Questions On The Defensive Front
April 7th, 2022
Void a big concern.
It appears this Bucs team is just about set.
With the team expected to gather for offseason conditioning later this month, there seems only one area that has fans nervous. That’s the defensive front.
The question mark is what is going on with Ndamukong Suh. This hasn’t gotten past Kevin Patra of NFL.com, who also believes the defensive front is the lone concern.
Given the veteran talent — led by Brady — I’m not worried about the transition from Bruce Arians to Todd Bowles. It’s possible the swap is even an upgrade. From a roster perspective, Brady’s return has led to a trove of re-signings and some perfect veteran additions like Russell Gage and Logan Ryan. The biggest question remaining for the Super Bowl contender is on the D-line, where Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh remain free agents. Suh [is] campaigning to return. At this point, the Bucs should look to the draft to fill the void; they can wait until after the draft to potentially re-up the vets.
Unless Jason Pierre-Paul comes back at a very low price, Joe would not be shocked if he is done with the Bucs. He is unsigned for a reason. JPP is coming off shoulder surgery, he’s 33 and just had one of his worst seasons. There are not a whole lot of teams lining up to sign dudes in that category. Big-time buyer beware.
Interpret this however you wish, but yesterday on his Instagram stories feed, JPP said he went “cold turkey” giving up smoking and drinking this week.
As for Suh, Joe believes it to be a money issue, nothing more and nothing less. We will get a pretty good idea which way the Bucs go with Suh if the Bucs draft a defensive tackle in the first round. That could be a boat flare that the Bucs are moving on.
April 7th, 2022 at 5:20 am
I still like the idea of the first three picks going for the best available edge, corner, and defensive tackle, followed perhaps by OL. All trenches.
But Gronk may ruin this and force a move for a TE.
April 7th, 2022 at 5:35 am
So at 33 coming off his worst season, and shoulder surgery the dude goes on instagram and admits he has a smoking, and drinking problem. You don’t use the words cold turkey, if you don’t think you have a problem giving something up. Hey the off season programs are about to begin, how you preparing JPP? I’m stopping smoking, and drinking, cold turkey. A true warrior.
April 7th, 2022 at 6:05 am
He’s inspired me to have a smoke and a drink!
Hope we bring them bth back- never underestimate either of these guys- they’re both beasts. Both 1 of 1
April 7th, 2022 at 6:19 am
DE/Edge, DT and TE are the needs. JPP and Suh, McClendon (or another min salary DT) are plan B. Still need to replace OJ even if Gronk returns.
Licht has proven he can find very good OLine in the mid rounds of the draft. In addition, the Bucs already said they will have players battle it out in training camp for LG with Stinnie and Hainsey being the favorites. Maybe a C/G or CB in the 4th round.
WR is also an outside possibility as I think the Bucs aren’t sold on Miller, Johnson, Perriman or Grayson yet. Only Johnson is signed past 2022 and he could be Cut for a very minimal hit against the cap next year. Austin from ND or Jones from TN may be options.
April 7th, 2022 at 6:31 am
Don’t wait on Gronk sign a free agent TE. Trade down in the draft pick 2 defensive tackles and left guard in the first three picks trade then cornerback and edge rusher. Bring in 3 or 4 tight ends that didn’t get drafted. Thats how we found Brate.
April 7th, 2022 at 6:41 am
Deff right joe about JPP. Thing is tho people wrote him off when he blew his hand up. Then they wrote him off when he broke his neck. This guy is a warrior if he’s fully healthy being him back on the cheap n see if he can rekindle some of that JPP magic he has. Honestly bring him in to back up JTS. Could use the depth n you never know he might just ball out
April 7th, 2022 at 6:44 am
Boy if Joe thinks JPP quit smokes and drinks because he cannot afford those things anymore , dude i will loan JPP a few grrrr??/
April 7th, 2022 at 7:10 am
JPP was pretty good before the injury, you have to sign Suh, he was the best Bucs had last season, Vea wasn’t as dominant as he should of been, maybe it was due to limited pitch out. Suh is a beast, go for broke this season because you don’t know when the Bucs will be contenders again.
April 7th, 2022 at 7:15 am
“but yesterday on his Instagram stories feed, JPP said he went “cold turkey” giving up smoking and drinking this week.” Im sure JPP meant this as a metaphor or just a wry joke.
April 7th, 2022 at 7:21 am
Instead of JPP giving up smoking & drinking, he needs to give up 4th of July celebrations & driving sports cars.
April 7th, 2022 at 7:26 am
Mebbe JPP had just watched Airplane!
April 7th, 2022 at 7:32 am
LOL!!!
April 7th, 2022 at 7:55 am
Jpp was trash last year which means he’s a man on a mission and we should absolutely re sign him
April 7th, 2022 at 7:56 am
Agree that Suh signing is priority. DLinemen picked late in 1st round usually turn out average at best. Suh is much better than average at this point in his career.
JPP would depend on his rotator cuff healing properly – when healthy ,he upgrades the secondary all by himself.
April 7th, 2022 at 7:59 am
JPP wants to redeem himself. Sign him-
The cap isn’t an issue–its more if Glazers want to spend the cash. Look at the rams/bills stuff.
If Bucs want to sign these guys, they can.
April 7th, 2022 at 8:12 am
JayMiss Pick6 Again … My suspicion is that your take is a lot closer to reality than the others. JPP has said in the past that he doesn’t lift weights, yet if you look at his 12-year career he’s got better stats already than many in the HOF (just about the same number of sacks & tackles that Warren Sapp had in his 13-year career). Really hard to believe JPP was a smoker, stayed on the field for close to 10,000 defensive snaps and still performed at the level that he did.
Steele … I agree with you about grabbing the Top-3 Rnds BPAs for DT, DE/OLB and CB (plus re-sign Suh). I expect them to re-sign Gronk (can’t imagine TB12 without him) AND add a TE someplace along the line (either in FA or the draft).
April 7th, 2022 at 8:30 am
if healthy resign him at low cap #, with lots of incentives
same with Suh ,
April 7th, 2022 at 8:50 am
JJP is deadwood Bucs are probably the only team that will sign him.If he had any chance of being the player he was, some other team would have signed him. Signing him would be a mistake.
April 7th, 2022 at 9:21 am
JPP ~Suh~Gronk
Old warriors playing a young brave’s game
The draft and post draft vet release will decide their fates
April 7th, 2022 at 9:33 am
I wouldn’t mind Suh at the price. No way to JPP. It was coaching malpractice last year playing him over JTS when it was clear that JPP wasn’t himself.
April 7th, 2022 at 9:34 am
You cannot and will not get a very good defense on the cheap. Bucs have devoted much or almost all of their cash to the Offense. And we will pay down the stretch. Brady can win a lot of games. But when the nut cutting gets tight, you need a quality D to pull you through. We do not have that right now.
April 7th, 2022 at 9:41 am
To have rookies upfront could be a disaster. You want some veterans at least upfront on that d-line.
April 7th, 2022 at 9:41 am
Mike Johnson i don’t get it at all. Bucs are not going anywhere if they don’t improve this defense.
April 7th, 2022 at 9:44 am
All 3 names are perfect candidates for the ever evolving NFL
A new tactic may appear and players like the 3 above my “retire” and then return in the second 1/3 of the season for the playoff run
April 7th, 2022 at 10:33 am
We need to draft a DT and another DE/Edge type player, but we also need Suh in the rotation. I’d also like to bring JPP back this year for cheap as I’m not convinced JTS is the answer. Bowles knows how vulnerable defenses are in this league without a strong D-line so at the very least they have to bring Suh back.
April 7th, 2022 at 10:33 am
SUH resigning depends on who the Bucs can get in the draft. Would love to have him back but if they can find a stud D-Tackle he may be gone. JPP on the other hand is most likely gone. Too long in the tooth and a lot of injuries over the past couple of years. Been saying it for awhile now on this column…Need to build the D-Line. Look at the QB’s we are playing in 2022. We need a strong up the middle pass rush from the front. Can’t be blitzing all the time! Need a strong guy next to Vita Vea….LFG…
April 7th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Suh is a generational talent. He Is the rock on the d line.
He knows it, the Bucs brass knows it. He not replaceable, and he wants to play on this team. Come to terms and move on.
April 7th, 2022 at 11:04 am
One does not preclude the other. Whe should and most likely will do both; re-sign Suh and draft a DT.
April 7th, 2022 at 11:30 am
Worst season playing with a torn rotator cuff the majority of the season. This guy, when healthy, is a freak. Never bet against this dude. I’m sure JPP will hang it up when he knows he can’t play to his standards. Till then, I’m all in on JPP.
April 7th, 2022 at 12:05 pm
If we return Suh then there is no reason not to trade back. Have an extra fourth instead of no fifth.
April 7th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Steele
I do think they get D line and a DB in the first 3 rounds but I also think they grab a running back or wide receiver.
They can grab another O lineman around 4-5. If there’s one thing they have shown, it is that they can develop alignment O line
April 7th, 2022 at 12:11 pm
I think JPP has been heavy on the pain meds as well…
April 7th, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Is this why JPP kept telling Shaq ” You gotta stay high” during the Super Bowl?
April 7th, 2022 at 8:04 pm
D.R.
Like me your old enough to have seen Len Dawson fire one up on the sidelines at halftime of SBI. I just looked up the picture again it’s so unbelievable.
But I remember George Blanda…didn’t he smoke..Bobby Layne was a smoker…lots of guys used to smoke and many drank like fish as well.
Hell I saw a TV clip of one of the famous Yankees…Joe DiMaggio literally doing a TV commercial for ciggies and boasting how he couldn’t wait to light up a Chesterfield after the game.
Anybody here besides D.R. and me who remember Chesterfields?
April 7th, 2022 at 8:41 pm
You have 2 keep Suh get another great defensive tackle and have one of the best defenses in the NFL that way Tom Brady can go out a Super Bowl winner because if you have a fast physical defensive line and it takes two offensive lineman 2 handle one defensive lineman lime SUH that definitely leaves someone free to get in the backfield And add Someone that come off the edge you guys will have a Killer defense.But you have to Suh, Suh is the man
April 7th, 2022 at 8:50 pm
Sheldon Richardson
Anthony Barr ( hybrid end lb)
Melvin Ingram
All these and some others make the Bucs much deeper and much better .