Jeremy Zuttah May Be Moved Back To Guard
November 1st, 2012
Breaking Bucs news is what “The Big Dog” does.
Yesterday, Joe’s good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620, once again broke Bucs news as he is wont to do.
While the Bucs were showing Ted Larsen taking snaps at left guard in the 30-minute window the Tampa Bay pen and mic club was allowed to watch practice yesterday (which is mostly used up by players warming up), Bucs coach Greg Schiano is up to espionage, Duemig told his listening audience, and in fact is working Jeremy Zuttah at left guard and Larsen at center.
The reason for this is, as Bucs fans should know by now, All-Pro guard Carl Nicks is out for the year with a grotesque toe injury (which Joe has seen and can confirm it is gross).
Zuttah was the incumbent left guard until Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik signed Nicks as a free agent in the offseason. Zuttah did play left guard last year when Jeff Faine played at center. When Faine couldn’t answer the bell, Zuttah moved to center and Larsen filled in at left guard, where he is marginally better than at right guard.
Schiano would not say yesterday who was playing or who would start at left guard Sunday at Oakland, but Schiano said, in so many words, that all offensive linemen were in the mix in various mix-and-matches to try to find the best combination for the starting five.
Joe spoke with former starter Jeremy Trueblood, who lost his right tackle gig, and who had been whispered to perhaps play guard at some point, a position he hasn’t taken a snap at since high school. But Trueblood flatly told Joe he was not going to play left guard, nor has he been working out at the position in practice — words straight from Trueblood’s mouth.
There is no way the Bucs can replace Nicks. That isn’t happening. But perhaps Schiano believes Zuttah is a better fit there than Larsen.
Schiano’s mixing and matching on the offensive line seems to have plugged holes/weaknesses on the right side of the line thus far. So Joe’s hoping Schiano can use the same magic on the left side.
Feel free to share your thoughts on the offensive line scramble with “The Big Dog” by calling his show this afternoon from 3-6 p.m.
November 1st, 2012 at 10:55 am
[Debating about the information provided by Clear Channel on-air personalities is welcome. Going after said personalities, as always, is not welcome and encroaches on being booted from this site. Joe has a marketing agreement with Clear Channel, for full disclosure. — Joe.]
November 1st, 2012 at 11:33 am
This is one time I’d rather nobody (Oakland) know what we’re going to do. Might give us some sort of advantage. But the media is in the business of finding out about this stuff so I can’t blame SD.
November 1st, 2012 at 11:51 am
I’m guessing Steve gets his info from Dominick. Another reason he shouldn’t be brought back next year.
November 1st, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Larsen was a center coming out of college and he’s a good one, and Zuttah is a better guard than Larsen by far. If this information is correct then the move makes sense. I would imagine Larsen at center and Zuttah at guard would be a much better combo than the other way around. Cody Wallace is a decent C/G swing player, too, so I wonder if he ends up in the mix at some point.
I actually believe that when guys get an opportunity like this they are super motivated and end up playing up to their potential. Look at how Mangurian was able to get this line playing after key injuries two years ago. This is not the disaster it’s being made out to be and I expect we’ll be pleasantly surprised on Sunday.
November 1st, 2012 at 12:11 pm
^With one caveat, though. I don’t see the Bucs being able to do much running between the tackles this week. But I bet pass pro is better than many are predicting.
November 1st, 2012 at 12:58 pm
I believe in Bostad.
November 1st, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Joe, here is why Zuttah should remain at Center (in no particular order):
-He continues to learn and gain experience at the position.
-Provides continuity for Freeman
-Larsen at G and Penn can help him (or Zuttah if necessary)
-Zuttah at C and he can help Meredith at RG or Larsen at LG.
-If Larsen gets hurt at C, you move Zuttah back and ANOTHER backup at LG
-If you keep Zuttah at C, you can split reps with Larsen and another backup at the LG at practice.
-If we put Larsen at C, he’s not good enough to ALSO help Meredith.
It makes sense to keep Zuttah at Center, but WHATEVER they do, I sure hope it works.
November 1st, 2012 at 2:32 pm
[Guess you have to learn the hard way. — Joe]
November 1st, 2012 at 4:16 pm
if you can’t say something nice about someone then don’t say nothing at all……………………………
looks like i have nothing to say on the matter