Report: Bucs Wanted Kony Ealy
August 27th, 2017
Bucs had interest.
So it seems Bucs fans aren’t the only ones lying awake at night over no edge rush.
This Kony Ealy, who Bill Belicheat cut loose over the weekend, was claimed by the Jets today. And per a report from NFL Network’s Jane Slater, a Cowboys beat reporter, she learned the Bucs were after him as well.
@SlaterNFL: Also per source, here are the other teams that put in a claim for DE Kony Ealy: Giants, Bucs, Lions, Redskins & Cardinals
Of course, whenever a player hits the streets and Bucs fans recognize the name, Joe is deluged on Twitter about the Bucs picking the guy up. The way Bucs fans freaked in hopes the Bucs would sign Easly, Joe thought this guy may have been a double-digit sack guy.
Hell, Will Gholston has much better numbers than this Ealy, who has never had more than five sacks in a regular season. Whoop-tee-do!
Whenever a player is released, while fans ask why the Bucs don’t sign him, Joe asks why the player’s previous employer didn’t want him?
When, say, Packers yoda Ted Thompson doesn’t want a player, odds are very, very good neither should any other NFL team. Anyone remember the Great Lumpkin?
Maybe because Ealy had three sacks in a Super Bowl playing for the Stinking Panthers is why Bucs fans were panting so hard?
To Joe, it is a major red flag that Belicheat, an absolute master of finding ways to put players in position to make plays, threw Ealy overboard two weeks before the regular season.
August 27th, 2017 at 11:27 pm
Mario Williams is still out there… just saying.
August 27th, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Still say we have the best DE on our Roster.
Gerald McCoy.
McCoy and Gholsten would be very good 3-4 defensive ends
Baker would also work as a 3-4 DE. He has before.
Our two giant Somoans would be great 3-4 nose guards.
And Noah Spence would be a great pass rushing LB- ala Von Miller.
All of our Lbers can rush the passer.
Other than that, guess we blitz every passing play
. . . If only we had a DE . . .
August 27th, 2017 at 11:36 pm
Was begging the Bucs to sign him last year Sam. Since, have heard some rumors that sort of explains why he is on the street.
August 28th, 2017 at 12:05 am
Bucs could have taken DeMarcus Walker instead of Justin Evans in round two. I say that alot, and will keep saying it.
August 28th, 2017 at 1:28 am
2 teams have basically given up on him within a very short period of time so I doubt they missed out on much there.
August 28th, 2017 at 1:35 am
Bucs and patriots play a different scheme. Ealy probably just didnt fit. Seeing that the bucs put in a waiver claim, it says they had the same interest as the fans. It makes more sense than wanting mario williams last year. Joe is just as guilty as fans wanting “named” players. You know players like roddy white, boldin etc.
August 28th, 2017 at 1:45 am
Belicheat is always changing his scheme, he’s not Lovie. Depends on the opponent and who he has to work with.
There were times Belicheat played a two-man front on Peyton manning because blitzing didn’t work so he decided to drop nine players in coverage.
Belicheat is a guy who puts players in positions where they can make plays. It’s a major flag to Joe that this Ealy got cut two weeks before the regular season. Besides, take away his fine Super Bowl, this dude is Will Gholston, maybe not as good.
August 28th, 2017 at 3:36 am
The Pats shopped Ealy before releasing him. Since the Bucs could’ve had him for a late round draft pick and didn’t do it, I seriously doubt they thought he was anything special. But then again you don’t find semi-capable DE’s walking the street so putting in a waiver claim made sense. Take a look at him without giving up a pick. There’s really not much to see here.
August 28th, 2017 at 5:06 am
Watching Noah Spence trying to bull rush Joe Thomas was the saddest thing I’ve watched this preseason. Noah Spence needs play strictly at left end (at least for now) where he can take advantage of slower Right Tackles. He’s a one trick pony (for now).
Speaking of Right Tackles, Mr Donovan Smith (Im sorry to say) is destined to be a RT. This dude cannot handle speed consistently, technique is too sloppy. I think he would make a great RT.
That being said, I cant wait for Maimi, so we can see what are beloved bucs are gonna be this year, IM EXCITED.
Disclaimer: These are just thoughts from preseason and could be rendered asinine by the end of this season.
August 28th, 2017 at 6:09 am
@SB … “Disclaimer: These are just thoughts from preseason and could be rendered asinine by the end of this season.” Love the disclaimer SB. Some of us should probably use it with every post.
August 28th, 2017 at 7:44 am
SB
Great post pretty much sums up my thoughts as well.
August 28th, 2017 at 7:45 am
SB, I am with you on Smith and wish that bucs would have taken tunsil instead of hargreaves to protect james, smith let myels garrett have a clean shot on jameis as he whiffed trying to get a hand on him…that was scary
August 28th, 2017 at 8:19 am
Captain Tim I’m starting to think the same thing. He prolly should be a rushing olb.
August 28th, 2017 at 8:28 am
I watched 4th round draft pick Carl Lawson school the skins Tre Williams on a play en route to a sack. Yea that Tre Williams one of the best tackles in the NFL. Got schooled by a 4th rounder. Get over yourselves it happens sometimes.
August 28th, 2017 at 8:33 am
And I ain’t lying,re-watch bengals/skins from yesterday. Don’t recall the time but it somewhere near the middle of the second. Made Williams look stupid. Wonder if they’re fans are saying be should replaced today. H3ll he’s been good far too long.
August 28th, 2017 at 9:03 am
@ joe
Belicheik changes his scheme based on opponent and personnell as a whole. He does not change his scheme for one player. Ealy was probably asked to do things he could not ie fit. That does not mean he can not play. Its as simple as that.
August 28th, 2017 at 9:05 am
He did have 3 sacks in super bowl 50
August 28th, 2017 at 9:27 am
Apparently it’s Against the law in Tampa to draft young traditional defensive ends
August 28th, 2017 at 10:16 am
Destin I was BIG on Ogbah that draft. Everyone round here called him lazy. He didn’t look lazy the other night. I feel Spawn will be nasty none-the-less, just something about him makes me feel like he should rushing from a standing position in contrast to a four point.
August 28th, 2017 at 11:10 am
should’ve draft d.walker instead of j.evans….walker was a beast the other night….wish licht would’ve traded a 7th round pick for ealy….great intel on the panthers and at the very worst could provide depth with j.smith banged up….time will tell….GO BUCS!!!!
August 28th, 2017 at 11:35 am
Joe
I forget which sports outlet said it, but ealy was cut because they wanted him to play the Rob ninkovich role in their system and he didn’t fit that mold.
August 28th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Correct, but Belicheat also isn’t going to put any player in a position where he cannot make a play. This is why Belicheat is a master.
Remember what Jason Licht said was best lesson he learned from Belicheat? Admit your mistake, cut your loss and move on.
With Ealy, heed the master’s words.
August 28th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
more 3-4 fronts and more blitzing. Less zone less predictability
August 28th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
This is BS!! The Bucs Did not want Ealy. If they had wanted him? They would have busted a move to get him or…A top quality Defensive end in the 1st or 2nd rd. They did not. And its gonna hurt us this season. You gotta have a good pass rush people to win in this league. The Ohhhs and Ahhs of Jameis won’t cut it when we need big stops in the 4th qyr. What good is scoring 30 when your opponent scores 31??
August 28th, 2017 at 8:10 pm
By the way our dline looked Saturday a 5sack season sounds pretty good.