How Much Do The Bucs Love Logan Hall?
April 23rd, 2025
One X-factor in this week’s Bucs draft is how highly the team evaluates the play of defensive end/defensive tackle Logan Hall.
Hall plays half the defensive snaps and starts most games, including against Washington in the playoffs three months ago.
Hall turned 25 years old yesterday and is coming off a 5 1/2-sack season with 10 quarterback hits, both career highs by a large margin. Joe is confident the Bucs view Hall as an ascending player.
And Joe sure knows Hall’s play is not the reason the Bucs’ pass defense was brutal last season.
So how do those realities shape Tampa Bay’s draft? Would the Bucs dare to draft a defensive tackle at No. 19 overall with Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea on the roster?
What team in NFL history has three first-round picks on its interior defensive line? It’s not like Vea is washed out.
Recent polling at JoeBucsFan.com revealed less than 10 percent of Bucs fans want the team to go interior D-line in Round 1. Joe wouldn’t object to adding another game wrecker there, but Joe has little doubt the Bucs believe they are very well set at the position.
April 23rd, 2025 at 9:58 am
I want a game wrecking DT
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:02 am
TBBF hopes Logan Hall becomes the next Will Gholston….steady long term production at a reasonable price…
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:06 am
Hall is a solid player. He gets a little better every year.
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:15 am
Hall has definitely improved. Like others have said, he is never going to be a superstar, but he is dependable.
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:19 am
Recency bias always plays a factor. Whoever won the Super Bowl tends to get folks talking about “THAT” is the way to win.
So Philly wins the Superbowl with the most beastly defensive line in the NFL and that is the way to win.
But there are lots of ways to win in the NFL. Contrary to the Joe’s position that you need a big time edge to win, I would say that Bosa, Watt, Hendrickson, Parsons, and Mack have won squat.
The NFL is so matchup specific sometime. Wow, how we matched up against KC in our Super Bowl — that same playoff we could have lost to Washington.
So, if the Bucs think they need a new DT to get there, I will support it. If they want a corner, I will support it, if they want a LB I will support it, if they want an Edge I will support.
If they want a RB in the 1st round, I will not support it!
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:21 am
Trade him for a extra pick. We can get a better DT
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:24 am
5.5 sacks from a part time DT is not too shabby. Much better than I thought he could do. More improvement expected this year? Only Todd and Jason would really know if that is in the cards. A new D Line coach? Charlie Strong has been around the block and I really had doubts about Rodgers and Goodwin. Did not hear a whole lot of noise when they left.
Go Bucs!
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:39 am
Bucs will come out of this draft with a DT, where is the big question. Lucky for us, it’s a deep class. Hey, maybe take two!
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:46 am
Defensive tackle is the deepest position group in the draft this year. Wait until day 2 or 3
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:47 am
‘Joe wouldn’t object to adding another game wrecker there, but Joe has little doubt the Bucs believe they are very well set at the position.’
The Bucs are NOT all that well set at DLine. Take away Vea & our DLine is quite light (Kancey – 280; Hall – 283; Brewer – 290; Greene – 293; Gaines – 312 according to the Bucs’ site). Lose Vea for any period of time & we lose our ‘magnet’ (the only one who draws substantial double-teams … and still wins).
This draft has several giant DT/NTs who could dramatically improve our interior pass rush. Draft one and we could blitz a lot less & simultaneously improve our pass coverage, plus improve the effectiveness of our DEs/OLBs. Git ‘er done Jason.
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:05 am
Out of College, Hall was an awkward tweener.
Too small for DT, too slow for DE.
He beefed up last year- and it really helped him improve his play.
I was happy to see it.
But I doubt he will ever live up to where he was drafted.
He has improved from”bust”, to “disappointment”
Hoping he further improves to” slightly below average” this year.
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:06 am
Defense Rules,
In all for getting bigger and sexier at the point of attack/line of scrimmage. Give me trenches in the first. Either side of the ball, or the TE from Penn state if he falls and Licht has the nads to trade up.
Can’t wait for the Joel Buschbaum article tomorrow.
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:09 am
How many DTs do we need?
Aren’t we still playing a 3-4 up front, The majority of the Time?
Or at least a 3 man line
DE-DT(NT)-DE
Seems like Vea/Gaines/Hall are enough to hold down that DT spot.
Or have we started running a 4-3 defense again?
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:25 am
The Bucs need a Suh. That’s what’s missing from the 2020 DL. Get the best beast in the first round, and the best ILB in the second. Then work on the DBs.
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:36 am
The issue is simply we used a 2nd round pick on a 4th round talent – it’s not his fault he was over drafted
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:49 am
I agree DR. Plus Vita doesn’t play as many plays as we need because of all the double teams he faces. When he’s out and on the side lines taking a breather, we get pushed around. We need another DT that can eat up doubles and be as effective as he is. Question is, is there anyone who can be as effective as he is in this draft.
Another thing to consider, is the future when Vita gets a little long in the tooth. If we find that guy now, when we have a draft that is deep in DT’s, we could be sitting pretty without having to spend substantial draft capital down the road.
April 23rd, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Capt Tim … ‘How many DTs do we need?’
Recommendation? One more big one. We’re blitzing so much Tim that we’re leaving huge gaps in coverage & playing way too much zone. Even rookie QBs (like Washington’s Jayden Daniels) have figured out how to take advantage (24-for-35, 268 yds & 2 TDs, 0 INTs). Of note, 4th down conversions in that playoff game: 3-for-5 (all 3 of those successful conversions ultimately resulted in TDs, and 2 other 4th downs the Commanders kicked successful FGs).
And even though we play a 3-4, the leading blitzer on our defense is almost always an OLB (Shaq blitzed 174 times in 2019, the year he got his 19.5 sacks). I’d contend though that what really helped him achieve that was that Vea, Suh & RNR all played 16 games on the interior DLine keeping the pressure on.
Bucs’ blitzing is quite interesting IMO. Look at Bowles’ 6 years here:
o 2019 (16 games): 47 sacks – 186 pressures – 613 blitz
o 2020 (16 games): 48 sacks – 193 pressures – 542 blitz
o 2021 (17 games): 47 sacks – 224 pressures – 532 blitz
o 2022 (17 games): 44 sacks – 144 pressures – 250 blitz
o 2023 (17 games): 47 sacks – 136 pressures – 341 blitz
o 2024 (17 games): 46 sacks – 175 pressures – 461 blitz
Having Vea, Suh & RNR playing together for 2019-2021, with JPP & Shaq of course, really set the tone for our defense (2019 was an abomination thanks to Jameis). Once Suh, RNR & JPP left, our defense still did OK in sacks, but the pressures fell way off. We became very inconsistent. Suh made a world of difference to this defense IMO, and we still haven’t found his replacement. And no, it wasn’t Hicks, nor is it Gaines. Bucs NEED another beast in the interior of our DLine.
April 23rd, 2025 at 12:06 pm
This will be a random fact but the 2015 St. Louis Rams had not 3, but 5 former 1st round picks on the defensive line. Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers, Nick Fairley, and Aaron Donald
April 23rd, 2025 at 12:14 pm
I can’t get hammered enough but we know the pass defense sucks. As DR has led the call for ferocious and undeniable penetration of the center of the pocket, even drunks agree this is the way (absent what Jason decides, I will be 100% behind that decision regardless).
And another huge guy in the middle would open up the option to sign a dwarf as an UDFA, and have two dudes who could hurl him over the LOS at the QB to sack him.
April 23rd, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Capt.Tim- The Bucs have been playing a lot with 3 down linemen but play almost as much nickel with 4 and Bowles “bear” alignment has 5. DTs rotate in and out constantly too so it takes a stable of them to be oppressive.
I’d like to see the Bucs take what this draft is giving and revamp their DL room. It’s not about copy catting the Iggles it’s taking what this draft has and adding it what the Bucs have to go from “one of the most physical teams in the NFL” to havoc and mayhem previously unseen and unimagined. The Bucs can get significantly stronger, nastier and more versatile up front as part of Bowles revamped approach for 2025.
Cancy can find his other half in Landon Jackson or Jared Ivey. Vea can find his other half in Derrick Harmon, Darius Alexander, Alfred Collins or Omar Norman-Lott and Hall can be displaced by bigger, faster, nastier and more versatile JJ Pegues and/or Thor Griffith. I’d like to see the Bucs add two of these guys as well as Laki Tasi is a potential Vea 2000. He wouldn’t even cost a spot on the 53 and can be had in the seventh. Hall is nothing to be excited about beyond a Ghoulston replacement whose next contract ought to be cheap.
April 23rd, 2025 at 1:16 pm
I hope Ezeiruaku is the pick at 19.
If he’s off the board – then Licht should go BPA between CB and NT/DT at that spot if no trade down offers are available….
Which means we’ll probably draft a Safety in the 1st round…. LOL
April 23rd, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Regardless of how they feel about Logan Hall I still think that they should prioritize defensive tackle in this draft. Ideally in the top four rounds.
First of all you want to have a rotation that can deal with the Tampa heat. Additionally need a beta is approaching 30 years old and has rarely ever played more than 60% of the snaps in a season. Kansey as much as I love him is always a slight injury risk with his recurrent calf injuries. And Hall is very much like a William Gholston.
I think adding a quality defensive tackle in this draft will really help fortify the line.
If somehow the top Fit from Michigan falls pounce at 18. Otherwise you can get a rotational player or starter in rounds 3 to5.
So edge or DT round 1, Corner/safety round 2,and 3
LB round 4 if Chris Paul still there otherwise take DT here if edge in round 1.
Round 5 and on is upside guys like edge from Central Arkansas. Or a certain ILB from university of Buffalo that Brett Kolman likes….and or a wide receiver to develop who has size and speed but either smaller school or coming off injury that can develop behind our big 3.
April 23rd, 2025 at 2:52 pm
I’d be totally fine with an interior D-lineman, though I think that position is kinda deep this draft, so we don’t necessarily have to go there in round 1.
All depends who falls / is available when we pick. Priority should be on selecting someone who can start / play significant snaps and contribute THIS year…
April 23rd, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Another monster to pair with Vea would be A-okay with me
April 23rd, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Imagine Vea goes down?
We’re screwed.
Copy the Eagles.
17 game season. Plus playoffs.
We need depth on the D line to realistically compete for a Super Bowl.
If we lose Vea or Kancey, teams will run all over us.
I wish we would grab TWO DTs!
I’m all about BEEF in the first two rounds
Grab small guys and skills players in rounds 3-7.
April 23rd, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Garro good point on new coach Strong which could make a HUGE difference along with drafting another DL or 2 depending on how things fall out, agree with the Vea gets old and replacement/compliment found now while there are guys than down the road . The pressure up the middle is just brutal cause the QB has no where to step up with the guys from the edge, backfield wherever coming at him and Bowels is at his best when he has the horses and can mix them up, THATS when his D shines.
April 23rd, 2025 at 4:17 pm
If Hall and Vea play half the snaps and Kancey misses games every year the Bucs need two more good DLs, imo. One in the first, another in the second would not bother me at all.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Licht made the comment about Hall 2 years ago that everyone wants lightning in a bottle while years ago the mindset was it usually took 2 years before knowing what you have with a player. I still think this holds true. Various examples, McCoy, Godwin, Winfield, Hall etc. Hall was a project but he has been developing and may continue to get better.