Assigning Blame

November 19th, 2018

Bucs GM Jason Licht

Team Glazer may already have a hazmat team on stand-by to disinfect One Buc Palace after an ousting of the coaching staff and front office in 42 short days.

Who could blame them? But they also might have a very different approach.

General manager Jason Licht does not coach. His power is limited when it comes to wins and losses.

Dirk Koetter has pushed so many wrong buttons this season, it almost feels like he has set a world record.

Does that fall on Licht?

Heck, the reason the Bucs are so disappointing is because they have the talent to perform better.

Still, Licht has failed in areas of roster-building.

After relying on Ryan Smith as a No. 3 cornerback entering last season, the 2018 plan in the secondary was flawed, in part, because of the Bucs’ status-woe coaches at the position and Mike Smith overseeing them. It was as if Licht shopped at Whole Foods and asked the Pinellas County Jail cooking crew to cater a dinner fit for Queen Elizabeth.

At linebacker, the Bucs are completely ravaged by injuries and are now without their three best linebackers plus promising rookie Jack Cichy. It’s a true JV unit out there. Is that on Licht?

The defensive line? The grade is incomplete. It was Licht’s offseason project and it’s been a mixed bag. Carl Nassib has shined off the street. Jason Pierre-Paul has been a steal. Gerald McCoy has been up and down, but better than many think. Will Gholston and Vita Vea have looked bad. Beau Allen and Vinny Curry have made little impact. And Noah Spence is a reminder of the Licht’s brutal 2016 draft class.

Joe has hope the D-line can gel through the final six games, but it probably would mean little with the weak talent available behind them. Any good offensive coordinator should drool at the sight of the Bucs defense.

Obviously, the Tampa Bay offense is loaded and moving the football, and no thinking person can hold Licht responsible for red zone failures. Logic says Licht has done a great job building the offense, despite many fans focusing on the offense’s warts or distorting them.

(Fun fact, Peyton Barber started getting a significant number of carries 15 games ago. Since then he has 243 rushes for 966 yards, 27 receptions and just two fumbles.)

Bucs special teams have been subpar. And that’s on Licht.

The Licht draft record is filled with great highs and great lows. And his free agency batting average isn’t high enough to have anyone say he’s good in free agency.

Only Team Glazer knows where it assigns blame to Licht — and where he has been absolved by ownership because of bad coaching.

Joe firmly believes only a truly miracle finish saves Dirk Koetter’s job. But Licht likely has more rope remaining than Kotter short strand.

Joe believes Licht could be spared. He’ll definitely need the defensive line to get significantly better soon and for one or more rookies to look special, in addition to Jameis Winston needing to fully rebound and lead the team to a few wins down the stretch.

If Licht can hit those marks, then he’ll also need owners with “courage.”

75 Responses to “Assigning Blame”

  1. Larry Says:

    The Bucs need to clean house, period. Too many bad decisions on and off the field by HC and GM.They would be better served by hiring some real football people to help with the search for new HC and GM. Someone that knows the NFL inside and out. Evaluating and developing talent has been horrible. The draft and free agency has been a hit or miss, mostly miss. Too much money wasted on average or below average players. The Bucs have yet to hit a a true game wrecker on either side of the ball.

  2. Joe Blahak Says:

    Like Licht but Vea and Jones are looking like huge busts…Quentin Nelson was the pick, needed to go get him…ugh

  3. Doctor_berto Says:

    Licht should be the first to go. Wayyy too many misses in the first and second rounds. The Vea pick should seal his fate. Should have been fired immediately after taking Vea over Derwin.

  4. Anonymous Says:

    He’s likely done. A gm can only survive so many coaching changes. I personally wanted to assign most blame to coaching and give him the befit if the doubt but the sheer number of misses in the 2nd round is a lot to dismiss. . Maybe they play better elsewhere but getting hard to keep making excuses for him and this year’s draft looks like a turd so far. Still holding out hope for Vea but other than that whitehead and Davis are only good picks.

  5. Guzzie Says:

    No thank you, nothing to see here, moving on, are fing kidding bro, 5 years, I repeat 5 years, you can’t build a defensive line, secondary, or offensive line in 5 years, with all the money this guy spends on FAs, later

  6. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Head Coach: Vic Fangio

    Offensive Coordinator/TE: **Mike Mularkey
    • Offensive Line Coach: **Russ Grimm
    • Run Game Coordinator: Rick Dennison
    • Quarterbacks Coach: Hue Jackson
    • Running Backs Coach: Maurice Carthon
    • Wide Receivers Coach: Clyde Christensen

    Defensive Coordinator: **Todd Bowles
    • Defensive Line Coach: Kacy Rodgers
    • Ass. Defensive Line Coach: La’Roi Glover
    • Outside Linebackers Coach: Kevin Greene
    • Inside Linebackers Coach: Ted Monachino
    • Cornerbacks Coach: Teryl Austin
    • Safeties Coach: Steve Jackson

    Executive VP: Rick Smith
    General Manager: Jason Licht

  7. go for the face30 Says:

    Alex Cappa, Ronald Jones, MJ Stewart, and Velcro Vea are disgusting picks. He should be gone for that alone. The cupboard is bare. Besides OJ Howard and Mike Evans, WHO are the true untouchables on this team besides those 2?? JPP is great but hes 30 and not someone they’re building around. IF Beckwith comes back and plays like the best linebacker on the team as he did last year than maybe him? Whitehead/Evans/Davis perhaps. The rest of this team should be shot out of a cannon and in to the sun

  8. Locked In Says:

    I’m not against the idea of Light getting another year.
    Would like to see Monken retained as OC. Maybe Buckner, but only as DL coach. Other than that, get rid of them.

  9. Bucsfanman Says:

    LUV- I don’t have trust in Licht’s ability. We have seen way too many misses in terms of personnel.

  10. Cs2 Says:

    Head coach: McCarthy or Harbaugh
    OC: Monkin
    DC: Teryl Austin

  11. Not there yet Says:

    Nobody is performing even the veterans who were already here so in the scenario how can you blame a guy when the coaches suck so bad. He goes unless the new coach wants to kee him the first year like say a Bruce Arians. Everyone said no excuses because we had the talent in house, it was said all off-season then because of incompetent coaching no one is panning out

  12. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Light’s fate may depend on the Glazer’s choice for the next HC…..if that is a person who wants all the keys….Licht is gone.

    I’m not quite sure the Glazers have the stomach or will to can everyone so Licht may survive.

    He needs to stop getting creative and cute with his draft picks…….Example….the entire world had different choices on their board for RB & CB in round two…..Licht picked 3 players there when there were many other likely better choices….
    His gamble on Marpet paid off….but he doubled down with Cappa and that may have failed.
    I actually will give him a pass on Aguayo…..who knew he would melt down.
    Spence is troubling.
    Actually, I think Hargreaves will be fine.

  13. Bucsfanman Says:

    Blame it on the rain!
    Yea, that’s the ticket!

  14. First Down Tampa Bay Says:

    Sad times in Tampa Bay.

  15. Frank813 Says:

    Licht-
    Winston instead of Mariota after Dungy said to pick Mariota.
    Entire 2016 draft.
    Ronald Jones instead of Kerryon Johnson.
    Alex Kappa
    Passing on Donte Jackson..
    Isn’t that enough?

  16. Troy Says:

    Licht has to be gone. The team has no depth except at wide receiver. We have too many high draft picks who cannot play in this league.

  17. Doctor Stroud Says:

    It’s time for a confidence poll on Licht’s tenure in Tampa Bay. #PaidFloridaVacation

  18. Duthsty Rhothdes Says:

    Licht is a horrible GM, drafting 2 MLBs with knee problems then the 2018 draft where the first 3 picks are terrible….carloton davis will stick around and be a solid nfl player, but then add in the 2016 draft and the horrible FA moves, please get rid of this clown he does not deserve anymore time screwing around with his kooky draft moves, drafting ppl from D3 places when you have then entire SEC and ACC conference teams within a car drive to evaluate legit nfl talent

  19. GhostofSchiano Says:

    Joe has hope the D-line can gel through the final six games,

    That’s pretty bad it takes 10 games for a unit to get it’s act together and play consistently good football.

  20. D-Rome Says:

    Jason Licht deserves to be fired more than anyone in this organization. He has whiffed on the 2016 draft and the 2018 draft. It’s not too early to tell on 2018. Even in limited games rookies should flash a little and show everyone why there were drafted where they were drafted. It hasn’t happened.

    He whiffed on his head coaching decision. Dirk Koetter turns out was not an upgrade as head coach. The 2017 and 2018 Buccaneers are *worse* than the 2015 Buccaneers. Even if one wants to argue Lovie deserved to be fired the team could have done better. Koetter is Licht’s guy. Jay-Miss is Licht’s guy.

    A GM should not have another opportunity to pick a new coach and new franchise QB.

  21. Not there yet Says:

    Winston Better than mariotta who is hurt again, he’d get killed behind this line. The defensive line has depth but you can’t have 3 linebackers out and another you drafted but expect to have talented depth that deep, that’s madden fantasy football. Corners did have depth to start but his big misstep was paying grimes all that money instead of going after a young cornerback, I knew grimes wasn’t going to do anything this year. I’ve never heard of anyone contemplating retirement come back at corner to even play decent football

  22. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    If Licht is judged by Vita Vea, then he gets more time, because Vea needs more time.

    I swear, some of you would have called Sapp a bust his first year.

  23. Bobby M. Says:

    Licht was given the opportunity to pick any coach he wanted….He picked Koetter. The Glazers will measure Licht by whether the next coach wants him….Odds aren’t in his favor to say the least.

  24. joestang Says:

    Licht made so many bad picks that he should be the first to go.

  25. SC Bucs Fan Says:

    The Bucs are the best team I have ever seen when they get down by 30

  26. SC Bucs Fan Says:

    And, on a bright note, we aren’t horrible with a coach signed for 10 years

  27. El Buco Realisto Says:

    This all sounds soooo familiar!!!!!!! It was not that long ago when the local media and sheep all said how talented and loaded the roster was and how Coach Schiano and company was holding all these great talents back!!!!!!!!!

    Sheep never learn!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  28. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    D-Rome Says:
    “He has whiffed on the 2016 draft and the 2018 draft.”

    He has not whiffed on the 2018 draft. You say that because you wanted someone else to be drafted by us, but calling this draft a failure is going too far.

    Vea will be fine. Sapp sucked his first year too. He was even demoted to backup part of that season.

    Rojo is a Sims type of back. He’s improving throughout his rookie season. By next year he will be productive.

    Davis has been great and is getting better.

    Stewart is going through rookie growing pains, but we saw in camp that he will be much better.

    Whitehead has been great and is getting better with experience.

    Alex Cappa has the least experience right now, but you can expect all the rookies to get playing time when all 8 make the roster. If they didn’t think he was good, they’d have released him by now to address injuries.

    How you can call this a bad draft is beyond me. Even if only half of them work out, that’s four good players. That would make it a GREAT draft.

  29. Kobe Faker Says:

    “Jason Gump has the POWER inside 1 Buc place…

    FULL CONTROL INCLUDING THE MEDIA (WEBSITES & CHEAP BEER)

    You wont get a truthful assessment of Gumps failures from the local Tampa high school media and websites…

    “YOU DONT GO AGAINST GUMP IF YOU ACCESS”

    Kobe “1BucMole” Faker

  30. 813bucboi Says:

    Kris Richard- HC
    todd Bowles-DC
    hue jackson-OC

    bruce arians- President of FB ops

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  31. go for the face30 Says:

    Hey Bonzai – if you Wanna go ahead and throw Sapps name in to the mix when comparing Vita Vea – let me know when Vita Vea gets 3 sacks, an interception and a touchdown, and most importantly a ton of QB pressures. The Bucs can’t even get a PULSE out of your boy Velcro Vea.

    Oh hey meanwhile, this guy by the name of Quenton Nelson – a name that joe had laughed off ALL offseason is the first offensive lineman in NFL History to be named rookie of the month and now Andrew Luck looks like a stud again. Derwin James – Stud. OTher rookies in first round – Studs. When you pick that high in the first round, you are to draft guys that makes a GD impact. Vea has made none, but hey you’re doing a great job of sticking your fingers in your ears and screaming away from reality

  32. jjbucfan Says:

    Koetter still hasn’t been fired? Only the Bucs

  33. 813bucboi Says:

    thats 3 former HC’s for Kris Richard to lean on……all 3 brilliant football minds….

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  34. doolnutts Says:

    Personally, I don’t even think any of this matters. The way the Glazers hire we mind as well just keep Licht and Koetter. And I don’t mean that as a defense of Licht or Koetter. Based on previous Glazer hires it’s clear to me that these guys have ZERO clue as to what they are doing.

    Whatever they decide on doing I think the first move should be hiring a President of Football Ops. A Tom Coughlin/Jags type of role in which someone that actually knows football can go ahead and bring in a GM/Coach/Philosophy. Until this happens I really don’t think anything else matters. I would bet money if there is a new hand-picked Glazer coaching staff next year that those guys would also stink.

    Make no mistake this is not a push for the status quo of Koetter/Licht it is a post about a total lack of faith for the bucs ownership.

  35. Duthsty Rhothdes Says:

    Bonzai you are out of your skull, licht has whiffed on the 2018 nfl draft, vea is not worthy of the pick esp what could have been brought in besides vea, licht has had an overall pattern of having no plan on building a franchise with an identity he is a horrible GM and should be first to go. You build a winning sustainable team with a solid defense and a great running game he has done none of that, love mike evans but draft aaron donald as the cornerstone of a great defense…lichts idea draft TEs and tall wrs, that got you 2-14 and 5 years later maybe 4-12, beat it licht next up

  36. Marine Buc Says:

    I will never forgive Licht for picking a worthless kicker in the second round. That was embarrassing…

  37. Andrew Says:

    He’s drafted 3 Dlineman in his entire tenure!! It’s inexcusable.

    Drafted a turnover prevalent qb only to surround him with no running game, an average oline at best during his career, the league’s worst defense, and 6 pass catchers. Sounds like a recipe to throw it 40+ times a game.

  38. Ruggyup Says:

    Another repeat analysis built around key words – if, likely, miracle, could, Glazer, absolve and more. Shoulda woulda coulda np longer covers the mess. Positive bold action starting from the top is the only beginning with a promising finale.

  39. Jonathan Lipnicki Says:

    Sounds like a few folks have dipped into the Jason Licht Ale…including Pear Shaped Petey D. who is still holding out hope for his 11-5 season ( hint: mathematically impossible ). Licht has presided over two epic failures at the head coaching position…and yes…VV will always be a bust at the 12th overall pick…almost prefer former 7th rounder Stevie T. at this point.

  40. Troy Says:

    The fact that only the D coordinator has been fired is telling. This is a sh1t show and it starts at the top.

  41. jlbucs Says:

    The Vea and Jones picks were so bad that people aren’t even talking about Aguayo. Let’s keep Licht on and maybe he can pick Ricky Aguayo in the first round. This is the definition of insanity. The fan base, the community, heck even the NFL deserve better than this hammered dog s__t product they are marching onto the field week in and week out.

  42. D-Rome Says:

    Hey Bonzai – if you Wanna go ahead and throw Sapps name in to the mix when comparing Vita Vea – let me know when Vita Vea gets 3 sacks, an interception and a touchdown, and most importantly a ton of QB pressures. The Bucs can’t even get a PULSE out of your boy Velcro Vea.

    That’s exactly my point. I’m not saying Vea is a bust because it’s too early to call him a bust. As it is, my standard for bust is very high. If an early round player doesn’t make it past his first contract or ends up being a part time player on a minimum contract, then he’s a bust. Charles Sims is a bust. ASJ isn’t a bust even though he’s not with this team. It’s way too early to call Vea a bust but I will say this: At this point he should have flashed. He should have shown us something that makes us say that he has a bright future in the NFL. Heck, even Noah Spence flashed his rookie year but now it looks like he’s a bust. Jay-Miss, Kwon, Marpet, Evans, OJ Howard….they all flashed during their rookie years.

    Your point on Sapp is spot on. Sapp flashed plenty his rookie year. Vea has done so little it’s practically a 3-man front out there.

  43. Jolly Bucs Fan Says:

    Licht def deserves more slack than Koetter but I dunno if it will be enough slack to spare him the noose.

  44. MTM Says:

    Clean house. The GM and coaching staff is the MRSA of football operations. Lights picks generally suck. Just watching all the talent that played Sunday that could have been on the Bucs makes me sick to my stomach. The Bears QB is a better RB and QB than anything the Bucs have on the roster. Why didn’t Licht go after Mack? Our defense sucks year in and year put! They can’t find a kicker with a map and directions.

  45. 813bucboi Says:

    realist

    you know what sounds sooo familiar, dirk saying he has to coach better after another lost!!!!!!

    last year dirk had 2 5game losing streaks in the same season….we have currently lost 4straight with #5 around the corner!!!!!!!!!……

    another 5game losing streak looks sooo familiar under dirk!!!!!!!!!

    you have been dead wrong about this staff since day1!!!!!!!!!!…..smitty is out fishing and dirk will join him sooner rather than later!!!!!!!!!

    a blow out vs the 9ers and you’ll be quoting dirk U-HAUL prices sunday night!!!!!!!!!

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  46. pelbuc Says:

    You can’t have a total house cleaning and retain Licht. That would be idiotic. His record and flops speak for themselves. A respectable new HC would not want Licht picking the groceries. Bucs are alredy out of a 3d round pick next year for JPP. Glazers need to realize that thanks to Licht’s incompetency they now face a total rebuild. While they’re at it, please change those god awful uniforms.

  47. Mike Johnson Says:

    The NYG truly suck this year…which gives you an indication of where we are. Is there a level below Suck? Like I imagined, we resurrected Mannings career and made Barkley look like all world. I said it prior and knew it would happen. Now imagine the 49ers players, we’re gonna make somebody a new contract after they play us. And now, I’m having serious doubts of this Buc team beating them. This should be a great game. Two of the NFl’s biggest losers square off. The Losers Superbowl!

  48. Kobe Faker Says:

    “Anybody that knows how to beat Tampa and this putrid defense is Kyle Shanahan, a true offensive genius…they will drop 40 at RJS”

    Kobe Faker

  49. Buc believer Says:

    I hope Licht is sent packing if for no other reason we won’t be forced to look at this complete Arse clown dufus Forest Gump I am missing a chromosome face again! GO THE PHUCK AWAY!!!

  50. Jmarkbuc Says:

    TBBf

    “Light’s fate may depend on the Glazer’s choice for the next HC…..if that is a person who wants all the keys….Licht is gone.”

    With all due respect..NO AND HELL TO THE NO..on a HC being the GM or a HC having anything to do with picking the GM. That’s how Licht got here.

    Chucky and Lovie picked their GM’s…how has that worked out for us?

    PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS to choose GM..those two to choose coach.

  51. Architek Says:

    Yes there is talent on the roster but there are GAPING HOLES FROM RESIDUAL DRAFT FAILURES THAT LICHT MUST OWN.

    2016 draft and others are painful and the depth of this team is terrible. Benenoch is horrible, Pamphile is gone, and many others. Donovan Smith is mediocre at best but durable, and Jameis situation doesn’t look good either. Jeremy McPlaybook, ASJ, Stevie T, Kappa, like we can go on and on about the lack of contribution from these draft picks that’s crippling the depth of this roster.

    I don’t think Jason has built a complete team.

  52. LakeLand Says:

    Jason Licht isn’t an NFL GM
    He should a “Intern” for a Semi-Pro football team

    Where is all of this “Imaginary” talent?
    I have been hearing the same crap for over 10 years

    I have never seen a ” Talented” football team
    Go 11 seasons without a playoff berth

  53. BigMacAttack Says:

    Keeping Licht would be nothing short of complete idiocy. He wastes entire drafts. If Dirk had good players where Licht has drafted and signed busts, this would be a winning season and everyone would love Koetter. Licht has to be ultimately held responsible. He sucks.

  54. BucFamous Says:

    Not to mention, based on current returns, passing on Derwin James for Vea looks unbelievably stupid–especially when the majority of your fans called it. When the fans are picking better than the GM–move on.

    Yes, it is too early to judge Vea, but based on what we’ve seen it’s not even close. One shouldn’t even be starting and one is going to be Defensive Rookie of the year.

  55. Pickgrin Says:

    Licht gets extended on another one year deal and stays (assuming the Glazers are smart enough not to give full control to a coach again).

    Coaches are GONE!

    They might want to keep Monken to provide a bit of “continuity” for the offense – but then it would really be up to the new head coach whether or not Todd stays and in what capacity…

    This team is way too talented to be 3-7.

    The #NoExcuses theme of this off season was and still should be squarely aimed at the coaching staff. That’s the whole point of No Excuses. – The talent is here – make it work coaches.

    Straight up #FAIL in that regard…

    These Coaches are not getting the best out of the players on the roster. Not even close. Especially on defense.

    Koetter is in charge of this whole debacle – and he will pay the price with his job come January.

    Dirk’s offense has struggled in the red zone since the day he got here. Yardage stats are meaningless. Points win games. Our offense doesn’t score enough – especially early in games.

    And that Bucs defense – woof! Historically bad. Might even be worse than the ’86 Bucs Defense and I NEVER thought I’d see the likes of that level of ineptitude again. Smitty was like – “here Rod “toast” Jones – hold my beer…”

    We deserve better…

    The players deserve better. And yet every single one of them also needs to look at themselves in the mirror and say – “I too am responsible for this mess. I must work harder and smarter. Winning is all that matters. Winning is all that matters. Winning is all that matters in my profession…”

  56. Anonymous Says:

    I believe Licht could still be around for one more chance. Koetter is burnt toast. I was one of many for having him booted last year, but we had to keep him because we had to see if he could produce with more time. Look what happened. Talk about pressing the wrong buttons and all I have to say is starting Isaiah Johnson over Whitehead. Johnson is AWFUL. People seem to think the GM has all the power in the draft but he doesn’t. Coaches have a large input in the draft along with other scouts and personnel. Licht has a very close relationship with Bruce Arians if we would try to go in that direction. Hopefully Licht is on his hands and knees begging him to come here. “Only if you get new jerseys”-Arians.

  57. Buc4evr Says:

    Geez, Licht should be fired today. I think about half of the long time Bucs fans could be better GM’s than Jason. The guy has some screws lose with his draft picks, especially this year. Don’t even get me started on missing out on Derwin James or drafting the explosive Ronald Jones. It can’t be too soon to get rid of the assclowns masquerading as head coach and GM.

  58. jlbucs Says:

    pickgrin – Great Toast Jones reference. I have tried to burn his play out of my memories. I disagree with Licht getting another year though. Too many blown picks to deserve another chance.

  59. pick6 Says:

    too many failures and too many bad moves. if you keep licht you are either riding with him through the next coach’s tenure or that coach is almost certain to be fired by the the GM who replaces Licht within a year or two

    Sadly, i think John Robinson was the better talent evaluator and we’ve done little in the draft since he left for Tennessee. There’s nothing so special happening here that it doesn’t deserve to be revisited thoroughly

  60. JimmyJack Says:

    A lot depends.on the HC. If one of the Harbaughs is going to come here they are going to want total control and likely their own GM. Same applies to any high pedigree canidate.

  61. Anonymous Says:

    2019 first round: DL Ed Oliver (Houston). The opposite of sluggish, hands on his hips GMC. Such power and speed at getting to the QB/RB. VV had a loong recovery beginning the first day of his rookie year which took a lot out of him and so many wanna call him a bust but not considering the rest of this defense bl0ws, also. Vea gaining his strength back and coming into his second year 100% healthy and I think he’s going to look different. Nassib, VV, Oliver, JPP. Nice.

  62. Anonymous Says:

    l

  63. denjoe Says:

    Licht is terrible, please glazers let him go!

  64. T REX Says:

    NO GM deserves 3 coaching staffs.

    Sorry. Burn it down and throw Winston on the fire as well. No need to hamstring the new regime with that anchor.

  65. 911bucs Says:

    It seems every year this team is decimated by injuries. I think they also need to look at replacing the training staff.

  66. stpetebucsfan Says:

    I’m no longer worried about what happens at QB, RB, OL, DL or anywhere in terms of talent.

    I’m not worried about the new coaches scheme.

    I worry about only ONE thing. Is there any football person anywhere that is truly effective at changing the culture of a team.
    Our culture is deeply ingrained. It won’t be easy.
    It seems like it should be easy…find a disciplinarian?…a hard coach? These men are professionals I do not believe you get them with simple discipline. You have to make them believe in the team’s common goals and get them to buy in to the team’s culture.

    What is the Buc’s culture? Clean house. DO IT!!!

    Perhaps Tony Dungy or Derrick Brooks at the top to make sure the franchise stays on an even keel without micro managing.

    They can hire the “football people”…GM/HC etc.

  67. Tc Says:

    Licht missed badly on this past draft. Had he only drafted Derwin James instead of trying to be cute he would of made a bigger impact from day one than his whole draft. The obvious was right in front of him.

  68. Pryda Says:

    Is keep Licht he has an eye for talent and he is getting better with more experience. I feel he has drafted way more offensive player against defensive so there’s that. Plus with crap coachin no wonder our defense gets curb stomped a lot.

  69. Geno Says:

    Joe says:
    Bucs special teams have been subpar. And that’s on Licht.

    That is a huge understatement. Everyone knows about the field goal and extra point woes.

    How about this statistic!!!

    Before the Giants game, the Bucs were averaging 15.4 yards per kickoff return. This is despite the fact that because of our bad defense, we are getting more chances than any other team to get good at it.

    Well here is the thing that 15.4 is the 2nd worst in NFL history if the season had ended before the Giants game.

    Take that in. The 2nd worst in the history of the NFL.

    By the way, the worst in history was the 2016 NFL Bucs with our Licht/Koetter tandem. That team had an apparently acceptable 14.6 for the season.

  70. ClwJB Says:

    maybe if he can convince Arians to come here to “fix” JW?

    Buckner to DC?

    He was the coup ringleader for Lovie as some would have us believe…

  71. bigdaddio Says:

    The funny thing is, as many busts as Licht has had in the draft, if he just made a level 1000 bonehead move and drafted a kicker who could actually kick in the 2nd round instead of the level 100000000 bonehead move of drafting a kicker who can’t kick in the 2nd round, his and Koetter’s job would probably be secure with a playoff birth and at 1-2 more wins this year.

  72. Buc4evr Says:

    Licht and Koetters are losers and no matter who Licht has signed or drafted, it’s just not working. Koetter is totally worthless inside the red zone as far as a play caller. There is essentially no change in defensive strategy and it shows. Licht has continually taken big risks on sub par players and it shows in the second and third string roster. These guys are always presented the obvious answer and do something totally different and worse. No faith or trust in coaching and talent evaluation.

    Btw, this coaching staff and team is so dysfunctional, it’s hard to judge JW at this point. The last thing I want to do is cut him after this season and have him win the SB with another team.

  73. Jameis Almighty! Says:

    Fireeeeeeeeeeee Licht! Get his sorry @ss out of town on the next bus… he’s awful at his job. The worst GM since Matt Millen in Detroit. Lichts Out! Firrrreeeee Licht!

  74. Oxycondoms Says:

    Why wouldn’t koetters bad decisions fall on Licht . Licht is responsible for who the coach is . He always gets a pass for our sorry coaching staff

  75. Owlykat Says:

    Licht has been a failure and must go with Koetter and Warhop even if we hire Arians. The best Coach to change the culture is Tony Dungy and not our former All Pro LB who owned Tampa’s indoor football team and made such bad decisions that once proud and successful franchise is now out of business. Offer Robinson more money than the Titan’s are paying him and get him back here as our young GM. He knows how to evaluate talent and his advice here resulted in Licht’s only successful draft in 2016. Without Robinson Licht has been awful and completely self deluding himself that he is a draft genius.