Who Will Call The Shots?
January 1st, 2019
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Fans get confused if not frustrated and Joe understands why.
Fans want a guy to make the decisions. Clear cut!
Whether that be a general manager or a coach, Bucs fans want to know who is responsible for team building. And Joe can understand how that’s only fair for fans to have transparency.
The cynic in Joe believes fans crave this information because they want to know who to throw rocks at when the Bucs draft the next Jeremy McNichols or Austin Seferian-Jackwagon.
This area, however, has been murky with the Bucs for years. And it appears that won’t change with the next Bucs head coach.
Yesterday when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht fielded questions in the wake of Dirk Koetter’s dismissal, Licht seemed to indicate he will allow a coach broad leeway in choosing his roster. But full control of the roster? That’s a bit different.
“That will depend,” Licht said. “I think I said this last time, too, that I’m not going to get in the way and let an ego get in the way of getting the right guy here. My job, right now, is to get the best fit of a head football coach, period. So whatever has to be done has to be done.”
Well, it sure smells like if the Bucs really, really want Coach-X, Licht is more than willing to be a figurehead like he was under inept Lovie Smith.
When it came to roster-building under Koetter, Joe got the strong sense that Licht did his best to grant Koetter’s wishes. For example, Joe heard from someone in personnel once that the worst thing for any team is to have another Jim Harbaugh-Trent Baalke feud. That’s what happened in San Francisco a few years ago and the then-49ers head coach and general manager wouldn’t even talk to each other their rift was so severe. Clearly, the organization imploded as a result and has yet to recover.
Joe honestly never ever got the impression that Licht was a fan of Doug Martin. We all know Koetter loved Martin.
And we all know Koetter lusted over O.J. Howard, who is a freaking stud but one could argue he was a luxury pick as the Bucs already had a strong tight end on the roster (Cam Brate) and many other holes that needed addressing.
So it sounds like — just like we really don’t know who is responsible for every good (and bad) player on the roster — that shroud of secrecy will continue unless Licht backs away in order to land a powerful coaching fish fighting on his line.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:07 am
How about kicker and RB? Licht must fix it now. If fans see a sham of a roster put together again, then we will all collectively lose our sh!t!
When fans can clearly see the holes on this team, it outrages us.
You got another shot, Licht, how about you deliver a damn winner! No more rosters with CLEAR DEFICIENCIES. 2019 or be gone!
January 1st, 2019 at 8:25 am
Steve
There are too many holes to fill with this draft or FA.
Gonna be a few more years before the next step can be taken I’m afraid.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:30 am
Well the fact is Licht has not been extended, and is on a one year contract. That tells me who ever comes in as H.C. would have final decisions on the roster. Licht’s on thin ice, and depending on the coach, you might see the same situation here as what happened in Oakland, and Gruden bringing his own G.M. in.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:32 am
Licht backs away so that in times such as this he can say to the three brothers dumb “hey that was not what I would have done. That is coach Xs fault. Put it on him. “ thus letting him save his arse.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:45 am
When Jason Licht became the Bucs’ general manager, Tampa Bay was the worst team in the NFC South. Five years later, the Bucs are still the worst team in the South
Licht = 27-53
This is who’s in charge?
January 1st, 2019 at 8:52 am
I think this situation is pretty common…..Licht doesn’t want to rule out hiring a very strong HC who wants to call most of the shots.
I think fans forget that there is a lot more to a GM’s responsibilities than player selection……cap management & contract negotiations are crucial to the job and Licht has been pretty good at team-friendly contracts.
I don’t blame him for sidestepping.
As for OJ Howard……I think the lack of production this year from Brate proves that two TEs are essential. The OJ Howard pick was not a luxury pick at all….it was a gift and a no-brainer.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:52 am
Licht is a terrible GM
he can only pick low hanging fruit. He can’t find the gems in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds
He can’t find the gems in free agency
A fan could have done a better job than him so far
Yet he gets paid millions
January 1st, 2019 at 9:02 am
@Joe … “This area (decision-making?), however, has been murky with the Bucs for years. And it appears that won’t change with the next Bucs head coach.”
Murky lines of authority & decision-making? And the RESULT has been what Joe? Oh ya, 27-53 over the last 5 years and 28-52 for the 5 years before that. Our 55-105 record over the past 10 years that The Boyz have been leading (?) our team equals a 34% winning percentage … 8-of-10 LAST PLACE finishes in the NFC South — ZERO playoff appearances … soon to be 5 HCs & 2 GMs and heaven knows how many players traversing the halls of One Buc Palace.
But TRUST US they say … we’ll get it right this time.
January 1st, 2019 at 9:07 am
Can the fans trust Licht to hire a coach? Is it more likely we get the next “Bill Parcells”, or the “Roberto Aguayo” of coaches?
Let’s just hope our next head coach is better than Licht’s second round picks.
January 1st, 2019 at 9:07 am
Still trying figure out why everyone was so excited about the bucs If Licht is so bad. There’s a reason he’s staying, I don’t think it’s because he’s an amazing gm I think it’s because of the excitement around the team and not wanting to blow it up like Lovie did. It’s stupid to get rid of coach and gm without seeing the real value of the players. This team was 2-0 then 2-2 without vea and with Mike Smith but imploded down the stretch. That’s coaching not the gm and I for one want to see these guys play under a competent coach including Winston. Mark Dominick and Licht has some bad drafts but the head coaches running the team we’re even worse.
Gruden and Bruce Allen were the worst to draft in bucs history but no one mentions it
January 1st, 2019 at 9:09 am
There are holes in every NFL roster. This roster is not that far off. I think they need another high quality CB and hope that 51 and 58 come back healthy at LB.
They’re #1 need is to stack that OL. They need studs to protect JW and run the ball. I think they know this and this is the only logical direction if you are keeping JW in 2019. If he does not produce with a solid line and running game then you well set to add a different QB going forward.
January 1st, 2019 at 9:09 am
Whoever we bring in as head coach will need to be able to be Jamies’s full-time babysitter
Mike McCarthy is the only one that can do it
January 1st, 2019 at 9:09 am
@ Defense Rules
By my calculation the numbers are, since the Glazer babies took over, Malcom’s strokes were in April 2006 is 77-103
But you’re point is correct!
Licht = 27-53
Winston = 21-33
Since Malcolm’s Stroke = 77 – 131
New HC = 0-0 (but he will have to coach Licht’s picks)
January 1st, 2019 at 9:12 am
Called it a few days ago.
Figured it would be good riddance to Koetter and Desean Jackson and so on and so forth.
And
Hellelulia that Jameis stays.
Real class at work here.
January 1st, 2019 at 9:13 am
“Gruden and Bruce Allen were the worst to draft in bucs history but no one mentions it”
Yes they were but that is ancient history now, Licht is still screwing up drafts as we speak.
And Allen went 38-42 as Buc’s GM with 2 playoff appearances. Licht has a long way to go to get the won-loss record so close.
Licht couldn’t polish Bruce Allens nameplate with out messing it up!
January 1st, 2019 at 9:13 am
This organization never figured it out. a first pick franchise qb and no stud running back and no defense. If you look at big Ben, breese, Manning, etc. The coach was always trying to eliminate mistakes by a young QB with a good running game.
January 1st, 2019 at 9:23 am
Mike Mccarthy as Jameis coach= 21-32 178 yards 0 tds 0 ints
Bruce Arians as Jameis coach= 25-35 335 yards 3 tds 1 int
January 1st, 2019 at 9:29 am
If Arians is indeed the hottest name with the most experience with premier QBs….good chance he gets a shot to coach Rodgers in Green Bay.
Packer tradition with all time great QB….OR….losing culture of Bucs with middle of the road QB that’s turnover prone? Tough call….
January 1st, 2019 at 9:29 am
Glazers please sell the team & quit playing the fans as suckers. You’ve done it long enough.
January 1st, 2019 at 9:52 am
If the Bucs focus on trench talent in the 1st 2 rounds of draft the next 2 years, then they should start winning. Vea was a good start, now focus on OLine and add more DLine pieces.
January 1st, 2019 at 9:56 am
Licht is totally incompetent with bad judgment
January 1st, 2019 at 10:24 am
Mike Smith was a huge Martin fan, via the practice field !!! Enough said !!!
January 1st, 2019 at 10:46 am
Great the guy who cant hire and assess player talent for the past 5 years is going to hire and assess coaching talent….. What a joke.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:00 am
Rojo isnt a bust hes porrly.coached. That kid would.be a monster for new.orleans or kansas city or the rams or the patriots. The kicker nbody woukd have bitched abouthad he not had a meltdown he was the best kicker in college and was thought to be an exceleeny addition before he fell apart despute where he was picked.
I wish we.knew whos.pick was whos
January 1st, 2019 at 11:47 am
How Licht still has a GM position is baffling. His record speak volumes about him and the Glazers. The team just needs to be sold. The NFL should start holding team ownership accountable for years of below average records. The shared revenue has socialized ownerships and made them not care about results ever.
January 1st, 2019 at 11:58 am
Kinda sad guys. Licht should be gone with his track record. But…we are only fans.Glazers like him and I bet Licht is quite good at..throwin others under the bus to save his own skin. I call him the NFL’s..Benedict Arnold!! He’s here to stay whether we like him or not. I hope Arians gives us serious consideration. Really.
January 1st, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Backstabbin’ Jason Licht is the worst GM in the division. They can and should do better.
January 1st, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Sorry BucEmUp, but Rojo is a joke and everyone knew it before we picked him. He doesn’t know the play book and he goes down too easy on contact. He can’t catch out of the backfield or block/pick up the blitz either. He did nothing in the big games while in college (OSU, ND, TX) also.
January 2nd, 2019 at 8:15 am
Pete I Says:
Licht = 27-53
Winston = 21-33
Since Malcolm’s Stroke = 77 – 131
New HC = 0-0 (but he will have to coach Licht’s picks)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pete, is it really necessary to do this same exact post every single day?