“The Most Important Signing Of The Offseason”
March 24th, 2022
“You hear that, TB?”
It’s become clear to Joe that a lot of people forget that Tom Brady won his last Super Bowl with the Belicheats when they had an average defense and a rookie starting running back.
The 2018 season accomplishment was further proof of Brady’s greatness. That New England team had one Pro Bowler on its defense — one! Last season the Bucs had four defensive players in the Pro Bowl.
Yes, Joe knows it’s absolutely fantastic that running back Leonard “Lombardi Lenny” Fournette re-signed this week. But was it crucial?
A guy who long has claimed to be very close to Brady’s camp, ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington, said yesterday on BSPN Radio that Fournette “is the most important signing of the offseason” when it comes to the Bucs winning another Super Bowl.
Darlington was adamant that he could not see a scenario by which the Bucs landed in the Super Bowl without Fournette this season, and he added that Brady loves Fournette.
Joe can’t go that far. Joe would counter that Rob Gronkowski will be a more important signing than Fournette. You can’t just find a tight end of Gronk’s ability and production on the street or in the draft. And certainly Ryan Jensen and Godwin were critical pieces, elite players who raise the games of others.
Fournette is a magical piece of the puzzle, but like Joe referenced above, Brady won a Super Bowl four years ago with a rookie running back carrying the load, Sony Michel, and a veteran third-down back catching a lot of balls.
Still, it wasn’t just a one-off take from Darlington. He was on the Greeny podcast earlier this week saying the Fournette signing “was the biggest move [the Bucs] could have possibly made.”
March 24th, 2022 at 10:10 am
OFFENSE
LWR 13 Evans, Mike
RWR 14 Godwin, Chris
SWR 00 Gage, Russell
LT 76 Smith, Donovan
LG 64 Stinnie, Aaron
C 66 JENSEN, RYAN
RG 00 Mason, Shaq
RT 78 Wirfs, Tristan
TE 87 GRONKOWSKI, ROB (assumed signing)
QB 12 BRADY, TOM
RB 7 Fournette, Leonard
RB is very shallow on Tampa prior to Lenny signing. And it still needs a better RB 2.
Biggest signings were Jensen and Godwin on very affordable deals considering the market. As both were unreplacable in short term without using major draft capital and money.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Agreed 110%
And to think he had more all purpose yards than tyreek hill last year at 1/5 of the cost. Go figure…
Somebody got a bargain…
March 24th, 2022 at 10:14 am
Darlington May look like he was born at nite, but it certainly was not last nite😁
March 24th, 2022 at 10:20 am
Gronk makes Fournette better. Fournette makes Gronk better. Synergy. The upgrade at G is huge.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:22 am
Stone crab sam Says:
March 24th, 2022 at 10:14 am
Darlington May look like he was born at nite, but it certainly was not last nite😁
But concerning the Fournette comment, Darlington was Born this morning lol
GO BUCS!!!!
March 24th, 2022 at 10:31 am
Whatever Tom thinks is the most important piece is what it is……and, I’m not sure Tom could pick one…
You have Jensen….the only other player to touch every single ball on offense…..and then you have his BFF…..Gronk……making it tons of fun for them both….
If I had to choose….I’d take Gronk….simply because of the friendship & familiarity .
March 24th, 2022 at 10:35 am
I see us drafting 1 or 2 backs. One earlier and one in round 6 or 7… (I expect they’ll be moving around a little and end up with a pick in rd 5 or 6.)
March 24th, 2022 at 10:39 am
August 76. Touché my man
I was thinking about those endzone seat tickets we got back in the day for6-8$ a piece.
How time flys….
March 24th, 2022 at 10:51 am
Gronk doesn’t run the ball.
Lenny is triple threat. Great picking up the blitz in addition to being a bona fide receiving threat. Lenny is easily more important than Gronk.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:53 am
Saw somewhere that Lenny was playing at 240 last year. The Bucs thought he’d be quicker at 230.
Lenny isn’t that quick, slashing or sudden back but he can be a load to bring down sometimes. Trustworthy protection and great hands.
Good for TB=good for me.
Welcome back Lenny. Your new contract is well deserved!
March 24th, 2022 at 10:53 am
Stone crab sam Says:
March 24th, 2022 at 10:39 am
August 76. Touché my man
I was thinking about those endzone seat tickets we got back in the day for6-8$ a piece.
How time flys….
lolol
GO BUCS!!!
March 24th, 2022 at 11:08 am
Our new guard is a much better run blocker than Cappa, so I am excited to see how Lenny does this year.
After the loss of both Cappa and Ali Marpet, I was concerned, but Licht has really come through by signing our new Guard, for a measly 5th round pick.
IMHO, Licht really fleeced the Patriots with this signing, and New England Fans are pissed for letting their guard go so cheap.
March 24th, 2022 at 11:44 am
Lenny does a lot of the grimy/dirty work for this team that is hard to quantify just like CG and Gronk. He produces, even when he is not featured, and I would argue he was Brady’s go to outlet last season. Combined with ME13 and Gronk, this is a deadly team inside the 30 yard line.
March 24th, 2022 at 12:11 pm
When you talk Super Bowl teams, there’s a pretty good chance that they’re ALL the most important signings. I can’t imagine our OLine without Ryan Jensen. I can’t imagine our TE group without Gronk or our WR group without Godwin. And I can’t imagine our RB stable without Playoff Lenny. And losing Marpet was a real blow, but I’m excited to see what Stinnie can do there, and even more-so what Mason can do over on the other side in replacing Cappa.
But could say the same about the defense. I can’t imagine our DLine without Suh or without Big Will. And yes, it’s hard to imagine that group without JPP. Replacements for Suh & JPP in particular will have some big shoes to fill. Losing Whitehead could sting, BUT gaining Logan Ryan is a real coup.
March 24th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Goatfarmer … ‘Lenny is easily more important than Gronk.’
Hard to compare 2 different positions like that. Gronk, over his 11-year career, has averaged a tad over 700 offensive snaps per year, and has been targeted a little less than 90 times/year average. When he’s on the field, he’s targeted right at 15% of the time. Judging by what we’ve seen in the past 3 years, he’s spent a LOT of those other snaps blocking, and has obviously taken (and given) a real pounding in the process.
Lenny on the other hand has averaged about 550 offensive snaps/year in his 5-year career. Out of those plays, he touches the ball or is targeted on 43% of those plays. So in that regard Goatfarmer, I’d agree with you on Lenny’s importance to the offense. But Gronk’s value as a receiver AND AS A BLOCKER has been critical too.
March 24th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Hey DR — the question of which is more important — it’s like if someone asks me, would I prefer king crab legs or lobster? Yes!
Gronk is one of the top three best to ever play TE. Can’t say that about Lenny at RB – but given roles in the offense with the receivers we have, I give the apples versus oranges nod to Lenny.
No disrespect meant for Gronky at all.
March 24th, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Fournette is good at moving the chains, especially in the passing game. He is solid and will help the Bucs remain a top tier team. He isn’t explosive but he does add the ability to break one now and then.
He’s important to this offense and its good to have him back.
March 24th, 2022 at 2:48 pm
What a waste not having Wirfs, Godwin, and Lenny, that was easily a lost championship
March 24th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
I’m glad to have Lenny back! He really improved over his time here. You could argue he was the best receiving back on the NFL last season. It sucked he lost a few games to injury..
March 24th, 2022 at 6:11 pm
They and you will feel regret in the games where Lenny disappears. And there will be plenty. Swarmed and gang tackled because he minces and tippy toes. Falls easily. Runs into his own blockers. He really is the same guy he was with the Jags and before. Not explosive, not special, big hype.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:39 pm
Hey Steele – glad you know more about player evaluation than Licht, BA, and Brady. Apply now!
Until they hire you, though, I’m inclined to give the nod to the professionals who live and die with it 24/7. I’m very excited to have Lombardi Lenny back, as is Brady, who sold him hard on staying. I guess Brady forgot to check with you first.