Big Day For The Bucs’ Front Office
November 29th, 2020
Bucs GM Jason Licht
The Bucs’ front office made a bold non-move this offseason and today it will be put to the ultimate test against the mighty Chiefs.
The powers at One Buc Palace decided they would roll this season with an immature defensive backfield, including three 23-year-olds being gifted the big-three cornerback roles, Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean. And throw in a rookie safety, Antione Winfield, and another 23-year-old alongside him, Jordan Whitehead.
It was a huge leap of faith in a passing league, and on a defense that is awesome at stopping the run.
Of course, a giant part of the call was about money. You can’t lay out big money at every position in a salary-cap league. And the Bucs went all-in even further on their youngster plan when they didn’t make quality depth in the secondary a priority.
So far, Joe is confident the gamble has paid off.
The Bucs defense has been ranked top-10 overall all season, and Bucs defensive backs have had a high number of interceptions, including big ones. But the film reality reveals Dean has a long way to go in his development, as does Murphy-Bunting. They haven’t taken the second-year leap many expected, while Davis has made a big stride.
Today against the Chiefs, Dean is out with a concussion and that questionable Bucs’ depth will be tested.
It seems Ross Cockrell, a 29-year-old veteran activated off the Bucs’ practice squad earlier this month, seems like he’ll be the go-to guy.
Cockrell was solid against the Rams when Dean went down. And Bucco Bruce Arians talked about him on Tuesday. Perhaps veteran Ryan Smith will get the call, though Joe really doesn’t want to see that horror movie again.
The primary role of general manager Jason Licht is to build a talented and deep roster. Today, Licht and his henchmen get another stiff test of their decision-making after reasonable reviews for their offensive line depth over the past three games.
If the secondary can hold up down a man and against the best offense in football, then Joe will have to add another feather to Jason Licht’s 2020 cap.
November 29th, 2020 at 8:00 am
The Chiefs are so loaded on O, it will be quite a test indeed.
Mahomet, Kelce, Edward’s, Bell, Hill and back to Mahomes ability to run. Yowza!
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
November 29th, 2020 at 8:05 am
This so called “feathers in his cap” is comparable to She-mc93 not getting sacks but all of the “disruption” she supposedly caused!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is giving an “a+” grade to the coaching stall a “feather”?????????
And what is the point of a handful of feathers when the goal is the prized turkey!!!!!!!!!!! Get you priority straight!!!!!!! Stop with the excuses and imaginary accomplishments!!!!!!!!!! Even the sheep know what the true measuring stick is!!!!!!!!! No excuses!!!!!!!!!!!! This was the so-called “all in year of all all in years”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 29th, 2020 at 8:08 am
Sheephead the measuring stick is the playoffs. Guess who’s gona be in? Dumbo
November 29th, 2020 at 8:13 am
Rock and a hard place
November 29th, 2020 at 8:16 am
The only thing bucfan can do today is start drinking now and hope you pass out before game time.
November 29th, 2020 at 8:23 am
I think Kelce or their young RB will have a big day receiving. White is simply not good in pass coverage, an offense like the Chiefs will expose that.
November 29th, 2020 at 8:39 am
Blood Bath oh my.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:01 am
A tmax sighting AND Realist(o) in the same thread?!
Did I drink too much Jim Beam rye last night?! Or, did I wake under the same rock as tmax?!
Good to see you brother!
Realist(o), you of all people should just stop talking when it comes to defense.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:02 am
The Chiefs are 100% healthy in all phases. If it comes to Ryan Smith for the Bucs or “anyone else,” I choose anyone else. Leave Smith on special teams at most. Then there is Donovon Smith…questionable, but most important is Marpet–can he go. “Questionable” is a good sign.
I do not think Brady will turn in two clunkers in a row. I do think Arians and Lefwich will continue to struggle with leading the offense game plan and play calling. I hope Bowles does a better job adjusting, blitzing, and trying to confuse Mahomes than he did Goff. Can all do at least as good as they did against LV and GB? I’m saying “There is a chance…”
If they lose today, and particularly if they lose badly, the national conversation will focus harder on “old” Brady, while Bucs fans (and I hope the Glazers) will focus more on whether it’s time to show Licht and Arians the door, especially if they don’t make the playoffs, or eek in and are one and done. The Glazers (to their mistakes) have given Licht and BA everything they have wanted, from Jameis Winston given to Licht, BA himself given to Licht, and of course guys like Brady, AB, Suh, JPP, many of BA’s cronies from ARI and elsewhere (including BL) and the results have not been good. Todd Bowles seems to be a bright spot but he doesn’t need to let the D stink this one up again.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:12 am
Licht’s decision making has been tested every day since 2014 which includes a resume of two 1st round draft busts including a #1 overall. Plus, let’s not forget a plethora of draft failures in the 2nd round and an overwhelmingly bad free agent evaluator.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:13 am
I hope the front office caught this golden nugget!
Syracuse QB inexplicably spikes ball on fourth-and-goal to lose game
Now that is buc ball. He’ll be fine buccaneer man.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:19 am
Bucsfanman
I hope you are well ma’am. Same ole bucs only thing you can count on is Draft talk by thanksgiving and nut punches for xmas. Glazers are very consistent.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:23 am
D Rome
The bucs have gotten 2 draft picks right since 76 Selmon and Sapp. Rest were bums, reaches or never developed. What makes you focus on 2nd round failures
November 29th, 2020 at 9:31 am
Licht does what the Glazers and BAzz (and Methuselah) order. The Licht bashing is getting way beyond old and tiresome.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:34 am
Sport O
I bet you missed me most of all… I’m here to help you pal… Anyone that still trusts BA is BA or in need of full time mentorship. I got your back. You clearly have trust issues. I recommend Star at mons. She is not cheap but is an expert in helping men regain balance and trust.
November 29th, 2020 at 9:58 am
tmaxcon Says:
November 29th, 2020 at 9:23 am
D Rome
The bucs have gotten 2 draft picks right since 76 Selmon and Sapp. Rest were bums, reaches or never developed. What makes you focus on 2nd round failures.
___________
That’s weird……
Are you saying we got it wrong by picking JayMiss?
Aren’t you one of the founding members of the Nuthugger Brigade?
November 29th, 2020 at 10:13 am
You can’t say there is always next year. The bucs have only 32 mil in cap space and thats only 30 players. You need 21 more players lets say 7 draft picks and 14 free agents. Take away 8 mil for draft picks that leaves 24 mil for 14 free agents. Not a whole lot of money especially when Godwin and Barrett could eat up 32 mil by themselves.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:14 am
Doosh
Hello, jameis was the correct pick. The incompetent franchise did not develop the savior Jameis Christ…. Surrounded him with a crap coaches, horrible defenses, mentally weak oline and a franchise void of leadership.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:26 am
Hard to develop a mental midget that keeps making the same mistakes.
At some point you have to realize that he just doesn’t have what it takes upstairs to be consistently successful in the NFL.
Time will prove this out.
Is Brady the long term answer? Of course not, but out of all the available QBs I’d have to say, yeah, I like our chances with him under center.
We’re 7-4
Not 4-7, which is what we’d probably be under the Soiled Messiah’s….. ummmm…. leadership?
Nice to have you back, kinda.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:32 am
tmax,
I have genuinely missed your cantankerous bluster in the comment section.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:33 am
DoooshLaRue
Jameis and payton will be making the bucsvregret this desperate decision for decades. Just think the future is Raheems falcons and Jameis saints embarrassing bucs for the next decade. Bucs will always be embarrassing somethings never change
November 29th, 2020 at 10:34 am
I didnt notice Cockrell too much except once stepping up to make a play at the line of scrimmage. If he can play good down in the box we will probably see Bunting play the sideline.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:51 am
Yeah JJ, Cockrell looked pretty good from what I saw.
November 29th, 2020 at 10:58 am
Then why isn’t JayMiss starting for the Saints already?
Hmmmmmmmm…….
November 29th, 2020 at 11:53 am
Neither Winston, nor Mariota turned out to be franchise Q.B.’s, it happens. The play would’ve been to trade the 1st overall pick that year for a boat load of future. Hindsight is 20/20. Let’s just hope when the time comes to draft the next future Buc Q.B., that Licht, and Arains won’t be making that pick. Should be as early as next year.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:09 pm
IF KC brings a pass rush early. This thing could get ugly very quickly.
November 29th, 2020 at 1:38 pm
YAY! We get to play that off zone we are so good at…42 to 24 Chiefs…if this game starts to get out of hand and we cant protect Brady…please be smart and put in another QB…let’s get to our bye week…get healthy and focus on those last 4 games…be smart
November 29th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
I hope they win, but I don’t see it. If BA doesn’t wise up, I think the Bucs are going to get blown out. Again, I hope the Bucs win.
November 29th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Time to clear house… sell the team, fire Licht, and fire Arians.