Fennelly: Bucs' wish list includes fearsome pass rusher 
The Bucs could use a menacing figure at defensive end, like the one they face this Sunday in Rams force of nature Robert Quinn, the NFC sack leader. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By Martin Fennelly | Tribune Staff Published: December 20, 2013 Looking at the Bucs' Pro Bowl possibilities — they have some, even at 4-10, even at what in the world happened here? — you find a defensive tackle (Gerald McCoy), linebacker (Lavonte David) and cornerback (Darrelle Revis).McCoy and David should be locks. The defense has made many strides since a horrific 2013 season, though it goes with the disintegration on the other side of the ball, the NFL's worst offense.What's missing, like always, is someone to strike fear into hearts in the pass rush.The Bucs need someone on the outside to complement McCoy.What they need is a menacing figure, like the one they face this Sunday: St. Louis Rams defensive end/force of nature Robert Quinn, the NFC sack leader.“Well, he's got 15 sacks and seven forced fumbles,” Bucs coach Greg Schiano said. “So that tells you something. He's as good at tomahawk chopping the backside of the quarterback — you haven't seen a guy do it with that effectiveness since (Lawrence Taylor). L.T. used to whap and knock that ball out with a vicious tomahawk chop, and (Quinn) is bringing it that way.”I want one.Who doesn't?The Bucs haven't had one at end since Simeon Rice. The Bucs have been searching for a consistent pass rush for years, been trying to build a pass rush to hunt down or at least hurry Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton.The 33 sacks this season are an improvement, but it's still about trying to build a consistent rush, and that goes for all five years under GM Mark Dominik, which tells you something about his watch, nearly as much as a 28-50 record. OK, maybe not as much.Quinn was a Rams first-round pick in 2011. The other St. Louis starting defensive end, Chris Long, was a first-rounder in 2008. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers was a first-round pick in 2012. It has worked out in St. Louis, especially on that rug — Quinn has to be the fastest sacker in the league when he turns the corner on the carpet.The Bucs hit on McCoy. And, to a lesser degree, on defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who has five sacks this season. He seems more like a good complement to another end if the other end is a terror. Da'Quan Bowers has been a disaster. Fourth-round pick William Gholston has two sacks, and promise, but is that enough?It looks like the Greg Schiano Forget 0-8 Job Saving Tour has added up to enough wins to presumably keep the Bucs from drafting Jadeveon Clowney, who is busy preparing to knock someone's helmet off in another Florida bowl game.Maybe Minnesota sacker Jared Allen is out there in free agency, a pretty penny, or maybe someone like him. This is where paying your quarterback nothing pays off in the short term.The Bucs, as always, need another defensive end. Yes, they need another receiver, by the looks of this season, or better yet, a game-changing tight end. They need competition at quarterback for Mike Glennon, at the very least. They might need help on the offensive line if Carl Nicks doesn't make it back to what he was. Yes, this team has needs; 4-10 always has needs.But this defense has real pieces, working pieces, potential.Then again, didn't the Bucs offense have that after last season?Wasn't it going to be scary good?Now it's just scary.And wasn't the defensive line supposed to be solved years ago?Whap.
Anthony Barr....
The good news is that the Bucs will have some cap room, 20M+ without releasing anyone still under contract, so there is still the potential to get some added players to help next years team. I suspect either Joseph or Nicks will be let go, probably Nicks, freeing up another 7-8M as well. Joseph might be asked to take a pay cut.I'm pretty sure that Schiano/Dominik get another year from the Glazers. The year didn't turn out well, but Schiano signed a 5 year contract and still has the team playing hard, so I think that plays to his benefit. The team still has to go out and play hard the next two games AND Schiano will still have to meet with the Glazers and outline a believable plan for improvement, but I think he'll get the benefit of the doubt much like Rivera got in Carolina last season. I'm still not a believer in Schiano as a game day coach, but I am starting to believe that he's a good organizational one. If he can get the offense going next season, that might be enough that can overcome the game day coaching issue.Rumor has it that the Cowboys, might have to part with DeMarcus Ware and both DE Jason Hatcher and DE Anthony Spencer will be unrestricted free agents in matter of months as well as Jared Allen from Minnesota. There IS some help going to be available in Free Agency for a team like the Bucs that has some cap room. If I'm Dominik, I'm going shopping for a DE, a guard and a quarterback (Matt Schaub might be a good target if he's willing to go to a backup roll) and then use my top two draft choices on a WR and a TE. I really am starting to like Sammy Watkins as a 2nd/slot receiver. JMO.
Is it still mathematically possible for us to pick 2nd and then take Jadeveon Clowney?
Yes, it's possible I think, but the real problem is getting ahead of Atlanta that looks much more likely to lose both of their remaining games. Atlanta will draft Clowney ahead of us, I have no doubt.
Yup. Offensive line too...
The D-line is pretty much solved right now. Scheme has limited the current line. They have UT, NT, and DE pretty much set. Clayborn is a better RE than he has been under this crap stunting scheme as well. They need a more of a pass rushing specialist coming off the edge. An elite edge rusher puts them over the top and "solves" most every problem as the depth is pretty much there.
DE is set? We have depth, no starters.
DE is set? We have depth, no starters.
Cant read? Never said DE was completely set. I said all they truly needed was a good pass rusher. No depth? Clayborn, Gholston, Teo, Bowers, and Means. If you cant find depth and at least one capable starter at LE, then I don't know what youre looking at. Even stated that most everyone can agree that Clayborn isn't being used to his strengths and produced a lot more when the stunts and drop back coverages aren't the main part of what he is asked to do.
and yet the focus is on the Head coach . . . whose been here how long? and NOT on a GM . . . in what year?
and yet the focus is on the Head coach . . . whose been here how long? and NOT on a GM . . . in what year?
Is that the Head Coach who has his linemen dance around so he can bring two people from the next level to create pressure?
and yet the focus is on the Head coach . . . whose been here how long? and NOT on a GM . . . in what year?
Is that the Head Coach who has his linemen dance around so he can bring two people from the next level to create pressure?
so Dom has loaded the D-line with quality, its just that Schiano misuses them all . . . . . got it. ;)
Yeah Bowers would have 12 sacks already if we just stopped stuntng him ....or not...
The D-line is pretty much solved right now. Scheme has limited the current line. They have UT, NT, and DE pretty much set.
Cant read? Never said DE was completely set.
DE is set? We have depth, no starters.
No depth?
The D-line is pretty much solved right now. Scheme has limited the current line. They have UT, NT, and DE pretty much set.
Cant read? Never said DE was completely set.
DE is set? We have depth, no starters.
No depth?
Tatman doesn't post often anymore , but he makes up for it by being dumber than ever.
