Did you know the 1999 Bucs DL wasn't as small as many remember?
Chidi Ahanatu.....6-2....283
Steve White.......6-2....270
Warren Sapp.......6-2....303
Brad Culpepper....6-1....275
James Cannida......6-2...275
Tyoka Jackson......6-2...280
Marcus Jones.......6-6...286
Anthony McFarland..6-0...300
Regan Upshaw.......6-4...265
It is interesting to look back at how the NFL has changed, but also how a lot has stayed the same. The Bucs have gone full circle by going back to having larger DL on average in the year 2017. The arrival of Spires and Rice changed that paradigm and the Bucs tried to continue that new paradigm with the drafting of Gaines Adams (RIP). It was a time period where the Bucs were trying to emulate the smaller but faster Colts defenses that Dungy utilized. But before Dungy was with the Colts he and Kiffen had a defensive front line that wasn't smallish by any means. The Bucs did prefer smaller interior players on passing downs for pass rushing but in general the Bucs didn't sacrifice size on the edges with their DE's.
It is not surprising that both Morris and Schiano expressed a strong desire for the Bucs have a bigger front along the DL.