Added Firepower
April 1st, 2024
Review.
Joe is buckling up for the 2024 draft with the combine long gone and free agency pretty much over.
So Diante Lee of The Athletic decided to take one final look at the 2023 draft and drop a grade on it.
While Joe thinks Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had a strong class, Lee wasn’t as kind, though he does believe Licht got three solid starters that include two could potential studs.
So Lee gave Licht and the Bucs a “C-plus.”
Added firepower/Successfully pivoted a roster
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C-plus
Tampa Bay has taken several draft swings at finding front-seven talent, and it looks like the Bucs finally landed a couple of playmakers. Edge rusher YaYa Diaby (No. 82) used his explosiveness and speed to put up 12 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (No. 19) added 10 TFLs and four sacks. Cody Mauch (No. 48) also looks like a solid starter at guard.
Joe agrees that Kancey might just be a baller. As quick as he is, Joe would like to see him line up a little more on the edge. It’s not like the Bucs couldn’t use somebody there getting after the quarterback.
Joe has a way cool nugget about Kancey to share after the draft. Kancey may be a better player than you think — it really stunned Joe.
Joe believes Cody Mauch will turn into a solid guard and, of course, YaYa Diaby became the first Bucs rookie edge rusher since Adrian Clayborn to reach 7.5 sacks. If he can progress, he should hit double-digits.
April 1st, 2024 at 9:49 am
I am very comfortable today
April 1st, 2024 at 9:57 am
The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.
Of course the best laid plans of mice and men….
In the NFL that mean injuries. If the team stays healthy I like their chances.
April 1st, 2024 at 10:07 am
Interior DL is solid. edge and LB not su much.
Honestly, I think TB needs to change his scheme a bit to compensate. Maybe he will (fingers crossed)
but man seeing the edge guys try to cover is nerve racking, as is seeing the TQ sitting in a lazy boy waiting to throw the ball.
fingers crossed.
April 1st, 2024 at 10:07 am
EB
April 1st, 2024 at 10:08 am
If, according to this guy, the team did well on its 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks and they got a C+, what does a team have to do to get an A?
April 1st, 2024 at 10:17 am
Beef! Build up the Trenches! Big Uglies!
April 1st, 2024 at 10:33 am
Kancey had a ton of production as a rookie. Sapp had 3 sacks and unknown TFLs as a rookie. Christian Wilkins just got paid and had 2 sacks and 3 TFLs. The high bar is Aaron Donald who had 9 sacks and 18 TFLs. Kancey is on an excellent trajectory given that he’s going to be much better next year after a real NFL off-season and training for football instead of trips and underwear Olympics.
April 1st, 2024 at 10:59 am
@StickingUpForCenters
I was thinking the same thing. So, I guess it must be because, they were picked later in those rounds and Kancey had missed several games… Mauch is not ‘there’ yet, & might only have an ‘average starter’ ceiling!? But, in order to score an “A” tho, I guess you needed to be picked ‘HIGH’ in the draft… QB & Playmakers!!!! Idk!?
April 1st, 2024 at 10:59 am
Tough grader. Trey Palmer seem like a good late round pick.
April 1st, 2024 at 11:08 am
That guy is F’d, JL did and is doing a great job.
April 1st, 2024 at 11:20 am
Stupid….
3 talented rookie starters – Plus a 6th rd WR3 – Plus depth at ILB, TE, OLB – PLUS a UDFA starter at nickle CB – all in 1 year – drafting towards the end of each round is basically killing it….
April 1st, 2024 at 11:26 am
Pickgrin spelled it out… JL & Co had at least a low “A” to high “B” score for the 2023 draft.
April 1st, 2024 at 11:38 am
You get 3 solid day one starters plus good depth at the other draft positions, and it’s a C+grade???
April 1st, 2024 at 11:54 am
They are a middle of the pack team… which means injuries and schedule matter a lot. Even healthy, this schedule is rough. The Glazers will be looking at how competitive the team is against the top of the league all season and that will determine what 2025 looks like.
April 1st, 2024 at 11:58 am
C+ is fair.
Kancey’s run defense grade was in the high 20s and overall was graded in the mid-40s.
Cody Mauch was one of the worst graded starting guards in the NFL.
YaYa was a pleasant surprise as was T. Palmer.
April 1st, 2024 at 12:03 pm
This dudes grading system is tough! Who got an A?
April 1st, 2024 at 12:22 pm
Did the Bucs sign JJ Watt???
April 1st, 2024 at 12:40 pm
It’s probably just an April Fools joke…sorry!
April 1st, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Yaya will hit double digits. And Calijah is going to be a stud at his position. That’s a weak grade
April 1st, 2024 at 1:04 pm
if the edge situation remains in play – like it is now – bowles is gonna have to run a whole lotta stunts with kancey for 2024…
if kancey and diaby can get like 10 sacks each…and we draft a guy, and the rest of the guys up front maintain their production to about last year, we should be ok…
ok is not great…but ok is ok
April 1st, 2024 at 1:19 pm
Haha a C+!? Where did the other teams rank?
Add Palmer to those other 3 and currently looking at 4 starters heading into year 2. Can 5 other teams in the league say that? If they can… did they make the playoffs last year? Just a ludicrous grade. Once again, another guy who doesn’t watch Bucs games. Probably thought the Giants draft class was great.
Kancey is going to open some eyes this season I think. Mostly eyes outside of Tampa because I think he is going to be setting up shop in the opponents backfield almost every game. Be healthy and in shape Vea, he needs you!
April 1st, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Joe … ‘So Lee gave Licht and the Bucs a “C-plus.” Added firepower/Successfully pivoted a roster Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C-plus”
I think Lee is undervaluing what JL accomplished in ‘successfully pivoting the Bucs roster’. That was no easy task last season, and to end up with a 9-8 record, make the playoffs & win the division was no small accomplishment.
There’s an old saying that goes … ‘The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts his sails’. I’d say that JL & TB took a very realistic approach to 2023 … and to 2024 … and adjusted their sails very successfully.
April 1st, 2024 at 1:32 pm
@ K2
“Did the Bucs sign JJ Watt???”
The report I saw said the Bucs just traded for TJ Watt.
You were off by one letter.
April 1st, 2024 at 1:36 pm
The grade was fair as our guys came on halfway through the season. I am comfortable taking the upside. Bowles calling card is he stops the run and manufactures a pass rush. I am considering adding developing secondary talent to that list. Lets get him some young guys to coach up and cook with. I think he gets more out of his secondary talent, so do not anticipate him prioritizing an edge rusher over a db. Would love to see him develop the modern day nickel defense to make the most of today’s rules.
April 1st, 2024 at 1:45 pm
TJ Watt was traded to the Falcons…so ATL’s pass rush gets better.
April 1st, 2024 at 2:32 pm
We have good OTs. So, I’m not worried about others outside pass rush. Need another pass rusher, TWO IOL, and depth at CB. We’re looking good if we can do that and stay healthy of course.
April 1st, 2024 at 2:37 pm
Buc1987 … No TJ Watts WASN’T traded to the Falcons. The headline read …
‘2024 NFL draft: Steelers send T.J. Watt to Falcons in huge new 7-round mock draft’.
The key word in that headline was MOCK
April 1st, 2024 at 2:38 pm
Marine Buc … Et tu Brute? No, neither Watts was traded to the Bucs or to the Falcons. It’s some guy’s MOCK draft.
April 1st, 2024 at 2:44 pm
@ DR
HAHAHAHA!
Can’t fool you amigo…
April 1st, 2024 at 3:08 pm
Here is grade A firepower for 2024 through the Licht/Coen lense- and I would concur:
Rd 1: Zach Frazier-center- WVU: A center in the first!?! At #26 it is ok. Not only was Wirfs a state champ wrestler- so was Ray Lewis… that list of former champ wrestler greats goes on…. It translates so well to the leverage games of football, particularly at any OL position. Immediate upgrade with potential to trade back and still snag him.
Rd 2: Mason McCormick- OG- South Dakota State- Everyone is sleeping on this guy but Jason Licht I promise- Licht would tear his ACL slipping on his own spooge rushing to the podium to draft this FBS man-beast. Total Licht pick and an instance where team need and draft opportunity meet- again with the potential to trade back for more picks. Mauch chemistry- I could go on- watch some tape.
Rd 3 (Bucs first pick) Mo Kamara- OLB- Colorado State- Kamara has as much upside as any pass rusher in the Bucs range. There are no proven war-daddies to be had, just physical potential.
Rd 3 (Bucs second pick) Ray Davis- RB- Kentucky- Coen had this power guy killing it like White with catches out of the backfield. They could reunite in the NFL and give NFL defenses fits and LBs time in the cold tub.
Rd 4 I know better than to try to project this far but the Bucs could score a gem WR here given the depth at the position this year.
April 1st, 2024 at 4:01 pm
i don’t think the writer checked how many games each guy played
April 1st, 2024 at 4:19 pm
When’s the next Podcast
April 1st, 2024 at 4:41 pm
11.5 sacks and 22 TFL’s? And that’s just two of our picks? I think we can disregard this persons opinion. This was a B+ at least. We cannot concern ourselves with the outside opinion, they are proven to underestimate our men.
April 1st, 2024 at 6:13 pm
Saskbucs Says:
April 1st, 2024 at 1:19 pm
Just a ludicrous grade.
——————————————————–
^^^^^^ THIS!
It’s not going to be possible to accurately grade last years draft for a couple more years. But it has the real potential to be an A.
With the UDFA’s that Licht got he should be charged with Grand Theft. Christian Izien is going to be a quality NFL player for many years to come.
Hopefully Sean Tucker takes a big step forward to show he belongs as well.
April 1st, 2024 at 6:19 pm
Did I miss something .. it’s like there are no podcasts until we have an Edge 2. Been 3 weeks, ever since Davis got traded. Wonder what’s up
April 1st, 2024 at 6:49 pm
He gave the Houston Texans an A for CJ Stroud, Will Anderson and Tank Dell.
He gave Green Bay a B Plus for Lukas Van Ness, Musgrave, Kraft and Reed.
He gave The Rams a B for Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Byron Young and Kobie Turner.
He gave the Lions a B minus for Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta.
The Bucs were one of 5 teams with a C plus that put them in the top 10.
April 1st, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Good Question Simeon4HOF…
The last Ira podcast posted was March 12th. And what’s even weirder is I remember Ira saying on that last one something about another podcast being already recorded or they were just about to – and it would be out “in a couple days”…. that was 3 weeks ago tomorrow….
What gives Joe?
I thought the Ira podcasts were a twice weekly thing….
April 1st, 2024 at 7:03 pm
@Pickgrin … agreed and is kinda weird. Thought I saw a comment that there was one in production last week. I dunno what happened lol
April 1st, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Hoping Mauch really throwing the weights around in this offseason. He needs to get stronger. Last season he was pushed around too much.
April 1st, 2024 at 9:50 pm
@Pickgrin
I thought there’d be atleast one podcast in recent weeks. Joe said there was one being produced but that was days ago. Lol something seems wrong or different. More clicks maybe
April 1st, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Maybe the one Joe wants to talk about Reddick too much and hainsey opening holes so there is a rift in the locker room. Maybe a power struggle at jbf headquarters. Maybe Cosmo or someone swallowed some caterpillars in a storm beer. Maybe Joe is boycotting no Edge. Maybe there just is no more podcasts
April 1st, 2024 at 9:55 pm
Maybe the one Joe wants to talk about Reddick too much and hainsey opening holes so there is a rift in the locker room. Maybe a power struggle at jbf headquarters. Maybe Cosmo or someone swallowed some caterpillars in a storm beer. Maybe Joe is boycotting no Edge. Maybe there just is no more podcasts. Maybe Ira moved to KC
April 1st, 2024 at 11:09 pm
Breaking news .. the Ira Kaufnan show has been on hold bcuz the negative Joe was caught w diddy after the cool joe said no more diddy. #TMZ