As the news of roster cuts have been trickling out over the last two days, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have now announce their official 53-man roster following the 4:00 p.m. deadline.
The Buccaneers have announced their 53-man roster. https://t.co/ITVsqpVR7X
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 2, 2017
From the Buccaneers’ site:
Waived
DE Mehdi Abdesmad
G Josh Allen
DE Sterling Bailey
DE Tavaris Barnes
LB Richie Brown
LB Riley Bullough
CB Mariel Cooper
WR Donteea Dye
DE Hendrick Ekpe
RB Russell Hansbrough
CB Vernon Harris
G Jarvis Harrison
WR Shaq Hill
K Zach Hocker
WR Josh Huff
S Marqueston Huff
FB Austin Johnson
S Isaiah Johnson
T Korren Kirven
LB Jeff Knox
G Michael Liedtke
T Marquis Lucas
WR Freddie Martino
RB Jeremy McNichols
CB Jonathan Moxey
LB Eric Nzeocha *
CB Cody Riggs
G James Stone
WR Derel Walker
TE Tevin Westbrook
WR Bobo WilsonWaived/Injured:
QB Sefo LiufauReleased (Vested Veteran):
LS Andrew DePaola
DE George Johnson
LS Garrison SanbornPlaced on Injured Reserve:
DE DaVonte Lambert
DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatuPlaced on Reserve/Suspended List:
RB Doug Martin
Beyond the expected players on the team, those cuts meant that Bernard Reedy, Channing Ward, Ryan Russell, Alan Cross and Cameron Lynch made the team.
The team kept five tight ends, three running backs, five wide receivers, three quarterbacks (one to IR), five defensive ends, five defensive tackles, five cornerbacks, five safeties, six linebackers and nine offensive linemen.
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About the Author: Trevor Sikkema
So no LS? Is that it?
Re LS Garrison Sanborn. My understanding is that his release is a device of convenience to allow QB Ryan Griffin on to the 53 roster for one day. Sunday he will be moved to IR to return. At that time Sanborn can be added back to the 53. Sanborn likely chosen because he is less likely to be claimed from waivers and the least difficut to replace if a claim was made. No slight to Garrison. Go Bucs!
Why not cross train Evan Smith to long snap? I don’t know why more teams in the Bucs situation DON’T have their backup C trained to snap long. Somebody has to take over if your long snapper is out. Since Smith will be on the team anyway as backup C, why not save one position for a talent you really need, instead of wasting one on a guy who does nothing but long snap?
jp414, On the surface, your suggestion makes good sense. The problem is that we have tried that idea – in the era of leather helmets and before the modern era – before the first Superbowl. Then we entered the age of specialization. I’m sure you’re aware that all 32 teams now have a long snapper. And you’ve probably noticed that it’s specific body type. It’s a skill that 6-4 300lb tightly muscled centers can’t consistently and accurately do. C Ali Marpet is likely to become a pro bowl center. You know the most difficult thing he’s having to learn as… Read more »
Great point but also the reason for the body type difference happens after the ball is snapped. These guys are then asked to not be a liability in punt coverage. They have to be able to run and tackle.
You must not know much about long snapping. I assure you if that was a possibility then the coaches/exec’s would have made that happen a long time ago.
If I’m reading things right, he doesn’t even need to go through waivers (since he’s listed as a released vested veteran).
You are correct. Sanborn has been in the league since 2009.
And I might further clarify that the timeline to return is not driven by Sanborn because as you state he was released as a vested veteran and can sign anytime as a free agent. The timeline is driven by QB Griffin as the NFL rule states that players aren’t eligible to return from IR unless they are on the active roster through 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 3.
But I think it’s a risk move in a week where a couple of teams traded for LS..
Thanks
It is a risk somewhat but one they felt compelled to take. They also know they have former Buc LS Andrew DePaolo out there and he’s healthy again. I read on Twitter that Sanborn was not aware they were going to do this. Didn’t say how he felt. One could imagine!
i could never figure out why with half the offensive line crossed trained at center why it was necessary to take up a roster spot for a long snapper. I am sure there will be other changes over the next few days, but from a layman’s point of view it looks like a pretty good roster to me.
Snapping a football 5 yards to a shotgun-style QB and snapping a football 15 yards to a punter requires two completely different techniques. In truth, alot of O-linemen are not athletic enough to bend their heads between their knees which is step 1 of long snapping.
By rule, the LS is the only unblocked man running down field so he has to have some sort of athletic ability to play in space – you cant have a 330lb meatball run down a 180lb scatback while maintaining gap integrity (e.g. between the hashes in this case)
I heard we might sign SS TJ Ward… this guy is a hammer in the secondary; 2-time probowler, all pro, and he’s a former superbowl champ. Hope it works out – Tandy and Ward would be a nice combo in the backend; conte would then give us good reps off the bench or even 3 safety packages in prevent D. If this goes through, J.Evans might have to move to the practice squad or be our best special teams ace to stay on the roster b/c JJ Wilcox is much better at this point.
Yes I saw the pick up with Ward too. They might be waiting for either Smith or griffin to officially go on IR/PUP. Evans will be on the Roster; he just needs some time. Was he a reach, yes. He’ll still be okay in a year.
Yeah they were never going to put Evans on the practice squad (or try to anyways) because he would have had to clear waivers and while I also think he was a reach he would have never cleared waivers. I think he would have gone 20-40 picks later if the Bucs hadn’t taken him. Obviously that’s a wild guess but without knowing where other teams graded him that’s all we have is guesswork! I love the Ward signing. Even if he doesn’t play because of the hamstring he has an incentive laden contract so the Bucs won’t be out much… Read more »
Happy that Payton Barber made the team.
On the flipside G Josh Allen being cut.
I guess the coaches see something I don’t, he can play Center and guard. I would think Seattle may pick him up.
If Seattle picks him up at least we’ll know the Bucs were right to get rid of him.. They’re one of the only teams that puts less emphasis on offensive line than the Bucs do!
I really worried about the secondary. I’m disappointed Evans was a 2nd round pick and Wilcox was a early FA acquisition and neither were able to beat out Conte or Tandy. Hargreaves was up and down, but overall I also haven’t liked what I’ve seen/read from our starting CB’s from a coverage standpoint this offseason or preseason. I’m also worried about the O-line and D-line among other position groups. We’ll see what happens in the regular season.
I might add Macabee that 6’2 300 pound centers aren’t designed to run 50 yards downfield at full speed and have the agility to make sudden cuts and tackles. If they even can make it down the field after 50 yards at full speed it would take them another 10 yards to put the brakes on. Like a locomotive trying to stop for a car stranded on the tracks.
So, where’s the roster? If intent was to announce cuts, your title should reflect that, not something you don’t deliver in the article!