“These Guys Just Aren’t Good Enough”
March 26th, 2018
Pointed words.
There are always consequences for actions and one of those for Joe’s virtual boycott of BSPN is often missing the intelligent observations of former NFL personnel man Louis Riddick.
Riddick, also a former Browns, Falcons and Raiders defensive back, recently had harsh words for both the Bucs defensive coaches and defensive backs.
While discussing trading for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Riddick said Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should be doing anything but resting and admiring his own work the past two weeks to totally rebuild the defensive line.
Now, Riddick said, it’s time for Licht to beef up the secondary for which Riddick had no kind words.
“They still need to do some serious work in the secondary, both schematically and personnel-wise,” Riddick said. “It is very basic. And these guys just aren’t good enough to play a very basic, back-end style without having a pass rush. There are still a lot of moving parts going on here in Tampa Bay as far as I am concerned.
“Defensive back [at No. 7], I would also say has got to be in play. A guy like Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James, these are guys who would fit what I believe they need, which is an absolute intimidator — slash — playmaker because they don’t have either one.”
As much as Joe admires Riddick and is impressed by him, this almost has Joe sold. But damn, it would pain Joe significantly if the Bucs passed on Saquon Barkley or Bradley Chubb for a safety.
March 26th, 2018 at 8:07 am
ohhh…. tough dilemma…chicken or the egg…or the farmer….damn hopefully the big 3 will be gone and remove all temptation….I say gotta go DB at 7….I have even wandered out of the trade down camp
March 26th, 2018 at 8:08 am
I don’t think he meant pass on them Joe. I think he meant…at 7 they need to be in play. (This assumes those 2 are long gone.)
March 26th, 2018 at 8:08 am
The defensive scheme is trash. If Mike Smith can’t significantly improve this defense this season then he better be the first one out the door.
March 26th, 2018 at 8:08 am
He ain’t wrong. Justin Evans did okay as a rook but still needs much more grooming before he can even approach the status of “playmaker”
March 26th, 2018 at 8:10 am
@Joe… Yea hope not. Assuming their gone, Vea for me. I’d take James over Fitz. Don’t wanna see Conte on the field
March 26th, 2018 at 8:12 am
i don’t know how intelligent this guys observations are , i mean he famously claimed he would draft eli apple and william jackson (who i said bucs should draft instead of hargreaves) over jalen ramsey … along with plenty of other situations where he’s been called out for some trash takes . but i do believe and i’m almost positive licht believes that we do need some extra help in the secondary , good for us it’s a deep class at both corner and safety so should be able to find guys at both spots who can compete to play , and if they miss on some guys they like there is still corners and safeties available in FA after the draft too
March 26th, 2018 at 8:18 am
What Joe? , no mention of Nelson? He is considered a generational talent and left guard, a hole we happen to have on the roster. We have four holes left to fill: OG, RB, CB and SS. I’d have to think if Nelson drops to seven you take him over inferior talent in FitzPatrick or James.
March 26th, 2018 at 8:20 am
He is 100% correct. Secondary is by far the biggest need on this team now. A premium pick needs to be used on it.
March 26th, 2018 at 8:22 am
Neither Saquon or Chubb are falling to 7
March 26th, 2018 at 8:28 am
Joe….no way we are passing on either player if they are there at 7….but they won’t be….I’m not even sure we would pass on Nelson.
Raising unnecessary alarms here:
You keep hammering away at the narrative that we can’t develop a young CB…..as if that will make it true…..
We do need a CB…but we also need another DE, RB, G, S…..
March 26th, 2018 at 8:28 am
It would be another luxury pick to draft Barkley in my opinion but hey go for it and watch the secondary get torched all season. Safety or corner because Licht is refusing to upgrade either position in free agency. Conte can’t get it done and we have one capable corner with no McClain so imagine if he’s out with an injury this year
March 26th, 2018 at 8:32 am
Sheep follow in a line. Derwin James is a no brainer pick unless Chubb was on the board(prior to JPP). Took y’all months to realize Derwin was the real deal smh
March 26th, 2018 at 8:39 am
Smitty prove it lose it this year.
#Noexcuses
March 26th, 2018 at 8:41 am
A luxury pick is drafting a player for which the team doesn’t have a need.
Who are the Bucs running backs again? 🙂
March 26th, 2018 at 8:48 am
@ Not there yet…..
Funny. Nevermind the improved D-Line too already this year. Plus a Barkley that would touch the ball 25-30 times a game…..somehow a luxury? And how many times does a CB get thrown at, able to directly affect the outcome of the game?? Killer analysis.
Go Bucs!
March 26th, 2018 at 8:51 am
Copied from prior thread…good food for thought.
First of all, which position, RB or CB, affects the game individually more EVERY game? Which position touches the ball more often every single game? A starting 3-down RB that handles the ball 22-25 times a game at a minimum, 30 touches on the high side? Or a CB, on either side of the field, that might see a direct pass thrown to his side of the field (depending on the scheme the Bucs are playing at those times) MAYBE 7-8 times a game, if that. Just for benefit of the doubt, let’s give that CB 10 attempts. IN ADDITION, factor in the IMPROVED D-LINE.
So we have on one hand, a CB who has 10 valid attempts per game (hypothetically), and can create maybe 1 turnover in those 10 attempts on average, per NFL stats.
Versus…..a starting 3-down RB who handles the ball 25 times, can affect 4-5 crucial 3rd downs each game, 2-3 goal line carries, 1-2 breakaways possible per game, maybe 1 4th down conversion per game, plus provide all the frustration to opposing defensive coaches game planning leading up to the game, yada, yada….
Now which one makes more applicable sense Buc fans…..a Saquon Barkley, or a Denzel Ward (substitute any CB)?????????
(Re-read).
Go Bucs!
March 26th, 2018 at 8:54 am
Everybody who watches the Bucs knows..Mike Smith should have been sent on permanant vacation after last season. Any other NFL HC would have fired him immediately. But Mr. Loyalty Koetter thinks he owes Smitty his life. Thus, the man whp sits in the pressbox game after game is still here. He had better win this year. And..its gonna be real hard to pass on Chubb if he is still there. I’m still hopin for a trade down situation.
March 26th, 2018 at 8:56 am
MJ…so far it has been the talent not the coaching….SMH…look a little deeper
March 26th, 2018 at 8:58 am
If Barkley and Chubb are gone we must take Darwin James if we can’t tried back to #12 with Buffalo for another pick. James is a great talent and would improve our defense, but if we could trade back and still be able to get him Fitzpatrick or Ward and use that second to pick up a RB and CB later in first or second round, it’s a win win.
March 26th, 2018 at 8:59 am
I’m not saying that Fitz or James are not good players, or that the Bucs don’t need to upgrade that position. What position do we need worse, corner or safety? I say unequivocally, corner.
In truth, I hope this decision is made too easy so that the Bucs don’t reach at #7: Barkley, Chubb, Nelson.
March 26th, 2018 at 8:59 am
Vea
March 26th, 2018 at 9:22 am
Chubb yes, not sold on Barkley
But Fitz is still the best athlete in the draft.
If you are going to draft take the best available, Fitz, whom just happens to fit our needs.
He will make your corners better.
March 26th, 2018 at 9:29 am
I saw the picture and was prepared to rip Marshall Faulk‘s take. (all brothers look-alike right? 😉 I enjoyed Faulk as a player; I can’t stand him as a talking head.
Riddick is spot on here. there are corners still in free agency; signed more, fill holes through free agency, draft BPA in the first few rounds.
Agreed, Licht should find more players still, for a five and 11 team instead of making victory tours!
March 26th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Jason Licht is not stupid enough to pass on and great talent like Barkley
March 26th, 2018 at 9:32 am
Drafting James (or Fitz or Ward) at #7 only happens if Chubb, Nelson and Barkley are all off the board and there are no trade down offers.
More likely we get a blue chip or a trade down IMO with all the talk of 4 QBs going Top 10 – but we do have to be prepared in case we are forced to pick at #7 and all 4 of those preferred options are gone.
James should be the pick IMO if that undesirable circumstance arises.
March 26th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Pertaining to the CB vs RB argument, asking which touches to ball more does not apply. It isn’t the job of the CB to touch the ball more.
Which affects the outcome of games more in todays NFL? Cornerback.
It is a passing league. Keeping the other team’s score lower while we raise ours while passing is how you win games. And it will be even more so with the new rule changes on catching.
Passing provides more than 300 yards per game. Running provides maybe 100.
Defending against the pass makes more sense.
March 26th, 2018 at 9:38 am
Free agency is done fore the year in Tampa. Just cheap stuff now.
March 26th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Can we draft a new DC at #7?
March 26th, 2018 at 9:44 am
I am a big fan of us drafting Derwin James, but if either Chubb or Barkley are still available we have to draft one of them.
March 26th, 2018 at 10:10 am
BB great logical answer !
March 26th, 2018 at 10:10 am
the biggest concern of this team is the running game…….I am not saying the seconday is fine, because is not….we got the draft to come……..But again, main concern should be de running game, if we can´t fin a good and reliable RB, we are in deep trouble, but I am optimistic
March 26th, 2018 at 10:17 am
I for one have never been a fan of Riddick but this one line he gave below sums up his backward nonsensical talk.
“It is very basic. And these guys just aren’t good enough to play a very basic, back-end style without having a pass rush.”
So please tell us Mr. Riddick what secondary can cover forever without a pass rush?
Again I don’t love our secondary either, but as a person paid to provide insight I expect a little more than they cant cover unless they have a pass rush as my 9 year old knows that. Come on man give us something to chew on but I assume he doesn’t have much like usual, thus there is nothing for him to give.
March 26th, 2018 at 10:20 am
he’s absolutely right!!!!!!!!
we need to play man press instead of soft off coverage and we need to select derwin james!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 26th, 2018 at 10:54 am
Hmmmm, sure seems to be a huge push in the media for James!!!!! And being an FSU has all the sheep excited!!!! I remember just last year the same thing happened with FSU top prospect at running back!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!
The smoke screen is so thick that the sheep cannot see what is in front of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 26th, 2018 at 11:20 am
PASSTHEBUC,
I’m higher on Monkah Fitzpatrick than perhaps anyone on this site, but to say he’s the “best athlete in the draft” is just silly. Derwin James is a far superior “athlete” and Saquon is a better “athlete” than both of them.
March 26th, 2018 at 11:38 am
The Buc Realist:
You may be right, but it was a mistake for the Bucs to not get Dalvin Cook last year and it would be a mistake to not draft Derwin James this year(assuming Nelson, Chubb and Barkley are gone).
March 26th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Every single oc in the league knows how to beat our defense. Julio even called them out after the first week against atl, they kept doing the same thing so we didn’t need to adjust.
It’s coaching not frieking players
March 26th, 2018 at 11:43 am
If they draft a db in the first round in going to puke
March 26th, 2018 at 11:59 am
@wusa
the so called fans and sheep would have rioted if NFL GM Licht had drafted a RB in the 1st that only played 3 games!!!!!!!!
March 26th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
We still talking about OJ vs DC again?
OJ was the smart move, simple as that. Dude is a straight stud and should be a playmaker for us for the next 10 years.
March 26th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
^^^Yea, not sure why we’re even talking about Dalvin in the first place. Lot of “homerism” with FSU players around here.
I’m not convinced that James is a top 10 pick. Again, I’m hoping they make it easy for us when the time comes.
What’ll be a “mistake” is if this team doesn’t improve SUBSTANTIALLY via the draft, whoever we pick.
March 26th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
BringBucsBack Says: Riddick is spot on here. there are corners still in free agency; signed more, fill holes through free agency, draft BPA in the first few rounds.
I hope to see that happen in the next few days / weeks .
In Licht we trust
March 26th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Barkley and Chubb will both be gone by 7. To me the question revolves around Quenton Nelson….if he is there, do you take him and shore up your offensive line for the next 5+ years, or do you take Fitzpatrick, James, Denzel Ward, etc. to shore up the defensive backfield?
March 26th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
need a little more edge on the team… some “dawgs” that can get rid off the stink of 10 years of losing culture… too many games last year it just seem like the team didn’t have any fight to win… and to see players joking around after losses was a big indicator that this franchise had not turned the corner… seems like james is that type of player… i would not be upset if he’s the #1 pick for the Bucs… Alexander needs some backup to keep that defense in line
March 26th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
I don’t know why everyone keeps saying get Chubb if he’s there. We just pay’d two DE FA a lot of money. If ppl still want a good DE in the first just trade back for Davenport and some picks. And yes we are VERY desperate in the secondary. I don’t care what everyone else says, but that was a dumb ass move to keep injured, 36 year old Brent Grimes on the roster for one year, $7-10 million. What are we going to do if we got James at #7? We’re still gonna have Ryan Smith, VH3, and Grimes playing CB. Trade back for another second round pick and hopefully it will look like this:
1st Round: Ward/Jackson
2nd Round: Michel/Guice
2nd Round: OG W.Hernandez/ S Terell Edmunds
4th Round: S Kyzir White (WV)/ DT Rasham Green (USC)
March 26th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
If Barkley, Nelson, and Chubb are off the board at 7 a DB makes the most sense.
Denzel Ward could allow us to kick Vern inside for good while keeping us in position to take a S later in this deep S class.
Derwin would come in and bring some versatility and some real thump to this backfield where there is none past the LBs.
Minkah is a great player, but I dont like the fit unless he really can be an outstanding outside corner at the NFL level.
Those are my guys though, it would be hard for me to pass on a RB round 2 as well.
Not that I particularly want to go DB, but these are the best players on the board that aren’t linebackers in these draft scenarios.
March 26th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
I think the FSU homerism is creeping in with all the talk about James. Watch the film guys. Fitzpatrick is electric. If he is there and the big 3 are gone this seems like a no brained to me.
March 26th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Whenever licht gets himself fired we might need to give Riddick an interview. Derwin has the size and athleticism that could end up making an amazing NFL player and he’d be perfect in safety blitz. Fitzpatrick just screams star already without the ideal body of Derwin. I’d personally be ok with either as long as we secure a Starting caliber rb as well. I hear people saying let’s make the line good for the next 5 years but in reality we need to start winning right now! Both these guys are in every play making a difference some how, so I really doubt they won’t find ways to help this team win year one.
March 26th, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Fitzpatrick is better for S than James cus he’s better at getting to the player to drag him down and make a tackle. Not that I wouldn’t love James, but he’s a very hard hitting safety that will sneak up on you and the NFL keeps becoming more like flag football year after year. You’re not aloud to make a real shoulder tackle anymore without it being called leading with the helmet or targeting. Really sucks.
March 26th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
my thing is, we won 9 games with ayers and spence at DE along with grimes, VHG, tandy and conte in the secondary…..im sure we could win 10games with JPP and curry at DE along with grimes, VHG j.evans and d.james in the secondary……
if nelson and chubb are gone either select derwin james or trade down!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 26th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
Not only are our defensive & offensive schemes basic, as last season showed they are also outdated and ineffective. Nothing more frustrating than watching your team being led by stubborn buffoons unwilling to adapt and stuck in their ways on BOTH sides of the ball.
March 26th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Im gonna give my two cents…. Since I am the realest…. Defensive players are usually your best athletes on the team.. Cornerback is and should be the most athletic position on the team. It is not a question of can the Bucs develope a cornerback the bucs have a long history of not picking the more athletic type of cornerback and going for corners and DB who fit a coverage scheme. #perfect example Darrelle Revis like it or not he made athletic plays even with coming off of a knee injury we got rid of hiim for a scheme guy named Verner… Go back and Review Mike Smith defenses in Atlanta, Jacksonville etc… take a look at who he had at DB…. #dude only had one real athlete at corner that made a pro bowl…. # Deangelo Hall….#Smith philosophy is the issue…
March 26th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
If you want Chubb or Barkely…the odds are dictating that you would have trade-up from seven. The smart thing to do is grab Fitzpatrick…he is a safe pick, BPA, and will transform the back-end of our defense. He can play corner or safety….and unlike Ward, doesn’t have size issues along with being versatile…
March 26th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
It’ll be Minkah unless Chubb is available.
March 26th, 2018 at 6:16 pm
Minkah is also known as a very good defensive and team leader.
March 26th, 2018 at 11:47 pm
The “Big 3” non QB’s will be gone when our pick arrives. As much as I would love for Saquon to drop, I just don’t see it. Perhaps a gas mask video of Barkley blazing trees will surface. Can somebody make that happen?
In all seriousness, I’m in Camp Ward or Derwin. As good as Derwin looks, I wouldn’t be opposed to the pick. Trade down? Maybe, but we have to find a dancing partner willing to give up some riches that make it worth our while. I’m looking at you Buffalo or Miami.
March 27th, 2018 at 11:24 am
Derwin James a playmaker? Apparently, Riddic never has done his homework on James or he would know James only made a measley two interceptions all last year!!!