I remember where Moore slowed up and short armed a pass thrown by Trask in the preseason. Something the Turk probably also remembered.In a surprise move the #Bucs are releasing veteran WR David Moore. Strong candidate to return to the practice squad.
#Bucs are waiving Tackles Luke Haggard and Silas Dzansi as well as Center Chris Murray. Guard Aaron Stinnie and Tackle Raiqwon O’Neal make the 53-man roster
#Bucs have waived LB J.J. Russell. Russell had a really strong preseason for the Bucs including 11 tackles on Saturday. He’ll be back on the PS if he clears waivers
Not surprising because the Bucs can't afford to keep JJ Russell as an extra ILB. This is a result of the Bucs wanting to keep an extra edge rusher or two.
Young team lots of rookies
From what the Professor has told everyone here since December, this is “essentially the same team” as 2022.
53-roster projection:
#QB(2) Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
#RB(4) Rachaad White, Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Chase Edmonds, Sean Tucker
#WR(5) Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Deven Thompkins, Rakim Jarrett
#TE(4) Cade Otton, Ko Kieft, Payne Durham, David Wells
#OT(4) Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Brandon Walton, Justin Skule
#OG(4) Cody Mauch, Matt Feiler, Nick Leverett, Aaron Stinnie
#OC(1) Robert Hainsey
#K(1) Chase McLaughlin
#LS(1) Zach Triner or Evan Deckers
#P(1) Jake Camarda
#DL(6) Vita Vea, Logan Hall, Calijah Kancey, Greg Gaines, William Gholston, Mike Greene
#OLB(6) Shaquil Barrett, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson, YaYa Diaby, Cam Gill, Charles Snowden or Markees Watts
#ILB(4) Lavonte David, Devin White, SirVocea Dennis, K.J. Britt
#S(5) Antoine Winfield Jr, Ryan Neal, Josh Hayes, Kaevon Merriweather, Christian Izien
#CB(5) Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Dee Delaney, Keenan Isaac
10DBs = Winfield out for sunday
53-roster:
#QB(2) Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
#RB(4) Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, Sean Tucker, Ke'Shawn Vaughn
#WR(5) Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Deven Thompkins, Rakim Jarrett
#TE(4) Cade Otton, Ko Kieft, David Wells, Payne Durham
#OT(4) Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Brandon Walton, Justin Skule
#OG(3) Cody Mauch, Matt Feiler, Aaron Stinnie
#OC(2) Robert Hainsey, Nick Leverett
#K(1) Chase McLaughlin
#LS(1) Zach Triner
#P(1) Jake Camarda
#DL(6) Vita Vea, Logan Hall, Calijah Kancey, Greg Gaines, William Gholston, Mike Greene
#OLB(6) Shaquil Barrett, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson, YaYa Diaby, Cam Gill, Markees Watts
#ILB(4) Lavonte David, Devin White, SirVocea Dennis, K.J. Britt
#S(5) Antoine Winfield Jr, Ryan Neal, Kaevon Merriweather, Christian Izien, Josh Hayes
#CB(5) Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Dee Delaney, Derrek Pitts Jr
My initial thoughts:
Canales wasn't kidding when he said he wanted a more balanced offense. Bucs keeping four RBs and four TEs while keeping 5 WRs makes it crystal clear. Still, I expect many of the other WRs to be back on the PS (eg. Moore, Geiger, Warner).
Bowles has come out and said he is willing to ride with Hainsey and Leverett. Given the struggles with Leverett it appears the team wants to coach him up and let him settle in as the backup center. The thinking was the Bucs would pick up a center from waiver wire pickups. However, Leverett can also play OT and OG so his versatility buys him time to learn the center position.
As Ronde Barber mentioned in the final pre season game telecast that Wells is essentially the #2 TE that will be used often in tandem with Otton. Look for this duo to really shine in Canales offensive system.
On defense Mike Greene has been improving and he has earned his way to the roster. Still, I hope O'Connor can make the PS though because depth is still worrisome here after what happened last season.
No surprise with the edge rushers. The team was SERIOUS about upgrading pass rush and the Bucs wisely chose to keep Watts AND Gill. I expect Ramirez to go onto the PS.
Britt showed better play but it was disappointing to see Russell not make it. But given that losing Watts or Gill was the opportunity cost I think the Bucs made the right choice.
Hayes and Izien making it is not surprising as both are versatile in their ability to play safety or nickel. Delaney being able to play boundary CB or nickle also helps his case.
Pitts Jr making the roster as a boundary CB is a surprise over Isaac. But I think the team feels better with Pitts Jr's overall game while Isaac needs to work on his tackling.
Overall the roster looks solid with a lot of young players. But I still feel the Bucs may need to look at the waiver wire for a backup OC if there is a quality one out there. At this point there is no plan B for a backup swing OT as the Bucs have to roll with what they have with Skule and Walton.
I’m glad they got younger and faster , tired of watching the slow old Bucs team
I expect the Bucs to look at upgrading a number of position on waivers. T, C, CB, and TE all positions that will be looked at hard.
This morning I heard a call on the Pat & Aaron show saying it shows how bad Licht has done in the draft when 6 UDFAs make the 53 man roster. I guess he's got a point, no?
This morning I heard a call on the Pat & Aaron show saying it shows how bad Licht has done in the draft when 6 UDFAs make the 53 man roster. I guess he's got a point, no?
Both drafting and money management are part of the equation.
I heard him say a couple things. 1- They agreed with a caller/texter that the 6 UDFAs indicates a lack of depth. I didn't hear them say anything about Licht doing a bad job. Was that another segment of the show? One of them complained that they are tired of listeners saying they said something they didn't say.This morning I heard a call on the Pat & Aaron show saying it shows how bad Licht has done in the draft when 6 UDFAs make the 53 man roster. I guess he's got a point, no?
The Rams and Seahawks have a lot of rookies and UDFA make their squads. Both teams are navigating a renewal period like the Bucs so it is not simple as saying "bad drafting". Salary cap crunch for super bowl wins for Bucs/Rams while for the Hawks they needed to move away from the RW era.
