The Great Fan Divide
March 19th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
This is the time of year two different sides of Buc Nation emerge on full display.
We’re in the sixth day of free agency and, as expected, the Bucs have addressed several positions without generating many national headlines.
That’s perfectly alright with ownership because Joel Glazer used to watch in amusement every March as the Redskins overspent on big names that rarely panned out.
Until the draft next month, a Bay area war will rage between Buc optimists happy with the free-agent haul and cynics who lament the guys that got away — led by Robert Quinn, Michael Bennett, Trumaine Johnson, Dion Lewis, Malcolm Butler and Patrick Robinson.
Glass half-full or half-empty?
Both sides of this Great Divide have plenty of ammo.
While the cynic complains the Bucs haven’t addressed glaring needs at running back and corner, optimists rightfully point out this offseason was supposed to focus on toughening the trenches.
In that regard, Tampa Bay is off to a decent start.
Stomping Out Soft
Beau Allen isn’t necessarily a better pass rusher than Swaggy Baker, but he’s more physical. Vinny Curry hasn’t been a sack machine coming off the edge in Philadelphia, but he’s a tough dude and, unlike Robert Ayers, his body isn’t breaking down.
The Bucs had gotten more nasty up front, even before they made Ryan Jensen the highest-paid center in the league, the move that even the cynics have a hard time scoffing at. Jensen is the kind of badass player Dirk Koetter has been craving the past two seasons.
In Atlanta, Koetter saw Mike Smith pay the ultimate NFL price for fielding a team that was deemed soft in the eyes of owner Arthur Blank.
The only legit knock on Jensen is he hasn’t fashioned a lengthy resume as a pro center. Early reports suggest his arrival will shift Ali Marpet back to guard, and that’s a plus in my book.
I’ve heard some suggestions that Marpet will be asked to move to left guard, so J.R. Sweezy can stay on the right side. If that’s true, list me on the cynic side. You accommodate your best players, so tell Sweezy to move and keep Marpet where he’s comfortable.
Many Layers
Let’s return to the two-headed beast.
The cynic would say the Bucs still don’t have a viable double-digit sacker on the current roster. The optimist is excited by the news the Bucs are interviewing Bradley Chubb, the draft’s top-rated defensive lineman.
And if there’s a madcap rush for quarterbacks at the top of the draft, the Bucs are likely to have an opportunity to land one of the Big 3 — Chubb, Saquon Barkley or Quenton Nelson.
If that happens, even the most cynical of Buc fans would find it difficult to ridicule Jason Licht’s offseason haul.
In the interests of fairness, here’s one for the hard-liners to savor: why doesn’t anybody want Buc free agents?
Where’s the clamor for Robert McClain, McDonald, Patrick Murray, Kevin Pamphile, Charles Sims, Evan Smith or T.J. Ward? They’re still on the market, looking for another payday.
We all know there are some Buc fans on the extremes of this divide.
Some of the die-hards believe Mitch Unrein is ready to blossom into the next Fletcher Cox. Some of the cynics are inclined to roast Licht, no matter what upgrades he brings in.
The vast majority of Buc supporters are somewhere in the middle, crying, waiting and hoping for the end of this lost decade.
Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays during football season, and see him now on Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360. Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.
Be there for Round 1. Arrive early. Stay through Round 2 and 3 the following day. Ira will be in the house!
March 19th, 2018 at 11:13 am
It’s better to be lucky than good. I think if we have decent luck next year we’ll be fine.
Luck means not losing #3 to injury or suspension any games next year.
Luck means having an orthopedic expert figure out Noah Spence’s shoulder and he comes back in ’18 fully healthy.
Luck means having either Chubb or Barkley or Nelson drop to us in the draft.
Mostly though luck means getting healthy and avoiding the injury bug that infected us so badly last year.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:14 am
Smh, Unrein is no upgrade to anyone. Allen even worse. Neither of these run stoppers had more tackles than Chris baker and he’s supposed to be a bum. And if you look at the last 2 years it’s not even close.
Man I thought foxnews was the leader in fake news. Alternate facts I guess.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:18 am
Ira is a stud, point blank.
But we kinda already knew all that. Not sure where the added value comes in…there.
Go Bucs!
March 19th, 2018 at 11:19 am
Allen has a combined 49 tackles and 2 sacks in the last two years Baker had 47 tackles and 4 sacks in 2016 alone. How is this an upgrade?
Unrein has 56 tackles and 3.5 sacks in the last two years while Baker had 80 tackles and 4 sacks. Again where is the upgrade?
March 19th, 2018 at 11:20 am
Baker had *3.5 sacks in 2016
March 19th, 2018 at 11:22 am
stomping out soft
can’t stomp out soft without removing the leader of the losing culture the softest buc of all time captain blowout cancer93 the undisputed face of the basement years.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:22 am
@DB55
You of all people should realize that stats aren’t the ultimate predictor of success or impact.
Chris Baker was about as toxic as mercury coated uranium to this locker room. Kwon and Jameis made that known after the panthers game.
Plus he was outworked by Clinton McDonald. A guy who absolutely needs to be resigned by the way. Chris Baker had to go.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:24 am
I’m happier now that they’ve done something! The trenches had to be upgraded, and they still do!
We need a pass rushing DE, a #1 RB, a G, a DT, and a CB, prioritized from first to last.
If you can rush the passer, the secondary will succeed!
March 19th, 2018 at 11:30 am
****************
EVERYONE say it with me:
“Saquon, Chubb, Nelson or TRADE DOWN!”
****************
March 19th, 2018 at 11:31 am
DB55 it is better cause one person wants to be here and earn his money while the other just sat back collected his check. Ability is a beautiful thing but if you don’t bring the effort or the want to it is useless. I would rather have a less talented player who plays hard and with passion than a talented player who couldn’t care or less. Now getting both is the ultimate goal but if I am forced to choose I take the effort guy everytime.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:36 am
Every year we go through this exact same thing (cynics vs optimists) between FA & the draft. Then after the draft most everyone gets all excited. After 16 games … with no playoffs for over 10 years … we’re back in the cellar again, with thousands of opinions about what went wrong (coaching, lack of talent, injuries, too soft … yada yada). The same BS every single year.
I’m skeptical that this year will be any different. Media will play up Unrein, Allen, Jensen, Curry & Cantanzaro (really?) as our great FA additions. And more than likely we’ll get 2-3 starters out of the draft (or at least key rotational players). NEWSFLASH: So will every other NFL team that we play; that’s the nature of the beast. Problem is … for us to be truly competitive, we’ve got to improve significantly more than the other teams because we’re starting well down the totem pole.
StPete, I agree with ya – it’s (sometimes) better to be lucky than good. But we say that every year, then injuries pile up, players don’t play up to expectations, turnovers occur (need I continue?). Given a choice, I’d rather be lucky AND good.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:41 am
D.R.
Lucky + good = Championships
March 19th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Incredible…..optimism after 35 out of 41,42 years of futility. Well, there’s optimism or outride insanity, I think you guys are on the border of insanity.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:43 am
Especially with this regime’s ineptitude.
March 19th, 2018 at 11:52 am
Ira,
You’re spot on as always.
This offseason HAD to be about the trenches. The Bucs, for the past 15 years, have been playing a game where they tried to “fix” what ails them with single player signings at that position group or double dipping in the draft.
Vet the truth that makes teams great is two-fold:
1. You cannot fix everything in a single offseason. Instead, you focus on the most important areas and overwhelm that problem area with possible solutions.
2. Great teams have backups that could start on most teams. It is that depth that allows them to compete at a high level for a FULL season. The Bucs, for far too long, have been a team where a single injury decimates them. That’s just bad business.
They’ve added 3 pieces to the D-line and one to the O-line.
In my eyes, that’s only half of what they should do to fortify the trenches.
Bring in another badass interior lineman.
Bring in 2-3 more DEs.
Let them BATTLE, compete and fight for the right to start and play.
Imagine a D-line rotation with 4-5 DEs rotating throughout the game, all of which can bring decent pressure.
The work has started. It’s on the right track.
But it’s not nearly enough.
KEEP FIXING THE TRENCHES, AND YOU’LL FIX THE BUCS!!
March 19th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
Well, there’s a big difference between the two Eagles we added and Baker. Both of them were in the rotation for the Super Bowl Champs, while swaggy did virtually nothing. The roster is already better than the team that went 9-7 in 2016. That team has some breaks. They likely weren’t a 9-7 team; but last year was an injury-riddled under performance. Let’s not forget that we also signed Evans and Brate and what team wouldn’t want those two guys. The line between winning and losing is razor thin. Our offense is better than 2/3rds of the teams in the league and that was without a running game and with half of the offense on injured reserve by the end of the season. The new center will make that offense better and cutting the running backs that didn’t produce is addition by subtraction.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Chris is correct!
March 19th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Super Bowl Bound Baby!!!!
March 19th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
With the same coaching staff in place, other than Jay Hayes. I don’t see any reason to be optimistic. Especially with this free agency . The draft will bring 21-22 year olds who has to adapt to the NFL.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
I find it sad the culture of being bad asses must be created by the players. Bad ass to me means aggressive. If they want bad asses theyd better come up with much more aggressive schemes and game plans. Run the dang ball down their throats and play man and blitz. A passive approach will take the bad ass right out of them.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
The guys they brought in appear at a quick glance to be in better physical shape than the guys they let go so from that standpoint it’s an upgrade but will these better conditioned athletes bring pressure on you to QBs and open up running lanes? If they do those things even 25% better than the guys they replaced that’s good.
My opinion is Sweezy needs to go, he’s not the guy they thought they were signing and is easily replaceable for less money.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
We should re-sign either Pamphile or Evan Smith for OL depth. Let them fight it out with Sweezy for the starting guard position opposite Marpet.
If Chubb is not available when the Bucs pick – I’m really hoping we get Nelson in rd 1 or draft an OG in rd 3 or 4 (if Nelson doesn’t make it to #7) – then we should just cut Sweezy at that point and apply his $4M in savings towards a new deal for Marpet.
Time will tell – but it seems that we got better in the trenches on both sides of the ball by bringing in Jensen, Curry, Allen and Unrein. At the very least we should now be better at running and stopping the run…
March 19th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
we upgraded the oline which is a good thing….gotta protect the franchise…..but that’s about it…..vinny is a ayers clone and the 2 DT’s we just signed equal baker’s production….
the only thing we’ve done to the dline is create depth(for the next regime imo)…..
@joe, I thought you were very sure no high priced addition would be made to the oline…..thought the staff felt good about the oline and their was no need to make changes…..what happened?……were they lying about marpets performance?…..was Jensen too good to pass up?…..combination of both?…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….NOPASSESIN2018!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 19th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Stats are not collected in a vacuum. At the minimum you need to compare games played maximum # of plays. Dig deeper, run plays vs tackles and pass plays etc.. All stats in sports are not equal.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
@Pickgrin
No. Regardless of whether Pamphile is retained or not, Sweezy should be released immediately. And we should draft his replacement. Be that Quenton Nelson, Will Hernandez, or Frank Ragnow. Don’t really care, but IR Sweezy should not be on this roster next year.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
DR
I agree…..panther added poe and he’s better than curry, allen and urein combined imo…..and they also got younger with Vernon butler taking over for big star…..saints resigned okafor and maybe looking to add suh…..falcon will be in the mix…..they just need to add to what they already have….they played under a first time OC &DC…..they’ll improve greatly……
oline has gotten better…..that’s a big plus because we have to protect Winston but we still have the same holes that we started with in the beginning of FA….lol….
hopefully we can sign kony ealy…..not sure if he’ll produce but he can at least provide depth which seems to be the motto for this years FA season…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….NOPASSESIN2018!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 19th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Pickgrin, I’d cut Sweezy right now & apply the $4 mil savings to signing Pamphile AND E. Smith (for depth). JR’s played nothing but RG in the pro’s & I’m confident they’ll move Marpet back to that position (finally) & let Jensen play C. If we opt not to sign a FA Guard, then there are a number of very good ones in the draft even besides Nelson (Price, Hernandez, B. Smith, Ragnow) who could probably be had in Rnds 2-3. Sweezy at this point is just too much of an unknown (still injured from what I’ve read) & he wasn’t exactly a bulldozer last year IMO.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
Insanity is underated…mon the Bucs
March 19th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
DR, I think until we know the status of his back its tough to know what to do with JR. Hopefully the guys at HQ know the answer to that.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:51 pm
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/19/kirk-cousins-minnesota-vikings-free-agency-guaranteed-contract-mmqb-peter-king
According to Peter King – and no, I won’t use every adjective to describe him because that’s got old – teams were chasing Jepsen soon as the bell. And the Bucs got him. Strange despite the ‘loser’ culture here he picked Tampa.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
oops Jensen
March 19th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Any team but the Buccaneers, Sweezy is cut a year ago.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
813bucboi, seriously doubt Licht will add any more DEs in FA at this point (possibly when the cut-downs happen after preseason ends though). I can see us drafting 1 DE high (Rnds 1-3) & another in the mid Rnds (4-6) PLUS 1 big DT in the first 4 Rnds. Don’t think we should have much confidence in Stevie T at this point (7th Rnd pick & 1st year on IR?).
Bucs need to be looking for GMC’s replacement this year IMO (several excellent DTs). GMC plays a ton of snaps & he’ll start breaking down more & more IMO. Allen’s a decent fit at DT, but Unrein I’m guessing will be used much like Ayers & Gholston have been (some interior but mostly outside). That leaves us needing at least 1 DT (and probably 2 DTs). We’ve actually got a lot of DEs already coming to camp (Unrein, Gholston, Spence, Ward, Lambert, O’Connor and there’s a good chance IMO that they’ll re-sign Clarke & Russell). Add 2 draftees to that mix & that’s quite a few DEs we could be bringing to camp.
March 19th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
SCBucsFan
sugar coat the signing anyway you like the bucs HAD to OVERPAY to get Jensen in town any other analogy is BS…
March 19th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Bucs fans are crying out like babies for this team to win. And every year Jason Licht will “pacify” the fans, to silence them. He will sign a few bums in free agency…draft a few good prospects. Then he will pound his chest…..in King Kong fashion.
And Bucs fans will be happy and shouting from the rooftops…playoffs, playoffs
Then in November reality sink in….we’ve been had again….is the new chant
March 19th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Dear Jason Licht,
I have a draft board for you and your staff prepared, complete with research and all.
1) Barkley
2) Chub
3) James
4) Nelson
5) Fitzpatrick
It’s impossible that one of these players won’t be available and incomprehensible to imagine that one of them won’t be wearing a Bucs uniform in late April
March 19th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
SC
Uhm did it mention that every team was going to make him the highest paid center ever even though he’s only played 16 games a center? lollmaolol, omg the public school system in the south MUST improve.
If you guys never seen the movie idiocracy I highly suggest you take a look then take a longer look in the mirror. Smfh
March 19th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
I’m neither super optimistic or super pessimistic this offseason. Letting this sh1t play out. I like most the signings. I think Curry is Ayers + more health & potential even. The run stuffers we got rated incredibly better than Baker did last year. I don’t care what the tackle statistics are because they don’t measure gap integrity. Grimes was a good signing. Still could use another CB/DE. We do that then that’s a great haul of signings. Get us a RB and D-line help in the draft; plus an OG to replace Sweezy.
What I can say – is if #3 stays healthy all year; this offense should be top 10 in the league and keeping us in most games; even if Peyton Barber is our #1 as long as he’s averaging 4+ YPC. That’s my biggest hope for next year; since that was likely the biggest factor / reason we were not a top 10 scoring offense last year; if you buy the idea that him being healed up had something to do with him being a top 10 QB the last month of the season.
We focus on the dire needs a lot – but that was probably the single most impacting unpredictable thing that hurt our 2017 season; and then Noah Spence’s injury after that/other Defensive injuries. No suspension and 100% health for Winston = the biggest potential difference in 2017 & 2018 seasons imo – moreso than any single singing or draft pick and it isn’t really close.
March 19th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
DB55 are you single (laughs at the thought of someone marrying him) – maybe you and TMax can go out on a date? It appears you would have alot to talk about… well, you spout the same thing over and over, so not really alot.
March 19th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
DB55 is fake news, seems clueless about everything
March 19th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
DR
IMO we should move GMC to DE and gholston to DT…..GMC’s game is more finesse, speed and quickness were gholston’s game is power and strength…..GMC’s best attribute is getting after the passer while gholston’s best attribute is stopping the run…..
tell GMC to lose 15pounds and play him at DE and tell gholston to gain 15pounds and move him to DT…..we would have our best run stuffer in the middle instead of on the edge and our best pass rusher on the edge instead of up the middle…..
that should reduce the amount of wear and tear on GMC while also playing to players strengths…..BWTFDIK!!!!!!!…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!…..NOPASSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 19th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Ira-
That’d be me; I’m tired of losing and failure as a organization.
People are beat down.
March 19th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Female dog, female dog, female dog…moan, moan, moan….welcome to Tampa.
March 19th, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Wilkerson contract in Green Bay…$1.5 mil. guaranteed, 4.7 one year total package. Such is the difference between being a desirable destination and Tampa Bay right now.
March 19th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
813bucboi,
GMC had already made this clear to the Bucs. He will play no position other than 3Tech. When the Bucs were entertaining the idea of drafting Aaron Donald. McCoy came out publicly and said this:
Hahaha all the speculation on draft is funny. I GUARANTEE this….. I WILL NOT. I repeat WILL NOT move to nose, regardless of who we draft!!
March 19th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
It seems strange that he’s 6’4 300 LBS, but he won’t take snaps at NT. He’s bigger than Clinton McDonald.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
someone with less tackles and sacks is a upgrade? Come on people are you for real?
What’s worse is all of you call Baker a bum and he’s still better than what was brought in.
Ayers better than Curry too. Just look at the numbers.
Hate all you want I’ll be here we can re-visit this in Dec when we start our draft talk, smh.
Whispers*** can these people really be that fckn stupid?*****
March 19th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
@DB55
How many times have you and Tmax completely disregarded any kind of statistics based argument for Gerald McCoy?
March 19th, 2018 at 2:17 pm
@mark2001 … “Wilkerson contract in Green Bay…$1.5 mil. guaranteed, 4.7 one year total package.” Makes me wanna cry Mark. Wilkerson’s the guy I wanted for this DLine.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
813bucboi … As much as GMC bemoans the 3-4, I think he’d do better in that alignment. So would the rest of the DLine. From my perspective, the 3-4 lets you be more unpredictable & flexible in terms of who you put on the field in various downs. Bucs need that with our level of talent right now.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
We should draft Josh Allen.
I say that not because I want him, but because I just wanted to see something different being suggested.
I want any of these, in any round, at any spot:
DE Bradley Chubb
DT Vita Vea
DE Marcus Davenport
OG Nelson Quenton
RB Saquon Barkley
DT Da’Ron Payne
S Derwin JAmes
RB Derrius Guice
DE Harold Landry
CB Isaiah Oliver
DE Sam Hubbard
RT Mike McGlinchey
March 19th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
-DB – you think we should have kept lazy, fatty Baker – so wtfdyk?
-DR – we already signed Clarke to a min contract – 1 year for $790k.
Hell I hope 15% of the roster taken to training camp is DEs – LOL Shake the hell out of that multi- limbed tree during TC and see if any peaches fall out.
-More good points LC
March 19th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Pick
I asked how these guys could be considered upgrades to Baker and Ayers when neither have contributed as much as Baker or Ayers.
You know me, I would have kept Hayes, Ayers, Baker and cut McIceCream. The Bucs will never win with tutti Mc frutti McIceCream on the roster.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
I’m just trying to figure out – why we haven’t signed RB Mike Davis.
The kid has tons of talent w/upside. Plus he’ll be cheap
Mike Davis (Age:25)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0F2vjQpQ3c
March 19th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
The fact that no team has picked up any of our cut players speaks volumes….perhaps we will get a bargain return from a couple of them…..I wouldn’t mind McClain.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
I always enjoy your columns Ira, they’re great stuff.
The Jensen pick I like so long as the Bucs are smart enough to move Marpet to guard where he should be a pro-bowler.
The three 3rd rate defensive linemen – color me extremely skeptical. However I’m willing to be talked into liking the haul and it’s a great point to say Curry who can do what Ayers did but has been much more healthy, so even if he’s not an upgrade talent or production wise at least he should be on the field more which will hopefully mean the team is better.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
GMC needs to start serving Flat-free ice cream or we will get blown out this coming season
March 19th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
^That was against Philly
Mike Davis vs Jacksonville
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bZj0fHb6iE
March 19th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Blake_Bucsfan Says:
March 19th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
@DB55
How many times have you and Tmax completely disregarded any kind of statistics based argument for Gerald McCoy
——–
What the most sacks of any dt in the history of organized sports? Meh when you make 100mil contract you need to do more than a couple of first qrt sacks.
These dudes aren’t even starters. They’re back-ups getting paid like starters without starter numbers.
Hey you guys know that me and tmax don’t know what we’re talking about we’re just right all the time no matter what the subject. So just ignore us and we’ll revisit in Dec.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
@DB55
PFF had Baker rated as 68.4 and 96th best D-lineman last year
Beau Allen is at 74.5 (ranked 80th)
Unrein is 83.9 (top 25)
I have no idea where those #’s come from but that site thought each of these 2 was much better than baker last year.
I also duno the snap counts of Allen/Unrein vs Baker which matter when talking stats. I’d assume Baker got more snaps as a #2/#3 DT in ourlineup vs a guy like Allen who is more of the Eagles #3/4. Regardless – unrein had more tackles / more sacks / more tackles for loss in 2017. Allen had less tackles but more sacks/ more tackles for loss.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
LUVMYBUCS Says
“I’m just trying to figure out – why we haven’t signed RB Mike Davis.
The kid has tons of talent w/upside. Plus he’ll be cheap”
Sorry, but I don’t see where the ‘tons’ of upside is.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
Nfl dot com career stats
March 19th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Blake_Bucsfan
the only defense you have for mccoy statistically is a string of meaningless first half sacks and meaningless pro bowls… oh and that ferocious ankle grab on matt ryan… the only stat that matters is wins and loses. the stat that should concern you is all the flat performances and blowouts led by captain blowout cancer93. that is what should concern you but nah selective memory.
March 19th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Rod, Ayers got the 2nd most DLine snaps to GMC’s 806 snaps. Curry (576 def snaps) actually got about the same as Ayers (587 def snaps). On the Philly DLine, both Graham & Cox got more snaps than Curry. I can’t see him being on the field more than Ayers this year, but probably close to what they both got last year. Especially if we can draft someone like Bradley Chubb & if Spence returns healthy. Would love to see our DLine have enough talent to to be able to set up a nice rotation of beasts in the trenches.
March 19th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
db55
I agree….I don’t see an upgrade as far as talent wise along the dline…..we made a literal move and gained a little depth…..that’s about it…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..NOPASSESIN2018!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
March 19th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
@DB55
You know as well as I do, that you and Tmax are absolutely not right 100 percent of the time. No one on this board is. After all you would’ve had us using our 1st round pick on a running back that tore his knee up on a non contact play 3 weeks into the season .
Just so you know, I’m not sold on these signings, particularly Unrein and Allen, I was lobbying for us to go after either Star Lotulelei, Sheldon Richardson, Bennie Logan, or Dontari Poe to beef up our interior. And the fact that we didn’t go after Hyde, Crowell at running back is pretty infuriating to me.
But you can’t sit here and tell me that we aren’t better off for not resigning a fat, lazy, money-stealing, tree-grinding, POS like Fatty Baker.
March 19th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
BonzaI
He’s running behind easily one of the worst offensive lines; in the league.
Yet he still manages to break for decent gains
Mike Davis
-6 carries for 10+ yards
-2 carries for 20+ yards
-1 carry for 30+yards
vs
Petyon Barber
-3 carries for 10+ yards
-0 carries for 20+ yards
-1 carry for 30+yards
Now mind you – Mike Davis was doing this against Philly, L.A Rams, Arizona, Jags.
IMO, Mike Davis & Peyton Barber would be a nice 1, 2 punch.
March 19th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
I don’t know the problems Mike Davis are having in the NFL. But I watched him a lot in college, while playing for the Gamecocks. I believe he is a good RB, he showed a lot of promise in college. He also looked good this season in Seattle, the few times I seen him.
March 19th, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Blake
I’d draft him again in a heart beat. Difference is the Bucs have one of the best fields in the league and Minnesota plays on one of the worst.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/10/01/nfl-stadium-turf-grass-rankings
You’d make a better gm than licht.
March 19th, 2018 at 4:09 pm
Just so you know DB, Minnesota isn’t actually ranked on that list. Because their stadium had yet to open. And It wouldn’t have mattered. If your body is breaking down as a young man, it’s going to continue as you age.
March 19th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Lakeland
Solid back. Hopefully we pick’em up
March 19th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
NosBos is gonna owe me another 150 bucks 4 years from now when the RB you and I are talking about is known as an injury prone bust.
March 19th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Blake, why wouldnt you draft a franchise qb? That guy may be in the class of LT when its all said and done. If Barkley is there its a no brainer. Cook getting hurt can happen to any player.
March 19th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Err franchise rb^
March 19th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Wait, I thought Jameis Christ -was suppose to be tide that lifted all boats.
But He Needs A Franchise:
• Wide Receiver (Got Two)
• Tight-End (Got Two)
Good Offensive Line
Good Defense
Now he needs a Franchise Running Back?
Ok, Got It!
March 19th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
@Luv
In all fairness to Jameis, he was on his way to doing that before injuring his throwing shoulder and having one of the leagues worst defenses.
In his 2 healthy seasons, he took a team that went 2-14 the year prior and got them to 6-10, and then just barely missed the playoffs the year after, and had his team in place as media darlings who everyone was predicting to make the playoffs.
We all know what happened after that. And the effect a legit running attack can have on the performance/ success of a QB cannot be argued. Just look at Bortles in Jacksonville.
March 19th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Forget that Ira I feel better than I did since the season ended and there are positions I prefer be addressed in the draft like running back so I’m not a cynic and I’m not worth the positive crowd which seems to be mostly media trying to tell fans how they should feel and how good of a job Licht has done something they weren’t saying after the season ended
No I’m in the show me crowd, you have to do something to get me excited about this team like oh I don’t know winning games against teams that were better then you the year before
March 19th, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Blake_Bucsfan
I was just talking sh!t.
Remember I’m the same guy that wanted to trade his pick…
…to Philly for Nick Foles, Fletcher Cox, Zach Ertz & A Boat Load of draft picks.
I know the kid needs a good team around him to win. But to many times folks undervalue the importance of bulding a good overall team w/great depth.
Versus a bad team drafting one singular player to be its cure all.
March 19th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Jason Licht needs yo draft two defensive ends in the second and third rounds. Trading up is dumb. Take Nelson at 7 unless someone wants to trade down, and find those 2nd through 4th round gems. The good teams finds guys later in the draft not just the first two rounds
March 20th, 2018 at 12:05 am
Back to draft talk, sorry but this concerns me. I’m really starting to feel this is how the draft unfolds. QB’s at 1-3, not necessarily this order but Barkley, Chubb, Nelson 4-6 leaving us with (and Jason feeling he’s upgraded the Dline enough, which IMO he most certainly has not. Especialy individuals that can get to the QB) goes with Ward. While he’s an excellent CB, without a sorely needed upgrades in pass rushers I don’t care if you have 2 DB’s that are the best to ever have played the game back there. They are going to be hot garbage trying to defend today’s qb’s that have time set up and pick you apart. Until we get a competent pass rush CB is a wasted pick. Please trust that I would like to be wrong here!