Bucs defensive lineman Logan Hall is bigger, but will he be better?
TAMPA ― Logan Hall is all grown up. That doesn’t mean he’s matured as a football player. The Bucs’ first pick in the 2022 draft (33rd overall) played only 36 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie.
What the team can measure is his weight. The 6-foot-6 defensive lineman has gone from 283 pounds to 296 and counting.
“He’s getting bigger and stronger,” said co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers, “so we like where he’s going.”
As for Hall’s growth in the Bucs’ defense? Well, that should come with more opportunity for playing time.
“He was a young player last year,” Rodgers said. “He stepped in and really, when I look at it, he did some good things. Probably no kudos to me for not putting him out there more. But the people we had, we had more experienced guys, this and that, and I just kept him out. And hindsight (being) 20/20, I should’ve put him there more.”
This time of year, the focus is always on the draft. To that end, the Bucs made a statement by selecting Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey in the first round.
With the pick, they traded size for speed. Where Todd Bowles in the past has put hulking 325-plus-pound players such as Ndamukong Suh and Akiem Hicks next to 350-pound Vita Vea, Kancey is a relative shrimp at 6-feet-1, 280 pounds. But his quickness and speed should help immensely in both the pass rush and stopping the run.
But where does that leave Hall, another interior defensive lineman who couldn’t crack the starting lineup once last season?
He is expected to become one of the Bucs’ starting defensive ends in Bowles’ 3-4 alignment, most likely taking the position played over the past few years by William Gholston.
A year ago, Hall had 2-1/2 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 10 hurries, 12 tackles and 5 tackles for loss. That’s good production for only 403 total snaps on defense.
However, what his rookie year best may be known for was getting pushed into the knee of center Ryan Jensen the second day of training camp. Jensen tore three ligaments and decided to forgo surgery before returning in time to play in the wild-card loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
What’s the next step for Hall?
“Just make the growth,” Rodgers said. “The beauty of it, talking to the strength coach, he’s been here every day. The growth, just the maturity. ... He’ll make the jump, and I expect big things from Logan.”
Bucs’ favorite pick: Jose Ramirez
Asking general manager Jason Licht or members of the Bucs personnel department to name their favorite player they drafted is like asking them to choose between their own children.
At the very least, you would expect them each to have a different answer.
But almost universally, it’s the final draft pick they mention first: Eastern Michigan outside linebacker Jose Ramirez.
“I think that’s the one,” said director of player personnel Rob McCartney. “MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Lot of production. A lot of ability. Kind of challenging, winding road to get where he got. He dealt with a lot of adversity, and you just put on the tape and he knows how to rush the passer.
“He’s not the biggest or the fastest, but within that, he’s got quick feet, he’s got a good get-off and knows how to rush the passer. He’s not as big or explosive as (third-round pick) YaYa (Diaby) is, but he’s got a way to win with power and speed, and he plays really hard.”
Will failure to draft a tackle doom Bucs?
The Bucs’ biggest need was at offensive tackle. They released left tackle Donovan Smith after eight seasons, and he signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Right tackle Tristan Wirfs will make the transition from right to left tackle, and Luke Goedeke will move from left guard to right tackle, the position he played at Central Michigan.
Will it work?
Very hard to say. Four of the top offensive tackles were gone in the first 14 picks. Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison went 27th to the Jaguars.
The Bucs love Kancey and had him as the highest-rated player on the board when they picked at No. 19. He certainly fills a need.
“We’re never going to force anything in the draft,” said director of player personnel Mike Biehl. “The way we stack it, we’re going to stick to it. Again, if a tackle was right up there and we thought he was equal with Calijah, we would’ve pulled the trigger. Calijah was the guy on our board who was the best player and actually fits a position of need, too. It’s hard to get younger on the defensive line as well.”
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