Where’s Our Kurt Coleman?
January 21st, 2016
How bout that Carolina free agent signing in March! That young safety is leading the NFC in interceptions with seven — seven!
Or what about Carolina’s two other free agents making consistent impact for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
The safety Joe referred to is Kurt Coleman, who led the Chiefs in picks in 2014, but was let go.
Yes, there are studs to be had in free agency, every single damn year — and Joe’s not referring to Donald Penn, Darrelle Revis and Michael Bennett here.
Michael Oher, signed in March, stabilized left tackle for the Panthers, playing every game for a punishing running game and having just four penalties. Ted Ginn, Jr., was another offseason score in 2015.
Yes, the Bucs will be active in free agency this year. They have to be.
Mike Iupati, signed by Arizona in March, worked out just fine. He’s going to the Pro Bowl and the NFC Championship game.
Bill Belicheat likes free agency, too. The Patriots signed then-25-year-old defensive end Jabaal Sheard in March for $5.5 million a year. In rotational duty, Sheard churned out eight sacks this season, unlike sackless George Johnson.
The Broncos, playing Sunday along with the Patriots, Panthers and Cardinals, are littered with free agents up and down their roster.
Joe just doesn’t want to hear any more of this anti-free-agency nonsense. Free agency can be fool’s gold, but not if you simply pick the right players.
Back to Coleman, he makes Joe wonder who among the current stable of Bucs defensive backs will defensive coordinator Mike Smith be able to revitalize. There’s a gem in there (Johnthan Banks?). A major Smith priority this offseason is to find out who that is.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:05 pm
I actually think we have 3 starting caliber CB’s in Banks, Verner, and Moore. I think Banks and Verner were in a system that was a terrible fit for them. I have confidence that Smith will build his system around their talents, because all 3 certainly have talent.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Hawaiian, I was thinking the same thing.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:11 pm
WEDDLE!!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 1:11 pm
I tend to agree Hawaiian Buc.
Bigger draft needs are Defensive Line, Offensive line, Safety and Wide Receiver.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:16 pm
I was thinking the same thing about our corners. Lets not forget Verner was playing at a pro bowl level before lovie got his hands on him. If it was me I would keep them all for this year as a try out and get another in either FA or the draft… I am tired of seeing bucs cut young talent prematurely only to see them go off and succeed elsewher
January 21st, 2016 at 1:21 pm
I’d like to see Banks get a fresh start. The kids got talent, but Lovie was apparently unable to bring the best out of him. At worst, we could try him at safety. He’s big, rangy, might have to work on his tackling a little bit but if he doesn’t work out at CB, what’s the harm in seeing how he does when he can sit back and read the QBs eyes on every play.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Agree on CBs. Hard to evaluate them in Lovie’s scheme outside of Mike Jenkins looking terrible in any man coverage. I feel like I didn’t even get to see Verner in much man coverage at any point so I have no idea how he was playing but heard he did well with the slot. Moore could cover in man pretty well at least enough to be a #2 CB.
DE / DL is my priority if I’m trying to add impact players to help the defense.
Carolina doesn’t need great players in its secondary. Outside of Josh Norman the rest of the players aren’t bad but not elite by any means. They are successful because their front 7 is nasty and they can generate pressure rushing only 4 lineman.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:23 pm
I mirror that sentiment because I’m not really sure what we have. I find it hard to believe that Banks and Verner’s skills just evaporated last year. It is still in need of an upgrade though.
Nice one Bucco! Weddle will definitely be available in FA and would be a solid signing.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:25 pm
I agree with Hawaii Bucs: the CB’s on this team are talented, but very, very poorly utilized, schemed & coached.
Why Banks was benched is beyond me.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:38 pm
LordC
All good points. Outside of Josh Norman the Panthers are average to poor despite the int’s of Coleman.
I think it was Trent Dilfer who said he believes the Cards have a shot at the Panthers because Ariens will go after the weak back end of the Panthers defense, specifically the safeties who Dilfer claims simply cannot cover.
Dilfer pointed out that most coaches play right into Carolina’s trap by trying to establish the run and by fearing the elite Panther rush. But as you point out the Panther’s front 7 are so good you just don’t run against them.
Dilfer suspect Arians will play to win and unleash Palmer early and often to test those Panther safeties the weakess in the Carolna D.
I’m looking forward to see if Trent is right.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:42 pm
My feelings towards free agents are the same as Dom’s. Wait a second before you go nuts, and let me explain. Dom was making the right cake and took the right steps. It was the ingredients that he used that doomed him.
The good free agents want to go to contenders and teams with quarterbacks. We have one of those now. We just need the other one. The ones that come here are gold diggers and nothing more, with only a few exceptions. Even when we got Vincent Jackson, at the time we thought we had a quarterback. So if we dont go deep into the market this year, I wont be too disappointed. (I wont be disappointed if they do though either.) But if we get better this year and Jameis keeps growing, then that’s when we get quality free agents instead of check chasers.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Even if we have 3 good starting caliber CBs…..we still need to draft one…..along with a DE & S…….surely one will be available at #9….I’d rather us trade our late round picks to move up for sure starters.
As far as FA is concerned….that’s where I’d go for WR…..and perhaps a top DE.
We will then have a strong mix of younger players & veterans.
I’m starting to get confused that Smith will get more out of the players that Smith screwed up!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Is Coleman thriving on incompetent Lovie Smith’s defense?
You’re welcome.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Yes!
January 21st, 2016 at 2:10 pm
according to pft, kellen winslow is making a comeback. winslow > asj? warrior vs glass.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:25 pm
There’s a lot of former buc FA this year like Mark Barron and Lagarret Blount. Just saying.
Imagine this:
Vjax, ME, Roddy White, Alshon Jeffrey and Alquan Boldin. OMG!!!
It’s Jan let me dream!
January 21st, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Most of this Bucs team is sackless.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:32 pm
Bigger question…Who are we getting rid of on the defensive side of the ball? Johnson, Jennings, Conte?
January 21st, 2016 at 2:35 pm
But the Lovie Lovers tried to tell us that there was nobody good to be had in FA and all we could ask for Lovie was to get players through the draft. LoL
January 21st, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Mario williams on a 2 or 3 year contract has got to be a top priority. I like both of Cincinnatis free agent wr. (Marvin Jones or Muhammad Sannu) bring in one of those guys and Idk how far Andrew Billings will fall in the first. But he is worth it to trade back into the first and pick up. He a SAVAGE. First pick has to be Ramsey if he is there at 9. I also like VH3. But I would rather get a DE or WR at 9 if Ramsey is gone.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Jennings?
Long gone, man.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:00 pm
In free agency, since we have a core group established, I would target a wr and an olineman. Our lack of depth at receiver got exposed. Murphy is set to be a fa and even if Jackson returns, with a knee injury at his age, and his size, i’d be shocked if he hasn’t lost a step. Adding a receiving would boost our core of play makers. Then you look at the oline. How much longer will we have guys like Mankins, Dotson? Get a good olineman for at the very least some depth. You can never have too much depth there.
On defense, we have guys like Mccoy, David, Kwon, Banks. However, two of those guys are making big money, and that lack of effort on defense was embarassing. Im not saying trade them or anything, but it is concerning. Anyway, we would benefit from signing a safety, assuming an upgrade is available. Of course, de is also a need, but I dont think too many good ones are available. Just bring in any and all players on defense that want to win. No one on this defense should be guaranteed a roster spot.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:07 pm
In today’s pass-happy NFL, teams can never have enough quality CBs and safeties. Plus losing parts of the secondary to injuries has just become a way of life it seems. Banks, Verner and Moore are definite keepers in my opinion, as is Conte (assuming that we can re-sign the latter two at reasonable cost). Suspect that the Bucs will be very active once again in free agency on the defensive side of the ball. Too many holes to fill through the draft, plus certain positions (like CB?) usually seem to take awhile to train up.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Jonathon Banks and Verner are both great CBs. Not so much in the Tampa 2 setup. But in a real defense they will both excel. Verner was great in Tennessee. There are also several good CBs in the free agent pool. William Gay, Janoris Jenkins, Sean Smith, Greg Toler, just to mention a few. And the draft is loaded at the top end for corners. There could be 4 corners drafted in the first 10-12 picks. That is typically unheard of. The position is too important in todays passing league.
We also need to let Conte and Mike Jenkins go in FA. I like McDougle but Conte is a joke. Sterling Moore is also a solid CB. We can fix our DB and DE situation thru free agency. Allowing us to go after the best available player with the #9 pick. How amazing would it be if Stanley fell to us at #9. Him and Donovan Smith would be an awesome building block for the future of Jameis and the Bucs.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:16 pm
The bucs had their kurt coleman, 2 of them and they let him go to washington and st. louis/LA
January 21st, 2016 at 3:16 pm
We need to let McDaniel, Wright,Conte, Jenkins go…we need at least two safties and another CB…& 2 DEs
January 21st, 2016 at 3:20 pm
This has to be the most educated comments in a row I’ve ever read here. We do have a lot of talent IMO just need to maximize it and fill in with free agents, drafts, and resign Martin and I think we could have a bright future.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:22 pm
Also Joe that was a great post.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Bring back Martin, Hawley, Moore
January 21st, 2016 at 3:43 pm
J Jenkins. CB
E Weddle. S
M Williams. DE
Then draft one of each too.
Maybe R White WR if available and draft smother young WR in Rd 3-4
January 21st, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Definitely resign Martin and Hawley.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:47 pm
I think verner and banks and Moore stay at CB along with a FA and rookie.
BUT….. I don’t buy this notion that they could not play in the Tampa 2. I played CB. That’s BS. A zone is damn easy and common sense. Banks is supposed to be smart. Why he sucked early on, IDK. Same with Verner. Moore was good.
January 21st, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Banks was the Josh Freeman of the Lovie Smith era
Much like we all were wondering what happened to Josh
What happened to Banks
(You could even throw Verner into that category as well, Lovie destroyed them both)
January 21st, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Lord Cornelius
Truer words have never been spoken; my brotha
January 21st, 2016 at 5:17 pm
Buc Nekid,
You took the thoughts right out my head
January 21st, 2016 at 5:46 pm
I think with mike smith and a new defensive end and some rotation I believe banks and Verner can hold there own we just need a better pass rush that’s all and I would love to see Jeffery come to the bucs but white would be an outstanding rec for Jameis I really believe we are going to be a good team next year I just fill it
January 21st, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Would love J Jenkins at CB, but he might demand to much. Would you take Mark Barron back ? He’s a free agent who played well with the Ram’s an didn’t fit Lovies system
January 21st, 2016 at 6:05 pm
What about Seattle WR Jermaine Kearse ?
January 21st, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Leonard Johnson is starting for the Patriots! Nuff said. Lovie set back a lot of players.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:43 pm
Hawaiian,
I would really like to get in a debate with you because I think it would be fun and intellectual but I just can’t. I simply can’t do it if you contain to make perfect sense. I completely agree with your CB assessment. I just think Banks and Verner need to be in a position to make plays. They are the kind of guys you put your trust in on an island. It may not be Revis island but they can be very effective and they will make plays. I realize the Tampa 2 is a staple and may even bring tears of joy to some of us but it is so incredibly easy to beat without an effective pass rush.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:44 pm
continue to make sense…
January 21st, 2016 at 6:46 pm
Please sign T.J. Yates and Heyward-Bey Super Bowl 51 Boom
January 21st, 2016 at 6:48 pm
Our new DC had great results as a DC in Jax. However, he had two, big, physical players in the middle to shut down the run first. One was even 340 pounds and he could push back the offensive lineman and keep the QB from stepping up. That guy gave our new DC a great NT whenever he changed it up and went 3-4. Look for our new DC to get a nose tackle biggin to pair with a healthy McCoy. He also will blitz more too and get after QBs. He will play some zone but also play man for man. We need a first pick DE, and to get FAs who want to play hard. Also our DC can give Koetter plenty of big tips on being a successful HC. We need a FA WR and also a FA Safety. Use the second pick for a great CB. Tandy has big talent for CB or Safety and I look for our new DC to see that and develop him. I have also seen Conte play well but also make some too aggressive mistakes.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:21 pm
If we cant get Jalen Ramsey, put Banks in at FS. He’s long, rangy, and not afraid to tackle. His field vision could be better suited at FS. We kno he can cover. I jus believe Banks would be better suited at FS
January 21st, 2016 at 7:47 pm
I agree trying banks out at safety, he can be like McCoutry. Not saying he will be that good but he can probably play well at FS.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:05 pm
Those players are making big impacts because the coaching is putting them in favorable positions. A safety is going to have success behind a guy like Norman. Just like chanceler and Thomas are behind Sherman.
Putting guys in favorable matchups and playing to our players Strengths is something our old coaches didn’t do. So they failed miserably.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:28 pm
Sign Mario Williams who is a 4-3 player and did not fit under Rex Ryan’s system. Cut George Johnson, Jude Bowling Green, and the Lovie guys who lack production (Most of them). I trust Licht to have a good year in the draft and free agency.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:43 pm
Please Franchise Tag Mike Jenkins and/or Major Wright.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:08 pm
Sterling Moore and Verner are both starting corners brought over in fa. Yet somehow Mike Jenkins was playing often even with banks in the mix. The three best guys all got benched in rotation for lovies buddy. Anyone who defends lovie after doing that while his defense regressed is a fool.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:33 pm
People who try to talk bad about the Tampa 2 but can talk about our only super bowl win have short memories. It is the reason we have that trophy made possible by a great front seven and secondary but that is a recipe for every defensive scheme out there. We have Jwon and LVD, they bild up our DL around GMC and get two great ends Banks and Verner will do much better. You have to be disciplined playing zone and the whole defense showed they weren’t disciplined.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:03 pm
Off topic but seriously… is the “Release Evan Smith for even more cap room” conversation ever going to be had? I’ll wait…….
January 21st, 2016 at 11:02 pm
Mario Williams would be so amazing Id probably cry
January 21st, 2016 at 11:03 pm
Then draft jalen Ramsey then Id throw up.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:33 pm
I don’t get the Mario Williams love. The guy is on the wrong side of 30, going to want a huge salary and is a malcontent who gave up on his team.
There is almost a 100% chance that the Dolphins are going to have to cut Cameron Wake bc of the contract they gave Suh last year. Give me that guy over Mario 100 times out of 100
January 21st, 2016 at 11:50 pm
David, I dont beleive the Tampa 2 is dead. However, I didnt see us run much Tampa 2 this year. Last year we ran alot of of cover 3 zone and this year I saw alot more cover 2 man. But your right, Tampa 2 is not dead, it has a time and a place, and when people call our defense under Lovie “Tampa 2” I just smh. Lovie did a pretty bad job, but scheme was not part of that.
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:06 am
@CreamsicleBananaHammock
Mario Williams is 30 years old, an Cameron Wake is 33 Years old.
January 22nd, 2016 at 5:50 am
FuNkYxMuNkEy – “Let Chis Conte go and keep Bradley McDougald”? Conte is a joke.” Funky Monkey you are the joke. McDougald was our greatest liability in coverage for our secondary. Let me ask you this. Do you like FA Eric Weddle? Well, Chris Conte ranked higher than Eric Weddle this year per PFF. I agree with Joe that there are plenty of talented players in FA every year and the good teams always seem to sign them. Pernell McPhee, OLB, Bears, Richie Incognito, G, Bills, Patrick Robinson, CB, Chargers and Darian Stewart, S, Broncos, to name a few. I heard the Broncos are going to be forced financially to release DE Demarcus Ware? Since everone on this site seems to be happy with our current CB’s why not draft Andrew Billings Baylor and go pick up Mario Williams and Demarcus Ware? That front four of DE Williams – DT McCoy – DT Billings – DE Ware would be the best in the NFL. Then draft a CB in the second and a Safety in third. Fourth round draft the kicker from FSU. Done deal. Call Mike.
January 22nd, 2016 at 6:04 am
Lord Cornelius – “Carolina doesn’t need great players in its secondary. Outside of Josh Norman the rest of the players aren’t bad but not elite by any means. They are successful because their front 7 is nasty and they can generate pressure rushing only 4 lineman.”
I totally agree. That is why we need to go after one of the DT in the draft. It all starts with the big men on the inside, then go outside. Get DE’s in FA. It all starts with the big men inside and we need someone to complement GMC in the few good years he has left. Draft either Andrew Billings or Robert Nkemdiche. Billings could be the next Sapp.
January 22nd, 2016 at 10:42 am
all the examples you gave were brought in as complementary pieces to a strong team. when you sign a Free Agent to rescue a particular position group or side of the ball, it usually doesn’t pan out. there are rare exceptions like vincent jackson and the occasional wacky cap casualty (hello 2012 peyton manning), but generally you want to sign guys to be complementary starters or role players and benefit from the ones who overperform. when you’re holding your breath for them to play up to an inflated price tag, it’s a much more disappointing game
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:12 pm
@ joe can you please explain when are you going to keep the fake @ss tiny tim from posting his nonsense under my name????
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:38 pm
@godzilla13
Conte was our biggest liability in the secondary. He gets beat over the top on the majority of plays. He can play ok inside the box. But his coverage skills are garbage. He sucked in Chicago and he sucked here. McDougald is a year younger, more athletic, had more tackles, same amount of picks. Conte is a Lovie guy so I have zero concerns that he will be resigned. McDougald has the talent, with the right coaching, to be a decent safety. Which is more than Conte can say. Conte was in the bottom for 2 straight seasons of safeties getting beat deep. Pass
I personally would sign a new Safety and play him over both guys. I was just talking about what we had this past season. If Eric Berry isn’t tagged or resigned by KC. I would go all in on him. Then draft one in the middle rounds. I also like Tandy. Will be exciting to see what he can do this off season.
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:52 pm
As far as the Tampa 2 goes. It is past its time. The NFL has turned into college football. Spread offenses with multiple quick passing routes. When you have 2 deep safeties and your CBs are too far off the line. You create too many gaps for experienced WRs to set down in. You are also taking away the skills of Banks and Verner who are better suited to play WRs straight up against the line and seldom coming off their guy. Teams who are up big late in games always drop their DBs and end up getting killed with the 10-15 yard routes bc they are concerned about giving up the deep ball. Thats ok in those situations. But using it throughout the majority of the game has little effect if you aren’t getting pressure to the QB. Even getting pressure on the QB doesn’t matter if he is able to do a 5 yard dump off and the receiver is allowed to run another 5 yards before contact.
Football has drastically changed since our Superbowl in 02. It was an amazing defense at the time and one I will forever cherish with all the great memories associated with it. Hopefully one day the game will revert back to that style of play. But until colleges quit using the spread with either single back or no back sets, there is no hope.
I am not a fan of where the NFL is headed. The rule book needs to be thrown out and tried again. Also, refs need to be full time employees who have classes during the week. Not guys who are fulfilling their hobbies on the weekend. Until that happens, I fear for the game that I love so much.
January 23rd, 2016 at 7:33 am
Hawaiian Buc Says:
January 21st, 2016 at 1:05 pm
I actually think we have 3 starting caliber CB’s in Banks, Verner, and Moore. I think Banks and Verner were in a system that was a terrible fit for them. I have confidence that Smith will build his system around their talents, because all 3 certainly have talent.
—————
The problems at CB had little to do with “the system”. The Bucs were in man as much if not more than when Schiano’s D’s were getting scorched on a weekly basis. Moore did a good job most the season while the others were terrible. I hear so many people blast the system…it’s the same system that the Panthers are taking with them to the NFC Championship game and Seattle went to the last two Super Bowls with. It’s not the system, it’s the players.
January 23rd, 2016 at 7:36 am
FuNkYxMuNkEy Says:
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:52 pm
As far as the Tampa 2 goes. It is past its time.
————-
You don’t know what you’re talking about. Try telling the Panthers and Seahawks that their defensive systems are “past its time”. Both sides of the ball are about talent. The Bucs have little so they didn’t play well. The system was about the only thing that was RIGHT about the defense. They managed a statistical ranking of #10 in the league despite having a grand total of ONE #1 pick spent on a defensive player on the roster. The D sucked because the talent sucked… truthfully they played far better than their draft and pay grades.