Jason Licht Details Logan Hall Value, Draft Strategy
April 30th, 2022
Bucs rookie defensive lineman Logan Hall
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht made it clear tonight that beastly Logan Hall, Tampa Bay’s 7:10 p.m. pick to open the second round, was one of five players Licht was targeting Thursday night in Round 1.
The Bucs traded down with Jacksonville, from No. 27 to No. 33, because they felt strongly about getting one of their guys and wanted the extra picks (the first selection in Rounds 4 and 6).
Joe asked Licht about the pressure he was under to trade out of that No. 33 pick, and Licht said there were a lot of phone calls but nothing that would have made him comfortable.
He said he knew a run on defensive tackles was likely. “I didn’t have a lot of action in moving back two, three, four spots. Even that would have made me a little bit nervous,” Licht said. “But we did have a lot of calls.”
Joe asked Licht about Hall’s versatility at 6-6, 283 pounds. Hall was all over the defensive line at the University of Houston, but Joe wanted to know what impressed Licht most.
“With Logan, we think he can play the 5- the 4- and the 3-technique,” Licht began. “We think that he rushes very well inside and that’s what probably piqued our interest the most — his value in the passing game as a 3-techinique. He’s got, you know, a lot of natural ability. … I would say his rushing skills from the inside is what we like the most.”
Joe is fired up and doesn’t care that most fans didn’t watch Hall play at the Houston. If he can rush the passer, then he’s a homerun pick.
As six-time Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said last week, you can find run-stuffers at Walmart.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:16 am
Dude is a beast on his highlight tape.
I went into this years draft almost completely blind because I got tired of falling in love with prospects and watching Licht pass on them (most of the time Licht’s decisions worked out to be just fine :D) and that has made this years draft a much more enjoyable experience.
From what I’ve seen so far Licht is knocking it out of the park this draft. Addressing positions of need with promising young talent and filling much needed roster spots cheaply.
Plus I was a big fan of pretty much all of Lichts free agency decisions despite being sad to see Whitehead go.
Considering that I expected this to pretty much be a rebuilding year since I never expected Brady to pull a Brett Favre, I’m loving our chances for picking up Lombardi #3 next year in AZ.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:21 am
I hear you Joe. That power with Vita on the inside and then Shaq and JTS.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:27 am
How could you not trust this front office? I mean really the last couple years Jason drafts his ass off dude finds players every round small schools big ones. Kid can rush from the inside that’s huge with vea eating up 2 blocks he’s long and fast D- line was a huge need! The O- line is nasty also a need to replace Ali. Some of you guys man on here crying about every pick just because they didn’t get a player you heard talked about in espn so they must suck. Jason has picked a ton of starters that are this team right now playing great ball. Obviously there is misses of course there is. Y’all on here crying about vita few years ago. Let the guys know what there doing work.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:27 am
In Licht we trust. He obviously had Hall as one of the 4 or 5 guys they had on the board at 27 and for trading back ha an extra 4th rounder to use. Perhaps someone who can run back kickoffs? The draft is a roll of the dice as are the subjective grading so that just because Prisco or Kiper gives a draft an A+, it could be an F in 3 years or a D draft could end up being a grand slam.
I was hoping for secondary help but I guess the OBP brain trust is comfortable with the current defensive backfield as they have had opportunities to draft a CB but addressed other needs instead.
Look forward to the post draft podcasts with Ira, the Joes and Sean. The content here has made the draft weekend really fun to follow so far, thanks gentlemen!
April 30th, 2022 at 12:32 am
I thought the rams pushed us around pretty good twice last year, so these picks so far are responsive to my thinking.
I have no clue the risk reward odds on the individual players for the important coming season and the less important-looking future after that.
Just a reminder, you can’t mess up playing for Brady. Hope these guys are going to be solid right off the bat
April 30th, 2022 at 12:34 am
“Hall notched 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 23 career starts in college.”
Not exactly exciting pass rusher numbers, and coming against pretty low level players as well. I think that’s where the lack of excitement is. His tape isn’t anything impressive, he doesn’t seem to have the explosion you want from a inside pass rusher, and some of his college sacks are just running over guys from schools you never heard of, I mean just running over a guard or center that is way overmatched physically in a way that will never happen in the NFL.
I’m only down on where they picked him – and what they gave up in moving out of the first. I also don’t buy the hype he’s a pass rusher. I really hope I’m wrong, and if he’s the next Simeon Rice, everyone is free to dunk on me for doubting the pick. But in the meantime, I’ll doubt the pick based value. At #60, I like the pick.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:41 am
They were targeting Cine from Georgia, got cute and missed their guy. Pretty underwhelming draft for us so far. Logan is another Gholston….not sure we get much from him this year. Get the sense this will be a dud draft year for Licht.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:47 am
Rod Munch let’s hope he can develop into a pass rusher. He was very good against the run.
Hey rod munch who do you want with this fourth round pick? I am hoping for jalyn davis from bama whose a corner. Very underrated season he has this year or perrion Winfrey. Is there a reason why Winfrey has fallen? He has a lot measurables.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:48 am
Bobby M give it a chance before you say he’s another gholston. My concern is still this secondary.
April 30th, 2022 at 12:57 am
Rod he’s not going to have rices numbers he was a true DE halls going to play inside. His length n speed should no doubt help getting to the QB vita is going to clog up 2 players. Wyatt who everyone was drooling over does not have great inside numbers either and that’s playing next to Davis. Hall going to be a nice player with him n joe and vita line is a lot younger than it’s been. Plays all over the line as well. Solid pick
April 30th, 2022 at 1:08 am
Look at Halls tackle & TFL production from 2020 to 2021. He doubles up his tackles and was 6x better in sacks and TFL. That just shows he’s only scratched the surface of his potential and once he’s in the proper fit he will excel.
April 30th, 2022 at 1:12 am
I’m with Francisco, the secondary is thin. Lets see if Licht grabs the best available CB on the board that fits Bowles’ system. There a few small school CBs from Texas who are still on the board Zyon McCollum, Tariq Woolen) as well as Armour-Davis from Bama as well as Coby Bryant out of Cincinnati.
April 30th, 2022 at 1:12 am
I love to see folks that ain’t got no sense get a sense on this draft.
April 30th, 2022 at 1:16 am
@Esteban85: well that makes the board entertaining. I’d rather read fellow Buc fans posts on the draft and what they feel the Bucs should have done than listen to someone like Kiper rant and rave on BSPN about what he likes and dislikes or rather who he is told to like or dislike by his handlers. We have better content here IMHO.
April 30th, 2022 at 1:38 am
Gholston has been a solid player for Tampa for 9 years. It hasn’t been flashy, but he has been solid and dependable. If we get that from Logan hall that is awesome.
April 30th, 2022 at 4:34 am
Francisco Guzman – I’m looking at going back to DE, and getting Perrion Winfrey. If you get him and Hall, you now got you two guys for the future, who provide depth for now.
Another one, that people wouldn’t like, but I’d be OK with, is going back to the offensive line and getting a tackle, Penn State, Rasheed Walker. He’s a Donovan Smith clone, which people might not like, BUT, think if Smith had to only play right tackle instead of left. You flip Wirfs to LT, and now you got a tackle of the future. Also, with the two picks and guys you resigned, plus Hainsey, you now have some quality depth on the line, and the #1 thing the Bucs have to do is keep Brady healthy. Another thing as well, maybe you use one of these lineman as basically a blocking TE, which then means you don’t need to worry about having a blocking TE. Just an idea, but pre-Brady, remember, this team didn’t use its TE barely at all.
Final idea… Akayleb Evans out of Missouri. He’s a 6′ 2″ corner, ran a 4.46. We’re talking about the top of the 4th round here, a pick cursed by the ghost of Ryan Smith, so you shouldn’t expect much, but with this guys size and speed, maybe he can develop into something.
Pure lottery ticket level advice, everything is a long shot, but maybe you win a free ticket.
April 30th, 2022 at 4:38 am
Jersey buc – With Wyatt, it wasn’t his numbers I liked, it was his tape, he has a super fast explosion, that is a trait I want after watching Sapp for his entire career. No, he’s not Sapp, but that first step, where you can quickly get them off balance, is huge, and in the very limited viewing of tape I watched, I saw it. As for his production, in his case he’s playing on an all-star team. The same way we don’t expect Godwin/Evans/Grank and when AB was here, if everyone was healthy, there was legit talk that no one would hit 1000 yards, because everyone would be doing well. That’s Wyatt’s production in college – everyone is getting numbers and there’s not always enough to go around.
As for Hall, been doing more reading, and others like him a lot more than I do, so it just appears as if I’m too far down on him. Fair enough, I’m not a pro-scout, they know more than I do. Just my opinion, but I will honestly keep an open mind and will be delighted to be proven wrong.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:32 am
Rod and Bobby need to tend to their co-owned pet donkey Eeyore!
The Licht House is on FIRE!
Have loved each and every decision. Today will be a blast too!
Maybe we can trade back to be able and pick Mr. Irrelevant again.
Eeyore would likely approve.
Cheers!
April 30th, 2022 at 6:51 am
“And the first player drafted in the final day of the 2022 draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA (6’4”, 205 pounds)!”
April 30th, 2022 at 6:59 am
Cameron Heyward
April 30th, 2022 at 7:12 am
You can think about Logan Hall when we make our first pick today because it’s a bonus for moving down…..
April 30th, 2022 at 7:44 am
@Todd, not a bad choice at CB if Bowles/Licht likes Woolen. UTSA is kind of like USF back in the JPP days, a CUSA about to be AAC program on the rise and trying so hard to make some noise.. Kid could be flying under the radar.
April 30th, 2022 at 8:02 am
After reading the various posts regarding the Bucs 1st 3 picks yesterday, I’m struck once again with the usual naysayers who annually lampoon Licht’s picks.
“He should have picked my guy, who is clearly the better choice”
“How could he possibly pick someone other than_______.”
Etc, etc…..
Then they reach back over the last years and point out how he screwed up on pick X, Y, or Z., which in their expert opinion PROVES what an idiot he is…
So, putting aside our recent Super Bowl win which never happens without the “Idiots” FA’s, Draft picks and player development, I offer a challenge to those who upon honest self-reflection, just might see a little of themselves in the above scenario.
Go back over the last 6 or 7 years and chart your esteemed “expert picks” and reflect what became of those picks. I am not a betting man, but I would wager that for the vast majority of you, you might reflect a little more favorably on Licht’s batting average.
April 30th, 2022 at 8:06 am
I like this draft, so far, but we will all have to wait and see.
April 30th, 2022 at 9:19 am
All of the guys calling for Woolen haven’t watched a second of tape on him. He doesn’t play fast. He is consistently beaten by non FBS WRs. His highlights aren’t even impressive. There’s a reason he hasn’t been taken yet. Someone will draft him for potential but I hope it’s not the Bucs. Zyon McCollum has better traits and actually produced in college at lower level competition.
April 30th, 2022 at 9:56 am
Hey guys. I really don’t understand the hate for Hall potentially being Will Gholston. WG has been a 9 year NFL starter/rotation guy, and plays multiple positions when needed. I’ll take that in the 2nd round every single time. Sometimes I think many of you believe every pick should be a pro bowl player every year. Reality is calling…
April 30th, 2022 at 11:13 am
As always, time will tell, but this draft didn’t fall the Bucs way imo. Expected the Bucs to be aggressive and to go get at least one starter, an upgrade somewhere with this being Brady’s last year. Hall and Goedeke seem like rotational guys.
April 30th, 2022 at 11:52 am
“The proof is in the pudding.” Having said that I love this draft so far. It addresses needs for this year as well as for the future. Demonstrates taking the BPA according to how things fall to you.
Love your comments, Vinny-from-Vermont!
Go Bucs!
April 30th, 2022 at 3:51 pm
I agree with you FortMyersDave! I love reading the posts almost as much as I enjoy reading the articles. Those jackwagons on TV are worse than most and are the most out of touch people in this country. My issue is with people who think they actually have a clue about who is going to be a good draft pick and who isn’t based on a few minutes here and there listening and reading about players. We won’t know how good or bad this draft is till at the very least the end of next year.