Status Woe
November 1st, 2017
Bucs standpat
The Buccaneers’ defensive line is the team’s oldest and most ineffective unit.
So Joe and many other fans were holding out hope that general manager Jason Licht would have injected a new body into the line at yesterday’s NFL trade deadline.
Heck it could have been anyone, a guy buried on a depth chart somewhere eager to prove himself in new surroundings.
Licht found the Bucs’ last effective edge rusher on the street, Jacquies Smith (13 1/2 sacks through the 2014 and 2015 seaons), so perhaps he could do it again via trade. After all, if the Bucs find help on the D-line this year, then that’s one less area where they’re handcuffed in next year’s draft and free agency.
But nothing happened yesterday, despite a relatively active trade season across the NFL.
Status woe along the Bucs’ D-line.
Robert Ayers is on the decline, understandable at 32 years old. Will Gholston, still young and manbeastly at 26 years old, has regressed as a pass rusher since arriving during the New Schiano Order. Chris “Swaggy” Baker is not the player he was with the Redskins. Noah Spence has serious shoulder issues. Clinton McDonald, 30, also appears to have been rundown by Father Time. Will Clarke and Ryan Russell would have trouble making other NFL rosters. Gerald McCoy, 29, can’t do it all, and he might be coming off his worst game of the season.
Such is the state of the Buccaneers’ defensive line. And Joe hangs that mess at the feet of Licht and D-line coach Jay Hayes.
November 1st, 2017 at 10:08 am
Koetter said he was going to stick with these guys. No matter what. So bringing in or exiting one player Koetter would of lost his respect of locker room immediately.
November 1st, 2017 at 10:09 am
I’m glad he didn’t. There was no one available who was worth giving up a pick for.
November 1st, 2017 at 10:10 am
Although…I would have agreed with him giving up a player or two.
Frankly, I think the trade deadline should be removed. Makes no sense that trades can’t happen all season.
November 1st, 2017 at 10:13 am
So add Rice to that old line lol
November 1st, 2017 at 10:13 am
better to be handcuffed and have all the draft picks, then to trade and lose picks and still be handcuffed!!!!!!!!!!!! The draft picks will be high so they are worth more to keep them, then trading for some shlub, who does not know the defense, does not know the audibles!!!!!!!! It would be more effective to go dumpster diving of other teams practice squads for pass rushers!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
November 1st, 2017 at 10:16 am
What about Aaron Lynch?
November 1st, 2017 at 10:20 am
In the past we’ve hung the mess on the head caoch. Why not Now? Koetter is the captain of the ship and the blame lies squarely on him. We did that with Schiano and Lovie. Koetter should be no exception. And Just-us..for all!!
November 1st, 2017 at 10:20 am
Don’t let Licht pick anymore high draft picks that his terrible decision making helped earn, again. This pretender has got to go. A sober look at his choices over the last 4 years should tell you that he is manifestly incompetent.
November 1st, 2017 at 10:22 am
Get rid of Mr Softie aka GMC
…..and then you’ll see how much more inspired the lineman will play with Captain Batman loafing it up every sunday….that’s right, I said it!!!
and don’t start pulling out stats on me about him either because he’s non-effective or invisible when he’s needed the most.
Remember what linecoach Brian Cox (great player) said about McCoy and his greatest challenge many moons ago???……and that was to make the players around him better……that’s what leaders do and he hasn’t done that.
November 1st, 2017 at 10:33 am
^they have to be good players to make them better!!
November 1st, 2017 at 11:09 am
We go through this every year with Jason Licht. Last season it was a Wide receiver. Just draft quality players, and sign young quality free agents. It seems like Jason Licht has an eye for Free Agent Bums.
November 1st, 2017 at 11:15 am
“Gerald McCoy can’t do it all”
Gerald McCoy has TWO SACKS IN HIS LAST 11 GAMES!
When listing the DL’s problems, the 15 million dollar a year man who gets roughly one sack every 200 snaps lately is at the top of the list. The article mentions him after 7 guys who are “just guys”. You expect those bums to play like tomato cans. The problem lies with the “leader” who we need to be an 8 sack a year guy playing like a 3 sack a year guy.
November 1st, 2017 at 11:22 am
Whee are you tmaxcon? I was looking forward to your anti 93 rant.
November 1st, 2017 at 11:33 am
I think Licht did the right thing here. Our season is over and he knows it. No reason to have a ruined season AND a ruined draft over someone who isn’t going to help us get to the playoffs this year.
November 1st, 2017 at 11:35 am
Gerald is 29 already… Jeez…
November 1st, 2017 at 11:54 am
The Buc Realist Says:
November 1st, 2017 at 10:13 am
The draft picks will be high so they are worth more to keep them,
so are you admitting that dirk will finish around 5-11?….top 5-10?…that’s a pretty high draft pick…#regression….GO BUCS!!!!
November 1st, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Are you seriously surprised he did nothing? That has been his history and this really screams 2011 season after narrowly missing the playoffs the year before the gm didn’t do much to improve the team even with all that cap space. Makes you wonder if the Glazer’s are the reason history keeps repeating itself
November 1st, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Mike Johnson Says:
November 1st, 2017 at 10:20 am
In the past we’ve hung the mess on the head caoch. Why not Now? Koetter is the captain of the ship and the blame lies squarely on him. We did that with Schiano and Lovie. Koetter should be no exception. And Just-us..for all!!
^^BINGO^^
funny how “now” “fans” want to have patience….dirk has shown us nothing….we’ve been blown out…come out flat…out coached in every way….man “fans” want to give this guy time….BS….
luckily, we have the saints this weekend to expose this fraud….saints smell blood and we’re dead in the water….GO BUCS!!!
November 1st, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Howard Jones flashed plenty when he was here and we let him walk
November 1st, 2017 at 12:09 pm
He is with the bears now, listed as an lb there. Had 2 sacks in preseason
November 1st, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Gholston is the new ghost. Gets paid and disappeared
November 1st, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Chris “Swaggy” Baker is not the player he was with the Redskins. Noah Spence has serious shoulder issues. Clinton McDonald, 30, also appears to have been rundown by Father Time. Gerald McCoy, 29, can’t do it all,
——————
Joe I luv you to death but I must ask wtf are you watching? And how many beers are you having?
Swaggy has outplayed gmc for at least 2 games.
Clinton would be outplaying him too if allowed to play. He’s been flashing all year.
What exactly do you see that I miss? Half the time gmc has his back to the los meaning he’s being owned at the los. He doesn’t fight through any blocks whether 1on1 or double teamed. Guess what DTs get double teamed its part of the job.
If fact gmc had the worst game of any dt in the game.
Swaggy 4 tackles 3 solo 1 PD.
Kwann Short 4 tackles 1 sack
Gmc 2 tackles 1 he was unblocked.
I need must sit with you to watch film bc you have to teach me bc I obviously don’t know wtf I’m watching.
November 1st, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Most disappointing group by far. It’s sad at how little pressure we apply to opposing QBs. Right now, I’m not sure our defense could stop Alabama. Really!
And, if we can’t get a pass-rush, we expose our shrimp-like DBs and ineffective Safeties. Result? You’re looking at it, 2 DASH 5!
Oh, we get Drew Brees this week! Somebody better wake the heck up or that game will get ugly FAST!
November 1st, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Hire gruden
November 1st, 2017 at 12:46 pm
^^NO^^
We need a younger guy with an innovative offense and defense. These re-treads like Lovie, Koetter, M Smith, the Ryan Brothers have watched the game pass them by. Gruden would be no different, IMO. Love him in the booth. Thank him for our Super Bowl but hopefully he can “call” the game instead.
November 1st, 2017 at 12:48 pm
FOCUS on defense in next years draft and free agency. That’s where championships come from !
November 1st, 2017 at 2:22 pm
I seriously can’t believe that we didn’t do ANYTHING before the deadline.
November 1st, 2017 at 2:38 pm
I stated in another article we should trade for an extra one and two or three round picks: DE (Bradley Chubb), DE, DT, CB. This defensive line needs to be totally remade. Chubb is no doubt gonna ball in the NFL. The trade that might be able to make this possible would be GMC, but I would want him on the line with a bunch of good looking rookie d lineman.
November 1st, 2017 at 3:17 pm
@813bucboi
“funny how “now” “fans” want to have patience….dirk has shown us nothing….we’ve been blown out…come out flat…out coached in every way….man “fans” want to give this guy time….BS….”
I feel you. Koetter is an offensive coordinator at best not a HC and people want to give him more time.
People keep saying Gruden. I’m down. He’s the only veteran head coach we had other than Lovie since the SB that Gruden won. When people say Gruden and him maybe be able to bring in Rex Ryan as a DC makes my mouth drool.