Copycats
August 9th, 2018
Vinny Curry is just one character in the Bucs’ copy-and-paste strategy.
Last year, the Eagles loaded up on their defensive line and it worked out. That line helped propel Philadelphia to its first Super Bowl title.
Now statgeek high priest Billy Barnwell of BSPN claims the Bucs are trying to copy the Eagles in an effort to end this hideous decade-long playoff drought.
No team emulated the buy-in-bulk approach more than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who got some help from Eagles leaving the nest. The Bucs signed both Allen and Curry to multiyear deals, where they’ll step in for the departed Robert Ayers and Chris Baker. The Bucs made higher-profile moves in trading for Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and using their first-round pick on nose tackle Vita Vea, who will rotate with Allen alongside star interior disruptor Gerald McCoy. Tampa finished the collection by signing Bears defensive lineman Mitch Unrein, who started 17 games over the past two seasons.
How much of this was copying the Eagles and how much of this was career preservation by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht?
The Bucs’ defensive line was rotten and has been since Michael Bennett left for no good reason. Last year’s NFL-low 22 sacks was enough. The irresponsibility of this franchise failing to sign or keep a decent pass rusher for over a decade even grew too much for Licht.
Joe isn’t sure if Licht was copying the Eagles or that he decided, damn it, that he was going to load up on the line and pray someone would shake loose and get to the quarterback on a regular basis.
August 9th, 2018 at 9:12 am
Oh Joe, there are sooo many good lines in there. My favorite? “The irresponsibility of this franchise failing to sign or keep a decent pass rusher for over a decade even grew too much for Licht.”
Uhhh, seriously? Licht represents HALF of that ‘decade’ that you referenced. Domenik (2009-2013) surely didn’t do our defense any favors, but Licht didn’t do much better … until this year. I’m confident that he probably was copying the Eagles, but who cares? If it works, do it. If it doesn’t work, change it. And if it REALLY doesn’t work, you’ll be looking for another job soon enough. Time to WIN.
August 9th, 2018 at 9:31 am
well, if the defense fails this year, it will be because of coaching and scheme!!!!….our starting front 4 are all 1st round picks….2 of our 3 LB’s are PBers and our secondary is filled with 1st & 2nd round picks….
these coaches have NO EXCUSE!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
August 9th, 2018 at 9:31 am
Wasn’t Denver doing it before the Eagles? They went 8 deep on their d-line during their 2-3year run. It doesn’t really matter I guess, but this isn’t a concept that was introduced just last year by Philly.
August 9th, 2018 at 9:33 am
To quote Hildabeast, “What difference at this point does it make?”
#Get After It!
August 9th, 2018 at 9:40 am
I think the off season was simply addressing the weaknesses of the team after most of the offense was complete.
It took years to build around Winston. That was the plan all along. And just like the Broncos the first year the had Manning, the Bucs learned they must also have a good defense to win a title.
That the Eagles did it the same way is coincidence, though the Bucs might say they are following the example because the fans always focus on the most recent success stories.
The truth is that Licht is following a plan that he mapped out years ago, and the Glazers must like the plan, because they keep extending him (three contracts so far).
August 9th, 2018 at 10:12 am
Ah yes, Mark “Disaster” Dominick continues to get a pass on JBF…….who was the GM when Bennett was let go…..who drafted Bowers & Price?……not to mention “Mylew”……..
August 9th, 2018 at 10:18 am
Trenches. It always starts in the trenches. You build from the inside out. They went after “Weapons for Winston” but I’m pretty sure it didn’t show on the field.
Jameis wants to be vocal and lead on the field. They took that away from him when they brought in big personalities like Swaggy and Djax for that matter. Jameis made Brate great and Hump too. These young guys will follow, it’s the vets that mostly like will say…meh. Not saying dump Djax….
Anyways….trenches….it should have started there. Jameis was doing pretty well with the “weapons”he already had. Let them develop with him. Need that RB too though. That should really help if the o-line can gel. Again…trenches.
August 9th, 2018 at 10:21 am
TBBF……I didn’t drink last night.
So why are you giving me hangover feelings?
August 9th, 2018 at 10:23 am
What’s the difference?
COACHING. Its the difference between good teams and bad teams in the NFL. PERIOD.
Its why all of these signings won’t mean a thing.
August 9th, 2018 at 11:03 am
Now if Dirk can copy Pedersons play calling. As much as I hate the Eagles I gota admit that guy is a brilliant offensive mind. And he knows how to manage the game and clock. Must be nice.
August 9th, 2018 at 11:06 am
#TrenchWarFare
August 9th, 2018 at 11:12 am
I thought Koetter was quoted as saying Philly was doing something right by rotating their DL often and they wanted to do the same.
August 9th, 2018 at 11:19 am
Buc1987– “Jameis made Brate great and Hump too.” Are you serious? Winston didn’t make these guys with glue hands great…
August 9th, 2018 at 11:25 am
Tampabaybucfan Says
“Ah yes, Mark “Disaster” Dominick continues to get a pass on JBF…….who was the GM when Bennett was let go…..who drafted Bowers & Price?……not to mention “Mylew”…”
I’ve always tried to be unbiased in my evaluations. Well, in recent years anyway. Ever since we drafted Winston…who I did not want over Mariota, but Winston has more than won me over since.
During Dominick’s time here, as with anyone else, he had strengths and weaknesses. He was horrible at drafted, and only halfway decent at free agency. He was great at working trades and managing the cap. In fact, he started an NFL trend that is common these days: front loading contracts to easy cap space later.
When we ended up with Jason Licht and Lovie Smith, I noticed another trend. Jason sucked at trades when he first started out here. He sucked at Free Agency too, which is common knowledge in these here parts. I didn’t like that Lovie got all of the blame for blowing free agency that first year. To me, it was shared responsibility.
Looking back, Licht was a rookie GM, so he deserved time to grow at the position. I was fine with that. But I did not like him being given a pass.
What has won me over in regard to Licht is his drafts. From the start, they were great (except maybe one year). Cap management is top of the line. His trades improved a lot over time as well. And I think he hit the jackpot in free agency this year…finally becoming a well-rounded GM.
This off season has probably been the best off season of Jason Licht’s career.
I hated on him in the beginning, but he’s proven himself now.
Mark Dominick never improved himself. He never learned from past mistakes. He just kept making them.
And he had many of the same draft scouts Licht has.
August 9th, 2018 at 11:31 am
Buc1987 Says
Trenches. It always starts in the trenches. You build from the inside out. They went after “Weapons for Winston” but I’m pretty sure it didn’t show on the field.
Jameis wants to be vocal and lead on the field. They took that away from him when they brought in big personalities like Swaggy and Djax for that matter. Jameis made Brate great and Hump too. These young guys will follow, it’s the vets that mostly like will say…meh. Not saying dump Djax….
Anyways….trenches….it should have started there. Jameis was doing pretty well with the “weapons”he already had. Let them develop with him. Need that RB too though. That should really help if the o-line can gel. Again…trenches.
I cannot agree more, 87. It always starts in the trenches.
But Licht did start in the trenches with Winston. He drafted Winston and two offensive linemen in the first three rounds of the same draft.
And so far as the weapons for Winston, Evans was taken the year before. All the others were taken later in the draft. You seem to forget the offensive rosters we had back then…7 deep in mediocre WRs except for Evans.
It sucked that Licht could not address the Dline sooner, but he focused on one side of the ball at a time. In the end, its working out.
This year is going to rock.
But the defense is not finished. As much as I like the free agent upgrades, they are fillers until Licht can draft younger guys.
I think Vinny Curry is going to surprise a lot of people too.
August 9th, 2018 at 11:33 am
Casey Morgan Says
“Buc1987– “Jameis made Brate great and Hump too.” Are you serious? Winston didn’t make these guys with glue hands great…”
And I suppose Glennon would have done the same?
Come on now…
August 9th, 2018 at 1:28 pm
Casey……Dayum serious!
August 9th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Copy cats give me a break no way philly isn’t the first freakin team to rotate on dline and win a chip. Seahawks broncos most recent but Defense wins championships still rings true today.