Jason Licht Understands Why Sean Tucker Struggled But He Still Needs To See Results
February 29th, 2024
Missing persons alert.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht came across as a caring father earlier this week at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.
Licht was at a podium speaking to the throng of gathered #NFLMedia when he fielded a question about rookie running back Sean Tucker.
The Syracuse grad missed a full offseason as he transitioned from the ACC to the NFL due to a heart ailment. When he was declared healthy enough to practice and play, he sure looked like he had been away from football for eight months.
Licht understood why Tucker may have struggled. Still, Licht said, the Bucs need to see results this fall.
“He needs to take a big step,” Licht said. “He missed all of the offseason OTAs because of a heart deal that he was dealing with, so that’s always hard when you miss all of that stuff. He was a little bit behind the eight ball.
“So, he will be ahead of it this year, hopefully, because he’s got a lot of talent. A lot of speed, size, all of the things you look for in a running back, so we’ll see where we’re at. We’re hopeful.”
To Joe, Licht came off as an understanding father, but that understanding only goes so far. It sounded to Joe that Licht believes Tucker’s heart issue is either in the past or can be managed. Therefore, people cannot use his heart issue as a crutch if he has additional struggles on the field.
Tucker played in the first four games of the 2023 regular season for the Bucs and his numbers were abysmal averaging 1.53 yards a carry. After a Week 3 loss to the Eagles, Tucker never touched the ball again the rest of the season.
Given that this week both Bucs coach Todd Bowles and Licht discussed lightening the load on Rachaad White, this season may be Tucker’s last shot to show he belongs in Tampa.
February 29th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Good reporting, Joe. Thanks. One full article without Baker and Evans, too. I dig it.
February 29th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
I’m with McGee. Repeated stories about the big 6 when there’s no news gets a little old to me.
I’m hope Tucker works hard in the offseason and gets his pass pro improved. He could get lots of snaps this coming year. I still think we need a late round RB pick.
Hang in there Joe, hopefully we’ll have some real and good news soon.
Does Licht see the Bucs having cap room for a new FA this cycle?
February 29th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
He sucks
February 29th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Kids got talent! But production pays the bills!
Hope he shines.
February 29th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
He had some decent runs in the preseason which gave me a little hope… Vaughn was a complete bust and Edminds was injured as usual.
This RB room needs a serious upgrade.
Puck up a solid RB in FA then add another ia the draft rounds 3-6…
February 29th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
Could, could it be
That Tucker Sucked, because the offensive line sucked?
Yup, that would be why.
Jason Licht was being nice to Joe, with his” a lil of both” answer.
It wasnt White. If you were seeing holes- schedule an Eye Exam quick.
Hainsey, Stennie, and Mauch SUUUUCKED!
As I said days ago(and was stolen today), Mauch is a rookie,
He gets s pas.
The other two get relieved of their positions. Soon
February 29th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
I am glad to hear SOMETHING about Sean Tucker.
Geez – it was like this kid was in witness protection or something – the way nobody mentioned him the rest of the season after 17 touches the first 3 games.
“He needs to take a big step,” Licht said…. is telling though.
Obviously film review of those first 3 games revealed that Tucker was blowing assignments every other play or somesuch – and the decision was made that the team couldn’t afford to continue giving him live developmental snaps because it was too much risk to the success of the offense.
In other words – he was more liability than benefit being out there on the field in live games.
I did find this little gem in NFLdotcom pre-draft prospects analysis – “Teams likely will not be pleased with his pass protection.”
I bet that right there was the biggest reason we never saw Tucker the rest of the season. He aint ready. Simple enough.
But dang – this kid was super productive making plays with the ball at Syracuse (over 3000 total yards with 27 TDs in 24 games his final 2 years).
Tucker runs a legit 4.3 40 – has a 38″ vertical jump and posted 29 reps lifting at his pro day. I’ll say that again – a RB posted TWENTY NINE reps.
Those measured athletic traits make Sean Tucker one of the (if not THE) fastest and strongest Running Backs in the NFL! On paper…..
What’s the kid gonna do with all that promise? We shall see….
Hoping Tucker studies and works and practices his as$ off to get NFL ready between now and September and we suddenly have 2 dynamic options at RB to throw at opposing teams in 2024…..
February 29th, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Nice guy Jason Licht. Keeping it real and he is correct.
February 29th, 2024 at 5:19 pm
College performance is about as predictive of. FL performance as trying to use astrology to predict the stock market.
Tucker was good at Syracuse.
He sucks in the pros.
February 29th, 2024 at 5:20 pm
Don’t give up on Tucker too early….he’ll end up being a star for someone else.
I think we will see improvement this year.
And, I don’t mind all the articles about Evans & Mayfield because I don’t read most of them…..there is no news in them….just endless speculation.
February 29th, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Hey Dave Pear, he does not suck. Look at his tape from Syracuse. The heart condition was a setback. He was a rookie.
Don’t be so hard on people. Until they deserve it.
February 29th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
What the hell….people bitching about free articles on free site. Look forward to every article you write JOE. May not agree with all but still enjoy. Whining comments not so much.
February 29th, 2024 at 5:58 pm
His tape from Syracuse doesn’t mean any more than Ryan Leaf’s tape at Washington. That’s the point. Way more college stars are busts than NFL players. Kid gets the try hard award.
He sucks.
February 29th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
I could imagine, having a heart condition as an athlete would be a big distraction to a young mind. I don’t think he was mentally there last season. Playing catchup in your rookie year slows your reaction time.
I think Tucker will bounce back this year. He has all the physical tools to excel in this league and hopefully he recover mentally.
February 29th, 2024 at 6:46 pm
Pickgrin Says:
I am glad to hear SOMETHING about Sean Tucker.
Geez – it was like this kid was in witness protection or something – the way nobody mentioned him the rest of the season after 17 touches the first 3 games.
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I also thought he might of been in witness protection.
I hope he works in the offseason on whatever he needs. With his athletic ability his potential is very high but he won’t be getting many reps if he can’t pass block.
February 29th, 2024 at 7:11 pm
I am for sure pulling for Tucker He sure look good in his highlights And I think he is tough. Paired with White who I believe in 100% gives us a punch Lets draft in the trenches!!! Help these guys out Also lots of good comments on this
February 29th, 2024 at 7:27 pm
Bucs need more players on offense that can block. And I am not talking about OL but also TEs and RBs.
I expect the Bucs to draft an OL, TE and RB.
February 29th, 2024 at 8:07 pm
@Dave Pear
Dude honestly you suck way worse.
February 29th, 2024 at 8:11 pm
A sudden heart issue that popped up and took several months to go away on its own. What could possibly cause that? 🤔
February 29th, 2024 at 10:32 pm
Ok I’ll rephrase. Tucker doesn’t suck.
He just wasn’t, isn’t, and won’t be an NFL RB.
Glad I could clarify.
February 29th, 2024 at 10:33 pm
Thank you! 👍
February 29th, 2024 at 11:31 pm
Watching his college tape, I don’t know what people talked about when they were saying he should have been like a 2nd or 3rd round pick – I don’t see anything special.
But I’d like to be proven wrong.
In Tuckers defense, the offensive line and blocking was much better in the 2nd half of the year, so I’m sure he’d have improved – although he’s still clearly behind White and Edmonds on the talent curve.
March 1st, 2024 at 12:35 am
At Syracuse (a college team against college opponents in The Great Northern Conference or whatever they call it) Tucker’s holes were as wide as meteor crater. When he caught passes the nearest defender was 12 yards away.
He comes to the NFL, and reality sets in. It’s ok, the guy is a feel good story. UDFA (obviously no one was impressed by his tape plus the physical ailment).
But he doesn’t suck. He just won’t play in the NFL.
March 1st, 2024 at 6:37 am
What irritates me and has me skipping more articles is the use of exact, word for word quotes in multiple articles. Something is written and used over and over again. That’s just plain lazy.
March 1st, 2024 at 8:35 am
Joe you’re a nice distraction throughout the day. Funny to complain about which Bucs get coverage in march.
March 1st, 2024 at 10:44 am
Joe you’re a nice distraction throughout the day. Funny to complain about which Bucs get coverage in march.
LOL Thanks. 🙂
As far as college tape, an NFL assistant coach told Joe a couple of years ago that after a player has been in the NFL a year, what he did in college doesn’t mean a damn thing,