Bucs D-Line No. 8
May 25th, 2018
Pulled off the unthinkable?
When Joe first saw this article, for a brief moment he thought he may have taken the wrong prescriptions.
In a piece typed by Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, he lists the top defensive lines in the NFL. Shockingly, he has the Bucs at No. 8.
Can you build a top-shelf defensive line in one offseason? The Giants essentially did in 2016, and Bucs general manager Jason Licht might have pulled it off this year, starting with the acquisition of former Giant Jason Pierre-Paul during March’s trade tsunami.
In JPP and Vinny Curry, the Buccaneers picked up two proven pass rushers at the tail end of their primes. They are “win now” pickups from an organization that could be torn apart if the Bucs don’t actually win now. That’s usually cause for concern, but acquiring two productive starters at an organizational sore spot for under $20 million combined in 2018 cap space looks like great value.
It’s not all on Pierre-Paul and Curry. Licht did his best Howie Roseman impression by building a line that is two deep at every position, including first-round run stuffer Vita Vea and former Eagles backup Beau Allen. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy remains at the center of it all, the equivalent of a straight-A student for his entire career, too often stuck on a group project with a bunch of dummies.
It was just jarring to see a Bucs defensive line listed in the top 10. Perhaps Joe is jaded by years upon years of being slapped in the face by watching pure garbage masquerade as an NFL defensive line. Good grief, it has nearly been a decade of Gerald McCoy and a bunch of tomato cans.
So let’s just say Joe isn’t exactly slurping the Kool-Aid here just yet. Again, Joe is jaded from too much talk and hype over schlock for so long.
Anyone notice that Rosenthal turned down the same road as his colleagues at NFL Network? Folks have totally forgotten about Noah Spence. Yeah, the guy has been on a streak of awful luck with injuries.
If Spence can stay healthy, he alone could be the key into a massive turnaround upfront.
May 25th, 2018 at 12:07 am
McCoy remains at the center of it all, the equivalent of a straight-A student for his entire career, too often stuck on a group project with a bunch of dummies.
_______________
But…But……But…. Hey Tmax
May 25th, 2018 at 12:16 am
The Bucs are the only team listed 8 players deep?
May 25th, 2018 at 12:24 am
Thats why licht is not on the hot seat. Yea he has had his gaffes but he has had a lot of hits. The owners aka the glazers understand that. Licht has assembled a lot of talent to this team. Its definitely up to the coaching staff to put it all together
May 25th, 2018 at 1:17 am
Thats why they should all be fired.
They didnt need great talent around McCoy.
3 good guys, plus McCoy- and we had a great Defensive line.
But year after year, nothing but trash next to McCoy.
Stupid- just pure stupidity
May 25th, 2018 at 2:39 am
^^True^^^
May 25th, 2018 at 3:19 am
I could’ve told you the same thing. Die hard fan knows much more than some national analyst talking about the Bucs.
May 25th, 2018 at 6:26 am
When the Bucs secondary is still the worst in the league what does it matter if they can stuff the run… Jason Licht makes the other teams players have career days. As soon as he is gone, the Bucs will get back to addressing issues and…. winning. Going to appreciate the cheap tickets this season while listening to Geno on the headphones!
May 25th, 2018 at 7:50 am
All you do is drink Kool-Aid
May 25th, 2018 at 8:00 am
I think we need to give the new secondary players a chance to prove themselves before we pass judgments it’s clearly had an infusion of young talent as well. GO BUCS
May 25th, 2018 at 8:20 am
Coupled with the arrival of Brentson Buckner, this unit is starting to look pretty good. Lets hope it’s not the same “paper champions” of last year. I don’t think it is but, see “jaded” above!
May 25th, 2018 at 8:27 am
They have not won anything rankings and projections are as meaningless as pro bowls. Bucs led by mccoy are still the worst defensive unit in football. until earned on field its just gibberish. They have earned nothing. You fools just setting yourselves up for a let down and more excuses.
May 25th, 2018 at 8:33 am
^^^TEAM game! 11 players on the field.
What you cannot deny RiaB, is that there is better talent in this year’s acquisitions. By accident, this unit should be better than last year.
May 25th, 2018 at 8:35 am
Keep in mind, they are No. 8…..ON PAPER!
May 25th, 2018 at 8:56 am
Bucsfanman
Until that talent translates to wins its just toilet paper talent. You guys say this every year. Jay hayes was praised as the greatest coach in nfl history just like what is being done with Buckner now. Hayes was guaranteed by many here the next dc how did that turn out.
May 25th, 2018 at 9:01 am
Bucsfanman
You are forgetting tampa is where coaches and free agents come to die. They all regress they all fail. 16 years of garbage football prove that. They need to earn it on field. No more excuses no more scapegoating just f””king WIN.
May 25th, 2018 at 9:26 am
Reality (Trollmax) nice to know you’re paying attention this morning. Good job working in your usual tropes. Maybe one day an original thought will develop in that thing sitting on top of your shoulders. Doubtful.
May 25th, 2018 at 9:30 am
#8 and no games have been played….lol….
been there…done that!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!….GO BUCS!!!
May 25th, 2018 at 9:34 am
Little stevie my own personal stalker. You need a life dude.
May 25th, 2018 at 9:44 am
Trollmax/Reality, who’s stalking who? Guess I’m in your head like your bad habit of posting garbage. Sad.
May 25th, 2018 at 10:34 am
I’ll beleive it when I sees it!!!
May 25th, 2018 at 10:47 am
I gotta agree with reality. I’ll believe it when I see it. I’ve heard this story too many times and have been let down. I’ve really dialed back my excitement this year so I’m not so let down by game 8.
May 25th, 2018 at 11:01 am
Anyone who calls everyone else on a site “fools” is young,dumb, and full of cum.
That last part is obviously for a specific reason.
May 25th, 2018 at 11:19 am
I’d also be on the wait and see bandwagon.
I liked the acquisitions this offseason. (especially the VitaVea pick)
Rojo has tremendous talent and great value where picked.
Licht nailed this years draft in my eyes
The second round corners are dudes who have SHUT DOWN the main receiving threats that our division rivals have drafted over the last couple of drafts. The talent is there, now its on coaching.
Whitehead – court is in session. But i get the same feels i got with the KWON pick in rd 4.
Very interesting season to be a bucs fan. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
We could win the SB with just the right amount of luck, or we could see another 5-11.
I’m optimistic, but very cautiously.
If it was the Mike Smith that groomed grimes, and helped to stick a nail in FREEMAN’s coffin, i’d be ecstatic.
i’ve seen no indication of such yet.
May 25th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Spence is the X factor for sure.
Healthy productive Spence +everyone else staying relatively healthy = we have a damn good D-line – certainly top 10 if not better and a great pass rushing unit in the 4th quarter.
If he isn’t a factor I think more so average to good D-line.
May 25th, 2018 at 11:57 am
Reality
I see you changed your name, Tmax.
You change your sex too?
May 25th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Haha this is even funnier cuz I didn’t see Steven’s post
It’s pretty obvious you’re Tmax because of how dumb and negative you are.
May 25th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
#WALKTHEWALK
May 25th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
RiaB- I agree with you. Until they prove otherwise, they’re just paper champions. My argument is that the collected talent far exceeds that of previous years. By default, this d-line can’t be worse. I’ve seen Cheerios boxes put more pressure on QBs than our d-line last year!
I’m hopeful, as a Buc fan, that you and others will be eating some tasty crow at season’s end! I hear that Crow Tartare is especially tasty!