Bucs general manager Jason Licht took a few minutes between meetings in Arizona to speak to the Tampa media on a number of subjects. Below are some of the topics and his responses.

(On the lack of cap space this year)
“It was challenging this year just because of the cap situation, but it wasn’t – we still felt like we could go out and get some quality players. It might not be the flash, and the the headline players you hear nationally, but (Deone)Bucannon, Brent Perriman, Shaq Barrett, Earl Watford, we signed Kentrell Brice, we signed some guys we feel have a legitimate chance to help us make an impact. It might not be the splash we talked about but it still exciting for us. When you sign guys – we are just excited in the building, the coaches and personnel guys as if you signed a $90 million guy.

“It certainly isn’t ideal, you know you want to be in this position after coming off a good year and I recognize that. I would say that the biggest offseason signing we has was Bruce(Arian) and his staff. And still to this day we are extremely excited about it, from ownership on down that we were able to get Bruce and his staff. Todd Bowles and the list goes on and on. It is still a very exciting time.”

Bucs OL Alex Cappa – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On why he thinks Alex Cappa is ready to compete as a starter)
“Just being in the league for a year and seeing what the day-to-day and grueling practices or whatever it is, just how to navigate through a season,  and he was a small school guy. And not every small school guy can come in and perform like Ali Marpet. I mean that is a rarity. But he is really smart, really tough, and I know that he is getting a lot better and  stronger this offseason. So it is just a confidence in the person.”

(Common denominator with new players signed)
“Well I would say with Earl(Watford) Bruce and I have a history with him. I was there when we drafted him. With Deone Buccanon, it is somebody that our coaching staff has a lot of confidence in. When he played for Todd, he has him as a starting linebacker and had him move from safety to linebacker. It was a unique situation at that point but he got him to play very well. So with this year, some of the signings you want – for a lack of a better phrase  minimize risks – and we know what they are and we know what they can do. I would say that would be kind of a common thread.”

(On LB Jack Cichy’s recovery from ACL injury)
“We will know more when we get into April,and know what the timetable is. With knees in particular you get them out on the field and get them moving around and that is the best time when you know if you are moving ahead and not having a setback or behind in your schedule. With him, just the way he is attacking we are confident he is coming back, I just can’t tell you when right now.”

Bucs LB Jack Cichy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On if the team can be a better team with almost the same personnel)
“I don’t want to say…we are looking ahead with Bruce and his staff. These guys all have another year of experience. We feel really good about the young core of guys that we do have. And it is sickening and really stinks sometimes to lose really good players that your coaches have done a great job of developing with Kwon Alexander and Adam Humphries. They did a great job with those guys. But it was really a tough decision and you have to take into account what the new scheme is going to be with offense and defense, do we have to make some changes or do we have to let some guys go? It is the tough part of this business. In terms of receiver, Bruce was hired and they dove into all the tape going back four years and they came back excited with some of the pieces we do have. With Chris Godwin, with O.J. Howard, with Cam Brate, so adding a speed guy like Perriman, we feel like Godwin can play the role inside, much like he was used to – and I am not saying he is Larry Fitzgerald by any means yet – but play the role like Larry did in Arizona. Which made it a little easier to swallow that we had Chris on the roster, but still made it tough to loss guys like that.”

(On where do you go for cap space now)
“There is a lot of ways you can help yourself create some and I am confident we will be able to do that.”

(On expecting more releases)
“We are still evaluating the whole roster.”

(On working with Arians on the evaluation process of players)
“He is the same as he was in Arizona. He loves looking at players. He loves looking at college players and loves the whole draft process. And he is somebody I really feel like I can lean on with his experience, not just in Arizona but going back and talking to people that have worked with him. He really enjoys it and it is always great to have a coach that does enjoy it.”

(On carrying three quarterbacks)
“I think it just all depends on how the roster shakes out at the end of training camp. And injuries come into play. It is hard for us to say right now if we are going to keep two or for sure keep three. It will evolve over time.”

Bucs QBs Ryan Griffin and Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On if current personnel fits a new scheme defensively)
“I am real confident we will be able to transition. Working with Todd Bowles before and seeing how there are not round pegs, seeing how that he does put them in position to make plays. Now 70 percent we play nickel and that is still four down linemen and two linebackers, or you play dime with one linebacker and extra safeties. In terms of the base we have JPP, and Carl Nassib and Lavonte David and now Bucannon. I would say that is a pretty good(group) of starting linebackers. I am not worried about that or concerned about that.”

(On looking for quarterbacks to draft)
“Bruce may not have done a 10 game or two season look at these guys but will eventually look at all of them. But so will Clyde Christensen and so will Bryon Leftwich and our scouts.  We still do extensive research of all of them.”

(On who would be second linebacker next to Lavonte David)
“You know that is a better question for Bruce. We still haven’t gotten them on the field. But Deone Bucannon has had that role with Arizona for a few years so it wouldn’t be out of line to say he will have first crack at that.”