Speed
May 5th, 2017When Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht looked at the notes he took on each game from the 2016 season, he noticed a common denominator.
“Speed.”
In other words, the Bucs didn’t have much team speed. So that was a goal after the season: obtain speed.
The biggest splash was the signing of DeSean Jackson, perhaps the fastest receiver in the NFL. And to hear Licht explain when he appeared this week on “Schein on Sports,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio and hosted by popular sports television and radio personality Adam Schein, the drafting of Chris Godwin completed that goal.
“The addition of DeSean Jackson, as well as our third round pick, Chris Godwin, as bringing some depth to the receiver position, as a speed guy, I think our offense just automatically got faster this offseason,” Licht explained. “And that was the goal, the No. 1 goal, was to add speed to this team and we did that.
“I feel very, very good about the work everybody did here to reach that goal. We checked about 90 percent of the boxes of things we wanted to accomplish this offseason. But the most important ones we did for sure.”
Joe learned years ago from the infamous Whitey Herzog; “speed kills.” You cannot substitute for speed, and opposing teams are doomed if they cannot match it. Additionally, unless a guy is injured, speed does not have slumps.
As Joe wrote yesterday, this season is shaping up for big time fun.
May 5th, 2017 at 7:54 am
Did NFL GM Jason Licht took notes from each game last year???? Or did he just listen to The Buc Realist a month before the season started!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
August 9th, 2016 at 11:13 am
VT ( who turns 34 at the end of the season) Just has a lot of miles on those tires!!!! We also need some explosive, speed WR and will be top priority!!! Why have JW3 without the weapons??????
May 5th, 2017 at 7:58 am
Realist: Didn’t you also include a gif of ‘Slow-Poke Rodriguez in your comments ?
May 5th, 2017 at 8:00 am
You don’t need to be a “Realist” to see the Bucs needed speed. Stevie Wonder could see we needed speed. I can’t wait to see the new toys on the field.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:06 am
As Lt Pete Mitchel once said, “I got a need, a need for speed”.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:07 am
We got faster in all the right places too. In addition to WR Chris Godwin at 4.42, RB Jeremy McNichols runs a 4.49/40, and just around the corner from 4.49 is 6-6, 250, OJ Howard at 4.51/40. Speed indeed!
May 5th, 2017 at 8:07 am
OJ Howard is really fast for a big guy too. We definitely made some huge upgrades to our offensive speed.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:10 am
Licht has also said that speed doesn’t matter if a WR cannot catch the ball.
I think he fixed that aspect too. Really, I think we have a great assortment of long range and medium range WRs. Add in the TEs, who are good for short to medium range (and Howard could be good for long), and the RBs who are short range, man…what a mixture.
IF Jameis has time to throw…look out. IF.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:18 am
Speed kills but hands of stone kills speed. Luckily that’s not Jackson’s nor Godwin’s problem!
May 5th, 2017 at 8:28 am
Route running so important too. I think we have upgraded that MORE than speed. DBBF99… I think the hands have improved as well.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Ya I’m pretty sure every die-hard bucs fan was aware that we needed speed. It was just unspoken since it was so obvious.
I saw a falcons fans this morning clowning our predictions for this year saying something like, “bucs are going to be better cuz they added an old man in djax and a rookie te? get real” I couldn’t help but laugh at how dumb that analysis was. Djax was still the second fastest receiver in the league last year and that is a perfect compliment to jameis’s long bombs and propensity to hit home runs. OJ and Godwin are sure handed. So yes, those two can absolutely transform this offense overnight.
myers, martino, and huff or oj, godwin, and djax? LMAO hmmmmmmm
May 5th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Secondary is still slow
May 5th, 2017 at 8:44 am
TBF
Teach me how to use the archives
” I want to post like The Buc Realist”
Kobe Faker
May 5th, 2017 at 8:45 am
Im not sure what took him so long to get hooked on speed. His notes should have read the same every offseason since he got here. Excellent job of picking the guys he did tho. Theyre not just speed, very effective guys. Exciting time to be a speed freak. Go bucs
May 5th, 2017 at 8:47 am
Impressive group of pass catchers. Seem to have all the tools. A passing offense for sure. Could be eye-popping all season. Licht said he got 90% of what he wanted off season. I assume that 10% includes a pass rusher. I suspect finding a proven one will be very difficult. But will be his focus now – via trade or cap issue.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:49 am
Rinse, wash, repeat. Guess it will be like this until July.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:53 am
@Kobe Liar
All you have to do is change your screen name!!!! even “kobe faker 2.0” will do!!! and I will show you the way into the “vault” of JBF archives!!!!!!
are you sure you want to look???? I took a peak and your post from last year were quite embarrassing!!!!
The day that kobe faker became kobe liar
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/11/gameday-tampa-bay-156/
Go Bucs!!!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 8:57 am
Wow I knew Kobe was a joke but that really showed me something I can’t ever forget.
SMH. Why are you still here bro?
May 5th, 2017 at 9:00 am
Eric
Too bad we can’t forward your post to the Bucs’s locker room!
Great bulletin board material.
I used to think our biggest rival would finally be Carolina I guess because of Cam.
But I think Cam has peaked and is taking a physical beating…I think Atlanta may become our arch rivals after this year.
We have enough connections to them to make it personal…McKay…Koetter and Smitty and they’re right up the Interstate.
How cool! The I-75 rivalry!
May 5th, 2017 at 9:02 am
Eric brought up a great point!!!! I will have to rescind my offer ( take means i am taking my offer off the table bighoghaynes)!!!! From your previous record, how can I trust you???? Once I give you the knowledge, the keys to the great vault of archives, that you will just start using your current name that should have been given a life time ban??????
You have been deemed untrustworthy!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 9:12 am
TBF
I wanted to change my name to Mark Dominik
But the joes said since the real mark dominik got canned from espn, he might post here since he has nothing to do
May 5th, 2017 at 9:23 am
@kobe liar
mark dominik does not need to post here, he just needs to use the admin’s as his puppets, just like he did when he was running the team into the ground as a so called gm!!!!!
do you really need to see your embarrassing posts K-liar???????
Kobe Faker Says:
November 9th, 2016 at 10:29 am
Its downright amazing when koetter tbe clown is asked about the health of jameis is…
I asked jameis and he said he was fine. WTF!
Jameis will always say that even if his leg tore off. Is this buffon nuts. Dont ask medical staff? Anybody
Where has this clown been with all the concussion and injuries popping daily in the nfl
We have a dumb and dumber situation with koetter and jason gump
These 2 buffoons are putting our franchise back 3 years
May 5th, 2017 at 9:31 am
Lol ya we should send them everything condescending anyone has to say now as inspiration.
I think Cam has peaked as well. I was just saying that actually. Dude had his elite string of years of rushing and now he has the target. He will never be an above average pocket passer and his mentality has changed after last season. Dude even said he doesn’t enjoy football right now and it looks like he’d rather be a medea impersonator. That offense will have the run game but I don’t see them hanging with brees/ryan/jameis/evans/Julio/djax/oj/sanu etc. They definitely have the worst offense now.
Falcons should be good. I don’t expect too much regression however I think they start off like 2-3 before they get a rhythm. Defenses take years to improve and now that vic is in the spotlight, he will regress. Their offense should look different than last year too so it will take time, if ever, for them to get back to where they were. Shanahan loss is bigger than anyone will know until midseason.
The saints actually make the most nervous to be honest. They have a crazy set of rbs and already one of the best offenses in the league. They should put up points but I don’t think their defense will ever be good under peyton again. Plus we seem to have brees figured out lately.
Season’s predictions:
Bucs 11-5
falcons 10-6
saints 9-7
panthers 5-11
this goes against some of the stuff I said but this is how I think things will turn out.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:33 am
@Realist,
Man, nothing gets past you. It’s amazing that your football IQ is so high that you realized we needed speed. I mean, none of us could figure it out without your help. I’m just thankful that our coach and GM have the privilege of reading your amazing insight about what this team needs.
May 5th, 2017 at 9:34 am
Did Deff Jeff predict that Donald Trumo would win the presidency ?
DEFF JEFF says:
June 25, 1977 at 4:04 pm
Donald Trump will win the 2016 Presidential Nomination
May 5th, 2017 at 9:53 am
@Hawaiian Buc
Take note, its better to state the obvious, then to just talk and say nothing at all!!!!!
Hawaiian Buc Says:
September 8th, 2016 at 11:05 am
We are going to find out a lot about our team in the next few weeks. I can’t wait for all this nonsense to be over and for real football to begin.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:16 am
Desean jackson is not the fastest reciever in the nfl but he is fast there are rookies and current other receivers faster he came out running a 4.3 he probably runs a 4.4 which is still very fast though
May 5th, 2017 at 10:20 am
But we do have speed in howard, jackson huff godwin dye if he’s still around
May 5th, 2017 at 10:41 am
Eric….
Bucs 10-6
Panthers 9-7
Falcons 8-8
Saints 6-10
May 5th, 2017 at 10:45 am
@Realist,
Did you seriously go back a year and a half for a comment? WTF is wrong with you?
May 5th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Obviously my math is horrible, lol
May 5th, 2017 at 10:47 am
Oh wow realist Congrats. The gm said we needed speed. U said we needed speed after what a genius you are. Can u be more full of yourself dude. Every post your first and quoting yourself. Get real
May 5th, 2017 at 11:23 am
It must be cinco de moron for some of you!!!! Check the dates of the statements, find out who said what first, then get back to me!!!!! I will take your silence as an apology!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 11:32 am
I gotta jump in on this site….you guys are hilarious
May 5th, 2017 at 11:35 am
Does it really matter who said what first? Lol
May 5th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Best case scenario is if DJax has a Joey Galloway like end to his career.
Galloway came to the Bucs at 32 years of age still possessing speed to burn – and in the following 4 years he played in Tampa Bay, he was always productive whenever he was on the field (3 consecutive 1000 yd seasons and 28TDs) and never really “lost a step” even at the age of 35.
If DJax could come close to duplicating what Galloway did for this team to finish his career (and DJax is coming to the Bucs a full 2 years younger than Galloway was) Then we are SET at receiver for awhile.
Love the Godwin pick as well. Good talent – great value at pick #84.
DJax and Godwin with Evans – and the addition of a dynamic talent at TE in OJ Howard – and Brate and Hump both being reliable receivers who will catch the ball…. – WOW!!!
Man – this chit is gonna being exciting.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED on the #weaponsforwinston quest!
And just imagine if Martin and Sims can both stay healthy and duplicate what they did in 2015… Or maybe it will be McNichols and Sims
Folks – if we can run the ball like we did in 2015…. – we’re going to the frickin Super Bowl!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
The 80s Cards would score a run every inning with a speed running bunt single, two stolen bbases, and a sacrifice fly.
May 5th, 2017 at 12:11 pm
pickgrin
as crazy as you sound, I agree. Especially if our defense picks up where it left off, which I think it will. Especially with Baker at DT, Jack back, and improvement from both spence and vh3.
Let’s not forget the biggest offseason move IMO, retaining Mike Smith.
2017 is going to be the most fun we’ve had in a long long time.
May 5th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Eric
I basically agree with your observations and prediction.
I can see the Bucs winning 11 and the Falcons 10 and both teams making the playoffs.
I think of NO and Carolina as two .500 teams so your picks there are pretty much what I select as well.
May 5th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
stpete
I feel like we’re usually on the same page bro.
May 5th, 2017 at 8:15 pm
Lol realist thinks he was the first one to say we need speed on offense.
Uh, we’ve needed speed on offense since Joey Galloway left. sorry realist but you don’t get to claim credit for that one.