Ira Kaufman Talks (Too?) Complex Defense, Jamel Dean, Rachaad White’s Bar, Jason Licht Scrutiny, And Much More
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May 31st, 2024 at 3:11 pm
GM Licht’s comment about Whitehead was most likely a compliment directed at the player. Yes, it was “refreshing”, but it was also correct. Ryan Neal was not an upgrade.
Ira is right that the organization has a lot riding on Zyon McCollum, particularly since Licht did not spend a draft pick on a corner in the 2024 draft. The idea that the team might add a veteran corner has already been done: Bryce Hall from the Jets. Tavierre Thomas might make more of a contribution at nickel and especially on special teams. I’m not sure that the Bucs have enough cap space to spend on yet another corner.
The Bucs spent that draft capital on RB, and that was a wise decision.
May 31st, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Thank you, Ira. Maybe some of the casuals around here will understand – too much to think about too many times. Too many busts.
May 31st, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Lee has a very high bar for starting caliber RB. He dismissed RWs improvement over the last 8 games, and here are those stats (starting with SF game, not including Playoff games):
Rushing
561 yds
140 Carries
4.0 yds per rush
3 TDs
Receiving
223 yds
29 catches
7.69 yds per rec
2 TDs
These are not particularly dynamic stats, but if one were to multiply them by 2 (plus there’s techincally another game in there), there’s an 1,100+ yard runner who’s adding 440+ yards receiving and 10 combined TDs on a team that Lee wants to pass as much as possible given WR1 and WR2.
Yes Rashaad needs to do that over an entire season, but Lee’s being unfairly dismissive of Ira’s point of RWs improvement. Or he thinks the bar for “starting caliber RB” is Thurman Thomas in his prime, in which case, there may be 3 starting caliber RBs currently in the NFL.
June 1st, 2024 at 5:51 am
Happy to have Winfield back. We can now move on from the error in the past and look forward to the new season with him. Can’t wait.
Zyon increased his playing time last season and should only improve on that this season. He has been honest about what he needs to work on and I am expecting this year to be his best season yet.
Agreed, looking back, the perfect word for defensive plays would be complicated, especially in the red zone. One of Joe’s articles in December 2023 mentioned the defense and stats from BSPN, and he said something about needing pixie dust.
Optimistically overall, it does feel like we are going into a great season ahead. Thinking Super Bowl. Go Bucs!
June 1st, 2024 at 3:24 pm
In Rachaad White’s rookie year he outran the great Playoff Lenny 3.7 to 3.5
The problem is more with the scheme & Oline than White…..I expect great improvement with our running game this year.