Bucs No. 5
July 30th, 2013
Donald Penn leads what very well could be the NFL’s best offensive line.
It still amazes Joe how productive the Bucs’ offensive line was last year after being shuffled more than a deck of cards in a Las Vegas casino. Down went Davin Joseph, down went Carl Nicks, out went Jeremy Trueblood, Jeremy Zuttah was bounced around, largely untested Demar Dotson played in 15 games.
Going over all the offensive lines in the league, NFL analyst Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com ranks them and believes the Bucs are No. 5.
Overview: While the Buccaneers’ 2012 offensive line ratings were not particularly strong, keep in mind they only got seven combined games from Nicks and Joseph, who form quite possibly the NFL’s premier guard duo east of San Francisco. Nicks earned consecutive Pro Bowl trips before arriving in Tampa Bay last offseason, including a 2011 All-Pro berth. Joseph is a brute power blocker. They’re healthy now. Despite injuries to arguably their best two linemen, the Bucs still allowed the third fewest sacks in football (26) and ranked 11th in yards-per-carry average (4.42). Depth is somewhat concerning, but there aren’t five better starting O-Lines in the league.
Joe confesses he didn’t remember the Bucs offense protecting so well last season. Imagine what it can be fully healthy?
Joe does know Josh Freeman and Doug Martin are salivating thinking of playing behind what very well could be the best front line in the NFL.
If healthy.
July 30th, 2013 at 8:16 am
I think we just got better than Denver with them losing C Koppen.
Interesting that the other teams in our division don’t even come close.
Saints 15
Falcons 21
Panthers 23
Bucs offense should be even better this year if healthy…..
July 30th, 2013 at 8:16 am
If Jfro-6pak can read a defense and get the ball out on time ( accurately ).Then everything will be fine. But as the JFro-ites keep telling everyone, there is no one in the nfl that can do that except 1 or 2 Qbs, But not the Bucs QB.
July 30th, 2013 at 8:34 am
^^^^^^^^^ realist keepin it real
The O line hasn’t showed me squat, and I’m sick of hearing how good they “can” be. And several of them are not even practicing. We all know what happens to players (especially 300lbers) who step on the field without much playing time. Let them stay healthy and do something.
Till them their the highest paid bench warmers, Penn excluded.
July 30th, 2013 at 8:38 am
The big question is are Nicks and Joseph the same players post injury? It’s a pretty big assumption that they are right now.
July 30th, 2013 at 8:50 am
Who the hell is better? SF is MAYBE better. Certainly not a lock. And the. Us. Denver?? Puuhhlease. They’re only good because they now get the Manning Hold an the Zebras never call holding on Peyton teams. So they’re out.
There isn’t a better line. San Fran’s isn’t btw. And this season will show it. All this Kaepernick love…hahah he’s coming back to earth.
July 30th, 2013 at 9:01 am
Despite our guards high profile pedegree( which is well deserved!), the key remains Donald Penn. he is the most underrated LT in the league. He has an amazing streak of consistency and durability ongoing.
If he gets injured- who is our starting LT? Nobody that’s going to be able to do the job half as well as Penn!
Good luck and good health, big fella! Some of us know who is the Bucs best lineman! This line has great talent- and will go as far as big Don leads ’em!
July 30th, 2013 at 9:32 am
Realist keep it quiet!!!!!! your credibility still in shame by calling out David a 4th round pick.
And whats the rush to put them on the field ?? Maybe Joseph needs to be practicing more than Nicks. However Nicks is one of the best guards in the NFL, he would not just drop to nothing for being injured halfway through the season. The injury is serious though for Nicks, so let them go back in slowly and properly.
July 30th, 2013 at 9:47 am
From reported camp skirmishes it sounds like Penn is mad as H and not gonna take it any more! First he levels Clayborn knocking his helmet off, and yesterday he locks up with Bowers and goes for the trifecta by doing the two-step with Gholston. lol. Penn’s ready for some football! Go Bucs!
July 30th, 2013 at 9:51 am
@ capt tim
I think Camiri was brought in for just that. in case Penn goes down.
July 30th, 2013 at 10:07 am
Joe, the reason you don’t remember the bucs line performing so well in the pas-pro dept with only 26 sacks, is because Freeman was lobbing ducks up to the Saints secondary instead of taking a sack.
That stat should read 26 sacks plus about 10 interceptions caused by the D-line and our QB incurring his typical panic attacks.
July 30th, 2013 at 10:09 am
If they are all healthy in week1. This O-line is why I say the Jets are in for a long day.
July 30th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Yes Leighroy, why take a sack and get roughed up when you can just throw an interception. It makes perfect sense from a Michael Jackson perspective. Doesn’t do much for winning but Josh mastered the technique. Lets hope they have broken him of it.
July 30th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Now that we know all the depth behide this great line we should always be fresh and running teams over with MARTIN and company.Martin breaks record this year for yards,mark my words.
July 30th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
@Leighroy
Truth, he HAS to break that habit.
It’s one of his habits that literally drives me crazy.
I cannot take another season of my heart taking that kinda of stress lol.
July 30th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Damn it Joe. When I read the headlne, I thought this was a Freeman article. Didn’t take long for the commenters to turn it into one though. lol
July 31st, 2013 at 9:34 am
Robert- meybe. I really liked Camiri when he came outta school- and still think he’s gonna be a dominant tackle, if he can shake the injury bug.
But he has always been rated as a Right tackle. The big mailer type, that gets help from the TE when facing a speed rusher.
Don’t think he has the feet to play out in space, against the NFL’s lightning fast RDEs.
But he played a lil LT in college. Meybe he can!
Hope we don’t have to find out!