The newest addition to the Bucs roster is edge rusher Randy Gregory.Tampa Bay signs Gregory 1 year contract Wednesday added one starter in YaYa Diaby and several others to the outside linebacker room competing for the opposing starter spot.
That includes Gregory, but he didn’t come to Tampa Bay with the intention of starting automatically.
The Bucs clearly felt they needed to add talent to their outside linebacker room even before the NFL Draft. Along with Randy Gregory, he brings in another player with experience and the ability to rush the passer.
Why were the Bucs attracted to Randy Gregory?
The day after the signing, Randy Gregory held an introductory press conference via Zoom. Part of the reason he liked Tampa Bay goes back to when he was going through the draft process in 2015. But it’s not just the Bucks.
Bucks OLB Randy Gregory – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Gregory recalled a memorable pre-draft meeting with head coach Todd Bowles.
“I actually talked to the coach. I remember talking to him a lot out of college during the draft,” Randy Gregory said. “I loved his personality, I loved his down-to-earth demeanor, I loved his no-nonsense type of person. I think you always develop well when you work with a coach like that.”
Randy Gregory is new to many on the Bucs, but there’s a familiar face in outside linebackers coach George Edwards. The two worked together with the Dallas Cowboys when Edwards was a defensive assistant. In the 2021 season, Gregory tied his personal best with six sacks in 12 games. He also had one interception and a career-best three forced fumbles.
“Coach Edwards, I obviously worked with him in Dallas, so we have a relationship there,” Gregory said. “I think highly of him.”
Tampa Bay doesn’t just gain a pass rusher with the addition of Gregory. The team is acquiring players who can fit into Todd Bowles’ scheme in a variety of ways. Bowles loves to present different exotic looks, using his edge rusher in different ways and even dropping into coverage with zone blitzes.
“I think the planning and ability to do what we do is a good fit for me,” Gregory said. “I can play inside, I can play outside, I can play on third down, I can stand up and put my hands in the dirt. We need to do some things there to be able to play in a 3-4, 4-3 scheme. Doing different things and dropping into coverage. Those are all things I’ve done in Dallas, Denver and San Francisco. For me, that was a really good landing spot.”
Is Randy Gregory scheduled to start?
Adding Randy Gregory to the team begs the question: Tampa Bay’s plans at outside linebacker. Yaya Diaby will likely take the starting outside linebacker spot, but the Bucs also have Marquise Watts and Jose Ramirez at their disposal, as well as Gregory, Joe Tryon-Soyinka and Anthony Nelson. .
Additionally, there’s a good chance the Bucs draft another outside linebacker to further add to their depth.
Bucs OLB Randy Gregory and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Gregory started 18 of 72 games during his NFL career. Asked if he believes he can be a starter heading into the 2024 season, he doesn’t go in with set expectations.
“At this point in my career, I don’t have any expectations,” Gregory said. “I look forward to helping the team the way I know I can, impacting the team and playing the way I know I can. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to really be successful.” It’s who I am. I’m going to come here and put my head down and like I said, I know Coach Bowles and I know what his expectations are. And I know what Coach Edwards expects from me. Obviously, I think it’s a big thing to have players that Coach Edwards has worked with before (with me).
“It’s really easy for me to be in that room and be able to do things the way I know how he wants them done. I’m not really trying to start something. And I don’t start with my mind set on something. I’m going to go out there and help all the reps that I have, and when I’m not there, I’m going to help the people that are there. I’m going to try to help.”
