Dark Clouds Gathering Over Offensive Line
November 14th, 2012
Bucs starting left guard Jeremy Zuttah was held out of practice today as the wear and tear of playing guard was catching up with him, said Bucs coach Greg Schiano.
Yes it looked very bad this afternoon when Joe saw right guard Jamon Meredith hobble noticeably when he was quickly whisked out of the Bucs locker room before any of the Tampa Bay pen and mic club could have a few words with him.
Meredith apparently suffered a nasty left foot injury of some sort and has his foot wrapped and was on crutches. His locker is right next to the entrance to the locker room and Meredith was helped out of the locker room, limping considerably, just as the open locker room session began.
Meredith’s injury — its severity is not yet public but Joe can say there is no way he could have stepped on a football field today and played — isn’t the lone bump or bruise the Bucs are concerned about on an offensive line already wracked by injuries.
Bucs left guard Jeremy Zuttah was held out of practice today with a sore shoulder. Bucs coach Greg Schiano tried to downplay it saying that Zuttah had just gone through two “physical” games at left guard since replacing Carl Nicks and Schiano wanted to make sure Zuttah was healthy enough to start Sunday at Carolina.
“What kept him out was the game [last Sunday], he got bumped a lot,” Schiano said. “His shoulder, we just want to make sure he is OK to go. he had a great game Sunday. He’s had two physical games at that position we just want to make sure he is ready to go Sunday. hopefully he is ready to go tomorrow.”
Schiano went on to laud Zuttah for being such a team player in a league full of me-first players.
“First thing is, the thing we really talk about here is to be an unselfish teammate and I think that is what Jeremy has done,” Schiano said. “He finally had a chance to be the center and was moving along and all of a sudden , the best thing for the team was to move back to guard. Trust me, I’ve know the kid a long time. He did not want to do that but he did it for the team and has really played well.
“I know flying back [from Oakland], that was a physical game. and this week he plays another physical game. I have to make sure we have him for Sundays. We don’t have many more moves left.”
Mind you Schiano stated this knowing about Meredith’s injury.
It didn’t sound dire about Zuttah, based on what Schiano said. But, in the worst-case scenario, if both Zuttah and Meredith can’t go, that means the Bucs have lost four of five starting offensive linemen, with Donald Penn being the lone starter still standing (though Jeremy Trueblood is still a backup).
If Bucs offensive line coach Bob Bostad can pull through that mess, then the man truly deserves a raise.
November 14th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
All offensive lineman this year will abide by the kellen Winslow practice laws or should I have said no practice law.
November 14th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
This is getting Fu**ing ridiculous. Actually, it already is.
November 14th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Maybe we can take another look at Brandon Carter.
http://www.nxtwrestling.com/images/roster-images/jpeg/Tac/IMG_4622.JPG lol
November 14th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Maybe Jeff faine cursed the bucs when he left because this is some serious bad luck.
November 14th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Carter would have to put on quite a bit of weight. He looks so much thinner.
November 14th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Can we ever catch a break?
November 14th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Still with the injuries? There are only so many guys walking the streets. Free agents will begin to think the offensive line is cursed here and wont even want to come to Tampa.
Seriously though, what is the deal here? We are going to run out of warm bodies at some point. We might see Byham playing some guard the way this is going!
November 14th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Geez Louise…. Too many injuries this year.. Is this a conditioning problem or just bad luck… 1 or 2 guys is one thing.. or if a player gets hurt during a game.. But man.. these are practices where people are being hobbled. It’s like Kathy Bates is their trainer or something.
November 14th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
I (along with others) mentioned waaaaay back before the season started that offensive line depth was going to be an issue. It would not have been if it had been addressed properly in the off season, but heck…so many positions were addressed at the time that there wasn’t a lot of options.
Ironically, one the oldest guys on the line is the only uninjured one left. This is going to hurt us badly. Darn it.
Well, there is always the hope that some young guys can excel when they come in…it’s happened in the past.
Going on record though…I am behind this team, Schiano, Sully, and all the staff 100%, even if these injuries cause us to lose games. Because I know…I KNOW…next year when all are healthy, this team is going to rock.
November 14th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Whoever they get in Bostad will coach up to be serviceable.
Joe,
Do you think they could move Penn to the inside? Put Trueblood back at RT and put Dotson in at LT like in the pre-season?
I know nothing about offensive line play, but Penn seems like he has the body-type athleticism and strength to play guard.
November 14th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Penn is too tall to play Guard.
November 14th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
@Papawill13 – ah he’s 6’5″ just like Nicks and many other guards in the NFL. A little research will do you good buddy.
November 15th, 2012 at 3:00 am
ElioT:
Very much doubt it. Dotson seems to have found a home at right tackle and why move your best (healthy) offensive lineman (Penn) from tackle with so many people playing out of position as it is on the line?
Bucs so far have dodged many bullets in guys playing out of position. No need to tempt fate.
November 15th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
I swear the football gods are trying to torture us. Injury after injury after injury and yet we have won 3 in a row. I love wins but at some point these injuries are going to be insurmountable.
November 15th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
If they both cant play who will?