No Defensive Tackles Drafted? There’s A Reason For That
May 1st, 2021
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
For those who didn’t dive into the deep end of the pool scouring draft lists and seven-round mocks, this may have come as a surprise.
For those who pay rapt attention to every word Bucs big shots say and do, the breadcrumbs left a path.
The draft was not loaded with defensive tackles. And the Bucs brought back all of their defensive tackles including Steve McLendon, who hinted that 2020 would be his final season.
Licht had said in his pre-draft comments one reason he brought all the defensive tackles back was the draft stock for tackles was thin.
Sure enough, the Bucs did not draft any defensive tackles as the draft closed this evening. So Licht was asked in his draft wrap-up if the reason was because he didn’t think much of the tackles in the draft, or he was good with what he had?
“A little bit of both,” Licht said. “We are very comfortable with what we have. That’s why we re-signed “Nacho” (Rakeem Nuñez-Roches) and Stevie (McLendon). And there weren’t that many this year [in the draft], defensive linemen.
“So, I am glad we did that [re-sign Nunez-Roches and McLendon]. So it was a little bit of both. But I would say it leans more towards the fact we feel very, very good about our defensive line.”
Joe guesses if the right defensive tackle was available early — not a selfish guy who thinks he is better than a Hall of Fame defensive tackle from a program that constantly pumps out overrated defensive linemen — Licht would have pulled the trigger.
But hey, he returns a defensive front intact that just won a Super Bowl. Why wouldn’t he want to do that?
May 1st, 2021 at 7:57 pm
I need me some Big Mac- McCoy can be the rotational depth we need. No one else wants him. He deserves a ring for living through the lost decade.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:04 pm
McCoy ?
LOL!’
He’s never won anything because he’s soft. Never been a more overrated DT in the NFL. Never.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:11 pm
Reddington……I know the weather has finally turned warm but remember its a long summer……And you have clearly been at the beach way too long and too much sun.
Ill make this simple. Theres good reason the first thing Bruce did when hired was replace Gerald.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:11 pm
Same as Licht not going for an offensive tackle in 2019. Obviously some fans and Joe wanted us to take Josh Allen. Then there were the fans that were ok with us taking Devin White.
The last group of fans wanted us to take Jonah Williams of Alabama as tackle in the 1st round to replace either of our tackles. But it was a very weak class of offensive lineman.
The fans were screaming in the 2nd round that year when we skipped on Dalton Risner. And totally off their rockers when we did not take an offensive lineman in any round.
I am so glad that Licht has adopted this strategy.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:14 pm
Suh was a FA, who says we can’t go that route for 2-4 more years if he reitres, if not there is next years draft.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:17 pm
Brady told them no defensive tackles just offensive tackles.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:17 pm
Softie?
Jesus Christ man…… what is wrong with you!
May 1st, 2021 at 8:20 pm
nacho, mcclendon, and last years rook…i forget his name…
i’ve read “joe tryon your jersey already”c an even get in there a bit…lol…don’t know about that…
also i expect a couple DT signings off the undrafted free agent wire for sure
May 1st, 2021 at 8:27 pm
Gholston , and jpp can line up inside too
Tryon took snaps inside if you watch his tape
We good
May 1st, 2021 at 8:28 pm
I agree with you, Joe.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:28 pm
Undrafted free agents signing
Safety from stoney brook?
May 1st, 2021 at 8:30 pm
Plus Khalil is here, and played decent last year.
May 1st, 2021 at 8:35 pm
We have spent a lot of picks on dtackles over the years, its nice to know we are loaded at that postion and able to build elsewhere.This draft was a win
May 1st, 2021 at 8:37 pm
A lot of reasons for veterans released after the draft to give the nod to coming and playing for Tampa…. la dolce vita
Darden is dynamite! He is a real football player in a tiny NFL body, he won’t get tipped off balance running a route like Miller does. I am really anxious to see how much Scotty has filled out in the off-season
May 1st, 2021 at 8:51 pm
Wait until you read about the USNA DB signed by the Bucs
May 1st, 2021 at 9:14 pm
SB~LV, dont be bashing on the Naval Academy, that’s reserved for those of us that suffered through 4 years there!
May 1st, 2021 at 9:18 pm
MCcoy could be a good retational DT. Better than any other reserve DT
May 1st, 2021 at 9:23 pm
@ Greg … tip of my cap!
Love that town
May 1st, 2021 at 9:26 pm
Stop with the MCCOY BULLSH!T already.
We are who we are now BECAUSE soft minded losers are no longer on the team.
Truly idiotic to think that he would bring anything positive to the team…… and we don’t owe him a damn thing.
May 1st, 2021 at 9:31 pm
Hey Joe, what’s your record for stories in a day? You guys are gonna need a new computer after this weekend with all these. Good work guys!
May 1st, 2021 at 9:43 pm
I don’t believe McCoy is mature enough to handle coming back into this Buc locker room and just being a humble role player/backup.
First time he shows up in his Batman pajamas and starts handing out icecream Suh, White, Vea and Winnfield will curb stomp his arse…
No thanks.
May 1st, 2021 at 10:07 pm
I got your Christian Barmore reference Joe. I’m not sure others did. 🙂
May 1st, 2021 at 10:11 pm
Sounds good to me! I like to bar more but I knew there was a reason he was falling and I had no idea why. Screw him.
Basically they got an edge rusher to get in the rotation,
a lineman to be a back up and possibly more in the future,
a quarterback to back up and possibly more in the future,
a returner who could possibly be a slot receiver in the future,
And three players late for special teams and development.
Sounds perfect for team that returned every starter and a dozen back ups that just won a Super Bowl.
May 1st, 2021 at 10:18 pm
The reason we didnt draft well on defense is because Mahones is selfish and wants the offense to get all the decent players.
May 1st, 2021 at 10:25 pm
who can go inside:
gholston
nacho
mcclendon
khalil
jpp can do almost anything asked too…
and even “joe tryon your jersey already” has experience there…
we’re pretty good for now…
we will bring in camp meat for sure with an opp to make the team
May 1st, 2021 at 10:32 pm
joe you should do a thread where the users and regulars grade the draft…
adam from ny’s preliminary draft grade:
B
last year i think i did a B+ to A-
this year i’m at a solid B…leaning towards a B+ rather than leaning towards a C+…but it’s a solid B for now…
i”ll mull it over for a day or so…i was initially pretty negative on the trask pick at first, but am warming to it a little more now…
one real negative i had about trask is that someone had him listed at 6′ 2.5″ and weighing 211…i didn’t like his size…and now i’m realizing he is actually 6’5″ 244…he’s a big fuggin’ dude, so i’m sure the arm strength is more than ok, or they would have scooted around him
May 1st, 2021 at 11:38 pm
Howard respects your lifestyle choices
May 1st, 2021 at 11:41 pm
Thank you!
May 2nd, 2021 at 12:27 am
Red neck – when you get hammered on cheap booze, avoid taking too many percosets next time.
May 2nd, 2021 at 12:29 am
Ok Marine Buc says,
I’ve had enough of your BS about McCoy. McCoy played long and hard for years for us. I choosed him over Suh back then, but would love have them together now. I think the motivation to play together would stir them both to put their best on display one last time.
Go For Two. Go Bucs
May 2nd, 2021 at 4:24 am
Sorry, but Gholson, Tryon are too small to line up inside and Nunez-Roches has never showed me anything. However, Steve McClendon is a real-time player who undoubtedly is better than anything in the draft. Hell, two years ago he graded out(PFF) as the 12th best interior lineman in the NFL.
May 2nd, 2021 at 6:35 am
Seems they’re ok with Davis and O’Connor then to back up Suh n Gholston
May 2nd, 2021 at 6:49 am
Anyone ragging on McCoy never paid attention to his time with the Bucs. He wasn’t a soft player. He was often double-teamed because the rest of our D-Line was absolutely terrible. He played tough for us for many years and didn’t cry and complain when we weren’t winning. He just went out there and did his job.
I’d love to have McCoy back as a backup/rotational player.
May 2nd, 2021 at 8:11 am
BB .. nice reply other than “love to have him back “‘
Having him back is fine, without the love. No place for him now in a 3-4 front is another factor.
May 2nd, 2021 at 9:02 am
GMC is no Big Mac. There can be only one. I still feel his major problem was that he would never put enough time or effort into the weight room and eating healthy. If he has finally done that, it will show, but I doubt he’s changed. A commitment to winning and being the best has never been something he’d work hard for. A changed GMC, I’d welcome here.
May 2nd, 2021 at 9:27 am
Oh yeah, that’s right.
Softie refused to play any other position.
He’s got so many strikes against him, I forgot about that one.
My bad Ben.
Let’s have fun!
May 2nd, 2021 at 1:51 pm
The yahoos and idiots can shove the GMC hate somewhere unmentionable. Last I looked, BA let him go for whatever brain fart hit him. Stupid move. GMC is just as good as Suh and endured more losing. Mebbe Suh has finally grown up as a human being, too. He was called “dirty” for quite a few seasons. I was not overly enamored by his signing here.
May 2nd, 2021 at 5:58 pm
orlbucfan,
If letting McCoy go was such a stupid move, why doesn’t he have teams beating down his door to bring him in?
And don’t tell me it’s because of the injury. Check his Twitter. He says he’s good to go.
May 3rd, 2021 at 11:08 am
Bottom line is, we needed a backup for Vita, and we didn’t get it. I like McLendon and Nacho, but neither are even close to being able to do what Vita can do (stuff the middle, push the pocket, take up 2-3 blockers, and dominate 1 on 1’s) consistently. it’s not like we needed a 3 down lineman, just a 1st and 2nd down run stuffer in case Vita goes down again. And they were there- Shelvin- 4th round, Slaton_5th, Bohanna- 6th, Tonga-7th. Yeah, they were there, and Licht didn’t get one, smh…
May 3rd, 2021 at 11:09 am
Just want to add, size DOES matter when talking about a 3-4 nose tackle.