One Reason Logan Ryan Signed With The Bucs Is He Lives In Tampa
March 24th, 2022
Bucs DB Logan Ryan.
Logan Ryan is a Jersey guy through and through.
Born and raised there, he went to school at Rutgers (played for and recruited by former Bucs commander Greg Schiano) and like most true Jersey guys, later moved to Florida.
Joe knew Ryan worked out with former Bucs receiver Yo Murphy’s training outfit in Tampa but never knew Ryan lived in Tampa. So no wonder he wanted to play for the Bucs. Throw in the Bucs’ winning ways with Tom Brady, and it seemed like a slam dunk for Tampa Bay to sign the defensive back.
That wasn’t always the case, for some reason, as Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht explained to popular national sports radio and television personality Adam Schein yesterday on “Schein on Sports” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio.
Licht told Schein on “Mad Dog Radio” that last year’s many injuries on defense motivated Licht to go get a defensive back in free agency.
“We experienced a lot of injuries last year on defense, particularly in the back half, that really kind of altered the way that Todd [Bowles’ plans] and the way the gameplans had to be, playing with a lot of different players at corner,” Licht said. “[It] really kind of hurt us, initially.
“But to still finish the season at 13-4 is a credit to the job that Todd and his defensive staff did, and Bruce [Arians] holding it together.”
So then Licht discussed how the Bucs nearly landed Ryan two years ago, which basically greased the wheels for him to sign now.
“Logan was a player that two years ago when we signed Tom, was a free agent that really wanted to be here,” Licht said. “He lives here. He trains here. He has a lot of connections here in Tampa. And for whatever reason, it didn’t work out that year.
“And so this year when he was released we jumped on it as quick as we could. As it turned out we didn’t have to because he had Tampa as his first choice, second choice and third choice. So, a lot of the recruiting and talks that we had with him two years ago, that just didn’t happen to work out, so we just picked up where we left off there and now he is a Buc.”
So the first thing that popped in Joe’s head was if the Bucs needed bodies in the secondary as Licht suggested, why let one of the better young safeties in the league in Bucs-drafted Jordan Whitehead walk away? Something about Whitehead must have spooked the Bucs, that’s the only thing Joe can conclude. Who knows Whitehead better than the Bucs?
The way Licht spoke about help in the secondary, it seems either he’s not finished shopping for inexpensive free agents on defense or will be drafting defensive backs next month.
March 24th, 2022 at 11:28 am
Nice story. Lots to like in Tampa.
March 24th, 2022 at 11:34 am
Hope bucs use properly. Some site ranked his abilities as safety vs slot db
Apparently he struggles as free safety / in deep coverage
Bucs need to have him at line of scrimmage playing strong (like whitehead) as he is good tackler
And he ranked better in slot with zone rather then press coverage
Anything to push SMB to Play better or push SMB to take a seat on the bench
No question ryan will be all over the field
Whats good is edwards is more free safety and winfield is solid at both
March 24th, 2022 at 11:41 am
Possible convo – “Remember we tried to sign you two years ago? Yeah we went in to win the Super Bowl. And you saw last year we almost made the NFC championship game, so a deep playoff run. I know, you were with the Giants…..Would you want to join us this year and see what happens?”
March 24th, 2022 at 11:44 am
Good Pickup……probably very happy to be here….that’s what you want/
March 24th, 2022 at 11:52 am
Love Whitehead’s heart and style of play, but league rules continue to favor the offensive player which neutralizes the big hits Whitehead likes to deliver. Another factor working against Jerome is his health. He can’t remain healthy long term playing the way he does. I hope Ryan is better in coverage than Whitehead, which is way more important than the occasional bone crushing hit. I suspect JL and company used this calculus and considered the cap savings between the two.
March 24th, 2022 at 11:55 am
Didn’t we save cap space going from Whitehead to Ryan?
March 24th, 2022 at 11:55 am
Please draft corners and safety help, Ryan is not what he used to be at all
March 24th, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Giants owe Ryan $ 11.5 M, so he’ll play for nothing; and yes, he’s better in coverage than Whitehead. It’s a no-brainer.
March 24th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Sounds like CB with the first or second pick.
March 24th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Good to know. Great article especially for those of us without XM.
March 24th, 2022 at 1:56 pm
Because He hopefully will play mostly inside CB and spot duty at safety. Injuries last year were to CBs. Whitehead, great baller but not great cover guy.
March 24th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Bucs needed a solid vet in the secondary
March 24th, 2022 at 7:03 pm
Casual Observer Says:
March 24th, 2022 at 11:28 am
Nice story. Lots to like in Tampa.
………….
Yeah, if you can handle the heat and humidity, crime, and whackos that move down from up north.
I was born and raised in Tampa. Lived in Fla for 37 yrs before moving away. I only go back for vacations now to see the Fam
March 24th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
Is there a legal bomb about to drop for Whitehead? Perhaps concerns that his injury was serious enough to permanently impact his game? There’s definitely smoke to the fire. No way we just let him walk without even a courtesy contract offer.
March 24th, 2022 at 7:40 pm
@SB. That’s what virtually every other human being says about Florida but the other way around. The only time I go back up North is when I have to and I can’t wait to get back here. I’m close but not in Tampa so maybe that helps. IDK. I just think you are ass backwards and that’s how it is. LOL
March 24th, 2022 at 8:22 pm
Cmurda. Born in Naples. Lived there until I was 5 Moved to Tampa. Went to Lake Magdalene Elementary. Moved to Lakeland when I was 9. Back to Carrolwood when I was 12. I know a bit about Tampa.
Since I have moved to Montana I have NEVER found a better place to live. People are nice, helpful, almost no crime, cops are helpful and non suspicious no matter the color of the person they are questioning. They genuinely care for the kids in the community and programs for parents that can’t afford it are awesome.
Sorry pal but I am 58 yrs old and spent over half of my life in Fla.
Not anymore and it will never happen again
March 24th, 2022 at 8:23 pm
I will be there to watch a playoff game if it happens this yr tho. Fingers crossed
March 24th, 2022 at 8:46 pm
@SB. Oh. I thought you meant you moved somewhere else in the US. Montana sounds beautiful. Where is that country?
March 24th, 2022 at 8:57 pm
Not sure how that was a jab bro.
I am not disparaging Florida but there are better places to raise your kids if you look around. Better places to feel safe at night too when you lay your head down or go out to eat.
March 25th, 2022 at 12:33 am
I think they were letting Whitehead test the market hoping to get him 3 million cheaper than what he signed for. They saw that contract and knew they couldn’t compete.
OR
He’s not a very big guy to be hitting like he does. He’s going to have a lot of injuries and he’s fairly average in coverage.
March 25th, 2022 at 1:03 am
Whitehead was a beast in the secondary in his prime. Homegrown talent related to NFL royalty in Darrell Revis. I cannot imagine why they would have allowed him to get away. Always shined in the playoffs. Worst move of the off-season. Logan Ryan cannot carry his jock!