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Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photograph by: Matt Matera/PR
Over the bye week, Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht joined NFL Network’s Peter Schrager on The Season With Peter Schrager and dived into loads of matters – soccer and non-football associated.
Because it pertains to the workforce, they mirrored on the 2020 season that led to the Tremendous Bowl with Tom Brady and the present state of the 3-1 Bucs led by head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Though the Bucs have needed to flip the web page on the perfect chapters in workforce historical past, what they’ve been writing to this point has gotten off to a New York Occasions bestseller-level begin.
Jason Licht Is Proud Of Everybody In The Bucs’ Constructing
It has solely been 4 video games, but it surely has been an encouraging begin for a workforce not pegged by many to be a playoff contender. Shortly the tide is shifting, and with the steadiness of the ship the Bucs have due to Jason Licht and others, the workforce seems able to make waves. Licht commented on how that has occurred.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
“We’ve obtained an extended season,” Licht mentioned on beginning 3-1. “We’re not placing the cart earlier than the horse right here, however I’m very pleased with the teaching employees, the soccer employees, all people right here within the constructing, however then the gamers too. I’ll say that I went on file a number of occasions in coaching camp, folks sort of have been writing us off.
“And I mentioned, I identical to the DNA of this workforce. I identical to the best way that all of it was coming collectively and the gamers wished to show to the world that we nonetheless have good gamers and we’re nonetheless a superb workforce. I’m not stunned that we began off the best way we did. We’ve got nice coaches, too.”
With all the success the Bucs have discovered, most of it has been finished with items Jason Licht has assembled – from the entrance workplace to the 53-man roster. The Avengers higher be careful as a result of Licht has shaped his personal workforce that’s battle-ready. Constructing a roster and employees of many guys he has drafted and employed is one thing that Licht takes pleasure in.
“That’s what we in personnel all need to aspire to as a GM, as a scout, as a personnel director or what have you ever,” Licht added. “You need to develop your individual, you need to carry them in, you need to develop them. You need them to know the best way that we do issues as a company. You need to give them – you need to reward them with contracts and maintain your individual. That’s what we’re doing, the one factor I’ll pat myself on the again for is that I’ve employed extraordinarily nicely.
“That’s the one factor I’m going to say about me. Our employees has finished an impressive job, whether or not it’s the scouts, the personnel director, [assistant general managers] John Spytek and Mike Greenberg, [vice president of football research] Jacqueline Davidson. I can identify all people I’m gonna go away any person out. I might go on and on. It’s been superior [having] everybody be on the identical web page.”
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and CB Jamel Dean – Photograph by: USA At present
Not solely have the important thing decision-makers finished nicely in evaluating gamers to herald, however head coach Todd Bowles deserves extra credit score for the strategies he has used to make all the items match. Licht is bullish on how Bowles has finished as nicely.
“He’s obtained unimaginable endurance, Licht added. “Very centered, however he’s an important instructor. It’ll be a couple of times per week, I’ll pop into his workplace a number of occasions a day simply to speak about little issues or generally simply to bullsh-t. He’ll have – it’s not unusual for him to have – the whole secondary sitting in his workplace, sprawled out on couches. Having meals delivered up there and him simply having a session with them, simply going over tape and speaking.”
This may occasionally sound fairly laid-back and informal, however that doesn’t final lengthy.
“It turns into [an instructional period]. It’s grow to be like a weekly routine the place he simply desires to get all of them on the identical web page. In his workplace, not in a gathering room. That’s simply been frequent of him since he’s been right here because the defensive coordinator as nicely. For all positions, you see offensive gamers pop in. He’s obtained a really soothing approach about him after which very fiery behind the scenes as nicely.”
Jason Licht Praises Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, OL As Tone-Setters
The Bucs have pieced collectively a roster that they consider can stand the lack of Tom Brady and different veteran items. It’s a younger roster that’s affected by Jason Licht draft picks, from Mike Evans in 2014 all the best way to the latest 2023 draft class.
However the largest transfer made this offseason was not who was drafted, however for who Licht signed to be the quarterback. To this point, Baker Mayfield has exceeded expectations and already has built unique connections with his teammates. The Bucs basic supervisor had nothing however reward for what he has are available in and finished.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Baker, now because it seems, Baker, he’s a really, very sensible individual,” Licht mentioned. “I knew he was sensible, we did our due diligence on him popping out. We weren’t in search of a quarterback that yr [in 2018] however knew that he was sensible. I didn’t notice simply how extremely sensible he’s.
“He was focusing on us possibly greater than we have been focusing on him. He noticed this as an superior alternative for him. We informed him from the start that this was going to be – you’re going to be in a contest right here as a result of we actually like Kyle Trask. As you understand Baker, he didn’t flinch. He accepted that and simply ran with it and it was a superb competitors.”
To this point, Mayfield has seized the chance and made essentially the most of his likelihood to show his price as a beginning NFL quarterback. He has been stored principally upright due to an offensive line led by Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, two offensive tackles that Licht drafted. He’s glad with the group as an entire, together with middle Ryan Jensen, who has been a key presence regardless of being injured.
“We’re very pleased with our offensive line proper now. Cody Mauch, [Robert Hainsey] is doing a superb job for us, and [Matt] Feiler who signed this yr. For Ryan [Jensen], he sadly had the harm. He’s not taking part in, however he nonetheless is right here on daily basis. He’s in all of the conferences, if that O-line room is nice and cohesive and free and having a superb time, then the entire group appears to be working nicely. So it’s superior to have Ryan in there as a result of he’s rubbing off. He understands that it’s a must to have a tone-setter.
“He and I had this dialog a few weeks in the past at follow, you don’t need the tone-setter to be the quarterback when it comes to bashing folks on the sector since you don’t need him to get harm, although Baker has been doing that. You need it to be a working again, you need it to be a receiver, tight finish, or an offensive lineman. And we’re beginning to see that. You noticed Luke Goedeke this weekend pinning a participant, laying on him, and simply that depth. Cody Mauch has that in him and all people thrives off of that. Ryan Jensen remains to be infusing his prickness into the offensive line room.”
The Bucs have taken on the id of a tricky, physical team due to the efforts of Jason Licht. By the seems of it as of now, Tampa Bay has rapidly set the tone to be the workforce to beat within the NFC South.
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