Louis Riddick Lauds “A$$ Kicker” Akiem Hicks
July 15th, 2022
Gets love from BSPN.
If true, this is Joe’s kinda football player.
When word came down this spring that the Bucs signed Akiem Hicks, former NFL suit and current NFL talking head Louis Riddick could barely contain himself. Plopping Hicks down in the middle of Todd Bowles’ defense, Riddick suggested was a brilliant move by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Now Joe got the sense monitoring Radio Chicago and reading various Bears publications that Hicks got burned out on the losing and he wasn’t into football as a result. It seems Riddick heard similar things.
Trust Joe, Hicks is motivated now. He mentioned in his Bucs press conference he came here for a ring. And he has his old Belicheats teammate Tom Brady along for the ride.
Aside from possibly whackjob, quitter Antonio Brown, you think Brady would tolerate someone dragging arse? Of course not!
When he is healthy and tuned in, Akiem Hicks is an absolute a$$ kicker. You can NOT block him. Tampa, on a 1 year deal? I love it.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) May 31, 2022
July 15th, 2022 at 5:10 am
🙂
GO BUCS!
July 15th, 2022 at 5:49 am
Great nickname. Hope he can stay healthy
He is on a very short list of players who can make vea look like the younger
brother
Dude is a monster
July 15th, 2022 at 6:06 am
“When healthy” are the operative words. Hope he can play a complete season.
July 15th, 2022 at 6:27 am
I’m still petrified going into the season with two very good, but injury prone defensive tackles as starters. If they can stay healthy, they’ll be abusing dudes, but I think it’s one hell of a risk. Almost as big a risk as our secondary magically playing like it did at the end of 2020, our corners staying healthy, and pulling their heads out of their butts. Shaq has proven that he needs a consistent threat on he other side to be truly effective as well. A whole lot of ifs to worry about defensively this year.
July 15th, 2022 at 6:51 am
Suh has never missed a game because of Injury, known quantity
Akeim Hicks dominant if healthy, but injury problems- unknown
I hope Hicks can play to his potential.
Suh > Hicks
GO BUCS!!!!!
July 15th, 2022 at 7:26 am
Use sparingly…
July 15th, 2022 at 7:30 am
The only way back to the SUPER BOWL ….is to drag back AB …..PERIOD!🎯💯
July 15th, 2022 at 8:12 am
Suh .
Never a poor attitude. Never injured.
July 15th, 2022 at 8:22 am
Keep your fingers crossed…..not only about Hicks’ health but the health of our Bucs in general……we’ve got the roster to go all the way….if we can keep them on the field.
July 15th, 2022 at 8:24 am
2021: Akeem Hicks looks across the locker room and sees…Justin Fields. His heart sinks, and that fat bank account is his only consolation.
2022: Akeem Hicks looks across the locker room and sees The Goat and a boatload of talented Lombardi trophy-catchers. His heart sings and that fat bank account is meaningless.
What a difference a year makes…
July 15th, 2022 at 8:32 am
There are always caveats with is guy. “If he can stay healthy.” Now, “if he is focused.” I’ll add, “if the gods of football have thrown him a blessing.”
You know who doesn’t have caveats?
SUH!
July 15th, 2022 at 8:33 am
*this
July 15th, 2022 at 8:41 am
Just what I’ve been saying. When he is healthy, he is a force. But as some others have rightly pointed out…., with him being somewhat injury prone, and Vea as well, there is definitely a wild card in the mix.
July 15th, 2022 at 8:43 am
We only need Suh if Vea or Smith are hurt. And he won’t come here to play backup, even if given pretty much starter money. I think that die is cast.
July 15th, 2022 at 10:40 am
Bucs average roughly 65 defensive snaps per game. We supposedly run 3 DLinemen on the average play, meaning that our DLinemen need to give us about 195-200 quality def snaps per game. EVERY game.
Over the past 3 years, here’s how many def snaps our current DLinemen have averaged per year:
o Vea: 526 def snaps/season or 32 def snaps/game
o Hicks: 430 def snaps/season or 26 def snaps/game
o Gholston: 535 def snaps/season or 33 def snaps/game
o RNR: 397 def snaps/season or 24 def snaps/game
IF history is any indicator, 115 of the needed 195-200 def snaps/game will be provided by those 4 DTs. Our rookie Hall is an unknown at this point obviously, but HOPEFULLY he could give us 80% availability, or 52 def snaps/game. That takes us up to 167 def snaps/game.
We can HOPE that the missing 30 def snaps/game are provided by no one getting injured (and thus us beating historical numbers), or by 1 or 2 of other DTs who might make the roster AND play very well for us.
OR … we can re-sign Suh and not have to worry about DLine performance, because with Vea, Hicks AND Suh we’ll have the best DLine in the NFL for both run defense AND pass rush. Sure would like our chances of winning the 2022 Super Bowl a LOT better if we re-signed Ndamukong Suh.
July 15th, 2022 at 10:46 am
Suh.
Happy to see plenty of folks getting on board with the sneezing!!
July 15th, 2022 at 10:47 am
I agree, DR.
Having Suh with Vea and Hicks would form a very dominant DLine.
I would be really happy to add Suh. I’m not holding my breath, but I wish Suh was a Buc this year.
GO BUCS!!!
July 15th, 2022 at 11:16 am
Anonymous are you kidding me? AB cost them in the playoffs last year. Don’t want or need him to win a Super Bowl. Too selfish a player. GOBUCS!
July 15th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Definitely an upgrade over Suh if healthy – the guy is so good, he and Vea is going to crush the pocket and inside running will be near impossible
July 15th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
I think Suh is more in the function of Vea, at this point in his career. Great run stopper and pocket pusher. Hicks can really pressure the QB. Would like to have Suh in the rotation…. if the price is right. But I think the price is the big sticking point…and his role another.
July 15th, 2022 at 4:39 pm
SUH. Whoever’s function he is.
July 15th, 2022 at 6:36 pm
I agree. As long as he’s healthy, he’s an upgrade over the SUH of last year. Everyone keeps harping on signing SUH back but they obviously didn’t watch the games last year. He progressively got worse against the run (Hicks is a beast against the run). SUH also was virtually nonexistent and all but two games in the pass rush.
SUH was fantastic while he was here but last year it became obvious that him and JPP were probably at the end. I would rather see if JPP is looking healthy enough to get into the pass rush rotation for the right money
July 15th, 2022 at 8:16 pm
David … ‘Everyone keeps harping on signing SUH back but they obviously didn’t watch the games last year.’
And OBVIOUSLY David you’re making a blanket statement with no basis in fact. I for one watched every one of the games last year, but I will admit that I rarely focus on just 1 specific player. And I’m sure that those who support bringing Suh back probably watched all or most of the games also.
Amazing to me though how anyone can make a statement like ‘Suh was virtually nonexistent in all but 2 games in the pass rush’ when he led the Bucs’ DLine in sacks (6), QB hits (13), Hurries (6) & TFLs (7). That’s a pretty good compilation of stats to get in only 2 games apparently. I’m impressed.
July 15th, 2022 at 9:43 pm
I’d rather have Suh, but hopefully Hicks can be a decent replacement. Personally my expectations are pretty low — but hopefully Licht knows what he’s doing. In the pre-Brady era, Licht was always looking for deals on the d-line, and I can’t think of one of those deals that worked out. Hopefully this will be an exception.
July 15th, 2022 at 11:43 pm
Suh was the only one on defense at the end of the Todd Bowles Bowl still playing. Caused the fumble that set up Lennys tying TD. Got a skin cell from Stafford when he threw to the uncovered Kupp. Nice call Todd.
July 16th, 2022 at 12:15 am
We have to sign free agents as we can’t seem to draft d lineman well unless we have an early pick
July 16th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
Suh is a very reliable all decade d lineman. Never hurt. He’s a bad man that is highly intelligent. He’s dedicated, he’s dependable. He’s tougher than nails. Bring him back.these are the kinds of players successful teams sign.