Five Bucs Truths … In March
March 3rd, 2022
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Wait for it … wait for it.
Buc fans were eager to hear what Bruce Arians and Jason Licht had to say at the NFL Combine this week. A lot of intentional misdirection occurs in Indianapolis at this time of the year, so you don’t want to read too much into the answers provided by GMs and head coaches.
False signals are common on the brink of free agency, but by the time Licht and Arians left the podium and ended a separate session on the side with Buc media, the 2022 picture for this franchise came into sharper focus.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
1. Tom Brady isn’t coming back. Just because Licht and Arians may have an occasional phone conversation with No. 12 hardly means Brady is second-guessing his retirement.
He’s turned in his paperwork and turned his attention to his family and his myriad business interests. He didn’t retire because of a frayed relationship with Arians. They’re fine. He didn’t retire because he doubted the Bucs could be contenders this fall. Have you seen the rest of this division?
Arians and Licht are in the painful process of moving on without their incomparable leader. As much as they want Brady back, they have absolutely no reason to believe this retirement will be short-lived. They laugh when they read manufactured stories that Brady is obsessing about a third NFL go-around, this time with the 49ers.
Nowhere in their remarks did either Licht or Arians give Buc Nation a shred of hope that Brady will be under center next season. Licht’s “We’ll leave a light on for him,” is hardly an encouraging sign.
2. Chris Godwin is Tampa Bay’s top priority in free agency. Although he’s coming off knee surgery, Godwin is simply too valuable for the kind of offense Arians wants to run. You can hear it in their voices — if Godwin cashes in with another team it would qualify as a crippling loss, no matter who lines up under center at Raymond James Stadium.
Godwin does too many things too well. Joel Glazer once told me the Bucs rarely lose free agents they target as elite players. Godwin represents another test case.
3. There’s no doubt the Bucs believe they can win the NFC South again, even with Blaine Gabbert or Kyle Trask taking the snaps. This is an exceedingly weak division for the taking and the prospect of a home playoff game in January keeps swirling around the heads of Buc ownership and management alike.
If the Bucs were in the NFC West, the notion of a major rebuild would make more sense.
4. Ali Marpet’s surprise retirement bolsters the odds of Ryan Jensen returning to One Buc Place. The prospect of replacing Jensen, Marpet and Alex Cappa has to make the Buc coaching staff cringe. Arians and his crew have put a lot of time and effort to forge one of the league’s better offensive lines.
Licht can’t stomach any scenario where this team takes a significant step backward when it comes to the guys up front.
Marpet’s departure creates some additional cap space which can help lure Jensen back as the fierce anchor of a prideful unit. If Jensen bolts for greener pastures, interior protection issues could wreck Byron Leftwich’s game plans.
5. Ryan Succop’s job is far from assured. During the championship season, Succop proved to be a reliable kicker who gained the confidence of Arians and teammates. Something changed during training camp last summer, but the Bucs weren’t going to move on from a struggling veteran who had a lengthy track record of success.
Now, all bets are off.
While it’s true the Bucs have shown no prowess in developing their own young kickers, the trust factor between Succop and the coaching staff is now tenuous. If he even makes it to training camp, Succop will have to fend off serious competition to retain his job.
Somewhere, Matt Bryant is smiling.
Ira with his good friend and JoeBucFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan, general manager of Bill Currie Ford and host of the Best In Class podcast. Sean will help you personally in any way he can. Just ask!!!
March 3rd, 2022 at 8:07 am
This offseason is one of the most nail biting i have seen in a while. Which comes first the quarterback or free agents. Licht has his hands full, dont want to be him right now.
March 3rd, 2022 at 8:09 am
This is a guard rich draft , Licht will find another diamond. Jensen will be signed. Trask is a very hard worker who knows his progressions flawlessly and throws well , so Bucs will be fine at QB. Godwin will be signed. Time to draft a dynamic runner and pass catcher-Breece Hall is that guy. Bucs need another elite weapon in the receiving corps and Mike Gesicki is available and ascending and will go over 1000 yards in BA offensive scheme. Gronk is an unknown and Brate is a luxury we cannot afford. Bucs win NFC South.
March 3rd, 2022 at 8:19 am
This year I think the goal is to get younger, clear out some payroll, fight for the NFC South. We will take some major lumps against contenders, but get some more playoff experience and come back in 2023 to contend for the SB.
March 3rd, 2022 at 8:19 am
I can think of another kicker named Matt who is smiling as well.
March 3rd, 2022 at 8:29 am
We may have to draft a tight end, since Gronk looks like he is headed to Buffalo.
March 3rd, 2022 at 9:30 am
Bucs may need a QB….
Definitely need 2 OG, C…….2 RBs,2 TEs, 2WR, S, CB, DT, OLB…..probably K & P…..
I’d call that a rebuild.
March 3rd, 2022 at 9:48 am
If you cant trade for Watson or Wilson, then why is it a priority to commit to Jensen and Godwin long term. Just to barely win the division and get crushed in the wild card round of the playoffs? You’d have to think that eventually we’ve got to blow this up and rebuild around a core of young players. If you dont land a premier QB via trade accumulate all of the draft capital you can get your hands on.
March 3rd, 2022 at 10:24 am
it makes sense that you need a bit more of a power leg here with brady gone…
you need a guy who you can send in routinely for 50-55 yarders – and make them…
you kinda need a seasoned matt gay actually…
it’ll be interesting to see what kickers pop up on the bucs roster
March 3rd, 2022 at 11:23 am
Funny how fate changes. Just 2 yrs..and last year Buc fans and Ira were bragging their A’s off. And now its..Ohh God, please help us.
March 3rd, 2022 at 11:41 am
I’d actually put off on trading for somebody & hang onto all their picks & even consider trading down some at times. Especially if they’re gonna have more needs to fill. Gonna need at least one maybe two CBs, another DE, another DT, another OL, probably another WR, probably another RB, another S & if Gronkowski isn’t gonna come back another TE. They’ve only got six picks & unless they do go out in FA there’s no way they’re addressing it all in the draft. So I think I might hold off on trading for somebody.
March 3rd, 2022 at 11:43 am
Maybe they can bring Roberto Aguayo back?🤣
March 3rd, 2022 at 11:57 am
They should keep John Brown & use him.
March 3rd, 2022 at 12:22 pm
What I see in those ‘Five Truths’ is 4 dealing with offense and 1 dealing with S/Ts. You could easily expand those ‘Truths’ to at least 8 Ira if you wanted to include the DEFENSE’s 3 position groups (Dline needs, LB needs & Secondary needs).
Wait I forgot, in JBF Headquarters it’s ALL about the OFFENSE. Well, until the under-resourced defense screws up, then it’s ALL about the DEFENSE.
March 3rd, 2022 at 12:22 pm
TB is so meticulous in his decision making that there’s a ZERO chance of him coming back – well maybe a 1% chance
March 3rd, 2022 at 12:25 pm
Perhaps the Bucs jettison kickers too quickly?
March 3rd, 2022 at 12:28 pm
Robert … Just saw over at the gym that the Eagles & Seahawks are making a trade for Wilson. Not that we could’ve afforded him anyways however.
And in regards to re-signing Jensen, I’m all in favor of that because of the LEADERSHIP that he provides to the OLine (love his down-and-dirty attitude too, although he needs to knock off the penalties). And Godwin (or a WR just like him) is critical to this offense. I don’t like the price anymore than anyone else, but Chris knows how to move the chains in coming up with critical 1st downs, not to mention how his blocking impacts the rest of our offense. He’s a keeper. I’m just hoping that he’s healthy for the start of the season.
March 3rd, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Defense rules….
Philadelphia & Seattle were talking about making a trade for Russell Wilson at the gym.😀
March 3rd, 2022 at 4:21 pm
Ira nail point #1
Stop the drama