Versatile Jason Licht
October 15th, 2022
GM Jason Licht.
Before the 2021 season kicked off, general manager Jason Licht made modern NFL history.
Why? Because his Bucs were the first Super Bowl winner in the modern era to return every starter, in addition to a load of key backups.
Some cynics say that was no great accomplishment (they would be wrong), and claim Licht just told his salary cap gurus to have fun with numbers with the support of Team Glazer doling out cash signing bonuses.
Regardless, the Bucs marched out to win 13 games and had enough talent to win the Super Bowl. They fell short, Joe believes, only because of a slew of injuries and the steep mental decline of a receiver turned rapper. Licht did his job.
Enter the 2022 edition of Jason Licht, and the Bucs now at the top (or very close) of the NFL when it comes to rookie playing time.
Tampa Bay traded out of the first round and worked its draft board to land defensive tackle Logan Hall (first pick of Round 2), left guard Luke Goedeke (Round 2) and tight end Cade Otton (first pick of Round 4).
Hall has two sacks and his playing time — and confidence — is exploding, per his teammates. Otton has made four starts and had his breakout game against the Falcons last Sunday, playing a whopping 74 snaps and hauling in six catches. Goedeke is a full-time starter for the top passing offense in the NFC.
Rookie rookie running back Rachaad White (Round 3) is an integral part of the offense, and punter Jake Camarda (Round 4) has been a significant upgrade.
Fifth and sixth-round picks, cornerback Zyon McCollum and tight end Ko Kieft, made the team and are also contributing.
Throw in that the Bucs have four significant contributors from the 2021 draft on the field, and Pro Bowl 2020 picks Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield may be the best NFL players at their respective positions, and Licht has proven to be a beast of a versatile GM.
Nobody can sit around and say Licht just signed Brady, spent Team Glazer’s money and put his feet up on Bucco Bruce Arians’ desk with an ice cold Bromosa.
If the Bucs can churn out another 13-win season, Joe thinks Licht should be a favorite for GM of the year.
October 15th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Beady Saved his ass
October 15th, 2022 at 2:23 pm
@ Destinjohnny….just STOP. We all (Bucs fans I mean ) watched Jason Licht grow from a green GM to possibly the best in the game. And it’s not just his acumen regarding O lineman to include, small schools, big schools and FA’s. The dude has proven to be one of the best. “Blame” his success on Brady all you want but it’s really all of the small puzzle pieces too.
October 15th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
The contributions of our 1st & 2nd year players has been critical thus far this year and will be even more critical to us being able to make another Super Bowl run in 2022.
We’ll be OK going forward in 2023 & beyond whether it’s Tom Brady, Kyle Trask or someone else as the captain of the fleet.
October 15th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
So Licht passed on Devin Lloyd in trading with Jags and Lloyd was recently named NFL Rookie of the Month and is on pace to amass 187 tackles and 7 interceptions-yeah I would rather take Lloyd all day long, especially with LD getting long in the tooth.
I guess a cursory glance at the stats might trick someone into beliving Camarda is an upgrade due to averaging bout 3 more yards per punt, but a little bit deeper dive shows us that Pinion only allowed on average 8.0 yards per return and Camarda is allowing 9.87 per return and kicked it out of bounds against KC on a kickoff. Taking ANY punter not named Ray Guy is a foolish waste of a 4th rounder.
Licht cannot say signing Ndamakong Suh would not improve our team , so sign Suh already!!
October 15th, 2022 at 2:31 pm
∆, it’s easy to GM when the owner opens up the pocket book.
October 15th, 2022 at 2:48 pm
Redeemer there is a salary cap. Every owner that isn’t the tanking Texans is opening up their pocket book
October 15th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Licht is easily the best gm in the league right now and has been for three years running. The perpetual, nonesensical, bias against our team and Brady is the only thing that has stopped Licht from winning postseason awards. The hobbit from boston wishes that he had half of Licht’s draft acumen.
October 15th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
When you are the 2nd oldest team in the league by average age of your players like the Bucs are-you had better spend it now to win it all now , because winter is coming……………..
October 15th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Great take, Joes.
October 15th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
and put his feet up on Bucco Bruce Arians’ desk with an ice cold Bromosa.
***************************************************************
To be sure…
I’m thinking he DID do this at the end of each days successful negotiations!
October 15th, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Of course, Ariens went for a scotch instead.
October 15th, 2022 at 5:09 pm
BucsfanSince76.
You made a good call at draft time on Devin Lloyd. He has worked out pretty well for Jacksonville. I have not watched but according to Pro Football Reference: 49 combined tackles, 26 of them solo tackles. No sacks, no TFL, no QB hits and the 2 Ints you mention.
I like Devin Whites impact and I have watched him.
40 combined tackles, 23 of them solo. 3 sacks, 5 TFL, 6 QB hits, 1 FF.
I am sure glad we got Logan Hall and Cade Otten from that draft trade. Looking fine for us so far.
October 15th, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Licht brought a Superbowl win to Tampa, with mostly his homegrown players.
And some people complain.
Living under a rock?
October 15th, 2022 at 9:25 pm
No doubt that Brady has helped him with free agency, but the draft picks are all Licht & Co. And of course, they did get Brady to come here, so…
Licht has come a long way and while not perfect, he has my confidence.
October 16th, 2022 at 12:37 am
“… punter Jake Camarda (Round 4) has been a significant upgrade…”
.
.
I don’t see it yet. Jake has already shanked one kick off out of bounds, and hasn’t been dropping punts inside the twenty at nearly the rate of Bradley Pinion.
Overall, though, great draft, for sure.
October 16th, 2022 at 12:44 am
Defense Rules Says:
“The contributions of our 1st & 2nd year players has been critical thus far this year…”
.
.
It’s going be at least that critical when the salary cap hammer drops over the next few years, if we are going to stay competitive.
Keep drafting your arse off, Licht!
October 16th, 2022 at 12:55 am
BucsFanSince76 Says:
“So Licht passed on Devin Lloyd …”
.
.
Shiny objects are nice AFTER the trenches, trenches, and trenches are taken care of.
I agree with the rest of your comment, though.
October 16th, 2022 at 1:29 am
lets not forget that Brady called the Bucs first –not the other way around…..
And , he’s had opportunity since early august to trade for proven O Line players & did nothing …
October 16th, 2022 at 5:38 am
captivajim Says:
“And , he’s had opportunity since early august to trade for proven O Line players & did nothing …”
.
.
With all of the upheaval, our offensive line is still overall above average, with 2 guys who should be improving over the course of the season. I think it has been played just right, given our salary cap situation. Everyone wanted Licht to sign a proven DT, too, and how’s that working out?
Also, we have no idea when Jensen is coming back. When he does, he goes into the lineup, and we have a well seasoned back up sent to the bench. The team has been so cryptic about his injury and status, that it leads me to believe he’s coming back sooner than later.
October 16th, 2022 at 10:09 am
I remember back when Arians was in trouble here. IMHO, besides signing Brady, a real no brainer, his biggest signing was Bruce Arians, and his gang.
There is a HUGE difference in Licht’s drafts before Arians, and after Arians got here.
IMHO, it was Arians who changes our culture, from a loser to a winner.
October 16th, 2022 at 10:13 am
Licht is also the first General Manager in modern NFL history to have his team play the SB in their crib. They won it. I’ve been a Licht fan ever since he came here. He should have gotten GMOTY for the SB record alone.
October 16th, 2022 at 10:28 am
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:
“IMHO, it was Arians who changes our culture, from a loser to a winner.”
.
.
On changing the culture:
Arians is to Dungy as JPP is to Nickerson.
Sure, Arians brought culture change and a competent coaching staff (finally!). But I will always look at JPP much as I do at Hardy Nickerson, who was changing our team attitude before Dungy got here. JPP came in and worked his ass off and called out our soft culture, including team captains, before Arians arrived. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out Arians took him aside when he got here, to get his input on team dynamics. Hardy and JPP. Unsung heros.
October 16th, 2022 at 11:26 am
He was not versatile before Brady. And he will not be versatile after Brady. Clock is ticking until he gets exposed.