Jason Licht Spreads Robert Hainsey Love
August 30th, 2024
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht did a couple of interviews yesterday and went out of his way to shower center Robert Hainsey with love — even if Licht and his team cheered alongside ownership on draft night when the Bucs got their man to replace Hainsey.
Hey, the NFL is a team game and a tough business. Joe doesn’t feel badly for Hainsey, who will collect $3 million this season to be a backup.
Licht painted Hainsey as the ultimate team player on the rise during his visits to The JP Peterson Show and The Sick Podcast — Pirate Parlay.
“Hainsey has been Graham Barton’s biggest cheerleader,” Licht said, noting a mic’d up segment coming out soon that will show fans how Hainsey supported Barton in preseason games.
“That’s what that O-line room is all about,” Licht added.
Without being prompted, Licht said Hainsey is chronically underappreciated.
“One guy that kind of gets overlooked is Robert Hainsey, who, you know, right now isn’t the starting center but he’s actually improved a lot, too,” Licht said. “He had a very, very good camp. He looks like a starting center, as well. We’re excited that we still have Robert. You never know if we’re going to need him.”
Joe speculated Hainsey could be trade bait recently, but it seems like Licht wants to cling to his quality center depth. Probably a wise move.
Regardless, Joe is pleased to hear Hainsey looks improved. And it’s always possible the Bucs would relocate Barton to guard and play Hainsey at center if a guard injury arose. Bucs fans might remember Ryan Jensen played some guard in 2020.
August 30th, 2024 at 12:12 pm
I think that’s a solid plan. I would much rather have a quality back up than waiting for an unknown draft pick
August 30th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
A 3rd round pick of Licht’s…trading him for something far less wouldn’t make sense. Very serviceable…too light in the lower body to be a mauler…good enough technician though. Last thing the Bucs need is a glaring hole on the O-Line if/when an interior lineman gets banged up.
August 30th, 2024 at 12:38 pm
It would be literally retarded to trade Hainsey unless the Bucs are completely out of it. Hainsey is a guy who can play anywhere on the line, and is a NFL starter when it comes to pass blocking. If the Bucs didn’t have Bowles and his 1970s ideas of running up the middle on every 1st down, people wouldn’t be complaining about Hainsey and would think he’s a decent starter.
August 30th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Yep, and I detailed my car before I put it up for sale…
August 30th, 2024 at 1:22 pm
If he is a drinker they can always assign him to hang with Arians on game day.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
People are way too hard on him. Some Oline take a long time to develop, he’s playing better than Jensen did going into their forth year. That’s not to say he’s going to be the better player in the long run.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Drive up the price. Smart of Licht. 🙂
August 30th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Boge Says:
August 30th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
People are way too hard on him.
——–
It’s because they have no idea what they’re watching.
Hainsey isn’t a good run blocker, but he is a solid pass blocker. He was drafted to a team that was built to pass the ball, that won a Super Bowl passing the ball.
Also he’s someone who can start, if need be, at center or guard and not get your QB killed. Also, in a pinch, he can always swing out to tackle as well since that’s what he was in college.
Having a guy like that, if you’re trying to win, is really really important since injuries happen. Also, I have a real feeling, if he ends up playing at LG, he’s going to be the full time starter there.
August 30th, 2024 at 2:35 pm
exactly what tB was referring to regarding depth….quality depth is always needed…not just #’s
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 30th, 2024 at 2:40 pm
i’d like to see him at T….playing T at ND is what got him drafted….tackle seems like it’ll fit him better…just like luke…
GO BUCS!!!!
August 30th, 2024 at 3:12 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
August 30th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Yep, and I detailed my car before I put it up for sale…
Ding ding ding!! That’s awesome
August 30th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Tackle？ Been here 3 years…4 Trsining Camps & preseasons….no tackle..
August 30th, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Good guy to have around as a swing O lineman. It is certain that there will be injuries along the line in a 17 game schedule. Center is Hainsey worst position but think he would be more than serviceable as guard on either side. Foolish to let him get away.
August 30th, 2024 at 4:10 pm
Robert Hainsey never played center in college but Licht, in his infinite wisdom, tried to put a square peg in a round hole again and drafted a tackle to play a different position instead of just drafting a players who has played the position for the last four years in college. When you do that you get a 50/50 chance of making it rightt.
August 30th, 2024 at 4:15 pm
Cut him.
Save the money.
Let Klein play center for the practice squad during the week.
Save the 3 million.
August 30th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
When someone in the middle goes down he’s the first guy off the bench. Everyone needs trench depth. Keep him and take the comp pick when he signs elsewhere.
August 30th, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Hainsey has shown improvement this year but he was drafted to be a backup and maybe a starter down the line.
August 30th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
“Cover deuce Says:
August 30th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
When someone in the middle goes down he’s the first guy off the bench. Everyone needs trench depth. Keep him and take the comp pick when he signs elsewhere.”
Maybe Bucs get a comp pick but Hainsey is backup C not G. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have claimed Newman off waivers
August 30th, 2024 at 10:32 pm
Its pretty common for college tackles to be converted to guard in the NFL .
I do agree that until this year Licht has not been too successful at converting lineman to centers.
August 30th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
Think it’s possible Opeta’s injury might’ve saved Hainsey’s roster spot, considering Bredeson’s abilty to offer backup C flexibilty. If Newman develops into a viable b/u and emergency starter at G, still think Hainsey is made available for the right offer. Licht only helps his bargaining position by singing his praises as well as a keeper. Seems a bit of a luxury to have basically a C only backup taking up a valuable spot on the 53.
August 31st, 2024 at 1:30 am
I agree with Licht regarding Haisey’s improvement. I think we fans tend to forget that he was put in a very tough spot when Jensen went down. Moved to center and struggled as most expected he would. Playing in front of the GOAT he struggled with line calls and ended up in Brady’s lap way too often for either ones liking. But he improved. Looks bigger this year and may have a much better anchor in pass pro as a result.
Who would they send in if they trade him? Bredeson supposedly but only four starts. Klein supposedly but he is a rookie learning the offense…foolish. Moving Bredeson to Center then creates that familiar hole at LG. Soo… Lucky to have Hainsey me thinks.
Go Bucs!
August 31st, 2024 at 3:27 am
Hainsey is horrible. His tape and his grades all bear that out.
Hes been here 4 years. At this point- what you seeis what you get. Jason can polish that turd all he wants, but you dont spend your top draft pick to replace” a quality starter” . Hainsey was as bad as it gets last year. Barton Graham is a huge improvement already, as a rookie!
Ben Bredeson is bad. But hes a better Center than a guard. Personally, id give the rookie a break. Id start him at Guard, and Bredeson at Center.
He got here late, but Royce Newmen seems likely to replace Bredesen or Mauch.
Stil, hoping Mauch shows some growth, but so far, he looks like he regressed from last year. Thats a tough break, im sure the team was hoping he would be much better. He was doing the right stuff. Getting stronger and gaining weight.
But you never know with these small school guys. The NFL is a looong way from where Cody Mauch went to school. We’ve been lucky with Marpet and Cappa.
Fingerscrossed Mauch is just adjusting to added weight.
Im still hoping on the long shot. I think Elijah Klein flashed. Hoping a year on the scout team, and in the weight room, gets him ready to be a starter.
August 31st, 2024 at 6:05 am
We need a decent backup center. Hainsey is it this year.
August 31st, 2024 at 11:44 am
Hainsey is the Swiss army knife of the ucs Oline
August 31st, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Again, I’ll go back to what I always say about the jackballs in the comments, 90% of them are complete idiots that have no idea what they’re watching, and just repeat what some other moron on the radio said as the own original thoughts. You can tell that by the comments above.
September 1st, 2024 at 2:35 am
Keep Hainsey in for sure!!!!
September 1st, 2024 at 11:20 am
I think I’ll trust Licht’s opinion over a few yahoos on here. The Licht man has always loved OLinemen who are versatile. Hainsey is fitting that bill, and yep, with a 17-game season, quality backups are a MUST!