Defense, Defense, Defense
March 27th, 2019
Defensive needs discussed.
With the possible exception of a running back, it sure smells like the Bucs will load up on defensive players in next month’s NFL draft.
Yesterday at the coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona, Bucco Bruce Arians was asked about the lack of play money under the salary cap and how he hopes to improve a garbage defense with no room to spare in spending.
Arians sure hinted he and Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht are going heavy on the defensive side of the ball in the draft in April.
“There’s a great defensive draft,” Arians said. “Gosh, I think all the way to Round 7. That part is good. I still don’t like playing with a lot of rookies. But some of these guys look like plug-and-play guys.
“We knew the cap situation when we got started. I’ve been there before. But there are really good players that you can get on a one-year deal [because] they are going to play their tail off for that next year’s contract. And we have guys with great position flexibility. They can play a couple of positions, maybe three.”
Besides, Arians seems to think the Bucs needed to load up on depth on defense before they went big game hunting.
“Instead of one $30 million guy, give me 10 $3 million guys,” Arians said. “That builds the entire depth of your roster.”
There is no question loads of work must be done with the defense. The thing is that the defense was so pathetic last year, any defensive player the Bucs draft likely has a good shot of seeing the field often in his rookie year.
March 27th, 2019 at 5:31 am
Writing is on the wall. McCoy is gone.
March 27th, 2019 at 5:42 am
Well somebody is gone . We can’t even sign the rookies…. this is one of the Bucs biggest three yrs stretches ever! If this doesn’t work where do you go from here?
March 27th, 2019 at 5:47 am
Rob, does what he said say more about ONE player, or an entire UNIT?
We have watched this team trot out some of the worst defenses in the league for some time now. Meanwhile, management has swung and missed and not developed more players than we can count.
The “writing is on the wall” for the entire defense, and yes, a 31 year old DT making $13 million.
It seems common sense to me that a team would have a transition plan for aging players like GMC. It’s just a smart business decision when production does not equal pay.
March 27th, 2019 at 5:50 am
OR:
“Give me 4 $3.25 million guys instead of 1 $13 million McSoftie guy.
March 27th, 2019 at 6:05 am
Finally
March 27th, 2019 at 6:17 am
This is so far from the “licht did his job” cries from last year!!!!!!!!!!!! Tried to tell the sheep last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 season will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 27th, 2019 at 6:22 am
“They are going to play their tail off for the NEXT years contract” that is a direct quote from BA! That is BULL F ING SPIT!!! I want and the Bucs NEED players who play their tail off for THIS years contract!! Way to many selfish player! Right GMC?
March 27th, 2019 at 6:39 am
Defense is deep this year. No problem trading out of the top 5 spots to add additional picks. Perhaps Licht will do a better job not wasting the second round picks (Spence, Rojo, Aguayo, Stewart).
Hope Arians and Licht spends a second or third rounder on a right guard or right tackle.
March 27th, 2019 at 6:53 am
Great way to start off the morning Joe. Thanks, we need more positive stuff like this and the Godwin article. BA’s in charge! There is a plan … FINALLY.
March 27th, 2019 at 6:58 am
I don’t see a lot of difference in one year contracts and Licht’s free agent misses who often wear out their welcome in a year. The next year you still have to deal with filling too many holes with new players or pay a higher price for the one year player. Maybe Licht needs to use the KISS principal . Simplify and and sign only quality players that are keepers for more than a year.
On another note,I read on another site that Licht thinks Kappa is ready to start at guard . We better get some quality O lineman in the draft to have competition.
Standing Pat on Benonoch did not work out so well lasy year.
March 27th, 2019 at 7:24 am
BA Im guessing you haven’t looked at that right side of the OL because it is abysmal. Complete rebuild by Arians, licht has wasted the past 5 years doing what?
March 27th, 2019 at 7:38 am
Bob … Good point about 1-year contracts. My belief has long been that IF it turns out to be a turnaround year for them, the Bucs would have exactly as much chance of landing them as 31 other teams. Not to mention that the contract year too often turns out to be a fluke. Bucs seem to have too many 1-year wonder; I’d much rather have someone who’s been CONSISTENT over his career.
And unless Cappa has beefed up a BUNCH, he’ll be lucky to just make the team, much less start. Hit on him coming out of college was that he lacked strength. Saw him rag-dolled too many times last year to think he’s starter material at this point. I still predict Bucs will draft both a Guard & a RB in the Top-4 Rounds, but everything else will be defense I think.
March 27th, 2019 at 7:50 am
I thought coaching was the problem?
March 27th, 2019 at 7:50 am
I love arians approach and we have accountability piece this year.
Jameis is in good hands. Think he has best year as a buc.
And defense lacks talent at spots but will be fun to watch bringing the blitzes
March 27th, 2019 at 8:01 am
Tkras
Just pay him 30mil per yr and hopefully we can get 15 tackles and 7 sacks.
March 27th, 2019 at 8:04 am
Defense
As long as Licht keeps missing on picking where a player is best suited and having to reboot and put them them somewhere else it hurts the coaching staff. Licht is juggling too many balls and inserting himself into too many areas, The coaches have to decide
who they are going to play and what position. Firmly believe that is a coaching responsibilty.
March 27th, 2019 at 8:20 am
If McCoy is released he will be signed in about 30 minutes and you guys will have to find a new whipping boy. That will take about 30 seconds.
March 27th, 2019 at 8:21 am
I don’t even think Jason can mess up the first pick
He will blow the 2nd as always
Then will reach with the rest of the picks
It should be a one player draft for us
March 27th, 2019 at 8:24 am
I’m completely in agreement that mike smith was bad….but Koetter put up a top 5-10 offense with garbage running backs…a well documented underperforming line and musical chairs at QB. I don’t think “coaching” was the issue….I think Licht got all the power he wanted and had no clue what he was doing building the roster. He drafted guys that weren’t good fits for the schemes we ran….drafted guys that were converted to one position, then converted back to another….Signed countless players to huge contracts that completely tanked…Held on to players that were overpriced for their production. Resigned mediocrity but then let quality walk. No coach was going to win with him which is why BA is calling the shots.
Lovie was right about one thing….they should have stuck to the plan and that was build the defense and run game. Licht loaded up the offense way before Winston was ready and its been a set back in his development.
March 27th, 2019 at 8:36 am
SCBucsfan
I may be reading all the stories incorrectly but I do not believe that GMC is gone means he’s getting released. If they got draft choices for DJAX they certainly can get some picks for GMC.
So let the debate begin…outside of a player for player swap..tough to pull off…what kind of draft picks will GMC fetch?
March 27th, 2019 at 8:43 am
At his salary I wouldn’t see GMC bringing much, late round pick at best.
March 27th, 2019 at 8:58 am
McCoy is not gone,necessarily, …just a little arm twisting in the media….as I have said…give the good soldier a restructured contract….2 years 13 million guaranteed….
March 27th, 2019 at 9:01 am
stpete- Just to piggy-back on what you and SCBucs are talking about, I don’t think he’ll be used for much more than moving up in the draft. I picture a scenario where maybe the Bucs offer their #5 and GMC to move up and get Q (Wishful thinking, of course!) or some other scenario to move up and snag a player. Of course, this is all a moot point if they intend on keeping Gerald.
March 27th, 2019 at 9:19 am
Bob … I agree about the coaches deciding who to play, but I think even with Licht here that’s been the case. Associated problem is carrying too much ‘dead weight’ on the roster protecting Licht’s past faux pas in picks. When a coach ONLY has 53 players available to man 25 on-field positions, dead weight kills ya. For instance, after their training camp performances, RoJo-Spence-Cappa (for starters) should’ve been on the practice squad not the active roster. None of the three were even close to being ready for prime time last year. Seriously doubt any other team would’ve taken them because they would’ve had to put them on the active roster. Only the Bucs were foolish enough to do that.
And while everyone gets on Koetter & Smitty, the position coaches are REALLY the ones who work with these players day-in and day-out, and who obviously have a big input into the game plans. A large part of our problem over this past decade IMO is that our position coaches (by-and-large) have stunk it up IMO. A number of them should’ve been fired after their first year here, but instead the boss coaches carried them. IOW, ACCOUNTABILITY SUCKED, not just for some of the players, but for the coaching staff as well. I’m HOPING that BA doesn’t fall into that same category.
SCBucsFan … Personally don’t think GMC is going anywhere, unless he wants to (which I don’t think he does). I do think however that the Bucs will ‘renegotiate his contract’ then re-sign him for somewhat less money (taking that approach, he would be a FA & could choose to play elsewhere, but I don’t think he would). I also think we’ll see a different GMC this year as a result of BA’s no-nonsense approach.
@Bobby M … “Licht loaded up the offense way before Winston was ready and its been a set back in his development”. Outstanding point.
March 27th, 2019 at 9:43 am
missed a lot yesterday….busy day at the office…..
LC whats good….lol….
i saw BA discussing VHG being an outside CB…..this man knows what he’s talking about…..
regarding the article above, bye bye GMC unless you want to restructure to a 3year 18mil deal…..
gotta go QW or EO in the 1st round…..DE in the 2nd round…..RG 3rd….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 27th, 2019 at 10:28 am
Koetter did not give the Bucs a top 5 offense. 12th in scoring. Team was always forced to put up yards due to the horrible defense. Opposing teams allowed for yards between the 20. When the field got smaller, the Bucs had no solution. Top 5 offenses score points.
March 27th, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Get the defensive points against below 24 and you have at least an 8-8 season. Any kind of improvement in running game and offensive turnovers and you are better than .500.