“Borderline Catastrophic”
March 12th, 2018
Prepare to freak out.
That’s the warning from Jenna Laine of ESPN. In a worst-case scenario for the 2018 Bucs free agency season, which begins today at noon when the free agency dinner bell rings, the nightmare for is if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht cannot find an edge rusher, Laine writes.
Going into the draft without a bona fide edge rusher would be borderline catastrophic, as the draft doesn’t feature a great group of immediate impact guys outside of Bradley Chubb. The Bucs went into last season banking on healthy returns for defensive ends Noah Spence and Jacquies Smith; Spence wound up on injured reserve, undergoing a second shoulder surgery in as many years, and Smith isn’t even on the team anymore. The Bucs also vowed to get nastier along their offensive line this offseason, and it would likely take more than just drafting Quenton Nelson at No. 7 to do that.
Well, Joe has some depressing news Prepare to panic. There isn’t any decent edge rusher out there in free agency unless some general is too mentally zapped from the time change and unexpectedly releases a good one.
The only way Joe can see any sort of a threat of an edge rush coming to the Bucs is if Licht loses his mind and throws a second round pick at Seattle to land shady restricted free agent Dion Jordan.
Given Licht didn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t cough up enough for Robert Quinn or Michael Bennett, what makes anyone think Licht would overbid for a guy like Jordan, who has a helluva lot more question marks than answers.
Then again, that is what a panicked team does. And the Bucs are as damn close to having a reason to panic for an edge rusher as Joe has ever seen.
This is what happens when an NFL team thoroughly neglects a critical position for over a decade.
Nightmare? You damn right!
March 12th, 2018 at 10:09 am
HOW?
HOW can a team, over a DECADE not draft ONE decent edge rusher?
Joe says “This is what happens when an NFL team thoroughly neglects a critical position for over a decade.”
This is spot on and it’s not the GM, it’s not the coach, it’s THE GLAZER BOYS!
That’s how this happens. Top / Down effect. They control and are in charge of the direction of this franchise. They have no clue. And won’t let anyone who might fix this mess spend ANY money to do it.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:10 am
And what bonafide free agent edge rusher is out there? We already know they won’t get one because we missed out on the trades. There are morning but rotational hitting the market. Unless he makes a trade we’ve already failed in this area. The freak out happened when we didn’t get Robert Quinn
March 12th, 2018 at 10:12 am
Missing out on Quinn was the clear whiff…Bennett brought too much baggage. I see some Will The Thrill Clarke and Ryan Russell in the Buc’s future. Top 3 pick for the new regime in 2019 forthcoming.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:12 am
You think Licht trades up to Indy @3 and grabs Chubb?
March 12th, 2018 at 10:12 am
More crack reporting from the immortal Jenna Laine everybody. It must be nice to get paid good money to tell everyone something they already know.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:13 am
Having old, injured DE and no draft picks would be time to “panic”!!!!!!!!!! Could be possible while their is not much for the traditional 4-3 DE, that it might be easier to find the players for the 3-4!!!!!!!
And the “real” fans want to draft to fix the defense, and not patch the defense with old injured players only to have the same hole/problem next year!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 12th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Old news but not fake news
March 12th, 2018 at 10:16 am
🙂
Hey Bucs fans….lol…who was it on JBF that called Jenna Laine about a week ago or so, a “Better Homes and Gardens reporter that is somehow reporting on football” …?? Lol. Forgot who said that, maybe @Tmax?… but it was funny. She seems nice, but the earth-shattering revelations are indeed somewhat a bit light, and she is awfully positive and careful in general.
Yes, the Bucs do need a DE or two, indeed. WATCH Vinny Curry.
Go Bucs!
March 12th, 2018 at 10:17 am
This may seem irrational but the first 4 picks should be pass rushers. If we could get 2 out of 4 that can contribute right away then we’ve done well. Fill offensive line needs through free agency
March 12th, 2018 at 10:22 am
I we trade the #7 to the Bills for #21, #22 and #96 we could double-dip on DEs at #21 and #22 and take any two of Marcus Davenport, Arden Key, Harold Landry and Sam Hubbard … I also wouldn’t mind Denico Autry in free agency as the guy forces fumbles ad batts down passes like crazy and got a decent amount of sacks last year.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:23 am
I’m still holding onto hope that Licht’s plan is to beef up the interior of the DLine BIG-TIME which should allow our DEs & LBs to be more effective. Looking for an interior that features GMC, Poe, McDonald & either Vea or Payne. If we keep Ayers, Spence, Gholston, Clarke & Russell then draft a couple of DEs reasonably high I think we could do OK this year. Especially if Smitty blitzes the LBs a lot more.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:28 am
Stop freaking out Sheeple.
Licht has a plan, calm down and wait.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:38 am
It wouldn’t shock me if our first 2 or 3 picks were on the D-line because of this. I think they might target a guy like Alex Okafor in FA and then draft a couple DEs
March 12th, 2018 at 10:39 am
At DT Sign Sheldon Richardson or Star Lotulelei, and draft a Young body in the draft.
At DE Sign Julius Peppers, Alex Okafor, Pernell McPhee, Kony Ealy. And draft 1 or 2 young guys.
Not exactly a dynamite group, but its an upgrade over what we have currently.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:42 am
Licht had a better offer for Quinn than the Dolphins had. They chose to move him out of the NFC. Not his fault
See The Licht
March 12th, 2018 at 10:42 am
I’m surprised there has been no mention of Dee Ford.
He’s got an excellent track record as an edge rusher
March 12th, 2018 at 10:42 am
Not a surprise We knew this.
Alex okafor will be the guy (coming of Achilles)
March 12th, 2018 at 10:42 am
lol…..licht has a plan…..looks like his plan is to get fired after the season….lol….
I hope he get big mo, Sheldon Richardson and kony ealy…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
March 12th, 2018 at 10:46 am
“sheeple”?! That’s funny!
I heard Licht plans to trade down and acquire more picks so that he can land that long-snapper from FSU and get Aguayo back!
True story!
March 12th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Which Aguayo, you ask? Does it matter?!
March 12th, 2018 at 10:47 am
We have a pass rush issue?
Never noticed that.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:55 am
Good stuff esp licht has a plan to get fired……the guy has built nothing, maybe he is waiting n aguayo 2.0 or the UF kicker or some guy who lit up the indoor candaian football hockey combo, sick of his craft moves they sucked
March 12th, 2018 at 10:58 am
Gaines adams, Michael Johnson, Robert Ayers, Noah Spence ect. Name one of these plays who the Majority of Buc’s fans didn’t believe would help our pass rush. Yes there are many others, but in no instance do I believe that our coaches and GM weren’t shooting for the next Simeon Rice. One thing we learn on this website is it is sure easier to criticize past failures than it is to understand that top Edge Rushers are rare. There is not one fan out there that would bet his life savings that Michael Bennet or Quin would have come in here and turned this team around. So many factors are at play. What bothers me is that I read that both Bennett and Quin turned down the best monetary offer (Tampa) for a chance to Play for another team. Aquib Talib turned down the 49’ers best offer to play for the Rams. These older players have money, they want to be on high percentage chance teams to win Championships. It is not our management team. And yes you can and should expect many players to pass up decent offers for the Buc’s, a small market team that goes through coaches every 2 years and has lost a lot over the past 10 years.So stop looking for someone to blame all the time and consider the overall problems that confront are team. Then support their effort to improve instead of constantly predicting gloom and doom. Another thing you can take to the bank. About 95% of Buc fans return to normal lives after the season, only a very small majority sit around the entire offseason preoccupied with hate, discouragement, and “Borderline Catastrophic,” on their minds.
March 12th, 2018 at 11:06 am
this is why you trade for quinn jason
March 12th, 2018 at 11:11 am
The Quinn trade is the one that hurts. Quinn could be productive another 3-4+ years easy and average like 7-8 sacks per year. Bennet is probably done in 1-2 years and is already declining.
March 12th, 2018 at 11:43 am
This is simple –
Sign T. Johnson at CB
Sign either Jensen @ center or Norwell @ guard
Sign D. Lewis or C. Hyde at RB
Sign Star Lou @ DT
trade with Cleveland for the #1 pick and get Chubb, you don’t need your #1 next year if you win the SB. you can even give up your 2nd or 3rd this year, whichever you give up get either a safety or your future RB
March 12th, 2018 at 11:51 am
@martinii- Stop trying to bring levity to our insanity!
Actually, I’ll take your statement a step further. It’s not as simple as “insert player here= instant pass-rush”. As we have seen, it takes more than one competent player to actually be good (see GMC!). So lets argue for a sec that Bennett came back here. So we have a couple of competent d-linemen now. What of the secondary? If I gameplan a good d-line, I’m going to throw quick reads and slants. A secondary consisting of what we have will negate the benefit of an improved d-line. So, you see, it’s not JUST about getting good d-linemen. There has to be a blueprint that consists of pass-rush and secondary players. We have neither, at the moment.
Define “normal”.
March 12th, 2018 at 11:57 am
Our best shot at a pass rush, is Noah Spence and Kwon Alexander.
Lined up as Rush Linebackers in a 3-4 defense
Draft Vita Vee for a Nose tackle.
Gholsten would be fine as a 3-4 DE
McCoy or McDaniel can play other DE.
Spence is a Rush linebacker. The same position he played in college.
But they wont.
“In todays NFL, you cant win, if you cant rush the passer”
Said me for 3 straight years.
March 12th, 2018 at 11:58 am
I bleed pewter and red,
Have you been listening at all or hard on the bourbon today? Aside from Chubb there are no stand out edge rushers in the draft that can better the team.
The Bucs are going to a three four alignment and are going to use linebackers and occasional safety blitzes to try and pressure ..If suhs available let’s hope the bucs throw good money at him .Draft an interior linemen and go from there.1st pick Quenton nelson.2nd pick T.J ward 3rd pick a running back since the draft is fairly deep with RB.
March 12th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
This is all just noise.
Priority #1 – Norwell
Then draft q. Nelson
Then bring in a hoard of Dline guys with remaining picks and free agency. Let them compete
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
March 12th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
Bucsfanman
Thanks for not stomping me down to a full length zipper with insults. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Normal is a Day or week When The Tampa Bay Buc’s don’t compell us to speculate and analyze every move Jason licht or Dirk Koetter or the Glazers or any number of players might stimulate. Oh don’t get me wrong I’m one who being retired have fixated on all things Buc’s. Just Saying that the vast majority of the fans leave it at the door until next season, Maybe follow the Rays or Lightening, take a vacation or go to a movie. Go Buc’s
March 12th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Well said Martinii.
March 12th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
I like lorenzo carter as pass rusher #2 in this draft. Dion jordan isnt worth a 2nd round pick and it would be a horrible decision to use the 2nd round pick on him. At least bennett and quinn had numerous successful pass rushing seasons. Marcus davenport would be a close 3rd. I hate the tape on key and landry. I just hope licht is watching Lorenzo Carter.
March 12th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Capt. Tim- What makes good teams, um good, is that their play-calling is fluid. A blind man could see that what we were doing wasn’t working, yet we did not adjust. I’m not sure that this staff would know how to utilize superior talent if they had it. Adjust schemes?! Don’t make me laugh!
March 12th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
sign Suh, take almost the whole line to block him and McCoy. Ayers or whoever should be a le to walk to the quarterback
March 12th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Bucfanman.
Agreed- but thats s different problem.
Lousy players
Lousy coaches
Its a death spiral
March 12th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
I’d still take Vea with the 1st pick. He plays with tenacity and nastiness. We need that. Chubss gonna be long gone. I’d take DE Okoronkwo out of Okla with the 2nd pick.. And I truly go after that available running back out of San fran in FA. Bucs gotta get a rush from somewheres. Everything else will fall into place if we can stop somebody
March 12th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
Capt. Tim- I don’t get it. Apparently, neither does ownership! Therein lies the REAL problem.
I digress, and frankly, I MUST be masochistic to be a fan of this franchise!!!
March 12th, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Loving that week 17 win 🙂
March 12th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
@Bucslifesentance
Yeah man, we could be in control of our own destiny. Now we have to hope that there is a made rash of trade ups and that 4 QB’s go in ahead of us. That way we have a guaranteed shot of at least getting either Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson, or Saquon Barkley.
March 12th, 2018 at 2:28 pm
I’m still banking on us going after Suh
March 12th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
If Chubb is gone, get Vea and in the next 2 rounds get whomever is available as the best pass rusher. Tell freaking Mike Smith to get creative and start blitzing more like other teams do even if he has to go to a 3-4 defense. His pathetic approach in using his players is past due to produce or get his ass out of here. One trick pony who can’t figure out how to adjust once teams figure out his piss poor plan of attack.
March 12th, 2018 at 4:20 pm
LOOK FOR THIS SHIP TO SINK ONCE AGAIN IN THE DEEPEST PART OF TAMPA BAY…….THEY WILL BE A BUNCH OF ASSES BEING FIRE COME DEC. AND THE GLAZERS WILL SELL THE TEAM !!!
March 12th, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Suh would be such a great pick up!
March 12th, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Trade GMC and next years 1st for Indy’s 3rd spot so we can get Chubb…..and if Vita is still there after #12, start wheeling and dealing for another trade up to land him too!
March 12th, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Joe,I thought I heard on here that our GM has a plan,this is what I have been freaking out for the last three weeks.we had two good pass rushers in sight and couldn’t grab one.what a damn mess we have,well we are gonna find out if we have a good GM now!stay tuned!!!
March 12th, 2018 at 9:59 pm
Buckman
Agreed- except for the Glazers selling the team.
They dont care wins or loses
Its a business to them- and they are makng a FORTUNE!!
Spend low, Rake in the huge TV contract money.
They make a fortune- if RJ stadium is empty.
Any body buying tickets or jerseys is just a perk
No way they sell. We’ll just start yet another rebuild.