“You Can Make A Difference In A Short Amount Of Time”
May 28th, 2018
GM Jason Licht speaks
General manager Jason Licht is a confident change agent right now.
In fact, he’s got “dramatic change” on his mind.
And why not? The Bucs and their fans are all-in on what feels like an all-or-nothing season.
Licht was talking about an enhanced focus on acquiring 100-percent-committed football players this offseason, during a recent chat with WDAE-AM 620.
Licht believes the Bucs’ trenches have gotten a makeover worthy of a gold star.
“You take a deep dive into last year and into the season, and we have some great quality players and some guys that represent those traits that we’re talking about with, I don’t want to leave anybody off, but Lavonte, Kwon, Ali, Mike Evans, Jameis, you know we’ve got a lot,” Licht said. “And these guys fought hard through the season and competed hard to the end. And we were in these games at the end of the season, I was very proud of the way they fought. However, I just felt like we needed, and Dirk [Koetter] did as well, we need more of those guys.
“And we need more guys that football is No. 1 — passion, accountability, resiliency. You know if we fill our locker room with guys, you can make a pretty dramatic change pretty quickly and I think we showed that this year with the additions to the d-line with Ryan Jensen and then the draft. You can make a difference in a short amount of time.”
Amen, Mr. Licht.
Joe looks at defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul as the epitome of a football-craving inspirational figure, even if he isn’t showing up for spring practices.
Dude blew a chunk of his hand off and fought his way back to a high level of play, and he still gets choked up talking about it. And he refused to come off the field last year on a crappy Giants team. That’s a guy who loves football.
It would be great to see the Bucs will their way to some victories this season, preferably in the first month of the season.
May 28th, 2018 at 6:58 am
Let’s see that “dramatic change” I’m willing to give LIcht one more honest chance at this.
May 28th, 2018 at 7:18 am
There is absolutely no question that Licht addressed many problem areas this year with a focus on toughness.
You’ve got to believe that the Buc locker room will be buzzing.
Sometimes it only takes one player (Logan Mankins)……like Ryan Jensen to fire up an entire unit.
We have tremendous depth on the Dline for the first time in a very long time.
May 28th, 2018 at 7:20 am
The fact that Gerald McCoy wasn’t one of the first names to pop in his head says alot…
For some, leadership just comes naturally; and some want to lead but don’t know how or it just isn’t part of their mental make up in general…For years we’ve been expecting Gerald to be something he’s not; I’m not saying he isn’t good, but he definitely is not an Alpha male, devour your opponent type of leader this team needs…
It’s good to know that the happy go lucky mentality is being phased out of this football team…As Jameis once said, “we some dogs, we ain’t no puppys”…
May 28th, 2018 at 7:23 am
@Tampabaybucfan
Logan Mankins was terrible the first year with the Bucs, It was not until the second year that it paid off!!! Situations like that is why I am not in on the ridiculous all or nothing year!!!! I expect improvement and then we can all evaluate the team at the end of the year!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!
May 28th, 2018 at 7:56 am
Everyone’s undefeated in May, June and July.
May 28th, 2018 at 8:02 am
Glad to see the GM is taking the love of football as the #1 element to having a player on the team….in this day and age of instant millionaires it most definitely should be the first box to check off despite the talent level…You can use the Vegas hockey team as an example…bunch of lesser talented players who came together to play hard for a very likeable coach….Bucs need to be family and they’ll kick ass this year…I feel it…Never been so confident in this team in a long, long time 🙂
May 28th, 2018 at 8:04 am
I think Jason did a really good job this offseason. My number one issue with him is he has taken an extra year(until now) to address the major issues on the team.
If the Bucs stay relatively healthy and the defense can be average I am confident the Bucs will be in the playoffs.
This Bucs roster is significantly better than the 2016 roster that went 9-7.
May 28th, 2018 at 8:53 am
Unfortunately the HC and DC weren’t upgraded, everyone is hoping for the savior Buckner to make a huge difference, and he will, but Klueless Koetter will panic in crunch time, and Pressbox Smitty lays down and takes it when his defense needs a stop with the game on the line, keep Licht #JIMSCHWARTZ2019
May 28th, 2018 at 10:28 am
“This Bucs roster is significantly better than the 2016 roster that went 9-7.”
True That!
May 28th, 2018 at 11:11 am
Wow so basically everything light has done this off-season is thanks to baker. Every time he speaks about tough committed players which has been every time there’s a Mic in his face he’s basically taking shots at baker possibly even Ayers. Signing baker may have been the turning point in lichts career because for whatever reason he didn’t care muchabout a pass rush until he signed that palm tree hugging waste of space
May 28th, 2018 at 11:51 am
If JPP loves football so much, then why isn’t he out there with this teammates?
May 28th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Time passes so quickly, except when Buc fans are waiting for the NFL season to get underway. Hurry up and wait.
May 28th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Have you seen Ryan Jensen’s BBQ tweets? He is ready to take over the mantle of the Oline BBQ leader. Brisket and ribs, baby!
Go Bucs!
Celebrate our fallen heroes responsibly Bucs Fans!
May 28th, 2018 at 10:48 pm
Joe, I have to repeat the question…Where the he’ll is JOE? What’s his excuse? A lot of talking about passion and all that. Well, he ain’t showing it, he ain’t showing up. It really doesn’t matter what he’s done before if he doesn’t do it now. He needs to be in the field, NOW! If he has a legit excuse is Ok. Did I miss something?
May 28th, 2018 at 10:49 pm
Meant to say JPP…….
May 29th, 2018 at 7:05 am
Talk is cheap JL.. Bucs are always the “Monsters of May”
#WALKTHEWALK