Jason Licht Talks Ryan Jensen, NFC South Title
January 2nd, 2023
GM Jason Licht
The man charged with having just the right touch to get Tom Brady to sign a Buccaneers contract in a matter of weeks was talking yesterday.
General manager Jason Licht, Joe assumes, is a little frustrated by how his stud roster has underperformed this season at the hands of second-tier coaching. Sorry, Coach Bowles, you’re a step down from Bucco Bruce Arians until your record says otherwise.
“I think we’re all ready to start a new year,” Licht told the Buccaneers Radio Network with a scant whiff of frustration in his voice.
Hey, Joe can’t blame Licht. Joe knows 90 percent of fans reasonably expected more from the offense and special teams.
Licht also shared a realist’s view of the current situation. “I don’t care what the record is. … You win a division championship, it’s all the same.”
On the return of Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen to practice, Licht said it brought a lift to the team, even though Jensen wasn’t ready for pads. He called last week, Jensen’s first week, a success and said the team expects Jensen to “pick up his volume” later this week.
What that means, Joe has no clue. But with each day, Jensen is getting closer and apparently inspiring teammates. Joe will take that as a win after Jensen’s brutal July knee injury.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:56 am
Did we ever find out what his exact injury was…..did he have surgery?
Jensen will likely play in the playoffs…..no need to use him next week……time to call up the PS.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:58 am
Anyone who argues Bowles making the playoffs entitles him to a second year needs to consider where this team started and what the expectations were and compare them to the slop they put on the field.
Now, it’s up to Bowles. Take them to the Super Bowl, and I’ll STFU. Lose in the first round? You should be shown the door.
Special Teams have been horrible. Play calling on Offense, horrible.
Uninspired play in Pittsburgh, Carolina and Cleveland? All on coaching staff.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:58 am
Still mystified about the Case of the Missing Diagnosis and Prognosis. At this point, who cares, though?
Come back soon, Mr. Jensen. We gonna need you.
GO BUCS!!!
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:02 am
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP game has always been on my bucket list.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:06 am
@ModHair-
Playoffs don’t erase the crap they’ve put on the field this year, but it’s likely enough to keep the Glazers from firing him. That’s just being realistic. A reasonable argument could be made that a good OC this year could have meant 3 more wins, which would put us at 11-5 now.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:07 am
Did you say a Realists view? 😁😉
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:09 am
There hasnt been a bigger drop off in offense since 1976 for a team from one season to the next like the bucs just had
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:09 am
The NFC playoff landscape has gotten really interesting. Philly could drop all the way to 5 ( I believe )…we’d welcome them back to Ray Jay with an injured winged Hurts-Hurts.
Vikings could have to face Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs. Do you think “They Like That?! ( Kissing Cousins )
San Fran looks like the toughest team in the conference. Purdy good will make a mistake at the wrong time me thinks.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:13 am
All pro safety playing slot corner.🤣😂
He doesn’t have the skill set.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:15 am
So, basically, Licht said nothing at all.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:21 am
Scapegoat coach Bowles all you like. If our Bucs win against ATL, he will finish with a winning record for this season. This team survived. Lots of O line injuries and D injuries. Brady has to have almost a perfect line to do his job. He has not had that. And thats not coaching, thats circumstance. we had 2 two point losses this season. I don’t think the season has been a major flop considering…..
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:37 am
You definitely want to get him out there next week for at least a handful of plays just so he can knock some rust off. Hey Joe which way are you leaning on the Jensen to guard or center?
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:39 am
Jason Light, for God’s sake please get Todd Bowels a lock down cornerback!
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:43 am
“Sorry, Coach Bowles, you’re a step down from Bucco Bruce Arians until your record says otherwise.”
Hey Joe, can Todd Bowels get Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, and a fully healthy offense line and defense line like Bruce Arians did before you compare their records?
No??? Of course not lmao
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:46 am
Brady doesn’t need a “perfect line” to do his job. The line yesterday was far from perfect but they played well. He put up 400+ yards, 3 TDs and about 75% completion percentage (which are all exceptional numbers).
ALL QBs need a decent o-line, even “athletic, mobile, young guns”. Did we forget about Mahomes in the Super Bowl with backups on the line? Ran for his life all day (with those youthful, athletic legs) and scored 0 tds.
He may need a better o-line than some or most, but he is still among the best at his position when he has a decent amount of time and good, aggressive play calling.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:48 am
I don’t care what his injury was…that’s his business. The important thing is he’s back.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:49 am
Completely agree @ModHairKen, regardless how this season ends, have zero confidence Bowles has the answers to make next season any better even with any staff changes he makes if given a second year. Has Bowles shown ANY sign that he has the intangibles and answers to get this team functioning as a cohesive unit and playing well in all phases?? Keep in mind he’s also a 5+ year HC. And if anybody saw it, we just won the division last night and it’s impossible to tell by watching the exchange between TB12 & Licht after the game. Still a weird vibe @ OneBuc
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:54 am
Well, I am a firm believer like most of you hear that coaching was not as good this year. However, I think we have to give Todd Bowles a bit of a pass, given the fact that unlike most other teams who have younger mobile quarterbacks can get away with subpar office of line play, The same is not true of Tom Brady‘s Buccaneers. This year he has not had the same type of offense of line due to retirement, free agency, and injury. Anybody who has watched any of the games can clearly see that Brady has been getting rid of the ball much faster than he feels he should which is the main reason why him and Mike Evans prior to yesterday had problems hooking up for three months . It would seem that as soon as he has time to throw, he can pull off masterpieces in the office can move the ball.
Since we know, Tom Brady will not get any younger or more mobile, then we know that the only way the office will work will be with better play from the line to give Brady what time to throw and to allow the running game to work complementarily. You can’t put this all on the coaching staff, other than for them to try to scheme up, plays to get the receivers open quicker. However, the offenses designed by Aryans and fulfilled by Leftwich lies on a lot of deep passes, which just clearly didn’t work most weeks because Brady was having to throw too early.
Hopefully with Tristan Wirfs, back to better health, Donovan Smith back in the lineup despite his struggles, and hopefully a return of Ryan Jensen to play either at left guard with Hainsey staying at center, or with him going to center and Ainsi and Leverett competing it left card. There would be an uptick in offensive line play, which would only help the office.
If one looks at points against our defense is still top 10 on the season.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:57 am
Browsing from DC Says:
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:46 am
Brady doesn’t need a “perfect line” to do his job. The line yesterday was far from perfect but they played well.
That’s only because Brady is the best at recognizing defenses before the ball is snapped to adjust his pass protection and moving around inside the pocket to by himself an extra second or two to throw the ball.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:05 pm
I would say do not start Jensen unless the doctors are 100% sure he won’t injure it again. Even if that means sitting him for the first Divisional game…..
I know what people are saying…..why?
Well to preserve Jensen until the NFCCG…..which is the most important game IMOH.
IF the Bucs face the Cowboys……they have a good shot getting there.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:08 pm
The invisible men always come out when you’re winning.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Oxy? Have you looked at the Rams record this year? Superbowl last year 5-11!Not in the playoffs.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:29 pm
No Pass for Bowles. He is an ok DC, but a poor leader of men. The team does not quit, but they do play flat and sloppy, and especially to start games. Any adjustments he makes weeks 18 and 19+ of the season only leads to more speculation as to why he waited so long. He does himself zero favors with his low energy interviews, and although he asserts his low information insight to how he sees and deals with the situation means it is under control, most of us recognize that he is just in over his head. Brady and Evans had to get legendary to save this team on Sunday, and even if the adjustment was that Bowles got out of their way, it still does not validate the necessity to keep him around.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:29 pm
David-.
He is referring to the offense going from 30ppg average in 2021 to 17 ppg in 2022. That is the steepest dropoff since 1976. Think about how bad that is, even with keeping Brady, Evans, Godwin. The only logical explanation for a 14 point per game dropoff is coaching. Even injuries to online shouldn’t drop you that far.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:36 pm
It is so FREAKING FUNNY that I do not see not even ONE Buc Basher from BEFORE PANTHERS GAME ( oh there were many) coming out and saying I was wrong-PATHETIC and you know who you are……
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:40 pm
‘Hey, Joe can’t blame Licht. Joe knows 90 percent of fans reasonably expected more from the offense and special teams’.
Not seeing what the 2nd sentence has to do with the 1st Joe. JL not bringing in any OLine help after the injuries to Jensen & Stinnie hurt us. Not bringing in any DLine or OLB help also hurt us. And going with Brate, Rudolph & 2 rookies as our TEs didn’t do much for the running game or the passing game.
But I do agree … lots of us fans expected more, until we figured out that this year’s team is nowhere near as talented as our 2020 & 2021 teams. Replacing guys like Jensen, Marpet, Gronk, Suh, JPP, Whitehead largely with rookies & untested 2nd year players has an impact.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:41 pm
I credit the win to the Hooter girl!
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:44 pm
I don’t care how far we go into the Playoffs. Whether we go deep or are a “One and Done”, BL and TB MUST go!!!! Remember Folks this is not TB’s team, its BA’s team!!!! This all falls on the Coaching or lack of.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:45 pm
@ BucsFanSince76
I said this yesterday: LOAD UP THE BUS!!!!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
…..CAUSE now you’re gonna have all the PATRIOTS & BRADY lovers jumping on the bandwagon now the Bucs are in the Playoffs.
Enjoy it while it last Bucs fans….cause we ain’t ever gonna see this type of Fandom again once Tom Brady leaves the Bucs after this season.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Brady will play another year in TAMPA if this team goes deep into the playoffs…..and they may.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Brady is aware of the all the records-and TB is also aware that NO QB has ever won two rings with two different teams.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Even with all the mistakes in the 1st half against the Panthers, the Bucs still put up points and won. That is encouraging to me in that the Bucs still haven’t played up to their potential and yet put up 30 (finally). If the Bucs offense suddenly comes to life, and with the way the defense is playing, the Bucs could be a very tough team to beat in the playoffs.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:53 pm
It doesn’t matter to Brady his superbowl ring count or whom they’re with……he just wants to keep on playing and keep on winning!!!!!!!
I can see Brady being a good NFL coach after he’s done playing cause he’s so obsessed with the game.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:55 pm
@ Mike
The Bucs TRUELY are now feared in the playoffs…….NO TEAM wants BRADY in the playoffs.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:58 pm
godlovesbucs … ‘The only logical explanation for a 14 point per game dropoff is coaching.’
Before coming to your ‘logical explanation’ you might want to compare the current 2022 starting team (to include key rotational players) with what we had in 2020 & 2021. Easiest way to do an apples-to-apples comparison is to compare snaps for each position by season, then compare performance. I think what you’ll find is that there’s a dramatic difference in the talent levels, although even that varies from game-to-game due to injuries.
Good example is yesterday’s game just looking at the TEs. Bucs’ offense had 78 snaps yesterday. Six players were in for 100% of those, and next in line was Otton with 68 snaps (87%). Kieft only got 23 snaps (29%) & Rudolph got 11 (14%). Otton was targeted 6 times; caught 2. Keift was targeted once; caught 0. Rudolph wasn’t targeted. So our TE group was 2-for-7 for 17 yards. Wouldn’t compare very favorably with Gronk’s stats from 2020 or 2021, or even with Brate’s.
I agree with you, to a degree, that coaching should have been able to make up for some of that. Offensively, it obviously hasn’t. Defensively, by and large I think it has (we’re ranked #8 currently in Points Allowed, and were #5 last year & #8 in 2020).
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Doesnt matter if we finished 11-6 3 more wins means nothing. We still would have finished #4 seed. If we had 4 more wins it depends on who that extra win would be against. Bucs have one of the best Conf records. 0-5 vs AFC. The hardest SOS of the playoff teams. Look at the the SOV all the NFC playoff teams are below .500. The Bucs do not play in a vaccum need to look at everyone. If the Offense gets rolling the Bucs Pts Against is tied for 3rd in the NFC. The same as the Eagles. Stats dont lie.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:16 pm
I read earlier that Bowles should be shown the door if we lose this week. I’ve been screaming about hil and Lefty since about the 4th or fifth game. I can guarantee we wouldn’t be 8-8. I hope the statue and Lefty don’t take the dirty birds for granted. It would be a big blow to Tom to have a losing season. his last and ONLY losing season since 2002!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Since Bruce left there has been a huge drop off in coaching.
Fire Leftwich!
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:37 pm
R.O. It never was about the win number of wins, per se, other than the fact that the number of wins is usually indicative of the quality of the way a team plays, overall. Are all real Buc fans happy we won this game? Sure. Was the run game good? No better than any other game. Was the D outstanding? Yes and no. Gave up some huge passes. But the run game was stout. Are the red zone problems solved? Better but not really there yet. Did the passing game look far better than it did most all of the year? Yes . Can the passing game be good enough to keep the opposing D’s on their heels and allow us to score mid 20’s to 30’s a game? And can we average more than 2 yards a carry in the running game? I don’t know. If so, and we can give the D a breather so the game time is somewhat balanced, we have a great chance to do something in the post season. If not… it won’t be a long run into the playoffs. Is Bowles a genius or a poor HC? I guess we will find out.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:38 pm
I still think it means a lot that no coach (as far as I am aware) got the Gatorade pour when we won the division. It says a lot to me.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:46 pm
DR. Lack of turnovers from the D contributes heavily to the lack of scoring this year. Very few short fields that we had in the past two years. Losing Gronk was devasting in the red zone also . He scored and he freed up other guys. Of course the line struggles and sucky run game contributed also.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:00 pm
I have no complaints about this season. As a life long Bucs fan and season ticket holder, it has been a bumpy ride. Any real Bucs fan can appreciate a division title and season sweep of the Slimy Saints.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Cricket, I agree, it says a lot about how the players feel about their coach or visa versa.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:40 pm
Nfl owners are missing the boat with some of yall,man talk about know it alls
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:48 pm
KEEP THE TEMPO ON OFFENSE GOING FIX SPECIAL TEAMS QUICK!! LFGO SB !!!!! SB WIN OR BUST!!!!
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Cricket. I think it means unfinished business. We know we have a questionable record on a season riddled with injuries. Hopefully we are getting healthy at the right time. And there will be no major celebration until we deal with that unfinished business.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:04 pm
One and done in playoffs. Carolina defense was horrible amd we almost lost at the end. Stiĺl cant get redzone TDs this type of play doesnt go far in da playoffs
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:27 pm
Been saying this for weeks. Its all about a healthy OL. Brady had time to step up and throw yesterday, and we all saw what happened. OL was not perfect but much better than they have been against a very good DL. Forget Bowles and the other coaches, Brady can overcome bad coaching as long as the OL performs. I am concerned about the defense. I realize the Bucs are in the playoffs due to their defense, however, in the playoffs they will run into very good offenses. The Bucs strength is stopping the run USUALLY, however, they don’t have bonafide consistent pass rushers therefore they need good DB play. Winfield is playing hurt and it shows. DBs and safeties need to come up big for Bucs to have a shot. LBs are very good so not concerned about them as much. A healthy Jensen, and Wirfs can make all the difference. Get healthy
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:37 pm
Bucsfansince76, Peyton Manning! Colts and Broncos Stooge!
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:58 pm
the line needs a game to settle a revamped line
January 3rd, 2023 at 1:10 am
@ModHairKen … here’s a cup of whine and two T Bowles of soup! Now STFU! …GO BUCS!
January 3rd, 2023 at 5:34 am
Jason, you might want to start looking for a new head coach, because this one isn’t going to last long, hopefully.
January 3rd, 2023 at 9:37 am
Ryan Succup needs to be cut. Jake can kick field goals for the playoffs. Succup has worn out his welcome.
January 3rd, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Lets not forget Godwin on the 1000 yard club. He needs 32 or so this week, then sit him with everybody else