FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• NFL Draft analyst Brett Kollmann does a great job of highlighting LSU linebacker Devin White’s strengths and weaknesses in this video breakdown. I highly recommend the White fans out there – and even the White skeptics – check this video out.

I think the risks associated with drafting White that are pointed out are legitimate, but correctable with good coaching. Kollmann notes that White has only played linebacker for three years after playing running back in high school. Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea has the same background. He was a high school running back who has only played defensive tackle for four years – three years at Washington at the collegiate level and one year in Tampa Bay at the NFL level.

• NEW MARCH MADNESS PODCAST! Like the superhero squad The Avengers, the PewterReport.com team assembled to analyze what the Bucs have done in free agency and look ahead to the NFL Draft in a new Pewter Nation Podcast. Mark Cook, Matt Matera, Taylor Jenkins and I to offer up our insight into the latest Tampa Bay moves and project what lies ahead. Check out this riveting episode by clicking here to listen to Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 113: March Madness.

I also recorded a Pewter Nation Podcast analyzing what the Bucs had done in the first week of free agency, flying solo in that podcast and offering up some biting commentary on Tampa Bay’s roster moves. Give it a listen by clicking here to hear Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 112: SR Breaks Down Bucs’ Free Agency.

There is no better time to listen to a new Pewter Nation Podcast than on your drive home from work on Friday or running around doing errands or at the gym on Saturday. The next Pewter Nation Podcast will be taped during the middle of next week as Bucs free agency continues.

The popularity of the Pewter Nation Podcast continues to grow. In addition to listening to the Pewter Nation Podcasts on PewterReport.com you can also subscribe to the free podcasts at PodBean by clicking here and on SoundCloud by clicking here. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

• The Buccaneers front office did something quite rare last week in forcing defensive tackle Beau Allen to take a pay cut. General manger Jason Licht is not fond of making players take pay cuts because of the dynamic it can create with the player and within the locker room. Licht feels that having a player stay at a lower salary can create a frosty relationship that can show up in the players’ effort – or lack thereof.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and DT Beau Allen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Also, the locker room culture can shift in a negative way because it can demonstrate that the team’s feelings towards players can suddenly shift in a downward fashion. That’s why Licht and director of football administration Mike Greenberg, the team’s capologist, wanted to create a win-win for Allen for taking a $1 million pay cut.

In exchange for doing so, Allen’s $4 million salary this season was guaranteed, which worked in his favor, and the team chopped off the final year of Allen’s contract. That means Allen will be a free agent in 2020, which is what he wanted. He’ll turn 28 in November and still have the chance for one more, long-term decent-sized contract in free agency if Allen plays well this year.

• Our @PewterReport Twitter account continues to grow towards 32,000 followers. Thank you to those Bucs fans that recently followed us!

If you aren’t following PewterReport.com on Twitter please do so right now so you don’t miss out on Bucs press conference and interview footage as well as breaking news and injury updates. Bucs OTAs begin next month and there will be a pre-draft Bucs mini-camp. Don’t miss out on the action – follow us today!

To follow @PewterReport on Twitter please click here. To follow us on Facebook please click here. And to follow @PewterReport on Instagram and you can do so by clicking here.

• Long-time NFL reporter Peter King doesn’t think the Bucs had a very good start to free agency, and wrote about that in this week’s Football Morning In America.

I think the last week was not kind to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At all. The Bucs wanted to hold serve, basically, and keep Kwon Alexander and Adam Humphries, and, if he could be happy, DeSean Jackson. The Bucs went 0-for-3. The Humphries loss, even though slot receiver is not the most important weapon in a Bruce Arians offense, is hard because he’s a tough over-achiever, very productive, egoless, and just 25. Check out how his 2018 regular season compared to Julian Edelman’s:

Humphries: 781 snaps, 76 receptions, 10.7 per catch, 5.7 yards after catch (very good for a slot guy), three drops.


Edelman: 748 snaps, 74 receptions, 11.5 yards per catch, 4.7 yards after catch, eight drops.

Good signing by GM Jon Robinson in Tennessee.

Bucs WR Adam Humphries – Photo by: Getty Images

I disagree with King’s assertion with the Bucs going 0-for-3 because I’m more dialed in to the team’s plans than King is. But I do agree with King that Humphries was a good signing by the Titans, who need to figure out if quarterback Marcus Mariota is worth re-signing to a long-term deal after 2019. Humphries will provide Mariota with a safety blanket, running routes underneath coverage and moving the chains on third downs the way he helped Jameis Winston over the last four years.

Yet I have reservations that Humphries can turn into Edelman as King suggests based on the statistical comparison. What King fails to point out is that Humphries played in all 16 games with that production, while Edelman produced those stats in just 12 games last year.

I think Humphries’ ceiling might be the 800-yard, five-touchdown season he turned in for Tampa Bay last year, while Edelman has had two 1,000-yard seasons in his New England career. And the Bucs wisely noted that type of production from Humphries last season is not worthy of a contract that pays $9 million per year.

• Stay tuned to PewterReport.com this week as I’ll be posting a story that will identify which 2019 NFL Draft prospects the Bucs have been targeting this offseason, and Mark Cook will be traveling to Arizona for the NFL Owners Meeting where he’ll interview head coach Bruce Arians, general mangaer Jason Licht and Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer early next week.

• Spring is almost here and not only is it time to tidy up your garage it’s time to renovate it with PremierGarage from Tailored Living. Whether it’s garage storage and cabinets or garage flooring, Tailored Living is the professional choice to turn to for a job well done in Central Tampa and Brandon. Want a professional looking man cave or a premier area to store your automobile?

Turn to PremierGarage from Tailored Living.

When you hire Tailored Living for your upcoming home remodeling project, you’ll get access to our team of talented professionals. Our contractors take pride in their craft and enjoy using their experience to our customers’ benefit. No matter the size or scope of your project, we’ll take the time to discuss your home remodeling priorities, present you with options and establish a budget and timeline for renovations so that there are no surprises along the way.

Request a FREE consultation today by calling (813) 280-0158 or visiting TailoredLiving-Tampa.com and tell them that PewterReport.com sent you.