Bill Belichick Lauds Jason Licht And Moans About Bucs Defense
November 5th, 2024
This old photo of Jason Licht and Bill Belichick was shown on ESPN2 last night.
So Joe’s got more ManningCast highlight of Bill Belichick talking Bucs.
The former boss of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht told his ESPN2 audience that he’s a big fan of his former hire in New England.
Belichick isn’t warm and fuzzy about everyone as an analyst, so this will be sure to give the Belichick-to-Tampa crowd an exciting afternoon.
“Jason did a great job for me. He’s really a great evaluator, a really smart guy,” Belichick said of Licht. “He’s done a great job putting the Bucs together. And then, you know in [2022 and 2023,] they were kind of down a bit, it looked like they were rebuilding, got Mayfield and a lot of young players in there. And here they are playing really competitively again. So he’s done a tremendous job. I really enjoy Jason. He’s a great guy to be around. You know, he’s really done a great job with that franchise.”
Joe agrees, and Joe also agrees with some of Belicheat’s pain regarding the Bucs’ defense in the first half.
Joe outlined Antoine Winfield’s mess of a big second-quarter moment last night, but it sounds better coming from Belicheat watched as if he were a spectator to a high-arching pass to DeAndre Hopkins to the Bucs’ 3 yard line.
“Winfield’s got to go up and break that up. You can’t wait for the ball to come down in your arms and let the receiver go up and take it away from you,” Belichick barked. “You gotta go up aggressively and high-point the ball; against a good receiver like Hopkins, like that’s exactly what’s going to happen right there.
“You wait for it to come down in your lap and it never gets there.”
Earlier, it sounded like Belichick got caught in hot-mic moment grumbling in low tones about the Bucs’ defense. “Oh my God, so much space,” he said.
However, Belichick did lecture on how strong and disciplined the Bucs’ pass rush was in the first half. He went there multiple times.
Belichick also noted how much he loved Baker Mayfield coming out of college and how he’s grown the past few seasons. He was disgusted by the Bucs’ offensive line mistakes (Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson) in the final drive of the first half, which probably cost the Bucs three points.
November 5th, 2024 at 3:54 pm
That’s the makeup of the entire defense there isn’t a lot of attacking the ball alot of chasing though lol go bucs.
November 5th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
I’ll bet Winfield will never ever let that happen again. He’s probably going to be mad at himself all week.
November 5th, 2024 at 4:07 pm
If this keeps going south it’s a done deal Bill to the Bucs. I’m not too big on a 73 year old head coaching the Bucs but at least his game management will be an improvement and the Glazers would love the renewed relevance that Brady brought. But good lord Bowles still doesn’t understand that after what 9 years being a head coach. His TO usage last week vs Atl on that drive at the end of the half was horrendous. You have 3 TO your offense has green WRs and you’re and they’re in a 1 minute offense with time on the clock … call a TO and slow the drive down , get the play you want and score! But nope , Bowles holds on to his TOs , finally calls one to kick the FG and uses them on his D to give the ball back to Baker with 6 seconds left. Kneel end of half. We just last night with 30 left he calls a TO. We’ll never win with that type of game management
November 5th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
I think Belichick would make a great interim coach… Its time to mive on from the Bowles experiment
November 5th, 2024 at 4:10 pm
Hmmm… He’s really laying it on thick with the praise of our beloved team. Loves Mayfield, probably has ideas for our defense. I mean if he collaborated with Jason as opposed to trying to run the show, focused on defense and the team overall and Coen stayed on and kept cooking, perhaps the Belichick/Bucs marriage wouldn’t be so bad. I mean we had another former Patriot come aboard and it worked out wonderfully for everyone. Lighting strikes twice?
November 5th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
GO GET BELICHICK!
November 5th, 2024 at 4:13 pm
All due respect, but we DON’T need another defensive head coach. Hire Coen and be done with it.
November 5th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
The two Super Bowls they won were with offensive minded head coaches.
November 5th, 2024 at 4:15 pm
Winfield had that happen last year against drake london. Got to learn …
November 5th, 2024 at 4:26 pm
A lot of fans talking about canning the head coach but has anyone heard anything from the locker room on not like playing for Bowles?? Before the raiders fired what’s his name, a lot of press from players not like playing for him. Same with Dennis Allen recently. Shoot I’d even go as far to say you could see it in Rodgers face how much he dislike playing for Saleh. A lot of on camera eye rolls from him
The vibe I get is current and former players really respect Bowles and his system. Would firing a coach that players don’t want fired cause more issues in Tampa than we expect (like players not wanting to be part of a rebuild with a new head coach ie learning the new coaches style)
November 5th, 2024 at 4:33 pm
Pains me to say it but Winfield has been terrible this year. Whitehead too.
November 5th, 2024 at 4:34 pm
The Bucs need a current successful OC to be the next HC asap!
Coen getting promoted would be ok with me…
Anyone but Bowels!
November 5th, 2024 at 4:49 pm
And in other news (just for you Joe), the Lions just acquired DE Za’Darius Smith from the Browns for peanuts.
Smith is a 3-time Pro Bowl selectee (2019, 2020, 2022). He was drafted by the Ravens in the 4th rnd of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Kentucky. He’s appeared in 117 career games with 74 starts & logged 321 tackles (213 solo), 65 sacks, 15 PDs, 82 TFLs, 10 FFs, and 2 FRs in his career. This year he’s started every game (327 def snaps), has 5 sacks, 7 QB hits & 6 TFLs.
Might’ve been nice to have someone like that to sheperd our young OLBs. And oh ya, to provide a little pass rush in the process. But no, Jason says our pass rush is fine.
November 5th, 2024 at 4:55 pm
Give me Bill as HC, Liam as Assistant HC AND OC.
November 5th, 2024 at 4:59 pm
The Winfield stuff is just stupid – there’s three people there, he went for the ball expecting the other two guys to do their job.
Also, with as much as I can’t stand Low T Todd and his cowarderly coaching at the end, again, look at the depth chart at corner. The Bucs were down to starting a guy who should have been 7th or 8th on the week 1 depth chart. You can’t just throw complete trash out there over and over again and expect things to go well, and frankly, it’s amazing the Bucs defense only allowed the points they ended up allowing (which I think was more about how bad a bunch of early calls by KC was).
Man, if Todd had just gone for it, showed that he did in fact have a set of balls, I don’t care if they didn’t make it, I’d have been happy today. You could leave the field knowing you gave it everything and just lost to the better team (who had the refs in their pocket). But to meekly, cowardly, nutlessly play for OT, what a limp wristed move.
BTW, yes, 90% of the people complaining about not going for 2 today would have complained if they did go for it and didn’t get it – that is completely true – but I’m not one of those 90%. I’m a man of integrity, a man of honor, a man of courage and principle. Thank you, and God bless.
November 5th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
This team has the talent. Belichik has to have the Bucs on his radar. He can see the talent on this team and how complete it is. Last night might have been a win for Tampa bigger than we think. Anyone who is a potential candidate to replace todd bowles could easily see there is talent that needs to be tamed.
This team is a one good head coach away from running the NFC.
November 5th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Highest Paid Safety in the league and can’t even highpoint the ball SMH
Hire Bill B and let Coen run the offense, I guarantee you the defense won’t be pathetic
November 5th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Todd will have his job next year, team Glazer loot seems to be frozen this season…
November 5th, 2024 at 5:15 pm
Nothing personal Rod but Todd had the same problem last uear as well. He runs to much soft zones and its been debilitating for the defense. Guys are coming off the line with 10-15 yard cushions. Add in his utter incompetence with clock management his time out management his everything management it’s apparent he doesnt have a clue. Sorry but he has enough of a head coaching resume to be anle to confidently say he is what he is. Everyone has their opinions mine is ive seen enough… Pull the plug.
November 5th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Winfield in not the problem. He could have played a better game, but he is the least of our concerns on defense. I am at a loss for words about why Licht feels no urgency to sign players who can strengthen some of our weaknesses. All the contending teams are signing players to fill holes to keep their teams competitive at a high level. Just last night, Kareem Hunt and DeAndre Hopkins, who were not on the K.C. roster at the start of the season, were critical in their victory. Why are the Bucs standing pat? It’s very frustrating.
November 5th, 2024 at 5:23 pm
OrlandoBycFan
Yes something very odd about the bucs complete lack of interest in signing anyone…. Very odd !!!
November 5th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Sounds like Belichick is interviewing for a job. It would be a huge mistake to hire Mr. Bill. He is too old and like “all great coaches” is dependent on great talent. Bucs don’t have enough on the defensive side of the ball. Might take a couple of years to acquire it. There aren’t going to be any miracle cures for this defense. Everyone knew that Kelce was going to get the ball over the middle all night yesterday. Still couldn’t stay with him.
November 5th, 2024 at 5:29 pm
This is contradictory. The expectation is that highest pd S in the league compensates for the “trash.” That he makes those in the secondare look better. That he does his job 1st, ending the down/drive, rather than go for the glory highlight reel pick. Winfield, the highest paid S in the league, went for the contract play instead of the team play. He should not be depending on “trash” cleaning up the mess.
November 5th, 2024 at 5:29 pm
Agree Bilicheck isnt a long term answer but i think he would be the perfect placeholder for the rest of the season and could help with hiring a long term solution
November 5th, 2024 at 5:36 pm
I agree that the Bucs are NOT deep on talent, but I feel their greatest deficit is in scheme discipline (eliminate the gaps a get Winfield to highpoint) and situational awareness… both are B² strengths and TB weaknesses.
November 5th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
Look, if Licht is gonna continue to hedge his bets (top end pay for homers and ignore fa/trades) then you need a coach to scheme to the available talent pool and eliminate in game decision mistakes
November 5th, 2024 at 6:03 pm
Since we’re all chiming in on our next coach, I like Belichick as HC and Coen as OC. Bill should not be allowed to be the GM, he sucks at that. But as coach? Have you seen Bill’s defenses over the decades? Would/should be a huge upgrade to our defense. Sorry Bowles, you had your chance over multiple teams and multiple years, and you just waste your available talent.
Just my opinion.
November 5th, 2024 at 6:07 pm
Boston Bill would be a up grade over what we have now but it’s not gonna happen. Glaciers don’t do much in season changing especially Head Coach. Maybe after another season of underperformance they change. If they go with.a Offensive minded guy why not just promote Coen & up grade the Defenseive coaches & add better talent in the off season. This year is over 1 game over 500 won’t win the south this year & that’s all they did. Off-season finish the rebuild that’s already underway. Lots more talent fir sell after the season
November 5th, 2024 at 6:22 pm
Winfield got paid to the max and now he doesn’t really give a chit about his play. I’m sure his Pops ain’t happy about the fact his son is now fat, dumb and happy.
November 5th, 2024 at 6:24 pm
Hiring Belichick as HC would be a big mistake imo. He is the greatest ever but even coaches get too old. He has the knowledge no doubt but it requires too much energy that he probably doesn’t have enough of anymore. Landry, Shula Knoll and many others prove that. They all had consistent success but look at their records over the last few seasons of their careers.They all began to fade. In Belichick’s case his decline over the last few seasons had more to do with his age than Brady’s departure imo.It probably requires more energy to be a head coach in the NFL than it does to be president.
November 5th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Winfield was complete dog excrement last night. He hasn’t done much this year except allow completions and get hurt.
November 5th, 2024 at 6:29 pm
What Coen is doing with a tight end Joe thought was a bum weeks ago, 2 A-list receivers down and a journey man practice squad receivers and our draft pick missing more games than he should being young and vibrant, and and a QB ppl on this site think should be on the bench, is nothing short of amazing!! If anybody should lead this team, it’s him! Get him a young and up and coming defensive coordinator and don’t look back. BOWLES, Is a good guy, but can’t even say a good defensive mind anymore, and wearing both hats is two too many at this point