Joel Glazer Talks Jason Licht Draft Order
April 6th, 2017
Empowered GM Jason Licht
Yes, Joe still has more to share from the annual Team Glazer/Joe chat at the NFL Owners Meetings.
Last week in Phoenix, Joe turned the conversation to general manager Jason Licht, the man who has the confidence of a stunning 93 percent of Bucs fans, as well as select beer drinkers.
Licht has opened eyeballs in the NFL Draft, from pouncing on America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, (when loud voices begged him not to) to trading up for Ali Marpet and Roberto Aguayo, in addition to drafting only one defensive player through the 2014 and 2015 drafts.
Joe asked Team Glazer about Licht’s spring boldness.
JoeBucsFan.com: Jason Licht has made very bold draft picks in his tenure. And he hasn’t been perfect on the bold ones, like with Roberto Aguayo last year. Do you encourage Jason to stay bold, and is that boldness a reflection of ownership and your desire to be bold?
Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer: We always encourage him to do what he thinks is the right thing to do. And sometimes, that’s referred to as bold. The draft is not an exact science. Nobody bats a thousand in the draft, but we think he’s done an excellent job in the draft. And the draft is the key; I say it year in and year out. The draft is the key. Free agency is nice for complementing the team, but if you’re not successful in the draft, and you’re not at a point where you’re re-signing your own players, you are never going to move forward and succeed in the National Football League. So he’s building track record in the draft, and I think it’s a pretty good track record. We’re proud of the work he’s been doing. He’s grown in his role, so our big encouragement is, ‘Whatever you think is the right thing to do is what you should do.’
There’s a GM with power and the full support of ownership behind him. Licht is free to speak softly and, well, you know the rest.
This is a huge draft for Licht in 21 days.
The mighty Falcons nailed the draft last season, when three rookie starters on defense helped thrust them into a Super Bowl. Not only are the Bucs good enough to be in the same boat with a successful draft, another Licht jackpot haul should lock him down a fat new contract extension.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:37 pm
#inlichtwetrust
April 6th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
I only have 3 players in this draft that I would be upset with us drafting in the 1st round
No Peppers
No Riss
No Obi
Oh I forgot
No Special teams players. Lol
#InLichtITrust
April 6th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
if not for the Aguayo and ASJ fiascos, his record is almost unblemished…
April 6th, 2017 at 1:07 pm
Evans, Winston, Smith, Marpet, Alexander, VH3, Spence all starters who play well if not great.
Sims, Pamphile, and Benenoch (sp?) all role players who have contributed. Also should include Ryan Smith running down and pinning punts on special teams…
Then add in UDFAs like Brate, Hump, and Rodgers.
Licht has been great as a GM, and the combo of him and Koetter should set us up for years of success and competitiveness. I said last year during the offseason that this was the most competent coaching staff we have seen around Tampa in a long, long time.
April 6th, 2017 at 1:09 pm
So you’d be cool with them drafting a offensive tackle in the first round… your shot
April 6th, 2017 at 1:21 pm
Bucballbaby84, I’d be cool with Licht drafting either Ryan Ramczyk (OT Wisconsin) or Forrest Lamp (C Western Kentucky) in the 1st rnd personally. Doubt seriously that’s the way Licht will go, but both are outstanding OL prospects, although they’ll most likely be long gone by #19.
April 6th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
@GOAT- Please elaborate on “NO” to Peppers. I’m just curious.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
That’s odd. Because the other Joe was saying this morning that if he signed Adrian Peterson that Lichts wife would need to seek employment due to how hot his seat would become.
Now we learn that the owners have complete and total faith in him.
Hmmm sounds to me like one of this Joes is pulling stuff out of his rear.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
I can’t speak for GOAT but any guy that doesn’t have a defined role entering the draft makes me nervous.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
Hey, infamous Dave!
#inlichtwetrust
April 6th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
This a huge draft right here man. The potential of a few of these guys. I’ll say for the thirteenth time if my guy isn’t drafted by the Bucs I won’t be jumping out any windows. And will gladly pay all my bills Blake. But if Licht does pass on my guy he better d@$! Well draft Shaheen. I can’t stop imagining this offense with that guy on the end of the line of scrimmage.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Wish list Dalvin,my Guy Pete’s Samuel and this mountain of a player name Adam Shaheen. Dude be running away from DBs yo.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
@Nole,
I wouldn’t mind Adam Shaheen in one of the later rounds at all. Athletic freak who can catch w/ decent speed, although he’s not a great run blocker according to scouts. So he’ll need some time to develop into the passing and blocking TE many of us feel this team still needs.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
R1-Dalvin Cook – RB
R2-Chris Godwin – WR
R3-Marcus Maye – FS
R4-Duwaune Smoot – DE
R5-Michael Roberts- TE
R6-Shelton Gibson WR
R7 -Tu’Iklovataka or whatever – DT
2018 draft = DT to eventually replace McCoy / CB to replace Grimes; and O-line help as needed based on how the youngsters play this year out.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:39 pm
There’s a great write up on Bucs.com the Pewter report. Its called “blocking scheme fits and which RB would be the best for the Buccaneers”. The three backs are obviously Cook Fournette and McCaffery. Go check it out I don’t wanna reveal what it says.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
A lil food for thought. Ali Marpet was the fastest O linemen from his class. There’s a bigger reason for him being moved to center.
April 6th, 2017 at 2:51 pm
I am all about the Cook / Goodwin 1 to punch in the draft. Oh the Jameson would be free flowing when Licht does the right thing and makes that happen.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:02 pm
Would rather Cook, Samuels but Godwin would be ok with me.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:05 pm
I agree with no peppers or ross in the first. Peppers reminds me of barron, great athlete but a little big/ stiff for db/safety and a little small for lb. But buchannon amd shaq thompson and honey badger prove you can do it. Just not for a 1st price tag imo. Could be wrong.
I disagree with obi. He has all the skills to be an elite rangy free safety, or he can lock up with any big tall receiver. Can play cb vs certain guys that hargreaves will have a tough time with. But his natural position is safety. Reminds me of a faster cam chancellor.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
I thought Marcus Maye was projected to be a late 1st to early 2nd round pick. If we can get him in the 3rd it will be a steal.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
And the receiver i want in the 2nd tier would be zay/juju/godwin in that order. Juju is freaking nasty and young. He plays with a mean streak, reminds me of a hines ward.
https://youtu.be/6kyEA3FbTL8
Watch the play at 3:11.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
And Tmax that would make for one h3ll of a one two punch sir.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
Still believe Light targeted Winston in 2014 and is why he didn’t draft a QB. Also why we threw the final game that year. You don’t lose a game in front of home fans if you don’t know exactly why.
Love his “boldness” but also the patience he showed there. Investing into the wrong QB is a worst case scenario for any GM.
Our defensive line has been an issue since Licht got here. we showed slight improvement last year in passrush but still a bottom tier unit. Licht doesn’t seem to be willing to invest as boldly in that area. Don’t see much to look forward to in the long term with our Dline and dont see this team as a true contender with such a weak defensive front.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:36 pm
I like your Draft Lord Cornelius
April 6th, 2017 at 4:53 pm
I love the BUCS…will never be a BACK/STABBER fan!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
I love the BUCS…. We will always be in debt for NFL GM Licht for firing the incompetent one and saving the Franchise!!!!!!! Pay the Man!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 5:27 pm
I like peppers just saying! I think the goat could be disappointed with a list like that imo! But what do I know ? I’m not the general manager can’t wait to who it is .
April 6th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
BigHog, it’s not back stabbing if it’s the right thing to do. What?, is Licht supposed to lie to the Glazers and praise Lovie. Anyway, I don’t think the Glazers asked Licht $hit. They TOLD him that Lovie was out. Glazer decision, not Licht. What’s Licht supposed to do, say “if he goes I go”? Get real.
April 6th, 2017 at 6:28 pm
My opinion is he is a Back/Stabber..said it from day one…everybody with a comprehending mind has one…some say he even saved the franchise….and then he picked a kicker in the second round!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
April 6th, 2017 at 6:39 pm
I care more about the current and future success of the Bucx and care nothing about if they had to stab some backs to make it happen.
Go for the throat, rise to glory and stomp on the rest!
GOO BUCS
April 6th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
He has done very well in the first couple of rounds with one fourth rounder that worked out very well. However, he has swung and missed badly in the mid to late rounds. The majority of guy take in rounds 5-7 have never even made onto the field. I am fine with him because he has done very well in the earlier rounds, but it would be nice if we had been able to build some depth with those picks that we missed on.
April 6th, 2017 at 6:45 pm
@BigHogHeinous
He took out the trash, nothing less, nothing more!!!!!!! and if the kicker does not kick, he will do the same, again!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Early rounds should be O-line or D-line. If we keep the o-line stocked we can plug any back into the mix
April 6th, 2017 at 6:56 pm
I just saw Dj’s mock 4.0 has us taking OT Cam Robinson
April 6th, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Peterson visiting the Saints!
April 6th, 2017 at 8:15 pm
I would love to plug peppers in at SS
April 6th, 2017 at 8:22 pm
Big hog is an idiot and a troll, you probably shouldn’t try and reason with him Eric.
April 6th, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…you guys are the best …Realist, I call it likes I sees it! JimmyJack..speak your truth, as will I! SB, Idiot? I know you know better, the truth needs no reason!! NOW BUILD THAT WALL AND AT ALL COAST…DRAFT MIXON!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 10:31 pm
I’ve been saying it for a while this draft is huge for us. I think the Bucs should make a move and trade future picks to get the players this year. This draft is stacked and it seems like next year’s draft may be weak after such a strong draft class this year.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:26 pm
If the bucs don’t draft a safety in the first two rounds I guarantee you will be bitching about the back end of that defense all year coming up fellow bucs fans. You like beating the falcons when we play them right? You won’t if we don’t draft a safety in the first two rounds cause their offense will be scoring on us all day. We’re in a division where every team has a franchise qb and legit receivers and speed at receivers. How can you guys not see that our back end of the defense was a big part of our losses last year. We could’ve been in the playoffs if it wasn’t for that part of the team.
April 7th, 2017 at 9:32 am
Soblet me get this straight BigHog, you would prefer that lame, lazy, lousy, loser Lovie was still the coach?
Get a grip man, the Glazers fired his incompetent ass because he was incapable of coaching a winning team, in addition to being a narcissistic nepotist.
April 7th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
speak softly and carry that big mofo’n stick biotch