“Whoever Is With Us Is Going To Have To Step Up”
May 5th, 2023
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It sure smells like Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is going shopping for a safety.
It may not be today and it may not be next week, but it’s probably sometime between now and the start of the regular season in September. Bucs safeties coach Nick Rapone sure seemed to hint that another safety is coming.
On Wednesday, Rapone was asked what young safety will fill the void with Keanu Neal going to the Steelers and the apparent departure of Logan Ryan. The question elicited a chuckle.
“Right now?” Rapone laughed. “Well, we have three guys here.”
One of those three, Rapone pointed out, is Nolan Turner, who bounced on and off the Bucs’ practice squad since he was first signed in August.
“Nolan played a whopping one play last year,” Rapone cautioned. “He made a great play on a tight end screen.
“Whoever is with us is going to have to step up.”
Rapone isn’t panicking. He lauded Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and his right-hand football man, vice president of player personnel John Spytek, with finding players who can pitch in.
May 5th, 2023 at 12:39 am
The pirate ship has ten holes and one cork.
May 5th, 2023 at 1:01 am
I thought they drafted Josh Hayes to be a nickel/safety. I guess they’re thinking he’s CB. UDFA Kaevon Merriweather could find himself a slot as a backup. And the Rutgers kid too. If those guys look like they have some upside, the team may be able to avoid dipping into veteran free agents or waiver claims.
May 5th, 2023 at 1:09 am
umm Slot corners aint safeties. Some could become safeties …we will see. 🙂
🙂
May 5th, 2023 at 1:31 am
Hayes KState and Chris Izien Rutgers cb will get a shot at nickel. Repone is just talking about who they currently have under contract or as he put it ‘in the building’. He said next week they’ll have 5. ‘The kid from Rutgers and KStste will both work at Nickel.’ He also mentioned Nolan Turner played some good nickel in Seattle.
May 5th, 2023 at 6:30 am
HC Grover – not true at all.
All teams have holes to fill, there is no such thing as a perfect roster even for Super Bowl champions. The Bucs have very few holes to fill at this point in the offseason, compared to lots of other teams. Very talented, and just got better in the draft.
May 5th, 2023 at 6:53 am
Kaevon Merriweather will make the team.
May 5th, 2023 at 7:58 am
Hopefully they will move to find a safety faster than another quarterback.
May 5th, 2023 at 8:17 am
Nolan Turner was a rookie UDFA last year that signed with us last April. We’ve added 1 draftee and 3 UDFAs to the safety room last week. Merriweather like @gotbbucs mentioned, Hunter Reynolds, Christian Izien(my favorite of the bunch), and we drafted Josh Hayes. 4 safeties in rookie camp, and I think at least 3 of those guys will make it to training camp this summer.
May 5th, 2023 at 9:16 am
Translated – we are in a heep of trouble. Lol.
May 5th, 2023 at 10:04 am
I wonder if a trade for Budda Baker could happen?
Yet, I can’t be sure he’s affordable. Plus, he wants to play for a sure fire winner. I recall Licht loved him in the draft.
May 5th, 2023 at 11:55 am
Duane very talented Bwahwahwahwah!
May 5th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Everyone loves Nolan Turner
May 5th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
I too thought Hayes could play the safety spot..Zion is looked to have taken a leap at CB..is he gonna just be an outside Back Up?
May 5th, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Whos Nolan Turner?
May 5th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
@Allbuccedup
A UDFA safety out of Clemson from last season.
May 5th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
He played last year?
May 5th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Barely, only suited up for 5 games for a grand total of 75 snaps, 74 of which were on special teams, but he was used mostly to cover for the injuries we had at safety last year. Was elevated from the practice squad a few different times, but I guess Turner did/showed enough to be offered a futures’ contract and probably will compete to be 1 of 2-3 back ups behind Neal & Winfield.
We’ve got a few other players at different positions like Turner, that’ll probably get a shot at holding a reserve role down while being more of a special teamer.
May 5th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Logan Ryan on a veteran minimum contract
May 5th, 2023 at 8:07 pm
I’m saying a little prayer that the Jets release Whitehead.