Offseason Shopping
December 19th, 2013
Yes, Joe already dove into how Bucs commander Greg Schiano feels the Bucs are a couple of pieces away from being a dominant defense. That’s probably true.
Now when Schiano was pressed for what those pieces were by Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Schiano played dodgeball, only saying people who watch the Bucs closely already know what those pieces are and they would be addressed in free agency and the draft.
Then Schiano admitted he potentially may have one of those pieces already, citing Will Gholston as a potential stud.
If Gholston continues to rise as he has been, it’s not a stretch to see him start next year. So that would take care of one defensive end slot. The other pieces, Joe would guess, would be an outside linebacker. Jonathan Casillas was an excellent pick but who knows when/if he can recover from his knee injury, and Dekoda Watson is a free agent in a few weeks, so who knows if he will even be wearing pewter and red in 2014. And perhaps a veteran defensive end would be targeted
Joe knows people are pining for Jared Allen, who will likely walk from the Vikings after this season.
But is Allen just a name people recognize? He’s not bad, but Allen, who is hardly a spring chicken, really was just a shell of his former self this season despite his nine sacks. Is that just a one-season hiccup or is his play on the decline? In other words, buyer beware. If he still had gas in the tank, would the Vikings let him walk?
Another element to factor is Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is not usually inclined to go after aging free agents.
Now Greg Hardy, who has had 19 sacks the past two seasons, is a guy to keep an eye on. But Hardy told the Charlotte Observer today he would be willing to give the Stinking Panthers a hometown discount to keep his services — doesn’t seem like he wants to leave Carolina.
Now if Dominik could somehow land Hardy, that’s a double-whammy. First, your defensive end issue is likely resolved and, two, you weaken a division foe. Win-win.
December 19th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Jared Allen isn’t coming to Tampa to do a bunch of stupid stunting, especially not at this point in his career. What legitimate pass rushing end is going to want to do all that? I want to see his face the first time Schiano asks him to drop back in coverage and cover Jimmy Graham (as he’s had Clayborn do this year).
December 19th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Didn’t the “rockstar” sign Albert Haynesworth not too long ago? Anyway, it’s gotta be pretty embarassing that you’re already looking for a new DE when you let a perfectly good one go last offseason for practically a bag of chips and some soda pop. Then he refused to sign DE’s off FA such as John Abraham and Dwight Freeney. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so much faith put into a defensive player and have it all come crashing down as is the case with Da’Quan Bowers.
December 19th, 2013 at 6:36 pm
Said defensive end is also a free agent (ahem).
December 19th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Bowers is a real disappointment….If he had performed at all…we wouldn’t still be talking about Bennett.
I can see how the mistake was made because with limited play last year, he showed signs of dominance.
I actully like the idea of drafting another LB like LVD….does anyone know a LVD clone we can pick up in round 2?
If we could trade our pick for extra picks….this is a very deep draft at the top….we could still find an impact player in round 1.
December 19th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
@ Joe
I think Bennett has burned the bridge with Schiano….and that may be a factor in 14….
December 19th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Joe, do you really expect him to leave Seattle to come back to the Bucs? Not sure he wants to work with a coach who has “small-man syndrome” over one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
December 19th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Word on the street is that Gregory did not want John Abraham because he wasn’t a yes man.
December 19th, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Who’s the redhead?
December 19th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
I say we can schiano and dom that way it wouldn’t feel you know awkward when we resign Bennet 🙂
December 19th, 2013 at 7:38 pm
“I actully like the idea of drafting another LB like LVD….does anyone know a LVD clone we can pick up in round 2?”
If anyone did, he’d be a top 5 pick.
December 19th, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Schiano has scared off any potential free agents from coming to Tampa with the Freeman situation and his rep before that. No FA’s are coming here unless we throw BIG $$$ at them & that’s not even guaranteed to help the problem. It’s a Yucs life.
December 19th, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Schiano SUCKS and must go! He’s his worst enemy! Do what fits your players dumb ass! Play to their strengths !
December 19th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
“Schiano has scared off any potential free agents from coming to Tampa with the Freeman situation and his rep before that. ”
I’m calling B.S. right there. Free agents chase MONEY. The Bucs have been giving it to free agents for two seasons running right now and have a roster full of solid players. Next year is make or break, and if the Bucs see a guy they want and send the private jet out for a free agent and offer him good money, they’ll get him.
December 19th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
@Rob We’ll see about that. Besides, Even if we do bring in a few more solid players I don’t trust Schiano to put them in position to succeed.
December 19th, 2013 at 8:55 pm
Bucs need to lock up GMC to a long term deal this offseason.
December 19th, 2013 at 9:18 pm
Bucs quit shopping last year with 2 early signing in the bag that was a mistake they miss judged the talent on this team and there is just too many times the staff or the front office has miss judged and in this league that simply doesn’t work not every team has a brady or manning and we have a back up at best at qb and this league doesn’t suffer fools
December 19th, 2013 at 9:21 pm
I hear the Seahawks have a stud de that maybe we should think about trading for.
December 19th, 2013 at 9:24 pm
This team should of signed more free agents last year they missed judged the talent on this team like they missed judged everything else and I haven’t been this upset over a team before and I think next year will be worse you can take that to the bank
December 19th, 2013 at 9:26 pm
And Nicks is a bust and have you seen him lately he looks like a cow he won a jackpot here and now is eating his way out of the league
December 19th, 2013 at 9:29 pm
they need to get down on there knees and resign john greuden and beg his forgiveness the worst move in nfl history other than trading steve young
December 19th, 2013 at 9:59 pm
“I actully like the idea of drafting another LB like LVD….does anyone know a LVD clone we can pick up in round 2?”
TBBF…what’s wrong with Mason Foster?
December 19th, 2013 at 10:12 pm
Joe, you should do an article or interview with Carl Nicks. What’s goin on with him? He’s not on IR, and he never plays and has one of the fattest contracts on the team. How’s the MRSA? He stayin’ in shape? Expectations for next year? Cause right now he’s more of a liability than an asset.
December 19th, 2013 at 10:16 pm
WalkdaPlank…your right. Perhaps he’ll cut the damn toe off?
December 19th, 2013 at 10:21 pm
He would have had all the pieces in place if he had not run all the player’s away.
December 19th, 2013 at 10:45 pm
Nicks refuses to play with any pain and probably will be cut at some point
December 19th, 2013 at 10:47 pm
And nobody talks about mike Williams he didn’t deserve his contract he just an average wideout and its beyond me why he got that contract
December 19th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
@Buc1987 – I assume that’s sarcasm? If so, the truth is the truth. If Nicks can’t get healthy enough to play on that toe, the Bucs need to cut him. That’s just the NFL.
December 19th, 2013 at 10:58 pm
All I want for Christmas next year is one of those disgraceful Division Titles like Chucky got in 05 and 07.
Before you ingrates ran him out of town with Help from The blocking icon.
Sure am glad you did so we could have all this scintillating success the last five years.
Numbnutted nimrods.
December 19th, 2013 at 11:17 pm
WalkDaPlank…always sarcasm…always. It’s hard to express it in type sometimes. I’ve been called the most sarcastic person ever, by many many people in my lifetime. LOL great that you picked up on it.
Eric…I know it sucks that Gruden is NOT coming back, but it is what it is. Cherish the past and embrace being a fan of the Yucks. This IS what it’s like ya know. The sooner Buc fans realize this the better off they will be.
After this season is over. High expectations for a good season go out the window from here on out for me. These are the Culverhouse days part 2.
Embrace the sucking or go elsewhere.
December 19th, 2013 at 11:51 pm
@chikster Mike Will is a possession receiver. Never going to burn you down the field, but the guy has made some crazy clutch catches and has been nothing but a healthy, model citizen for us these past few yrs. He deserved the cash.
December 19th, 2013 at 11:57 pm
Considering Mike Williams was a 4th round pick giving us 1st round production, I think he deserved it. He had an off year in 2011, but that was before we had VJax to take the pressure off him and our second best WR was Dezmon Briscoe. And besides, you seen his catches??? Dude’s a beast.
December 20th, 2013 at 12:13 am
f gruden. he lost his team…couldn’t make the playoffs his last year. he is so good that he has coached where?
chickser …. nice to see your hindsight is 20/20, but you are wrong anyways
December 20th, 2013 at 12:26 am
I read that greg hardy’s agent is drew rosenhaus. drew won’t give much of a discount!
December 20th, 2013 at 1:10 am
Plank:
Nicks hasn’t been made available to the fourth estate in months. If players conduct interviews that are not approved by the team, they are slapped with a very ugly fine (just ask Rip Van Freeman).
December 20th, 2013 at 1:58 am
I was concerned pre MRSA re:Nicks. Media was very quiet concerning his foot rehab. I felt it strange that during the off season we were hearing about other injured bucs but never about him. Apparently the injury he endured had something to do with the structure that keeps his toes in correct position. Think this happens over time. Saints may have been aware of this and did not push to resign him. Great disappointment to our franchise and to our fans.