Surprise!
April 4th, 2020
Hoping for a surprise.
Hope is a big thing around One Buc Palace. Sadly, wins seem to take a back seat to hope.
So it was interesting to Joe that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, sort of up against it with the salary cap after (smartly) bringing back his defensive free agents, is hoping something unexpected takes place in the coming weeks that would further bolster his team’s roster.
In his appearance Friday morning on “The Opening Drive,” co-hosted by Bob Papa and Charlie Weis heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Licht was asked by Weis what other plans he had to bulk up the roster, outside the draft.
Licht pointed out the Bucs don’t have as much cash under the cap as “some sources” claim. But Licht also said more often than not, other teams can and do make a roster move that catches the rest of the league off guard. Licht said he wants to have the ammo to be able to pounce.
“We do have some cap room but we have to account for the rookies,” Licht explained. “We don’t have as much as it may appear from some sources out there. There might be a surprise here or there.
“You always want to reserve a little bit for that guy that becomes available that you were not expecting because there always is a guy who becomes available that you were not expecting.”
To that end, Joe was listening to Pat Kirwan earlier in the week specifically talking about cornerbacks, but the same philosophy applies to all positions.
(And yes, Joe still hopes the Bucs find a veteran corner.)
Kirwan said in the immediate weeks leading up the draft that teams that need corners, if they don’t sign anyone, they will very likely draft a corner or two. In the process, what may have been a slim job market tightens even more.
Then, Kirwan said, after the draft, it’s a buyer’s market for teams.
Could this be what Licht is expecting/hoping for? That a corner is still looking for work and or a corner gets released right after the draft and has little choice to slum for work or not work at all?
April 4th, 2020 at 12:17 am
Happens every year, and a smart move by Licht: save some ammo cuz’ you never know when you need it.
April 4th, 2020 at 12:19 am
A veteran safety would be nice also. And I mean one with experience as a starter.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:10 am
A rookie right tackle for Brady is kinda scary. Need to get another year out of Dotson.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:21 am
Why the hell, when the three young CBs completely stepped up at the end of last year pushing the defense into the top 5, would you bench them for a guy no team wants right now? The whole point of “Joe Bucs Fan” is this is coverage from an “average Joe’s” perspective. Unfortunately, the actual football analysis is also from that same perspective.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:41 am
I guess if the bucs don’t do everything this Joe wants, he’s just going to cry about it. Who would you take out for a veteran corner? If a veteran comes here, he doesn’t want to be a backup unless he’s desperate for work. If he’s desperate then why do you want him?
April 4th, 2020 at 5:04 am
Logan Ryan is still a FA, played really well for Titans outside and slot sometimes. Think it can be a good and veteran precense at corner. Dean, SMB and Davis played better the second half of the season and they should continue to play and develop but a veteran like Ryan can help and provide depth.
April 4th, 2020 at 5:37 am
DanBucsFan Says:
April 4th, 2020 at 12:19 am
A veteran safety would be nice also. And I mean one with experience as a starter.
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One former Buc safety who is still a FA would be Keith Tandy. He wasn’t terrible, he just happened to be on the Bucs at the wrong time when they were experiencing bad play from their corners. He actually stuck around longer than many others but when they drafted Whitehead he was released. I think mainly for the money.
April 4th, 2020 at 6:40 am
Ira thinks we need to spend more on a backup QB…..i’m not in that camp.
I’d rather have a veteran safety than CB…..or a DT to replace Allen…..we essentially have our front 7 back but depth is an issue.
Just how much cap space do we have……I’m sure I’ll get several different answers.
April 4th, 2020 at 7:15 am
4 deep in corners. Not needed as bad as line depth, a right tackle and a lead back.
April 4th, 2020 at 7:18 am
I believe we look at this philosophy for multiple positions to fill out depth.
If none of the big time prospects are there at 14, then trade back and scoop up a volume of players.
April 4th, 2020 at 7:48 am
Dotson is gone. Haeg is our new starting RT. The Bucs will draft two O linemen. One will be a RT, Dotson is not coming back.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:15 am
Bruce, Hodad is correct. You may have missed the quote, but BA was recently talking about his offensive line, mentioned all of them by name but specifically left out Dotson. Arians has a way of telegraphing these things when he isn’t going to bring a player back. He has done this a number of times with other players that were cut. He makes it clear that the team is moving on from certain players when he omits their names from the conversation. Dotson is toast.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:45 am
There’s not going to be a 2020 season, people. Isn’t that obvious by now? Do the math. Think about it.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:46 am
Since loser Licht is so worried about cap space why in the world would he waste 2 mil on Dotson? Rework some of the big contracts to free up some cap space.
April 4th, 2020 at 9:08 am
Sydney Says:
April 4th, 2020 at 8:45 am
There’s not going to be a 2020 season, people. Isn’t that obvious by now? Do the math. Think about it.
The TV rights alone will assure a 2020 season……even with no spectators…..the ratings would be huge…..to much $$$…..players would be tested before playing……games will be played no matter what.
April 4th, 2020 at 9:18 am
Sydney,
Don’t worry the fear mongering will be over end of May beginning of June. Most States with low numbers will be back to normal operations by May 15th or earlier. Dont see the Bucs drafting a CB or even picking one up via FA unless they can play Safety and CB.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:03 am
TBBF
I hope you are correct. I’m not sure what they’ll they do to replace the “ambiance” and sound of screaming fans. Shooting the cannons in an empty stadium seems a little desperate. The actual video would be easy…just avoid shots of the empty stands.
Comedy shows simply add laugh tracks. I believe like me you have a TV background. You are then well aware of the old “nat sound” in the audio mix with the audience blended behind the announcers…hard to mix natural sound when it’s like Simon and Garfunkels’ “The Sound of Silence”.
BucnJim Do watch TV coverage of what is happening in our nation?
Are all those desperate nurses and doctors…people who put THEIR lives on the line and then sob how they’re worried about bringing this stuff home to their husband…their four year old. You call that “fear mongering”
Check your information sources or check your humanity.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:09 am
TBBF….I’m thinking they’re going to reschedule a lot of shyte real soon.
Perhaps start the season later than normal?
April 4th, 2020 at 10:14 am
There are for more potential CB’s in our overall population than edge rushers or OL who lets face it…are physical freaks and exceptional…rare…how many 6-5 280 lb dudes do you see in public? How many six foot 200 pound chiseled athletes do you see?
Certainly the truly generational guys like Peterson are rare physical specimens but other very effective DB’s like Richard Sherman are not uncommon.
What does seem to be uncommon is finding guys who either like Sherman combine what talent he has with tremendous competitive fire and smarts or the Petersons…guys who can cover a #1 WR.
What seems to be difficult is scouting these guys. When you can find a true “cover corner” you are blessed. We MAY have found three of them…if they continue to progress at their current pace the Bucs may have a defensive backfield for the ages.
I’m more like DR and the rest who are worried about being thin and inexperienced at safety…have to get a bit of luck there…health-wise and in the development of Mike Edwards…or pick up an FA or draft one.
BTW When talking about the draft…while we too often concentrate on his mistakes…some of which were historic…2nd rounder wasted on Aguayo…Jason Licht has been very successful filling out the roster with UDFA’s.
There are so many gifted WR’s in this draft I do not wish to spend a high pick at all…in fact there will be several who end up UDFA’s…let’s hope the same is true for safeties and CB’s.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:20 am
As far as a season…it will depend on the scientists. If we discover quick, inexpensive and easy to administer tests…medicine to treat this illness…or an actual vaccine to prevent it…it’s going to be very tough.
ALL forecasts from actual scientists…not people who claim to like it and be really good at it…say that our hot weather will indeed tamp down waves in August and into September…perhaps October…but then without the meds and tests..it will rebound again in the fall about the time that would mark the midway point of a normal NFL season.
This is exactly what happened in the 1918 pandemic so I see no reason to suspect the science this time around.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:31 am
SPBF…surely they’ll have plenty of test readily available by October….at least that’s what Fauci says. The fall won’t be nearly as bad as what’s going on now…that’s what he says…not me.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:46 am
Abbott says they will produce 5 million tests in April……so, I suspect by August their will be multi-million testing capabilities….
April 4th, 2020 at 11:19 am
87 and TBBF
I agree with both of you. I’m quite hopeful that our and the rest of the world’s scientists will find medicine as well as a vaccine.
I saw the Doc who discovered the HIV virus as the cause of AIDS claiming that we are closer to a vaccine than perhaps people think. Maybe even in the next 90 days. As Joe points out…it’s one thing to discover it..another to scale it up…I just believe that the scale of this tragedy…physical..economic..emotional will motivate in a major way.
April 4th, 2020 at 11:50 am
Another year of DOTsON you’re nuts 🥜