Booger: Next In Line Is…
October 16th, 2018
Offers his take on Bucs.
Yes, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter shocked a lot of people when he dismissed his long-time friend and colleague Mike Smith as the Bucs defensive coordinator.
It was the right thing to do.
There was just no excuse for how awful the defense was performing. Worst, the defense proved to be unprepared each week.
Former Bucs defensive lineman and current BSPN talking head Booger McFarland explained to screamin’ Stephen A. Smith what he thinks is going on behind the scenes at One Buc Palace.
In short, Booger believes Koetter is next man up to be launched.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:06 am
If Koetter goes, then so will Winston. They are connected at the hip. The next HC might also think that Jackson’s money would be better spent on defense, considering the depth of the receiving corp.
And if it’s the Glazers who decide Koetters’ fate, then Licht will be asking him to ‘hold the door’ for him.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:06 am
That would be the right thing to do!
October 16th, 2018 at 11:06 am
Jason Licht is the problem people
October 16th, 2018 at 11:08 am
As much as the media wants to throw every stone at the coaches, some of them should have been reserved for the horrible GM who continues to suck when it comes to getting competent players. 24-45
October 16th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Jameis isn’t going ANYWHERE!!! Any new coach would love to have Jameis, a young QB w unlimited potential
October 16th, 2018 at 11:14 am
@Tom…. I have been saying the EXACT same thing!! You simply can NOT have a GM who is 21 games UNDER 500!!! He needs to have 2-3 years of a decent record just to be even!! C’mon now!!
October 16th, 2018 at 11:15 am
Jason Licht should have been the first to go
But I hope the Bucs keep him
So I can continue to laugh at them
October 16th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Why won’t the video play for me? It just turns to a black screen with a big white forward triangle.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:19 am
You can’t fire the players so you fire the coaches. I’m over that!!!
If we’re going to clean house let’s not stop with Licht and Koetter…it’s time for GMC…LVD…Kwon..and several others to get traded as well.
If we’re going to blow it up let’s blow it up!!!!
Sadly it’s literally impossible for me to imagine any defensive team playing worse than ours has the past two games.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:19 am
I think Booger does an excellent job on MNF.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:19 am
The big problem is the opinion of this so called experts!!!! They need to say something because ESPN is more a tabloid type of information than a pure sports information or media company. Mike Smith was fired or resigned because his job speaks for itself….No mystery there,. But what if things turn around the defense gets better and the offense keep doing what is doing? You fire the coach? Don’t think so….So Booger , be cautious and wait…..just dont be another stupid ESPN reporter who has nothing to say……
October 16th, 2018 at 11:22 am
Yes!!!! Jameis will hit DeSean on the numbers on a deep ball before 2019!
I guarantee it!!!!!
Hopefully with the new DC we won’t have to score 35 to win a game.
If that is the case Jameis will be off the hook. Bombs to DeSean won’t be necessary.
Is a brighter day for Buccaneer fans. I wish Smith the best. Now lets go kick some a$$!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!
October 16th, 2018 at 11:23 am
I disagree w Booger, this crap was 100% the problem. They never could hold a lead when the offense brought them back, this is ALL on the Defense, Period! Yeah James has been up and down but he’s only been in the league for 3 years. Every QB has games they would like to forever, HELL BIG BEN threw 5 picks in a game last year BUT they always come through because they have a strong D that also has bad games as well. Nothing is perfect but the BUCS D was beyond HORRIBLE. No QB could these last year and a quarter w this pathetic excuse for a DEFENSE. Any coach that could build a defense would LOVE to have Jameis. Maybe w a decent defense Jameis would not HAVE TO BE PERFECT!!
October 16th, 2018 at 11:24 am
I meant no QB could ever win over the last year and a quarter w this defense.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:25 am
StPete
I agree with you 100%
ACCOUNTABILITY should be for EVERYONE
A lot of these loafers was here loafing when Lovie was fired
Some has got new contracts
October 16th, 2018 at 11:27 am
@Lakeland,
Jason Licht does not do anything without other people being involved in the process. As much as we should forfeit 2nd round picks, I’d like to see how he does with a competent HC and Coordinators (OC and DC). Scouting is horrible. Player evaluation is horrible. So, either his hands are tied or there are too many cooks in the kitchen. I don’t think it’s ever one man’s fault that isn’t a coach.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:30 am
Patience….. StPete…. Patience!
People were dying to get a running back ie. (Calvin Cook).
How many games has he played?
Patience!
Change was needed. There was an obvious disconnect between players and DC.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:30 am
Patience….. StPete…. Patience!
People were dying to get a running back ie. (Calvin Cook).
How many games has he played?
Patience!
Change was needed. There was an obvious disconnect between players and DC.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:32 am
Well we all know who’s next Any talking head knows this
October 16th, 2018 at 11:35 am
Just ignore that he also said Jameis has been inconsistent everyone. Close your ears. He didnt say that. No not Jameis. According to some people, Booger might be racist for saying that.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:36 am
This move could have saved Koetter……you survive the season perhaps 7-9 or 8-8……bring in a top tier DC……voila….
Glazers don’t have a good taste in their mouths for firing everyone and starting over….they will do most anything to avoid that again.
Koetter runs a good offense…..perhaps he can survive.
Confidence was sky high in Koetter and then Mike Smith tanked him….
October 16th, 2018 at 11:37 am
Where is the Realist? Was he Mike Smith? In cooler? Wiped out by Hurricane Michael?
October 16th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Dirk did not fire anybody. And all of you know it. It was the Glazers. Koetter did not have the balls to let his mentor go. Yes, Koetter is next. He’s gotta finish 8-8 to keep his job. And thats gonna be hard unless this Defense somehow plays at least 50% better. Buc fans refuse to believe Koetter is not the right man for this team. He and Smitty never were. They failed with the Falcons! I say do the opposite, Bring in a great Defensive coach as Head coach. And let him hire an excellent OC who is suited to Jameis’s skill set. You will not beat teams playin no Defense in this league guys. I don’t care how many beautiful spirals Jameis throws. At least now we don’t have to worry about our DC sittin on his A.. up in the pressbox every game anymore.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Jon Gruden is allegedly shopping Amari Cooper. LMAO, Jon Gruden is up to his old tricks trying to piss on the fire hydrant and make it his own. My goodness, he’s not going to last 3 years in Oakland and he’s going to set that franchise back a decade+. They were actually doing well under Jack Del Rio.
Bullet dodged. Stripes never change. What in the world is he doing? It’s a miracle that he did so well with the Raiders on the first go around and with the Bucs until winning the SB and hearing all the “he won with Dungy’s defense” chatter. That totally discombobulated him permanently.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:42 am
There’s many Buc fans that have been eating some hater chips when it comes to Winston. Y’all blame him for everything!!! If and when Koetter gets tossed y’all will blame JW I AGREE 100% with the commsh in his recent podcast in regards to the JW haters
October 16th, 2018 at 11:44 am
I thought this year was going to be the same old crap as last year. Defensively, yes it has. No matter how many points they put up the defense can not maintain and close out the game. In addition, the GM did nothing as far as drafting to help out our secondary. The Vita Vea pick was worthless, especially when you had a starting Corner Back / Safety still on the board (Derwin James). However, I must say that I was surprised in the Offense and how creative they were in their play calling. I still maintain that Fitzpatrick is the better QB. I know he is not the future because of his age, but JW is NOT a franchise QB. Fitzpatrick has a better QB rating, he can make the long throws with better accuracy, protect the football, recognize and adjust to defensive schemes, and make better judgement calls at the line of scrimmage. Glazers still have their work cut out for them in order to make this at least a 500 team.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:45 am
7th most yards in franchise history last Sunday, but it’s the QB’s fault we didn’t win.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:47 am
If I’m Koetter, I start worrying when JoeBucFan starts calling for my firing. They already claimed Mike Smith’s scalp and may be looking for more soon.
Jameis, however, is safe. The Joe’s love him
October 16th, 2018 at 11:48 am
Totally confident, right guys?
October 16th, 2018 at 11:51 am
@Wausa,
2 redzone INTs. Points taken off the board. It’s really that simple. No QB or team can win with crucial redzone turnovers like that. But, I’m still hoping he plays better. He still throws into double, triple coverage. How do you think that’s ok? He has always been inconsistent. The problem is not that fans hate JW. The fact is we expect something consistent from a #1 unless you’re just happy he isn’t Jamarcus Russell.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:51 am
I really like Licht…but 2016 and 2018 draft classes, coupled with lousy FA acquisitions are black marks. Smitty’s dismissal has a huge impact on personnel- especially if Hargreaves, Steward, Davis, Beckwith and Vea were selected to fit his mold/scheme.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
All u Licht haters are off base. If he had the power to hire and fire coaches we would have been good a long time ago. And he can only pick players that fit in the coordinators schemes. He cant do more, considering he cant fire coaches. Licht has been far from part of the problem. Also consider alot of coaches tell the gms who they want.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Only second time in NFL history a team had that many rushing yards and passing yards and lost
50-2-1
October 16th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Licht needs to be next. Passing on Derwin and Donte Jackson this year for a run stuffer and a slot corner who has no business in the NFL. Not to mention all the FA busts he has acquired.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
GM Licht has been the main problem for years. Even the best of coaches is going to have problems winning with his track record of draft and FA busts. He decides to concentrate on the DLine in a pass happy league and pass up Derwin James for Vea. He drafts a slow CB in the 2d round (Stewart) and the Dline, except for JPP is still crap. His 2d round pick every year are busts and his failures caused him to overpay for Grimes who is done to say the least. 5 yrs of terrible personnel result in 5 years of terrible defense, questionable Oline and no running game. I truly hope the house cleaning starts with Licht!
October 16th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Koetter is safe until he totally loses the team or we just continue to lose period. But that’s got to be unlikely since we do have America’s QB that can strap this team on his back and will this team to wins. Looks like Indy is struggling without Pagano, so sometimes it’s not always about the head coach. Mediocre talent gets exposed. Jason Licht and his fail at finding obscure diamonds in the rough with early round draft picks is haunting this team. There’s a reason why draft boards are made up by consensus draft rankings which Licht has a knack at ignoring and going his own way. I get taking Vea although I’m still baffled at why he chose RoJo over a bevy of more higher ranked RB’s, and the Aguayo pick was stupid.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Sorry, but I don’t see it happening. Best Offense in Team History, and you think the Glazers would walk away from that? No freaking way.
A lot of teams are struggling defensively because of the new rules. The old guard is having trouble adjusting on defense.
Koetter and Licht are here to stay. And really, there is absolutely no one else available who is truly better than Koetter.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
And can I just say?
Blaming Jason Licht because rookie talent has not developed into all pro talent in 5 games is silly. This town always expects instant gratification. It rarely works out that way.
Expecting Vea, Stewart, Davis, and Rojo to suddenly play like pro bowlers is only setting yourselves up for disappointment. Not only do they have to get in the work to develop, but they need to capture the winning bug attitude as well.
Fans just have to be patient. Let them grow into their roles.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
Lets get rid of a guy with 74 touchdown passes in 3 years plus one game.
Coming off a four td performance last week.
Brilliant.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Light is responsible for the bad defense also ….bye Winston who can’t connect on the long ball with accuracy.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
this is how it went in tampa monday morning on the phone:
glazer: good morning dirk, can that f*ckboi you work with now…
dirk: but no mr. glazer we are forever buds…like batman and robin…please understand i’m practically his girl…
glazer: can ole smitty now or i will replace both of you in 20 minutes with monk and duff…
glazer: you wanna ride with ole kangeroo pouch???, then you’ll be on the corner of dale mabry hailing a cab too..don’t be a jerk dirk – do it dirk, do it…we both know monk will make you look incompetent in a heartbeat, so i’m cutting you some slack here and keeping you on…
dirk: thank you sir…i understand – and will do as told – it is easier to just be a puppet now anyway…
glazer: now we’re talkin’ guy…
dirk: i know this doesn’t apply to the convo sir, but i just want to say it…”thank you sir may i have another”…
glazer: nice one dirk…know ya role son…
glazer: (click) …
dirk: thank you sir (click)
October 16th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Licht is the problem, he will continue to have good coaches and players fired or leave for another team. Licht cannot evaluate talent, can’t draft and we don’t pick up any free agents worth anything. Licht is a terribe GM and should be fired immediately.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Wausa
They lost because they lost the turnover battle
The Falcons didn’t gifted them a turnover
2-0
October 16th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
i joke around…. but seriously the team is a mess…and it’s not all on dirk…it’s a great collaborative effort by a unison of men collectively f*cking things up together from top to the bottom for many years now…it’s not one or two mistakes by one person on any level…it’s essentially a retarded growth of the organization, post gruden (even the last few years of gruden’s tenure assisted the mess)…and it’s really not easy to rip the roots out of a poorly growing tree without just cutting down the whole thing…when an organization makes bad decisions the repercussions come back to haunt for many years thereafter…
i’m a die hard bucs fan…and i like to joke…but i hope things do change because you guys really make it hard for us fans to embrace the team with all that goes on, and it continues to snowball while other teams prosper…we must get back to respectability before cleveland does…
October 16th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
adam
They team has stunk since 1976, except for a few seasons
People should be use to the stench
October 16th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Adam
you may be to late on the Cleveland respectability thing….
October 16th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Seriously People?
Do you people really think it makes sense to fire the architect of the best offense that the city of Tampa has ever seen on the field?
We just need a capable defensive coordinator.
Idiots!
October 16th, 2018 at 1:10 pm
Hey Porkchop- throwing a 45 yard pass and having it intercepted at the 2 does not constitute a “Red Zone” turnover. Watch the games and think for yourself. The second one was a bad pass. After the first int-defense held and Jameis then led them for a TD. Second Int- def again held- Jameis led them for a FG next possession. That is making up for his mistake
October 16th, 2018 at 1:12 pm
Jason Licht is THE worst GM in pro football drafting a kicker in the 2nd round to a bad team that desperately needed position players is enough to get one fired, but of course that is on koetter to not coach up a kicker
October 16th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
We have 1 interception in 5 games, 5 fumble recoveries. Our defense is putrid!!
October 16th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Dork didn’t have the balls to fire a man running the worst defense in the history of the NFL.
And people here think he should remain?
Discipline Driven, my a$$
October 16th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Letting coach K go does not make sense to me for long term stability in the organization. At some point we have to commit long term to a head coach, why not now. Get him some better defensive players and a decent coordinator, and a few more seasons. I am not even sure fans can endure another new head coach. I think the next man out should be the GM, Licht. Yes, I said it. You can give me the fact that he drafted KWON, and the fact Licht had a splash 2015 draft, but collectively his defensive draft picks have not made us a “better” defense team. We have been in the bottom 10 of the 32 teams defensively since Licht started drafting (2014). So, he is not some draft guru as some have claimed. Also, we have yet to truly benefit from drafting JW (2015) as our QB. JW has all the potential in the world, which really means nothing if it doesn’t manifest itself into W’s. I will give Licht all the credit in the world for his offensive picks. Congrats on Evans (2014), Marpet (2015), Smith (2015), Howard (2017), Godwin(2017), Humphries (Undrafted 2015), Brate (Undrafted 2014)… ALL OFFENSE! Please excuse any errors on years. Anyway, we have only used 13 of 34 draft picks on defense since 2014, Lichts first draft. That means only 38% of our picks since 2014 have been used on defensive players: Kwon*, Bond, R. Smith, Spence, Hargraves*, Tui, Beckwith(?), J. Evans*, Chichy, Whitehead, Davis, Stewart, Vea(?). Redo the percentage based on who of the 13 you think has contributed, and you may see why we are in trouble defensively. Also, none of this takes into account the scenario where we do not pick a kicker w/ the 59th overall pick in the second round. For funzies, let’s peek at who was available defensively at that spot that may have helped us. How about a corner, James Bradberry? How about Free Safety, Kevin Byard? These two guys are selected after Aguayo and they are at the very least productive contributors to their team’s defense. My point is… Koetter needs to stay, and the GM can go. I’ll leave on these swings and misses by our GM: Michael Johnson, Alterraun Verner, Mike Jenkins, Clinton McDonald, Henry Melton, Sterling Moore, Bruce Carter… I don’t want to keep going, but the point is Licht’s formula for building Tampa’s defense has failed.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Marlow, that was awesome as diagrammed, nice job and the proof is the crap that is on the field every sunday, hopefully the joes will start to realize their boy licht is not any good
October 16th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Lol jjbucfan, thank you.
I keep seeing that dumb statement repeated over and over and I’ve grown tired of correcting all These idiots myself. So thanks.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
Marlow
Oh I agree Licht has to go too. But Dork isn’t an NFL head coach. He’s a Div II college coach at best and a substitute High School science teacher mostly.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
I’ve been calling for Koetter to be fired for over a year because of his blind loyalty to Mike Smith just as I called for Tony Dungy firing for his blind loyalty to Mike Shula and Clyde Christianson. I am, however on the give Dirk another chance bandwagon, wether the firing was his idea or not. However, my patience is short as I hope the Glazers is also. Go Bucs!
October 16th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
I would agree with that. If the defense doesn’t pick it up real fast and they don’t start winning games everybody will be gone.
October 16th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
We sure could have used those kicker related picks…
October 16th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
@jjbucfan,
My bad, you’re right it wasn’t a Redzone INT. It was just another inaccurate pass downfield to the wrong team (missing DJax by a mile). Yea, I feel better now knowing it wasn’t a Redzone INT.
October 16th, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Mike Johnson Says:
Dirk did not fire anybody. And all of you know it. It was the Glazers. Koetter did not have the balls to let his mentor go. Yes, Koetter is next. He’s gotta finish 8-8 to keep his job. And thats gonna be hard unless this Defense somehow plays at least 50% better.
—————————————————————————————-
So six wins? Okay. We play @Carolina @ Ravens and @ Bengals @Cowboys @Giants
Home against Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Redskins, Niners
Hard to tell where those six wins could come in.
October 16th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
I love how so many defend Winston . Hey if you like loosing quarterback who throws tons of picks every year and leads the league in fumbles he’s your guy . Just remember Freeman had a better record and a better single season than Winston ever will . Keep Winston Keep loosing its not hard to figure out peeps .
October 16th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Why does ESPN make Booger look like he’s a cripple in one of those motorized chairs that go up stairs? It’s such a dumb look on the sideline. Anywho Booger was excellent on the radio, the guy has great charisma and in this case he’s 100% right, Dirk will be out of a job soon because he shouldn’t have ever been a head coach in the first place. The morons who ran Lovie Smith out of town completely ignored the people like myself that pointed out that you should leave Dirk there coaching the offense, working with Winston one-on-one for at least another year, and instead the lynch mob had to run Lovie and his top 10 defense out of town because, you know, the 3rd down competition percentage was too high. Dopes.
October 16th, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Remember when our main concern to complain about was how awful our kickers were? Why does that feel like it was 5 years ago. WTH, I am longing for that to be our main concern again.
Pistol
October 16th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Licht has missed on some for sure but he’s also built one helluva receiving Corp and I believe the defense is way better than what we’ve been seeing. The scheme has sucked and I think having a coordinator who can adapt a scheme to players strengths will make a huge difference. D backs usually take several years to adapt to the NFL. Yes, there are exceptions but they are usually 1st round picks. I think if someone utilizes Hargreaves, Stewart, Davis, and even Smith correctly we will have a good defensive backfield. The problem has been trying to fit square pegs in a round hole. Hope our new D coordinator will develop a scheme utilizing our players strengths instead of just trying to plug and play and hope they adapt to the scheme you have.
October 16th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Love how fans blame for Licht for this mess when he’s assembled one of the best offenses in Bucs history. Look, he’s missed alot of defense calls, but he is far from the worst GM in the league. He is serviceable (for now) but defense better get better in a year or 2. This offense is too good to waste.
October 16th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
fact is they brought dungy into indy to fix the defense since they had that high flying offense – the result – a title…
our offense is not as trustable with jameis and iffy rb’s…but what this team needs is a heavy defensive quick fix and we can be ruling the division and potentially competing for superbowls too
October 16th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
i just heard jenna on the radio – she coo – i’d marry her just so we can talk bucs and go to sleezy tampa buffets 🙂
October 16th, 2018 at 5:24 pm
I agree with Booger. But make a bunch of trades first
October 16th, 2018 at 5:26 pm
I’d take Pagano. He’s a good man but I don’t know if anyone can fix this mess. I’d start Fitz next week.
October 16th, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
October 16th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Sorry, but I don’t see it happening. Best Offense in Team History, and you think the Glazers would walk away from that? No freaking way.
——————————-
Thanks for writing this simple fact, BBonzai. You can CAP the “Best Offense in Team History.”
October 16th, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Wright – Licht went into the year with Ryan Smith and Chris Conte as starters, that alone should get him fired. I agree on the offensive side, and outside of DB and kicker I think he’s done a mostly good job, but his decision to keep those two losers as starters, or top players, will, and rightly should, cost him his job. It’s unbelievable that anyone with an IQ over 21 wouldn’t know this would be the outcome when you go into a season relying on those two.
October 16th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Rod- Conte was never a good safety, average at best. But you cannot overlook the fact that after his, um, “injury”, the defensive secondary was worse. I find that to be more than coincidence.
Maybe a “new look” defense can overcome these liabilities we have in the backfield. Maybe Whitehead continues to improve and take that spot. As of right now though, I don’t trust our safeties at all.
October 16th, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Everybody’s job is on the line. The Glazers are starting to get pissed. Koetter is in their sights and next in line. Bucs lose another three straight games and he is gone. Ryan Smith, Conte, Grimes, all gone next year. Kwon and David need to be gone. Winston and GMC are skating on thin ice.
October 16th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
joestang Says:
“Licht cannot evaluate talent, can’t draft and we don’t pick up any free agents worth anything. Licht is a terribe GM and should be fired immediately.”
Only a fairweather fan would say those things…or a troll who just logged onto yet another username to spout the same lies.
October 16th, 2018 at 7:44 pm
Dusthty Rhothdes Says
“Jason Licht is THE worst GM in pro football drafting a kicker in the 2nd round…”
Hey, Troll, your rant is out of date. Bringing up things that happened years ago is stupid.
Not to mention you are always wrong.
October 16th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
Aceofaerospace Says
“I’ve been calling for Koetter to be fired for over a year because of his blind loyalty to Mike Smith just as I called for Tony Dungy firing for his blind loyalty to Mike Shula and Clyde Christianson.”
Didn’t both of those have a lot of success after leaving here?
October 16th, 2018 at 8:09 pm
Rod Munch Says
“Licht went into the year with Ryan Smith and Chris Conte as starters…”
The GM does not determine who starts. You should know that.
Also, Grimes and VHIII were supposed to be the starters. Both got injured.
And Conte was the best safety on the roster. You may not like that FACT, but it is true. He was only signed to a one year deal because they had planned on easing Justin Evans into the role over the season.
And that’s what fans are forgetting. Licht drafted some good picks and the plan was to give them time to develop throughout the season. Injuries forced them to be thrown in full time long before they were ready.
Think about it…Cichy, Stewart, Davis, Vea. Then you add the newly added veterans to the defense: Allen, Currey, JPP, etc.
That’s a lot of new faces on defense, and half of them are rookies.
It would normally take time for so many new players to mesh with the rest…but when half of them are rookies being asked to start?
Jason Licht made great moves on defense this off season. His only mistakes overall were signing our kicker and not firing Smith and the DB coach.
Next off season, unless things massively improve, I think a young hotshot DC needs to be hired, and they need to look at college coaches for the other defensive staff replacements…like Dungy did. Because the defensive rules are getting more and more like the college rules each year.
October 16th, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Sorry, I meant the plan was to easy Whitehead into Conte’s role. Not Evans.
October 16th, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai I don’t give a rats behind what anybody does after they are no longer a buc. Mike Shula and Clyde Christianson sucked a** as offensive coordinators for Tampa. And Dungy was too stubborn to admit it. If Clyde Christianson was so good, how come Dungy didn’t immediately promote hit to offensive coordinator at Indy?
October 16th, 2018 at 11:11 pm
Bucsfanman – Conte has literally been, by far, the worst starting safety in football for years, and yet he keeps getting a new deal from Licht. Football Outsiders, the best source out there in my opinion, name him to their all decade worst of team and pointed out the stats show he has a reverse Earl Thomas effect, meaning in 2016 during the hot streak, which happened when he was out of the line-up, the defensive level of play increased dramatically. He’s terrible. As for Ryan Smith, he’s literally the worst corner I’ve ever seen in my life, he runs around completely lost, can’t cover anyone, but has good speed, which he needs since he’s generally chasing down guys from behind after they catch a long pass on him. Licht thought these two guys were good enough…
October 16th, 2018 at 11:25 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai – No one knew what to expect from VH3, if he’d pick back up to where he left off his rookie year, or if he’d be the guy that fell off the cliff in ’17. I like VH3 and thought he’d rebound, and I think he was doing just that, but in March you could not have known that. That means Ryan Smith was penciled in as a starter since you can not assume mid and late 2nd rounders come in and start from day one, that’s a recipe for disaster. We have talked a ton and I’m sure you know how awful I think Ryan Smith is and I said all offseason that if Licht puts the team in a position to have to play Ryan Smith, he should be fired, since Ryan Smith should never see the field outside of special teams, and should ideally be cut. Now he’s a starter, with completely predictable results. It’s one thing to see a player with promise, that makes some mistakes yet is improving. Ryan Smith hasn’t done that, go watch last season and watch him in that Vikings game – then go watch him in week 17, he’s running around completely lost, not getting beat because Brees makes a perfect throw, he’s lost, he’s in the wrong place, guys just run by him, he’s the worst corner I’ve ever seen, ever.
As for Conte, see above, he’s literally the worst starting safety in football for years now. He too constantly gets burned in coverage, or if he managed to go a week without getting burned he’d always make sure to get at least one major PI or PF call. He’s not the best safety on the team, that would be Evans, but even if you think he’s the best on the team then you’re just making my point – that Licht built this team and the best safety on the team is Chris Conte.
Also I agree with you on the rookies, they shouldn’t be starting and I don’t blame them for playing poorly. Outside of top 10 drafted guys, you generally never want a rookie corner out there from week 1, and the Bucs have two guys playing huge mins who shouldn’t be playing yet. I don’t think they’re busts, yet (although Stewart has looked slow and awful, not ready to give up on him, yet), but they shouldn’t be out there, and again, that’s on Licht for not getting guys.
I know what Licht was going for, you build your defense from the line back, I get that, but even if you had Sapp and Rice on this line if you had Conte and Ryan Smith playing 15 yards off the LOS, then even they wouldn’t make a difference.
Also as I said I think outside of kicker and DB that Licht has mostly done a good job, but he’s done such an insanely poor job, at DB in particular, that it will cost him his job, and as I said all offseason, if Ryan Smith is starting because Licht doesn’t sign anyone, he should be fired.
One final also, the kicking situation. Licht shouldn’t have fed into the lynchmob and should have let Roberto play it out and see how it went. Roberto didn’t lose us any games and now, in the last 21 weeks of regular season games since he’s been cut we’ve lost at least 3 games because of the kicker. Roberto I don’t think would have lost those games. Yes, the lynchmob wanted his head and Licht gave it to them, but he should have played it out, or used the IR spot and kept him around, instead he gave Catanzaro $3.7m guaranteed.
October 17th, 2018 at 11:02 am
The Glazers love Winston. He’s not going anywhere. Like Koetter said Jameis will be here long after he will
October 17th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Draft picks have been horrible.