Jason Licht: “There’s A Lot Of Positives Out Of A Somewhat Brutal Season”
January 8th, 2018
GM Jason Licht
Your Buccaneers general manager has been talking.
In fact, Jason Licht was publicly looking back and ahead just last week.
That was inside the cozy confines of the Buccaneers Radio Network. Licht said he likes the upside of the Bucs offense and the youth movement spearheaded by Dirk Koetter.
“This offense has shown a lot of good things,” Licht said. “We’re getting in the red zone a lot; we’re not finishing enough. And that’s one thing we’re very cognizant of. We’re going to work on that for next year. There’s a lot of positives out of a somewhat brutal season.
“Extremely excited about what [Jameis] has done here in the last month now that he’s gettin’, you know, he’s healthy. And we talked about that last week. Extremely positive things coming out of Dirk and coaching, developing young players. He’s done a great job with our young players. As a general manager and a scouting department, that’s one thing you love to see, is a coaching staff that puts a lot of resources and a lot of time into making these young players develop, and we’ve seen that.”
All fair points by Licht. The Bucs got a lot out of four promising rookies, their first four draft picks. O.J. Howard, Justin Evans, Chris Godwin and Kendell Beckwith. It’s not quite Licht’s grand slam of 2015, but it’s in the ballpark. And it’s certainly better than the wild pitch of 2016 (as long as we’re sticking with baseball analogies).
It smells like a successful commitment to youth helped spared Koetter’s job. And it’s worth noting that Chucky lacked that commitment during his coaching days.
You know what would help the Bucs in the red zone? A shiny new punishing running running back for Dirk Koetter to develop.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
We’re praying for you VHIII & Spence. If those 2 guys can’t make a big impact next year then the 2016 draft was like a terrible ceremonial first pitch that doesn’t get 1/2 way to home plate lol.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Keep in mind that Koetter didnt have any head coaching experience prior to this. I know people like to bring up Pedersen, McVay, etc. for their short turnarounds but they play in much weaker divisions.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
For one…I wasn’t fired. So there’s that. Oh…and Aguayo signed with a couple of other teams so there’s some offsets in his salary!
January 8th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
NFC South is like the AL East in baseball. Every team is stacked for the most part, and the error of margin is razor thin. Five of our six division games were one score or less. You could argue when its all said and done that the division will have four hall of fame qbs.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:40 pm
@Joe … “You know would help the Bucs in the red zone? A shiny new punishing running running back for Dirk Koetter to develop.” Agree wholeheartedly about our need for a RB, BUT … unless we fix the OLine no rookie RB has a chance of being truly successful.
And while we’re at it Joe, please tell Jason that there’s another half of the team that we call D-E-F-E-N-S-E. Just casually remind him, that’s all. It might help.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:43 pm
LordC
Agree. Imagine it from the other perspective. What if VHGIII rebounds to his rookie form and even better and if Noah comes back healthy and plays like those flashes of greatness we saw over in Jacksonville at camp.
Without a single move imagine how much better our defense becomes!
January 8th, 2018 at 4:44 pm
I don’t see the positives , compared to the other NFC South teams.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
@ST Pete
Even if Spence just plays like he did as a rookie it’d be huge for this team’s pass rush. I just hope his shoulder isn’t f*cked for life
January 8th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
I will see the positives after a strong draft and a even stronger showing in free agency.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
@feelthepower… we got our asses kicked outside of our division too
January 8th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Prayers wont help. Vh3 is a bust and a complete waste of time. Counting vh3 is like counting on jack smith to stay healthy a
There are ZERO positives me licht needs to be drug tested asap. The roster is complete crap and the franchise is a total laughing stock.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:54 pm
Jason….don’t try and bullsheet us….
January 8th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
we will get a lot out of Howard, but he was under utilized in his first season. I know hes a rookie and i know the history of rookie TEs, but just based on the numbers and what happened when he did get the ball, he definitely should have gotten more targets and more then just 26 receptions (less then 2 catches a game). He ranked 30 among all TEs in receptions. coaches need to get that to the top 10 area. He ranks #6 among all TEs(with at least 1 catch per game) in first down in first down percentages. and top 7 in TDs. So he was elite in moving the chains and scoring TDs, but we had him at #30 with receptions. No reason Howard should have gotten less targets then 3 other rookie TEs
January 8th, 2018 at 5:06 pm
@ALTER
I AGREE!!!!….enough with the BS!!!!!!
saying,” “We’re getting in the red zone a lot; we’re not finishing enough. ” is like saying we played hard but never won a game….you play to win not to play hard….the offense is on the field to score TD’s not 3’s….the only positives on offense is that oj and godwin played well and look like keepers….GO BUCS!!!!
January 8th, 2018 at 5:07 pm
And it’s certainly better than the wild pitch of 2016
if they don’t bounce back strong this year, im rushing the mound!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 8th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
Did ACDC Loving GM JL mention anything about the successful free agencies he’s had ??
January 8th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
If Bradley Chubb is gone by pick 7 we absolutely must draft Quenton Nelson. He is a stud through and through. And will add a beastly presence in the running game no matter who is toting the rock.
Having said that, I sure wouldn’t mind an upgrade at running back. And there are many options both in the draft and free agency. As unrealistic as it sounds right now, you can’t not at least look into pursuing Le’veon Bell? Can you? I think if you have to out of diligence.
Lower down on the FA totem poll would be solid guys like Carlos Hyde, who is a lot better than people give him credit when healthy, Isiah Crowell is dependaple.
As for the draft Derrious Guice would be a god send in round 2, but Josh Adams, Nick Chubb, and Sony Michel (who I am not as high on due to his skinny frame), are all highly rated prospects who could potentially be there in rounds 2-3.
But in this scenario, we must pursue and hopefully acquire one of the big Edge rushers in FA, fingers crossed for Demarcus Lawrence and Trent Murphy, and then address the defense with all 5 remaining Draft picks.
January 8th, 2018 at 5:15 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUINiTJ5TZ4
Derrius Guice in action, doing what he does best, running angry. Skip to 1:20 for game action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfUNiASGF54
And here is Josh Adams showing off his wheels, you can also check out Quenton Nelson is this, look for #56.
January 8th, 2018 at 5:17 pm
You sure the credit doesn’t belong to their college coaches? It’s not like they’ve had the best track record with rooks who don’t play for national championships regularly.
January 8th, 2018 at 5:17 pm
He’s not even on the team which again, was a bizarre move my Jason Licht. He sticks with a guy while he’s injured and when he’s finally ready to play a snap he cuts him in favor of Will Clarke.
I have no confidence in Jason Licht. The “developing young players” talk is rubbish for this team especially when this team was supposedly built to make a playoff run. This team is not as young as he would have you believe. He and Mark Dominick have wasted Gerald McCoy’s best years by not adequately addressing the defensive line.
January 8th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
All I wanted to hear out of Licht’s mouth is this:
“We’re going to fix the trenches!”
Anything else is just lip service and PR BS.
Licht needs to bring in 8 new faces on the offensive and defensive lines this offseason via the draft and free agency to compete with the incumbents, improve the starting units, and upgrade he depth.
Go ALL IN on the lines, Licht.
Fix the trenches, fix the Bucs!
January 8th, 2018 at 5:41 pm
Play by play announcer Gene Deck on the microphone: Game on the line….4th down and 7..Licht with the SPIN to the outside for no gain!! bUCS lose..BUCS LOSE!!!!!!!!!!
January 8th, 2018 at 5:42 pm
TMAX Perhaps we are like the poor Cubbie fans all those years.
You say we have ZERO to be positive about. I say that is wrong because I’m a Buc’s fan. And so I have a football team to cheer for even if they are disappointing….it’s not Zero.
And our ownership is not ready to leave town…franchise not in danger of folding…so there are some positives.
As far as players…we have plenty there as well.
@Tony
Amen brother. We couldn’t block for the run this year or rush the passer. Fix those two problems and the rest will take care of itself.
January 8th, 2018 at 5:42 pm
Blake bucfan…Sony Michel is 5’11 and 220 lbs, has Mark Ingram 5’11 215 type power with Alvin Kamara 5’11 215 type elusiveness, not to mention he had 1 fumble all season, limited wear on his body compared to other top backs, is an excellent receiver and pass blocker, plus has speed, other than Barkley, he’s my 2nd favorite back, that being said, hopefully our dumbass GM doesn’t decide to pass on one the top rookie backs again this year, I can name at least 8 rookies from last years backs that were heads and shoulders better than DM, Quizz, Barber, Sims and McNichols
January 8th, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Lordcorn
Funny line but instead pray for mike smith if he truly is coming back. Im praying he adds a whole lot of change to the way he has his guys line up and play. Gota make things happen in football cant sit back and watch qbs complete passes. These cbs have all played man to man press coverage before. Lets see em do it for the bucs next year. Draw up some blitzes and lets create turnovers. Cmon worst that can happen is youre last in the league and give up the most 20 plus yard plays of all the teams….again!
January 8th, 2018 at 6:13 pm
In other words…If free agent signings are going to overall be horrendous, then we better hope we are developing our draft picks. In all honesty I’m ok with focusing on developing young guys as the primary goal in building this team. But there will come a time when we are going to need the extra push in free agency to put us over the top, so they need to figure out free agency too.
January 8th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Of course free agency will be a failed adventure nobody wants to play for this Mickey mouse franchise led by clowns… Tampa is the least desirable location in nfl. Reality sucks optimists
January 8th, 2018 at 6:42 pm
So s everyone is asking him to fix the trenches? Hell he’s the reason for the shape they’re in now. Ugh. If he has jacked that up with his past how do you expect him to do it now? I noticed he didn’t mention the defense, he just talked offensive
January 8th, 2018 at 6:50 pm
“Hell he’s the reason for the shape they’re in now.”
Tampa’s O-line was sh1t when Licht arrived. It was gutted because Lovie Smith wanted to make changes; but either way even with Penn/Zutah it was old.
He’s done OK on O-line imo. Smith/Marpet were excellent selections; especially when you look at all the OTs from that class and how bad they’ve been compared to Smith. Pamphile was a good value pick for a 5th rounder. Evan Smith / Hawley were good pick ups. We just haven’t spent premium resources on it because the value hasn’t lined up.
Quinton Nelson would be the value lining up with the pick imo
January 8th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
I was referring to the majority of D line is his fault , i didn’t state correctly, my bad.
January 8th, 2018 at 7:00 pm
Is this guy consistently DRUNK!!!!! Let’s not make bogus claims out anyone on the Bucs, or anyone else, please. –Joe WTF is he talking about. There are ZERO positives from this season. The only positive he should see is that his A$$ still has a job. He and Klueless Koetter got so damn lucky that GRU played TEAM GLAZER and they get to stay employed. This guy should be counting his days left that his key card works on the doors at One Buc.
January 8th, 2018 at 7:03 pm
Lc
Wait didn’t we have penn, zuttah, Larsen and hmm idk but better than what we have now. Am I trippin?
January 8th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Winning 1/3 of your games as the GM on watch appears ro be good enough. I wish I had that kind of job security.
January 8th, 2018 at 7:19 pm
You know what else helps put points on the board? A defense that can get the ball back for your offense and not allow 500-600 yards of offense!!!
Fire Mike Smith, fix the team, make the playoffs.
I love Jason Licht as the GM. Yeah he has sucked at FA, but his drafts have been very good. No GM hits on everyone…..NONE! Like I’ve been saying though since the beginning of the 2016 season, Mike Smith will eventually cost this team a bright young head coach and general manager.
January 8th, 2018 at 7:25 pm
We should have signed Nick O’Leary and drafted Dalvin Cook.
WE. DID. NOT. NEED. OJ. HOWARD.
January 8th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Joe
You deserve tremondous credit for building and maintaining the JBF Empire around a team with no hope for the future. Great job gentlemen. I expect that the Joe autobiography will be available soon. Its sure to be required reading for all startups. Not many third party companies can sustain much less grow thier business when thier primary product is total garbage. Very impressive
January 8th, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Why nobody talking bout nick chubb he looks great
January 8th, 2018 at 7:39 pm
Nick Chubb is the best RB in College Football! Hands down. I have been watching him since he was at Cedartown High School in Georgia.
January 8th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Draft Q Nelson @7 and sonny Michele in the 2nd. Sign Malcom butler and Micheal Bennett. Rest of the draft should be defense.
This is assuming that Bradley Chubb is gone at 7.
January 8th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
@BucEmUp … “I love Jason Licht as the GM. Yeah he has sucked at FA, but his drafts have been very good. No GM hits on everyone…..NONE!” Man BucEmUp, you’ve really been drinking way too much Joe’s & Jason Licht’s Kool-Aid.
Longtime NFL writer Pat Kirwan aptly summarized the difficulties of the GM position back in 2014. He included all the ‘stuff’ like evaluating personnel, managing a salary cap, negotiating contracts, selecting a head coach, etc. But he concluded with “most importantly, carry out a vision for a winning franchise”.
That’s the key aspect of a GM’s job to me: “Carry out a VISION for building a winning franchise”. That means providing the talent needed for the T-E-A-M to win games. That’s not JUST oversight of the team’s draft. Just as critical is selecting FAs & making trades as needed to build a winning T-E-A-M. What were YOUR words BucEmUp? Oh ya, “Yeah he has sucked at FA.” And we know his record on trades. In his 4 years, the Bucs have been 2-14, 6-10, 9-7 and 5-11 … a total of 22 wins & 42 losses. Tell me again how Licht’s done such a great job.
January 8th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
“this fuuu*****king guy ” ….in my pachino scarface voice….HAHAHHAA
he should be the last one to talk on positives…he should stick to what needs improving if he says anything ….
THE NERVE
January 8th, 2018 at 8:06 pm
Nick chubb the best RB hands down? Ok RB but not the best IMO
Against
Appalachian State 15 carries 96 yds
Notre Dame 13carries 67 yds
Missouri. 16 carries 70 yds
Florida 13 carries 77 yds
Auburn 11 carries 27 yds
Georgia Tech 12 carries. 53 yds
Auburn 13 carries 77 yds
Granted he had 6 games this season with yards of 102-151 yds.
January 8th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Who exactly have we developed? Evans regressed, Martin regressed, Marpet and Smith maybe slightly better, Jameis is improving himself, Kwon same player, Hargreaves regressed, Spence no clue always hurt, Brate slightly better, Phamphile regressed, so who have we “developed ” again?
January 8th, 2018 at 8:33 pm
I will see positives when we start playing games and our coach plays the players that deserve it and our defense actually hits a QB.
January 8th, 2018 at 8:37 pm
This guys full of shiiiiiiiiiiit
January 8th, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Buc him up wow do do boy
January 8th, 2018 at 8:59 pm
ok and what about the defense where are jason comments about the defense and mike smith
January 8th, 2018 at 9:14 pm
@tmax
I feel sorry for those that are close to you as you are one negative dude You are certainly not a Bucs and why are you on this site? Your takes are old and nauseating…
January 8th, 2018 at 9:16 pm
Our GM is a con man. Bucs let the smart guy (Robinson) leave for Titans and he gets nasty guys in the trenches. We keep the idiot who drafts VHIII, signs Martin, Baker, Sweezy and Ward. And don’t get me started on our finger lickin, accuracy challenged child the team I supposedly built around! SMH!!!
January 8th, 2018 at 9:34 pm
yrbndr
It’s not negativity when its accurate, its reality. Reality sucks but its far better than living in denial. 16 years without a single meaningful win is,nothing to be positive abbout.
January 8th, 2018 at 9:37 pm
yrbndr wer all fans but i think were in for a long season we keeped the same characters to play the same toon its not working
January 8th, 2018 at 9:38 pm
Those numbers don’t mean squat to me. I still say Nick Chubb is the best RB in College Football. My only concern is his knee injury, those stats don’t mean nothing. If he can get back to being 100%, he’s unstoppable.
January 8th, 2018 at 9:39 pm
you should change your name to tbag cause thats what your in for
January 8th, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Fire the village idiot! Bring in a new GM!! Shouldn’t be difficult to find someone who can build a defense better than what we have!
January 8th, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Jason, don’t put lipstick on a pig. A brutal season means it was brutal. Any positives you try to spin is an insult to the remaining fan base. Since day 1 Licht has been part of the problem not solution.
January 8th, 2018 at 9:57 pm
Nick Chubb stats before his knee injury
After he took over for Todd Gurley
10-11-2014- Missouri- 143 Yards
10-18-2014-Arkansas-202
11-01-2014-Florida- 156
11-08-2014-Kentucky-170
11-15-2014-Auburn-144
11-22-2014-Charleston Southern-113
11-29-2014-Georgia Tech-129
12-30-2014-Louisville-266
9-05-2015-Louisiana Monroe-120
9-12-2015-Vanderbilt-189
9-19-2015-South Carolina-159
9-26-2015-Southern-131
10-03-2015-Alabama-146
10-10-2015-Tennessee-1 carry-2 yards-knee injury
13 straight games with 100= yards rushing before injury
1547 yards rushing as a freshmen
I guess some people just recently heard of Nick Chubb
January 8th, 2018 at 9:59 pm
I wish Licht was as good in free agency as he is in the draft
January 8th, 2018 at 10:10 pm
Jason Licht drafts hasn’t been as good as New Orleans and Atlanta. He may be close with Carolina, but Carolina sign better Free Agents.
January 8th, 2018 at 10:21 pm
The Bucs GM has to draft better than Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans. He has to do better in free agency than Atlanta, Carolina,New Orleans. He can’t worry about the rest of the league. Those 3 teams should be his greatest concerns. In order to end the 10 year playoff drought. The Bucs has to be better than these 3 teams, at least be equal to them.
January 8th, 2018 at 10:21 pm
Poor Buccaneers
This teams has some of the stupidest fans in the league. Want to run off a franchise QB and an awesome GM who has built one side of the ball. This defense needs a few pieces and a whole new staff.
Give Belichick this roster and he will win a SB
January 8th, 2018 at 10:26 pm
We have been hearing ” How close the Bucs are” for 10 years. It’s time for action, no more ” wait until next season”. It’s a broken record, the fans are sick of the excuses. It’s PUT up or SHUT up time.
January 8th, 2018 at 10:29 pm
if were close like u say goat we need just a few peices but so does evryone else in our div its a wash
January 8th, 2018 at 10:31 pm
its not about peices its about motivation and respecting yur leader jamis and mike evans do what they want you would not see that happening with bellicheat
January 8th, 2018 at 10:47 pm
We are close. Free agency with some great DBs and decent edge rushers could fix the defense a lot. Still won’t go anywhere with this bum azz coaching staff.
Draft Q Nelson @7 and sonny Michele in the 2nd and our O will hum. This Alabama CB 28 has been making a ton of plays, not a huge prospect either
January 8th, 2018 at 10:52 pm
We need 3 o linemen
3 d linemen
2 corners
2 safties
2 backs
Then we will be 10-6
January 8th, 2018 at 11:05 pm
Destinjohnny
That’s almost a new roster
January 8th, 2018 at 11:14 pm
Go back to madden bums
January 8th, 2018 at 11:18 pm
lol Mike Goat
I did predict 7-9 for the Bucs while you predicted the playoffs.
just sayin
January 8th, 2018 at 11:21 pm
I never predicted anything. I’m smarter than that. You just got lucky that you are always a whiny b!tch
January 8th, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Anyway I guess I have fed the trolls enough for tonight.
January 8th, 2018 at 11:23 pm
Nick Chubb looks pretty good tonight. I think he is about as good a runner as Barkley.
I haven’t seen N Chubb play a lot, but I have seen Barkely play every weekend living here in PA
January 8th, 2018 at 11:25 pm
Pa Privateer
Nick Chubb been held in check. Sony Michel has look good for Georgia. But I still think a healthy Nick Chubb is a good RB.
January 8th, 2018 at 11:54 pm
Same coach Same Gm same qb same record. Hello 5-11.
January 9th, 2018 at 1:17 am
Which young players are developing?
I missed it.
January 9th, 2018 at 6:23 am
@Defense – This roster is loaded with talent. Jason Licht can’t coach the players, he gets them on the roster. Lovie Smith was hired before Jason Licht. Before Lovie was let go, you mean to tell me you believe Jason Licht had full say over the draft and roster? Not a chance in hell.
Ownership looked at Lovie as the savior and gave his more control than he needed. So Jason Lichts record as a GM in my eyes is over the last two seasons. Koetter has this offense doing not great but not poor either. A third year is well deserved for him. One bad season out of two leaves a lot of room for optimism in my opinion, but this team will go nowhere unless they fix the defense. Jason Licht has obviously concentrated more on the offense over the last two drafts overall. He will add the talent in the trenches this offseason but if the defensive coaching remains piss poor the entire team is going to struggle knowing it’s off balanced.
So many moving parts in an organization, one thing can make a lot look wrong. Just because Licht doesn’t have a winning record right now other things factor into that than the players he brings in. Mike Smith is the cancer on this team. Just like Lovie Smith he won’t change his ways and the D will suck next season I don’t care what pass rushers they get. The only way Jason licht deserves to get fired is if he doesn’t get the defense fixed. He’s taking a gamble this year, he better hope it pays off. I hope it does but my fear is that we lose a good gm and head coach because they wanted to stay loyal to Koetters B.F.F. If they can’t see past the friendship and refuse to do what best for the team thats the one thing that warrants them being fired but his drafts are what I look at more than anything.
January 9th, 2018 at 7:40 am
I agree with tmaxcon, Licht should be Drug tested. If for nothing
else just thinking he could get by without any pass rushers.
January 9th, 2018 at 8:26 am
When you go down this silly road then it’s impossible to differentiate which moves were Lovie and which moves were Licht. If you go down this road you have to acknowledge that Mike Evans, Jameis Winston, Ali Marpet, Kwon Alexander, Cameron Brate, Adam Humphries, ASJ (who found success elsewhere), Charles Sims, extending GMC, and extending Lavonte David were all Lovie decisions. Far too many Bucs fans try to foolishly praise Licht for all the good decisions and blame Lovie for all the bad decisions. It doesn’t work that way.
By the way, how did the 2016 draft class pan out? How did the 2016 free agency period pan out? Can’t blame Lovie for any of that. Brent Grimes and Bryan Anger were the only moves worth a damn.
January 9th, 2018 at 9:06 am
Licht is garbage as GM as the proof is the record and he is averaging 5 wins during his tenure so that is not going to get it done and the NFC south is not anything like the AL East and its a crappy comparison as the NFL and MLB are totally different, fact is licht whiffed on an entire draft and has an F- for FA during his tenure and there is no hope for 2018
January 9th, 2018 at 9:22 am
tmaxcon Says:
January 8th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Prayers wont help. Vh3 is a bust and a complete waste of time. Counting vh3 is like counting on jack smith to stay healthy a
There are ZERO positives me licht needs to be drug tested asap. The roster is complete crap and the franchise is a total laughing stock.
tmaxcon Says:
January 8th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Of course free agency will be a failed adventure nobody wants to play for this Mickey mouse franchise led by clowns… Tampa is the least desirable location in nfl. Reality sucks optimists
tmaxcon Says:
January 8th, 2018 at 9:34 pm
yrbndr
It’s not negativity when its accurate, its reality. Reality sucks but its far better than living in denial. 16 years without a single meaningful win is,nothing to be positive abbout.
tmaxcon, I COMPLETELY agree with you brother on all points. All the people on here that are looking at our pitiful Buccaneers through red & pewter colored glasses are in for a real rude awaking next year when we’re in the same position we are now…..with a losing season. As long as this GM and coaching staff are in place, they will not make the playoffs. I’m sorry but I have ZERO confidence in this regime, just like I have ZERO confidence in the F@%KTARDS that own this team. Those dip sh$ts have NO idea on what takes to build a contender or win a championship…….MAN I MISS MALCOLM GLAZER!!!!
January 9th, 2018 at 10:44 am
The team has won 40% more games the past three years than the preceding three years and that includes the first winning season in a half dozen years.
No matter how you want to slice it or dice it….if W’s are important then the team has FACTUALLY improved since Licht took over…if you count W’s as facts.
There is no way to not admire Licht’s draft picks. Sadly it’s just as hard to admire the FA acquisitions. Don’t know how much Lovie may have messed up that first year but the obvious thing is that nobody at One Buc seems to do a good job of scouting the FA talent.
So I give our college scouts a pat on the back and I fire all of our Pro scouting department. Then find just ONE guru who knows the league backwards and forwards and have him build a FA or pro scouting department that matches our college scouting.
January 9th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
D-Rome
By the way, how did the 2016 draft class pan out? How did the 2016 free agency period pan out?
————
That 17 draft is solid though and McNichols might still show us something.
January 9th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
The biggest positive I got from this year?
How close the games were, and how big an impact Fitz had on losing games.
Had Fitz been good, we would have scored more points than the league average. And the close games? That means we’re a losing team, but a very good losing team.
Which means we’re not as far off as people think.
And finally…the very best thing from 2017? Ira’s podcasts.
January 9th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
D-Rome
“By the way, how did the 2016 draft class pan out? How did the 2016 free agency period pan out?”
Well, let’s see…
1st Round – Vernon Hargreaves CB
Had a great first year, had a sophomore slump…a common occurrence for players, but as usual, they same people who gave up on Mike Evans because of his sophomore slump have given up on VHIII.
2nd Round – Noah Spence DE
Talented but injury issues. Very parallel to GMC in regard to 2 years of injuries to start his career. Let’s hope he turns that around.
2nd Round – Roberto Aguayo K
Toast. Wasted pick…but kind of worth the gamble I suppose. If he had worked out, we’d have had a kicker for 15 years. It didn’t, so that’s a negative certainly.
4th round – Ryan Smith CB
Turning into a good CB. Great pick, even though I had doubts at first.
5th Round – Caleb Benenoch OG
So far as depth goes, he’s paid off pretty well.
6th Round – Devante Bond OLB
So far as depth goes,he;s okay I guess. Not a great pick, not a horrible pick.
6th Round – Dan Vitale FB
Toast. now with the Browns with no stats in 2017.
So how did the 2017 draft turn out?
We got 5 players to stick with the team. That;s actually not bad when you think about it.
January 9th, 2018 at 6:11 pm
Defense Rules Says:
January 8th, 2018 at 4:40 pm
@Joe … “You know would help the Bucs in the red zone? A shiny new punishing running running back for Dirk Koetter to develop.” Agree wholeheartedly about our need for a RB, BUT … unless we fix the OLine no rookie RB has a chance of being truly successful.
BINGO