The Future Is Bright
January 4th, 2021
“Ronde, when you draft like I did last April, you can wear any kind of f’ing coat you want.”
This stat blew Joe’s mind.
And it signals that the Bucs’ future is damn bright.
Usually, a team that plays a lot of rookies means it’s void of decent players much less veterans. That’s not the case for the Bucs, whose roster is loaded with veterans, and damn good veterans as well.
But the PFF tribe came up with a helluva stat. Only one team has more snaps this season logged by rookies than the Bucs. And that team is a horrible team (No. 1 draft pick overall) that just ran its coach this morning, the Jags.
Most snaps played by rookies in 2020:
1. Jaguars – 2556
2. Buccaneers – 2545
3. Vikings – 2501
4. Cowboys – 2494 pic.twitter.com/SWBumEgEjH— PFF (@PFF) January 4, 2021
Each team listed is lousy, except for the Bucs, which just won their 11th game and made the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.
Just think of the valuable experience these rookies are getting. Not just NFL experience but experience playing with strong veterans including park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking Bucs quarterback Tom Brady — and playoff experience.
Yeah, Tristan Wirfs looks like a rock at right tackle for a long time. Same with Antoine Winfield at safety.
Tyler Johnson is another rookie who flashed and should be a key receiver for years to come (work on catching the ball this offseason, Tyler). Late in the season Ke’Shawn Vaughn made a strong case for more carries.
And remember, these dudes has no OTAs, rookie minicamp or regular minicamp. (Don’t get Joe started on these nonsensical preseason games on an otherwise wonderful Monday.)
It’s rare, very rare, to see a playoff team rely on so many rookies. That’s a great sign for the Bucs’ future.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Save this article for your hater friends who say the Bucs out together a “Dream Team.”
January 4th, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Licht still has an overall losing record as a GM and his drafts have miraculously gotten better with the arrival of arians and bowles
January 4th, 2021 at 12:12 pm
And the arrival of the GOAT.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Who is the QB after Brady? Dude is amazing, but can’t last forever. I’d love to see the Bucs borrow Green Bay’s philosophy and let a kid learn under Brady. Worked for Favre/Rodgers.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
great job Licht!!!!
it may be hard for some folks to say it but well done…
lets not forget licht had some bad luck with beckwith and j.evans….jermey mcnichlos looks good in TEN…dirk failed to develop him…
im just glad theres no draft talk today!!!!….
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 4th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
bucboi I was just thinking last night that we, as Bucs fans, are usually talking about our draft position and who we could possibly get the day after the regular season ends. How refreshing it is to be looking forward to another game finally!
January 4th, 2021 at 1:01 pm
I honestly don’t remember Tyler dropping that many balls…. There was one in the end zone i couldn’t believe it wasn’t a pi, got grabbed by the shoulder and his whole body spun around. I remember one he did catch where I couldn’t believe it because he got hit so hard
January 4th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
Licht has done a great job, but you have to admit that his drafts have gotten better with the arrival of Arians and Bowles.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
had we not wasted carries on LF and gave “sneak” more carries, likely would’ve led the league, oh yeah and Tyler was inactive for the first few games – worth repeating, only Wirfs will play in the TWF playoff game of Licht’s first round picks: ME (hurt), Winston(gone), VHIII (gone), OJ (hurt), VV (hurt), Devin (the sickness) – does that mean anything, naw, just interesting
January 4th, 2021 at 1:45 pm
Bucs needed help at RT and Safety and they scored big time in the draft with picks in the 1st and 2nd rounds.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:46 pm
@Coburn- same here. I think those were the only 2
January 4th, 2021 at 1:57 pm
Yet another reason why….
In BA I Trust!
Go Bucs!
January 4th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Winfield and Wirfs played the entire season.
RB Vaughn and WR Johnson got some looks and both look very promising.
And I don’t remember Tyler Johnson dropping balls either. Just one.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
All Wirfs and Winfield had 89% of them. Two of our best picks ever!
January 4th, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Licht has done a miraculous job this year. Next year should be just as good.
Free Agents: Godwin, Shaq, LVD, Gronk, Suh, AB, Draft Picks
Projected Cap: $32M
If Brate is cut, Smith restructures, and our FAs are reasonable the Bucs should be able bring almost everyone back.
Smith is the big question mark in the offseason equation. I’d like to keep him one more year so we can reload the defensive line.
January 4th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
LOL, I almost spit out my food after reading the caption under that photo.
January 4th, 2021 at 5:01 pm
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:
January 4th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
Licht has done a great job, but you have to admit that his drafts have gotten better with the arrival of Arians and Bowles.
thats called player development…
GO BUCS!!!!
January 4th, 2021 at 5:09 pm
This guy miss on a hold draft class that didn’t last barley 3 years. Now Bruce Arians brought in all these veterans players that’s going be gone after the superbowl may be not Brady and yall giving him credit for being a good GM ?? Wait and see what happens after the draft and free agency and I’m not talking about a bunch of 30 plus year old players either .
January 4th, 2021 at 5:31 pm
I would like to mention that Winfield had a terrific game on Sunday. He is a great student of the game and was around the ball all day. What a great addition to our D.