Credit Bucco Bruce
December 29th, 2020
Swing-for-the-fences mentality.
Yes, Joe already gave props to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht for building this fantasy football roster.
And deservedly so.
You cannot win if you don’t have the players and Licht got the players to finally (!) snap this ugly Bucs playoff drought.
It is interesti to wonder how much Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians may have nudged Licht to go shopping for the top-shelf liquor and not be satisfied with Smirnoff or Early Times, hoping you get drunk enough to think you are drinking instead Ciroc or Maker’s Mark.
And then there is the overlooked fact that if not for Licht, Arians simply would not be here.
Jenna Laine of ESPN seems to believe Arians’ aggressive personality was part of the reason Licht bagged so many stars.
Then it was Arians who sparked the idea this offseason — and even spoke it into existence at February’s NFL scouting combine, as far-fetched as it seemed at the time — of signing six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.
That chain of events and that “dream big, swing for the fences” mentality is largely responsible for helping the Bucs punch their first ticket to the playoffs for the first time since 2007, ending the NFL’s second-longest postseason drought at 13 seasons.
In fact, it was Joe, when Arians was talking about having a quarterback not commit so many turnovers, who asked Arians point-blank to name a quarterback he would call to get the Bucs over the hump.
Free agency hadn’t opened yet but almost instantly Arians replied, “Tom Brady.”
Except Joe, damn near every person who heard Arians that day in the Indiana Convention Center muffled a laugh if their jaws didn’t hit the floor. Tom Brady leaving the Patriots? Tom Brady in Tampa?
Well, it happened.
Guess if you don’t dream big, you stay boxed up with the small potatoes.
As for Licht bagging the big game of big names, it doesn’t hurt to have a guy like Brady on the roster as a recruiting tool.
What’s the old saying, you miss every pitch you don’t swing at?
December 29th, 2020 at 5:51 am
This is the way to end a losing culture……you have to credit everyone in the chain…..Licht-Arians-Brady…….
December 29th, 2020 at 6:17 am
One of the many reasons why,,,,
In BA I Trust!
December 29th, 2020 at 6:40 am
A little early to be showering either Licht or Arians with too much praise. Shouldn’t any GM to be considered successful get a team to return to the playoffs within just a few years (not six years)? Licht is lucky to be here. Is Licht known for his great cap space management and drafting or the years? Or do we owe gratitude to guys like ME13 for restructuring, knowing also so many high picks were wasted, Winston, Hargraves, Aguayo, etc. So, sorry, I’m still giving Licht a C grade after SIX YEARS of mostly losing. C is a passing grade, sure–and it let’s you advance. But it’s not time to rave. Speaking of drafts, Licht also brought in a huge QB bust and wasted too much time on him (two years too long). Oh, Licht brought in Arians? Well, Arians is still a mediocre coach if you look at hs record. I’ll bet Tom Brady’s bride and the warm weather was as much a factor with Brady being here as anything Licht and Arians did. And having Brady as your QB and his magnetism/GOAT status will alone entice other top shelf players to come be part of the team. TB12 is probably the biggest reason why the Bucs is 10-5. With better coaching they would probably have a another two wins at least, this year alone. Arians has won less than 60% of his games as HC in his life, and has a losing record in the playoffs (1-2). Didn’t Dungy get fired for doing at least that good? So, not to rain on the parade, but there is no parade just yet. I’m happy to see the playoffs as any Bucs fan is, but let’s see how they do. Let’s see if they show up to games ready to perform, and do perform.
December 29th, 2020 at 7:27 am
Roy, so if you give them credit for all the missteps, don’t you have to acknowledge what a great job they did this year?
The draft is clearly a 50/50 proposition, but the Bucs have done pretty well lately. We have a friggin All-Star team on offense, most of which Licht drafted. We have several potential HOFers in Brady, Gronk and ME. We all love to blame Licht for his crazy draft picks, in particular Aguayo (wow, just saying it gives me chills). But what about the coaches contribution? Rojo is by far the best example of that. Under Mr. Kotter, Rojo was on the BUST list; now he is nearing the 1,000 yard marker. But the rest of the team is also an example of what good coaching can do. Now, we finally don’t beat ourselves with stupid penalties (still need to coach up Donavan Smith on that).
Give some credit when it is deserved.
December 29th, 2020 at 7:28 am
At least Bruce had the courage and wisdom to say,”We need a decent quarterback”.
December 29th, 2020 at 7:44 am
Joes
Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
December 29th, 2020 at 8:00 am
We have the ornaments, it is time for the Big Ugly’s to take over the game… one game at a time
The run game is Key from here on out…
December 29th, 2020 at 8:03 am
@Credit Bucco Bruce…..
—————-
as a club president, yes; as head of football operation. yes; as a link between GM and the Glaziers, yes.
..but as HC, no. He is slow on decisions, confused and lost most of the times on side lines, lack of vision on electing his coaching staff, and stuck on his arizona’s “success” indefinitely…, his HC-ing carrier is over.
Lovie S had a lot of years of success in Chicago too…. but we saw him here….it was ugly.
BA = Lovie S 2.0
December 29th, 2020 at 8:23 am
In 8 yrs in the White House, OK not the right place for honesty. BA, (and Larry and Moe), damn nearly blew it by giving 4 games away. A good analogy would be Stevie Wonder driving in Nascar with a 5000 HP car. I heard Arians say “i’ve won a SB as a wildcard” REALLY?????? I think you was the left handed receivers advisor. So take those goofy glasses off and let Tompa drive that 5000 HP car
December 29th, 2020 at 8:42 am
Buford…I really don’t hold Licht responsible during the Lovie years. Remember…Lovie had control over all decisions. I agree his first years with Koetter weren’t great, but it took time to clean up the mess Lovie left him. Nor do I think Koetter was great shakes when it comes to having a competent coach to work with in personnel decisions. And Jameis was just good enough to keep us hoping he would figure it out. So in my mind second half of his tenure here is the real measuring stick on his performance. And I think he has done pretty well since then, with a few bobbles along the way.
December 29th, 2020 at 9:09 am
what is the record when Licht has been in charge? His record is terrible as gm, nothing to brag about . Bucs have been at the bottom of the division how many times since his employment .
December 29th, 2020 at 9:10 am
First of all I want to say GO BUCS!!! Boy there is so much negativity on this site! That’s exactly what looses close games! It’s time for all the BUC FANS to THINK POSITIVE !! The universe is a loving place good thoughts and good actions attract good results! Karma is real! As fans we can help the Bucs achieve their ultimate goal ” to win the super bowl in their stadium”. The players are buying into this,. It’s time for the fans to believe too! THINK POSITIVE..GO BUCS!!!!
December 29th, 2020 at 9:19 am
Licht’s record recently has been far better than his overall body of work looking back 5 years now. His free agent pickups have been superb.
Brady, Gronk, Brown, Barrett, Suh, JPP. All great contributors. Ryan Jensen IMO hasn’t been more than an average impact player.
Re: draft. Licht has made some good ones but far more bad ones. For a team that has lacked good coverage in secondary, good pass rush and an improved running game, he has had more misses than successes:
2016 Bucs draft: Vernon Hargraves, Noah Spence, Roberto Aguayo, Ryan Smith. Notables available: DE-Yannick Ngakoue (3rd), RB- Derrick Henry (2nd), Kenyan Drake (3rd). GRADE- E
2017 Bucs draft: OJ Howard, Justin Evans, Chris Godwin, Kendall Beckwith. Notables available- DB-Jabrill Peppers (1st), Budda Baker (3rd) RB- Dalvin Cook (2), Joe Mixon (2), Alvin Kamara (3rd), Kareem Hunt (3rd), James Connor (3rd). GRADE- D, would be an “E” but Chris Godwin has been stellar
2018 Bucs draft: Vita Vea, Ronald Jones, MJ Stewart, Carlton Davis. DB- no notables, DE- Marcus Davenport (1), Harold Landry (2), RB- Nick Chubb (2)
GRADE- B, would be an “A” if drafted Chubb instead of Jones
2019 Bucs draft- Devin White, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, Mike Edwards, Anthony Nelson GRADE- B, White has been great pass rusher and Davis is good cover corner but Murphy Bunting is a waste of a #2 pick.
2020 Bucs draft: Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Tyler Johnson. GRADE- A. Wirfs is all pro calibre, Winfield a good safety, Vaughn appears to have a future as a #2 back and Tyler Johnson is good depth at WR
2016-2020 premium draft picks
2016 no starters, only 1 of top 4 on roster
2017- 2 starters, 2 no longer on roster
2018- 3 starters, 1 no longer on roster
2019- 1 starter, other 4 are backups
2020- 2 starters, 2 backups
of 20 premium picks in 5 years, Licht has drafted 8 starters. 2 of those starters, Vea Vea and OJ Howard are on IR which isn’t Licht’s fault. If the draft is a 50/50 then Licht is an average GM with only 40% of his picks as starters and only pass rusher he drafted that has worked out is LB Devin White. Carlton Davis is the best of a below average group of DB’s and Ronald Jones has had about 1 1/2 of his first 3 years as a non-contributor.
December 29th, 2020 at 9:26 am
@ben Says:
December 29th, 2020 at 9:09 am
Personally, I am just happy for this years manifestation of the Buc’s and looking forward to the future.
This year, Brady, Licht and Arians all have played their part so far.
December 29th, 2020 at 10:36 am
For the fans that want to blame our GM on the picks that didn’t pan out prob don’t know football all that well. Here’s why I say that not every pick JL got was developed properly. Now there are a few picks that were just terrible but most of our picks were not developed by arians and his large staff. Lovie and dirks teams DID NOT develop the picks that JL drafted so I believe that’s not all his fault. For instance we could not develop and DB that was drafted before arians staff now look we arnt great back there but we’re a hell of a lot better than when smitty was in control so not all blame goes to JL
December 29th, 2020 at 11:45 am
It is interesting to wonder how you forgot the “ng”.😁
December 29th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Hey Ed, don’t look now but…in the 6 years of Licht, Tampa has an above average return for the draft capital they had going into the draft. 3 years are well above average, 2 were average, and one admittedly stunk it up (Yes, 2016 was horrid).
You might want to give credit where it’s due. I’ve been a Bucs fan my entire life. It’s been a frustrating ride, to say the least. Enjoy the fun parts of the roller coaster! Tampa is set up to have a really solid team in the next 3-5 years, depending on the QB situation after TB is gone. You can’t look at this roster and find a ton of talent deficiencies. All of the “But this player, but that player” nonsense needs to go. There isn’t a team in the league who has a top tier player in every position on the field. The Bucs are no exception to this. In the spots the Bucs are weak, they are young. The secondary is playing well, and Vita will be back next year to help with the front again. ENJOY THIS!
December 29th, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Buford…the Bucs are brilliant with the cap, but that’s mostly because of Mike Greenberg. Your cap crack just didn’t make any sense at all. If the Bucs cut a guy, there’s basically no salary cap drain because of the way the deals are structured.
December 29th, 2020 at 1:03 pm
Licht looks like a genius when you compare his picks to Gruden’s as a Buc.
Dungy’s drafts were amazing in the beginning but they fell off his last few years.
Looking at the Bucs’ draft history going back to 1994, getting 1 or 2 solid contributors in a draft is really good.
December 29th, 2020 at 1:50 pm
Rig Buford I agree but give a B, Licht persevered, and I’ve been pretty adamant that he’s terrible, I haven’t liked BA, or their handling of Winston, who I think has extreme upside and is young.
I have to give props where it’s due. Things are fun, exciting and TB12 is a vast improvement on so many levels. I hope these guys get some good momentum for the PLAYOFFS!
Go Bucs!!
December 29th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
“Roy, so if you give them credit for all the missteps, don’t you have to acknowledge what a great job they did this year?” Yes, that’s why I give him a C. If he didn’t do well in some areas, he’d have an F. Why not a B? Because the playoff has been too long, even just on his six-yer watch. Arians is only in his second season. He shares in some credit for 10-5, but some of thos losses were for bad coaching. He has yet to beat the Saints in two years, and again, he’s not gone even as far as Dungy went when he was here…who was fired. I’ll start handing out As and Bs when they win divisions, divisional playoff games, etc.
We live in a world where many say “Everyone gets a trophy.” Sorry, not in the NFL.
December 29th, 2020 at 2:13 pm
@Clean House, I agree with you on Brady (is this the REAL Clean House?). Yes, it is so nice to be here in late December following ALL the games to see they really impact our local team; it is nice not to be debating over whether Winston should get another 3rd or 4th chance, or who to bring in for HC candidates.
December 29th, 2020 at 2:17 pm
@Christopher Schiefen. Sorry, I just can’t agree with you on the cap management. Guys took less to be here with Brady, and/or they are here on one year deals, in some cases thank to ME13 who freed up millions in restructuring. Hey, it’s business. You win some, lose some. But six years to get a wild card? Solid C overall.
December 29th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
@Ed, pretty good run down. But of course we all remember the biggest Licht bust of all was in 2015. Pure gambling on Winston, and he was ALL those things folks talked about for years–good and bad, but mostly bad. And holding him far to long to make us Bucs fans suffer…..
December 29th, 2020 at 5:51 pm
Mr. Licht was always in tune with me when I wanted BA and then Tom….as well as the draft picks….I’ll always feel like a fan GM and spitball some ideas here….broke at home and monday morning QB’ing lol…but i score sometimes
December 30th, 2020 at 1:57 am
So sick of the GM bashing with these idiotic fans on this site. You sit on your asses at home looking at drafts in hindsight. LOL.
It’s ridiculous.
You do realize the BUCS are on the verge of an 11 win season and Licht put the whole team together, through draft and trades and signings?
Every year every single team could look at players they did not select that would’ve been better than someone they did select.
The fact that some of you think it’s necessary to list that out year after year, draft after draft, is pathetic.
The Buccaneers are on the verge of the playoffs and they have the talent to make a pretty good run in the playoffs.
How about being an optimistic fan and being happy for the team right now?
If you can’t even enjoy this team at this moment, why do you even bother watching football?
Damn some of you need to get a life
December 30th, 2020 at 9:41 am
Bringing on Brady took balls. This move could of been just as much a bust as it is a success. Keep in min Belechick thought he was done and let him go. Arians and Licht saw the forest through the leaves. Yes I to question some of the coaching and play calling decisions but it appears through collaboration this seems to be ironing itself out. The key element what Brady has brought is the winning and discipline culture to the locker room. I am sure this was part of the plan previous acquisition. Go Bucs!