More National Gushing For Bucs Roster, Jason Licht
June 1st, 2025
Future Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht signs a football for an adoring fan.
Occasionally there is intriguing Bucs chatter during NFL Live on ESPN TV.
On last week’s edition, it was noted that the Buccaneers still have on the roster every player that caught a pass or took a handoff last season. It’s a stunning reality that at least ties a league record.
Every fringe contributor is back as training camp approaches — from Ryan Miller to Rakim Jarrett to Kameron Johnson. Roster cuts before opening day likely change things, but for now, the Bucs offense literally returns every yard from scrimmage it had last season.
It’s why JoeBucsFan.com columnist and podcaster Ira Kaufman likes to ask, ‘Can Josh Grizzard screw this up?’ referring to the Bucs’ rookie playcaller inheriting the NFL’s fourth-highest scoring offense.
NFL analyst Kevin Clark stepped on the gas when that stat was referenced in the backdrop of the Bucs drafting receiver Emeka Egbuka at No. 19 overall.
Clark says that shows the Bucs are in the NFL’s elite class of roster-builders.
“When I look at this Bucs franchise, I go back to a line that Billy Beane had in Moneyball 20 years ago: ‘When you have to do something, you’re screwed, right?'” Clark said. “The way the Bucs draft now is for value. They’re drafting because their roster is so good — like the Eagles do, like the Ravens do, like the Rams do, the top of the line franchises who understand you stack positions and just take best player available and you go from there. … The way they’re stacking talent, at some point we’re going to wake up and they’re going to be undeniable Super Bowl contenders. … Jason Licht is one of the best GMs in all of football. And the way they draft and the fact that they had a luxury at wide receiver and they took another one, they’re doing value picks. That’s how you win Super Bowls.”
Clark suggested the Bucs aren’t that undisputed Super Bowl contender this year, but they may only be a year away. Of course, that assumes Licht’s 2025 draft class is another stud crop on the field, not on paper.
June 1st, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Predictions in Spring don’t come with any guarantees. The 49ers were projected to win 10.5 games last season; they ended up winning 6. The Bucs were projected to win 7.5 games last season; we ended up with 10 wins, despite tons of injuries.
Fact is (in DR World) that the Bucs have a very talented roster that SHOULD be able to compete with anyone. But as we saw last year, we’re very capable of losing close games. So are almost all of the other 31 NFL teams. A few teams excel there however. Bucs need to become one of those this season if we expect to bring home another Super Bowl trophy.
June 1st, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Yes the Bucs are in the NFL’s elite class of roster building. The way we have been able to be competitive & improve every year since 2022’s mass departure of old talent speaks volumes. Now we are building depth on both sides of the ball. If we end up with improved special teams performance (come on new punter & new punt returner) this team can be special.
No I don’t think we are there yet but close. There will be growing pains especially on the defensive side but by season’s end pass defense should be gelling. I think we end up 11-6 at the end of regular season. Then make some noise winning 2 games in the playoffs gaining valuable confidence going forward. After that next year NFC better watch out. Go Bucs!
June 1st, 2025 at 7:08 pm
DR You don’t think the injuries had something to do with those close games?
June 1st, 2025 at 7:11 pm
11 would be nice. One more win each year for 4 straight years. Maybe that would lull the Bowels trolls
June 1st, 2025 at 7:15 pm
D.R.
I have but one worry. What happens if Baker goes down? Is Trask ready. What scares me is they’re different styles.
OTOH with the great OL and RB’s and WR’s…it’s almost like handing him a Ferrari and say make it go fast.
June 1st, 2025 at 7:16 pm
DR,.you left So Much out . But that is one of the scenarios that has to be fixed. That lies at the feet of one of the primary functions of Any Successful Team..
Coaching
Let’s “hope” for Far Better this season. We “should” win 11 despite poor decision making. We’ll win 12 or more If coaching has improved… We Will See
June 1st, 2025 at 8:17 pm
JL, Todd and his assistants are systematically building a team to compete with anyone. After Brady it was only logical it would take awhile to replenish talent lost and money spent.
We have wildly over-performed but you would think we’d lost 10 games per season if you listen to the same 2 guys who keep riding Todd’s a$$ every single day. Losers, whiners, bigots, trolls.
Swiss cheese, fire Bowles, Dan Campbell, Mike McCarthy blah blah blah.
Bless your little attention seeking hearts 🙏🏼
June 1st, 2025 at 8:22 pm
Woodman … Bucs lost 8 games total last season. we got convincingly whooped in 2 of those games (Broncos & Ravens). But in the other 6 losses, the most we lost by was 6 points. IOW, we came within 1 score of winning. In my book, that’s a close, WINNABLE game.
Yes, injuries played a big part in our season, but it did for quite a few other teams also. The elite teams have adequate DEPTH to compensate for those hard times. Our depth this season should be considerably better than last season. I’m hoping that proves to be the case after we play … and win … our 21st game this season.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:26 pm
Obvious One … You left one thing out that SHOULD be obvious from our won-loss record improvements from 2022 to 2024 …
Our coaching has improved across the board over those 3 years.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:43 pm
St Pete … None of us really know at this point if Kyle Trask is ready to lead this team if Baker goes down. I’d bet that Patriot fans said the same thing about Tom Brady in 2001 when Bledsoe went down. After all, Brady had played in 1 game in 2000 and went 1-for-3 passing for 6 yards. Obviously based on his 33.3% passing, TB had no future in the NFL.
What probably helped turned the tide though was that Bledsoe had started the season 0-2 and had led the Pats to a 5-11 record the year before. Of course all that Brady did in 2001 was go 11-3 once he got in there, win the division, and oh ya, go on to win the 2001 Super Bowl.
And Drew Bledsoe? He got traded at the end of the season … to the Pats’ arch-rival Buffalo (for whom he started for 3 years), then spent his last 2 years in Dallas. Everyone in New England had considered him to be the golden-boy in his first 8 seasons in New England. Don’t know why. His career passing completion percentage was a measly 57.2% over his 14 years. Of course Terry Bradshaw’s was only 51.9% average over his 14 year career in Pittsburgh.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:51 pm
So a really good season this year but no cigar. 2026 becomes the year for a projected Super Bowl run.
I will be a happy fan, anyway. This year should clarify more of what we have in Mayfield. Go Bucs!
June 1st, 2025 at 9:59 pm
D.R.
I take your point, although I don’t go as far as comparing Trask to Brady.
But in fairness there simply are NO RESULTS pro or con to judge Trask. He deserves the benefit of the doubt until he proves otherwise.
June 1st, 2025 at 10:44 pm
So let me get this straight.
Fans are called trolls if they don’t like Bowles.
Why do people find the need to tell peeps how to be a fan?
Trolls huh…on JoeBucsFan? I call them fans.
June 1st, 2025 at 11:08 pm
@Buc1987
People can be fans and trolls.
Nobody cares if they like Bowles or not….some of us object to their repetitive posting of the same put downs, comment after comment, day after day, month after month and so on and so on.
People are trolls because they (and their comments) fit the definition. You can google it 😉
June 2nd, 2025 at 12:35 am
And what does that make YOU Goof Gater? Tired of hearing you cry about how you or any of the FEW TROLLS continue to defend Bowles!
Gone Gator… YOU ARE A PARTICULARLY FUNNY HYPOCRITE! Buddy do YOU REALLY THINK EVERYBODY HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT BOWLES ALL OF LAST SEASON????
Do you few TROLLS remember what YOU SAID about how YOU FELT about YOUR ALL THE SUDDEN SAVIOR BOWLES?? You Know…. When the Confidence Polls were RED HOT!!!??? Well I Remember.
Tell you what Gals.. I’M KEEPING RECIPES! And if ANYONE of YOU TROLLS have even the Slightest negative word to say about YOUR new SAVIOR,
I’m gonna CRAWL ALL OVER YOU! You few TROLLS have now LOST YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK A BAD WORD EVER AGAIN WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES about Todd Bowles. NONE OF YOU are gonna get QUARTER ANYWHERE! TROLLS!
You Got It Coming because of YOUR nasty, and personal attacks on us who have DEEP CONCERN about the team WE LOVE! Screw Yall! TROLLS!
Freaking HYPOCRITE TROLLS!
.
June 2nd, 2025 at 12:53 am
Hey Buc187,
I hadn’t read what you wrote before I had something to say to the old gals.
Let me just say, Well Said. You Sir ARE a Genuine Buccaneers Fan and understand how UGLY these few Realistically Are with their PATHETIC Bully attempts on the MAJORITY and our Sincere Concerns concerning the Coaching Problem Our Team has been embarrassed, stunned, and sickened by for TOO MANY years now.
It is said that The DC…. / Head coach has now gotten someone to watch the clock for him AND to help him to Attempt to cut down on All the Poor Decisions he CONTINUES to REPEAT year after year, season after season. …
Well, I GOT NEWS FOR YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE who isn’t Aware or is Attempting to Hide an apparent “little known secret”…. And here is the Truth that most apparently aren’t aware of. BOWLES HAD ONE LAST YEAR!!!! He APPARENTLY DID NOT LISTEN TO MUCH SHE HAD TO SAY TO TRY TO HELP HIM! WOULD NOT TAKE HER ADVICE!
Don’t Believe me?? It WAS reported RIGHT HERE on the POPULAR Joe’s Buc Fan Blog! That was posted approximately 6 weeks ago, Right Here, that he INDEED, CERTAINLY had that assistance last year, and now we know LICHT HIRED another this year…. Perhaps he’ll listen to this one.
Anyways 187, Good for You and Very Well Said
.
June 2nd, 2025 at 6:00 am
I’m not so sure that we were not a SB contender last year Joe. Our defense was walking wounded and CG was missed more than most will admit. We added starters and depth soooo…
Go Bucs!
June 2nd, 2025 at 6:09 am
lol what a dumb article. the bucs arent exactly stacked on defense. they should draft the best player available to build or reinforce the weakest part of their team.
except kicker of course. never draft a kicker. only mediocre gms do that. whoops!
June 2nd, 2025 at 8:49 am
Even more impressive is seeing where we are NOW vs right after TB12 retired– NO cap room, bunch of older players. We were predicted to be in purgatory for YEARS
June 2nd, 2025 at 12:42 pm
@obviously mad
Wasn’t talking to, or about you when I posted….ever really but if the shoe fits wear it I guess.
Tried to reply earlier but my attempts didn’t make it. BUT suffice it to say that you have me mixed up with a different “snowflake” or “cupcake”.
I’ve had the same name since I’ve been here…people can search my comments.
I may be a hypocrite occasionally (I do troll the trolls sometimes) but not when it comes to my support for Todd, Baker, and occasionally RW 😉
SORRY BUT I DONT FIND your post intimidating nor will it impact anything. Thx for sharing tho and don’t forget your meds.
NEVER blamed Todd for all our problems or called for him to be fired. You got “recipes”? Lol.
June 2nd, 2025 at 1:50 pm
To be fair Gone Gator is right about the few who say the same thing over and over.
I don’t think they are Trolls as much as miserable human beings.
What will happen when Todd wins a SB?
They eat crow or change names and complain about something different.
June 2nd, 2025 at 8:05 pm
GoneGator Is spot on.He knows football from what Ive read/seen