2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Thread

[__Chef__]

Chase, but only because I think Mike has been underutilized. However, spreading the ball around is better for the overall team.

IMO a better strategy would be to feature a player per game. Let one have a monster stat line that the next team has to account for when reviewing film. Then rotate in the next guy for his monster game. By the end of the season, opposing defenses know they're dealing with a problem across the board. Any weakness in their defense will be exposed.

A decent idea on paper but a difficult one practically.

- It ignores who is playing better at the moment and riding the hot hand, which I believe the British shorten to "form."
- It forces players in good form to background roles, where that form will decline.
- It assumes you have an incredibly deep stable of talent.
-It assumes you are blowing people out. If you're behind 14 points in a division game, do you still force the ball to the guy whose week it is, or do you lean on your best players to make plays?

There's a world where that strategy can work, but it isn't this one.

I'd argue this offense is very much in this world. Featuring something like Mike week 1, Egbuka week 2, McMillan week 3, Godwin week 4. This doesn't mean nobody else get's the ball, it's a concerted effort to feature a player, and put on tape that they are not only good, they are a weapon demanding more than a single defender to cover them.

[Bootz]

A decent idea on paper but a difficult one practically.

- It ignores who is playing better at the moment and riding the hot hand, which I believe the British shorten to "form."
- It forces players in good form to background roles, where that form will decline.
- It assumes you have an incredibly deep stable of talent.
-It assumes you are blowing people out. If you're behind 14 points in a division game, do you still force the ball to the guy whose week it is, or do you lean on your best players to make plays?

There's a world where that strategy can work, but it isn't this one.

I'd argue this offense is very much in this world. Featuring something like Mike week 1, Egbuka week 2, McMillan week 3, Godwin week 4. This doesn't mean nobody else get's the ball, it's a concerted effort to feature a player, and put on tape that they are not only good, they are a weapon demanding more than a single defender to cover them.

I'd never advocate putting an emphasis on featuring 1 player a week against an NFL defense. They are too good and will adjust once they figure out what you're doing. Your game plan would be up in smoke.

[__Chef__]

I'd argue this offense is very much in this world. Featuring something like Mike week 1, Egbuka week 2, McMillan week 3, Godwin week 4. This doesn't mean nobody else get's the ball, it's a concerted effort to feature a player, and put on tape that they are not only good, they are a weapon demanding more than a single defender to cover them.

I'd never advocate putting an emphasis on featuring 1 player a week against an NFL defense. They are too good and will adjust once they figure out what you're doing. Your game plan would be up in smoke.

It's what typical offenses are relegated to on a regular basis as most teams only have 1 legit #1 WR that demands double coverage.

[Grahamburn]

Speaking of Mike, what the hell do we do about him next off-season? Think if he breaks the 1k record this year he'll call it a career? Or maybe hit year 13 to match his number?

I think he'll play but I'm having a hard time seeing how we can fit him, maybe we still can? Hopefully.

He’ll get the LVD treatment for as long as he wants. At this point I don’t expect Mike to go anywhere. That door closed in 2023.

[Bootz]

Why are we giving Evans the LVD treatment? Stefan Diggs is the same age as Evans and coming off of a torn ACL, he just signed a deal identical to the one we signed Godwin to.(It's interesting I'm supposed to believe the Pats would sign Godwin to $30mil/year but not Diggs, who's been more productive).

But back to Evans, why would multi-year extensions not be a possibility for him? It's what we SHOULD be doing with one of the best WRs in football. Not treat him like an accident waiting to happen.

[Cheb]

Why are we giving Evans the LVD treatment? Stefan Diggs is the same age as Evans and coming off of a torn ACL, he just signed a deal identical to the one we signed Godwin to.(It's interesting I'm supposed to believe the Pats would sign Godwin to $30mil/year but not Diggs, who's been more productive).

But back to Evans, why would multi-year extensions not be a possibility for him? It's what we SHOULD be doing with one of the best WRs in football. Not treat him like an accident waiting to happen.

I agree. Evans is the best offensive player in team history and an awesome dude. We should treat him with a red carpet, not a bomb squad.

[Grahamburn]

I meant more in terms of "if he wants to be here he will be." LVD signs one year deals because he's not sure if he wants to play the next one. He has been contemplating retirement every off-season for like 3 years in a row.

If Mike says, "I'll play three more through 2028" then we'll sign him through 2028. If he isn't sure he wants to commit to playing that long then he'll get the "LVD treatment."

[Doctor]

Indeed. I also see Evans sticking around for awhile with Baker.

[Cheb]

I meant more in terms of "if he wants to be here he will be." LVD signs one year deals because he's not sure if he wants to play the next one. He has been contemplating retirement every off-season for like 3 years in a row.

If Mike says, "I'll play three more through 2028" then we'll sign him through 2028. If he isn't sure he wants to commit to playing that long then he'll get the "LVD treatment."

If Mike Evans signs a four-year extension but only plays two more seasons, unless we structure his contract like a gaggle of morons we should be able to recoup all the future money he would have earned, same as any other retired player.

I trust Jason to manage that.

[__Chef__]

I trust Jason to manage that.

[Bootz]

Fun fact: Since Licht became GM, he's never signed a player he's drafted to an extension after their 3rd year in the league. The last time the Bucs did that was Lavonte David in the 2015 offseason, but Licht didnt draft him. Next closest example would be Ali Marpet but he was extended during his 4th season in 2018.

[acmillis]

Fun fact: Since Licht became GM, he's never signed a player he's drafted to an extension after their 3rd year in the league. The last time the Bucs did that was Lavonte David in the 2015 offseason, but Licht didnt draft him. Next closest example would be Ali Marpet but he was extended during his 4th season in 2018.

This is like one of those, “he’s the first left handed reliever to throw an immaculate inning when the temp was over 90 degrees on a Sunday afternoon, inter league game.
Pointless.

[Grahamburn]

Fun fact: Since Licht became GM, he's never signed a player he's drafted to an extension after their 3rd year in the league. The last time the Bucs did that was Lavonte David in the 2015 offseason, but Licht didnt draft him. Next closest example would be Ali Marpet but he was extended during his 4th season in 2018.

This is like one of those, “he’s the first left handed reliever to throw an immaculate inning when the temp was over 90 degrees on a Sunday afternoon, inter league game.
Pointless.

More just he doesn’t extend 2nd rounders until they prove it in their fourth year.

[Bootz]

Fun fact: Since Licht became GM, he's never signed a player he's drafted to an extension after their 3rd year in the league. The last time the Bucs did that was Lavonte David in the 2015 offseason, but Licht didnt draft him. Next closest example would be Ali Marpet but he was extended during his 4th season in 2018.

This is like one of those, “he’s the first left handed reliever to throw an immaculate inning when the temp was over 90 degrees on a Sunday afternoon, inter league game.
Pointless.

Pointless.....Yet you replied to it. A fun FACT.

[__Chef__]

Fun fact: Since Licht became GM, he's never signed a player he's drafted to an extension after their 3rd year in the league. The last time the Bucs did that was Lavonte David in the 2015 offseason, but Licht didnt draft him. Next closest example would be Ali Marpet but he was extended during his 4th season in 2018.

That's a crazy stat ... where are you finding it?

[Bootz]

Fun fact: Since Licht became GM, he's never signed a player he's drafted to an extension after their 3rd year in the league. The last time the Bucs did that was Lavonte David in the 2015 offseason, but Licht didnt draft him. Next closest example would be Ali Marpet but he was extended during his 4th season in 2018.

That's a crazy stat ... where are you finding it?

My own research. Your Jay-z meme response to Cheb's post about Licht handling Evans contract situation got me thinking. He doesn't extend players when they have years left on their contracts very often. Technically he doesn't do it at all. The last 2 times he did so was Tristian Wirfs and Vita Vea, and that was when they had their fully guaranteed options left on their contracts. Seemed pretty interesting to me.

[Grahamburn]

[Grahamburn]

[Phantom]

Oh no

[Buc2]

So, if Bowles finishes out this extension, he will be tied for 2nd in longest tenured Bucs HC with Jon Gruden at 7 seasons. John McKay is 1st with 9 seasons. Also of note, McKay was not fired.

[Bootz]

Good. No talk about hot seats and our OC potentially replacing our HC. And no talk about new FO regimes.

[Swashbuckler]

I'm very bipolar on Bowles. More than anyone here.

We have underperformed on many a given afternoon and it had me ready to fire him many times. I expect this team to contend. End of story. If you can't do that, GTFOH. Brady retired and some may as well have been ready to usher in a full rebuild. For as much as I understood WHY they felt that way, I saw it as nonsense. If extending Bowles/Licht is going to make us contend then do it.

I don't care if it sounds like a lot. Give me 11/12 good wins and a NFCCG. Those 2 magnificent years of Tom Brady were not enough to offset the (more or less constant) misery of 2003 to 2019. A bunch of 9-7 and a 1 and done isn't gonna do it for me

[Kona]

I didn’t care for the Bowles hire at the beginning, and it took awhile but he has grown on me. Good person and good coach. Players seem to love him. He was still a little too conservative on gameday for my liking a few times, but at the spring meetings he said he did some internal work on himself as a coach and is bringing in a specialist to help with timeouts, challeneges, etc.

Here’s to hoping he finishes this contract out, as that means we’re winning.

[Swashbuckler]

For all the crap we give Bowles about his sideline disposition, it is abundantly clear how much the locker room respects him. I mean, Jon Cooper is the GOAT Tampa coach of any sport ever and the man spent 10 year chomping gum like a cow while giving us a thousand yard stare. Now he just stares

It's clear athletes don't care if a guy is "rah rah"

[Redrum]

I like Bowles. I think he's a great guy and a pretty good coach especially if he's just a DC. I don't have confidence that they can win a Super Bowl with him in charge. I'd like to be wrong. I also hope he can get this defense, especially the pass D, ranked in the top half of the league next year.

[Bootz]

I'm also sure the Glazers like the fact they dont have to pay multiple HCs at the same time. Crazy to think in 2016 they were paying Schiano, Smith and Koetter.

[__Chef__]

...A bunch of 9-7 and a 1 and done isn't gonna do it for me

Unfortunately, the Glazers are singing a different tune.

[BucsNBills]

Extending Licht is great, but I'm not really happy about Bowles being tacked on as well. This season should've been his final chance to prove he's a viable HC. Not to mention the Godwin injury, which was unmitigated negligence and malpractice by Bowles. I'd bet at least part of the reason we gave Godwin his contract was as a mea culpa for possibly ruining his career and costing him millions in earnings.

Oh well though. I'm hoping the adjustments he made this season will prove fruitful on the field. Ideally he does level up as a HC so we can have some long term stability as a franchise.

But if he doesn't, what would it take for Bowles to lose his job now?

[Bootz]

Extending Licht is great, but I'm not really happy about Bowles being tacked on as well. This season should've been his final chance to prove he's a viable HC. Not to mention the Godwin injury, which was unmitigated negligence and malpractice by Bowles. I'd bet at least part of the reason we gave Godwin his contract was as a mea culpa for possibly ruining his career and costing him millions in earnings.

Oh well though. I'm hoping the adjustments he made this season will prove fruitful on the field. Ideally he does level up as a HC so we can have some long term stability as a franchise.

But if he doesn't, what would it take for Bowles to lose his job now?

You literally are the worst type of fake ass fan. Pick a fucking side.

We've made coaching changes and added a bunch of talent to the defense. Who knows what kind of turnaround we'll have, but I have no doubt that we'll be noticeably better on the defensive side of the ball.

Larry Foote moved to OLB coach
Mike Caldwell hired as ILB coach
Charlie Strong hired as Dline coach
Zach Beistline hired to assist with clock management and situational decisions
The secondary now share a meeting room instead of corners and safeties each having their own.
Signed Hassan Reddick
Signed Vildor and Walker for depth
Drafted Morrison
Drafted Parrish
Drafted Walker
Drafted Elijah Roberts
Added multiple promising UDFAs
AWJ and SD will both be healthy entering the season, raising both our floor and ceiling on defense.
Tykee is moving to safety so he'll be on the field much more with AWJ and back to playing his natural position
Bowles also indicated that he had a breakthrough on some defensive issues, so who knows what that will yield.

The point of all that is to hopefully put to bed the idea that we haven't made a genuine effort to address the defense, because we absolutely have.

Could we have done more? I mean, sure. I'd certainly be more comfortable if we add another ILB. Maybe we bring in Pratt or make a move down the road. But even if we do, that doesn't change the fact that our defense will be impacted more by the above long list of additions and changes we made vs adding another linebacker.

I mean nothing is guaranteed, but I'm really liking the talent we have on defense now.

So essentially, the 2025 season is pointless? We're not contenders. We're not competitive. Baker Mayfield is a top 15-20 QB. Licht is a mid GM that is just settling for Good Enough. The Oline isn't that good, it was only masked by the prodigy Coen and his scheme.

Right? I mean outside of 31 plane crashes, the Bucs ain't winning the SB this year....so what the fuck are we even doing here?

Barring injuries, all things equal, we should absolutely sweep this division.

You're so all over the place it's embarrassing.

[BucsNBills]

Yikes, that's a pretty cringe and feeble attempt at a "gotcha" from you there Bootz.

None of the quotes you acquired from your creepy post stalking session counters what i said about Bowles. Nothing.

See, because you've been called out multiple times for being a whiney bitch about every aspect of our team recently, you saw my post as an opportunity to do the same. Unfortunately for you, you didn't activate your brain before trying to "expose" me.

All you had to do was actually read my posts and you would understand that there's no need for me to pick a "side" because none of the statements you quoted run counter to one another.

Anyone who reads those statements in good faith will come to the same conclusion. Sadly, you cannot be trusted to take part in good faith discussions, so it's no wonder you tried this weak ass shit.

Try again kiddo, because you just made a big swing and a miss.

[Buc2]

When identifying future Buccaneers, we’re basically asking, “Is this Lavonte?”

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19ZG5e ... tid=wwXIfr

[Central_Buc]

I'm actually Bullish on Bowels this year and I say it with cautious optimistim. To be fair it wasn't a bunch of one and done, in 23 we were a TD away from the NFC championship, played a good game in Detroit. We will see, the D looks better this year.

[__Chef__]

... the D looks better this year.

That is the hope.

[mdb1958]

Anybody have any idea what the ballpark agent fees are for an UDFA? Does all of it fall to the level of the agent you use as in better high profile agent cost you more money.

[Doctor]

Shocking no one, I'm bullish AF on Bowles.