Especially Run D now rewatching games from this year and last year.
He covered better than Neal, and filled the run better I would even say. Russell gage and Julio Jones shouldn't have taken his money. Licht needs to take his koolaid glasses off and start building a team up like he previously did before all these overrated signings, we as a team iare getting lost in the sauce(hype)
Agree. Not measurable, but also you could see the guy loved playing the game.
Licht needs to take his koolaid glasses off and start building a team up like he previously did before all these overrated signings
People would have complained if he didn't do the "all in" thing and try to buy some experience to get them back a Superbowl. Obviously, most of those over-the-hill-gang signings blew up. I hope they've learned that crap isn't gonna work. I think if they can manage to pick up a few extra draft picks, trim the dead weight, and get a couple of key free agents, they can begin resetting without losing anything.
Outside of the Shaq Mason trade, Licht has shit the bed the past 2 years in FA and the draft.
Fournette was an awful signing.
Jensen is overpaid.
Julio was a waste of money based on the run-first offense we apparently wanted to run
Same with Gage
It's like the coaching staff and management weren't communicating.
If we wanted to run the ball then why not keep Cappa? Why go for more WR weapons?
Nothing makes sense.
Licht has been a shit sandwich... 2-3 good years in the middle but the rest is trash
Went back and watched the NFC Title game vs the Packers. 2 FF. If he was on the field on that last Rams play I don't think it happens because there was miscommunication.
His cap hit in 2022 was only $4.2M. Would have obviously taken less to stay in Tampa because of no state income tax and better team.
Licht needs to take his koolaid glasses off and start building a team up like he previously did before all these overrated signings
People would have complained if he didn't do the "all in" thing and try to buy some experience to get them back a Superbowl.
THIS ^^^
Most fans do NOT accept the premise that an NFL is business first, football team second BUT its true and so as long as Brady is around the team is selling "Brady and one more Super Bowl run." That sales pitch sells tickets and MOST importantly national TV exposure . . . . . . and FANS DRINK IT UP.
This is why you almost NEVER see a team openly call as season a "rebuilding year." Its why teams don't generally do the things you see talked about here a lot like trading away a star for picks or "just blow it all up and start over." Kills ticket sales and tv ratings.
If Brady came back and Licht was trading away players for the future . . he'd be gone now too because all of the fans would be screaming about how he "sabotaged" a team that "100% for certain would've won the SB"
Agree Whitehead was a key player in the Bucs defense. I mentioned him in my comparison of 2021 to 2022 teams in a different thread the other day.
Indeed.
Allowed Winfield to roam back there and make plays in the pass game. He is a way better tackler than Mike Edwards and Neal. We missed his ability to stuff the run and create TFL's causing teams to be in 2 and long. Jets fans hate him though. Watched him give up big plays/blown coverages this year, so for the money he got their unhappy. Hopeful Bucs can find another hard hitting box safety. Those types are easy to find. Bucs have a bunch of needs but I'd look into drafting a box safety in R4 again.
Licht has been horrible in free agency lately
My buddy is a Jets fan and he was very happy with what Whitehead produced vs what he was paid. 🤷
Suh was also a bigger part than most wanted to believe. He also kept guys accountable. He made splash plays. And never missed games.
Suh was also a bigger part than most wanted to believe. He also kept guys accountable. He made splash plays. And never missed games.
2021 defense: 331.5 YPG and 20.8 PPG
2022 defense: 324.3 YPG and 21.1 PPG
The reality is the defensive performance is almost identical to the previous season with Suh, Whitehead, and JPP. The offense was the issue for the 2022 season, not the defense. The offense went from scoring 30+ in 2020 & 2021 to a pathetic 18.4 PPG in 2022.
Licht has been horrible in free agency lately
Well, he didn't have much cap space to work with, so they were pinning their hopes on some injury prone vets who proved to still be injury prone... and then the one younger player who could have made a real difference (Gage) managed to be injured most of the season as well... I'd say the whole "all in" thing forced him to take a flyer on guys he wouldn't ordinarily have if it weren't for last year with Brady desperation. I can't really fault him for those free agents in 2022, and I think Gage will turn out to be a big contributor in the next few years.
“The reality is the defensive performance is almost identical to the previous season”
😁
