Waiting On Bradley McDougald
March 10th, 2017
Waiting.
So now Bucs fans turn their attention to safety.
The two positions that have fans and the brain trust of the Bucs in totally separate worlds are safety and offensive line.
Yesterday, AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht enraged fans who think Chris Conte is the second-coming of Sabby the Goat by re-signing Conte. And if Licht can reel in Bradley McDougald, Joe doubts you will see a move for any free agent safety.
These safety-angry Bucs fans cannot let themselves enjoy a day in which Licht brought in DeSean Jackson. Instead, the re-signing of Conte was the ultimate buzzkill.
Again, the Bucs are in a wait-and-see mode. Surely they have an offer on the table for McDougald but no one knows if he wants to take his talents elsewhere.
So the Bucs are sort of in a holding pattern waiting on McDougald’s decision. Can the Bucs afford to wait?
March 10th, 2017 at 5:08 am
McDougald is an excellent tackler but he is below average in coverage.
I’d prefer if we upgraded the position.
March 10th, 2017 at 5:15 am
@Ocala – Your assessment of McDougie is accurate but the problem is the draft is the best place to upgrade… I dont feel there are many upgrades in free agency without losing what he brings in the run game. And you can’t go into the draft expecting to get the guy you want. they should either sign McDougie to a 2 year deal or maybe go after JJ Wilcox, whose a similar player to a lesser degree at same age. Then we can aim to draft a long term replacement in the draft.
March 10th, 2017 at 5:25 am
Bucs typically carry 4 Safeties, and right now have only 2 under contract (Tandy & Conte) plus we have Isaiah Johnson on the practice squad. Could see us signing another FA and also drafting one with a lower rnd pick (probably 4-7) to develop. Not at all excited about our safeties at this point however, even if we re-sign McDougald. The position(s) needs significant upgrading.
As an aside, was hoping the Bucs would sign Matt Kalil, OT from the Vikings. We didn’t obviously … Panthers did (for $11 mil a yr). That’s a significant upgrade for the Panthers I think.
March 10th, 2017 at 5:36 am
Either way, I’m thinking big picture.
Need more pressure from the front 7, and more DBs overall
I don’t think One Buc is gonna spend much more in FA.
So, Draft it is.
Don’t forget Bucs will have to pay up big bucks for Winston and Evans sooner than you think.
March 10th, 2017 at 5:53 am
What happened with Wilcox?
March 10th, 2017 at 5:57 am
I don’t understand the angst against Conte. Like the rest of the D, when they finally “got it” he, McDougald and Tandy were all solid at safety. Noy great, but not a weakness. Lots of moving parts to that D.
March 10th, 2017 at 6:11 am
Trading back in the first and grab Jabril Peppers would be great. Really like that kid. Watched him a lot at Mich. Then grab Donte Formen in the second.
March 10th, 2017 at 6:13 am
Although grabbing McCaffrey or Cook would be also great in the first. Cooks more of a dream.
March 10th, 2017 at 6:40 am
I think Jason Licht does what he does best. Like last season sign Grimes add VH3, Add Ayers, add N SPence. I can see him adding another S or bringing McDougald back, but adding another play-maker in that spot as well. I think, like the rest of us, we were surprised Conte is back over McDougald. After the last game alst year, we all were thinking Conte was gone, and it was a formality that McDougald was back.
March 10th, 2017 at 6:43 am
wr sheppard to sigh with panthers
March 10th, 2017 at 6:44 am
sign with panthers
March 10th, 2017 at 7:01 am
According to OTC Bucs still got around 40mil in cap space. More depth to come. The Jason Licht modus operandi requires patience.
March 10th, 2017 at 7:26 am
He’s an average safety at best and if he gets another offer somewhere else let him walk. The draft is deep with safeties this year.
March 10th, 2017 at 7:37 am
This guy and Tandy are too freaking slow to be free safety, Conte is the closest thing we have to a few safety. He’s not the guy to stop big down the field plays consistently and that’s probably the reason he remains unsigned or talked about by any other team. It’s not that hard to replace in the box safety which is why he should be replaced there with Tandy. All emotion aside he’s average at best which it’s why it’s time to move on with a higher than 4th round draft pick. Atlanta struck gold drafting Neal so it’s time to invest in real talent instead wasting time on guys taking 4-5 years to develop
March 10th, 2017 at 7:55 am
@Not there: safeties aren’t known to be fast. If they were, they’d be corners.
They are last line of defense in passing, generally cover the middle 1/3-1/2 of the defensive backfield (depending) and run support.
March 10th, 2017 at 8:15 am
I have no problem with CC23 as a backup , KT37 as a starter and draft/free agent as starter.
But if they bring back the same roster, that will be disappointing, and will be apparent this season, and finally a year later joe will be screaming how “criminal” it is that we have not upgraded the position!!!!
so let it be written!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
March 10th, 2017 at 8:25 am
here is why you upgrade Conte and McDougald tell me one playoff contender that either one would start on it’s really that simple they are not good enough serviceable is no longer good enough and I could not be happier about it!!
March 10th, 2017 at 8:28 am
I would have made sure to sign McDougald and not Conte so much.
Are there any decent safeties out there that would be an improvement?
March 10th, 2017 at 8:34 am
@Dave
But which is the better backup??? If their is another starter added, then your choice of CC23 signed to basically a cheap 1 year deal with a second year option, or Bradley McDougald to a more expensive 3 year deal most likely!!!
March 10th, 2017 at 8:52 am
Could do better, could do worse.
Don’t overpay and draft a safety early in this year’s draft.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:03 am
@Stu
And if the draft does not work out, there are usually players cut because other teams drafted safeties, There will be plenty of opportunities to upgrade the position!!! And the CC23 deal is something that can walk away from at anytime!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!
March 10th, 2017 at 9:04 am
Oh no! The sky is falling!!! Conte’s back!!!!
Give me a break. ANY pressure from the front 4 or 7 will disguise shortcomings in the secondary. For those with short-term memories, when the defense played well as a WHOLE and generated pressure, Conte, Tandy, and McDougald were just fine.
@Realist- I’m still not ready to crown Tandy a starter. He played well in a handful of games. Outside of that, he hasn’t really been a factor.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:12 am
DE/DT Chris Baker made McDougald asset as a good tackler less critical. The Bucs will try to get a more balanced safety.
In Licht I trust!!!
March 10th, 2017 at 9:48 am
You guys are completely off your rockers. You don’t care that Bradley McDougald was developing and getting better and better. Not good in pass coverage? Try looking at the second half of the season for him. He was getting better. Really, from game 5 forward he started showing improvement.
Just look at his stats! They tell the tale. Each of his 3 years starting, he improved. His tackles took huge leaps each year. He doubled his pick from his first year starting in the second.
That’s called development and that’s how you build a great team. That you even want to replace him shows a complete lack of perspective. The kid is going to be a great Safety. In fact, if you look at his stats, you would see that many teams would consider him above average.
He is 9th in the NFL in Combined tackles. 4th in Total tackles.
And you think someone like Wilcox will be an improvement????
Bradley McDougald – 91 combined tackles. 79 total. 12 assists. 2 picks.
JJ Wilcox – 49 Combined, Total 37, 12 assists, 1 pick.
And Wilcox has never been as good as that.
So please, tell me how Wilcox would be an upgrade. Stop wanting change for the sake of change. Bradley McDougald is our best safety, and he’s is 9th in the league. That is pretty darn good, people.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:49 am
Oh, and Bradley McDougald is healthier too.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:54 am
I don’t know what McDougald is asking for but if it’s too much, let him walk, get a couple in FA, and make it a top priority to get Budda Baker.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:56 am
Standing ovation Bonzai! Well said!
March 10th, 2017 at 10:08 am
Get Budda move Tandy to FS.
March 10th, 2017 at 11:30 am
Bonzai-
You should at least compare Wilcox vs Mcdougle in seasons where they both started 16 games. He only started 4 games to get those numbers you sited.
McD stats are slightly better in tackles but that could be scheme or how well your front 4 are holding up. I think the Bucs would prefer McD to return and Wilcox is insurance in the event they can’t retain him.
Wilcox ’14 16Gs 74/62 3 int
McD. ’16. 16Gs 91/79 1 int
March 10th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Again, I will be very surprised to see him come back. Ran into him in Los Angeles. We talked about how Jameis is the real deal, then later that afternoon I saw him wearing Chargers swim trunks.
March 10th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Bonzai!!! I’m standing up saluting you sir!!
Bradley made a huge difference last year..bring him back and give him his money..
March 10th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Well said and standing ovation? For comparing a guy with 4 games stated to a guy with 16? SMD!
March 10th, 2017 at 1:18 pm
@Stan- No! More for this:
“Stop wanting change for the sake of change. Bradley McDougald is our best safety, and he’s is 9th in the league. That is pretty darn good, people.”
In apples for apples, if JJ is not head and shoulders above then why the need to replace McD?
We Buc fans are constantly wanting turnover for turnover’s sake and winning teams just don’t do that. With a better front 7 you can develop McD and Tandy to be good safeties.
Don’t get bent, it’s not a knock to JJ. It’s more of a homegrown talent retention thing, kind of like Gholston.
March 10th, 2017 at 2:07 pm
Draft Obi Melifonwu or Budda Baker please…..
Those defending McDougald as a starter are being foolish. I’m not saying he sucks – but we need more talent at Safety. Both Conte and McDougald are very good and experienced BACK-UP level talents. They will make plays and show flashes from time to time – but there is not enough “thump” nor coverage skill nor big play ability from either on a consistent basis.
Lots of safety talent in this year’s draft. IMO – It would quite the oversight on JLs part to not draft a good one on day 1 or 2 this year.
If McDougald wants more $ than the Bucs think he is worth – then its time to move on. I believe a deal similar to Conte’s ($3M 1 year) is being offered and McDougald has yet to accept. So be it.
If he comes back at a reasonable price – then great. Draft a Safety and I’d feel ok about coming into the season with Tandy, Conte, McDougald and a talented rookie.
I’ll point out the obvious though – There’s a reason the Bucs haven’t committed to either Conte or McDougald with a long term deal. Just Sayin…
March 10th, 2017 at 2:40 pm
No truer words have been spoken Pickgrin. The position, regardless if McDougald signs, can and should be upgraded.
March 10th, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Nobody is arguing the point of ‘don’t change for the sake of change.’ It’s a chiche for a reason. The question is does it apply here. Should the Bucs over pay for a okay safety when they can get one that they think has more upside for less money. If they make the change it’s for one of two reasons either McD in their eyes has topped out and they feel they JJW hasn’t, talent wise or they think McD is asking too much $ and JJW is the better value. It’s not because some fans always think the grass is greener or whatever chiche you want to add.
March 10th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
Pickgrin- Always thoughtful, articulate, my sentiments but stated more clearly.
March 10th, 2017 at 11:20 pm
@Canadianbucsfan
Love your idea of trading back into the first or even 1st of the second with Cleveland and land another 2nd 4th and 6th and maybe 4th next year. (14 spots back)
This draft sets up nicely for Buc fans as deep at all positions of need….
darft
2a- Obi SS
2b- Foreman RB
3- Henderson WR
4a- Mack RB
4b-Hodges TE
5- Rivers DE
6a- Tom C
6b- Ejuan Price OLB
7- Speedy Noil WR
March 11th, 2017 at 6:59 am
Good team have continuity. Yes, this supposedly the best safety draft class according to most analysts but we still need four. Two should not be rookies. Let’s build on what we have.