Impact
May 8th, 2018
If the Bucs are do turn things around this fall, you can thank the rookie class of AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
That’s what one NFL analyst suggests.
Aaron Schatz, the lead dog at Football Insiders, an outfit Joe respects, believes the rookie class of the Bucs very well could finally change the their losing culture.
Why? Schatz explains few rookie classes will have a shot to make an impact like the Bucs’, so he tells BSPN.
There’s opportunity on the depth chart. Vita Vea slides right into the starting defensive line next to Gerald McCoy. Ronald Jones II should slide right into the starting running back spot. And given the weakness at cornerback and the age of No. 1 CB Brent Grimes, who turns 35 in July, second-rounders M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis could play a larger role than expected early.
Joe sort of agrees with Schatz. Look, Vea likely starts right away. Jones should start — but we know to be wary. If failure again meets Vernon Hargreaves, who Joe suspects will get every opportunity to win back a full-time cornerback gig, then yeah, the two second round draft picks the Bucs made at defensive back will get a shot there as well.
If all four of the top four picks are making an impact, would that mean the Bucs are clobbering opponents on their way to a (rare) winning season?
May 8th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
I hope 2018 season goes by quick. We will finish last in the division at around 6-10 and we will get a new coach and hopefully GM who can lead this very talented team into the future. Optimistic for next year and can’t wait for this one to be over and done. Remember same coach same GM same qb same record. History says I’m 100% RIGHT.
May 8th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Our Gm is doing a very good job, the coaches have failed to this point. I hope Licht gets an extension
May 8th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Licht has been very hot and cold. I would give him a C+ at best. His free agent signings have been very poor but his drafting has been good. Unfortunately you have to hit in FA a little more often and he has trotted out some pretty gutless teams in his tenure.
May 8th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
That was very positive Dan! You could be right, I wanted a new Head coach after last season as well, but considering all the factors that occurred with injuries last and the one thing you need to be successful in the NFL is a healthy team. Yes, all 32 teams deal with it but that with a couple gambles that didn’t play out (Doug Martin, Doug Martin) I can see why ownership would give them another year. Plus I’d like to keep the players in the same system for as long as possible. If teams like the Patriots and Steelers stay the course, in the same systems they win. We (the Bucs) “can’t help it! Since 77!” have been building a foundation that has been missing since the last runs thru the early 2000’s! I hope history is wrong on this, because I want the Bus to win for a long long time.
Peace
GO BUCS
May 8th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
It’s going to take a half of a season for the rookies to find there way. Unfortunately, our 1st 3 games will likely determine our season. I like Licht’s moves a lot. Hope he stays.
May 8th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Dang my post disappeared. Was kinda fond of it.
In short Our players suck cause they don’t work hard enough. Our coaches suck because they either don’t work hard enough or are too dumb…….And I will never bail on my team but I’m not sharing my money with them til they show me something. Had enough of this embarassing bullship
May 8th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Just more young talent Licht has added to the quickly accumulating stockpile of young talent that is already in place and ready to bust out….
Mike Evans, Winston, D. Smith, Marpet, Kwon, Brate, Humphries, Benenoch, Spence, Hargreaves, R. Smith, Bond, Barber, Elliot, Wester, OJ Howard, J. Evans, Godwin, Beckwith, Auclair, Bobo, Vea, ROJO, Stewart, Davis, Cappa, Whitehead…
Bucs have NEVER had this much 25 year old and under talent assembled before. Not even close.
Its not a matter of “IF” – just a matter of when this young group of players start to click and come into their own as professional players and reel off some wins for this franchise…
May 8th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
The Bucs are good baby. Team Glazer making moves. The last Piece is making sure that Mr. 6-TD-Fitzpatrick is taking the snaps this fall.
GO BUCS!!!!
May 8th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Don’t forget, our slot CB will be playing between 67-75% of all defensive snaps… that’s pretty much a starting position. Even if Hargreaves reclaims his starting spot, either he or Stewart will man the slot CB position 67-75% of the time or either he or Davis will man the outside spot when in nickle. Also, Grimes had some trouble staying healthy last season and now that he’s a year older, there’s a strong chance he’ll have even more chance of being unavailable more often.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the two rookie CBs get about a combined 20 starts (counting slot CB as a starting position).
May 8th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
If Hargreaves is no good this year, will Koetter (Smith) have the balls to replace him. If Koetter does another “Dougie” then he will wait until week 15 to pull him. Ugh! I think VH3 will rebound this year because we will not be playing 10-15 off the line this year (allegedly)
May 8th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
We get wrapped up in this every year, don’t we? Wasn’t the RB that didn’t even make it out of training camp last year supposed to be the one knocking on the door for Martin’s job if he didn’t act right? Let’s circle back to this after the preseason and see where this rookie class stands based on who actually made the team.
May 8th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
you know who needs to provide an impact:….dirk & smitty!!!!!!…..instead of leaning on these rookies, how about we lean on our “offensive and defensive gurus”!!!!!!!……
we shouldn’t expect rookies to play like all pro’s once they hit the field but we should expect dirk and smitty to produce at least 10wins this season with this group of talent…..
dirk and smitty should be providing the impact not a bunch of rookies!!!!!….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 8th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Pickgrin, I agree … Bucs have accumulated a lot of young talent (only about half of those you noted qualify however). Problem is that they’ve lacked LEADERSHIP, and specifically ON-THE-FIELD LEADERSHIP. For example, if you plugged in Sapp, Brooks & Lynch into last year’s defenisve lineup, would our defense have performed better, even with the same coaches?
Hell yes. Granted, all 3 were superstars in their own right. But last year’s team had players on the DLine, LB corps & Secondary who were quite good also … GMC, David & Grimes. Yet even though they’re good players, none of those three IMO have been providing the FIELD LEADERSHIP that this young team so sorely needs. I’m hopeful that we have guys who’ll step forward this year, but I guess we’ll all just have to wait and see. And that’s a primary reason that I’m still ‘cautiously optimistic’.
May 8th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
This damn losing culture talk keeps rearing it’s ugly head.
813
Doesn’t matter who is coaching or playing for the Bucs. We haven’t fix the losing culture. It starts and ends with the culture
May 8th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
spell check…”due”…I’ll go back and read…
May 8th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
due to…RIP Mrs Majors
May 8th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Brentsin Buckner is not a loser and he is capable of directing our defensive line into a serious force to be reckoned with, JPP alone would of been a huge change but we have so many good pieces now, Buckner will put it together and our front seven will be causing serious turmoil in the backfield of our opponents. I am certain we be winning on the defensive line.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Joe dont you always say that the first year DL really have little impact as they are finding their way in the NFL so Vea might be 2-3 years away before we see him doing what is needed hopefully by then the new GM finds another 1 tech and DE, im with McGraw that the GM at best is a C+
May 8th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Let’s hope Vita Vea goes all Siragusa …on Gannon QB’s…
May 8th, 2018 at 1:07 pm
lamarcus
IMO, the losing culture is cleaned out by the coaches…..look at the bills….they’ve been losing for how long?…..a good coach came in and got them to the playoffs….he traded players….he cut players…..he did what he had to do to set the foundation for a winning culture…..
not the bucs…..they let losers stay as long as they don’t rock the boat….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 8th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
“Vita Vea slides right into the starting defensive line next to Gerald McCoy.”
I’m not so sure that is a lock. I think it will happen eventually for sure, but I hope they make him earn it. I’m always weary of just handing rookies starting roles.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
813bucboi Says
“you know who needs to provide an impact:….dirk & smitty!
…
we shouldn’t expect rookies to play like all pro’s once they hit the field but we should expect dirk and smitty to produce at least 10wins this season with this group of talent…”
I agree that we should not expect rookies to play like all pro’s immediately. Actually, I pretty much agree with everything you said, except the whole ‘no excuses’ thing.
After seeing 21 or 22 starters injured last year, I’ve realized how unpredictable circumstances can be.
That said, you are right. If we stay healthy enough, there is no reason why this team cannot win 9-10 games…probably 10+.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
813bucboi Says
“…not the bucs…..they let losers stay as long as they don’t rock the boat…”
Aaaand you lost me.
Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith played the hand they were dealt last year…and it was a crummy hand.
It’s not like effort wasn’t made to replace the losers. It was. Licht just failed at it. I think this year might be his best free agent haul of his GM career though. When you have a team that’s gone through ten plus years of losing, it takes time to flip the roster into winners.
You mentioned the Bills? They did not do it in one year. They brought in better players over a period of years and the new guy finished the job (or came close).
This year looks like Licht may have finished the job. Fingers crossed.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Lamarcus- I like what you say about the “losing culture”. And, for the record (I know where you stand on GMC!), it’s not about ONE player. It’s about ownership, the team, the coaches, and inevitably the players. Pickgrin’s statement about talent is the key here. It’s a young group that will, hopefully, be able to ignore the stigma of this team for the last decade+.
May 8th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Bucsfan
I really touching on the “fixing the culture” comment by JW that Joe posted yesterday. Just had me thinking this team as whole not fixing the issue. I mean JW has mentioned it several times in the past and Koetter and Licht mention it as well. That’s a huge organization problem. Especially if we are really trying to win
May 8th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Well considering all the coaches are the same and the player turnover is the primary change variable he should definitely get credit if it turns around
May 8th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Lamarcus- No doubt. When you look at “winning” organizations, it’s obvious what is expected. That type of foundation is fostered from TOP to bottom. Players can make a difference, somewhat. But, there has to be that foundation and support from the top to keep it going.
We have to round that corner. Putting winning seasons together will go a long way towards that goal.
Like I said, I just hope these young guys are too “oblivious” to the “losing culture” and do otherwise.
May 8th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
Like I said, I just hope these young guys are too “oblivious” to the “losing culture” and do otherwise.
———-
Jameis said it, kwon said it a t-max said it. This team will never win with Cancer93 on the roster.
May 8th, 2018 at 4:30 pm
bonzai
look at what the bills HC did…..he got rid of marcel darius who at one point was considered the best or among the best DT’s in the game…..he also lost a ton while being a bill…..not saying he was the primary reason why they lost but the new HC came in and got rid of him for whatever reason…..maybe he wasn’t buying in…..maybe the HC notice darius and his attitude rubbing off on players in a way that wasn’t productive…..
same with GMC…..he’s never rocked the boat….loves to smile…..he’s been productive BUT WE COULDVE DONE ALL THIS LOSING WITHOUT HIM……
and the bills haven’t been doing it over a period of time…..they came in wheeling and dealing which also continued during the draft…..rex ryan had no clue what was going….lol….the new staff came in and got what they needed to be competitive…..
and I think licht has done a decent job collecting talented players but the coaches are soft….they are push overs…..they don’t get in players face and hold them accountable…..
but like you said, figure crossed they get it right this year because 2018 is all they have….
IRMA, HK, SOS, injuries, lovie, DOM, lack of talent, lack of depth, no run game, no pass rush, no secondary….wont be an excuse this year!!!!!….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 8th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
If based solely on our history …consensus says No …but if these young players can catch on quickly then a complete turn around is not impossible. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Worst to first
May 8th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
bonzai
and you can add gholston and martin to that list too!!!…..
wise to get rid of a player a year or 2 too early than keep him a year or 2 too late…..we did that with doug and we’re currently doing that with gholston and GMC….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 8th, 2018 at 5:34 pm
I wanna see VH3 and Stewart have a sick ass brawl in training camp for the slot spot. Be awesome if they could both produce. I suppose I would want VH3 to win it because he has NFL experience, but it would be sweet if Stewart can show up for good rotation.
#Rotation,Rotation,Rotation
#FreshTeamsWinGames
May 8th, 2018 at 9:54 pm
Dan McGraw… Get a life bud! Go be a fan somewhere else