Joe Hawley Calls The Bucs’ Two Biggest Needs
March 3rd, 2018
Does Jason Licht agree?
After three seasons in a Bucs uniform, Joe Hawley is calling it quits on the NFL (details here). But he still wants great things for the Buccaneers.
Speaking on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday, Hawley was asked to peg the top needs for Tampa Bay.
Drum roll …
Hawley first said another defensive lineman, followed by a “big playmaking safety.”
Hard to argue with the eight-year NFL veteran. The Bucs are old and thin on the D-line, and they are not special at safety.
Justin Evans has a lot of a potential and did his share of good things as a rookie safety. But it would be great to see a real hitter with good hands back there with him. The Bucs were hoping that was T.J. Ward, but he was more interested in whining and playing the “it’s not my weed” card. Chris Conte? His best days are behind him.
You can’t fill every need every year, and Joe suspects safety is low on Jason Licht’s priority list, though who knows after the Bucs missed out on Robert Quinn yesterday. Joe wouldn’t mind seeing Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro in red and pewter on a one-year, prove-it deal when free agency fires up in 11 days.
March 3rd, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Why do I feel like the Bucs will be mostly silent in free agency? I envision zero splash signings followed by a handful of middle tier signings after the initial wave has passed.
March 3rd, 2018 at 2:49 pm
We’re asking a back-up journeyman Olineman about the Bucs biggest needs? K.
Go Bucs!
March 3rd, 2018 at 2:50 pm
2 years ago we held on too long on our aging, injury prone WR VJax, last year same kinda thing with our slow, washed up RB, this year it’s holding on to our clueless, incompetent GM a year too long
March 3rd, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Our fabulous GM is pinching pennies to resign our players…
That’s why no money is being spent……..bucs fans better get used to us not signing marquee free agents.
All we’re going to see are “role playing” average free agents…….just gap filling honestly.
March 3rd, 2018 at 2:52 pm
buss to top priorities are New Ownership and Eradicating Cancer93
March 3rd, 2018 at 2:56 pm
TheBucsAnthem
the only reason to pinch pennies is glazers orders NOT the salary cap… bucs even signing their own have plenty of room the people who cry about salary cap are basically saying the incompetent galzers can’t manage a talented team that wins which is 100% accurate. good teams can sign way more talent than this mickey mouse roster and still compete year in and year out. just more proof why there is ZERO hope for buc fan or the future… glazers simply could careless about putting a respectable product on the field.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:01 pm
BRING ON MINKAH FITZPATRICK!!!!!!!!!!
Has it all!!
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:03 pm
DO YOU REALLY THINK THE GLAZERS WANT THE BUC TO WIN ,,LOL,, HECK YES !!! WITH WHAT THEY GOT AND THATS NOTHING , THEY REALLY CAN CARE LESS , THEY PROVED IT TIME AND AGAIN EVERY YEAR….. SALE THE TEAM IF YOU CAN’T SPEND MANY BIG MONEY GLAZERS…….
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:03 pm
@tmaxcon
It’s couldn’t care less. Not could care less.
Is English hard for you?
Do you not understand what you write?
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Hopefully Jason’s relationship with the honey badger can help get him signed.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Arden Key has some sick highlights.
When will he get drafted? Could he last to the end of the 1st?
But you gotta admit, physically speaking, the dude looks like Simeon Rice.
Plus, he was teammates with Kwon and Kendall.
I am down for drafting more nasty SEC players.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:06 pm
BucsAnthem … Agree that Licht has been ‘pinching pennies’ and you’re probably right regarding him signing “role playing average free agents”. Problem is that guarantees us the NFC South cellar, where we’ve dwelled far too often since 2002. Problem with signing bridge players is that (1) the bridge never gets completed; and (2) the vets who should be providing leadership for the young studs keep rolling over & never really assume the leadership mantle. That’s why a Center like Ryan Jensen could be extremely valuable to us … young (26) but experienced, talented & has shown excellent leadership skills thus far (from what I’ve read). We need more guys like that, especially on our OLine & DLine.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:11 pm
I remember the glory years when the Bucs rallying cry was ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?” The current rallying cry is more like “Off to the Pit of Misery. Dilly Dilly”.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Hawlwy seems like a cool dude…should be interesting to hear about his U.S. Tour in a van. I thought he might say the biggest needs were GM and a defensive coordinator.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Gobucs
I am drunk
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Hard to argue either position but one could add Guard, running back, corner and kicker to the list.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:32 pm
The Bucs secondary were horrible in 2017. This includes all of the CBs and Safeties.
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:53 pm
That is a very astute observation LakeLand
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:55 pm
More like needing 3 defensive lineman,2 runningbacks,a safety,2 defensive backs,maybe 2 guards,and a kicker who can kick from 50 plus yards out.then we could use a new gm,owner,coach,defensive coordinator. Other than that,we are good!!
March 3rd, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Hawkeye is not the best source because he obviously won’t throw his closest friends – his fellow offensive lineman – under the bus.
He also made the error of saying the. Bucs need but a single defensive lineman to fix their problems. That singular approach has been the Bucs approach for a decade and produced (almost) the worst results in the league over that timespan.
The Bucs need to bring in a hoard of lineman on both sides of the ball. Period.
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX RHE BUCS!!
March 3rd, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Boy…slow news day. Guess the JBF crew are working on a Glazer budget.
🙂
Go Bucs!
March 3rd, 2018 at 4:28 pm
He isnt wrong. The fact is this team just has too many holes to fix in 1 offseason. DE, DT, S, CB, LG, and RB arent all going to be fixed this offseason. Especially since we need multiple of some of these positions.
March 3rd, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Did anyone see that Jordan Howard is being discussed for Jarvis Landry. What about we send DJax and a 4th next year for Howard
March 3rd, 2018 at 4:46 pm
It does not matter who is or is not brought in because of the inept coaching staff. It is clear, watching the misery of last season, that it does not matter how well Jameis plays, the Bucs will lose because the coach is a loser. Hawely’s sorry @$$ needs to shut up. Peyton Manning could not throw the deep ball. Brady cannot throw the deep ball. Jameis Winston can throw the deep ball. To throw the deep ball, the QB needs a clean pocket and the defense cannot know that the ball Will be thrown deep before the ball is snapped. It helps if the QB’s arm
March 3rd, 2018 at 4:51 pm
It does not matter who is or is not brought in because of the inept coaching staff. It is clear, watching the misery of last season, that it does not matter how well Jameis plays, the Bucs will lose because the coach is a loser. Hawely’s sorry @$$ needs to shut up. Peyton Manning could not throw the deep ball. Brady cannot throw the deep ball. Jameis Winston can throw the deep ball. To throw the deep ball, the QB needs a clean pocket and the defense cannot know that the ball Will be thrown deep before the ball is snapped. It helps if the QB’s throwing arm is not injured. After Jameis was injured Koetter could not adjust his offense to win games. He then blamed his failures on Jameis. What a stand up guy.
March 3rd, 2018 at 4:51 pm
****************
So Hawley has called for a guard, defensive lineman and safety
Lots of options:
MinkahFitzpatrick/WillHernandez/DerrickNnandi
QuentonNelson/RodneyHarrison/FrankRagnow
BradleyChubb/WillHernandez/DeShoneElliott
****************
March 3rd, 2018 at 4:55 pm
@tmaxcon
Well that’ll do it lol
March 3rd, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Jameis Winston pass for over 4000 yards….guess what?…the Bucs secondary have given up over 4000 passing yards in 2016 and 2017.
March 3rd, 2018 at 6:31 pm
Eric Reid is a better option than Vaccaro is less one dimensional and should come at a relatively good price..
March 3rd, 2018 at 7:03 pm
Make of this what you will Buc faithful. Seemed like we needed more news.
Per Rotoworld:
CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports free agent Dontari Poe could end up with the Bucs.
Poe isn’t expected to re-sign with Atlanta after rehabbing his value on a one-year deal last season. The Bucs make sense as a landing spot as an NFC South team that runs a 4-3 scheme. Washington, Denver, and Indy have also been linked to Poe. Mar 3 – 6:39 PM
Source: CBSSports.com
Go Bucs!
March 3rd, 2018 at 7:17 pm
@teacherman77 – Key is way too small, he weighed in at 235 or something at the combine.
March 3rd, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Since Hawley was in there for the grind you have to take what he feels as gospel!
March 3rd, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Gobucs
I maybe a brutally honest a–hole but I’m not to going to lie
March 3rd, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Derwin James 🙂
March 3rd, 2018 at 10:12 pm
@Dylan – Derwin James would be a good pick for the Bucs too if they trade back some. Good news is there are lots of guys who can fill needs for the Bucs. Bad news is we have some many needs that need to be filled.
March 4th, 2018 at 12:03 am
Got a feeling we’re trading for Indy’s #3 for Chubb!
Dont know, just feeling it….probably going DB for the 2nd pick, which makes perfect sense.
March 4th, 2018 at 12:05 am
Maybe Chubb will bomb on some combine skills and pro day skills and we wont need to do that though…..and no, this max isnt drunk, lol…well not yet, just started.
March 4th, 2018 at 12:07 am
hmmm….GMC and next years 1st for Chubb? You want it Indy?
March 4th, 2018 at 12:08 am
Then we get Fitpatrick or James or VEA with our 7th this year.
March 4th, 2018 at 2:18 am
Two biggest needs- Head coach, GM
March 4th, 2018 at 2:39 am
Between Licht failing to pull the trigger on any deal but rumors we are always in the running and Koetter holding practice more fitting for flag football I am pretty disgusted by just going through the motions to achieve results. Please grow a pair Jason & Dirk or you will be on the couch in 2019 wishng you had!!!!!!
March 4th, 2018 at 7:42 am
Koetter was not and still is not..ready to be an NFl HC. He should have stuck to doing what he can focus in..Being an OC. Thats why he brought in his been Mike Smith to consult with for HC advice. I get that. Problem is Mike Smith has seen his better days and is ready for pasture and a rocker. Lets see how this season plays out. This duo’s jobs are on the line and they know it. Win or go home. I luv this NFl. No faking when the Sh..hits the fan. You are what that record says you are. Batter up Koetter and Smitty. And good Luck!!
March 4th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Team needs: players that give a damn.
March 4th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
@BUCMAN
DO YOU REALLY THINK THE GLAZERS WANT THE BUC TO WIN ,,LOL,, HECK YES !!! WITH WHAT THEY GOT AND THATS NOTHING , THEY REALLY CAN CARE LESS , THEY PROVED IT TIME AND AGAIN EVERY YEAR….. SALE THE TEAM IF YOU CAN’T SPEND MANY BIG MONEY GLAZERS…….
Stuart Sternburgs of the NFL. We know the Rays are going to leave town when they sell eventually 🙁 and the Bucs could also at some point. Does having the number one hockey team make up for all that? No, but having the Bolts still kicks ass. GO BOLTS!!! #VinikBuyRaysAndBucsRunForMayor 🙂
March 4th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
Drafting Derwin James. They are really gonna draft Derwin James with the no 7 pick. I love it and hope it happens. Joe Hawley not preachibg this gospel for no reason either. He’s giving the most detailed insight of the front office and coach staff think. I think Derwin James will pick up steam and become the pick. I also think that the oline will be addressed in free agency as well as rb, dline. I don’t see them trading for Mike Bennett either because they are not trying to be strap for cash when it’s time to pay Winston, Evans, Alexander, Marpet, or whoever they draft in the first round this year and can’t forget about Howard. That’s why they keep huge cap space but once they start resigning the first rounders and star homegrown talent they will not have the cap space. I think they should trade a few star vets like Desean Jackson and a future first rounder for an extra first rounder this season if this staff wants to be around next season. Licht and Koetter need to obtain two first and a second to keep their jobs because spending money in free agency may not cut it seeing the amount of money they will have to spend to resign those past draft picks I mean Hargreaves , Alexander and Spence are gonna command big contracts soon as well so at this point if they use free agency cash it better be on some established players in the trenches. They mmaybe can afford to sign an offensive lineman or go after Lamarcus Joyner with some huge cash because Joyner in my opinion would be a great option for them at this point. They have so many holes in their secondary and he could spend the rest of his career filling those holes. I mean Hargreaves is one corner and Evans is one safety but we draft James and Joyner can move to corner and also use a third round pick on maybe Tavarrus McFadden a big and fast corner from FSU with Jalen Ramsey like talent. That’s what great franchises do. Instead of trading for Bennett draft Sweat from Fsu in the second get an extra second round pick and draft Nick Chubb a physical running back we’ve been thirsting for with plenty of power. Trade for an extra first round pick and draft Ridley use future first and second round picks to get it done we have to be aggressive this year and get that local talent and speed.