It’s Deep
April 16th, 2019
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
If people are trying to figure out the battle plans of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht for next week’s draft, feel free to read into this what you wish.
Many draft experts believe the draft is deep in defensive linemen and edge rushers. And Licht seemed to agree, as he discussed in his pre-draft press conference at One Buc Palace today.
When asked about defensive tackles and edge rushers, Licht did not disagree that it is a buyer’s market next week. But how deep?
Joe asked Licht if teams could get value in the second or third rounds if they are hunting for quarterback hunters or defensive tackles.
“I believe you can,” Licht said.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the Bucs will actually wait until the third round to get an edge rusher. But if they do, it seems as if Licht believes that guy could contribute.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Can’t screw this one up there Jason! It’s time to get on track.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Why in the hell wasn’t this pre draft PC streamed live on Buccaneers.com?!? It has been in year’s past…
April 16th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Unless two QBs are taken ahead of the Bucs, Licht will screw up #5.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
They didn’t?
No wonder there was no backlighting.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:26 pm
No faith in Licht whatsoever. Hopefully Arians will be making the picks
April 16th, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Ok, everywhere you look there are mock drafts, so I decided to give it a go….for what it’s worth.
Pick #5: TRADE….Bucs trade the #5 pick and DT Gerald McCoy to Miami….Miami gives up picks # 13, 48, 78 and a 2020 2nd round pick.
Pick #13: Christian Wilkins, (or Ed Oliver if still on board) DT Clemson…(6’3” 300lbs of freaky athleticism….explosive off the snap…our new gap penetrating 3 technique next to big Vita Vea, and way cheaper than McCoy! Immediate starter! Eventual Pro-Bowler)
Pick #39: Michael Dieter, G/C Wisconsin….(the 6’6” 321lb lineman is versatile, played G, C and even some T in college….powerful in both run and pass blocking…an instant starter on interior O-Line)
Pick #48: Zach Allen, DE Boston College….(this 6’5” 280lb DE is a great run stopper, and while not elite at pass rushing, still has enough “short field” quickness to collect sacks and pressure QB’s…an instant rotation guy with JPP and Carl Nassib)
Pick #70: Rock Ya Sin, CB Temple…(at 6’1” and 190lbs, a long, strong, physical defender who breaks up a lot of passes…starter by years end)
Pick #78: Andy Isabella, WR U Mass….(Our new Adam Humphries, but way quicker …ran a 4.38 40 Yd dash….and more explosive with the ball in his hands….a smallish, but super fast slot guy with soft hands…also a good route runner….should be a starter early in season)
Pick #107: Elijah Holyfield, RB Georgia….(a 5’10” bowling ball of an inside power runner with a bruising running style…a’la Nick Chubb….situational player)
Pick #145: Jordan Ta’amu, QB Mississippi…..(6’3, 222lbs….smart, mobile, accurate thrower with a good arm and an excellent pump fake…only QB in the SEC to average over 300yds passing per game(326.5) …..also ran for over 500yds over the past 2 seasons…developmental player and quality backup depth)
Pick #215: Joe Giles Harris, ILB, Duke….(6’1” 240lbs….smart, diagnoses plays well, runs sideline-to-sideline, solid tackler….a “poor man’s” Devin White, steady if somewhat unspectacular with occasional flashes….Good special teams guy right off the bat and decent rotation guy)
April 16th, 2019 at 12:29 pm
6-10
April 16th, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Will Grier is going to be the best QB out of this years class, would love the bucs to grab him round 2 if he is still there. Jason Licht is a horrible personnel man BUT looking at the state of teh cardinals after arians left he did not do the cardinals any favors when trying to keep that team in the mix. The cardinals are AS bad as the bucs are in terms of current talent and a future
April 16th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Was checking every half hour all morning..
April 16th, 2019 at 12:32 pm
@ Brian
I agree. Don’t worry. GM Licht will be fetching drinks and shrimp cocktails for BA on during the draft. However, BA also has had a few first round failures as well.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:46 pm
LMAO Joe at your headline. When I first read that & saw Jason’s picture under it, I thought he was complaining about all the doo-doo building up around him.
Then I read the article. Rats.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Jaylon Ferguson is one of my most coveted pass rushers in this draft. I could care less about an 8 second 3 cone drill when the dude can bull rush his way to the Qb straight through the tackle.
The guy had a borderline 1st round grade before testing and reports of a nothing scuffle as a 17 year old. But his tape is spectacular.
Flashback to history. Now, these guys are 2 different players but stay with me. Back in 2003, preceding the combine Terrel Suggs was considered a slam dunk consensus top 5 pick going into the draft after setting the CBS records for most sacks in 1 season with 24 and most sacks recorded period in the fbs with 44.
Suggs struggled at the combine. Ran 4.84 as an Olb and only put up 19 reps. He fell to Baltimore and became a phenom. In the words Ozzie Newsome HOF TE and HOF GM of the Ravens on why he felt confident taking Suggs that high despite his athletic testing, “someone had to get those 24 sacks.”
Jaylon Ferguson broke Suggs record for most sacks recorded in FBS history with 45 and had 17.5 his last season. I probably want Ferguson more than any other player in the 2nd round. Even if we take a pass rusher in the 1st.
April 16th, 2019 at 1:01 pm
DE/DT Charles Omenihu (Texas). Third round steal.
April 16th, 2019 at 1:14 pm
At this point we are so desperate for help that i would trade back and try to acquire 4 new quality starters rather than one big name superstar out the draft! Lol but we tried that last year and screwed it up so i don’t know what to think of Licht and the draft *sigh* it sucks being a Bucs fan but hey i love my team
April 16th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
I agree ,Will Grier is under rated and will surprise a bunch of people.
April 16th, 2019 at 1:30 pm
Will Grier has a noodle arm. I doubt his game translates to the NFL.
NFL.Com rates him as an NFL Backup
April 16th, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Wow. Off topic but anyone notice the NFL Network draft commercial shows every number one draft pick from 2011 throughast year except for one. Want to guess whom was left out?
April 16th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
too bad that a pass rusher alone, won’t fix this mess
of a defense.
and what about the O-line?
it’s still old and trash..
offense will be pretty much the same coming season again..
(if lucky with injurys)
same old thing:
Bucs will be trash again next season..
no coaching stuff can turn trash talented players into pro-bowlers..
April 16th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
TOM BRADY?
April 16th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Russel Wilson?!
April 16th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Roberto Aguayo?
April 16th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
Licht’s answer to “Name three players you would trade up to get.”
April 16th, 2019 at 2:11 pm
AwShbucs Says:
Been watching Ferguson also. Can only suspect that off-field issues and his tendency to play rigid in a 4-3 only scheme keeping him out of 1st RD. But the man knows how to get sacks. Would definitely consider him in 2nd-3rd RD.
April 16th, 2019 at 2:14 pm
Nobody roots for the rookies more than the front office, if they don’t produce they are history. Hoping the draft is better than last years crop, I left day two worried about lichts job
April 16th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
lol I’d hope that’s his answer vs “Meh I duno man I am pretty bad at the draft and if it’s not the 1st round nothing is guarenteed”
April 16th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
The draft is deep at DL and edge rushers, but even with the fifth pick, Jason will find a way to screw up the draft.
April 16th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
“Joe asked Licht if teams could get value in the second or third rounds if they are hunting for quarterback hunters or defensive tackles.
“I believe you can,” Licht said.
Licht Really meant “you can”…not that he could.
Licht could not find value if he was in the middle of a Walmart.
April 16th, 2019 at 3:35 pm
I wanted the Bucs to draft Derwin James last year and this year I want them to draft Ed Oliver.
Daniel Jeremiah said on Path to the Draft last night that he is hearing teams that want to trade into the top 5 are targeting Ed Oliver.
April 16th, 2019 at 3:41 pm
jachi polite= 3rd round seal….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
April 16th, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Jason Licht is the best GM this team has ever had. I dare anyone to compare his full record with any other Buc GMs full record while here.
Licht comes out ahead of everyone, including Rich McKay, who many here forget was unable to make more than a few good picks and who drive this team into cap h3ll.
This is the first year Licht has had cap issues, and he is well on his way to fixing them by next season.
April 16th, 2019 at 3:46 pm
humblecrusher Says:
“Kudos to Scott Reynolds”
((((((((
… said no one ever.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Bonzai……..The salary cap issue is blown way out of porportion.
We are a lot better off heading into the future then anybody wants to give credit for. I think it’s just human nature…..people just always want more more more.
Reguardless, we are in a favorable position(meaning very flexible) with our CAP at nearly every position on the roster………But most fans don’t give a crap about the future. They only care what they see in front of them.
The way I see it Bruce Arians was not going to come out of retirement if he had to strip apart a whole roster………He knew what jobs were avialable and probably had no interest in a few. The Bucs didn’t pick him. Bruce picked us……………Y’all can call it a 5-11 roster til your blue in the face. Bruce disagrees. Given his pedigree and success as a HC, I’ll take Bruce’s word. I’m good with the roster.
But you are wrong saying Licht is our best GM. He still has a chance to proove himself but without wins your claims are unfounded…… Just like the HC & QB the GM is judged on Wins.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:11 pm
If Arians was smart, he would lock the door and not let Jason in the draft room for the first 2 days. Jason cant even pick his underwear right. Licht is a bust in draft terms. Need evidence? Look at our trenches on both sides of ball…the key every NFL team.
How can we expect to improve the recipe on the field when we have had many of the same “talent” evaluators since Lovie regime? Glazers are really weak in this area of team mgmt. They had an opportunity with BA coming in to force Jason to dump some of these bad employees who somehow cant find a RB, DE, or a CB in 7 rounds of drafting over 5 years.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
@Just Sayin’
Must have been that little “hassle” that’s keeping him out of the limelight.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:21 pm
I have a sneaking suspicion that we are going to see a Sapp + Brooks type of draft, where we take a talented DT high, then maybe trade back into the late 1st to take a LB.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:22 pm
There is no Sapp or Brooks in this draft Mojo.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:23 pm
Donuts…..As I recall, once upon a time, Licht fixed our offensive line in one year((2015).
We went from a bottom rush team in ’14 to a Top Five unit in ’15.
After that year we went to a bottom unit and have remained their since………..If you want you could blame everything on Logan Mankins retiring but sell that theory to others cause I ain’t buying.
The most likely reason our rushing attack suffered was a new HC in ’16 with a different attack plan. Dirk changed the formations and he changed the personall grouping. I don’t know much about blocking schemes but I bet he changed that too……To make it worse he never went back with what was proven to work in 2015.
There is also a lot of evidence to suggest Dirk did a really bad job at building a OL. Most glaringly was that he didn’t develope not one Lineman in 3 seasons…….that’s zero T, zero G & zero C………..How about changing our best players position each and every year? More evidence…………How about putting players in the wrong positions? Like Benechot & Phampile who have both been moved since they left Dirk? More evidence.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
m0j0 … This particular draft is supposedly a LOT deeper in DTs & DEs than in LBs. Only 2 LBs rated in the 1st round by just about everyone are White & Bush (with Bush projected as a Will by many it seems). Most likely they’ll both be gone by pick #25.
Would love to see Bucs get Quinnen Williams (6’3″ & 303 lbs), but reality is that our chances are close to ZERO. His performance this past year was in a league of its own: 71 tackles, 19.5 TFL & 8 sacks against top-level competition. Oliver (6’1″ & 275 lbs) doesn’t excite me at all (too short/light & Bucs need someone in the middle who can stuff the run with Vea as well as pressure the QB … seriously doubt Oliver’s that guy at the NFL level at 275-280).
Wilkins (6’3″ & 315 lbs) on the other hand had a great year: 50 tackles, 14 TFL & 5.5 sacks against solid competition. Simmons (6’4″ & 301 lbs) also had a very good year: 63 tackles, 17 TFL & 2 sacks. One but probably not both might make it to the 2nd round when the Bucs pick. If not, Tillery (6’6″ & 295 lbs) MIGHT be a pick to look at if Bucs can get by his character concerns; he had a decent year: 30 tackles, 10.5 TFL & 8 sacks for Notre Dame.
Still want Devin White though at #5 if Quinnen Williams is off the board by then. Would love to get DE Jaylon Ferguson also but not until the 2nd round.
April 16th, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Was good to hear the draft thoughts of Licht today. Like all GM’s, plenty up his sleeve(s), yet so few matter in retrospect. His draft history hasn’t been exactly stellar.
April 16th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
I wrote 4 separate post on the last 4 articles referring to Licht press conference. They were all put in moderation 3 hours ago and apparently have been rejected. That’s discriminatory and demeaning.
April 16th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Want Williams first…..if not Williams, Allen….and then for me it’s a toss-up between Oliver & White…..but lean toward White….
A dominant MLB with leadership is desperately needed…..I think he is worth the pick….
If we are lucky enough to trade down….we still could get Bush, Oliver or Sweat……depends on where we land.
April 16th, 2019 at 5:52 pm
We all have our differences as far as who we hope is drafted first. However, has anyone on the Ed Oliver train asked themselves why he didn’t have better stats in the american conference? I think he will be a good player, but not a second coming of Aaron Donald, and is a “reach” in the top 15 of the draft. IMHO
April 16th, 2019 at 8:41 pm
Daniel Jeremiah (i don’t know how he or Bucky Brooks stay on tv)has Oliver going #3 to Jets and #6 (Giants) picking QB Daniel Jones to figure
April 17th, 2019 at 8:01 am
humblecrusher Says:
“(Scott Reynolds) brought his weight and steel ones today”
(((
Most hilarious comment on the history of this site, PR fanboi.