“Development” Should Not Be Part Of 2021
March 20th, 2021
One more rodeo?
The Bucs are going for two. They’ve said it publicly, and they have backed their words with actions, doing their damn best to keep the Band of Bucs together.
So far, only three of the Big 8 remain unsigned: defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh, furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing receiver Antonio Brown and Playoff Lenny.
In discussing the current state of the Bucs free agents, former Tampa Bay area television personality and current FS1 hollering show host Colin Cowherd said if he were Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, he would wave goodbye to Suh and draft an interior lineman.
That sounds good, until you remember the Bucs are “Going for Two.” This is no time to develop a rookie. At any position. The Bucs need production from everyone, not development.
Wherever Suh goes, he brings an edge to the defense. Joe would hate to lose a guy like Suh who never misses a game and can be downright ornery on the field of play.
The Bucs can still draft an interior lineman with Suh starting. If Suh leaves in 2022, then the rookie drafted next month can develop more in 2022.
This season is all about production, not development.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:17 am
There is no substitute for Suh outside maybe Aaron Donald.
I suspect Suh will be back.
That said, I expect the Bucs to draft maybe two DL and 2 edge guys…for “development.”
March 20th, 2021 at 10:21 am
Cowherd does not realize Suh is part of a historically good run defense with VV. SIGN SUH J Licht. So many of the media have not really followed the Bucs before Brady, so they take Suh for granted. Sure draft an interior lineman to groom, and play some but not to replace Suh this year but start after Suh leaves. GO BUCS!!!
March 20th, 2021 at 10:36 am
Suh is better than any wet nosed dt in this draft.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:40 am
Of course development should be part of the plan! Sitting stagnant is the kids of death as other teams try to get better. But the Bucs have the luxury of drafting the best player available and not for need. Very few teams get this opportunity. But that doesn’t say that Licht couldn’t get an impact player in Round 1 and/or 2. Just take the best player available as long as he isn’t an RB or Kicker and all should be fine.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:41 am
* Kiss of death
March 20th, 2021 at 10:42 am
This is the ideal scenario. Sign Suh and draft BPA at DL/Edge/OLB in the first two rounds.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:45 am
I’m no draft expert but I keep reading this is a real weak DT draft class.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:46 am
100% agree with Joe on this.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:59 am
Deal is probably already done (in principle)….just waiting on restructuring some contracts. I think both sides have made that clear.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:09 am
I agree with K2. Deal is prolly done in principle. Neither side has a need to rush it.
We don’t hear any rumors involving Suh and other teams.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:11 am
Development is on-going – constantly.
Are all the young players starting in the Bucs secondary fully “developed”. Of course not. They can and will improve. And therefor must continue to be ‘developed’.
Good coaches are always teaching – always developing – always looking to improve a player’s technique and understanding of the game – as well as their own.
Even old timers who are guaranteed HOFers like Brady and Suh know that they are not fully “developed”. That there is always more to learn – more to understand – more to improve – more chemistry to ‘develop’ etc,
The ‘development’ of the entire Buccaneers TEAM over the course of 20 games in 2020 was truly something to behold….
And to ultimately put it ALL together like the Bucs did in the Super Bowl – playing their best and most complete game when the Championship was on the line – was truly something special to behold.
Our Bucs DOMINATED the alleged best team in the league on the world’s biggest stage. And walked away as Champions.
All because the coaches and players were constantly “developing” themselves, each other and their chemistry as a TEAM – throughout the season.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:11 am
Suh met with Brady after the season. Hopefully this is part of the plan.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:19 am
Great take Joe. We definitely need Suh back, he adds a certain nastiness to the defense when he is in the field.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:20 am
Suh is literally like “The Thing” character from Fantastic Four. Rock solid. The complete opposite of Gerald McCoy
March 20th, 2021 at 11:34 am
Sign Suh, draft a DT. Suh doesn’t need to be full time, if he plays 2/3rds of downs and we develop a good backup, then odds are he’ll be fresh for the playoffs. There are some good DTs in this draft.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:42 am
As Joe Said “Wherever Suh goes, he brings an edge to the defense. Joe would hate to lose a guy like Suh who never misses a game and can be downright ornery on the field of play.”
I couldn’t agree more we need to draft a defensive lineman to play behind Suh, not only to learn his moves, the plays but to mimick his attitude. Same with JPP.
Remember the last time the Bucs won the Superbowl they blew up the team because of salary cap and no true replacements.
Although, I’d be happy with a plan B pass catching running.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:53 am
Can you really use “personality” and “Cowherd” in the same sentence ??
March 20th, 2021 at 11:56 am
I don’t see why we can’t do both.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:59 am
Exactly. Why not both?
In fact we absolutely need to be drafting some D-linemen and edge rushers considering the ages of Suh and JPP.
Also wouldn’t mind a QB for Brady to groom.
Beyond that, I think we’re poised to take BPA at any position- cornerback, safety, linebacker, o-line. Pretty set at WR and TE.
March 20th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Suh is a HUGE part of the success of this D. Gotta bring him back.
March 20th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
I’d like a really good pass catching three down rb like the Cheifs got last year.
Rbs don’t take long to develop …. well except for Rojo and vaughn.
March 20th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
Be nice if JL can find a way to get them all.
March 20th, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Opinions are like a-holes, everyone has one. In this guys case not only does he have one, he is one. Sign Suh,AB & White, let Lenny walk.
March 20th, 2021 at 1:14 pm
The window is now. There’s no Brady’s, Gronk, Suhs running around out there. Take advantage of it now.
March 20th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
I agree. Suh is a key piece to the defense. He’s rock solid and bull strong. I would like to bring back GMC for depth and let him play on a great team. He deserves it and money is not his concern. AB is another one I’d love to see stay here. He needs the stability as much as the Bucs need him back, and they do.
March 20th, 2021 at 1:26 pm
Can’t one you young geniuses photoshop a picture of Licht and BA as Jake and Elwood Blues with the caption of “Getting the Band Back Together “ or “Keeping the Band Together “? That’s well above my pay grade.
March 20th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
I agree with no rookie starters. We all can agree developing JPP and Suh replacements provides long-term benefits.
March 20th, 2021 at 2:16 pm
This is BS. There is always player development going on, and there should be. Development doesn’t mean a wasted roster spot, and it doesn’t mean poor play when a guy gets on the field. Some of the developmental players are your special teamers too. With such a large coaching staff, we ought to be developing a QB, an edge rusher to replace JPP, another backup safety, backup DLs, and backup OL. Without development, you never have replacements like Nacho or Stinnie.
We should sign Suh, if possible, AND draft an interior DL.
March 20th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Pickgrin
Excellent take. I agree. And Suh was a part of that ongoing development. I don’t know for sure but I gotta believe when Vita went out that Suh was a great veteran presence to help in the continued growth of Nacho. And we all saw how well that worked.
I definitely want SUH back!
AB would be nice but he plays at a position of our greatest strength. With all due respect he’s simply too talented to afford unless he just wants to play another year for a ring.
Same thing for Playoff Lenny. Just not enough need at that spot to spend the big bucks that Fournette will EARN next year. Somebody will get an excellent RB…wish it was us but he’s an expensive luxury at this point.
To perhaps deal in nitpicking semantics there is one spot I’d consider truly developing with no expected return this year and maybe next.
If we could somehow grab a QB like Bama’s Jones I’d burn a draft pick just to let him study and learn under Brady. He could be the next Garafolo…perhaps even better and Jones style of play fits perfectly with the Brady style.
March 20th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Need to draft a DT in the first or second round whether Suh stays or not. Hopefully JL has a backup plan if he retires. Dequan Jones with a one or two year deal could help with the transition. Hes no Suh but who is!
March 20th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
@”That sounds good, until you remember the Bucs are “Going for Two.””
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going for two is weak, and should not be the goal. Instead the goal should be “Going for three”. Going where nobody has been before, that should be Bucs aim. They did one “Never been done before”: home team won SB, now is time for three in a row SB, another “never done before”!
… i guess, trying to go for three, is much easy accomplishing TWO.
i love my team, i love how we will start 2021….we already have great players, and even greater leaders, with or without Suh. 🏈👍
March 20th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Oops…Jimmy Garrapolo is not Jeannie Garafolo. LOL
March 20th, 2021 at 3:20 pm
I don’t see the Tristan Wired’s version of a DT in this draft, keep Suh, his demeanor is invaluable.
March 20th, 2021 at 3:24 pm
For the the very first time in franchise history, we really don’t “need” a starter. We do need backups, and I am confident Licht will find them.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:30 pm
Colin Cowherd is an idiot. He’s a sports talk guy for people that don’t know jack sh!t about sports.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
Kahlil Davis is the backup, and future replacement, for Suh. What we need to do this year is draft Tyler Shelvin out of LSU to backup Vita Vea.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:42 pm
QB in the 6th round…..
March 20th, 2021 at 5:22 pm
TB12 will put a pulse on it; steer practises accordingly. He knows that it’s important to get HOME FILED ADVANTAGE. And to do that, the team must be focused; show up every game; every play. This team can do that. Execution. Bottom line: be healthy and peaking come December/January.
March 20th, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Cowherd sometimes talks the stupid. Suh brings the ‘tude apart from his play. The guy is integral to our run defense. We can draft a DT and keep Suh to learn from. I’m telling you, you don’t want Vita and a rookie holding down the middle. Gotta have a veteran till Vita grows into his potential.
You just need a nasty dude in the middle, man. No McSofties.
March 20th, 2021 at 9:14 pm
Yes. Keep Suh and have him help develop a rookie for the future.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:37 pm
Heard you say it on the podcast, surprised you’ve write an article about it considering it sounds kinda stupid. A general manager and coach can never just think about the year. This Super Bowl victory proved how valuable rookies are and they can contribute right away, iron sharpens iron so JPP and Shaq prepared wirfs.
Any vet could get hurt if the two pass rushers I mentioned get hurt what happens to the defense because as of now no one on the roster can get home and it is JPP last year. How could you not think about injury and left after starters?
March 23rd, 2021 at 4:36 pm
Well I like the one response opinions are like a holes everyone has one but they all stink. I do however think keeping what worked together bring in new blood to take over in a year or 2. Restructure contracts will be best for everyone in the end. Cut the pay but add it into retirement basically the same pay but won’t count against the cap and keep them together. Then draft some to be groomed as replacements. The 2 years development would be better because if it doesn’t work out you can drop and redraft again and still have time to develop. Just look and ask Brady how the patriots held on to that team so long.