High Marks For Jason Licht
January 26th, 2023
Bucs general manager Jason Licht.
Joe is impressed that 80-plus percent of Bucs fans are confident in Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht.
It’s difficult to get that kind of fan approval after a losing season that some believe represented the greatest underachievement in the NFL this season.
Joe voted confident, too. Licht stocked the cupboard and Todd Bowles couldn’t cook up a quality meal. Some tasty bites here and there, but Bowles would have been Chopped if he was on The Food Network.
Licht does not get an A grade for the season. The free agents didn’t make enough of an impact and the rookie class only had moderate success. But Licht doesn’t coach or call the offensive plays (Joe wishes Licht had done the latter), and it’s not Licht’s fault the Bucs closed the season on a 6-10 run with a long list of talented players.
This is perhaps the most challenging offseason of Licht’s Buccaneers tenure, which just kicked off its 10th season. Unlike when he arrived, Licht is now a seasoned veteran with a mature staff and a track record of greatness.
Joe believes the Bucs are in good hands in the front office, though the way the NFL operates, Licht might now be entering a prove-it year himself.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Licht is a Solid GM
Every team has ups and downs. The Bucs went all in for 2 Super Bowls! Everyone should know that is followed by a rebuild. Licht’s the guy to do it.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:38 am
I think he’s already proved it. Like you laid out, he doesn’t coach the players. He evaluates talent and, in consultation with the coaches, picks players that will best fit into the existing system. Evans, Godwin, White, Wirfs…… and the list goes on. Plus don’t forget all the wheeling and dealing and CAP manipulation that he’s done to bring in really good players, Brady being the prime example. The Buc’s dismal record in 2022 is squarely on the coaches.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:40 am
Tom Brady stocked the cupboard. End of story.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:41 am
Last year, it was a great effort to put together a team, but they were working with too much financial restriction, hoped for greater contribution from aging veterans who spent too much of the season hurt or were clearly washed up (Rudolph). It was a desperation move to keep the Superbowl window open. It didn’t work.
This year, the cap situation is a lot more intense. Some heads will roll, we’ll lose some free agents we wanted to keep, and we won’t be able to sign external free agents who can help us. We’ll be shopping the bargain bin. And no more of these wasted roster spots for Rudolph and Julio… Hicks was largely a waste.
It was a great effort by Licht and his crew, but it was predictably unlucky due to injury.
Still think Gage was a great signing that will show dividends going forward. He was hurt all year and still managed to be pretty clutch when needed.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Mack Daddy Licht has been solid in my book. He was awesome in 20 and 21. I think he and the team made an error in judgement by not addressing the O-line, especially after Jensen went down.
Not sure why no linemen were brought in this year – either they were OK with talent in house, or no suitable FA’s were available that they wanted.
Solid GM.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:50 am
I will be willing to give Licht a pass on last season and those bad Free Agent grabs. The coaching cart was upset and it was an emergency situation.
This season he has to define himself. He has to find a way to reconstruct a whole team while his coach wants a dominant defense at the cost of the offense.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Licht would have been run out of town with Winston had BA not showed up, Lovie, Dirk, BA now Bowels. That is a lot of coaches to go through in 10 years.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Doesn’t matter what Licht does.
Todd Bowles will continue to be one of the worst HC in the league and his players will continue to underperform.
January 26th, 2023 at 11:57 am
Licht set on his hands,especially when the lline on offense needed help. Instead 0f getting additional players he allowed 3rd line players to take over. He didn’t do much to improve the team this past year except stand pat after injuries !
January 26th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
I voted Confident as well, that being said the last two off seasons weren’t his best. I like Licht but at the same time he isn’t above criticism. The later round picks have been decent. Hopefully the next draft class is better at the top end. JTS is not good, zero football IQ. Logan Hall did nothing this season. Who-lio Jones and NotSeen Hicks were poor FA signings.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Licht shouldn’t be on a hot seat, he had to get Brady to end his rebuild when he got here but the reason Brady came was because of the team he built. Licht knows what he is doing and I hope the Glazers realize that
January 26th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
He’s had some big wins (Shaq Barrett, Chris Godwin, plenty of others), and also some pretty bad missteps.
I don’t give him credit for making Brady happen… other than the talent he had accumulated that would make this an acceptable landing spot 3 years ago.
Winston was a bad pick but so would have been Mariota and any other QB in that 2015 draft. How can you not use the #1 overall pick on a QB when you need one.
So it’s a bit hard to say.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
If only he had given Jameis another year
January 26th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
His biggest mistake was signing washed up Hicks instead of proven Suh. For the leadership. No way Diva White was going to woof his demotivating BS with Suh staring at him. Suh held everyone accountable. Hicks was collecting a paycheck, and not very well btw.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
I still believe picking up Julio Jones and Russell Gauge, Instead of using that free agent money to pick up a replacement for Ali Marpet was a poor decision. Otherwise other than burning picks on kickers hr has been solid.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Bubby Says
“Tom Brady stocked the cupboard. End of story.”
That’s bull.
Tom convinced Gronk and Jensen. Maybe Julio and Lenny. That’s it.
4 out of 52 players.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Bowles convinced Suh and JPP.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
Very interesting. Remember that Tom Brady wanted Julio and Russell Gage. So there was that.
Gage has been a major disappointment, that’s all there is to it. $10 million a year for a glorified Scotty Miller who is constantly hurt? Nah, man.
January 26th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
All I read is that 20% of us are correct in saying that he is poor at drafting.
January 26th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Joe,
I still believe picking up Julio Jones and Russell Gauge, Instead of using that free agent money to pick up a replacement for Ali Marpet was a poor decision.
Remember that Tom Brady wanted Julio and Russell Gage. So there was that.
Hmmm? IDK
I think Licht’s ego got the better of them on this one. He struck gold with small school, senior bowl stud, Marpet. He thought he did it again with Goedeke. His ego clouded his judgement and Goedeke was a BUST.
You can’t be right 100% of the time. Maybe the greatest aspect about Licht is he learns from his mistakes.
January 26th, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Goedek was a rookie, hard enough, but asked to play on the other side of the offensive line.
Bottom line he was a rookie.
January 26th, 2023 at 1:24 pm
In light we trust. He’s not perfect but have the most confidence in him reloading this roster. Obviously we need the most important position filled if Brady doesn’t come back. I in which hope he does. Even a average Brady is better than anyone else out there in FA or the draft. Need some trench help but mostly need help on the defense. Offense is talented. Leftwich just didn’t maximize it. Defense kept us in games but man the running game slipped big time and to many times people running wide open down the field. I see this being a defensive draft
January 26th, 2023 at 1:27 pm
@Joe. Add one more “confident” vote. I didn’t read close enough, thought it was another Bowles survey, and voted Zero Confidence. True story. Haha
January 26th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Licht has been solid, and he has a great staff. No way Bowles drags him down when he goes. Not the best evaluator of college kicking talent, but Kappa, Marpet, Wirfs were very nice picks.
January 26th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
ben Says:
January 26th, 2023 at 11:57 am
*sat
So, what is the solution, Ben? Do you think starting quality offensive linemen are just walking the streets waiting for a call mid-season? Do you have your own personal scouting department evaluating the available free agent offensive lineman. So they told you there were better guys hanging out, waiting? Man, how come you’re not working in some NFL front office?
#simpleton
January 26th, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Thank goodness for this organization to have some firm ground with Licht.
I hope to never again see a full reset. We all experienced that.
January 26th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
jasons done a great job.. im hearing trey lance is available for a 3rd round pick?
time to stock the qb room.. before all you knowitall gms start crying.. the guy was high on at least 10 teams boards after that draft.
January 26th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Very confident.
Bucs with no money, possibly another 2022 Bowles showing, and possibly no decent starting quarterback should not be make it or break it in 2023, especially when he put that Super Bowl roster together two years ago.
January 26th, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Arguably one of if not the best GM in franchise history, hasn’t batted a 1.000 in terms of acquiring talent, but I’d encourage Licht and our front office to keep on swinging like they have over the last 3-5 years.
January 26th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
Mark Dominik 2.0
He’ll be gone after this year.
He stinks without Brady and he managed to screw up this year anyhow.
He is part of the problem not the solution.
No way he gets to hire a 5th coach. ZERO.
January 26th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
The Anomaly Says:
January 26th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
So you think Licht was responsible for this year? Hmmmm, okay.
Well, he’s only hired 3 — Koetter, Arians, and Bowles.
Lovie was in Tampa before Licht.
January 26th, 2023 at 2:52 pm
I’m sure Licht would agree. Last offseason as very poor. While coaching was a major issue, the talent level on this team has dropped significantly since 2020.
January 26th, 2023 at 3:03 pm
He traded up to get Goedek if I remember correctly.
January 26th, 2023 at 3:03 pm
If Brady didn’t call them; both BA & licht would be gone
January 26th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Licht has been solid- I voted confident. No one hits 100% of the time.
Is he the best GM in the leageue? Probably not, but I would definitely put him the upper 1/3.
My biggest criticism for the past year would be not trying to address the o-line more once Jensen, and then Stinnie, went down with injury. And perhaps he did try to make a move and just wasn’t able to? But I do remember a few other teams grabbing some veteran o-line talent after all that had gone down, while the Bucs stood pat.
Now if you want to look at Licht’s entire tenure, my criticism would be him / his team don’t seem great at evaluating the following positions in the draft:
– Pass rushers
– Small / fast wide receivers (seems like every year almost every other team has a guy that can burn everyone and is tough with good hands, except the Bucs)
– Running backs (though R. White looks promising. And tbh RoJo was a pretty good runner, he just couldn’t block and was inconsistent at catching)
January 26th, 2023 at 5:31 pm
Bonzai- have you forgotten about a guy named Antonio Brown? How about resigning Godwin and Dean?
January 26th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
I think if we had Shanahan or Reid as coaches we’d be in the double digit win column too with Jason’s choices.
This year Jason was truly less effective, but still did ok with the money we had. Wholio was a bad reach, but other than that….ok.
He needs to trade a few veterans for draft picks and to shave cap. Trade D Smith for a sixth rounder. Devin White might fetch a first or second rounder. We can’t afford him anyway. ( Bill Bellicheat move). Carlton Davis might fetch a second or third rounder. Shaq Mason, if his salary is high, might fetch a fourth or fifth. Lenny might fetch a third or fourth. I can’t think of anyone else with value that we could do without that’s not headed for FA anyway.
January 26th, 2023 at 6:39 pm
Joe Says:
January 26th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
Another bit of dumbassery. You can’t blame Licht or the player for being injured. It’s disappointing that he was hurt, but there’s no reason to think that deal can’t end up being worthwhile. He’s a damn good player and J03 is just being intolerant.
January 26th, 2023 at 8:12 pm
He is in the same situation before he hit a homerun with Arains and Brady the following year. At this point I think he is on thin ice.. tied at the hip with the Todd Bowles Experience. And if Bowles fails, I expect a talented and successful experienced coach to be asked if he wants Licht as the GM, or someone else, when considering the HC job.
January 27th, 2023 at 1:13 am
I hope the Glazers aren’t in ‘prove it’ mode, since the smart thing for the Bucs to do, would be to clean up the cap, that means trading and cutting guys, not signing anyone, and having a really bad team for at least a year. If the Glazers are in win now mode, without Brady, with Bowles as headcoach, then that’s a lose-lose position and Licht should resign now while his rep is still in tact.
January 27th, 2023 at 6:31 am
Ben is 100 percent correct. Jensen goes down and Licht does not sign the 6th rated Center in the NFL in JC Tretter???? Tretter could have been signed for 2 or 3 mil-Horrid Mistake.
January 27th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Brady coming back
January 27th, 2023 at 8:51 am
Tom stocked the Cupboard love it so true!!
January 27th, 2023 at 9:36 am
Of course the geniuses here are better and know more then licht and the rest of the nfl doesn’t surprise me
January 31st, 2023 at 11:35 am
Your and Tampa’s media love affair with Licht needs a reality check. His draft track record is abysmal outside of the one year with Wirf and Winfield. Want to see a good GM and organization? Check out the Chiefs-https://www.yahoo.com/sports/patrick-mahomes-chiefs-wouldnt-be-in-another-super-bowl-without-an-incredible-success-rate-in-the-nfl-draft-031327559.html
January 31st, 2023 at 12:32 pm
You’re going to have to go into much greater detail how Licht is “abysmal,” yet he still built a Super Bowl winner.