Twice In One Radio Show, Bucs Shot-Callers Don’t Mention Same Rookie
August 26th, 2021
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Joe loves listening to these training camp tour stops that SiriusXM NFL Radio does each summer. But there is one part of each tour stop Joe can do without.
Without fail, a coach or a general manager or both, when asked about their draft class, will wax poetic that each one will have a strong chance to make the team and they look “great” or “amazing” in training camp.
Then they will recite the names of those drafted, of course.
Why is Joe bringing you the boring stuff? Because hidden in the boring takes you may accidentally find a story.
For example, when Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller, co-hosts of “Movin’ the Chains” did their Bucs show, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bruce Arians did his part and mentioned all the drafted players. Except for cornerback Chris Wilcox, the seventh-round pick out of BYU.
Interesting.
So later in the show when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht put on a headset, he too began rattling off all the draft picks’ names as Joe expected.
But he too left off a name: Wilcox.
“We’re very excited about the class as a whole,” Licht said. “Joe Tryon has been very, very good here. Now we played a regular season game yet — I always have to throw that in there. We’ve been very excited. I think everybody here sees it. Players, coaches, staff. He’s got a chance to be special.
“Kyle Trask has been making a lot of strides. Jaelon Darden every day makes some highlight plays. K.J. Britt, Grant Stuard has been playing great on special teams. I think all of these guys have a chance. Most of them have a chance to be on this team and make some contributions.”
Now that’s more than interesting.
To be fair, Wilcox hasn’t had a good camp. Joe has been at every practice and only two or three times can Joe recall Wilcox making a play. He was hurt early and that didn’t help.
Just judging from what Arians and Licht said on national radio, omitting the same guy from their talking points doesn’t seem to be an accident.
Perhaps the only reason Wilcox is still here is in case the Bucs have a rash of injuries to corners. Or are they trying to get Wilcox some extra tape so he may land on someone else’s roster next week?
As for other rookies, Licht said this year undrafted free agents wanted no part of signing with the Bucs.
Why? The general feedback was that these guys didn’t think they had a prayer of sticking on the roster.
“Where it really hit us was undrafted free agency,” Licht said. “It was really, really hard for us to get top guys who were left on the board that we thought had a chance to make our team. They were basically, ‘Why would we go there?'”
Nice problem to have when you are the best in the world.
August 26th, 2021 at 3:50 pm
So a 7th rounder probably won’t make a Superbowl winning team that returns 22+1 starters? Meh.
August 26th, 2021 at 3:50 pm
Not much of a surprise…..a 7th round pick…..we have some CBs standing in his way…..Herb Miller & Antonio Hamilton are two…..good luck, Chris….let’s hope your BYU degree will get you more than a mattress mover job.
August 26th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
Hey @joebucsfan, am i the only one feels we have at best 1 above average cornerback C. Davis and one average corner in Bunting…after that we’re in bad shape. Should we maybe trade or look for more depth. Heck or even look for someone who’d battle bunting for a starting role? I would love to hear IRA opinion on one of the next podcast..thanks and you guys are the goats at presenting real news for real bucs fan…GOBUCS!!!
August 26th, 2021 at 3:57 pm
Was really hoping he’d stick around a year so I could get some cheap Bucs jerseys in 2022 with my name on it lol
August 26th, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Probably.
Bucs corners are better than you give them credit for, especially Carlton Davis. Proof is in the pudding.
Average corners don’t keep Pat Mahomes out of the end zone for five straight quarters.
August 26th, 2021 at 5:18 pm
Why give high praise to a player you’re planning to stash on the practice squad. Could that be the reason he wasn’t mentioned?
August 26th, 2021 at 5:58 pm
i agree, this is no news..
August 26th, 2021 at 6:14 pm
What??? A 7th round pick is not going to make the team?? Say it aint so… I mean its a long shot for 7th round picks to make a sorry or average football team let alone the defending champions. How is this even concerning?
August 26th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
@joe…………………#REACH
August 26th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
T Totally funny that the comment is in Moderation.
🙂
August 26th, 2021 at 6:47 pm
LOL
August 26th, 2021 at 7:10 pm
Either he sucks or they plan on stashing him on the practice squad. Either way we found out soon.
August 27th, 2021 at 12:19 am
“Honey Hands” Wilcox, they called him at BYU. The guy runs like a deer.
Stash him on the practice squad for a year, coach him properly, put him in the weight room, feed him properly, and let’s see what happens.
August 27th, 2021 at 12:54 am
@joebucsfan…pass rush was key to the superbowl. Carlton Davis is good bunting is OK but who else? Mike edwards needs more playing time and Winfield is a rising star BUT CORNERBACKS outside of Davis just really don’t do that well if our pass rush doesn’t succeed..just my opinion thanks for reply..Longtime reader and listener GOBUCS
August 27th, 2021 at 7:03 am
To be called “Honey Hands”, wouldn’t he be expected to have an interception in college? I do like the fact that Wilcox is at least big and fast, I remember the Bucs drafting Tim Wansley in the 7th Round, 5’-8” and ran in the 4.6’s. He actually started 6 games in 2003, which sabotaged that season.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Joe, didn’t we see this coming? With us bringing back so many players from 2020, did any 7th round pick really have a chance to make the 53 man roster?