Priority No. 1: Retool Defense
January 24th, 2019
Status in danger?
There are a lot of things Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians needs to accomplish before he can turn around this Bucs ship from being moored in Buccaneers Cove (last place in the NFC South) to a postseason berth.
And in the eyes of Jenna Laine of ESPN, nothing is more important than retooling the defense. In a list of top Bucs offseason priorities, delousing the Mike Smith stench is Priority No. 1.
The Bucs will have to make difficult decisions regarding six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who’s due to make $13 million next season, none of which is guaranteed. The move to a 3-4 might also mean more shuffling for the secondary, which will be even more vulnerable given how much Bowles blitzes.
The thing is, which players are going to get tossed off the pirate ship if the Bucs have to import other players? Yes, Joe understands Bucs fans want the team to acquire Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. Over beers, this sounds like a fantastic idea.
However the salary cap is getting tight. If the Bucs do trade for Peterson, which player will be sacrificed to make room for Peterson’s salary? Does that mean Bucs stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy gets the boot?
January 24th, 2019 at 8:06 am
Heeeere comes tmax in 3, 2, 1….
January 24th, 2019 at 8:07 am
The object of tmax’s desires. Surprised he hasn’t spewed hot garbage all over this post yet….he might be getting in a quick tug first, looking at McCoy in that kimono
January 24th, 2019 at 8:07 am
Good players, who are a credit to the community and the team, should not be jettisoned. But, I would like to see Gerald get a chance to play for a good organization!
January 24th, 2019 at 8:12 am
Pete I agree with you. Community comes 1st before any game an 93 has given some much hope an life an much more to this community love the guy a tru pro now on the other side I would like him to take a pay cut his play has dropped an we could use the money to fill more holes on this leaky deff but I still love 93 an so does this community
January 24th, 2019 at 8:13 am
P.s. fix the trenches , kicking , turnovers on Winston an fix the defense. I believe strong that we have fixed the coaching now let’s get it go Bucs
January 24th, 2019 at 8:18 am
If it means being able to get a player like Patrick Peterson….buh-by Geraldine McSoftie. Take your six pro bowls that mean NOTHING and get to steppin! I make that move all day, every day!
January 24th, 2019 at 8:23 am
#93 is a bum!
January 24th, 2019 at 8:24 am
I think the money crunch and past play will determine who stays and who goes. According to Bowles he never said definitively they were going to move to a 3-4. McCoy maybe a casualty strictly for financial reasons alone. If I were a team in need of a 3tech I would offer no more than a 5th round pick.
January 24th, 2019 at 8:26 am
Really Joe? “Delousing the Mike Smith stench”? STENCH is kinda strong it seems, especially for one who’s supported Jameis from Day 1 despite his ‘periodic’ sub-par performances on-the-field and his several ‘hassles’ off-the-field. Maybe somewhat of a double standard there?
What’ll be especially interesting in the coming months is to see which players Coach Arians & Todd Bowles choose to retain and which ones get ushered out the door. Smith & Duffner were forced to field defenses bereft of talent IMO … half of the starters & key rotational players (at least) should be replaced. Coaching was unquestionably a major factor, but so was lack of starting talent & especially lack of depth throughout these past 5 years (actually quite a bit longer than that). Gee, I wonder who was in charge of talent acquisition during those years.
January 24th, 2019 at 8:56 am
Should be item # 1. Trade the soft ice cream man who is the ongoing STENCH in mindset and commitment to winning…
January 24th, 2019 at 8:57 am
Damn Skippy!
January 24th, 2019 at 8:57 am
I’m sorry Pete/#1Bucsfan. I’ll trade choir boys for wins. How many times has this team been labeled “soft” by players, coaches, and pundits over the past decade? Honestly, i’Ll take a couple of dirty resumes if it will get us to 10 wins. My season tickets are too expensive. Yes. I’m willing to sell my soul. I don’t spend that money to see nice people play a game and donate to charity. I want wins. Playoff appearances. And most importantly a better looking Super Bowl champions hat because the XXXVII one was ugly as hell.
January 24th, 2019 at 9:10 am
A real corner vs 1.5 tackles a game.
There’s a choice there?
January 24th, 2019 at 9:11 am
This is all about cap space…..it eventually happens to every team……we simply have to have the $13 mil from GMC……sorry.
Our $16 mil in space is still without a LT, K & MLB & WR, CB………
None of these players is under contract:
D. Smith
K. Alexander
C. Santos
B. Grimes
A. Humprhies
Think about that when you want to bring in high priced FAs……not much in the bank for that.
We are simply not getting enough production out of our draft classes over the last 4 years……
January 24th, 2019 at 9:25 am
The Rams have a hybrid 3-4 or 4-3.
Sometimes, Suh, Brockers, and Donald are all playing inside.
They rotate all time.
McCoy, JPP, Curry, Gholston, Nassib Allen and Vea need another year together.
I say keep em all!
Just add a new DE or DT in the first.
RG in the 2nd.
Teach Cappa to play RT. Keep Dotson.
We cant afford a massive roster overhaul!
We need better coaching on D. And a beast RG.
And hopefully, Hargreaves can replace Grimes.
But drafting two 4.6 CB’s last year will haunt us for years!
4.4 or less! The new rule for CB’s!
January 24th, 2019 at 9:26 am
We are simply not getting enough production out of our draft classes over the last 4 years……
and that goes back to a coaching staff that has been unable to develop anyone.
January 24th, 2019 at 9:36 am
-release grimes, gholston, urein, d.smith…..
-restructure GMC…..
-trade brate…..
-draft ed oliver or quennten williams to pair with vita…..
-draft zach allen
sign frank clark….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 24th, 2019 at 9:40 am
Geraldine should get the boot anyway
Pete Says:
January 24th, 2019 at 8:07 am
Good players, who are a credit to the community and the team, should not be jettisoned.
Your not rooted in reality. I can go on about countless nfl players who continued to be pillars in the community long after football. Since when does community service dictate that a player who’s slowing down take up a roster spot? Warlock Dunn continued his foundation and that’s just one guy.
Not sure why Geraldine is more beloved than Derrick brooks who was cut and the team was blown up and there was no parade for him, Geraldine is not even close to the caliber player of brooks and he was a first ballot guy, Geraldine will be in that lynch territory nominated year after year but falling short but people talk like it’s the glazers fault. Some of the most clueless fans of the nfl root for the bucs
January 24th, 2019 at 9:42 am
Agree 813…except Zach Allen will be gone by our 2 pick…and I’d sign Priest Holmes and take the heat…save the draft pick for other needs….Hump is a tough one and I would consider letting him test the market and then decide….Watson can fill in Hump’s role…or a FA/draft pick….10 million is too rich for this cap year
January 24th, 2019 at 9:49 am
Defense Rules 100% right on….it doesnt seem like BA wants mccoy so he will be gone hopefully via trade, but the bucs need to rebuild the defense it seems to me that JPP, Vea, J Evans Carlton Davis, whitehead, Nassib, LVD, VH3 are all safe and some may get reduced roles in new defense but they are under contract but the OL/Defense and a running back should be high priorities as they have been since jason licht took over and has never addressed or did so very poorly
January 24th, 2019 at 9:50 am
Huge mistake to “build” the defense around gmc for the umpteenth year!!!!!! Huge mistake to force a scheme that fits gmc and not what the DC wanted to run!!!!!!! Huge mistake of the sheep to assume that licht weight “did his job” and “set the table”!!!!!!!!!!! The Bucs have change the coaches and lowered ticket prices!!!!! But when are they going to fix the “real” problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!! flush and roster turnover will tell the truth!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 24th, 2019 at 9:56 am
First step in re-tooling the defense is getting rid of big fat softie gerald mccoy!!
January 24th, 2019 at 10:01 am
Im a huge GMAC fan but an even BIGGER Warren Sapp fan and I understood then why we let him go so Ill understand now. Love you GMAC amd hope you finally get a ring anywhere you go. You deserve it big guy!
January 24th, 2019 at 10:06 am
It’s about WINS, not the names on the back of the jerseys. If they can help us win, stay. If not, it was nice knowing ya.
January 24th, 2019 at 10:17 am
Its about wins not community…. raise your own damn kids… these guys are sports entertainers not replacements for absentee parents…Good in the community and role models for kids is beyond laughable…. cancer93 is hardly a role model unless you want your kids to be doll playing pansy arses who quit at the first sign of adversity
January 24th, 2019 at 10:28 am
McCoy is softer than the silk of that kimono, which is a women’s garment btw.
January 24th, 2019 at 10:36 am
Altered…
Priest Holmes?? You going all Stephen A Smith??
January 24th, 2019 at 10:41 am
Pete and #1
I would agree that players should be good people in the community. That’s why I enjoyed Dungy’s tenure here.
That being said, players are drafted or signed to be good PLAYERS first, then do good works in the community, not the other way around.
McCoy’s stat line from last season is sad for someone who is supposed to be elite. He’s always been and will probably always be a great guy. That doesn’t mean he’s entitled to top DT money, when he’s clearly not getting it done.
January 24th, 2019 at 11:42 am
realist
we have learned from the mistakes of the previous coaching staff!!!!!!!!…….
smitty tried to build his defense around old man grimes to accommodate his skill set!!!!!…..smitty forced his passive soft zone coverage on our man press CB’s!!!!!!!!!!……
licht added talent and smitty was too incompetent to do anything with it!!!!!!!….and dirk was just as incompetent because he refused(or was too dumb) to provide input regarding the worse defense in NFL history 2years in a row!!!!!!!!!!!
the owners lowered prices and changed coaches because they know the “REAL” bucs fans deserve a better product!!!!!!!!!!!!
the “real” problem has been fixed!!!!!!!…..firing your beloved staff made us better over night!!!!!!!!
now watch “real” coaches work!!!!!!…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 24th, 2019 at 11:57 am
Bucboi,
Considering that our corners play press better than zone , what % do you think they should play press? 100%
January 24th, 2019 at 12:30 pm
I would take Petersen over McCoy & DJax any day. Let the Cardinals have both of them.
January 24th, 2019 at 12:48 pm
I’m sorry but I’m just not for this roster overhaul. We’ve go to keep him for one more season. This will be the one time in his career he will carry that passion. I was pushing for us to trade down and draft D. Lawrence out of Clemson which is not a bad idea but I’m looking at Jonah Williams the LT from Bama. Someone made a point yesterday and it struck me which is all the late round small school undersized underdogs we have on the offensive line. I like Marpet and he’s developing into that LG we needed but D. Smith is a RG all day long and he should be resigned as that too. He needs to be paid as well because he’s also been a average LT too. I compare him more to a Donald Penn type. We can’t leave that #5 spot without drafting LT Jonah Williams. As far as LB I would love to see us free up money and go after Moseley from the Ravens but they’ll probably keep him under franhise tag but we need RB and LB out of free agency. We should also pursue TJ Yeldon in free agency as well and move on from Quizz. I like Barber and feel he will stay another year in transition tag status. As far as Hump, Djax and the receivers go hey the only sure bet returns at this point are Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but they have to choose between Djax and Hump and my choice would be Hump at this point. Djax I think will find a trade partner for his services that’s why he has an agent and that’s why Jameis is being blamed as well to hide his mistakes and not throw coaching staff under the bus at the same time. McCoy is a gone though and he will be traded to. Teams are in position to give him $13 million and would love his contract for just the two seasons that’s left and that’s why I said we might as well keep him and let Allen, Gholston, and Curry walk. Hopefully Kwon resigns on a tender 1 year deal. I think Minter and Glanton will return as well but they need draft capital if they trade McCoy and Djax though if not they are better off staying and seeing what Bucco Bruce can offer.
January 24th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Trade a number 2 for him or draft Greedy #1. If we trade a #2 for him, then I can see us going OL, DL or a 3-4 LB
January 24th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
rrsrq
dude you need to lay off the happy pills or something… a 2 really… NO ONE IS GIVING UP ANYTHING for a washed up mentally weak over 30 dt that can’t play 4 quarters and his great first step to nowhere never translated to nfl play. cancer93 is a worthless joke. unless they can get gruden to over pay nothing higher than 5th will be gotten for him.
January 24th, 2019 at 2:20 pm
@Jason S. McLaurin … “We can’t leave that #5 spot without drafting LT Jonah Williams.” I’m a huge Bama fan Jason, but no way would I use my #5 pick on Jonah Williams. WalterFootball.com projects him in the later 1st round or 2nd round. Smart football player, but probably better suited as a RT, Guard or Center (he’s 6’4″ but only 297 lbs). I do agree though with selecting a LT with our #5 pick … Jawaan Taylor (UF, 6’5″ & 340 lbs), Greg Little (Ole Miss, 6’6″ & 325 lbs) & Cody Ford (OK, 5’5″ & 335 lbs) all seemed to grade out higher than Williams at this point. Combine will hopefully tell folks a lot more about how they should be ranked.
And as far as letting Allen, Gholston & Curry walk goes (after McCoy is ‘gone’ in your words), you might want to think twice about that. Unrein’s surely a goner, so that’d leave us with Vea (rookie) only inside, and JPP, Nassib & Spence at DE. So we’d let 4 DLinemen walk & we’d have to sign or draft AT LEAST 4 more to replace them. Japanese had a word for that … harakiri (ritual suicide by disembowelment?)
January 24th, 2019 at 2:41 pm
D1
no, not 100%…..but i would say 70%….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 24th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
Where is this Patrick Peterson stuff coming from? Cardinals said last year no dealings with him involved, however a cool scenario would be PP to Tampa for GMC and a pick, cardinals could boast a good dline with McCoy chandler jones and Bosa with the first pick, then we’d get project pat, everyone’s happy
January 24th, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Time to walk the plank @geraldweenie93
January 24th, 2019 at 4:23 pm
If we let GMC go, im all about drafting Ed Oliver at #5…if we keep him, id like Devin White after a trade back.
Ed Oliver isnt Aaron Donald, but he sure could be close in a few years….and Luv knows how much i wanted us to draft Donald back then.
January 24th, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Djax and Brate for Petersen.
Draft Devin White.
January 24th, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Gerald McCoy is gonna be one of those players like Clinton McDonald who everyone thought he was a pretty good player with the Bucs (and he was decent) but then he goes to another team and is a role depth player who eventually gets cut and his career will fade.
January 24th, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Gerald McCoy right now is the Carmelo Anthony of the NFL. Washed up player who still somehow has a good reputation just not among Bucs fans anymore. I can’t possibly see how we can keep this guy anymore, he was terrible last year, the only difference between Gerald McCoy at this point and 2014 Michael Johnson is that Gerald will occasionally get a meaningless garbage time sack. There are both Ghost in my eyes.
To be fair….Gerald McCoy USED to be good when pre Lovie Smith Days.