Smart To Let Kwon Walk?
March 24th, 2019
Not a big loss?
The Bucs defense appears to have a really different look this fall, one Bucs fans haven’t seen in a long time.
When Lee Roy Selmon used to prowl the trenches for the Bucs, the team used a three-man front, which made Selmon’s dominance all the more impressive as he was often double- and triple-teamed. But those stunts rarely worked against the gentle giant.
The Bucs look to be going to a three-man front this year but despite using four linebackers, Kwon Alexander won’t be among them as he went to greener pastures with John Lynch in San Francisco.
And while Brad Gagnon was harsh in his Bleacher Report analysis of the Bucs’ free agency period, Gagnon gave Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht props for not caving to Alexander’s demands.
They were smart to let Kwon Alexander walk considering the money he got from San Francisco. Newcomers Shaquil Barrett and Deone Bucannon cost less than half of Alexander’s 2019 salary combined.
Joe once again will state he is not anti-Alexander, who Joe believes has the intangibles of the perfect teammate. Those traits, however, should not cloud the serious questions in his game.
Joe just has a hangup about a middle linebacker responsible for calling defensive plays on the NFL’s worst defense the past two seasons, one that improved when Alexander was hurt and his season finished prematurely with a knee injury. Add to that Alexander was coming off major knee surgery with a huge asking price and dubious production, well, let’s just say Joe wouldn’t have been willing to to fleeced like Lynch and the 49ers.
It’s not like the Bucs defense will get worse without Alexander. It can’t get any worse.
March 24th, 2019 at 8:08 am
Signing your own free agents is a gamble. Sometimes, the house is stacked against you and it’s best just not to take those odds and keep the $$$$ in your pocket.
This was a no-brainer decision by Licht and he did the right thing.
March 24th, 2019 at 8:16 am
This Defence got worse as the season went on….the entire Defence!!
March 24th, 2019 at 8:16 am
There was no way we could have or should have kept Kwon……we simply didn’t have the money and if we did, it could have been better spent elsewhere.
Good for Kwon….get all you can get….the NFL career is very short for many.
March 24th, 2019 at 8:20 am
Wright I agree 100%…
The reality is, you can’t resign all of your draft pics…Kwon was solid but definitely not worth the money he got in San Fran ..that being said, kudos to him and his agent for a nice payday…
Me personally, I’ve been on the Devin White hype train for quite some time now, I just think he’ll be an absolute stud in Todd Bowles defense…
March 24th, 2019 at 8:27 am
It’s hard to win the worst secondary in the nfl and one linebacker.
Our d line talent actually was okay down the stretch
Vita came on jpp and Gerald
So we need corners, safeties, linebackers, offensive lineman and running backs
Am I missing anything?
March 24th, 2019 at 8:34 am
If Joe has a hang up about a middle linebacker calling plays on the worst defense in the league but yet he will praise and kiss the arse of the biggest P…S in the league and be ok with her 13 million dollar salary then one MUST question Joes sanity.
March 24th, 2019 at 8:44 am
We had to let Kwon go for that kind of money. It was a good move. Kwon is good not great. Joe keeps saying that the defense improved after Kwon left. That’s a really poor cause and effect analysis. Joe knows the main factor of improvement was the change in D coordinator. It’s not necessary so support his arguement. I would also say that Vea’s emergence and Adam’s opportune interceptions were a factor in the improved defense.
March 24th, 2019 at 8:47 am
Why pay an average MLB 13 million a year??
March 24th, 2019 at 8:53 am
Easy… the bigger question is why pay a BELOW average DT who has produced NOTHING for you in eight years and is the biggest Pansy on the team 13 million a year? Seriously helping a QB off the turf and crying “my bad Ben” I lost ANY respect I had for him right then and there. You would NEVER see Sapp doing that!
March 24th, 2019 at 9:01 am
Yep, his asking price was out of reach for us. I think it came down to GMC or Kwon.
March 24th, 2019 at 9:08 am
@Buc Believer
You’re preaching to the choir buddy. He will be gone after this season and they will use that money towards our average QB “Tampas Pro Bowl Alternate QB”
March 24th, 2019 at 9:14 am
Reggie White used to help people up after sacking them all the time. And quit comparing GMC to Sapp, that’s pointless. Sapp is one of the greatest DT to play the game and in the HoF. A once in a lifetime talent.
March 24th, 2019 at 9:45 am
It’s not like the Bucs defense will get worse without Alexander. It can’t get any worse
Not sure how that same logic doesn’t apply to a guy closer to the ball, talking about you again Geraldine. Everyone and anyone should be replaceable on a horrid defense right
March 24th, 2019 at 9:55 am
Bighog,
First off, it’s DEFENSE, not defence.
Secondly, you are absolutely 1000 percent incorrect. The “defence” got drastically better as the season went on. Are you off your meds or what?
March 24th, 2019 at 10:18 am
The amazing thing after reading the comments on this board is that Kwon was a FOURTH ROUND PICK!!! How did stupid Licht pull that stunt off…as well as finding a UDFA who also cashed in.
Perhaps that’s why Belichick actually promoted Licht when he was with the Pats. But was does Belichik know compared to the average JBF poster?
March 24th, 2019 at 10:34 am
We couldn’t afford him, its that simple….but was it smart? Not if your philosophy is build through the draft and you find a stud LB in the 4th rd, then its completely counter to your efforts to let them walk.
To put this in perspective and how I view it….Is Kwon a better LB then Brate is at TE….yes, by far. Is Kwon a better LB then Smith at LT?…Yes, by far. Is Kwon a better LB then McCoy at DT…..pretty close but Kwon is much younger and on the right side of 30. Is Kwon a better LB then Jensen is at C….Yes, by far. So why are we signing less talented players at a premium but letting our better players walk? Its stupid the way Licht does things and why we haven’t won under his leadership. He’s completely clueless at executing what he preaches.
March 24th, 2019 at 10:59 am
stpetebucsfan Lol could not agree more. He is awful at free agency but has done well in the drafts. Draft is a crap shoot most teams are lucky to get a player or two tops a year out of their classes. We have multiple guys from multiple classes under Licht doing just fine. Kwon a great example of this.Big deal he had missed everyone does.
I hated to see Kwon go but i think Licht has looked into the draft the MLB class this year is interesting. We can take the best pass rusher in the draft and draft a MLB later and likely make out very well.
March 24th, 2019 at 11:34 am
Didn’t he have like the most missed tackles in the league over the last few years? Any Bucs middle linebacker should have the opportunity to lead the league in tackles because they can never get off the field! Kwon get go showboat in San Fran after making a tackle in garbage time and finish another losing season (he’s used to it).
March 24th, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Still waiting for Joe to tell me which bucs coaches confirmed they will be a 3-4 defense. I only hear media wrote as if they know for sure but yet to hear one coach say or confirm they are 3-4.
Even now we have less players in positions to play 3-4 we have players suited for 4-3. I think you will see mix bag but JOE YOU SPEAK AS ITS FACT AND DONE DEAL
March 24th, 2019 at 12:26 pm
Joe: the defense can’t get any worse
McIceCream: hold my sippy cup
March 24th, 2019 at 1:38 pm
Kwon wasn’t worth the money. Neither was Humphries. Good calls Licht.
GMC isn’t worth the money either. Neither is Gholston. You missed on those Licht.
March 24th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
The Bucs were great in the 3-4, but sadly we don’t have a LeeRoy or even a Dewey. It was always fun watching Lee Roy. He had one move that may not be legal nowadays. Can anyone guess how he got around the OT so easily?
Kwon is being touted as the second coming by the Niners… Ha. The guy was soft and only good for a few splash plays a game otherwise he got pushed around and sealed off on running plays and couldn’t tackle. Big mouth, nice hair, but not worth the money he wanted.
March 24th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
Joe technically yes the defense can get worse. From my stand point it sure sounds like your blaming Kwon for the plays he called. Kwon is just the messenger an cuz of injuries an newbies he was prob trying to take on everyone else’s role instead of manning his own duties an trying to be super Keon an do everyone’s duties the dude is a great teammate an competitor but not work that money he got an he just calls the plays he’s told to call even if he thought they were the wrong play he prob still listened like a tru pro. If the boss tells you to jump wen you know to duck then it’s still your job to say how high should I jump an not question
March 24th, 2019 at 7:27 pm
I suspect th4e Bucs floated a small long-term dealio just to say they tried.
IMO, the Bucs D will be greatly improved without that undisciplined tackle-missing machine gone.
March 24th, 2019 at 8:09 pm
All this Licht love is sickening. He should have been fired. You can’t be horrible at drafting and signing free agents. And also have back to back 5-11 seasons as the gm. And have the least cap space of any team in the league. How does that add up to a even average gm. That’s like a local restaurant having two great services a week and the other 5 nights your steaks are over cooked. Your sides are cold. And your drink is always empty and you have to wait 30 minutes after you put in your order to hear the dreaded I’m sorry sir we are all out of that is there something else you would like to order. I have been and optimistic fan for the last 20 years but I have had enough. No more off season hype. No more saying this is the year. Facts are facts we have a horrible defense. We have a qb who is average 6 games a year who is below average 6 games. And who plays like an all pro 4 games a year. And we have the the highest paid offensive line who is bottom of the league at run blocking and middle of the road pass blocking. And add to all of that. We still have to cut people just to be able to sign are draft picks that also if history repeats itself will be average to not even being able to make an impact at all.
March 25th, 2019 at 4:28 am
It’s a big loss.
It was the right move.
Both are true.
Kwon, once fully healthy, will be a year-in, year-out, pro-bowler in SF, and he’ll get an ALL-PRO nod once.
He will be missed, but he was too expensive for this particular team make-up. That’s the way the game works.
I hope he does really well when he’s not playing us.
March 25th, 2019 at 7:52 am
Won’t miss seeing Kwon get fooled on play action all the time and missing tackles