Stud DL In Sunset Of His Career May Be Available
December 19th, 2024
Might be set free.
No, Joe doesn’t smoke. Joe enjoys breathing. But Joe does have a vice that if it isn’t solved in the next couple of years, it will be the end of Joe as if he had a two-pack-a-day habit.
That vice is pleading with the Bucs to get a quality edge rusher.
Kacy Rodgers, Todd Bowles’ right-hand man for many years, confessed recently the Bucs really don’t care about an edge rush.
Joe couldn’t disagree more. There is no more important position on a defense.
That’s why Joe is so passionate and persistent about this subject. A defense with no edge rush is like an offense without a quarterback. That means a team is handicapped from going the distance in the playoffs.
And for those who scoff at this, consider Bucs history.
The Bucs had a superior edge rusher (if not two) in the three greatest eras of Bucs history, which saw the team get to an NFC title game in 1979, win Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003, and then nearly two decades later win Super Bowl LV in February 2021.
Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences when it comes to football.
So why is Joe torturing his soul typing about this subject again when the memory of the greatest Bucs win of the 2024 season is fresh? Because a borderline Hall of Fame defensive lineman who played defensive end for Bowles once upon a time may be available.
For years, Joe has had a thing for defensive stud Calais Campbell. Many times when Campbell has been available, the Bucs had no edge rush, like the current Bucs don’t.
For reasons not quite clear, the Bucs have always passed on Campbell, 38. But the guy is as durable as they come (he’s missed just nine games this decade).
Since Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bowles were both in Arizona when Campbell was there, Joe guesses the two are spooked about something that is not publicly known.
Joe vividly remembers when former Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians was here, Joe once asked Arians about his former stud defensive lineman. Arians sort of bristled at Joe’s mere mention, as if Joe offered Arians a glass of low-shelf swill whiskey.
Take that for whatever it’s worth.
Campbell has almost always produced. Last year he had 6.5 sacks, which would have been second on the Bucs.
Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, as soon as the Dolphins are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Dolphins seem intent on fulfilling their promise to Campbell that they would release him to allow him a chance to sign with a contender.
While making clear that his focus is entirely on Sunday’s game, Campbell disclosed recently that before the trade deadline, he and general manager Chris Grier discussed a scenario in which he could possibly join a playoff contender if the Dolphins are eliminated from postseason contention.
With three games to go, the Bucs lead the NFC South and besides the Vikings and Eagles, they’re the hottest team in the league. Sack totals for Bucs outside linebackers are unacceptable. Nobody with a straight face could say they’re fine.
Now Joe isn’t saying Campbell has Maxx Crosby numbers, but they are no worse than any Bucs outside linebackers.
Hey, if you plan to play in the playoffs, aren’t you also trying to reach the Super Bowl? So why wouldn’t a smart, durable veteran help the Bucs if for no other reason than to give the team competent depth at a critical position?
Again, Joe is convinced he and the Bucs just do not see an edge rush through the same prism.
Hey, if Joe croaks next year from being stressed out daily over the lack of an edge rush with the Bucs, don’t be shocked if carved on Joe’s tombstone is the epithet, “Have the Bucs found an edge rusher yet?”
Does Joe think the Bucs could be players for Campbell’s services when the Dolphins are fully out of the playoff picture? Of course not.
December 19th, 2024 at 3:49 am
Feeling Dramatic this morning aye Joe lol
December 19th, 2024 at 3:51 am
Saw this yesterday and immediately thought of him going to the Lions
December 19th, 2024 at 5:26 am
huge neck
December 19th, 2024 at 5:48 am
Yes, please.
December 19th, 2024 at 5:50 am
Twice the sacks as JTS at 38 years old, oof.
December 19th, 2024 at 6:00 am
He’ll either go to the Lions or Ravens.
December 19th, 2024 at 6:04 am
Calias has always reminded me of Suh, I felt like that was part of the reason we didn’t go after him earlier in the Arians regime when he was a free agent several years ago, is because we already had Suh. Whether Tampa wants him or not, I think Calias is going to Detroit, or another high tier contender. I think they lost another DL this past weekend. Sadly, injuries will keep the Lions from getting to the Super Bowl. My predication, I think if the Eagles stay healthy, they will be in the Super Bowl again, remarkable how good and bad the Eagles are with and without their 2 starting WRs. I would say Minnesota, but damn if Darnold is due to spit the bed and get eliminated in the first round by a team like the Rams…or the Bucs 😉
JBF… 100% agree on the pass rush. Against 75% of the league, Bowles defense appears effective enough and at times can put together a performance like they did against the Chargers. However, you want to make a deep run in the playoffs, you need a consistent 4-man pass rush in Bowles defense. You can’t bring 5-6 guys for most of the game in zone coverage, hoping for that 1 disruption which is essentially how Bowles seems to be calling his defense for most of this season, the better QBs will figure out often and early where to get rid of the ball and how to burn the defense over and over and over again.
December 19th, 2024 at 6:20 am
Dude could be a nice lottery ticket, bring him in and see if he makes a difference. However, Teflon Don has a point, there are other teams in need of defensive help, particularly edge rush, that are also looking toward making a run at the playoff such as the Lions. Anyhow, weren’t the Fins responsible for not letting Shaq be released, curious as why they would honor Campbell’s request but not Shaq’a…..
December 19th, 2024 at 6:35 am
Excellent call! That would be fantastic. We need him.
December 19th, 2024 at 6:46 am
Its about the waiver wire right?
December 19th, 2024 at 6:52 am
We won a superbowl in January of 2023?!?! Weird!
December 19th, 2024 at 6:53 am
How does free agency work? Doesn’t he go into a pool that every team has access to? Trade deadline is long over.
December 19th, 2024 at 6:58 am
Get him. Let’s go all in!
December 19th, 2024 at 7:07 am
Does he play edge or tackle? ive seen him listed as both.
December 19th, 2024 at 7:39 am
Are you thinking on getting in the Geraiatric business Joe?
December 19th, 2024 at 8:20 am
If they release him, he is able to sign with any team he desires.
Waiver Wire is for practice squad players.
And isn’t Calais Campbell a DT?
December 19th, 2024 at 9:21 am
seem like he would be more of a Logan Hall type in this defense, but you know the Bucs will elevate someone from the practice squad or IR before signing someone from the outside. Name a former player of the BA or Bowles coaching era that has signed with the Bucs (which is crazy with no state income tax)
December 19th, 2024 at 9:30 am
If they release him, he is able to sign with any team he desires.
Waiver Wire is for practice squad players.
Incorrect. After the trade deadline, all rostered players released by a team go through the waivers process. So if the Bucs wanted him, due to their poorer record, they’d be able to snag him before a Detroit or Baltimore. But if Seattle wanted him they’d get him before us.
And that’s not even taking into account that a team with a terrible record and no playoff shot could pick him up just to be a-holes. That happened with Deion Sanders near the end of his career as a cornerback.
December 19th, 2024 at 9:32 am
The only question as to if he would fit in Bowles’ defense, is how good is he at dropping into coverage?
December 19th, 2024 at 9:54 am
Daniel Z, exactly. Coach wants his pass rushers to play zone pass defense while the coverage guys rush the passer. The element of surprise! Calais will get to go where he wants, and that would be a place where a pass rusher can rush the passer, so he’d probably be less inclined about the Bucs than we are about him.
December 19th, 2024 at 10:39 am
Like the TV commercial says – “They need someone who can RUN the 40, not someone who IS 40”
Nuff said!
December 19th, 2024 at 10:50 am
If the Bucs could sign him for the playoff run, why not? At 38 he is still better than our much younger 3 OLB’s.
December 19th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Would love this move, but I don’t see Bowles / Licht doing it.
He won’t know Bowles system 🙄
So instead he’ll prob go to the Lions and we’ll end up having to play against him in the playoffs instead. Genius!
December 19th, 2024 at 1:47 pm
Campbell is not an “edge” rusher first of all – he’s more of an inside guy who can line up outside sometimes and be effective.
BA’s reaction to your unexpected question and the fact that Calais has been a FA multiple times since his old coaches came to Tampa Bay – without even a sniff from the Bucs – tells you all you need to know.
December 19th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Lets kick the tires on Simeon rice while we are add it. 38 years old holy cow definitely can smell the desperation in joes post.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:04 pm
I’m with you Joe. No pressure on the QB without a blitz is that main reason why the Bus pass deifense still resembles a sieve. If they JTMs is going to wake up and provide them one, don’t ever bet on the same dog in a dog fight that they do. Theirs no fighting dog in that player.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
I’m with ya JOE. I’ll say this tho a proven edge rusher like say Crosby or parsons would save this defense. 1 person won’t save it by themselves but it would help. We’ve never seen the best pash rusher ever get pressure every single snap
December 19th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
38 y.o.? I’m over the geriatrics movement. In politics and football, and life in general.
December 19th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Will Campbell come with an ILB, safety, the magic healing spray that they use in futball and the ability to communicate that is far superior to the most advanced AI?
December 19th, 2024 at 8:07 pm
Yeah, but can he drop back into pass coverage? That is required by Todd in his defense.
December 20th, 2024 at 8:13 am
All you have to do is picture CC dropping back and covering a RB on a zone blitz at his age and athleticism (he’s mostly just a bull rusher now) and you see why the Bucs won’t sign him.
The narrative here is getting kind of old. It’s almost like you haven’t watched our team on D the last 4 seasons lol.
Edge pass rush specialists aren’t at a premium in this scheme.
Btw the d played great and had plenty of pressure last week even with all of the injuries and the cheapo rookies / rfas we have out there right now. Not sure what you are missing here Joe.
December 20th, 2024 at 11:25 am
so what