The Carl Nassib Effect
February 19th, 2019
Week after week, game after game, general manager Jason Licht would appear on the Buccaneers Radio Network pregame show with Gene Deckerhoff and rave about Carl Nassib last season.
It wasn’t every week, but it sure felt that way.
There was zero doubt that Licht believed he found an absolute steal on the 2018 waiver wire, an oversized, athletic 25-year-old left defensive end (6-7, 275 pounds) who gave a ton of effort and produced.
Some say those guys aren’t walking the streets, but Licht found one and was darn proud. Nassib played in 15 games, forced two fumbles and defended a couple of passes, plus he notched 6 1/2 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He also drew plenty of love from various ex-Bucs for his tenacity.
Joe is not running out to buy a Nassib jersey. Joe is a fan but not a big one. However, this post is about how much Licht loves the guy along with the new sheriff in town, head coach Bucco Bruce Arians. It’s at least likely the regime will agree Nassib, with a salary of just $2 million next season, is a starting quality DE with a high ceiling under their coaching staff.
Heck, Joe could envision the Bucs trying to extend Nassib’s contract right now to avoid him hitting free agency in 2020 as a young, successful pass rusher. Those guys command a fortune.
If the Bucs truly like Nassib, they’ll peg him as the 2019 starter and not mess around at DE in free agency this season no matter who is available. As fans yearn now for upgrades, it’s easy to forget how the regime assesses the players is where the answers lie.
Joe has a strong vibe there’s a Nassib love affair going on at One Buc right now, with a lot of excitement about how Nassib’s salary wonderfully counterbalances the $14.7 million due DE Jason Pierre-Paul this year.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:00 am
Second best pickup last year beside JPP.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:03 am
Have to sign another DE or two. The Bucs are one injury away from leaning on the likes of Gholston or Spence. How ya like them apples?
February 19th, 2019 at 11:09 am
Nassib would do well as a 3-4 Strongside DE. In Bowles one gap defense Nassib would function much the same as last year.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:22 am
You don’t extend Nassib after one strong year. Team controls him for at least another 3 years. Let’s see how he plays in 2019 before extending him
February 19th, 2019 at 11:23 am
we still have to sign a DE and draft a DE…..
and dont give any player a damn thing outside of JPP….make them earn it!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2019 at 11:29 am
#1 Offensive line-Right guard/tackle.
#2 Edge rusher.
#3 Running Back
Free Agency= Safety,Wide receiver
February 19th, 2019 at 11:32 am
Nassib plays like he loves the game. He’s a must have player for this team.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:33 am
Lets get us a really good LB, OG, OT, CB, RB, DE, DT, S & K……we are ok at WR & TE.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:39 am
A bad team would anoint Nassib the starter and stand pat. A good team would try and make Nassib the 3rd best DE on the roster and build a killer rotation that can withstand an inevitable injury or two.
The Bucs are usually the former.
Let’s hope Arians injects additional logic into this franchise’s decision making.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:39 am
Yes, the blind squirrel found a nut! The young man plays hard all the time. It’s hard not to like or pay him. If his performance maintains or improves, negotiate a deal mid-season.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:41 am
Not sure why but there seems to be a lot more love for the Prima Donna’s that are drastically underachieving. We have several really good players who have obviously overachieved and consistently out work others but fans still have a problem with them. A team needs these hard workers to be successful. It only takes one or two cancers to bring the entire team down so I’d be happy keeping the players who go all out.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:55 am
Agreed about a new contract, joe. We should rap him up on a cheaper contract as soon as possible. He is a young speed boat and now he’s even gonna be working harder this year to receive a fat sack from someone in 2020. Get DE Charles Omenihu (Texas) in round 3-4.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:56 am
It’s picks like Nassib that makes Licht so hard to judge. He finds these diamonds in the overlooked rough like Ali Marpet and Nassib but then he misses on Aguayo and Ronald Jones. Licht is feast or famine for sure.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:58 am
Carl is a good player, not great. He bats down many passes with great anticipation. He gets in the backfield causing disruption. He’s weak in the running game. I wish the Brown’s would have kept him as a rotational player behind Garret, Ogbah and Avery. Anyhow, I’m glad he was picked up and productive for the Bucs.
February 19th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Nassib is a keeper, great motor and team player
February 19th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Extend him. He’s a potentially a 10+ sack DE. Absolutely love what Crazy Carl brings to this team!
February 19th, 2019 at 12:10 pm
noah spence never was a 4-3 end his position was always as a stand up 3-4 rush LB. He may surprise if played to his strengths.
February 19th, 2019 at 12:13 pm
He just needs to stop dropping his head when he engages the OT. High Motor is a good quality, but awareness is king.
February 19th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
you see the elbow brace right?
we have one with a bad wing and one with a claw.
WE SHOULD LOOK AT ALL DE’S!
February 19th, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Teams like the Bucs that run a 4-3 defense need at least 3 solid DTs (preferably 4) and at least 3 solid DEs (preferably 4) IMO … every game (before injuries). Right now the only ‘for sure’ DLinemen for 2019 that I see are Vea, JPP & Nassib. Love how Nassib produced last year, but no long-term contract until we see how he performs in Todd Bowles defense.
All the rest (GMC, Allen, Unrein, Gholston, Spence & several lesser knowns) are veterans who are subject to either being traded or released it sounds like. But then each subsequently must be replaced, with either a FA or a draft pick. Tricky situation, but I sure do hope that Bucs can take advantage of this being an excellent year for drafting DLine help.
February 19th, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Sign okafor and draft a DE in the 2nd or 3rd. I believe spence under this new regime woll be a 6-8 sack rotation guy like Dwight Freeney was for them back in Arizona.
February 19th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Nassib is the real deal. Can’t believe he makes 2mil while McCoy makes 13. Just isn’t fair. And don’t even get me started on lazy ass, underachiever D. Smith.
February 19th, 2019 at 3:23 pm
Robert,
He had that brace on the whole damn season and played lights out. Whats your point?
February 19th, 2019 at 3:37 pm
With Nassib learning from JPP and now Bowles, the sky is the limit with this guy.
February 19th, 2019 at 3:50 pm
@ malloy
not saying he can’t play lights out with brace, just saying you better have a backup plan. Gronks got more braces than a 70 year old, but he’s on borrowed time.
February 19th, 2019 at 5:48 pm
Joe is not running out to buy a Nassib jersey. Joe is a fan but not a big one.
How could you not be a huge fan of this guy? He PLAYED IN 15 games. Didn’t start 15 games. This dude will be a double digit guy across from JPP full time.
I would absolutely try and extend him before next offseason. Let him play his current deal out through week 8. If he’s got 5 plus sacks at that point pay the man.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:50 pm
Nassib was a rare find on the waiver wire.
He absolutely earned the right to head into 2019 as a designated “starter” at DE.
We aren’t deep by any means – but JPP and Carl Nassib is a hell of a lot better starting pair of DEs than we’ve seen in Bucland for a loooong time!
Need to use a day 1 or day 2 draft pick on a DE prospect this year. Same goes for DT! DLine is the biggest strength in this draft and we need to take advantage of that.
I’m still hoping SOMEONE can figure out how to get Noah Spence back on the field. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player shoved farther into the doghouse than that dude was last year…..
February 19th, 2019 at 7:31 pm
Nassib is a keeper and has a bright future but if he can’t stop the run we may need to keep Gholston who has more size and weight to play at DE and use Nassib as a stand up OLB in a 3-4. JPP is good at stopping the run as well as rushing the passer and is big enough to play DE in a 3-4.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:06 pm
Carl Nassib had a good year last year after coming here… but as Sapp says, let see you do it again kid.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:30 pm
Carl Nassib was likely positively influenced by JPP. Both were excellent pickups. Nassib is so tall-be nice if he could get into batting some balls down.
February 21st, 2019 at 4:55 am
It would be nice if this guy could fit in the 3-4 as a defensive end or edge rushing outside linebacker but the scheme change is gonna turn guys like Nassib into a rotating defender and like I been saying N. Spence will be buried on special teams but we know those two can step in and step up. I think JPP will move to outside linebacker and Gerald McCoy will move to defensive end imo. Gholston will be the other defensive end. I think we get another DT in the draft maybe K. Saunders will be that guy they like the small school players and another one I see is RT Titus Howard as well