Looking Ahead For 2025 Offseason
November 9th, 2024
Position to target.
Yes, Joe is fully involved in the present: The Bucs are preparing to face the defending NFC champs tomorrow at The Licht House. That doesn’t mean Joe is going to ignore a good story typed about the Bucs’ future.
The Bucs need linebacker help, specifically inside linebackers. (Sorry, Joe isn’t in the mood right now to type about outside linebackers. Why ruin a perfectly good Saturday?)
Aaron Schatz, the founder of Football Outsiders (RIP) typed a piece for BSPN on what position each team needs to focus on once their 2024 season ends.
Joe was happy (sort of) to read Schatz isn’t a fan of Bucs inside linebackers either.
Inside linebacker. … … One of these years, though, 34-year-old Lavonte David is going to retire, and there’s nobody behind him. Losing David means losing a lot of big plays, as he is consistently near the top of the league in defeats (a metric adding together turnovers, tackles for loss and plays to prevent a third-down conversion). He has 17 this season.
The Bucs might be really, really hurting for linebackers if Lavonte David retires. What then? Surely Todd Bowles won’t be banking on K.J. Britt and J.J. Russell as his inside linebackers next year.
(And then there is this nonsense with this mysterious Vi Jones, a guy who Monday against the Chiefs had three snaps on defense, his first in a NFL game in two years. Bowles has said he didn’t turn to Jones previously despite Britt struggling in pass coverage. Why? Because Jones wasn’t ready yet. Good grief, isn’t that what offseason, training camp and the worthless preseason is for? If he wasn’t ready, why didn’t the Bucs go get a linebacker who could defend the pass? You mean to tell Joe the Bucs are willing to see the defense implode because they’re too tight to spend a third-day draft pick to get a competent pass-defending linebacker? Warren Buffet isn’t that stingy with his high-yield dividend stocks. Does this organization even want to make the playoffs?)
November 9th, 2024 at 2:06 pm
The non movement at the trade dead line is very puzzling, or perhaps…….they are trying to move on from Todd?
November 9th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Don’t understand TB more and more. He’s too loyal. A good thing usually but not in football.
November 9th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
We need LaVonte to play at least one more year so that our first round pick middle linebacker can play with him and learn from him. I think he could even play 2 more years. One of the better linebackers I’ve seen. Wish I’d been a fan when he was in his prime but I don’t see how he could be much better than what I’ve seen the last few years.
November 9th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
Did not want the Bucs to make a trade. Bucs will not win a Super Bowl with Todd Bowles as the head coach. They need to move on from him even though the Bucs will most likely go on a run with such a soft second half schedule.
November 9th, 2024 at 2:13 pm
Mike C Says:
November 9th, 2024 at 2:06 pm
The non movement at the trade dead line is very puzzling, or perhaps…….they are trying to move on from Todd?
^^^^^
DING DING DING. We have a winner,
November 9th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
We already saw a 1st rd ILB implode and regress in the TB system. Todd’s time is up. However, other than BA begging for the job, Jason has not impressed me with his HC hires.
November 9th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
JL may get another pass with B² positioning himself for the job
November 9th, 2024 at 2:41 pm
IF 2025 doesn’t see a NEW face as Bucs HC, then everything else is moot…
Everything Bowels touches turns to sewage!
November 9th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
I’ve always said it’s as if they all don’t care sometimes. Even some of the playoff teams & potential playoff teams made some moves recently. They usually do something in FA in the offseason also whereas this team very rarely does anything. It’s as if they’re just satisfied with losing & being inconsistent.
November 9th, 2024 at 2:58 pm
That last part of the article has been the most puzzling. The only explanation is they are trying to turn a contending season into a losing won. Would should get any front office fired.
Pick swapping day 3 picks does not mortgage any part of the future. Trading for an ILB now would actually help the future, as it would stop Licht from blowing a more precious pick on a low value position, which is his staple.
November 9th, 2024 at 2:58 pm
That Detroit game was a total ‘outlier’ – a mirage. This Defense is exactly, who they are and what I saw all during the preseason long. There wasn’t any ‘move’ OR ‘moves’ to be made at the deadline, that was making THIS a “Championship-Caliber” Defense. Period. This is a VERY young ‘rebuilt’ defense that needs patience and time. I don’t remember seeing any young STUDS out there on the open market, who were on the same trajectory and ‘timeline’ as what our guys currently, are on. “Fit,” Risk, & MONEY all play a roll. I have faith that the FO has a plan that they are are executing, and sticking with. THIS Defense is going to need another full season of growth and development, to go along with, another couple of solid draft classes, & SMART ‘moves’ through free agency, in order to plug and fill holes. THIS Defense can be a “Championship-Level” caliber defense I believe, by 2026. There are ‘pieces’ already here to build around… Winfield Junior, Kancey, Yaya, Braswell, Izien, McCollum, Dennis. They are SO young. It’s just going to take some more time, before they can get to where they need to be. I have faith in them… It’s going to take being patient, though. I hope.
November 9th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
I speculate the Bucs management isn’t willing to trade anything for this season because there not all in on this season. I speculate an agreement may be in the works now with Belichick and he may already be the name to be announced in January 2025. Go Bucs!!
November 9th, 2024 at 3:34 pm
Hey Joe,
The crack about too miserly to spend a Day 3 pick on ILB, while certainly expressing your frustration, is hardly fair.
The Bucs used their Day 1 pick for Barton – any complaints?
Day Two picks were Edge (Braswell) and DB (Smith); maybe you like other players better, but are you saying that ILB was a greater need than Edge and DB? Did you know that SirVocea Dennis was going to miss most of the season after a shoulder injury?
The Bucs only meaningful Day 3 pick was Bucky Irving in the fourth round – I doubt that you want a redo on that one.
The Bucs other Day 3 picks were sixth round G Elijah Klein and seventh round TE Devin Culp. So, yes, the Bucs could have used a sixth or seventh round pick to put on the field with Lavonte David. So, who is that sixth or seventh rounder the Bucs missed out on?
Now, with the offense humming along, in 2025, the draft should be tilted heavily towards defense – ILB, Edge and DB should be high on the shopping list.
The Brady mortgage is finally paid. Short of mortgaging the 2025 draft for 2024 picks, what else should the Bucs have done?
November 9th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Dennis is a hair’s breadth away from injury on every play so he’s not it. Draft and sign 3 guys to hopefully get 2 who can play.
November 9th, 2024 at 3:56 pm
toopanca:
You’re either playing for the Super Bowl or you’re playing for the draft. Joe honestly believes the Bucs are in the first of a two-year window to make a run. If you want to stockpile third-day draft picks, that’s fine if you are in a rebuild. Joe doesn’t think the Bucs are in a rebuild.
In 2026, Joe isn’t going to bet a red cent that Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Vita Vea and/or Lavonte David will be. That’s a pretty big chunk of talent that quite possibly won’t be around in two years.
Joe sees the Chiefs spending third round picks for players (you think DeAndre Hopkins would help the Bucs more than Ryan Miller?). And the Steelers have spent a third-day draft pick for players. And the Crows. And the Lions, among others.
So the Bucs so special they can’t?
November 9th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Joe … ‘If he wasn’t ready, why didn’t the Bucs go get a linebacker who could defend the pass?’
Seems like some of us have been asking that very question since before the draft. Bowles obviously knows these guys aren’t ready because he’s not putting them into the games prematurely for any meaningful snaps and he’s making major adjustments to his scheme. Why don’t you point the finger of blame where it really belongs? … on the GM Jason Licht. He went to great pains to stock the offensive cupboard, but just about totally neglected the defensive side in the process.
The 2024 Bucs’ defense is eerily reminescent of the 2019 Bucs’ defense, only instead of having Jameis sabotaging them with his INTs & fumbles they’re being forced to play with several Practice Squad level guys as starters. Lack of adequate depth is also sabotaging what could have been a Top-10 defense. But instead all we read is that ‘Bowles defense is too complicated’ and ‘why hasn’t he taught these scrubs to communicate’. I didn’t seem to read much about that in 2020 & 2021 when we had a fairly talented defense. Amazing.
November 9th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Jack Burton Mercer … ‘Dennis is a hair’s breadth away from injury on every play so he’s not it. Draft and sign 3 guys to hopefully get 2 who can play.’
Yea verily. I’d put money that LVD will retire next year UNLESS he firmly believes that the Bucs can really win the 2025 Super Bowl. Britt is probably a decent backup ILB, but forget the rest. None of our other ILBs are players to build with.
Bucs have 21 players who’ll be FAs after this season: 9 offense, 11 defense, 1 S/Ts. I can see re-signing Godwin, Bredeson, Hainsey & maybe 2 more on offense. Can also see re-signing Gaines, Nelson, Bryce Hall & Britt but all as rotational players & depth. Means we’ll have a LOT of new faces, primarily on defense. After the performances we’re seeing this year, it should be pretty obvious that we need to add some real talent on defense, probably around 7-8 quality new guys. That’s a huge infusion of quality talent needed.
Problem is that we’ll only get 3-4 starters/key rotational players in the draft, IF we’re lucky. Most we’ll need to get via free agency. Overall I’d be looking to add at least 3 ILBs, 2 CBs, 2 DE/OLB, and at least 1 DT (maybe 2). All starter-quality. Guess is … not gonna happen.
November 9th, 2024 at 4:55 pm
Ocala … ‘Did not want the Bucs to make a trade. Bucs will not win a Super Bowl with Todd Bowles as the head coach.’
It’s interesting to me that so many JBFers will hold Bowles responsible for the poor performance of the defense, but refuse to give him any credit at all for the performance of the offense.
o Bowles is the one who hired Coen, not Licht. Also the one who hired the 2 new assistant offensive coaches, not Licht.
o Bowles is the one who pushed for Mayfield as the starting QB, not Licht.
o Bowles is the one who pushed for a more ‘balanced attack’, even though our running game sucked.
The Bucs put almost all their (limited) salary CAP $$$ this past off-season into mostly offensive re-signings (Mayfield, Evans, Wirfs, Bredeson, Opeta, Shepard, etc) and replaced 3 defensive performers (Davis, Shaq, White) with players far less experienced & talented. They only drafted ONE defensive player (Brasswell) who’s only seen the field for 218 def snaps while the offensive draft picks have played over 1,000 off snaps.
I don’t know if Bowles the HC can lead this team to a Super Bowl of not. But I’m sure that he can’t win it with this defense. All the guys seem to like playing for him, and having the confidence of your team is probably more important than him having our confidence. I’ve said many times that I wish he’d pass DC responsibilities to George Edwards so that he can focus on just HC responsibilities. I’ve never liked dual-hatting.
November 9th, 2024 at 5:01 pm
If Todd Bowles is still the head coach next year it won’t matter who the inside linebackers are
November 9th, 2024 at 5:34 pm
Defense Rules. They drafted Smith out of Georgia with Braswell. But you’re pretty much right about what we need to do.
November 9th, 2024 at 6:24 pm
They aren’t gonna fire Todd, and I don’t think management expected us to go far this year ANYway. The long view is play as well as possible while following the Plan–build thru the draft (thus a large % of players on rookie contracts) and get rid of the dead cap
November 9th, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Bucs can win this game if Bowles does not Blunder.
November 9th, 2024 at 6:55 pm
Barrett Carter from Clemson or D’Eryk Jackson Kentucky RD 2-3
November 9th, 2024 at 7:05 pm
Can’t wait until Lovie is in the rear view mirror. Never has there been a more overhyped, underachieving, fraudulent coich than Lovie. His most loyal fan now complains it’s Jason’s fault , when the Lovie has input in what they need, who they should draft, and when faced with the obvious, neither asked for roster fortification nor adjusted whatever of the 2,628 “schemes” he is calling at any given moment.
He is done with football. Please Jason, for the love of Dog, make the move now while the Bucs still have a chance for the Detroit River Bowl or one of the lessers.
November 9th, 2024 at 7:15 pm
My theory:
No moves for 2 reasons:
1. with the injuries to Chris and Mike and Jamel and Sirvocea management likely felt we wouldn’t be competitive for the division especially after 2nd Falcons loss.
2. Licht sees how bad Bowles and this defense is. He knows a new DC and coach ( Coen) will be in place after the season and doesn’t want to waste draft picks to restock the defense or make moves for pieces that might not fit the next DC scheme.
November 9th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
I don’t mind us, not making a move at the trade deadline. I have full confidence in Jason Licht and when he does make a trade, he usually is fleecing somebody.
November 9th, 2024 at 10:56 pm
Joe Says:
“Joe doesn’t think the Bucs are in a rebuild.”
I agree. But…they also probably want to save capital for a potential new head coach…picks and cap.
We’re going to need 2 ILB, a #2 WR (Godwin might be done as a Buc), a CB, and a goid pass rusher.
While also climbing out of a cap hole.
November 9th, 2024 at 11:04 pm
Tomorrow’s game is one I thougjt we had a 50-50 chance to win…before all the key injuries. Now? Longshot.
However, I do think we can win 4-5 more games.
Will that be enough to get us in the playoffs and save Bowles job?
I don’t think so. I think Bowles has to at least get us to the NFC championship game to keep his job.
I believe I remember an article here a while back that saidthe Glazers gave Licht permission to rebuild…but Licht believed we could still compete.
“Rebuild” more than likely meant the Glazers were willing to fire Bowles last year.
So he is certainly on thin ice.
November 9th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
It is now 11:08 EST Saturday night. Somewhere between 24 hours from now and 36 hours from now, the Bucs will have a new interim head coach and a statement from the Glazers thanking Lovie for his stubbornness, his good fortune to have worked for BA and got the great luck to face Mahomes with two cocktail waitresses at offensive tackle in the Super Bowl. where he hit guys 5 times in the helmet chest or facemask. If those were catches, different game.
November 9th, 2024 at 11:31 pm
coach liam should draft all defensive players in the draft. His new DC and GM won’t mind one bit.
November 9th, 2024 at 11:49 pm
Man I just tried to read some posts from a self-avowed expert, and frequent lecturer on the “local” circuit. Had to stop. My bellowing laughter woke up half the hotel I’m staying in.
Fire Lovie.
Then — Jason’s next head coaching hire — exciting!
Go Bucs. (yay verily)
November 10th, 2024 at 5:05 am
I have to admit I am baffled by what Todd said regarding why he hadn’t turn to Vi Jones previously because he felt he wasn’t ready. Many players are out there on various teams that were and are not ready either. They get better or they don’t.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:28 am
I don’t get it we didn’t go out to try to get help it like the don’t want to go to the playoffs. What the hell is going on upstairs we need defensive help big time .I don’t get it .