Spotlight On Jason Licht
September 28th, 2018
“Look, Glazer, you don’t see a whistle around my neck or a play sheet in my pocket. There’s only so much I can do.”
Dirk Koetter has said “the cavalry” comes for no team once September arrives.
“Your guys are your guys,” Koetter likes to say about his roster.
On Sunday, two Bucs rookies are sure to start in the secondary, cornerback Carlton Davis (second round) and safety Jordan Whitehead (fourth round), with rookie corner M.J. Stewart (second round) carrying the load at nickel.
Vernon Hargreaves blew out his shoulder on opening day. Brent Grimes was lost for Weeks 1 and 2 with a groin injury. Chris Conte is on injured reserve, and Keith Tandy was cut and now plays for the Falcons.
Young former Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid just signed with the Panthers, and impressive 26-year-old cornerback Bashaud Breeland took his skills to Green Bay this week. They might have represented “the cavalry” for the Bucs, but general manager Jason Licht is rolling with his young trio of rookies.
This really puts the spotlight on Licht for that calculated decision.
It’s already clear that Jason Pierre-Paul and Vinny Curry can ball and are significant upgrades at defensive end. Well done, Licht! Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander are off to a strong start, and if the rookie DBs can show their talent and Grimes doesn’t look 35, then Licht deserves a standing ovation and a raise from Team Glazer. If the rookie DBs are bad, well, Licht should be looking for a new office.
But this is also where Team Glazer needs to figure out the value of Mike Smith and his staff.
If all those players mentioned above display their talent on the field and the Bucs keep allowing opposing QBs to complete 78 percent of their passes — or even 70 — then Smith must get the blame versus victimizing Licht because of crappy coaching.
September 28th, 2018 at 5:05 am
I think Jason Licht has done a very good job of bringing talent to this franchise.
The problem has been the defense and special teams coaching has been poor.
The draft of
Winston
Smith
Marpet
Alexander
Was the 2nd best draft in Buccaneers history.
September 28th, 2018 at 5:30 am
It’s rough when you have three rookies and a second year player making up 4 out of 5 positions in a nickel formation.
Still think Licht did a good job of stocking the cupboard as best he could. I think the pressure is more on Mike Smith now to generate pressure and help out the young secondary.
September 28th, 2018 at 5:31 am
mike smith only does really well at the podium…it’s a real problem…but koetter rides with him…they’re like a married couple…something has to give
September 28th, 2018 at 6:27 am
Smith has been the problem since the day he was hired. THE DAY!!!!
I told ya this was gonna happen the minute his hiring broke news
September 28th, 2018 at 6:36 am
Vea is part of
the Calvary.
September 28th, 2018 at 6:46 am
With all the talent on defense, you would think we had a top 10 defense. There is no excuses when you have not improved in 3 years. Koetter needs to man up and fire M. Smith and company if they do not dramatically improve by year’s end.
September 28th, 2018 at 6:46 am
Vita, allen, Mitch, and beckwith coming back at various points will be helpful to this defense.
September 28th, 2018 at 6:49 am
Perhaps the Glazers will do what Koetter will not, and get us a better defensive coordinator ?
September 28th, 2018 at 6:55 am
I think giving the rookies the job is a good thing. Let them learn and gain valuable time. If signing a player like Reid would have taken snaps away from Whitehead, I agree with letting Whitehead get the playing time. Now, as for Mike Smith, all we hear is put your players in the best position to succeed. They need Davis, and Stewart to play more press man, that is what they do well.
September 28th, 2018 at 6:55 am
Vita Who? 😕
September 28th, 2018 at 6:59 am
Look
You can have all the physical talents in the world but if you cannot get it together mentally……. You’re either:
A. Not gonna see the field
Or
B. Outta the NFL
Rojo is prime example….. Right now he’s looking like a huge bust and Vita who is still to be decided cause no one has seen him play.
September 28th, 2018 at 7:00 am
Mike Smith is a terrible coach. We can’t get a new defensive coordinator soon enough. He has no idea what he’s doing.
September 28th, 2018 at 7:21 am
Licht has seen Smith wont adjust. So he must drop a fortune and high picks into the dline until they get sacks. Only way to stop the forward pass here. Licht will adjust amd smith wont. Not hard for me to figure out the problem.
September 28th, 2018 at 7:27 am
Smith needs to be replaced
September 28th, 2018 at 7:45 am
I appreciate going with youth…..but we still should have brought in a capable FA CB……there really is no excuse for that.
September 28th, 2018 at 7:47 am
Goff threw for over 500 yds and 5 TD’s last night against the Vikings.
This is the way the NFL has gone- you can’t compare stats to previous years like before.
Bucs are not in Rams class yet, but there is major improvement this year.
Still need upgrades in running game (rb and OL) , DL needs to get healthy and need another DE for pressure, secondary is improved with rookies, kicking game is better-
Playoffs are possible- that’s all you can ask at this point in season.
September 28th, 2018 at 7:47 am
If the defense continues to give up THOSE kind of stats, may I point out WORSE than last year, there is really not much to talk about is there?!
Some will point to rookies and injuries and such. That’s a valid argument. What it does NOT take into consideration is whether the replacements and rookies were put in a position to succeed in the first place.
Case in point: We cannot defend the underneath crossing pattern. Why? Game after game, offenses send their WRs clear across the entire defensive formation with a full head of steam. DBs are left chasing faster WRs to the boundaries. I wonder if there might be a way to mitigate a play like this?! (SARCASM!)
The defense FEELS better, but it’s probably because we are outscoring people. I just hope that Smitty’s D is not the undoing of something special this year.
September 28th, 2018 at 8:07 am
blame Licht … look at the 1st and 2nd draft picks this year .. he doesnt have a great track record.
September 28th, 2018 at 8:20 am
Jason Licht is a garbage GM
With the Bucs having high draft picks an lots of cap space during his 5 years.
They shouldn’t have any weakness
They should have one of the best roster in the NFL
September 28th, 2018 at 8:28 am
Too bad Licht didn’t have the vision to draft Dalvin Cook.
That 2.7 ypc would really be helping us right now.
September 28th, 2018 at 8:44 am
Jared Goff played great last night. He dropped multiple long passes right into his receivers’ arms in stride. That’s what a #1 overall QB looks like. Until Winston can be that accurate, our QB is just a guy.
September 28th, 2018 at 8:46 am
GMC didn’t play most of his first 2 seasons in the nfl an everyone labeled him a bust now look at him an don’t listen to the gmc haters. Lol
September 28th, 2018 at 8:55 am
New Tampa Chris
Jarod Goff was 0-7 his rookie year and was CLUELESS!!! Jameis started for a crappy team as a ROOKIE AND had 22TDS & 15 int (6 picks in 2 games) plus he a 4 or 5 TD Runs. U guys r amazing the absolute lack of knowledge or simply just HATE for OUR QB. JARED GOFF would have done NOTHING W OUR O LINE and no Defense or running game. U R CLUELESS!!!!!!!
September 28th, 2018 at 8:58 am
Licht sucks, he is the problem 1st and 2nd round draft pics sucked, they may never see the field. Several quality free agents have been passed up especially in secondary. He continues to bottom feed on bargain free agents that contribute little. Every time a stud free agent becomes available we pass. I would take all the d-lineman he got in free agency and would give them all away for Calias Campbell which we passed on along with Talib, Sherman and Butler. We end up with rookies and Conte.
September 28th, 2018 at 9:42 am
I am def. getting a little worn out on Mike Smith. We have a TON of injuries and have played some great QB’s through the first 3 weeks but Trubisky has not looked good this season. He plays scared, is inaccurate and doesn’t seem to want to throw the ball downfield. Regardless of our injuries Mike Smith’s defense had better not let him look like a rock start out there…
September 28th, 2018 at 9:50 am
been saying it for 2years now…..when it comes to the defense it aint talent, its coaching…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
September 28th, 2018 at 9:52 am
I think all you GM Licht hater needs to hold off judging him on this years first round draft pick. You can’t blame a guy for his injury. It can happen to any player. The verdict is out on Vita Vea. As for RoJo, so far he has shown nothing but neither has the Oline when it comes to run blocking. Let’s give it a little more time before we cut off heads.
September 28th, 2018 at 10:26 am
Could it be a combo?
Mike Smith….and the 3 rookies?
September 28th, 2018 at 10:28 am
LakeLand …they do have the best offense or close to it.
September 28th, 2018 at 11:02 am
Smith is the worst defensive coordinator in the league. I don’t care if he is a great guy either. If they get lit up on defense this weekend, get rid of him at the bye and let the linebackers coach take over for the remainder of the season and then find a new coordinator if required. The proof is in the results and no matter what they do with talent, the results seem to get worse. Walk the plank dude. You suck.
September 28th, 2018 at 11:24 am
Should have signed Reid months ago before our depth at Safety was in shambles. And we should have signed Breeland as soon as he was able to pass a physical.
September 28th, 2018 at 11:49 am
3 rookies are good, but 3 rookies blowing chunks is a problem. I still say the move was Derwin + Maurice Hurst later
September 28th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Football is watered down now. That game last night was just horrible no defense .It’s to bring back the running game in football. These owners have came up with a idea to put more money in there pocket. That’s why they say quarterback is so important. So that 1 player make good money and pocket the rest and they use the national media to help them do that. And people that don’t know football will believe them .
September 28th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Licht is a doofus and has made some of the dumbest draft and personnel moves in nfl history and led the bucs to a 24-42 record during his tenure and built the leagues worst defense in the process
September 28th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Fire Licht! He’s not good at his job. Bad drafting . Passing on Derwin James Jr. Not overseeing proper medical care for the best interest of Conte, Jameis, and who knows how many other players. Fire Licht, Cut Koetter, and Drop the Mike. There is too much talent on offense that is stacked for the next few years for this team to waste time. Replace these men before the Super Bowl window closes it has a chance to open.
September 28th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Anonymous: Licht needs to be fired ASAP. Koetter needs to go too. And Mike Smith. Soooooo… Fire Licht, Cut Koetter, and Drop The Mike… Get a new GM to hire replacements and draft better players. Licht has been brutal in the draft. Get some talent to lead the front office and a competent and savvy head coach, DC.
September 28th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Tandy and Mcdougald sure were promising, as was Javion Elliot, in my opinion, we should have cut Conte-
I think it’s got to be scheme
September 28th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
I agree Gene deckerhoff
September 28th, 2018 at 1:40 pm
NewTampaChris is a Jameis Hater. How about this: Best QB available in that draft got drafted correctly. At least Licht didn’t blow that and curse this franchise with Marcus Sorryota.
September 28th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Throw the rookies out there like Justin Evans was last year. That’s how you get better. No one would trade Evans now and if these 3 rooks improve like Evans has what do you think this defensive backfield is going to look like next year and beyond. These guys are going to make you forget McClain, Conte, and Tandy. If Hargreaves comes back at full strength we may really have something here in Tampa. Yes this roster had McClain, Tandy, Conte, Ayers, Baker, McDonald and a few other below average players. If you don’t have the horses you can’t pull the wagon.
#Get After It!
September 29th, 2018 at 7:15 am
@joe
Dont forget Donte Jackson!
More career INT’s than VHIII in 3 games than VHIII had in 3 years!
And we could have had him! Hes a 4.3 LSU Tiger!
Perry Nickerson from Tulane, who I was screaming for us to draft, was drafted by the Jets and is doing great. Hes a 4.31 guy too.
MJ has short legs and is too slow. Carlton us too lanky and slow.
Both are 4.55 or 4.6 CB’s!!!
You dont draft 4.55 CB’s in the 2nd round!
WTF!!!
September 29th, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Teacher I have not focused on Carlton too much but I don’t see him getting beat so he has to be doing something right.
I also love MJ Stewart in the tackling game………… The tackling has been the biggest Improvement of this defense this year by far. It did let’s us down badly last game but I expect a bounce back game from the defense.