Long Road To Travel
January 14th, 2018
Playoffs seem far away.
So here we are, again, another January Sunday, another January Sunday watching other teams in the playoffs.
Not the Bucs.
Not since Chucky was here.
Not since 2007.
Yeah, a decade.
Over at the Tampa Bay Times, Bucs beat guy Rick Stroud noted the Bucs, barring a miracle, are nowhere close to being a playoff team, missing the key components required, with the exception of quarterback.
It’s nothing Joe hasn’t written. Poor defense. No run game. No edge rush. If Brent Grimes leaves, no stud corner.
To make a one-year turnaround that lands them in the playoffs, not only will the Bucs absolutely need to spend a gillion dollars in free agency, AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will have to pull off a rare feat for the best of football minds: a perfect offseason.
Few stud edge rushers ever make it to free agency and those who do, along with shutdown corners, will have many suitors. So that means the Brink’s truck will have to be backed up to the Team Glazer vault.
Running back is an easy fix — provided the Bucs have the vision to be an agent of change there. Draft the right back early, problem solved.
Should be a very interesting February and March around these parts.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Stress free football watching….I am enjoying it….
January 14th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
This is probably the first offseason I have zero confidence in the front office and coaching staff, zero, this is the first dead staff walking season I can remember, the Bucs usually just fire everyone when they have a horrible season, I’m 42 and feel like I’m 80 waiting on this team to get its head out it’s own butt
January 14th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
A long, long way to go!
January 14th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
I am tired of this team, and front office, crapping the bed. From terrible decisions in players, draft picks, and coaching, why in the hell would it change now? You see all these other teams making strides and making changes, not this franchise. Can you blame us, the fans, for being sick of last place how many seasons? It is systemic, and something BIG needs to change.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
I just did a Draft Simulation and it went like this:
Rd. 1 Christian Wilkins DL/DE Clemason
Rd. 2 Martez Ivey G. Florida
Rd. 3 Nick Chubb RB. Georgia
Rd. 4 Ken Webster CB Mississippi
Rd. 5 Donte Jackson CB. LSU
Rd. 6 Josh Fatu DL. USC
Rd. 7 Marquis Haynes Edge. Mississippi
The thing that stuck out to me the most while doing this is that All of the good OL talent is gone quickly and the draft is loaded with CBs
January 14th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Strange that your filters would put the above comment in Moderation
January 14th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Carolina fired OC Mike Shula and QB coach Ken Dorsey. Now the Atlanta media is calling for OC Steve Sarkisian job. Changes will be made in Atlanta, changes were made after last season Super Bowl loss. It seems like the Bucs are the only complacent team in the division.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
What a ignorant cycle this mass coach firing is….sure there are a few coaches in over their heads…but it always comes down to talent…Don Shula a “great coach”?….Bob Griese and Dan Marino…chicken or the egg ? example like this after example like this
January 14th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
I would rather not draft a running back early. Every year, we see established running backs hit the market…and for good prices. I say get rid of all of ours and replace them all with a couple vets and a couple undrafted free agents. Start from scratch. They cannot do any worse than what we have.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Lakeland right on and realistically no good assts are going to come to tampa with this lame duck regime, strouds article is spot on highlighting how bad the bucs personnel moves have been compared to playoff caliber teams and to get there is agood 3 yearsaway
January 14th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Guzzie Says
“This is probably the first offseason I have zero confidence in the front office and coaching staff, zero, this is the first dead staff walking season I can remember, the Bucs usually just fire everyone when they have a horrible season…”
And that has worked out so well for us, hasn’t it? I mean, firing Gruden was a great move, right? And Raheem? And Schiano? And Lovie?
Where has that gotten us?
Dirk Koetter is a good coach. Things will work out and maybe some fans will learn that patience pays off.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
If the Falcons fire OC Steve Sarkisian, we need to make his OC here.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
we already got our season over .500, next one should come in about a decade, we cant be greedy!
January 14th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Well Joe’s filters have “moderated my comment above but I did a draft simulation this morning and I posted my results.
The one thing that I did find was this draft is almost devoid of OL talent and Full of CB.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
I think you all might be surprised at how attractive this team is. If the Glazers had fired Koetter? Then it would not have been so.
Stroud is wrong, of course. He always is. Yes, we need a pass rush…but the secondary is not so bad as he or others think.
We are a team that was plagued with injuries and a bad veteran free agency crop. That is our main issue.
And it is amazing how Stroud thought this same team as going to excel last year. Same exact team…yet now he changes his tune?
Baker and Ward were bad signings. Murray was not. Grimes will return. Our secondary is mostly young and developing…they’ll play better next year.
And the running game? Flip the whole group with free agents. Not a big deal.
Defensive Line is our main and biggest weakness and that can be fixed this off season.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
If we get a right tackle in free agency, the rest of the line will settle down. And right tackles will be there.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
SB
I think the playcalling made the O-Line look bad. You put a lot of pressure on the O-Line, when you’re for the deep ball.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
LakeLand,
Here is why the offensive line struggled:
Ali Marpet (newly moved to center), JR Sweezy (only one year at guard and then almost two years injured), Kevin Pamphile (mostly new to guard), Donovan Smith (a 4th year player who has been improving year to year) and Demar Dotson (an often injured Right Tackle)
Good offensive lines do not come together in one season, they take 2-3 seasons to start to gel.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
@Joe … “It’s nothing Joe hasn’t written. Poor defense. No run game. No edge rush. If Brent Grimes leaves, no stud corner.”
Fascinating recap of Stroud’s article Joe. Incredibly one-dimensional, but fascinating nonetheless. Stroud started off his article with ‘A franchise QB’ … Hmmm, I didn’t see Jameis’ name in your story even once. Stroud then moved to RB … you threw it in as somewhat of an after-thought with an ‘easy fix’ solution: “Draft the right back early, problem solved”. Really? No mention of the OLine’s issues? No mention of picking up a RB like Bell in FA? Using a precious high draft pick on a RB instead of a DE or DT or CB?
Nah, it’s a LOT more fun to bash the Bucs’ defense. I do like your ‘bottom line though’: “Jason Licht will have to pull off a rare feat for the best of football minds: a perfect offseason.” After watching him try to build a T-E-A-M for 4 years, Dr. Phil’s famous question comes to mind: “And how’s that working for ya?”
January 14th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
@Joe … “It’s nothing Joe hasn’t written. Poor defense. No run game. No edge rush. If Brent Grimes leaves, no stud corner.”
Fascinating recap of Stroud’s article Joe. Incredibly one-dimensional, but fascinating nonetheless. Stroud started off his article with ‘A franchise QB’ … Hmmm, I didn’t see Jameis’ name in your story even once. Stroud then moved to RB … you threw it in as somewhat of an after-thought with an ‘easy fix’ solution: “Draft the right back early, problem solved”. Really? No mention of the OLine’s issues? No mention of picking up a RB like Bell in FA? Using a precious high draft pick on a RB instead of a DE or DT or CB?
Nah, it’s a LOT more fun to bash the Bucs’ defense. I do like your ‘bottom line though’: “Jason Licht will have to pull off a rare feat for the best of football minds: a perfect offseason.” After watching him try to build a T-E-A-M for 4 years, Dr. Phil’s famous question comes to mind: “And how’s that working for ya?”
January 14th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Oops, somehow it double-posted. My bad Joe.
January 14th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
Sorry, Smith was a 3rd year player.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai
Carolina swept the Bucs, they sacked Jameis Winston 9 times during the 2 games. The Bucs scored 22 points in the 2 games, the RBs caught a total of 5 passes. The New Orleans Saints swept the Panthers, they sacked Drew Brees 3 times. The Saints scored 65 points against them, their RBs caught a total of 18 passes. The Saints has a starting rookie RT, and injuries and new faces on the O-Line. The difference is Sean Payton knows how to game plan against defenses.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
I don’t hold much credibility to a hack writer who gets fired from a really bad radio station and then wants to write like he is an expert. Whatever Stroud.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
A quick turnaround is possible with a healthy QB and an upgrade in talent on both lines. Dumping the coaches is not the answer.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
My comment is out of moderation now. Tell me what you guys think of my draft.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
Who ever says the bucs coaches should all stay along with the bucs gm..does not pay for season tkts-Do you ?
January 14th, 2018 at 1:22 pm
SB
I think it’s a great draft
January 14th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
SB you got to redo it because Ivey is not in the draft he is stayyng at UF, but love drafting UGA rb
January 14th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Thank you Sir. You should try one. They are kind of fun.
https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/
January 14th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
When’s the last time we overhauled our scouting (college & pro) department ?
January 14th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Lol Thanks Dusty. I only chose from what was in front of me. \
Actually glad he is staying at UF if it is so.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Man, the Jags taking it the Steelers.
Watching the faces on dumb fans in Pennsylvania losing at home is always fantastic.
That defense is sooo good it’s really up to Bortles to do something dumb to turn it around for the Steelers. If I was the Jags I’m not sure I’d pass again in this game.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
SB thanks yes!!!!
January 14th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
All that being said these same writers and most of us thought this same team was going to be good this year so what does Stroud know?
January 14th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
How did Jacksonville mange to get swept by Tennessee.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
manage
January 14th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
If I remember correctly Jax played Tenn for the second time in week 17. Jax didn’t need that game but Titans did
January 14th, 2018 at 1:40 pm
Go all in on Barkley please
January 14th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
LakeLand – Because the Titans played the Jags in week 2 when they still were dealing with a new coach and a new system, and in week 17 because the Jags were literally playing for nothing as they had already secured their spot in the playoffs and homefield in the 1st round.
This is where you consider schedule AND everything else. While the Titans are a bunch of creampuffs who took advantage of a cupcake schedule to squeak their way into the playoffs, the Jags are built in the classic Bucs mold when they had Dilfer at QB. It’s a struggle every single week because of the QB, but you know that defense will make every single game a struggle for the other team – and that type of defense travels well on the road. Creampuffs meanwhile get blown out when facing teams not lead by Alex Smith or Matt Ryan in the playoffs.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
What is Pittsburgh doing?!?! You don’t run a sweep against a fast and good defense. What a dumb call.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
lake….it would be nice if JBF had an edit feature…I go another subject website that has one that remains active for maybe 15 minutes…after that no changes
January 14th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
True AlteredEgo
January 14th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Rod
Right on buddy. Lovin watching the jags beat down the crap talking steelers. Bucs and licht want a blueprint to have a chance next year look no further than the jags. Dline dline dline and more dline. Especially if youre keeping mike smith. A great d gives you a chance every week and more so in january. Wonder if chris saggy baker if dry humping a tree today while the jags and their fans are watching playoff football. Man do we need an aggressive defensive coordinator. Watching games like this really make me dislike mike smith more.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:47 pm
Pittsburgh offense hasn’t been the same since they got rid of Bruce Arians
January 14th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
Ugh, everytime Bortles drops back I expect an INT for a TD. Seriously, if I was the Jags, I’m not sure I’d pass again this game. You could have Bortles on some design runs perhaps but putting the ball in Bortles hands to throw the ball is just asking for disaster.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
I think the biggest offseason move by the Jags was getting rid of HC Gus Bradley.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
HAHAHAHA the Steelers fans booing their team in the 1st half… fantastic!
I don’t care in the least about Jacksonville, an earthquake could hit the state and the entire city could slide into the ocean and I wouldn’t care in the least, but boy do I love watching home fans lose.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Hey Steelers fans, what were those tickets selling for?
LOL!
January 14th, 2018 at 1:56 pm
OK now I expect the NFL to step in to make this more competitive. Expect Pittsburgh to now suddenly get a few calls to try to make it close – although even with the refs on their side I’m not sure Pittsburgh can get more than a FG before the half ends.
January 14th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
I support Pittsburgh because of Maurkice Pouncey.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
What do Jacksonville and Atlanta have in common?
Both canned Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith.
So, naturally that is who we turn our franchise over to.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
The only way you beat the Bucs great defenses was to run the ball straight up the gut with a big back and to stick with it – if you tried to use the run to set up the pass, you were in huge trouble. The Jags aren’t the Bucs, but just saying Steelers, you might want to stick the little that is working.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Look at the rats jumping ship. lol. This is nothing compared to 0-26.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
For real watching makes me want Licht fired more and more. How has he picked players like Michael Johnson, Chris Baker , Robert Aguyao and Vernon Hargreaves over ANY quality d lineman is just unreal. Goodness he looks worse every playoff game that is played. I mean look a jax they signed Malik Jackson and Calis Campbell then drafted Fowler and traded for Darias and they did all of that in 2 years! It’s not that hard if you have any clue what you are doing. They got four good to great d lineman and in that same span plus 7 years we have gotten one and that is soft a** McCoy.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Hey SB, Did a draft of my own. not sure how realistic it is with Payne in round 3. But he was there so i took him
1: R1P7 EDGE BRADLEY CHUBB NORTH CAROLINA STATE
2: R2P6 RB SONY MICHEL GEORGIA
3: R3P5 DL DA’RON PAYNE ALABAMA
4: R4P8 C BRADLEY BOZEMAN ALABAMA
5: R5P7 CB MIKE HUGHES UCF
6: R6P6 WR DANTE PETTIS WASHINGTON
7: R6P30 EDGE LORENZO CARTER GEORGIA
8: R7P19 G BRENDAN MAHON PENN STATE
What do ya’ll think?
January 14th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Geez, that was a blatant a push-off by Brown as you’ll ever see, there’s 7 for the Steelers from the refs – just as expected.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Ndog
You forgot about DE Yannick Ngakoue
2016 8.0 Sacks
2017 10.0 Sacks
3rd round draft pick by the Jags in 2016
11 picks after Roberto Aguayo
January 14th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
That Brown push-off TD is even more annoying knowing that Mike Evans gets called for doing 1% of that.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
If Fournette is injured that can really change the entire game because it means Bortles has to be more involved, which means more chances of an offensive turnover leading to a TD.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:13 pm
Disgusting flat disgusting and everyone wants to blame Jameis and Dirk how about we start blaming the dumba** responsible for “building” this crap show.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:18 pm
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!!
January 14th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
A bunch of posters here think Mariota is better than Roethlisberger.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Posted this yesterday but the 2002 Bucs defense in the playoffs gave up 31 points total, but it scored 28 points, meaning it gave up a net of 3 points total, or 1 point per game. Note that all 3 games were against top 10 offenses in the NFL.
Anywho the Jags look great today… but I have some bad news for Jags fans, they’re not the 2002 Bucs and they’ll lose pretty bad in NE. I was going back and forth on the Jags winning today but was generally leaning towards them winning so I don’t hate the guys or think lowly of them – it’s just a match-up issue and a gut feeling.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
For some reason
Big Ben looked a whole lot better in Bruce Arians offense. He don’t look the same in Todd Haley offense.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Wow, that was a great throw by and a huge play by Big Ben there – they finally scored without help from the refs. Good job.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
I don’t know Rod. We had NE Whooped if not for 3 missed FGs and a missed PAT.
The majority of Brady’s throws yesterday were dinks. I think Jax has the speed to cover those and their DL is Eons better than ours. If you put a gun to my head and forced me to bet I would go Jax
January 14th, 2018 at 2:44 pm
After watching both players highlights I am Totally sold on Christian Wilkins over Bradley Chubb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrxoaZlnjDw……Chubb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEsswczmQzk………Wilkins
January 14th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
SB – I really don’t take much away from the Bucs game against NE, being at home versus on the road is huge, and obviously being the playoffs is huge. Something very overlooked in that game was how windy it was that night, it was really blowing and affected both teams, Brady did not look that good.
But for a Jags-Pats matchup it’s just a gut feeling about the stage the game will be on, the game being in NE and a clash of styles. More so than any team in the league the Pats will change their game plan based on their opponent, there is no strict style that the Pats play. So if the Jags are weak running it up the gut, the Pats will do that. The Pats will take whatever you give them.
The other big part is the Pats defense will give the Jags offense a really hard time, much more so than the Steelers.
Some teams just don’t match up well with other teams. The Jags match-up well with the Steelers as the Steelers will abandon the run and try to throw deep which will result in giving the Jags defense time to make plays. The Pats won’t do that, they’ll nickel and dime you all the way down the field and will stick with anything that works.
That’s what I think now, by next week maybe I think differently. Or maybe Bortles comes out and throws 3 INTs in the second half and loses the game this week… but I don’t expect it since I don’t think they’ll let him throw even 3 more passes if he throws a pick.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
After watching both players highlights I am Totally sold on Christian Wilkins over Bradley Chubb.
I posted the links in my last comment but of course they are awaiting moderation
January 14th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
SB
Tried out the fanspeak, pretty cool except it refreshed and wanted me to start over, probably because I did it on my phone lol. Made it four rounds though… this is what I got:
1st: Bradley Chubb DE NC State
2nd: Billy Price G/C Ohio State
3rd: Nick Chubb HB Georgia
4th: JC Jackson CB Maryland
January 14th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Well regardless of our weapons on offense the offense still sucks. Our defense sucks, but lets keep the coaches and GM.
January 14th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Lol…..Nice Manziel. I see you went the same positions in the same order that I did.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Nick Chubb wont be there in the 3rd.
I predict a .500 season next round.
Is 8-8 ok?
January 14th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
The Bucs shouldn’t be worrying about drafting a RB, they need to draft DE, DE, CB, CB, CB, S, S and maybe an OT. They got 8 picks, and the top 7 should be defensive players.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
MadMax: 8-8 wouldn’t be that bad, I have them 7-9. That schedule will again be tough as you’d expect the NFC East to be better next year and they’re in the rotation – and I doubt the NFC South is going to get any easier, not unless someone like Brees retires.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
Max….Chubb has been there in the third round in every simulation I have done. It is rather surprising though.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
Sony Michelle has also been available in the third in every draft.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:11 pm
I wasn’t going to draft a RB Rod but Chubb sitting there in the third round is too good to pass up. I agree that we don’t need a RB as bad as most here do but I Do want the best OL available in the 2nd round.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Walter football has us taking RB Ronald Jones UCS with Chubb going 4 picks later. I don’t watch any USC football so I don’t know about him.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:23 pm
SB – I haven’t paid much attention to college at all so I’m out of the loop for the most part, I get more into it as we get closer to the draft. I’m not completely against taking an OT if there is one sitting there in the 2nd round that could be a top LT, thus sliding D Smith to RT, but it would need to be a huge steal with no d-linemen of any value available. RB just shouldn’t even be on the board as an option as there are plenty available in FA and those picks have to spent on depth for the defense with the hope of getting a starter. Trading down from that top pick if the Bucs can get a good deal would be ideal since they need so much help in terms of defensive depth, but again this far out, before the combine, it’s hard to know how it will go.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
What about S Derwin James?
January 14th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
I posted that Yannick Ngakoue has 10.0 sacks on the season. He actually has 12.0 sacks on the season.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Derwin James is the highest ranked Polk County prospect coming out this season.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
I feel ya Rod. I watch more College Football than Pros by Far the older I get. Mostly because it helps me be more informed for the Combine and subsequently the Draft. However I mostly watch SEC and ACC games. I do watch other Conferences when I have the time but I make it a point to watch those two the most.
I am with you though on the RB situation. I think we are good with Barber and a FA, AS LONG as we fix the OL. Fix BOTH Lines and everything will fall into place IMO.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
We aren’t even close to being 8-8
Jason is an okay scout but he has zero roster building vision
January 14th, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Lakeland I love me some James but S is just not as big a need as DL and OL
January 14th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
Bradley Chubb
Then trade up for Payne
D line problem 60% solved
January 14th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
Destinjohnny Says:
January 14th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
We aren’t even close to being 8-8
Jason is an okay scout but he has zero roster building vision
______________
We lost 4 games by 3, one by 5, and one in Overtime.
We could Easily be 11 and 5 much less 8 and 8
I get your pessimism though. It’s a Bucs life.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
Johnny……..Watch Chubbs highlights then watch Christian Wilkins’
I think after the Combine Wilkins will be the top DL off the board. I also think there is gonna be a run on QBs so we will have our choice at 7
January 14th, 2018 at 3:43 pm
Wow, that was an amazing catch by Brown there.
January 14th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
It was HORRIBLE coverage by Bouye.
January 14th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Destinjohnny Says:
January 14th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
We aren’t even close to being 8-8
Jason is an okay scout but he has zero roster building vision
Lol WHAT? Pretty sure I lost brain cells by reading that comment. I really hope you were being sarcastic. How are we not close to being 8-8 If we went 9-7 the year before (better than 8-8). Licht made this team entirely besides GMC, LVD, and DDot. We aren’t a half bad team, we just fell on bad luck this year. Trust in Coach K and Jason “See The Licht”
Patience is key
January 14th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Steelers defense is brutal but we could have both edge rushers get double digits sacks not even including sacks from GMC and we still wouldn’t make the playoffs, this coach sucks and I just don’t see him doing anything. Talk about the key players missing that’s fine but the biggest problem we have is a head coach that’s knows what he’s doing
January 14th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
Worse than “watching in January”…watching one of two teams that can steal Bucs fans in droves if they continue winning, while the paid “amateurs” running the Bucs continue to bumble.
January 14th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Hey maybe the Steelers will throw a fit and fire Tomlin – then the Bucs can change their mind about Dirk and hire him. The Glazers are still obsessed with the fact they let Tomlin go, which is why they hired Morris in the first place. Maybe the Bucs would be wise to call the Steelers tomorrow and ask if they’d be interested in a trade. Do it now while it hurts.
January 14th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
McCoy is 30
Grimes will be 36
We don’t have a player on the roster other than McCoy who can get 3 sacks
On top of that we don’t have players who can stop the run
So we have to hit them on the draft which isn’t a slam dunk.
Then they will take a few seasons to develop.
Then there is the secondary which is awful and again we need
Several drafts to get that right.
We have 1 good offensive lineman in Marpet and that is it.
So we have to get 3 d lineman
2 corners
2 Saftey
Right and left tackle guard and center.
We aren’t even close
January 14th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Destinjohnny – Actually Lavonte David is the best rusher we have – he had 7 sacks under Schiano and even had 5 sacks last year when Mike Smith had no idea how to use him until like week 12. Use David as a edge rusher at least from time to time and he’ll wreak havoc – do that AND get a couple of DE and another DT and another couple of corners and another S.
January 14th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Rod….last one of the Dungy Tree…. it has slowly died one coach at a time.
January 14th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
We run a 4-3 the backers have other responsibilities
We have to draft then draft then draft d lineman
January 14th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Destin Johnny spot on Licht is garbage if you think he has built a team in 5 years this team is 5-11 and so far from the top teams in the NFC, julio jones just caught another pass on the DBs the bucs roll out there, licht could have built a solid defense the past 4 years but didnt happen, he drafted a K, instead of a stud DE, RB and safety that were all available
January 14th, 2018 at 5:09 pm
It’s exhausting for you to always highlight the RB as the culprit to a bad run game, but never the offensive line.
January 14th, 2018 at 5:43 pm
This articles title, Long road to Travel..made me put on an old Blind Faith tune, Can’t find my way home. You young’ens probaably never heard of the rock band. Yes, My poor bucs got a long long road to travel. And don’t kid yourselves, a couple D players next yr ain’t fixin whats aling us. I’m hoping by 2021 we will be contenders. Bucs ned to bring in know how at the top like J-ville did with Coughlin as VP. They are on the right path. WE..are not.
January 14th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
******************
Big Ben goes for almost 500 yards and 5 TDS and LOSES to a Jags TEAM with Blake Bortles who barely completed 50% of his passes, was skipping balls and basically threw only a handful of good passes the whole game … TEAMS win games not QBs!
I’m really starting to like the idea of trading the #7 pick to the Bills for their #21 and #22 picks as the defense and offensive running game (including O-Line) need massive upgrades!
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January 14th, 2018 at 6:55 pm
*********************
As much as we need defense, I’d sort of like to see us SIGN defensive players in free agency, along with a RB and DRAFT offensive lineman to grow with Jameis, Marpet, Ali and the talented YOUNG offensive unit we have.
SIGN: Okafor, Gallette, LaMarcus Joyner, Bradley Nickel-Robey and a RB (Crowell, Dion Lewis, etc)
TRADE: #7 for #21 and #22
DRAFT: #21 (RT Orlando Brown), #22 (C Billy Price), 2nd (G Will Hernandez), 3rd (RB Sony Michel), 4th (DT Andrew Brown), 5th (CB.RS DJ Reed), 6th-7th rounders = BPA
Literally ALL our defensive problem areas would be solved AND we’d have quite possibly the most talented young O-Line in the entire NFL!
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January 14th, 2018 at 7:04 pm
Yeah Joe I read that first sentence in that article in the TBT and started LMAO.
“How far away are the Bucs from making the playoffs? Maybe farther than you think.”
Hahaha. No I’m still thinking they’re pretty far from making the playoffs. And with this coaching staff I would almost guarantee not getting past the wild card at any point in time.
January 14th, 2018 at 7:05 pm
We won’t do anything of the things we need to lol we will reach and move up for player’s we don’t even need lmao
January 14th, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Winnipeg I like your draft fine.
January 14th, 2018 at 7:09 pm
I hope that’s not the case but it sure feels that way sooooo frustrated!
January 14th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
The Bucs cannot fix everything this offseason. If they try by plugging in a guy at every area of need – they will fail like always.
Like always.
The Bucs need to go ALL IN and focus on the most important area first – a position where premium picks and free agents really matter… the trenches.
The Bucs need to add 8 new players to the offensive and defensive lines to come in and COMPETE with the incumbents, improve the starters, and seriously bolster the depth. By going ALL IN and bringing in 8 new players the Bucs tremendously increase their odds at finding impact players on both lines. That success, as any knowledgeable football fan knows, will trickle into improvement in other areas as well.
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
January 14th, 2018 at 10:12 pm
Bucs will never win as long as Licht is GM and they play in those God awful Burger King uniforms.
January 14th, 2018 at 10:56 pm
Bortles, Keenum and Foles in the final 4 with Jameis, Stafford and Russell Wilson not even making the playoffs … TEAMS win games not QBs … obviously.
The Bucs TEAM needs a lot of help, so trading the #7 pick for the #21 and #22 makes a lot of sense.