The Perfect Offseason?
June 11th, 2021
Bucs GM Jason Licht
We are living in rare times, Bucs fans.
Not only do the Bucs have the greatest at quarterback — not long ago the Bucs banked on Stuart McClown and Mike Glennon to lead them to the Super Bowl — but the Bucs have a stocked team like few NFL clubs this century.
Keeping the Band of Bucs together may be the reason why follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell claims the Bucs won the offseason.
What went right: … Thirty-one Bucs players lined up for at least 200 snaps on offense or defense a year ago. Owing to some creative cap work and a Tom Brady extension, all 31 of those players are back. The most conspicuous departure from the 2020 team might realistically be swing tackle Joe Haeg. Tampa didn’t add much outside of former Bengals third-down back Gio Bernard, but this is about as much continuity for an NFL team as you can imagine from year-to-year. The Bucs also managed to keep defensive coordinator Todd Bowles on staff after the former Jets coach flummoxed Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
Yeah, you’re reaching if you point out a loss of a backup offensive lineman who will be forever remembered for not securing a Super Bowl touchdown pass is a negative in retaining the roster. That’s how good the offseason was.
Remember the days when the Bucs won the offseason (same days McClown and Glennon were around) and then shat all over the field when the season kicked off? Fun times!
Joe is thinking those days are over.
June 11th, 2021 at 10:08 am
Those days are over. Key is keeping Brady healthy. He is doing his part. Good reason for optimism.
June 11th, 2021 at 10:18 am
Had Brady only played 1 season then retired, he’d be in the Bucs Ring of Honor. That’s mind boggling
June 11th, 2021 at 10:24 am
All that plus Drew Bress retiring and Julio being shipped out of the division. Best off season i can remember.
June 11th, 2021 at 10:36 am
Matt you nailed it. Add to that Sammy D now the QB in Carolina. Things definitely are lining up nicely there. Our division has definitely gotten worse and the Super Bowl Champs haven’t changed one bit to start the season.
June 11th, 2021 at 11:27 am
Most important, keeping TB healthy. I hope you read this D. Smith.
June 11th, 2021 at 11:30 am
Haeg did make a key block on Fournette’s td run vs Chiefs in SB.
June 11th, 2021 at 11:32 am
As a tackle, Hang was a great blocking tight end
June 11th, 2021 at 11:45 am
Let’s not forget about a great draft. At the very least, we should have a solid special teams.
June 11th, 2021 at 1:17 pm
Two ways to look at the offseason …
Optimistic … The team is back together and able to build on 2020.
Pessimistic … They exact same team is a stationary target.
June 11th, 2021 at 3:04 pm
Barnwell failed to mention the retention of a budding offensive genius in Byron Leftwich. Keeping both defensive and offensive coordinators from a SB champion team is amazing. The Licht House beacon is shining brightly. Don’t think the Pirate Ship has a chance of running aground this season.
June 11th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
No two ways about it, Bucs had a historic Super Bowl run and an equally historic front office and team effort to bring everyone back and go for 2. Just amazing and very exciting times to be a Bucs fan!
June 11th, 2021 at 5:59 pm
Other than the kicking, special teams were embarrassingly bad. The coaches should be ashamed. Fortunately, Licht and Arians really did seem to address this, especially in free agency with Jones, Hamilton, and Greene.
June 12th, 2021 at 12:22 am
soon Jameis Winston will be throwing pics to our boys–so much to look forward too. Shaq will take Winston down and the ball pops out or better yet he throws up a jump ball.
June 12th, 2021 at 12:22 am
soon Jameis Winston will be throwing pics to our boys–so much to look forward too. Shaq will take Winston down and the ball pops out or better yet he throws up a jump ball.