Failing From The Neck Up
November 5th, 2017
Roster architect
General manager Jason Licht has spoken often about winning in the NFL Draft. Licht likes to say winning in the draft is 90 percent about evaluating players from the neck up, aka picking guys with the right mentality because raw talent is everywhere.
Well, Joe looks at this current non-competitive bunch of Buccaneers, a team that’s been embarrassed in four of eight games this season (Vikings, Cardinals, Panthers, Saints), and Joe sees a team failing miserably from the neck up.
Their mentality is off. It’s obvious. There’s way too much talent to be getting your doors blown off early in games every week.
Where’s the want-to? Where the team filled with guys who love football with unmatched passion? Where’s the work ethic?
Joe sees no nasty in most Buccaneers.
Turn on the film of Alvin Kamara’s touchdown today, for example. Safety Justin Evans starts wrapping up Kamara about the five yard line and the Bucs around Evans stop and watch. It was a sickening moment, one that speaks volumes about the Buccaneers defense and where this crop of players is from the neck up.
It’s not all on Licht. But you know what, he’s the GM who put together this brutally soft roster. There are many offenders and Joe doesn’t feel like typing all the names.
Losing and questionable coaching is one thing, but a team’s mentality falls very much on the GM. His team is the one charged with screening players and figuring out what’s at their core and how they’ll deal with adversity.
Unless the Bucs have a miracle in their back pocket, Licht will deserve a ton of fingers pointed at him.
November 5th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
Pathetic
November 5th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
#LichtsOut
November 5th, 2017 at 5:58 pm
Hello John Dorsey…..Let John Dorsey pick the Coach. I’d prefer Scott Frost but I would leave it up to Dorsey. Yeah it would be cool to get a hall of fame coach but look at the RAMS. The Bucs just need someone to lead them to the promise land who will continue to develop Jamies. Dirk should have stayed Offensive Coordinator or let go of play calling.
November 5th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Yep n I was calling for licht to take kamara in the 2nd round, then he took justin evans. Rub some salt in the wound. If its Lichts call he needs to fire Dirk tonight. This team has plenty of talent. Theyre getting outcoached and their asses physically kicked every game. Soft players are a reflection of the soft ass coach. A coach who doesnt seem to know much about being a head coach. Inexcusable
November 5th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
For as awful as the coaching as been I’m far more in favor of letting Licht’s contract expire and then showing him the door. Too many misses in free agency, the Aguayo pick, ASJ thriving somewhere else, Hargreaves is not very good, no pass rush in 4 years.
Fans no longer have Lovie Smith as a punching bag. This failure is on Licht first and foremost.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Jameis is right…. Our team has no identity…As the cameras panned the Bucs before the game, the Team was joking and laughing… no one has any fight in them…except Mike Evans…go back and see he was the only one barking and getting into the game… Until we get some DOG in us the talent doesn’t matter.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Look at the bright side…..what a throw and catch to Luke Stocker
November 5th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
Koetter is in over his head, his buddy Smitty aint much better but when Licht wants to make you a HC against your will because he is afraid you may be hired by Miami, why the heck not, take the money and run.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:03 pm
I wonder who are new GM will be
November 5th, 2017 at 6:03 pm
Dead GM Walking
November 5th, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Moving up in second round to take a kicker is stupid! Turned out to be a bust. Taking a complete idiot number one, set this team back for ten years! Never bet on an idiot!
November 5th, 2017 at 6:04 pm
I just read that Chris Harris Jr. form the Broncos says the eagles are running a college offense that fits Wentz similar to the Chiefs. Nothing to do with this article but yeah lol.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
GOOD ARTICLE
November 5th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
From* typo sorry
November 5th, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Joe, this tea is a train wreck of historical proportions which is saying something given it’s the Bucs. As an FSU grad and fan i had really hoped that Jameis would grow up and exhibit the type of leadership this team has long needed. However, what i saw today during pregame and during the game made me think I was wrong about him.
He is still very young and has a lot of potential. But I am really begininng to think he needs someone that is going to discipline him and show him how he should lead. I currently don’;t think that person exists at 1 Buc.
Major overhaul is needed i fear.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:07 pm
Clean house AGAIN!!!!! New coaching staff and GM!!!! Sad but true it’s going to get ugly round here!!!!!
November 5th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Throw money at Romo in the offseason I think he’d be a great coach and imagine what he could do with Jameis
November 5th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
OJ Howard 2 targets 1 catch 6 yards. #Okay!
November 5th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Funny the guy trying to tackle the guy we should have drafted.
We don’t need d jack and C baker as we are 3 drafts away.
Same with ayers.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:11 pm
I cant disagree more. The roster is not soft the roster is broken. Mentally nobody wants to play for these coaches. Specifically Mike Smith. Called this from day one he is a cancer.
The other issue is Jameis. He looks like a seventh round qb .
Dirk Koetter has also become soft and quiet. He didnt see his best bud becoming a cancer to his team and he doesnt have the balls to fix it.
Jason needs to fire Smith and Jameis well….I dont think anyone knows what happened to him but he sucks. I cant believe Im saying this but call Johnny Football up
November 5th, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Arealbucfan Says:
November 5th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Throw money at Romo in the offseason I think he’d be a great coach and imagine what he could do with Jameis
————
And bring in Kurt Warner as OC /QB coach. Im surprised there aren’t more former qbs as OC. You know kinda like what the Eagles did with frank Reich. But wtf do I know.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:13 pm
Meth is a serious problem in the TB community. Just say no kids just say no.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:14 pm
No GM can evaluate every player’s psyche perfectly before bringing him in. If the team is soft, the head coach is soft, and so are all the so-called leaders on the team.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
I saw this team show life twice today. when Barber first got in the game which was promptly ruined with inexcusable pentalties…….Then the defense showed some energy on the next series. On the next defensive series Ayers missed an assignment killing our momentum when we had them backed up.
We then showed our softness and let them March down the field with McCoy going invisible and Kwon playing like he was hung over.
Our coaches have no answers as they just run the same garbage players out. The players have no answers as they just go through the motions. There is no entertainment from a fans perspective. I see no hope for this franchise to ever rebound with these owners…..It doesn’t take 16 years to build a team.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:18 pm
If he were looking from the neck up why did he draft the cheerleader instead of the quiet storm
November 5th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
Jman, I’m wondering the same thing.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:23 pm
Bucs were at the NC State v. Clemson game scouting, I hope they were in Miami looking at my Canes, yes I am bias, but those defensive players on every level coming up is what we need
November 5th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Dirk has another blow out on is resume…bye dirk…GO BUCS!!!
November 5th, 2017 at 6:26 pm
The 2 most important units on the team is the D-line and the O-line. Licht has never used a first round pick on either.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:27 pm
It won’t matter who they draft if they keep these awful coaches
November 5th, 2017 at 6:29 pm
I agree Joe’s let’s not forget Winston as a HUGE miss by Licht!
November 5th, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Two wins? In year 10 of the rebuild? Heads need to roll.
that staying the course crap is stupid.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Pit of misery! Dilly Dilly!
November 5th, 2017 at 6:49 pm
@QBKilla
He sure is going to this year if he’s still around. #Bradley Chubb!!! At whatever extremely early first round pick we have.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Dwight Freeny signed by Seattle the same time we signed Daryl Tapp, has two sacks so far today, total for two Ames 2 1/2
November 5th, 2017 at 6:56 pm
Ok. Winston is a bust? Do y’all know ANYTHING about fb? He’s playing like garbage agree but you either got a qb or you don’t period. He needs a better coach and an innovating o cordinater. I’m as frustrated as the next man but you take Winston away you have NOTHING. All his issues are fixable. Koetter isn’t head coaching NFL material and dam sure can’t call plays. Defense has NO play makers just decent role players. I see Ayers Sr Conte Grimes and Baker gone next season on offense I see Dougie and Dotson gone.
November 5th, 2017 at 6:59 pm
Ali Muppet sucks at center and his move is one of the main reasons they can’t run the ball. Licht and Koetter shifted an OL that was playing well enough for no reason other than to make themselves look like geniuses. How did that turn out?
November 5th, 2017 at 7:05 pm
rrsrq:
Freeney wasn’t gonna sign here anyways. He is only gonna play for a contender…which we clearly aren’t.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:05 pm
Yah. He is the one that chose Jameis so you are right Joe’s
November 5th, 2017 at 7:09 pm
What a joke and the joke is sitting in the G.M. chair. What is the use of keeping him around to the end of the season. Also sent the scout unit out the door with him.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:20 pm
It was obvious up to the trade deadline that this team wasn’t remotely close….Licht should have unloaded McCoy, Martin, Ward…and/or Jackson and loaded up on picks. We have to upgrade our o-line, d-line and get an every down back. It is what it is. Our luck Fitzpatrick will rally us just short of the playoffs…jacking up our draft position and we’ll head into the offseason questioning why Fitz could do what Winston couldn’t
November 5th, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Koetter coaches like he has a BMFS stuck up his you know what. From the neck up Licht is a meathead, his own admission. We could’ve drafted better using fan polls.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:29 pm
lol but last week everyone saying licht sucks was stupid cause of his “grand slam”. Licht is done. Missed on FA signing, missed on multiple draft opportunities and trades. And frankly one can argue Marcus is better then JAMEIS to date. At the he end of the day the bucs could have had a way better roster I’d better FA and draft picks were made. And moving up for good players like cook or Jalen and not kickers
November 5th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Dear Jason:
We enjoyed your 4 years here in Tampa
But we will not pick up your 5th year option
We appreciate all of your effort and hard work
But we have decided to go in a different direction
Sincerely Yours
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
November 5th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Too early on Jameis he really is still a very young man with tons of ability and he actually has the one thing the rest don’t Drive to win. I have said it twice already and I will say it again this team has lacked physical and mental toughness for over 8 or 10 years now. Somewhere along the line a very long time ago we became a finesse team. Why when our identity as a team has always even since the early days been a tough defensive team. This is what the Bucs were originally built around and was the main reason for our success for that 10 year stretch.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:46 pm
Jarred Goff and Carson Wentz put up 51 points today, our boy Winston put up 3 in consecutive weeks.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:49 pm
Those ugly arse bad luck uniforms, fire the gm and change the uniforms
November 5th, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Alan Cross nuff said
November 5th, 2017 at 8:11 pm
Before the season i posted that the MVP would be the….
Glazers
Because everyone, fanboy sites and posters here was posting to have Licht a new contract
The glazers didint
Kobe Faker knew all along this would happen
Line the fookup and ask for forgiveness
November 5th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
lol Kobe Faker
November 5th, 2017 at 8:33 pm
Dilly Dilly Kobe!
November 5th, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Kobe faker wants the buc realist and bucs_fan on there knees
Lake, we need a huge rebuild
**how do you know mcvay is a good coach? Why are they so successful, so early?…
His first hire was wayne phillips
November 5th, 2017 at 8:58 pm
We need a new coaching staff and a new gym
Someone who isn’t going to take crap from these quiters
November 5th, 2017 at 8:59 pm
GM*
November 5th, 2017 at 9:23 pm
This team is pure 10-ply buddy.
November 5th, 2017 at 9:51 pm
Jameis, Kwon, Evans, Marpet, OJ & Brate are sure-fire keepers … everyone else, including Licht and Koetter are expendable
November 5th, 2017 at 10:04 pm
*****************
Everyone knows I believe in JW and believe JW will be a HOF’er … HOWEVER, if the Bucs shelve him for the year or even if he continues to play hurt and they do happen to earn the #4 pick behind the Browns, 49’ers and Giants, at worst one of the top four QBs (Darnold, Allen, Rosen and Jackson) will be available and the Bucs will have an interesting decision to make *if* they fire Koetter as expected and have a new regime in place.
Let’s say they sign Jim Harbaugh and give him complete control … he may want to either draft a rookie QB or sign a free agent without losing any players or picks and trade Jameis to an AFC team like the Jets or Broncos for a boatload of picks to re-stack this sorry roster … or he can trade that #4 pick to a team like the Jets for a boatload of picks and ride with Jameis.
Personally I think if Gruden or Arians is the coach they will absolutely want Jameis … and if Patricia gets hired, Licht will be the guy who hires him and he will be staying as GM and Jameis will also be staying … however, what if the team cleans house and gives a guy like Harbaugh the keys to the kingdom?
If I was a GM, I’d take Jameis’ future over any other QB in the NFL … but even I couldn’t blame Harbaugh if he convinced the Glazers to sign Kirk Cousins and then traded Jameis to the Jets for the, say, #6 pick, a 2nd, a 3rd and a 2019 #1 … and then draft Saqon Barkley at #4 and Bradley Chubb at #6 and added a RT with the extra 2nd rounder and another DE with the extra 3rd rounder.
Interesting times ahead for Bucs fans … and Jameis fans like me!
*****************
November 5th, 2017 at 10:09 pm
NFLNut….correct sir. Once again.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:51 am
Oh God here goes the fire licht pieces.
But the roster has “way too much talent to be getting your doors blown off early in games every week.”
His job is to bring in the talent (which he has done!) NOT TO CULTIVATE IT or set the mentality of the roster.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:50 am
It’s the GM’s fault for not addressing the D and O lines .. that being said there’s no excuse for Jameis to act that way on the sidelines. He has all the talent but now I wonder if he has it up stairs. If the Glazers start firing people we set the franchise back 5 yrs. I know it sucks but we have to ride out the storm and see what we do in the off-season
November 6th, 2017 at 6:38 am
The GM needs to go ASAP. He states that he evaluates talent from the neck up….. then why did he draft JamesisNOT???? He is borderline mentally ill. Just google his pregame speech: that is not a leader. Then look at the way he plays and then acts after being benched. You cannot teach someone to be a leader once they are an adult. This is developed by a child’s parents at a young age. The same with morals and ethics…. this is the same guy that got popped for shoplifting and yelling obscenities (about women) at his college cafeteria. It was only a matter of time that his true colors would shine through. He is a dumb as a bag of hammers and all of you need to fully understand it and let this clown go.
November 6th, 2017 at 10:15 am
Hire Harbaugh. Get rid of the ugly uniforms. These uniforms represent more futility than the orange and white by a mile. Go back to the orange and white!!!!
November 7th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
AND YOU REALLY MEAN WE PAY THESE PLAYERS TO SUCK LIKE THEY DO , , I CAN’T BELIEVE WE PAY THEM MILLIONS TO PERFORM LIKE THEY DO ON THE FIELD , THEIR NOT WORTH WATCHING !!!THEIR A BUNCH OF CLOWNS ON THE FIELD , HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS PLAY HARDER THEN THEY DO , THEIR SOFT !!!