How Desperate Are The Bucs For An Edge Rush?
December 26th, 2024
Door open for return?
Joe doesn’t believe Bucs coaches care about an edge rush.
Joe was sitting just feet away from defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers last month when he openly said the Bucs don’t care where sacks come from. That’s OK on paper, just like how BSPN analytics always says “go for it” on fourth downs.
Edge rushers are critical for a solid defense. All Joe will suggest is that this century when the Bucs had a tremendous edge rush, they won Super Bowls.
(The Bucs organization clearly cares about an edge rush because look at the draft capital the Bucs have spent on edge rushers the past four years.)
Joe brings all of this up because, per NFL uber insider Adam Schefter, the Dolphins plan to release former Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett.
Shaq signed with the Dolphins in March but announced his retirement in July. Back in August, Shaq told Kay Adams he would only return to the NFL to play for the Bucs.
Shaq was even seen on video at the opening of a Bucs-themed sports bar near Marienplaz in Munich (which serves Killians — in Munich of all places!) where he said he would only play with Tampa Bay.
But Shaq’s agent, oily Drew Rosenhaus, somehow coaxed the Dolphins into releasing him. Provided Shaq clears waivers on Friday, Shaq, in theory, could return to the Bucs.
So how desperate are the Bucs for an edge rush? Joe would suggest they are very desperate. Bucs backup outside linebacker Anthony Nelson leads all outside linebackers/edge rushers with three sacks!
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, YaYa Diaby and Nelson, combined, have seven sacks total. That is flat-out embarrassing for a professional football franchise.
December 26th, 2024 at 11:19 am
The edge rush in the loss decade was better then this lol and that’s says alot
December 26th, 2024 at 11:19 am
What, to put the old man out in coverage? The Head Coach and the defensive system are failures.
December 26th, 2024 at 11:19 am
Well if he says he’s only playing for us, then some team could just pick him up to spite us. I’m curious what the waiver order for the NFL is. I can’t find anything, Joe, would we have a realistic shot at picking him up before any other team could?
December 26th, 2024 at 11:23 am
If he is available, sign him. It’s that simple
December 26th, 2024 at 11:24 am
In theory, Joe could see that. But NFL teams, especially teams headed to the playoffs, generally are not going to eat a roster spot for someone they do not want/plan to play.
George Steinbrenner used to do this all the time. Sign guys he may not want just so they didn’t go to Boston or Toronto.
December 26th, 2024 at 11:28 am
There was no excuse to go into the season with no pass rushers… none. That was an inexcuseable Mark Dominick type move.
December 26th, 2024 at 11:30 am
If there is no good pass rushers on the roster, who should take responsbilities? Coach or GM?
Just asking……………..
December 26th, 2024 at 11:31 am
Only pass rusher we added was Gregory, dude smoked too much and forgot to come in to work back in September 😩
December 26th, 2024 at 11:37 am
In this scheme an edge rush doesn’t matter that’s why the Bucs aren’t going to spend big money on one and That fact has been proven when they had Shaq and JPP except if you want to count the Super Bowl when their o line was hurt and Bowles finally actually made a defensive adjustment to take advantage. If they can still have one of the worst pass defenses with Shaq in his prime getting 19.5 sacks just don’t bother and let Braswell get experience
December 26th, 2024 at 11:47 am
Welcome home, Shaq!
December 26th, 2024 at 11:48 am
We never seem to go after premier free agent Edge Rushers. Myles Garrett might be available next year. He is a straight up Beast. He’s worth a first rder. Until we get a pass rush, we are always gonna have to hope, wish and pray we can outscore an opponent.
December 26th, 2024 at 11:57 am
What the heck happened to Braswell? Not even mentioned in the article.
December 26th, 2024 at 11:58 am
Pewter Power – not sure what you’re talking about. Most of our sacks came from
Edge rushers and D-linema when JPP and Shaq were here, it wasn’t just in the SB game.
December 26th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
For a locker room spark at least!
It’s the team that laid 3 eggs, yeah coaching gets a share of the blame but at the end of the day it’s the players that have come out flat and lethargic.
The locker room mentality is leaderless
December 26th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Atlanta will claim him off waivers
December 26th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Braswell is learning the Bucs zone scheme. Stay as far away as possible from receivers and then flail at trying to make a tackle.
December 26th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
lol Gipper pretty much.
Don’t worry, their fundamentals will definitely get better with a few more extra days off!
December 26th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Is it desperation when Shaq is better than any edges on our current roster?
December 26th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Miles Garrett is disgruntled in Cleveland. Need this type of move in the offseason. For now, we’re cooked on Defense.
December 26th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
They 100% should sign him! JTS is leaving and YaYa needs the vet leadership because he has regressed.
Also, if the Bucs coach does not really care about an edge rush then he needs to be the ex-coach. His method and soft zones is failing.
December 26th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Perhaps Bowles should have sought out someone that could develop pass rushers. Given the talent and athleticism our DEs have shown from time to time does it not seem reasonable to think that they could be coached up to perform at least 30% -40% better ? I guess that’s asking too much from the head coach that made #45 a team captain.
December 26th, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Get over it and lose out so the Glazers’ will move on from Bowles. Under his leadership the Bucs can not beat the teams they SHOULD beat.
December 26th, 2024 at 12:50 pm
Not fooling anyone dropping the d-linemen into coverage, doesn’t work anymore, so just stop it!
December 26th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
unbelievable Read much?
December 26th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
Bowles is a .500 coach… on a good day
December 26th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
SHAQ is already on the payroll. He has a dead money hit this year $9.3M and next year at $17.4M
December 26th, 2024 at 1:07 pm
The Arians/Bowles bloated, ineffective coaching staff needs to go.
We need a real D.C.
December 26th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Would love Myles Garrett, but he will cost two 1sts minimum. I’m also pretty sure he won’t want to play with Mayfield. Mayfield called him out when Garrett decided to use his helmet as a weapon on the field. They’ve exchanged words a few times since but it doesn’t seem friendly between the two.
December 26th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Both Mayfield and Garrett are long past the helmet episode. With Vea and Kancey in the middle it makes sense to have a strong EDGE. Will be impossible for an opposing QB to step up into middle of the pocket. A strong front 4 hides a lot of weakness on the back end of Bucs defense. There is a lot that needs to be hidden. There is no defensive player in the 2025 draft equal to Garrett. If Browns will take a 1 and 2 from Tampa (and they might), have to go after Garrett.
December 26th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
Nobody wants to hear this but we just don’t have the the talent on defense sure LVD is good but is aging jj Russell and Britt are 3rd stringers Dean can’t play man Zyon got better but he has issues every now and then Winfield has been invisible this season wonder if there is buyers remorse with the contract whitehead and Edwards nothing special Tykee smith good playmaker. JTS terrible Yaya good against the run but can’t bend the edge Hall career year for him Vita decent year but is the reason why the run d is good Kancey can’t complain he is a good player
December 26th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Image Shaq coming back just to drop into coverage
December 26th, 2024 at 2:26 pm
Citrus County: I agree with your post. Making Slacker White a captain last year shows Bowles has terrible judgement. His “system” has been figured out, and like the Smith Brothers (Lovie & Mike) he can’t/won’t adjust.
December 26th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Was just looking at our depth chart on ESPN…. We have 5 db’s on IR, 2 more questionable. 2 LB’s on IR also.
I think the wheels came off the D when Dennis got hurt, Todd’s D only works of the ILB’s are effective at pass coverage
December 26th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Who the eff would drink Killians when in that city you could walk two blocks, if that, and drink some of the best beer in the whole world! That’s like trying to sell Boone’s Farm in France. WTF???
December 26th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Beej: Okay, you’re using the injury excuse…How come other teams have injuries on defense and they don’t fall apart? Who is supposed to be getting the backups ready to play, in case of injury? How can players be on a team for a year or years and still not have the system down?
December 26th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
The Bucs only saved $4.9M by cutting Shaq.
You would think if coaches believed Barrett had something left in the tank that they would have kept him this year for that amount.
So its pretty obvious the Bucs didn’t believe Shaq could help this team in 2024 coming into the season…. why would they feel differently now – especially since Shaq has been away from the game for a bit and is not currently in “football shape”…. would take take at least 4-6 weeks for him to get there….
Whats the point of this talk? As impotent as the Buccaneers edge rush has been in 2024 – 32 y.o. Shaq Barrett hardly seems like the “answer” to that problem.
Then again – if Shaq is available and wants to come here – why not sign him to a min contract and see what happens…. Maybe good things would result.
Shouldn’t be too hard to see if Barrett looks like an improvement over the guys we are playing now….
December 26th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Beej: If you have a system that relies on ILB’s who need to be able to cover, why would they have ILB’s for years who can’t cover? Devin White was fast, but TERRIBLE in coverage. I think he was/is a head case, but lack of coaching on the basic fundamentals of football such as tackling and coverage was mind boggling. That, and Bowles babied him.
December 26th, 2024 at 4:15 pm
the reason you need an edge rush, kacy, is so your opponent can’t count on anything and therefore gameplan for it. smart teams that no we aren’t gonna get there from the edge know what plays they can call. i’m so tired of our coaches explaining how it doesn’t matter. you need to be unpredictable. bottom line.
December 26th, 2024 at 4:52 pm
D’s,
I like hearing the truth and completely agree with you about defense talent deficit. Hopefully, Licht works on this. Sorry they gave away the franchise to Winfield Jr. who promptly took on the job retirement before getting hurt.
December 26th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
bring shaq back jack…………………yesterday is tomorrow gee !
December 26th, 2024 at 5:23 pm
Lol Joe in MI, I have no idea. It’s obvious to me though, that we haven’t the correct people to run his defense
December 26th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Kinda miss the old four down lineman days. Geeting too cute with these “multiple” fronts where 300 lbs men are zone covering slot receivers.
December 26th, 2024 at 6:01 pm
I dont think they care either. Time for change.
December 26th, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Great as a person, washed up as a football player. Nothing to see here.
December 26th, 2024 at 7:18 pm
Clueless Todd does not believe an edge rush is important. That right there is heresy and Clueless Todd must be fired!
December 26th, 2024 at 8:00 pm
I know Todd and his staff were asked about an edge rush and he downplayed it. Not sure if he was supposed to come clean and simply say we have a bunch of JAGS that we have no choice but to go with since we invested all our cap in retaining our own guys. Perhaps, Bowles was giving us coach speak but he and everyone else knows that a 4-man pass rush is critical in have a top 10 defense.
I know JBF loves the transparency, but sometimes you give your roster the benefit of the doubt, and rarely even from your more vocal coaches, they will rarely say “we just don’t have the talent at DE/OLB to be effective”… not going to come out as clean as that.
I hope Bowles gets 1 more year, he’ll get to reload on defense in 2025 and we’ll see a different, stifling, turnover maker, version of his defense.
December 26th, 2024 at 8:46 pm
This team really needs some real DE’s and it needs to go back to a full time 4-3. OLBs are not working. dropping DTs in coverage is dumb. Oh and for the next two games bring Shaq back please, a rusty Shaq is better than JTS on his best day.
December 26th, 2024 at 10:10 pm
Shaq is an anvil around our neck. 27 mil not to play for the next two years. Licht didn’t learn a thing after that catastrophic mistake. Paid the salary for the pinnacle year after the fact and never got pinnacle production again. Signs up Winfield for exactly the same scenario. You have to stop digging to get out of the hole. Signing washed up Shaq serves no purpose. Garrett is out of the question. Too much draft capital and then too much salary. Build through th draft and maybe a mid tier FA or two.
December 26th, 2024 at 11:42 pm
We had our edge rusher when dallas Turner dropped to the 18th to 20th pick but Jason licht and co didn’t consider a trade up. Garrett is a beast but with our luck we trade for him and he becomes a shell of himself at starts his regression