Jason Licht Talks “Balls To The Wall” Greg Gaines
March 28th, 2023
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
One topic during Joe’s sitdown with Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht today at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix was the newest Tampa Bay defensive player.
That would be Greg Gaines, the free agent nose tackle signee from the Rams who turns 27 in May. He’ll be the replacement for Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (Nacho), who moved on to the New York Giants.
The Bucs hope they’ve upgraded.
“He was a beloved player with [University of] Washington and the Rams and he’s very professional in terms of his work ethic,” Licht said of Gaines. “He’s a high-motor guy, and there’s never been a coach that he’s had that didn’t just absolutely love him. So I know he had an opportunity to go back [to the Rams], but he’s looking forward to come play with Vita [Vea] again, play here in Tampa, get a fresh start. Just very excited about it.”
Licht added that he remembers Gaines well from the predraft process and all the game film he watched on Vea, the Bucs’2018 first-round pick. Gaines played alongside Vea in college and was a fourth-rounder of the Rams in 2019.
“He was always one that just caught your eye because he was always just 100 miles an hour. Balls to the wall,” Licht said.
The key here is the Bucs hope they’ve upgraded with Gaines. He’s also three years younger than Nacho.
Patrolling the grounds of the swanky Biltmore resort in Phoenix, Joe talked to a few NFL types and a Rams official about Gaines. Licht’s take on Gaines matched what Joe was hearing.
Great fun ahead at the brand new Big Storm taproom in the heart of Ybor City! It’s big, bold and beautiful. More details forthcoming. …Courtesy of Florida’s Elite Restoration, you can win $500 in our Pick The Pick contest, which was a huge hit at the 2021 NFL Draft party, plus another $500 in an addition contest at the party.
March 28th, 2023 at 5:51 pm
Wasn’t Nacho’s entire deal that he was a high energy guy who played balls to the wall? I don’t see how this is an upgrade, they’re both substandard starters who are good backups. But Gaines looks to have signed a cheaper deal. But that’s not bad, if you can get the same projection and save a few dollars, and get younger, then why not do so?
March 28th, 2023 at 5:52 pm
Great signing!
Should be an upgrade from Nacho and he’s younger so more upside!
if they can get Hicks back the interior D line will be set.
March 28th, 2023 at 5:54 pm
Just resigned Senat. More D Line depth. My hopes of a dlineman getting drafted is dwindling. There’s a couple that we could, but if we get a pass rusher, I’ll be OK.
March 28th, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Still need to draft a DL even if Hicks comes back.
March 28th, 2023 at 6:20 pm
Believe it or not, Gaines is an upgrade over Nacho, but done take my word for it just go and watch his tape.
March 28th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Scotty Miller is a dirty bird now 😭
March 28th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Let’s hope Gaines is legit.
In other news, Scotty signed with the Falcons.
March 28th, 2023 at 6:39 pm
I agree with u Dooley,
I watched the tapes last week n felt all along that Gaines is an upgrade over Nacho. Gaines is strong and relentless. Yes Nacho is motivated and aggressive, but I’ve seen him literally get jacked up n mauled over on the line, on more than one occasion. Gaines reuniting with Vea will do no more than elevate his game. Great move Jason!! The boys are back together again.
March 28th, 2023 at 6:44 pm
We are likely going to draft a safety at tackle and an edge rusher top three picks.
March 28th, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Ac/DC loving Jason Licht quotes German metal band Accept!
March 28th, 2023 at 7:01 pm
Canabuc,
If we draft a safety to play tackle, Traskfield will be mauled, mangled, and mutilated – by the end of quarter 1 of the season.
Traskfield – I like the sound of that, since it’s a “competition” between Trask and Mayfield. May the best hybrid win!!! LOL
March 28th, 2023 at 7:24 pm
@Dmatt
Gaines is lowkey a pretty disruptive force, rarely gets moved of his spot paired lateral agility to crash down on run lanes or even track ball carriers down in the flat, and he’s sneaky quick. For a guy Gaines size to move with the fluidity & strength he has to be a 2-gap’er in this scheme. Now, we just need the whereabouts of Will Gholston, if he’s not on some mountainside in Nepal penning “Gholstonisms” bro is probably with his kids just enjoying the offseason, hope we can bring him back.
@D-Rok
I’m for sure using “Traskfield” to refer to both QBs from here on out, good job lol
March 28th, 2023 at 8:32 pm
Gaines doesn’t compare to Nacho one bit.
Max Crosby comes to mind while watching this guy.
You ever seen Nacho run Kyler Murray down from behind lol.
You guys go watch rhe tape before you spit nonsense.
March 28th, 2023 at 9:24 pm
Nacho was more a run stopper and I think this guys faster than getting to the QB. Played next to Vita and JTS in college, got a ring next to Aaron Donald, and still plenty in the tank. I’ll take it.
March 28th, 2023 at 9:35 pm
I remember that in that draft class (2018) we were actually kind of hot for Gaines. He was definitely on the radar and was projected to us here and there from different sources. In fact if we didn’t hit the jackpot with Vea then he might have started his NFL career as a Buccaneer. Definitely not in the first couple of rounds but from the third on…
I’ve got a good feeling about him. And mixing him and Vea back together again is going to be a winning formula. They are going to push each other HARD for bragging rights and that = equals = “Win/Win” for all of us! 💥 💯💯💯💥
FANTASTIC SIGNING!
March 28th, 2023 at 9:47 pm
Beefing up the D-line n hopefully the O-line in the draft will be huge. One thing for sure is JL can draft O-linemen. Gotta build those trenches.
March 28th, 2023 at 9:59 pm
When he played against us in the playoffs, he said we didn’t adjust our protection scheme during the game. The whole DL feasted. He basically called our protection scheme garbage. During the same game, Von Miller said our OL quit. Truly embarrassing.
March 29th, 2023 at 3:47 am
The acdc living gm dropping a balls to the wall reference 😆
March 29th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Great signing by Jason. Too bad his motor will need a full rebuild after getting ruined by Bloweszo.
March 29th, 2023 at 3:54 pm
I really liked Nacho. Every team needs a few fun characters to make things interesting.