“We’re Going To Make The Offense Try To Find Him”
April 30th, 2024
High hopes for newcomer Randy Gregory.
The Bucs’ forgotten edge rusher after drafting Chris Braswell in Round 2 on Friday is on the forefront of coaches’ minds.
“When you kind of watch him, he still can win 1-on-1’s and go back to what we like, we want to pressure. And he was another pressure piece,” defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said of Gregory.
Rodgers noted how versatile and capable Gregory is.
“We’re going to make the offense try to find him. And this guy knows how to get to the quarterback. So it was a win-win situation for us.”
Joe would be more excited about Gregory if he wasn’t 31 years old. That’s not a common age to get a revival season out of a pass rusher.
That said, given the uncertainty of the Bucs’ edge rush, Joe could see Gregory being a Day 1 starter opposite YaYa Diaby.
April 30th, 2024 at 11:28 am
One of many brilliant moves by Jason Licht. It’s a low cost play with no downside and attractive upside.
April 30th, 2024 at 11:44 am
Considering his age and that it’s a one year deal, if Gregory can’t crack the top four, he’ll be camp meat.
Diaby
JTS
Braswell
Nelson
Watts
Ramirez
Gregory
April 30th, 2024 at 11:50 am
A year or 2
April 30th, 2024 at 11:53 am
If JTS is a chess piece, I’d say she’s the Queen.
April 30th, 2024 at 11:54 am
To me, Gregory is not a Day 1 starter as a standup OLB & more hand in the dirt 4-2-5 DE….My suspicion is he was really injury insurance…With the expectation of being a rotational piece/YaYa’s backup & “don’t be like me off the field but do this on the field” mentor Vet signing.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Off topic did anyone see we just invited 6-7 Zach mathis to mini camp with a lil work with Mike we might have the best receiver core for some time to come
April 30th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
We’ll see. 31 year old Edge rusher buried under a mountain of OG Cush every weekend isn’t inspiring.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Anyone see that the Bucs picked up Brad Culpepper’s son Judge Culpepper? He’s just going to be camp meat unfortunately.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Don’t underestimate Judge Culpepper, he’s probably a lot like his father in ability and his dad worked his way into the NFL , whether he has the necessary skills to accomplish his goals is the only question and the only limitation.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:34 pm
Do not expect a lot from Gregory backup at best.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Next offseason will be really interesting.
We’re still in a “get right” mode:
>Plugging holes
>Eliminating dead cap
Next year things look GREAT. Two holes (WR, MLB), full set of draft picks, +$60M to spend. Next year and each year forward, the Bucs can either stock up or go all in. I think it all depends on how Baker plays this year.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:39 pm
Randy Gregory – 426 def. snaps – 4 sacks.
JTS – 579 def. snaps – 5 sacks.
At worst Gregory is solid depth and probably #4 in the rotation…
April 30th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
31 aint old.. ask mike
April 30th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
aka drop it like its hot
April 30th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
For a 31-year-old he has relatively little wear and tear. Has missed a lot of time for various reasons. Hopefully that means his bodies still a bit more resilient than it might normally be at that age.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Don’t underestimate Judge Culpepper, he’s probably a lot like his father in ability and his dad worked his way into the NFL , whether he has the necessary skills to accomplish his goals is the only question and the only limitation.
***
Brad was drafted in a round that no longer exists (the 10th) so it’s possible they end up having similar careers. But that would mean Judge would have his prime somewhere else after he bounces to another team.
More than likely, this is a favor to Brad from the Bucs. He still lives in town and will get to see his son try out.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Judge
Don’t know a thing about his game and yes Judge falls into the legacy invite just like Vinnie’s son .
My point in comparison between father and son is that they are/ we’re determined over achievers. I’ll pull for that type of player every under the sun vs talented prima donna skating on natural ability, skating right out of the league after a few years.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
It seems typical in the NFL for ‘pass rushers’ who live in the mid to lower single digit sacks range – to be paid roughly $1M per sack.
Once you near or exceed double digits – the price goes way up of course….
So accordingly – if Randy Gregory can manage more than 3 sacks this year, he will have been a good signing….
April 30th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Seems like a lot of edge rushers retain that skill as specialists into their mid-thirties. Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, etc.
Unfortunately, Gregory has never actually proven to have the knack, averaging about two sacks a year. Coaches seem to believe in him, however.
April 30th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
The first Culpepper was a great pickup for us in the 90s. Hope the young one is too.
April 30th, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Sometimes I forget we signed Randy Gregory….
April 30th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
That’s a typical Bowels mantra. “Hide him. Move him around. Never let him learn one position well. Like the rest of the defense. Let’s confuse the offense, and by doing, keeps our own players so confused they bust at the most critical times. “
Rams playoff game after which he should have been fired not promoted
Falcons 1, 2023
Texans 2023
Colts 2023
Falcons 2 2023 – yes the Bucs won but Desmond Ritter came within 3 yards of winning the game.
Panthers 2 2023 – thank you Antoine Winfield.
If there’s ever been a more overrated defensive masturmind id like to see his name.
April 30th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
TBBF cause he’s …meh.
April 30th, 2024 at 2:49 pm
I don’t really have high hopes for Gregory. Is his money even guaranteed?
April 30th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
Dave Pear Says:
That’s a typical Bowels mantra. “Hide him. Move him around. Never let him learn one position well. Like the rest of the defense. Let’s confuse the offense, and by doing, keeps our own players so confused they bust at the most critical times. “
……
Gregory has been a round enough I don’t think he will confuse him. Bowels has forgot more about defense that all of the posters on this site know.
April 30th, 2024 at 3:09 pm
If we could find some way of planting weed into the opposing QBs pocket, we might get some production out of him.
April 30th, 2024 at 3:12 pm
I know Bakefan – he’s also forgotten that teaching his players how to execute their assignments, especially at critical moments, is job 1 of any coach. His defensive genius is actually the problem. He gets lauded for all these crazy schemes that no one would expect. Problem is, they’re so exotic and difficult to execute, it results in teams coming back to win against him with only 45 seconds left on the clock.
Whitehead went to the Jets. Salah immediately simplified his role, to play one position. He responded with career bests. Maybe Jordan can bring some of that with him, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him regress under Bowels, as others have.
April 30th, 2024 at 3:14 pm
“Judge Culpepper” sounds to me like the name of some small batch bourbon.
April 30th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Don’t expect a lot from Gregory? I’d trust him more than JTS without thinking twice about it. All we can do is hope Braswell is the real deal and iff anyone else starts day 1 they’ll be the backup to Braswell at some point this season. JTS, Anthony, Gregory all you guys had your chance
April 30th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Hmmm… Has LVD had issues with Bowels defense?
April 30th, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Pear … ‘Problem is, they’re so exotic and difficult to execute, it results in teams coming back to win against him with only 45 seconds left on the clock.’
Bit melodramatic perhaps? Todd Bowles has been our DC for 5 full seasons now, and our defense has finished: 2019 (#29); 2020 (#8); 2021 (#5); 2022 (#13); 2023 (#7). That 1st year was obviously a learning year for our defense as we switched from the 4-3 to his 3-4, as well as incorporating a bunch of new talent (mostly Secondary?). The very next year though that defense won the Super Bowl.
That 1st year BTW we lost 5 games in the 4th quarter/OT (when we were either tied or ahead at 1 point). In 2020 we lost 2 games using that criteria. In 2021 … 1 game (in the playoffs as you referenced). In 2022 … 1 game. In 2023 … 2 games (Falcons & Texans).
So please stop with the ‘too exotic’ and ‘too complicated to execute’ BS. These are big boys who get paid very well to play a game. One of the traits that the Bucs have drafted very well for is a high level of intelligence and love of playing the game. You obviously believe that you’re a lot smarter than Bowles is but something tells me you couldn’t even come close to getting those same results out of these players. Just a guess though.
April 30th, 2024 at 6:41 pm
Football players that are sharp enough to understand “chess moves”.
April 30th, 2024 at 9:04 pm
Dave Pear has about the most useless takes on here.
Always complaining about Todd Bowles.
Grow Up!!!!
May 1st, 2024 at 9:39 am
LOL
More coaches propaganda Joe!
Gregory will start only if all of the others in the OLB room fail miserably I am sorry yo say. Teams don’t let great pass rushers go unless they are no longer great pass rushers. Rare exceptions of course being Shaq and JPP. I really don’t expect much from this dude. Can he beat out Nelson? I doubt it Joe. Nelson averaged some pretty good numbers on limited snaps prior to last season. Hope lightning strikes in Tampa again though.
Go Bucs!
May 3rd, 2024 at 4:02 pm
Todd the hybrid HC/DC is the big problem. It’s why Jason needs to insist Todd hire a full time DC, or go back to being DC, and Jason go get a real head coz h.