but it lacks a super star.
We don’t have a Jefferson, Chase, Puka, JSN, Pickens but it’s not a stretch to think Egbuka and McMillan can take a step forward. Hurst is definitely
a wild card. I do worry about Godwin’s ability to stay on the field but, I don’t worry about his ability to play the position at a very high level like he did at the beginning of 2024.
It’s why, all things considered, we should be very optimistic about our offense to be signficantly improved over last years team.
I agree. It’s what I have called a “sum-of-its-parts” approach, on both sides of the ball. It could work, especially if Hurst can supplement on offense, one of the 3 slots can find a WR1 type role…the scheme being closer to the one Coen ran, hopefully can maximize the talent. Still capable of being very good, to maybe elite if someone can step up.I'll never understand paying Otton
This was a Baker move.
I guess but it's still overpaying for average at best talent
Agreed. I think he can be better than he has been but, it’s tough to shine in an offense that truly goes 5 WR deep.
Which is why I would have preferred Njoku for 1 year where he can block better and be a legit red zone target.
5 deep is a stretch and it really depends on which Godwin we get back.
If he's back to being a true elite #2 then the offense essentially has imo 3 elite #2 options (Godwin, McMillan, and Egbuka). Can one emerge as a low end wr1? Can Hurst supplement?
When you throw in Tez, now we have 3 slot WRs that are all pretty damn good.
Egbuka can lineup anywhere but I think he's best in the slot.
Tez is a zone buster in the slot (something Grizz never figured out).
Then Hurst wold card.
I don't disagree that we are 5 deep but it's middle of the pack talent and deep, but it lacks a super star.
Until/unless Bain steps into the role we’re expecting, I think we’re still a sum-of-its-parts approach, defensively, we just have better depth at critical areas.
5 deep is a stretch and it really depends on which Godwin we get back.
Exactly.
You can make the argument that we're essentially 3 deep (and that's assuming Godwin is still a shell of his former shelf).
Regardless, we don't have a WR1.
Just a bunch of WR2's.
I don't think it was some amazing off-season but Licht did ok. Talent wise they should be a little deeper than last year. If injuries don't hit them they could be a solid team. I think I'm worried most about how bowles will have our defense play and how he makes adjustments when he needs to. And second hoping Mayfield is playing well again and consistently. Those two things happen in our favor team should be pretty solid and have a great opportunity to make the playoffs again. Maybe even win the division pretty easily. Though I don't know what could point to bowles being better this year. Could just be my optimistic hopes there.
It’s why, all things considered, we should be very optimistic about our offense to be signficantly improved over last years team.
On a curve I'm optimistic... Mostly because we could have a year with a healthy line for once. Baker healthy. Enough weapons to average 24+. Two good RBs. Hopefully an improved scheme.
But I still think Godwin has to return to some semblance of his form for this offense to ascend.
Egbuka had an awful second half of the season with yips.
Tez had some drops as well but showed he can be a playmaker.
Hurst could be good.
But it's really 5 unknowns with McMillan still being shortly removed from the neck injury.
I like the weapons but I'm mostly optimistic because of Grizz being gone and the prospects of being healthier.
Just a bunch of WR2's.
It can work but it hinges on Godwin.
Also we have a log jam in the slot. You could argue 4 of our WRs are at their best in the slot. Well they can't all play there all game... So there's some amazing depth but it really limits the ROI (probably why Licht wanted Hurst so bad to play out wide).
I also want to see better utilization of our RBs in the pass game. That was sorely lacking last year.
Until/unless Bain steps into the role we’re expecting, I think we’re still a sum-of-its-parts approach, defensively, we just have better depth at critical areas.
Bowles has given us zero reason to assume our whole will be greater than the sun of its parts.
There's a few players specifically that will need to play much better and it starts with Winfield living up to his contract.
Nowhere to go but up with LBs in coverage.
Vea snap count will continue to limit him.
Bunch of edge 2s but no true 1, so Bain has that opportunity in front of him.
I think we improve to being a 12-17 range type unit with some upside if Bowles figures out how to blitz again.
Just a bunch of WR2's.
It can work but it hinges on Godwin.
Also we have a log jam in the slot. You could argue 4 of our WRs are at their best in the slot. Well they can't all play there all game... So there's some amazing depth but it really limits the ROI (probably why Licht wanted Hurst so bad to play out wide).
I also want to see better utilization of our RBs in the pass game. That was sorely lacking last year.
NOT SAYING THEY ARE DIRECTLY comparable, but our receiving group is similar in STRUCTURE to the 2025 Seahawks, JSN -Egbuka, Godwin-Kupp, Otton - Barner. They dont have a Shaheed parallel, but not many teams do.
On the slot issue, there was an article that attributed some of Egbuka second half drop off to having to play outside so much. Evans out and even when he was back he was even coming inside some, so I would think that when you factor that into the (hopeful) parallel between Coen and Robinson, we should se a RB offense (running and catching) with the passing game going primarily through the slot, split between Godwin and Egbuka, and then whatever McMcmillan and Hurst and Otton add.
I don't think it was some amazing off-season but Licht did ok
Did okay??? He lost two of the top 5 Bucs of all time and now, some 4 months before kickoff, as a collective, most fans are very optimistic about the upcoming season. Why?? Because Licht changed the defense into one that is larger and better at mid-range coverage. One that will most certainly get after the QB at a higher rate. Licht brought in the best OC available for what Tampa wants to do. Upgraded at RB.
I realize we have to wait and see but, let’s not sit here and pretend that Licht and Greenberg sat on their hands. Turning the page is always tough, Tampa handled it with the tenacity of a team that understands the assignment.
But I still think Godwin has to return to some semblance of his form for this offense to ascend.
I am a Godwin homer so biased for sure, but if you look at last season at the end he is 4 for 5, 5 of 6 and 7 for 8, so hes catching almost everything thrown to him and I think he has 2 TDs. With Egbuka eating up some of the slot and motion stuff Godwin should be carrying a fairly light load.
To me the wild cards are McMillan and Hurst and really a little bit of your OR guys (where does he fit in?). If one of those guys emerges they have something, especially if they can actually run
But I still think Godwin has to return to some semblance of his form for this offense to ascend.
I am a Godwin homer so biased for sure, but if you look at last season at the end he is 4 for 5, 5 of 6 and 7 for 8, so hes catching almost everything thrown to him and I think he has 2 TDs. With Egbuka eating up some of the slot and motion stuff Godwin should be carrying a fairly light load.
To me the wild cards are McMillan and Hurst and really a little bit of your OR guys (where does he fit in?). If one of those guys emerges they have something, especially if they can actually run
Tez I meant
McMillan is going to feast on the boundary if teams focus on EE or Godwin in the slot. Best part of the Hurst pick up is that he too can play in the slot so you can kick EE and McMillan on the boundary and still put Hurst in the slot. And this allows Godwin to not have to play so many snaps and also Tez can play boundary or slot too despite his size.
Licht needed to improve some starting areas or bring in competition like LG and CB. Drafting K. Scott and Schrauth points to this as an issue but these players should develop on their on time table. I would prefer to see K. Scott develop as a NCB and spot safety versus also being cross trained as a boundary CB. This is why it is ideal to bring a veteran boundary CB to push Morrison, McCollum and Parrish. Schrauth is a rookie but I think he and another veteran could push Bredeson to the point Bredeson ends up being the primary backup at C and guard. This would mean the team wouldn't have to carry 10 OL for the season on the roster. That extra spot can be used for a LB or CB for special teams and depth. Bucs need a young guy in the pipeline at LB to develop at Mo whether that is Nick Jackson or Bullock.
Licht's make or break for this off season is really going to hinge on what players he finds from final cut downs to improve this roster. Licht needs to really turn over some stones and improve this team at guard and CB one way or another whether as depth or as players that can push for starting playing time.
Taking a we are happy with the roster approach heading into the season again isn't good enough with how the 2025 season concluded.
I don't think it was some amazing off-season but Licht did ok
Did okay??? He lost two of the top 5 Bucs of all time and now, some 4 months before kickoff, as a collective, most fans are very optimistic about the upcoming season. Why?? Because Licht changed the defense into one that is larger and better at mid-range coverage. One that will most certainly get after the QB at a higher rate. Licht brought in the best OC available for what Tampa wants to do. Upgraded at RB.
I realize we have to wait and see but, let’s not sit here and pretend that Licht and Greenberg sat on their hands. Turning the page is always tough, Tampa handled it with the tenacity of a team that understands the assignment.
I like Licht and think our issues are not due to the jobs he's done for this team. There's really only so much they can do players have to do he can do as a roster Manager. Coaches need to coach and players need to perform on the field. Roster wise he's done his job for the most part most seasons. He's one of the better gms out there I think. So not much complaining from me about him. I do wish he didn't connect himself so much with bowles. I understand he's probably his good friend at this point but we know how messy it can get when you just hire your friend or even just because you want to fill some quota. It's literally the same thing because your not hiring the best person for the job.
O don’t think the similarities with Seattle end at WR. The whole sum of its parts idea isn’t new, Seattle was just ahead of us. Still, we need a spark at WR, and edge makes the defense work better. The improved pass rush would help the secondary, the improvement at ILB in the short/middle, even marginally, will also.Just a bunch of WR2's.
It can work but it hinges on Godwin.
Also we have a log jam in the slot. You could argue 4 of our WRs are at their best in the slot. Well they can't all play there all game... So there's some amazing depth but it really limits the ROI (probably why Licht wanted Hurst so bad to play out wide).
I also want to see better utilization of our RBs in the pass game. That was sorely lacking last year.
NOT SAYING THEY ARE DIRECTLY comparable, but our receiving group is similar in STRUCTURE to the 2025 Seahawks, JSN -Egbuka, Godwin-Kupp, Otton - Barner. They dont have a Shaheed parallel, but not many teams do.
On the slot issue, there was an article that attributed some of Egbuka second half drop off to having to play outside so much. Evans out and even when he was back he was even coming inside some, so I would think that when you factor that into the (hopeful) parallel between Coen and Robinson, we should se a RB offense (running and catching) with the passing game going primarily through the slot, split between Godwin and Egbuka, and then whatever McMcmillan and Hurst and Otton add.
The interior d-line got stronger from a depth perspective, that should give a chance to spell Vea, Kancey.
Under Coen, the offense kinda ran through the slot/Godwin who was on a tear in 2024 before his injury. I’m hoping he can replicate some of that…but that slot really gets banged up, likely why we have several capable of being deep there. Can Egbuka be a steady Z? Can Hurst contribute some meaningful X plays?
Didn’t like hearing Bowles say today that Bucky may nut be ready until fall?
I’m feeling optimistic, but we’ll see how OTA’s & camp shake out.
Steelers re-sign DL Dean Lowry as a familiar face and depth.
Seahawks trade for WR Irvin Charles from the Jets for a 2026 7th rounder. Charles is a special teams ace brought into the fold to compete for a Seahawk roster spot.