Raheem Pearl Harbored Offensive Line
May 24th, 2010
Jeff Faine was not one of the reasons the Bucs offensive line was subpar last year.
Entering the 2009 season, Joe thought the strength of the team was its offensive line. Joe was certain the offensive line was about to break through as one of the dominant units of the NFL.
That didn’t happen. In fact, the line regressed. Joe assumed that was because the Bucs were trying to incorporate zone blocking, which is what most of the NFL employs. As a result, Joe was of the belief the line didn’t play nearly as well as expected because it was learning a new system.
Not so, claims Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times. Holder believes, indirectly, that the Bucs head coach is the culprit to the disappointing offensive line.
But in fairness, the performance of the line in 2009 wasn’t totally a product of sub-par play. The linemen were done a disservice by their coaching staff and were left to deal with a change in offensive coordinator that resulted in a philosophical shift.
Under Jon Gruden, the Bucs were a power running team and they built their line accordingly. The members of that line are still here, but fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski changed to a zone-blocking scheme that requires more athleticism and agility. When he was relieved of his duties and Greg Olson took over, the Bucs used a combination of zone blocking and man-to-man tactics.
And who hired/fired Jagodzinski again? Yes, Raheem the Dream.
Joe’s not so certain this was the main reason the line stunk. From talking to various offensive linemen, Joe learned that zone blocking cannot be perfected in a season, it takes time. Also, remember the Bucs had injuries and others went into hiding (literally).
While the Bucs did change offensive coordinators, Pete Mangurian, the Bucs offensive line coach, remained. So Joe’s not so sure Raheem the Dream is the reason the line stunk.
It would have also helped if Dunderhead Trueblood would remember the snap count from time to time.
May 24th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Joe you have an interesting style. Headline screams Morris is to blame:
“Raheem Pearl Harbored Offensive Line” — In BIG BOLD FONT.
However, article is based on report from Holder, where he does not say Morris is to blame, as you note with this sentence:
“Holder believes, indirectly, that the Bucs head coach is the culprit to the disappointing offensive line”
Nice use of the word “INDIRECTLY.” Holder actually say the same thing everyone has been saying for months. He does not blame Morris, at least not “DIRECTLY.” LOL.
Then you close by walking away from the LARGE BOLD headline and the “INDIRECT” criticim of Holder by throwng in Joe’s opinion:
“Joe’s not so certain this was the main reason the line stunk. From talking to various offensive linemen, Joe learned that zone blocking cannot be perfected in a season, it takes time. Also, remember the Bucs had injuries and others went into hiding (literally).
While the Bucs did change offensive coordinators, Pete Mangurian, the Bucs offensive line coach, remained. So Joe’s not so sure Raheem the Dream is the reason the line stunk.”
So, let’s recap. HEADLINE SAYS MORRIS DID IT, but article by Holder does not say that — at least not DIRECTLY — and Joe does not believe it either?
Hmmmmm . . .
May 24th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Now wait a minute Jimbuc, isn’t the head coach in charge of selecting the offensive scheme his team is going to implement, including Zone v. power blocking by the o-line?
Or. do you not believe the zone blocking scheme was the cause of the lousy offensive line play?
If it was, the buck stops with Raheem, doesn’t it?
May 24th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
It’s all balogna. These guys have been run/pass blocking for years. They have all used power schemes and zone blocking schemes. I don’t buy for a second that changing philosophies somehow sabotaged them. It’s pretty simple. Your a big fat *ucker with your hand in the dirt. You do your job in the trenches and your team will do well. You show better technique and over power the fatass in front of you and your all good. If you don’t, then you get beat. It’s not like asking a chinese poet to start writing in English. These guys know what to do and it ain’t that complicated.
Raheem is not responsible and neither is any of the other coaches. Those guys are vets and know what to do. Nobody can do it for them.
Truth is, our O-line wasn’t that bad last year. If you look closely you’ll see most of the busted run plays are from the TEs or RB/FB missing his block. The entire line can be playing like probowlers, but when that TE or RB doesn’t pick up his block and there is a LB on top of the RB before the handoff is even completed….your running game will still suck.
May 24th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Eric — thanks for perfectly illustrating the point I made to Joe. 🙂
I think it is fair to say that the buck always stops with the coach or the GM or the owners. However, that is not what I commented on. I was commenting that the article makes it seem like Joe agrees with you, but he actually does not. Hard to tell that with the SCREAMING HEADLINE and the implied agreement of Mr. Holder (but for the use of the word “indirectly,” that is) and the fact that Joe only states his counter position at the end.
You did notice that, right Eric. You did notice that at the bottom Joe said:
“So Joe’s not so sure Raheem the Dream is the reason the line stunk.”
Maybe you missed that part . . .
May 24th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
I saw it Mr. Jimbuc, just seemed like the arguments were put out there. It was either the scheme or the players, i really have no idea which. It does seem to me that the line played better in prior years, so there is some reason for it.
Im just saying if it was the scheme, it would fall on Rah. If Joe thinks it wasn’t the scheme it has no impact on the headline cause that is about what
Holder thinks, not Joe. Holder seemed to be saying the line had an excuse for poor play cause they switched schemes.
Personally, i put no weight into what Holder says as I think the dude is a hack along with the other “access boobs”.
So whats your problem man? You got a headline fetish? The man covered both points of view, his and Holder’s. As Joe brings articles with differing points of view, not necessarily his, Holder’s got the Headline.
May 24th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Eric — read the article again. Holder does not think that Raheem Pearl Harbored Offensive Line nor does Joe, so is the HUGE HEADLINE accurate or the most ridiculously overblown and misplaced teaser?
So funny that you say Joe covered “both points of view.” You are proving my point. Read it again. Here, let me help you. This is Joe’s intro to Holder’s comments:
“Not so, claims Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times. Holder believes, indirectly, that the Bucs head coach is the culprit to the disappointing offensive line.”
Note the use of the word INDIRECTLY and then read the excerpt. Does Holder say “Raheem Pearl Harbored Offensive Line?”
Joe, Joe, Joe . . .
May 24th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Eric — by the way, if Holder meant that Morris was to blame, then by that logic he also meant to give Morris credit because this is the last paragraph of the actual Holder article:
“If coaches will play to the strengths of these linemen — and it appears they are — maybe this is the season we can finally judge this offensive line fairly.”
Now I know you are loathe to give Morris any credit, but if you accept the negative inference drawn by Joe don’t you also have to accept the positive from Holder?
May 24th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Jimbuc,
It is you that needs help, sir.
“The linemen were done a disservice by their coaching staff”
Was the dream not part of the coaching staff?
May 24th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I find it disrespectful to use the term “Pearl Harbored”, especially within a week to MEMORIAL DAY. Bad taste, Joe….
May 24th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I agree with Hosstyle , bad taste.
Raheem Holocousted the O-line.
May 24th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Joe here,
Now the PC police is out. Goodness. Crap, Joe’s father, a couple of generations older than Joe, used the term, and he served in Hawaii with an Army intelligence unit for years. …Get a grip. …The Holocaust analogy is ridiculous in this case.
JimBuc – not here to revisit the headline ridiculousness that gets regurgitated here. …And yes, Raheem is responsible for dropping the coordinator bomb on the team and the fallout. Wake up. And at the same time he’s not responsible for every inch of the offense’s performance.
May 24th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
@JimBuc
As I stated sir, whatever Holder said I give no weight, positive or negative. I only interjected myself to point out the Title of the article. although colorful, was entirely fair as to Holders statement. He clearly said the coaching staff screwed up the o-line.
We are not dealing with reporting on the invasion of Afghanastan here, its a freaking sports blog man, full of differing opinions.
May 24th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I was being sarcastic when I said I’m offended.
I was trying to offend Hosstyle even more as a joke , not critisize Joe.
May 24th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Eric and Joe — just call ’em like I see ’em. That’s the point, right? Joe, I am going to try to “wake up.” Best o’ luck.
May 24th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
As I sit here online with my unit in South Korea, I take no offense to the Pearl Harbor line. Don’t know anyone here who would either. Looking forward to getting home to Tampa in 4 months!!!!!
May 24th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Fitting last post from JimBuc:
Chiz, if you are really serving with a unit in South Korea, God bless you, thank you, keep your head down, and come hom safe.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
It was a bad situation all the way around. Many mistakes were made by all. There is plenty of blame to go around, but in the end they all learned from it, and should become better and stronger for it, especially Morris. I think you will see a head coach (not a public speaker) that is many many times over better than he was last year. Talk about OJT and trial by fire. I think Rah will be 110% improved and a much better coach. Along with that, the O line and every other player should improve as well.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
…except Clayton.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
110% for radio makes him about 33% of what is expected from an average HC (last year I rated him at 30% – and I am an easy grader). Some would say that Radios performance was one of the worst in league history.
Every first time HC gets OJT, but not all prove to be clearly incapable. Sparano’s firsy HC gig was in Miami and he improved the team by 10 wins in 1 season with Chad Pennington as the starting qb. Face it – radio is an embarrassment guys, just b/c he will be improved from horrible does not mean that he should be given a pass.
I have never heard of fans with such tolerance and patience for ineptitude and losing. Come on – act like FANS for once!
May 24th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
This article is a joke. When was our O-line a good run blocking O-line anyway?, it was mediocre all along. It was a good pass blocking one under Gruden I remember, but NEVER a good run blocking one. Sears was a mauler at G, Penn has been a weak (strength wise) LT, Trueblood has been an inconsistent one in blocking, Zuttah in the little time he saw under Gruden was also a weaker Guard. Take Sears out of the equation and you have weaker guys except Joseph blocking the run.
Also how does a ZBS or PBS matter when the O-line cannot block on 3rd and 1 on several occasions? We have guys that are weak on the O-line. If Raheem is to be blamed for anything, it is not getting any quality Guard or a RT in the draft.
Even if Olson sticks with PBS all year long this time, our running game will suck big time. If we are to have any offense, it should be from Freeman.
May 24th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Three starting QB’s that all play with a different style, two OC’s, two different offenses, an injury to Faine, Sears going AWOL, Trueblood killing drives with moronic penalties, barely any offensive weapons to loosen up the defense….the list goes on and on. We only have one, maybe two, guys that I would consider Pro Bowl caliber players on the O-Line and that’s Joseph and Faine, and I’m starting to think Faine is a little bit overrated.
May 25th, 2010 at 12:28 am
Chiz:
Thank you for your service. Joe understands things are getting testy over there. Stay safe.
For those who think Joe is being disrespectful to the Armed Forces, just a little background:
Joe’s father — this Joe — was a naval officer who served in the Pacific in World War II. Joe’s dad was a catapault officer on an aircraft carrier (USS Ommaney Bay) which was sunk by a kamikaze.
To this day, Joe’s dad — he’s still kicking — uses the verb “kamikazed,” to denote a negative action.
May 25th, 2010 at 12:36 am
Your not your dad and you didn’t serve in that war or any war. That means your just a shmuck being disrespectful a week before Memorial Day and now your too pig headed to say “my bad” that was poor tatse.
May 25th, 2010 at 7:20 am
Outside01:
Bullshit! The only thing in poor taste is your thin skin and your reach to try to push some lame agenda. If you are that sensitive, you might want to go back to bed and pull the blanky back over your head with your teddy bear under your arm.
Your weak premise is so transparant, surprised you aren’t upset that Raheem’s mother is offended because May is the same month as Mother’s Day.
May 25th, 2010 at 9:31 am
You tell him Joe!
That guy has serious issues. Some things are just plain uncalled for.
May 25th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
People get too offended these days .
You can’t say anything anymore without the “PC” Police coming out of the woodwork. I see where it mentions free speech in the constitution , but no where can I find ” The right not to be offended” .
No one cares if you are offended , so piss off you freakin pansies.