Bucs Make An Intelligence Play
August 13th, 2023
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Tampa Bay made an intel play as kickoff in Minnesota is just 28 days away.
The Bucs hit the waiver wire and snagged receiver/former quarterback Cephus Johnson, who was throwing the rock at South Alabama and Southeastern Louisiana.
Oh, and it just so happens that Johnson was an undrafted free agent in Vikings camp since April. He was cut last week.
Joe won’t pretend the Bucs love Johnson as a receiver. He won’t make Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster, barring a rash of injuries. Joe is certain Johnson will be pumped, prodded and poked for information on the Vikings playbook.
Cameron Brate used to tell a great story of when the Saints signed him in 2014 after the Bucs cut him. Then-Saints defensive coordinator Bad Santa Rob Ryan grilled Brate on all things Bucs.
Rondé Barber also has spoke on this subject in past years. Barber said the Bucs of the Dungy-Gruden era used to sign guys for intel, but Barber didn’t believe it was successful overall. Sometimes it was useful, Barber said, sometimes Bucs players started thinking too much about the intel and it slowed their play.
Like any other information, it’s all about how it’s used.
Smart play, Jason Licht.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
I think the Vikings could give the Bucs their playbook and their first 15 scripted plays and the Bucs would still get beat.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
He’s probably better than Trask or Mayfield
August 13th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Probably never works out. Just watch film from last season. If Jason really wants to help the Bucs, sign a veteran offensive lineman. The right side of our O line looks anemic and slow.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
^^^^^^^
Buc4evr
Truer words were never spoken.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Sign of insecurity and weakness
August 13th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
Trask may be out as 3rd string QB!
This signing should concern him, as his grasp on the 3rd qb spot has grown slippery!
August 13th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Plot twist: He’s now the best QB on the roster.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:14 pm
He could also be released to give disinformation.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:22 pm
That’s weird, both the Saints and Chiefs are playing their starters today
August 13th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Let me know when Bucs get a new RT. That’s all I care about.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
If the Bucs were really smart, they would bring in an intel guy from the Saints.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
I wouldn’t of drafted Trask from the beginning. No QBs make it out of there. No QBs make it out of there, USC, Michigan, Alabama & Ohio St & those schools have been around forever. Only a few actually did anything. Brady, Palmer, Theismann, Starr & Namath were the other ones that actually did anything from there.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
What’s up? We pick up an Intel guy. Not so big a deal. And we Use him to bash our QBs and Goedeke. We will be fine.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:51 pm
I went back and rewatched the game, as on Friday I was at a party and couldn’t give it my full attention.
Watching it again, Mayfield came off slightly better. He was fine, nothing special, but was fine.
For Trask, I just wanted to see him finally look like an NFL QB and to look natural throwing with NFL velocity, and he was doing that. I still wish he zipped in the ball harder, but he’s at least reached the ‘good enough’ bar on plays even when he was rushed, which he has not done the last couple of years. He was under so much pressure for most of the night, and the play calling didn’t help him either, so it’s hard to take away a lot from his play. BUT, what I wanted to see, I saw, and that’s fantastic news. I hope they’re sticking to Trask starting this week, I’d like to see him get more reps.
Overall the play calling was garbage – but it’s preseason so I’m not going to panic. Also, the penalties just killed any sense of flow.
On Friday I was paying less attention to defense, but rewatching the game, I see why Joe is excited about YaYa, he did stand out. Also I know Zyon overran the TD run, but outside of that he looked quite good. He’s very much a project player, but his athletic ability is through the roof, and if he can just not be a liability, while still improving, they might have something there.
I was going to say CB Duron Lowe looked terrible – and, well, apparently the Bucs agree since he got cut.
August 13th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
uh how much did singing cam brate help when he was signed away from the saints?
August 13th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
I was hoping to read that we had added a legit center/guard.
August 13th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
With his 6’5″ size and background at quarterback, (which can only help him as a wide receiver) he’s a great prospect for the taxi squad. Give him a full year or two acclimate to the system and might be one of the six receivers to make the team next year.
Heady signing indeed!
August 13th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Good Grief. How lame.
August 13th, 2023 at 2:50 pm
With his 6’5″ size and background at quarterback (which can only help him at wide receiver) he’s a top prospect for the taxi squad and could end up seeing some action if we have some injuries at WR later in the season. Next year with a full year of training camp behind him, he has a chance to make the squad as one of the six WR’s.
Heady move by Jason Licht
August 13th, 2023 at 3:15 pm
I can see the scenario develop now.
1 – Bucs sign Cephus Johnson off the waiver wire after the Vikings release him to pick his brain about the Vikings offense. Johnson contributes little intel on the Vikings, other than what could’ve been picked up by watching their preseason games.
2 – In the process Bucs give Johnson their playbook, teach him their offense, then ultimately cut him to get down to 53.
3 – Vikings re-sign Johnson to their Practice Squad after the Bucs release him to pick his brain about the Bucs offense. Vikings go on to beat the Bucs 42-7 thanks to Johnson’s intel … then they cut Cephus off the Practice Squad since the need for a Trojan Horse has already done his work.
August 13th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
Saints opening drive looked real smooth we will have to contend with them this season, they are better than last year.
August 13th, 2023 at 3:54 pm
I have to laugh, no amount of Intel can help a weak, slow, and generally ineffective offense. The Bucs need no Intel on another team to perfectly execute false starts and holding penalties. Nor will Intel help a hard headed and misguided Head Coach. Just the facts…..
August 13th, 2023 at 5:16 pm
I swear you guys must think every rookie starter should be all pro. That won’t happen. First pre-season game ever for Cody Mauch and you guys have judged him as a bust. Goedeke may never turn out great but the Bucs just had a HOF inductee that said even after year two he was hoping he didn’t get cut. All Pro Tristan Wirfs had to go get therapy for his doubts moving to left tackle and he is among the best O-line player in the NFL. Give me a break, give the guys a chance. Everyone in the media and most of you ship jumpers believe we will suck, so hopefully they can beat your expectations, but if not, you had a good judge of outcomes so in that be happy.
August 13th, 2023 at 5:33 pm
I’m starting it now! Fire Todd Bowles it’s gonna get ugly, he’s a high school head coach.
August 13th, 2023 at 6:48 pm
I don’t know about Intel being a 23 y.o. rookie with o ly a few weeks of camp but at 6’4″, 224 lbs and runs a 4.57 40, he could be a multi threat QB, runner, receiver in the mode of a Taysom Hill type if Canales wants to get wild and crazy with some plays. A little RPO action might be fun. Lol
August 13th, 2023 at 7:57 pm
Made the biggest non intelligent decision by keeping Bowles.
August 13th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
Uh oh!!! This cannot be a vote of confidence for our QBs! Heheheh
August 13th, 2023 at 10:15 pm
The Bucs have only two choices… either sign better offensive linemen asap, or sign plenty of QBs to last the season. Might need to carry 10 or 12 QBs on the roster.
August 14th, 2023 at 3:09 am
A spy from Minnesota. Practice squad later.
Go Bucs!
August 14th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
We need an offensive line to protect the quarterback. Fix the O line. Get your priorities straight.
August 14th, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Don’t applaud that, it’s disgraceful to sign a player simply to use them for intel and then cut him. These are human beings not pieces of meat.
I hope they at least give him a chance to prove himself.
August 14th, 2023 at 10:55 pm
You guys watch 1 preseason game and think we are going to be horrible. Everyone who thinks that way is the problem. Most of the people playing are fighting for spots. To me 3rd preseason is the only one worth watching. But I’m not near as committed to this as most of you wannabe coaches