“Ideally, We’d Like To Inject Some Youth Into That Position”
April 17th, 2017
Bucs GM Jason Licht talks defense
Yes, the Buccaneers have a young team. It was fifth-youngest in the NFL at one point last season said general manager Jason Licht today.
But there are clear age spots.
That youth isn’t prominent on the defensive line.
New Bucs defensive tackle Chris Baker, landed this year in free agency, joins Gerald McCoy in the 29-year-old club. Robert Ayers turns 32 before opening day. Clinton McDonald is 30. Will Gholston has four seasons under his belt.
Yes, there’s 2016 rookie Noah Spence coming off shoulder surgery — and there are other youngsters who don’t have much to offer. Throw in Jacquies Smith He is 27, but he’s coming off major knee surgery his body has taken a beating through his career.
Joe asked Licht at his pre-draft news conference today if the Bucs need to get younger.
JoeBucsFan.com: At defensive line right now you’re kind of on the older side. Do you feel like you need to get younger on the D-line?
Jason Licht: Ideally, we’d like to inject some youth into that position. Yeah. Ideally. But once again, we feel comfortable with the players we have there. We have some very good players along that D-line. They’re going to get better, too. So, they’re going to be better than they were last year this year, I feel, with development of some of the younger guys like Noah. We feel good about it, but yeah, you’re always trying to inject youth.
In some ways, that sounded like typical pre-draft GM chatter. But maybe not.
It’s undeniable that the Bucs are older on their D-line, and the youngsters had big time injuries last season.
Joe would applaud a defensive end in the first round. The Bucs simply could not go wrong with an effective edge rusher.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Charles Harris @ 19 looks better every day.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
I’d be fine with a 1st round DE.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
Eff no. I’ve been barking about this to you for weeks Joe. It is a completely wasted pick.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Speaking of youth…anyone listen to Winston’s presser? 5 WRs joined him in Houston to work out. D Walker was one of them.
Good to see the chemistry developing.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
5 WRs working with Winston…I don’t think the Bucs are going to draft a WR.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
“You cant stop the run,…You cant play defense”
Mike Smith
April 17th, 2017 at 5:42 pm
The Bucs better draft a WR/TE. But if they have to go defense in the first round, I would be happy with a quality edge rusher.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
The quote that stood out the most to me was this.
“We’re still not gonna go too far off of our board… We feel good, we feel like based on the team that we have right now we can line up and play, and we’d feel pretty good about it. But, we’re in a position right now where we still can take the best player available um (smirks) and a lot of times you take the player that may look like, why are they taking him they’re loaded at that position? Or they have bigger needs at another position. But, that player usually, at some point you look back and you say, I don’t know where we’d be without that player.”
Interesting stuff there in deed. What it means, no one really knows, but I’d like to think it means he’s targeting a supremely talented TE/WR/DE/DB.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
@Gencoimports I completely 100% agree
April 17th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
I think theres going to be a QB and RB run….and Barnett will be sitting there for the taking at #19. Save this post fellas!
Then you want a TE? Me too. Evan Engram or Safety Obi.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo injected too many youths when Pablo was young…that’s why Pablo has so very many, many childrens. Pablo knows those days are over (injecting youths) but Pablo can dream with the rest of Pablo’s JBF amigos.”
April 17th, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Key word: Ideally.
“Ideally, we’d like to inject some youth into that position.”
I think they have several options in the first round, and one of them is Defensive End. I just watched his presser, and it sure seemed that he preferred a pass rusher…whether it is a DE or LB/DE.
Another thing I noticed. Licht was quick to point out that “We don’t draft who the media or that fans want, we draft who we think is best for the team.”
Considering the media and fans are all leaning toward Cook, this might be a hint that he doesn’t intend to take Cook.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Blake_bucsfan Says
The quote that stood out the most to me was this.
“We’re still not gonna go too far off of our board… We feel good, we feel like based on the team that we have right now we can line up and play, and we’d feel pretty good about it. But, we’re in a position right now where we still can take the best player available um (smirks) and a lot of times you take the player that may look like, why are they taking him they’re loaded at that position? Or they have bigger needs at another position. But, that player usually, at some point you look back and you say, I don’t know where we’d be without that player.”
I take that to mean he’s leaning toward DE, LB or Safety (DB).
I think he’s thinking Safety, but it could be a pass rusher too.
Safety fits because he just sign Wilcox so people think he filled the spot there. I’ve said time and again that JJ Wilcox is not a good Safety, and that we need to draft a better one.
So, in the end, I think its BPA, but DE, LB or S is preferred.
Interesting stuff there in deed. What it means, no one really knows, but I’d like to think it means he’s targeting a supremely talented TE/WR/DE/DB.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:12 pm
Blake_bucsfan Says
The quote that stood out the most to me was this.
“We’re still not gonna go too far off of our board… We feel good, we feel like based on the team that we have right now we can line up and play, and we’d feel pretty good about it. But, we’re in a position right now where we still can take the best player available um (smirks) and a lot of times you take the player that may look like, why are they taking him they’re loaded at that position? Or they have bigger needs at another position. But, that player usually, at some point you look back and you say, I don’t know where we’d be without that player.”
I take that to mean he’s leaning toward DE, LB or Safety (DB).
I think he’s thinking Safety, but it could be a pass rusher too.
Safety fits because he just sign Wilcox so people think he filled the spot there. I’ve said time and again that JJ Wilcox is not a good Safety, and that we need to draft a better one.
So, in the end, I think its BPA, but DE, LB or S is preferred.
Interesting stuff there in deed. What it means, no one really knows, but I’d like to think it means he’s targeting a supremely talented TE/WR/DE/DB.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:14 pm
MadMax Says
“I think theres going to be a QB and RB run….and Barnett will be sitting there for the taking at #19. Save this post fellas!”
I would love this scenario.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
My tablet is a mess right now. Please excuse the hacked up posts.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:38 pm
it’s very simple fix
use mccoy to trade up for Cook, take Goodwin in the second best remaining DT to fill soft fraud and leader of the losing culters spot and grab best available TE in 4th Safty in 5th oline 6 and 7 … still going to have to pick up some of the other teams garbage on cut downs…
April 17th, 2017 at 6:41 pm
If one of the DE’s they love is there in round 1, I’d say that’s the way to go. They do need to develop some younger guys there, and at DT.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:43 pm
It all depends on how the draft falls. I’d gladly take Barnett at 19 if Howard, Cook and Davis are off the board and no trade down opportunities are available.
The way the strength positions of this draft are structured though – I’d say this year concentrate on Safety and weapons for Winston (RB, WR, TE) and next year shore up DL, OL and CB.
If Licht can do well in those pursuits – this team will be in good shape moving forward with few (to none) glaring holes.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:47 pm
The part of his interview that caught my attention was that he said sometimes you end up drafting a guy at a position you are already strong at and people wonder why did you do that only to end up a year or two later be thankful that you drafted that guy. In the context of Joe’s question regarding the D-line and then the press conference by Gerald McCoy it crossed my mind that “IF” the best player available at 19 is a defensive tackle they may draft him.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
I’m just glad tmaxcon is not the Bucs GM.
How do you fine people feel about Caleb Brantley at 19? He’s kinda hard to project as he was not an every-down player at Florida, but look at any of his tape… he is a bonafide disruptor. Natural pass rusher, good with his hands, nasty. Even getting comps to Aaron Donald, as he is a bit undersized but quick.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Derek Barnett is a pipe dream… but if he is there at 19 pull the trigger and don’t look back. Beastly.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:55 pm
I just don’t want another Adrian Clayborn in this draft which is right around the same area we are drafting this year. We need speed and explosive players on this team I’m tired of watching slow plotting players get whooped every week or who are to slow to out run the defense. If we pass on an explosion offensive weapon for a DE he better get 10 in year one or it will be a massive mistake. Don’t give that he’ll be good in two years crap cause by them McCoy will suck even more, DJAX will be done and Grimes will be done. We need a impact player now in round one!
April 17th, 2017 at 7:05 pm
1 Peppers
2. Mixon
3 Kupp.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:06 pm
You’re on target with Clayborn NDog. Clayborn was projected to be a run stuffing 3-4 DE but was asked to be an edge rusher. He was slow in college and Dom tried to make him into a passing down d lineman. Was a joke of a pick in my opinion and that was BEFORE he was getting injured every Sunday.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:11 pm
I like DE Barnett, Tennessee. I believe he has perfect Value at 19 and will be a stud.
Here are all the DEs the Bucs have shown interest towards:
• Derek Barnett, DE/3-4OLB, Tennessee (PRI)
• Taco Charlton, DE/3-4OLB, Michigan (PRI)
• Bryan Cox, DE, Florida (PRO)
• Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE/3-4DE, Villanova (COM)
• Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic (EW)
• Jordan Willis^, DE/3-4OLB/OLB, Kansas State (PRI, WOR)
April 17th, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Yes Sir Bonzai, and you know Im pretty good at predicting other teams picks. Not so good at predicting ours other than JW3, Evans and Marpet…..i have missed quite a few, but the talent I hope for seems to always work out great on another team. This will be a very exciting draft.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Charles Harris please
April 17th, 2017 at 7:25 pm
TJ Watt please. Go get him Licht. Game wreaker
April 17th, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Tmax
If you gonna trade ice cream package him w next yrs first and get Soloman Thomas.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:00 pm
DB55
i like that…. anything that gets that dirtbag loser off bucs roster will result inwins
April 17th, 2017 at 8:01 pm
db55
let me run your scenario by the dancer next to me and see what she thinks… Nice girl next door type I am sure she will have a reasoned response and she is only doing this for college tuition.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Madmax
There will be a little qb run as always. There wont be a rb run as always. Not in the first. Dont believe all the hype. 3 rbs tops in the 1st. Of course just my humble opinion. It is a passing league now. Theres gona be a run on qbs, cbs and des. I hope a bunch of tes, rbs, and wrs fall so we can find out exactly who they value higher over the others. Definitely gona be exciting. Go bucs
April 17th, 2017 at 8:20 pm
One thing a lot of us don’t think about is that Licht and the scouts are probably preparing just as hard for rounds 3-4 or even 5-7 as they are for rounds 1 and 2. Most of us following the draft talk are seeing dozens of one round mocks and the few multi-round mocks are total nonsense after the first 50 picks or so.
So we’re reading all these tea leaves for inclinations of round 1 or maybe round 2 picks. Licht, though, may be referring to a third round guard or a fourth round cornerback. Picks the fanbase wouldn’t get excited about, but might make sense in the long run.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:39 pm
Hahahaha YES! Be sure to throw a dollar at Pablo for me. Lmao
April 17th, 2017 at 9:21 pm
DE, WR, SAFTEY, RB, OL in that order
April 17th, 2017 at 9:55 pm
Welcome to Tampa Bay Mr. Harris!
April 17th, 2017 at 10:27 pm
Just excited to see how the chips fall, but damn I hope we snag kupp in mid rounds. Trusting them to fill holes and add quality depth.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:10 am
I guess we need a guy to play in the fourth quarter.
I always thought everybody knew that was important.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:46 am
Madden 19 Cover = Joe Mixon…
April 18th, 2017 at 4:11 am
Malik McDowell. The perfect body type. Great value at the top of the second or end of the first. I know Kiper says lazy.. go watch tape versus Wisconsin (Ramczk) or Notre Dame (mcglinchey). Kid is well suited to play 3,4 or 5 technique in college. Play fell off last season but he was the only guy on the team worth anything, he destroyed double teams last season routinely.
Of you are super lazy, just listen to the draft experts, if you are just lazy go watch his highlights.
But if you really care, go watch the comparison between him and Solomon Thomas. Watch his game tape.
He will get drafted from 10-25. The range is because of his “football character” The MSU coaches were p….d he didn’t come back for his senior year. He seems p….d about the coaching he received while at school.
With Jay Hayes in the fold for one more year (at least hopefully) it almost requires the Bucs to use a top 3 pick on a D-lineman. Why have him here if not to develop 2-3 young players and set this line up for the next 7 seasons.
Malik McDowell is the perfect piece of clay for Jay Hayes to mold
April 18th, 2017 at 8:08 am
We could draft the next Ronnie Lott at safety, but if there is no pressure up front we will be lucky to go 3-3 in our division. That is not good enough.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Taco Time!
April 18th, 2017 at 11:44 am
AC compare Taco to McDowell..
April 18th, 2017 at 10:03 pm
Tnew lazy has nothing to do with it. I am not going to watch tape of a hundred people so I can guess which three we will take in the first three rounds. The GM isn’t going to call and ask us for a scouting report.
I will watch highlights of the players we actually draft. Some of us have to work and raise kids.
April 18th, 2017 at 11:10 pm
No reason for that in the first. Trade back.
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Licht mess around and snagged a quarterback. I’d actually be okay with it. Not that he would supplant Jameis but just for a smart insurance policy.
Feel like we’re being set up for a wild ride come draft night.