The Mike Greene Files
September 20th, 2023
General manager Jason Licht weighs in.
Who is Mike Greene and why is he logging so many snaps in the middle of the Buccaneers’ top-10 defense and proving to be an anchor of one of the league’s best run-stuffing units?
Greene, 24, has played 47 percent of defensive plays this season in the gut of the Tampa Bay defensive line.
He was a tryout player out of James Madison University last May. General manager Jason Licht and his staff saw Greene on just one tryout day and signed him up.
He spent all of 2022 on the practice squad and now he’s an integral player.
“We really like the skillset Mike has as a pass rusher, exploisve off the ball, he plays very strong,” Licht said on the Buccaneers Radio Network pregame show. “He’s going to be a name around here I have a feeling for quite a while. So he’s a good player.”
High praise from Licht, who isn’t one to gas up young players unless he really is excited about them.
It’s stunning how much depth the Bucs have at defensive line and at edge rusher. It’s a great mix of developed stars, established young players, rising newcomers and a free agent or two sprinkled in. Impressive stuff from Licht and the coaches.
As for Greene, Joe has been told he’s among a group of young Bucs recognized at team headquarters for extreme dedication to the weight room and film room year-round.
September 20th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Jason Licht solidifying himself as the best GM in franchise history. So far we’re the perfect example of “retool” over “rebuild”. JL has just done a fantastic job and even seems to learn from his own mistakes.
September 20th, 2023 at 9:56 am
What a find.
September 20th, 2023 at 9:58 am
Agree with BigPoppa –
Licht is outstanding. And he does get better with time.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:00 am
Greene is out playing Logan Hall in the middle. Greene has played well, especially against the pass, but needs to work on his discipline in his run fits. He got fooled in Chicago and it was a big reason Rochon had that 29 yard carry. Overall amazing work by Licht, scouts, and coaches who are developing players on every level it seems.
Now I cant wait for Kancey to get healthy and move Logan Hall out wide as the 5-tech and the Bucs line will really be difficult to stop.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:02 am
Thanks for the article Joe.
I was wondering who Greene was.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:10 am
BigPoppaBuc Says:
September 20th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Jason Licht solidifying himself as the best GM in franchise history. So far we’re the perfect example of “retool” over “rebuild”. JL has just done a fantastic job and even seems to learn from his own mistakes.
Agreed, kudos to Jason Licht
September 20th, 2023 at 10:14 am
I remember years ago we all wanted Licht fired, thank God he didnt
September 20th, 2023 at 10:15 am
Greene is outplaying Hall. Greene has limited experience he will improve with more reps and limit his mistakes. Hopefully, Hall will react to the competition from Greene and up his game.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:22 am
I’m not trying to be a downer, but right now we have (2) starting caliber def linemen in Vita and Shaq, the other guys I would argue are solid rotational guys. Maybe Kancey will be that 3rd guy.
After re-watching the Bears game, Fields only completed passes when that pocket held up for him, and I don’t mean sacking him, more so just disrupting pocket, there were times it just wasn’t there and he made us pay for it. This team was ridiculous during Shaq’s break-out first season and JPP bookending on the other side. Perhaps I’m missing the play call and/or scheme Bowles lines up, but DJ Moore smoked us when we gave Fields a moment to throw.
Maybe this will be JTS’ moment, but damn I wish would had another stud OLB to bookend Shaq.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:30 am
No matter how this season goes. Jason Licht is the best GM this franchise has ever had.
Nothing will ever top the Warren Sapp and Derick Brooks draft, but Jason has drafted well, found a number of undrafted gems and lured the best player in NFL history to the franchise.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:31 am
Green is lichting it up out there!
September 20th, 2023 at 10:34 am
Scouting department!
September 20th, 2023 at 10:43 am
How many players have sacks this year, already? Eight?
September 20th, 2023 at 10:45 am
I agree with the above comments – Jason Licht and his scouting department has done a great job at finding some hidden gems the past few seasons.
Bucs coaches also deserve credit for developing those players.
I believe we have 13 rookies on the 53 man roster and 34 players who are on their first contracts still.
Great job.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:47 am
Mean Mike Green
September 20th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Green is not outplaying Hall. Do you guys even watch games before you spout BS? Go watch the first game (we’ve only played two). Hall was living in the backfield. He was part of nearly every play. He was the best DL in the game. I love Joe’s articles until the comments. And then I have to wonder if Bucs fans are the dumbest MF in the world. Watch the games or STFU.
September 20th, 2023 at 11:16 am
A play maybe only Joe talks about or types about: JTS and Logan Hall chasing down and bringing down Justin Fields for a loss along the left sideline. Excellent hustle and pursuit!
September 20th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Depth is the key here, QUALITY depth! I like what I see so far on both sides of the ball, but especially the defense.
September 20th, 2023 at 11:55 am
@Sly he is out playing him in the MIDDLE. Bucs drafted Logan to be a 3-technique. He’s obviously not that and now he’s found his niche as a 5-tech DE. Didn’t say he was bad. I just said Greene out played him as a DT. I’ll be more specific next time.
September 20th, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Licht has been getting better with each draft, as long as he stays away from punters and runners.
September 20th, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Craig as you not a fan of Camarda? Please. Think before you hit send.
September 20th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Jason is good, with the exception of kickers, RBs, and second round picks..
September 20th, 2023 at 1:57 pm
Only fans with a low IQ would want to fire our GM. he literally built the team that the greatest of all time in Tom Brady WANTED to play for. That’s right TB12 chose Tampa because of the players JL brought in. TB12 could have gone almost anywhere and any team would have taken him besides the patriots BB some times makes none headed decisions. Then JL signs every starter from the SB team and we come within a game of repeating. Obviously that’s puts us in a hole financially and now he’s gone out and has built a young hungry physical team that looks like a real deal only after 2 games. Eagles will be a tru test so we shall see how Monday night goes. JL has done a tremendous job. Let’s go Bucs
September 20th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
I wouldn’t say Greene outplayed Hall, but he’s a damn good player.
September 20th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
the new nacho
September 20th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Sly Pirate Says:
September 20th, 2023 at 11:14 am
I love Joe’s articles until the comments. And then I have to wonder if Bucs fans are the dumbest MF in the world.
You can quit wondering. Your assessment is fairly accurate.
September 20th, 2023 at 3:24 pm
Sly ,I made that same assessment a couple weeks back when Jason was being blamed for mauch having back spasms..
September 20th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
Funny article because i was also wondering “Who is Mike Greene and why is he logging so many snaps in the middle of the Buccaneers’ top-10 defense”?
it seems we have had a few guys from James Madison on our offensive and defensive lines. Lets hope he continues with good production.
September 20th, 2023 at 5:55 pm
A scouting report on Greene….
“Gap shooting defensive lineman with below-average size. Green displays above-average explosiveness and rushes with a hot motor. When using his hands, he is not refined and his impact in the run game is minimal. Greene projects as a camp body who has a small chance of sticking on a practice squad if he can considerably improve his technique.”
His workout numbers are not impressive at all, but he also went to a small school, and I’m going to guess with access to an NFL weight room and NFL nutrition, those unimpressive workout numbers don’t mean much now.
I haven’t watched this weeks ALL22, but for the Vikings game, I did notice him playing a lot once Kancey was out – and he didn’t really stand out in any way, which is a good thing, as there wasn’t anything negative to take away from the film.
However those saying he outplayed Hall… certainly that was not the case in week 1, and from just watching the TV broadcast, I did not get that impression.
The one person who did stand out in week 1 on the ALL22 was Kancey, my goodness does he look fast and have a burst. I can not wait until he’s back and healthy and playing alongside Vita.
September 20th, 2023 at 5:57 pm
I don’t think he’s racked up much stats, but I have seen him flying around a lot during games and always seeming to be right around the ball / helping make tackles.
September 20th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
I wonder if he’s getting a lot of extra playing time specifically because Kancey has been out…
And I agree Rod, Kancey looked explosive AF in those few snaps he played.
September 20th, 2023 at 6:59 pm
“It’s stunning how much depth the Bucs have at defensive line and at edge rusher.”
Which given your love of the QB position and a strong pass rush must have you orgasmic Joe. I’m pretty excited myself!
September 20th, 2023 at 7:39 pm
Was Greene one of Licht’s UDFA finds? Licht is the best GM in Bucs history. The Glazer Boyz are very aware of it, too. Bucs were not Brady’s #1 choice; word has it 49ers were, and they weren’t interested. However, one of Licht’s training grounds was the Patriots so that gave him a line on TB. I know Licht blew it with Aguayo (sp?), but he’s made up for it with Camarda, etc.
September 20th, 2023 at 10:56 pm
Licht is crushing it lately, Greene, Izien, Thompkins, Tucker, even Jarret all undrafted FAs that are contributing this year! Not to mention most of the draft picks are contributing as well. If guys like Mayfield and Neal work out, really a nice job by Licht and staff.
September 21st, 2023 at 12:03 am
Licht is definitely a top-10 GM in my opinion.
Now that we’ve had a competent coaching staff for the last 4 or 5 years, we’ve truly seen how much talent he’s drafted / signed.
September 21st, 2023 at 2:32 am
Good one Joe!
I have been wondering about the few bits I have heard about Greene.
All Hands On Deck this week!
Go Bucs!
September 21st, 2023 at 9:15 am
It’s nuts we never really heard much about him in OTAs, practice, preseason. Then all of a sudden Kancey goes down and this dude pops onto the radar. I mean at least we should have heard his name called before the season if he’s solidifying the interior DL now. Good find.
Logan Hall isn’t doing bad either. We can’t keep expecting splash plays from the DT position. But, he may just end up being a rotational player and not develop into the high draft pick. That’s ok. Not everyone has the athleticism of Sapp and hopefully Kancey.