries. I was sooooo optimistic before the season but I always listed the caveat INJURIES change everything.
Oh and speaking of injuries…what is every team’s worst nightmare…losing a starting franchise QB…#3 has missed two…three after Sunday and his poor play in a couple of other games probably influenced by his sore arm.
Man I realize I can be the blog optimist but some of you negative nellies are just not realistic and avoid FACTS like the plague.
November 24th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
fact—=last place in own division.. again..Only people who DONT pay for season tkts could think this is acceptable. With the bucs having loads of extra cash Light did almost nothing in free agency and his overall drafts have not scared anyone including the number 1 pick.
November 24th, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Lets calm down a bit. Its not fair to call any rookie a success or bust after 10 games. Lets revisit this “grand slam” draft after a couple seasons
November 24th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
JBF, the only acumen on display os Litch’s ability to field a cellar dweller every year. Here’s a grand slam for you….ASJ, Aguayo, Hargreaves and Spence.
November 24th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
I went back and looked at his drafts from 2014 – 2017.
1 good player from 2014 (Evans)
3 – 2015 (Winston who may have to leave, Marpet, & , Kwon)
0 – 2016 (Hargreaves is still young)
4 – 2017 (who have potential to be good).
2016 was a horrible draft year.
He’s been okay (at best) at drafts, not great.
November 24th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
this draft is helping make up for last years haul witch does not reflect well on licht. ryan smith has been the most consistent player from that draft class this season .. thats saying a lot
November 24th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Pierce…
2014 – Evans, Sims, & Pamphile
Starters and a Pro Bowl. Only real blemish is ASJ and he is doing well for the Jets.
2015 – Kwon, Marpet, Smith, and Jameis
Starters, Pro Bowl, and the core for the team.
2016 – Hargreaves, Spence, Ryan Smith, Bennenoch, & Bond
Still developing, but they are our core backups and potenital future starters. The only blemish was Aguayo and Vitale is starting for the Browns.
Our drafts are incredible in this time span in comparison to other teams.
November 24th, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Thundersack
You should copy that post and simply paste the next few weeks when the Licht hate surfaces.
Two pro bowlers in those drafts. Given the 50-50 shot during the draft Licht has been exceptional. And we still do not know if they can repair Noah’s shoulder.
If he regains his health he’s also going to be a good player.
November 25th, 2017 at 8:11 am
Thundersack,
So you do you feel that if a player starts that he’s good? Because I haven’t seen enough from Sims to get excited. I’m not much of a fan of Donavon Smith. The entire 2016 draft hasn’t produced a solid starter to date as of yet (regardless of injuries or anything else).
When I look at this team, we have a weak offensive line, a weak defensive line, a weak secondary, and a suspect running game. How much of the blame do you put on the Head Coach versus the GM? I’m sure it’s both, but when I watch the games on Sundays, I don’t see a lot of great players on the field beating the guy in front of them and, for me, that falls on the GM.
November 25th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Are we sold on Donovan Smith? 2015 may just have been a nice triple.. and the jury is still out on Jameis..