Attacking The Weakest Link
January 29th, 2025
Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell.
For Joe, there is no doubt where the Bucs’ biggest roster hole is.
Yeah, one could argue cornerback. Joe’s at wit’s end with Jamel Dean. Unlike many, Joe is not anti-Dean. Joe thinks he’s a decent corner — when he’s on the field.
And that’s the issue. He misses too much time, especially the biggest games (postseason). A guy could be Deion Sanders but if he can’t stay out of the tub, it doesn’t matter.
Joe wouldn’t cry himself to sleep if the Bucs went safety in April’s draft. Joe really believes Bucs coaches have buyer’s remorse with Jordan Whitehead.
No, for Joe, the biggest hole is easily inside linebacker. Right now the Bucs have J.J. Russell and that’s it. Other than that, you have a reclamation project like Deion Jones. That’s it.
K.J. Britt is a free agent and who knows if Lavonte David will return or retire.
This is why Jordan Reid of BSPN has his eye on an inside linebacker for the Bucs to draft. And that man would be Alabama inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
Tampa Bay has been inconsistent at linebacker and needs youth in that position group, as longtime standout Lavonte David will turn 35 later this month. Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell is a young, ascending prospect who not only excels at the second level but can generate pressure with the pass rush on late downs.
Also, as you can see in the video below (if the video doesn’t work click here) Campbell knows how to defend the pass, too.
Every fan knows how rotten (again) the Bucs’ pass defense was and Todd Bowles requires everyone including towel boys to cover receivers downfield.
Someone on Twitter yesterday was pimping Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, callng him a nice pickup. Joe sarcastically retweeted it asking, “Can this guy cover Drake London?”
Only Bowles would sit a quality edge rusher because he couldn’t cover receivers like Darrelle Revis. And that’s why Joe would be happy to see the Bucs go inside linebacker at No. 19.
#Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell (#11) is a fascinating prospect.
He's a ridiculous athlete with a high motor at 6'3", 245 lbs. Campbell is a secure tackler who is impressive in coverage and rushes the passer effectively — 5.9% missed tackle rate + 5 sacks in 2024. pic.twitter.com/KvQ0jRz0cR
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) January 23, 2025
January 29th, 2025 at 10:41 am
I think sirvocca Dennis is also going to be good, but def need more.
January 29th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Hopefully he is solid between the ears, too, unlike DW45.
January 29th, 2025 at 10:58 am
I realize this guy is a ILB, but a bigger concern is at OLB. Bucs need to go back to the 4-3 as base defense and get real big DE’s.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:05 am
Speaking of can’t stay on the field, Godwin has missed 22 games since 2019…that’s 6 more than Dean. I’ve said this since they got new contracts, you’re grossly overpaying when you consider you’re consistently losing these guys for multiple games each season. I like Godwin and hope we can resign him at the right price but he’s not worth $20 million per year. I won’t be shocked if Coen throws that kind of money at him, he knows the offense, will be a great asset for Lawrence and he’s a great locker room guy.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:08 am
Sounds like a good guy to target. If SVD can stay healthy and we draft this guy, ILB could become a strength. A free agent addition would be a good idea as well. I’m not counting on Lavonte returning. His decision should have no bearing on our FA and draft plans.
I would be in favor of declaring Jihaad on opponents.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:10 am
He can be an actual Jihadist for all I care, can he shed blocks? Can he run sideline to sideline, can he drop back and cover? They need difference makers at linebacker as much as they need an edge rush. In fact they need 3 new bodies atleast. Can’t wait for Lavonte to retire to find a potential replacement either. His place dropped too last year. Also cant count on Sirvocea to stay healthy
January 29th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Not impressed. A MLB is not going to be a game changer for us. We need a edge or DB.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:16 am
I’d like to see Licht go best player available out of CB, SS and ILB taken with the first 3 picks of the draft.
We have 2 young edge rushers already whom we’ve spent recent draft capital on Yaya (3rd) and Braswell (2nd), who need a veteran FA to round out a rotation. I like Yaya, we need to see Braswell take that 2nd year jump, and get any production greater than JTS from a vet FA. Use what cap room we have on this position.
We can burn late round picks on TE, G and WR depth. Even a 7th round punter wouldn’t hurt my feelings this year.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Oh and backup QB should be a spot to watch this year, whether FA or the draft, now that Trask is gone. Baker is one hero-scramble-gone-awry from the injured list, though I admire his play-making.
Last and not least in these equations: according to Spotrac, the Bucs are still 4th in the league with $29mil in dead-cap next year.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:30 am
JTS, LVD, and Nelson all FA’s. Dennis can be nice if he can stay on the field, but not giving up on him, he can still work magic playing with Kancey. I could see Campbell if he is the BAP at the time we are picking, the only positions we should not be drafting in the first round are IDL, OL, QB, RB, and TE. Other than that, go with the best player on the board.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:33 am
SVD can’t stay healthy so you can’t rely on him.
We have Lavonte (maybe) and no else.
Truth is this team needs at least 2 ILBs, plus at least 1 OLB. Tough spot to be in as our SB window gets closer to closing
January 29th, 2025 at 11:35 am
Dennis will never be good. He’s a 5th round pick, not a 1st, or 2nd round pick who can’t stay healthy. Most 5th rounders don’t add up to much anyways. Those who think he can be something are kidding themselves. Tell me, what has he shown you since he’s been here? He’s shown me he can’t make it through a training let alone a season. Enough of the Dennis hype. I’d be willing to bet he won’t be ready for OTA’s, or training camp. Time to move on.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:39 am
Definitely need someone with good physical traits who can run, hit, tackle and cover in the middle of the field. But if the Bucs find a way to get a stud pass rusher, that has to trump all other positions.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:41 am
The Bucs have always had a generational type Linebacker. We need to find that guy to replace David. I am all for drafting a guy early, tired of seeing the misses on edge early, need a proven vet and DBs that play soft zone lol are easily found mid rounds.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:55 am
The biggest roster hole is punter. Seeing TBD leading the depth chart every week indicates a real hole, not even a body, warm or cold. Turnovers aren’t the only things that yield field position.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:59 am
Dennis can’t help the club from the tub.
January 29th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
A CB at #19 would start and play decently well in year 1 (Dean would be gone). I like going ILB in rd2 to complement a FA that Licht picks up – a veteran ILB could make calls that a rookie would struggle with.
Britt should be released and I don’t think SVD or Russel are NFL starters. Looking at their stats, Britt, SVD, and Russel played similarly. Maybe some of the other ILB’s could make a huge step, but unlikely.
January 29th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
What Leighroy says: Best player available on the defensive side. Focus on LBs and defensive backs. Inside, outside, corners, safeties… they’re all needed.
January 29th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
19 is too high for him. I’d rather go with the derwin james type safety Emmanwori…and he can play LB too….great size and length.
One ILB I like that might be there 4th or 5th is Debo Williams.
January 29th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Shavon Revel, CB with our 2nd pick if there, but we’ll have to trade into the top of the 2nd for him.
January 29th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
I hope we draft 2 ILB to eventually compete with SVD if he can stay healthy. Maybe keep Dion Jones. Get rid of Britt. Hopefully LVD comes back at least one more year to mentor the new guys. Maybe rounds 2 and 5.
Draft 2 defensive backs. I would prefer cornerbacks but a safety later would be ok. Maybe rounds 1 and 4. Cut Dean. Hopefully Bryce Hall comes back. Get guys that can play press man. Playing more soft a$$ pass defense than the whole rest of the league has to change.
OLB or DE in the 3rd round. Cut JTS. Keep Nelly and Braswell.
With the last two picks get a DT and speedy WR/KR. Resign Logan Hall. Resign Chris Godwin!!!
January 29th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
So we’re going to sign a guy who’s name is Holy War. Okay
January 29th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Once again, don’t know enough about these college guys but based on position and the sounds of this guy, I would be on board. We aren’t gonna find another Lavonte but if we can find the next best thing and get him under David for 1 year, I couldn’t call it a bad plan.
Dennis can’t be relied on to stay healthy. Won’t count on him being a baller for us for 17 games.
I’m all for BPA first 3 rounds on the D side. Edge/OLB, ILB, CB would be my primary targets.
Hell, if Licht thought he was getting another Wirfs in an OT they loved, I wouldn’t be mad at that either. Can’t have too many beasts up front and would give some flexibility as far as upcoming contracts… Bredeson could be let go and could be replacement for Luke depending on his future price tag. Not advocating for this just advocating for BPA.
January 29th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
I saw something on that Marshall kid the other day! But, I like Jalon Walker outta UGA, if he’s still there (prob won’t be). He’s a BIG-TIME ‘play-maker’ always around the ball, making PLAYS, & causing all-out HAVOC, all over the field. He is a LEADER. And, he speaks very intelligently, unlike (DW45) someone else, we all know. I’ve seen “PAWL” interview him twice on the Paul Finebaum Show, & he came across as being VERY impressive. Son of a Coach. Still hasn’t even turned 21 yet!!!! It would be so great (absolutely perfect) if Lavonte David returned for just one more season, & was to take the ‘kid’ under his wing.
January 29th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
It has to be a secondary pick in the first round. We need it too badly, assuming we don’t address it in free agency.
January 29th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
If Bowles is still coach I guess draft the best coverage defensive tackle.
January 29th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Not going to be a great edge rusher at 19 most likely so I would be all for this. For me the biggest need is Edge but again we need to just take the best player not reach for a unproductive edge rusher like JTS
January 29th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Best defensive player available for the first three picks. We need LB, Edge, CB, Safety and DL depth. The only offensive players we should draft are depth at OL, which can be had in the late rounds.
January 29th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
With us picking at 19 I am not sure if there will be an immediate edge rush game changer there. If Cambell is still there which after he blows up during his workouts I’m all for it. Devin White athleticism but can cover. We all know the impact White had when he was motivated and engaged.
January 29th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Matt, it’s a name. His name could be Jihaad Hittler for all I care if he’s a good player. Jesus!
January 29th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
Matt_PcAfee Says:
January 29th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
So we’re going to sign a guy whose name is Holy War. Okay
______________
Pretty sure his mama didn’t know what it meant, she just be liking the way it soundz.
January 29th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
Too bad we appeared to have missed on Braswell.
His name was called so infrequently it was hard to remember he was on the team.
18 tackles for the year
11 solo and 1.5 sacks.
Those are horrible numbers, even for a rookie who wasn’t playing full time.
Seems like he attended the JTS School for Defense.
Lesson #1. Run past the quarterback, never at him.
January 29th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
As far as Braswell I didn’t even notice if he got many snaps at all. I am certain he is being misued when in there. I would say incomplete on his grade.
January 29th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Yeah, it doesn’t make much sense at all, concerning Braswell. It took him a little while to ‘pop’ at Bama, but hell, he was behind a couple of Top-5 Picks though, as a youngster. He has obviously played against, and been coached by THE BEST of the best in both, high school (St. Frances – Baltimore) and college (Saban – BAMA). I mean, if he doesn’t ‘step up’ and make a HUGE leap next season, then we have an obvious problem here, that is persisting with our LB’s. It’s becoming the ‘system’ where LB’s go to DIE. I expect a BIG year out of him. He is FREAK. Long arms and just ridiculously, POWERFUL. Hell, turn him LOOSE, Todd. Allow HIM to play! Geez. It just seemed-like, he was ‘thinking’ too much. It makes no sense.
January 29th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Just pulled this from Google on “Jalon Walker” – bet Todd is drooling. Meant to mention that he obviously WON the Butkus Award this season, but I believe I saw where he was also ‘runner up’ for the same award in High School… Saw it during one of his interviews on PAWL Finebaum. You know being at UGA, that Todd is VERY familiar with him.
“Versatile defender who has been used on the edge and as an off-ball linebacker. Has the speed and athleticism to be effective in man coverage against running backs and tight ends. In zone coverage, he shows decent eye discipline for someone new to playing off-ball linebacker and uses his hands to get reroutes.”
“Perhaps the most popular name going to the Cardinals has been Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker. That pick would certainly make plenty of sense. Walker has the ability to line up all over the defense, including as a coverage linebacker and even occasionally as a slot corner.”
January 29th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
unbelievable Says:
January 29th, 2025 at 11:33 am
People say the dumbest things. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You apparently don’t realize we have one of the youngest teams in the league. I don’t know what planet you’re on, but we’re still building this thing. Besides Evans and Lavonte, what player that matters is over 30?
🏆 Dumbest comment on the internet for the day. 🏆
Congrats. 🎉
January 29th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Excellent, Joe. Your last paragraph is a home run. The triggerfish school will not like it. But objective knowledgeable fans will.
January 29th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
^ Dumber than the racists crying about drafting some guy b/c of his name? That might be the dumbest thing I’ve read, but eff it, I’ll play along for a moment:
Yes, SB window has about 3 years left, AKA getting closer to closing. We’re 5 years into it already.
– Lavonte may be gone already, and if not, plays 1 more season. Huge hole to fill.
– Evans probably plays 2 – 3 more years max. That’s a HUGE hole to fill.
– Baker has 2 years left on his current contract.
– No one even knows if Godwin will be back.
As for guys who are 30 or over: David, Evans, Gholston, Shepard, and Barrett, and Mayfield and Vea are both turning 30 this year.
Having a young team is meaningless if they’re not of superior talent. We have a few young guys that are great: Wirfs, Winfield (hopefully again when healthy), Goedeke, J-Mac, Barton, Irving, McCollum, Tykee Smith… but that’s nowhere close to a full roster.
Feel free to tell me which of those points you disagree. Bonus points if you can articulate it without needing emojis.
January 29th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
seems like bucs should be able to get a solid player at a position of need at 19. could trade up or back also
January 29th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
un-b,
We’re 10-7 with one of the youngest rosters in the league. We have excellent talent at a bunch of spots. Mayfield isn’t entering geezerland for quite awhile. Our whole offense, short of 13 and 14, is young enough to keep rolling for awhile. We need to get another young receiver to inherit #1. As for the D, Vita’s got productive years ahead. We need to fill the ILB position and need some help with our DBs. There’s no reason we can’t continue to be an ascending team for awhile… THe whole SB window thing doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me, unless you’re clearly aging across the board and/or you have created a very restrictive cap situation. This team is just pulling out of the Brady & friends cap hell. But, yeah, we gotta fill some glaring talent gaps on defense. No emojis, you’re welcome.
January 29th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
I don’t know much about the draft class, I really haven’t paid any attention to it yet, but you can almost always find ILB’s in the 2nd and 3rd and even 4th rounds. But I’d have no issues with drafting a special talent in the 1st round, but they need to be really special – and must be incredibly fast, as speed was a huge issue at ILB once you got past David (who had one of the best years of his career last year, and hopefully is back again).
But a top corner or a pro-ready OLB/Edge might make more sense in round 1, as those guys can be harder to find later on – at least one’s that start early. Which, BTW is the key, not getting yet another development guy, but someone who is ready to play early. Meanwhile we’ve seen repeatedly over the years were ILB drafted later can come in, and star, from day one.
January 29th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
This has got to be one of our top targets the other ILB who should be a top target for us is Barrett Carter out of Clemson.
January 29th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
TB loves a d lineman who can drop into coverage so he will probably want Shamar Stewart from Texas A&M
January 29th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Dean just isn’t the guy. Plays too far off, doesn’t have the speed, glass knees. Sad but true.
January 29th, 2025 at 10:43 pm
@Flithy – I hear you on being young, obviously many of those guys will continue to improve.
I guess I’m a little skeptical on being able to seamlessly replace 13, 14, 54, etc without losing a step. Some of the other holes on this roster (and there are still many), we’ve been trying to fill for years with little success. And it’s been those vets I just mentioned who have been a huge part of keeping us on a winning path. So if those holes aren’t filled by time those guys leave, that’s when the window begins to close IMO. Obviously a great year of drafting / free agency can change all that, but that’s never a given.
Plus I want so badly for guys like Evans and David to get another shot at an another ring. Color me greedy.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:02 pm
Yeah I’m thinking it’s either gonna be him Walker from Georgia or Revel from East Carolina. I doubt Pearce will be there. If it was me I think I’d go with Revel & then go LB. Maybe somebody like Barton from Utah.
January 30th, 2025 at 12:43 am
All Jason has to do is draft guys who can stop the run, cover the tight end, cover the wide receiver, drop into deep zone coverage, and once in a while rush the passer, and of course get multiple sacks per game doing that.
Easy job, Jason.
January 30th, 2025 at 2:22 am
Fred Says:
January 29th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Dean just isn’t the guy. Plays too far off, doesn’t have the speed
————-
You really think players choose how far off the line they play? That’s on the coaches – they tell them where to line-up.
Also Dean is literally the fastest player on the team – he ran a 4.30 40, beating out Zyon and Palmer who both ran 4.33’s.
January 30th, 2025 at 7:31 am
I personally want an edge rusher who has that beast mentality, no soft dudes just mean AF! Let’s Goooo!
January 30th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Wow me likey! love the size!
If he can truly cover and run? Where do I sign up?
Remember Diva could supposedly do it all too. Is he still in the league?
Go Bucs
January 30th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
@Rod – Bowles and other defensive coaches have said repeatedly, like over and over and over, that they let the corners play as close or as far off as they want to, depending on the coverage called.