OT: Official 2021 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[Deus Irae]

#Bucs still have some roster moves remaining with several players on the COVID-19 list. PK Jose Borregales will eventually be waived for Ryan Succop, OL Nick Leverett and DT Ndamukong Suh will be added as LB Cam Gill and OL John Molchon could be headed to IR.

 

[Deus Irae]

Mike Evans signs his restructured contract Thursday. His base salary is $12.25 million. The Bucs will lower that to the vet minimum of $1.075 million. He has three years remaining on his deal. If they add two voidable years and pay the rest in bonus, the max saved is $8.94 mil.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs are signing S Andrew Adams to their practice squad. He signed as a free agent with the Eagles and was released on Tuesday.

Adams played three seasons for the Bucs from 2018-20. He played in 43 games and started 15. He had five tackles and a pass defensed in the NFC Championship game at Green Bay.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs QB Ryan Griffin is back on their practice squad. I’m addition to S Andrew Adams, they have signed TE Codey McElroy, WR/KR Jaydon Mickens, WR Travis Jonsen are returning to the Bucs PS

Confirmed Bucs signing DT Benning Potoa’e, T Brandon Walton, WR Cyril Grayson, CB Herb Miller to PS, first reported by @gregauman

Darwin Thompson will join the Buccaneers practice squad rather than returning to the Chiefs, a source tells The Star.

 

[Deus Irae]

Also, because people here still actually think it means something significant, teams are poaching Bucs' cuts...

Colts claimed Bucs CB Chris Wilcox, their seventh round pick

LB Quinton Bell, recently let go by the #Bucs, joins Falcons practice squad

 

[Deus Irae]

For much of 2020, their offense was fine and Mahomes was protected as needed. The problem was always on the other side of the ball, and the Super Bowl merely caused an overreaction to injuries/perfect storm issues with the line. They didn't need to go out and spend that huge money on Thuney and (soon to be) Brown.

They had a story out about the Chiefs hoping for a bounce back season from Thornhill after his ACL injury. So they may have built that into their equation.

 

[Deus Irae]

Well this is only smart by the worst franchise in NFL history.

Now instead of being called the Suckaneers, they have sold out every home game, play in primetime and should be heavily favored to repeat as SB champions.

They aren't for some reason. I already placed by bets for Brady MVP and Bucs SB when Brady was 20/1 and Bucs 10/1. 2nd year in Arians system is traditionally much better than year 1, add full offseason, integrated AB, no MCL injury and that they face the worst QB slate in the NFL and they should roll to a repeat.

The only thing I hate about it except the Patriots not winning is that they will call Arians a HOF coach and some genius.

Yeah....


The team's value shot up by about 1/3, they sold out their seats and boxes to the extent that they don't even have single game availability, they're coming off of a SB win, and they're in position to make a legitimate run at a repeat.


Not bad for a one season turnaround.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs are remarkably good at avoiding dead money on the salary cap -- Tampa Bay got through this week's cuts with about $250,000 in dead cap. Basically $75,000 each for Ryan Griffin and Joe Jones, $82,772 for Chris Wilcox's signing bonus. Few small UDFA bonuses, but nothing big.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs' initial 53-man roster includes 23 draft picks from the last four years -- a much higher retention level for GM Jason Licht than they'd had in previous cycles. 2021: 6 of 7
2020: 5 of 7
2019: 6 of 8
2018: 6 of 8
2017 and earlier: 7 of 39

The only draft picks Bucs have lost from the last two drafts are seventh-rounders, which is fairly common across the league.

 

[Deus Irae]

These will come in a flurry, but two of the Bucs’ final cuts are coming back to Tampa Bay’s practice squad in receiver Travis Jonsen and defensive lineman Kobe Smith.

Tight end Codey McElroy and receiver Jaydon Mickens are coming back to Tampa on Bucs’ practice squad as well.

Receiver Cyril Grayson is also back on Bucs’ practice squad. Three cut receivers now back, joining Jonsen and Mickens.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs have a new specialty license plate, updated to show their Super Bowl championship. They remind they have the top selling plate in the state among NFL teams …

The Dolphins must love that.

 

[Deus Irae]

A sixth practice squad signing can be reported — defensive lineman Benning Potoa’e is back with the Bucs after being among their final cuts.

Quarterback Ryan Griffin and offensive lineman Brandon Walton are back with the Bucs on their practice squad. Now eight spots filled. (Note: it was actually 9 spots to that point, as a follow up tweet pointed out)

Ryan Griffin can be the Bucs’ fourth QB from the practice squad. He’ll be the first QB in Bucs history to be on the roster for seven seasons.

 

[Deus Irae]

Make it 10 on the Bucs practice squad, as cornerback Herb Miller is back after being cut Tuesday.

Bucs are signing former Chiefs tight end Deon Yelder to their practice squad. He’s 26, has 10 catches over the last two seasons in Kansas City.

Bucs have only three tight ends on their 53-man roster, so helps to now have Deon Yelder and Codey McElroy on practice squad for depth as they need it.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs are also bringing back offensive tackle Jonathan Hubbard, a late addition to training camp, to their practice squad. Played at Northwestern State, was last with Dolphins before coming to Tampa.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'd mentioned Hudson as a player that someone would pick up (it wasn't a hot take or anything close to that, but hey....)

Former Bucs tight end Tanner Hudson is signing with the 49ers’ practice squad.

 

[RicoG]

The only thing I hate about it except the Patriots not winning is that they will call Arians a HOF coach and some genius.

I've heard some people say that Arians could be a HOF candidate but as of today he is a long way off. He doesn't have the longetivity and sufficient proven track record as head coach.

He'd probably have to coach at least 3 more years and win 2 more SB for there to even be in the conversation for HOF. I guess it's possible due to Brady.

Brady plans to play 2 more years and might have enough for 1 year more after that. Heck if Brady sticks around for 3 more years, he could drag a half dozen Bucs to the HOF with him.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I've heard some people say that Arians could be a HOF candidate but as of today he is a long way off. He doesn't have the longetivity and sufficient proven track record as head coach.

He'd probably have to coach at least 3 more years and win 2 more SB for there to even be in the conversation for HOF. I guess it's possible due to Brady.

Brady plans to play 2 more years and might have enough for 1 year more after that. Heck if Brady sticks around for 3 more years, he could drag a half dozen Bucs to the HOF with him.

I‘m only taking into consideration his raw accomplishments and not opinions about his strategy/player philosophy. If he won another championship:

• 2X Champion as a head coach with Bucs
• 2X Champion as WR coach/offensive coordinator with Steelers (two different head coaches)
• 2X AP Coach of the Year (Indianapolis, Arizona). Yes, the award is a gimmicky, but it is an award, and the only major one for coaches.
• Winning record with three franchises (Indianapolis, Arizona, Tampa Bay)
• 76-47 record (.617 win pct.). By assumption of another championship, that will improve this season.

That is a Hall of Fame resume with the longevity factor the only problem. However, he has coached football for almost 45 years, over 30 in the NFL, roughly 20 as offensive coordinator or higher.

 

[Deus Irae]

Former #Rams rookie safety Troy Warner is signing with the #Bucs practice squad. He’s the younger brother of 49ers star LB Fred Warner.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs are also signing outside linebacker Ladarius Hamilton back to their practice squad. Leaves one spot, presumably waiting for Jose Borregales …

 

[amfootball]

It was an interesting paradox...were they a great team that knows how to win because of veteran leadership/coaching/quarterbacking, or were they really very lucky?

I think the answer is probably in between. They were actually 14-1 with Mahomes, and I think it's fair to just say they were a 15-1 team by record. From that standpoint, absolutely they were well short of a typical 15-win team, which would put them in historically great territory. I think that team was probably more like a typical 13-3 squad...they were one notch above your typical 12-4 serious contender...due to the consistent "turn on the jets when needed" stuff from Mahomes during the regular season. I have noticed teams with Brady, Manning, Mahomes, etc. tend to consistenly finish better in W/L than their point differential would predict.

But their flaws are pretty significant, too, and I'm shocked that they didn't address their defense much this offseason. For much of 2020, their offense was fine and Mahomes was protected as needed. The problem was always on the other side of the ball, and the Super Bowl merely caused an overreaction to injuries/perfect storm issues with the line. They didn't need to go out and spend that huge money on Thuney and (soon to be) Brown.

Their offense can maybe go from being an A- to an A through all that extra money spent...you know, a team that averaged 30 ppg now averaging 32 ppg. Their defense is probably a C-...they had a lot more room to go up with extra additions. The team borrowed even more future cap space (Mahomes contract) for, what I think, is somewhat of a nonsensical upgrade driven by the classic "how dare you let the superstar QB down!" types of pressures.

I think they're in that typical 12-win (or maybe now it's 13-4) range of serious contenders, but no longer better than the other best AFC teams. I look at that defense - player for player - and I'm shocked at how vulnerable it is. And the lack of depth everywhere from a superstar strategy is alarming. If healthy, I think they'll be in the AFCCG; if they lose Kelce, Hill, Matheiu, or Jones, I don't think they'll get there. Especially Mathieu and Jones.

I have been saying this all off-season. I don't understand why the Chiefs did not upgrade their defense. As you say, it was their Achilles heel all season and then it became their downfall in the SB. I also think the narrative around the SB being a defensive beat down by the Bucs when in reality the Bucs offense was just as dominant, also played into the Chiefs addressing O. They really do remind me of the 00s Colts. Year after year, Polian would pour money into the O because of his fascination with Manning and their smallish D would just get trucked in the post-season. Of course, it didn't help that Manning was a huge choker on top.

I also found Mahomes comments interesting after he watched the SB. He said he was basically seeing ghosts. He bailed out of the pocket on plays where he had protection. He talked about being more patient and efficient but honestly it is just not in the guys DNA. I saw some of his preseason highlights and he was still bailing and running to the sideline and making ridiculous throws that either feel incomplete most of the time or were picked.

It really is a delicate balance between playing winning football vs being a highlight reel. But credit to him, he did some self-evaluation. Now it remains to be seen if he become the player he wants to be.