Looking For Akiem Hicks To “Blend In”
June 7th, 2022
The veteran 6-4, 335-pound manbeast the Bucs signed last month, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, made his first appearance on the Buccaneers practice field today.
Head coach Todd Bowles surely didn’t expect to see much (or isn’t saying so) during an underwear football session, but he does have clear goals for Hicks.
Bowles was clear that the Bucs expect him to deliver what he did in Chicago. For those unaware, Hicks was a monster when healthy. And that’s the key: when healthy. Hicks has dealt with a wide variety of injuries over the past three seasons; some kept him out of many games and others he played through.
“He can push the pocket and he has a variety of pass rush moves, as well. We’re just look for him to blend in with the guys and help us get better,” Bowles said.
“…He’s a big man, we expect him to do what he did in Chicago. … He’ll play a lot.”
Joe is all fired up to see Hicks come training camp. Remember, there are no pads or hitting in mandatory minicamp.
What an X-factor Hicks can be, especially if Vita Vea remains a part-time stud. Joe can’t think of any NFL team able to line up as much size and talent like Vea and Hicks.
June 7th, 2022 at 11:51 am
Can you imagine a 3-4 set with hall, hick n vea on the line n JTS n Shaq coming off the edges. Let’s goo
June 7th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
I’m predicting ten sacks for Hicks. The warm weather should be good for those old NFL bones. He doesn’t need 500+ snaps to be effective. I clamoured for him.
June 7th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
The only two bigger mountains related to the Bucs are on Camille Kostek.
June 7th, 2022 at 12:27 pm
There’s one more mountain to consider: Fournette showed up to the OTAs with a spare tire around his midsection.
June 7th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
I’m sure he won’t be hurt down here, chasing a ring as opposed to playing for the bears… I’d try to be hurt alot playing for the bears too
June 7th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
GOB … Since you ‘clamoured for him’ so much & are convinced Hicks will give us 10 sacks, BUT doesn’t need 500+ def snaps to be effective, how about enlightening the rest of us about how many games & def snaps Hicks WILL give us this year.
And while you do that, please keep in mind that our defense was on the field last season for 1093 defensive plays. So if we go with only a 3-man front on every down that be roughly 3300 def snaps to be divided among Vea, Hicks, Gholston, RNR & Hall (assuming of course that he plays strictly on the DLine). That’s about 660 def snaps apiece on the average. Please don’t let it bother you though that the ONLY Bucs DLineman to get that many def snaps last year was, oh ya … Ndamukong Suh (717 def snaps). But hey, he was an old man so we can’t count him.
June 7th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
Jesus Defense, it’s a prediction, relax. I could be wrong. If you wanna give Suh the 7-10 million he’s looking for, fine. I don’t. You know Suh’s play has dipped. You would expect a guy that played 700 snaps to have more production. He’s gone, turn the freaking page already.
June 7th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Go look at Suh’s PFF grade relative to his snaps.
June 7th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
I’m predicting 4-6 games out of hicks. He looks too unfit for a man that size at 32.
Sign suh.
Healthy wealthy and wise😎
June 7th, 2022 at 3:48 pm
49.4 PFF grade. Suh is now a 2-4 million dollar a year player. I think he’ll retire before he plays for that. He’s always had an overinflated opinion of himself. Go ask the dolphins. He’s not and has never been worth the dough. Go stomp on someone’s leg in the CFL
June 7th, 2022 at 7:43 pm
GOB … Ya, a prediction, based on no facts apparently. You throw out numbers like Suh is asking for $7-$10 mil a year, but you have no clue if that’s fact or fiction. Suh’s 700+ def snaps is FACT, His 6 sacks is FACT.
For comparison, I consider Fletcher Cox to be one of the best DTs in the league. Cox got 748 def snaps last season, pretty close to the same as Suh. And in that time on the field he only got 3.5 sacks. Yet despite Cox being 31, Eagles still signed him to a $14 mil 1-year contract for this year. Wow, MAYBE they value all of what Cox brings to their defense, despite the fact that his sacks fell to only 3.5 last year.
June 7th, 2022 at 7:46 pm
wouldn’t Suh play better if he played less–he played the majority of snaps yet his play dropped off–why not rest him more and play him limited and expect more production. Pay him less or pay him per amount of snaps.
June 7th, 2022 at 7:51 pm
GOB … BTW, those PFF grades are crap. Might be useful if you’re playing fantasy football (which I’m guessing you’re big into), but pretty much worthless other than that. And unless you have a subscription to unlock all the various categories of data, it’s even more ridiculous. I presume you do have a subscription of course.
June 7th, 2022 at 8:56 pm
Defense, Fletcher Cox had a PFF grade of 66.7 last year. Suh was at 49.4. unless you totally disregard the consensus best way of evaluating talent, it’s a terrible comp. 17.3 is the difference, which is not insignificant. Cox is and has been the tone setter for the Eagles defense for years. Suh is and always has been a mercenary. He’ll go to the team that meets his price, or he’ll retire. Does he really strike you as a guy that would play for 4 million? You need to let it go my friend. I truly value and appreciate your opinion, except in this case.
June 8th, 2022 at 11:08 am
Warren Sapp, a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest 3 technique DT of all time didn’t have an amazing rookie year.
Sapp in his rookie year had 26 tackles and 3 sacks. Sapp recorded 17 tackles and all of his sacks in his first 8 games, hitting the dreaded rookie wall that year.
Rookie Defensive Tackles struggle. I wish nothing but the best for Logan Hall, but I don’t believe he’s anywhere near as talented as Warren Sapp was at the same points in their careers. Sapp had 26 tackles and 3 sacks during his rookie year. Sapp hit the rookie wall and struggled at the end of the season during his rookie year, which is common for NFL rookies.
Aaron Donald is a unicorn from the start of his career as a 3 technique to now, and anybody saying Logan Hall will perform like Aaron Donald did as a rookie is crazy. I hope that Logan Hall proves me wrong.
Hicks must be as healthy as Suh was. You can’t help your team from the tub. If Hicks is healthy, then I expect him to be a great replacement for Suh.
My huge issue about the Bucs defensive line is not with Hicks, but with Hall.
This is TB12’s last dance with the Bucs. The Bucs need to get another good solid veteran defensive tackle in my opinion because of Logan Hall to replace Suh’s and Mclendon’s 1,200 snaps at DT. The Bucs don’t need a DT who will hit the rookie wall like Sapp did and like Hall will. Wether that veteran DT is Suh or someone else, the Bucs need another good veteran DT in my opinion.