John Gilmore

It’s common knowledge that tight ends Jerramy Stevens and Kellen Winslow are not great blockers.

Winslow’s Cleveland critics have even said he’s a major liability in the running game.

On the field, [Winslow’s] knee problems have severely hampered his blocking. His speed also has decreased, and he no longer can sprint past defenders to get open as he did a few years ago. In 10 games, he was flagged for seven offensive pass interference penalties – because he had to illegally push away a defender to create space to catch a pass.

Another part of Winslow’s game that bothered the Browns was his tendency to line up in the wrong spot and not be in the same strategic sentence with the rest of the offense. He was something between a tight end and a wide receiver.

That leaves John Gilmore as the Bucs block-first guy at the tight end position. And the Bucs are happy to have him.

Except Gilmore is listed as doubtful for Sunday with an ankle injury.

Joe is troubled. Winslow and Stevens can’t replace Gilmore in the running game.

Joe wonders whether the Bucs will find creative ways to have Michael Clayton help pick up the slack. After all, he got his $10 million guaranteed deal this offseason because he can block.