What’s The Value Of New Blood?
March 20th, 2021
So many free agents arriving at many different times turned the Bucs around last season.
Throw the Rob Gronkowski trade in the mix, too, and two home run draft picks.
The new guys joined Tom Brady in changing the Bucs’ sad culture. No longer was the stench of losing infecting One Buc Palace.
The injection of LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette no doubt lit an extra fire under Ronald Jones. Gronk and Tristan Wirfs raised the pass- and run-blocking standards along with Brady.
We even learned after the season that Antonio Brown was like having a second Brady. (Worth the read if you missed it.)
Now the Bucs are Super Bowl champs, content to bring back the entire band and hope for the same sweet music — and a few new singles in the draft.
Joe can’t argue with the strategy, but Joe also has to wonder if the value of adding new blood to the building is underestimated. Sometimes fresh energy and hunger can be a critical piece of the puzzle.
It’s rare to repeat. It’s also rare to retain so many players from a championship team. In many ways, the Bucs really are treading into the unknown, though it remains unclear whether Leonard Fournette, Ndamukong Suh and Brown will be back. Joe’s not going to cry if any of them leave.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:19 am
I’ll be disappointed if Suh is not back.
He’s always been a late signer. Not worried. Bowles knows how important Suh is to the front seven. He cannot be replaced with equal production.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:21 am
But Joe–Suh and Brown are HOF talents; this roster is like the 1927 Yankees!
March 20th, 2021 at 10:34 am
What I don’t think anyone is talking about is Licht still has the draft coming. If he is anywhere close to where he has been in the last two drafts this team will be a vast improvement over last years team. Very few GM’s around the league can get their draft classes to contribute the way Jason has been lately.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:35 am
I personally do not think the Bucs are going to draft a RB in the first like so many others. It’s just not top priority. Licht is not the type to let his third round RB last year with good potential to not get any time on the field. It’s sad enough we don’t use RoJo. Whether it’s White or not we likely will be bringing in a cheaper, third down back with better hands in FA. Don’t see Lenny or Shady returning.
“Build through the draft” right, Jason.
Trade 32 to add more to our already eight picks. Licht is damn good after the first round.
C/OT/DT/OLB/CB/RB.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:43 am
Suh’s interviews after the SB didn’t make him sound like a player ready to retire. In fact, gave me the definite impression that he expects to be back with the Bucs this year. Like Cobraboy says, he’s just a late signer, and being his own agent, there’s really no rush in his case. Maybe he just wanted to make sure the Bucs were serious about going for two.
Could see us drafting a DT to develop, as well as 1-2 DEs/OLBs to also develop.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:44 am
“C/OT/DT/OLB/CB/RB”
Not particular order.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:57 am
I like all three. But, like Joe, I won’t cry if any leave. Licht has done amazingly well.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:58 am
I’m getting teary eyed if Suh leaves. I’m going to cry a river if Lenny leaves and we don’t bring in a back that can catch. Vaughn is unproven and Rojo has proven that he is not good catching the ball.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:59 am
SOEbuc Says:
I’m down with C/G/OT/WR/QB/RB/TE/KR/DL/OLB/ILB/S/CB in no particular order.
No need for P or PK.
😉 😉 😉
March 20th, 2021 at 11:04 am
Actually, to answer Joe’s specific question, a pint of new blood costs around $400 or so plus the cost of service.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:06 am
To repeat, you have to get better.
With Brady, I am not worried about the mindset and the energy of the team. But with another offseason for other teams to figure out how to beat them, it’s always harder.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:07 am
Hardy Nickerson started the last culture change, and he was a free agent.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:25 am
Last year is a hard season to judge off of. They had no offseason to work out the kinks. They had an abbreviated training camp. The first 3/4 of the season looked like exhibition games where they were all clearly trying to figure out how to put the puzzle pieces in place. Yet, they won the Super Bowl and went through teams that have been together for years to win it.
How will this team look coming out of the gate this season? Will they pick up where they left off? This seems like a silly question to me with TB12 at the helm.
I honestly don’t think we’ve seen the best on offense that this team can be. On defense, I think towards the end of the year Devin White finally started getting the feeling that this was his team.
This was the best team at the end of last year. Losing Suh would hurt. I don’t think he’ll walk away right now, but if he does, we have a little bit of depth there and the scheme can adjust. Antonio Brown is a nice player, but is he a ticking time bomb? Lenny Fournette can go.
This is a Super Bowl contending roster the way it sits right now. Draft picks will be added and hopefully contribute. Other than that, you just have to see how the chips fall. Brady and our front 7 are the X-factors.
March 20th, 2021 at 11:27 am
We have some of the best players in the NFL in almost every positional group on this team. Upgrading anything other than depth is hard at this point.
March 20th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
Yup, and WITHOUT that depth that Licht managed to find we wouldn’t have won the SB
March 20th, 2021 at 1:15 pm
licht does better in the 2nd and 3rd any way when it comes to value….. having #32 in the 1st is ok ….. alot of 1st rounders are busts or the $$$ ruins there motivation…..
March 20th, 2021 at 1:15 pm
How about Bucs focus on #2 SB, building for the future is all well and good but isn’t every seasons goal to win the SB? Focus on 2021 first and winning the SB in 2022.
March 20th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
New blood can be exciting it can’t also be divisive.
One thing that has only been mentioned marginally is how well this team bonded as a TEAM. There were some stories but I do not remember a team this tight in Tampa including our last SB Champs. They were close but this year’s team just seem to an incredible group.
And it started with guys willing to keep their egos in check. ME and CG did not resent AB. Brate did not resent Gronk…LVD welcomed D White…our young DB’s seem to be very tight.
And of course our two major draft picks were amazing players and teammates.
Chemistry is perhaps overused but when it’s there it is a beautiful thing to behold. This season was magic for the way these guys overcame so many obstacles and they did it as a team despite all the Covid restrictions.
This season is new but I think we may have a tight locker room with whichever team emerges from August.
March 20th, 2021 at 3:04 pm
I want all three back plus white for mccoy
March 20th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
I’ll be crying if Suh isn’t back.
March 20th, 2021 at 3:37 pm
I’m sorry to announce that Joe Haeg has signed with the Steelers. Bucs will have to find a different lineman to allow extra points to be blocked.
March 20th, 2021 at 6:52 pm
And dropped passes for TD’s in the SB.
March 20th, 2021 at 8:24 pm
We have a great core. We need immediate impact players in the draft, not development players. Keep the#32, give 6 and 7 rounds picks to get a better spot in the 2 and 3 or even the 4 round.
CB, DL interior, RB, OL.
Go buts!
March 20th, 2021 at 9:17 pm
BOTTOM LINE: where will this team be in December/January? Will they be healthy? Will they be peaking? Will they have home field advantage? The rest…can change on the way. Hopefully, this team will challenge itself. TB12 leadership installed. This team knows how to win; wants to win; expects to win. Use the regular season well; get better; stay healthy.
March 20th, 2021 at 9:30 pm
Suh remains a monster and AB is solid. You may not cry if they leave, but you may be sorry.