Todd Bowles Names Logan Hall A Starter
August 23rd, 2023
Second-year defensive tackle Logan Hall.
The quarterback battle isn’t the only one that has been decided.
Today after practice, head coach Todd Bowles declared Logan Hall a starter. The second-year defensive tackle would play alongside Vita Vea. Newcomer DT Greg Gaines, a free agent from the Rams, presumably will rotate in and get plenty of snaps.
As Bucs fans know, Vea plays less than two-thirds of the defensive plays.
The health status of rookie DT Calijah Kancey (calf) is unclear. He’s missed most of training camp and all of preseason.
Bowles praised Hall’s knowledge growth.
“You don’t have to teach him right now. He knows everything and we like where he’s at,” Bowles said of Hall.
Months ago, Bucs assistant coaches reported how Hall successfully bulked up in the weight room during the offseason and was in good shape to be the versatile tackle the Bucs envisioned when he was drafted.
Job 1, of course, for any Bucs defensive lineman under Bowles is to stop the run. If Hall can’t do that, his snaps will disappear in a hurry.
August 23rd, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Oh boy. I assume JTS is also considered a starter. We got problems. And Kancey appears to be our newest porcelain doll taking over Gage’s spot.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Missing all that crucial time with this stupid calf injury Kancey will next to useless this season now.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:14 pm
I definitely wouldn’t call Kancey out of it yet. Not even close.
Hall is more of a mystery to me. Haven’t seen or heard anything at all about him. Bowles isn’t my kinda head coach but he definitely is a top of the line D coordinator and if he says Hall has the stuff then I suppose I’ll trust that until proven otherwise.
He feels like he’s already on the better side of “otherwise” but I surely don’t know enough about him to bet on it.
I hope Bowles is right because if not, ooofff!
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Man toilet bowl gonna get fired this year. Having to reduce his snaps to learn what we already know makes him look like an even bigger idiot than we think he is. This is jalen Darden all over again, this dude I’m actually rooting for him to get fired at this point
Real smart Bowles make the guy who was a starter on a super bowl winning team that back up. How much annoying and disappointing news can we get from this head coach honestly
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:17 pm
@BucU
Dude shutup please, spewing this abosolute nonsense.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:17 pm
The sky is falling. The sky is falling.
So Kancey misses three useless preseason games and now will be useless during the entire 17 game season? Is that how it goes?
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:26 pm
Hall chooses that hairstyle because it makes him look taller.
Haven’t heard anything about this guy all preseason – like he’s a ghost.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:26 pm
I would assume Gaines is more of an exclusive NT backup to Vea especially with Vea’s part time snap count. With Kancey out for a spell, Hall is basically a starter by default.
And Hall is not out there making Darden-esque boneheaded plays…not fair to Hall to compare him to that jackwagon.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:29 pm
@modhairken – Baker is our QB…the sky already fell bruh. It’s lying at your feet.
People thinking Baker is going to UN-regress are asking for a lot.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Agree not starting Gaines is criminal negligence. I realize he’ll need to spell Vea but he can play anywhere on that line and did so for the Rams. Played almost every snap run or pass downs didn’t matter he was on the field kicking butt and causing havoc, pressure and freeing up those around him. He pulls double and triple teams.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:42 pm
So he is better than Ghoston at his advanced age? Cool. Lets see if he can hold that job once Kancey gets health.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Bowles is a master motivator and evaluator of talent. Logan Hall, the invisible bust, wins a starter’s role.
Maybe starting matador for the D Line.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Hall didn’t show much this preseason, but at least he played. I didn’t understand the decision to not play JTS at all these last two games. Is he on Shaq Barrett starter status? What am I missing here? If anyone needs to show up, and prove himself it’s JTS. He needs snaps the same as Hall, don’t get why he isn’t playing.
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:59 pm
Boricua maybe YOU think Kancey will just jump right in there when he comes back but highly unlikely. He has missed major training camp time and all of preseason. I stand by my comment. He’ll be useless for most of the season because of that. Get real dope.
August 23rd, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Talk about gifted/backing into a starting position. It’s a PR stunt using a 5 gallon bucket of turd polish.
August 23rd, 2023 at 2:11 pm
cut kancey and sign sapp?
August 23rd, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Serious? Geez just play Trask there instead. At least he’d have a good excuse for not showing up on the stat sheet.
August 23rd, 2023 at 2:36 pm
“ You don’t have to teach him right now. He knows everything and we like where he’s at,” Bowles said of Hall.”
There is just soooo much wrong here, I don’t know where to start. This sounds like something a couch-potato would say, not a “defensive genius” turned head coach.
I’d like where he’s at, if it were at the end of the bench or on another team. So, if Hall “knows everything” & can’t register ONE (1) stat, that gives me hope that I too can start on this defensive line.
August 23rd, 2023 at 2:54 pm
“He knows everything”
Hall, does look very intelligent…. Ivy League Grad?
August 23rd, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Hey Joe!
Does Gains have some significant performance clauses in his contract? Like number of snaps played, e.g.?
My Momma wants to know. Thanks Joe!
August 23rd, 2023 at 4:00 pm
I really don’t think it matters who is named a starter because there is going to be a rotation and whoever is making plays will get more playing time. He probably did this so that Hall will become more determined to perform well
August 23rd, 2023 at 4:02 pm
The other kind of Hall of Fame bust.
August 23rd, 2023 at 4:25 pm
We’ve got the dumbest fans in the NFL. They’re worse than the Cowboy fans that think they’re going to.the Super Bowl every year..
Just the exact opposite …. but Dumber.
August 23rd, 2023 at 4:27 pm
DL
1s – Hall, Vea, Kancey
2s Gholston, Gaines, O’Connor
OLB
1s – Shaq, JTS
2s – Nelson, Gill, Yaya
A lot of different combos of size and speed. I like it. I think these boys are going to wreak havoc.
August 23rd, 2023 at 5:14 pm
BigDaddyG … ‘Agree not starting Gaines is criminal negligence. I realize he’ll need to spell Vea but he can play anywhere on that line and did so for the Rams. Played almost every snap run or pass downs didn’t matter he was on the field kicking butt and causing havoc’.
I’m very pro-Greg Gaines & have been super excited that we signed him, so your statement got me curious. Actually he didn’t play ‘almost every snap’ but he got a lot … last year he had 732 snaps (Rams defense had 1049 def snaps) with 4 sacks, 6 QB Hits, 6 TFLs, 36 tackles in 16 games, and in 2021 he had 780 snaps (Rams defense had 1118 def snaps) with 4.5 sacks, 13 QB Hits, 4 TFLs, 55 tackles in 17 games. His first 2 years with the Rams he was close to non-existent (blossomed his 3rd year).
Gaines looks to be a ‘Steady Eddie’ type of player, and IMO that’s exactly what we need at NT. The Bucs defense averaged right around 1080 def snaps each of the last 2 years. Vea gave us 539 snaps last year (about 50%) and 607 snaps in 2021 (about 55%). Since Vea & Gaines are our 2 big dogs covering the center of our DLine, they probably won’t be on the field very much together (maybe 150-200 def snaps?). And when they are, it’ll probably be goal-line stances, 3rd or 4th and very short, etc.
I was relieved when we re-signed Will Gholston, because he’s another ‘Steady Eddie’ type (good for around 500 snaps in 17 games). I’m still unsure what to expect out of Hall & Kancey though, and fully expect that we’ll keep 1 more DT at least to start the year with Kancey still down (I’m thinking Greene, but O’Connor & Senat do have a little edge in experience in Bowles’ defense).
August 23rd, 2023 at 5:39 pm
Bowles Curse
August 23rd, 2023 at 5:46 pm
Gaines should absolutely be starting over Hall and that will happen when Hall does nothing in the first few games and has like no tackles and no sacks.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:06 pm
Hall hasn’t flashed at all this pre season.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:09 pm
JTS is our best pass rusher and Hall is a starter……….. Jason needs to be team president and let someone else pick talent
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Stop gap until Kancey is ready- hope Hall can stay on his feet
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:17 pm
As DR said, Gaines had 2/3 of defensive snaps the last two years and almost no special team snaps.
Before that Gaines playes so very little snaps.
Bowles sees these guys every day. Maybe Hall starts games and Gaines finishes games.
Let’s see how it all shakes out before we really start to determine whether it is a mistake.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:35 pm
I hope they re-sign Akeem Hicks to platoon with Calijah Kancey in the injury room Hot Tub. The loss of Julio Jones, Russell Gage and (expected) Ryan Jensen leaves the injury room hot tub woefully undermanned. We need more depth there.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:38 pm
Maybe he can put the other team’s center out of the game.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:40 pm
geno711 & BigDaddyG … I only see 2 DTs on our roster with the beef to play NT: Vea & Gaines. Together they have to cover almost 1100 def snaps, and Vea has only been averaging about 550-600 last 2 years (before that it was worse). Gaines has been averaging 750-800 the last 2 years, but on 500-550 of those he’ll be on the field when Vea isn’t (to cover the full 1100 def snaps). That only leaves about 250 snaps per season when BOTH of them can be on the field together. That’s less than 1 down every 4, and Bowles will probably be very selective when to use those (goal line stance etc).
The obvious answer is for Vea to be able to give us more def snaps, but his history says that ain’t gonna happen. But it might; never say never.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Joe … You mentioned that Hall beefed up this off-season, but he started awfully light IMO (Combine listed him at 6’6″ & 283 lbs, but he played a lot lighter than that in college from what I’ve read). Bucs site still lists him at 6’6″ & 283 lbs.
So the question is … what did he beef up to? At 6’6″ I would think that he could bulk up to 300 lbs with little problem (kinda like what Will Gholston did?)..
Here’s your answer from a few months ago — 296 and counting. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2023/05/logan-hall-bulks-up-to-296-pounds/
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:46 pm
That’s a good joke, who is it really?
August 23rd, 2023 at 7:27 pm
1-19 including pre-season! lol
August 23rd, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Sounds like Bowles wants to buttress his confidence so he can loosen up and “just play” a little more instinctively, maybe. He and Kancey are super young and overthinking is a stage they’ll go through at some point. Even if Gaines and Gholston both started all year and the youngsters came off the bench, I like the line’s potential this season if they avoid injuries.
August 23rd, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Good point DR about only two with that high end weight.
I think you might be right.
But really, there are lots of ways to win in the NFL.
Deadrin Senate got 165 snaps for us last year.
I think a lot were a NT. But if you think otherwise?
Maybe the Bucs see him at the same or even more snaps this year.
August 23rd, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Gains didn’t blossom to year 3 and some of you all are calling kancey a bust and hall. It’s only halls 2nd year. Kancey has 1 injury and y’all freak out. Y’all need to learn patience. Most draft pics take at least 3 years to make some damage in the league
August 23rd, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Bowles is in full CYA mode by starting Hall. Hall is only playing because of his draft position. His film is terrible. There is not enough talent to show up on stats sheet and he shouldn’t be on the team.
Gaines doesn’t seem to be doing much better, has he made any plays? Has he been hurt? He came in with the 3rd string against the Jets and still did nothing.
We need to be picking up DL’s actively right now. Kancey is a total unknown – when can he play? Can he compete in the NFL? We need to bring somebody in off waivers. Is Suh still around?
August 23rd, 2023 at 9:40 pm
JimBobBuc Says:
August 23rd, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Bowles is in full CYA mode by starting Hall. Hall is only playing because of his draft position. His film is terrible.
You watch individual film on Logan Hall. Pretty impressive.
August 23rd, 2023 at 10:55 pm
This is another reason why they’ll only win 4 games this season.
August 23rd, 2023 at 11:53 pm
Just hasnt worked out….i loved the kids college film, but if it doesnt translate to the nfl, you’re stuck!
Hopefully he turns it around and Gholston (thank God we brought him back) can show him how.
Come on Logan, get it figured out Bro! You’re making me and Jason look bad!
August 24th, 2023 at 8:03 am
Haha Bowles is pimping all over the place! QB, Defensive Tackle. Put lipstick on a pig and you got a prettier pig. I liked Bowles better when he spoke less. And then add tiny dancer at left outside backer and I see opponents running right at the bucs left side.
August 24th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Gholston will out-play him.