Should A “Top-5” O-Line Make The Playoffs?
July 8th, 2013
What do the Ravens, Patriots, Broncos, Niners and Buccaneers have in common?
They’ve all got a “Top-5” offensive line, per a recent NFL Network breakdown by former All-Pro center Matt Birk. (You can catch the video here.) Another former offensive lineman, Brian Baldinger, doesn’t argue with the Bucs’ ranking at No. 5, but he wants to throw the Seahawks’ O-line into the greatness mix.
Hmmm, look at the caliber of the teams not from Tampa. They’re all powerhouses. Four out of five of them won a playoff game in January.
This makes Joe wonder whether a top-5 offensive line should put the Bucs in the playoffs, especially considering the skill position weapons Josh Freeman has at his disposal.
This is yet another example of what should make this Bucs season so engaging and exciting. The Bucs are absolutely loaded with talent and have, as of now, no excuses.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:04 am
Our O-line is certainly good enough to provide running lanes and protect the QB no matter what rank they are.
Our problem last year was our pass defense and at QB.
It is unargueable that Freeman’s inconsistancy was a problem
The only other area of concern is gameday coaching. That could have lost 2 or 3 games.
Hopefuilly all of those problems have been solved.
I’m with Joe…..the difficulty of the NFC will make it harder for the Bucs to make the playoffs.
I’m looking for at least 10-6 and will be satisfied with not making the playoffs if that record isn’t good enough.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:08 am
I am over all the discussion, speculation and prognosticating…. Lets get on with the Pro Football Season!
July 8th, 2013 at 10:11 am
The O-Line is good enoug. Is our QB?
July 8th, 2013 at 10:17 am
I’m looking for Russell Wilson to have a sophmore slump. Much like Cam did. I’m also looking for the Saints to drop off. Don’t expect much from Dallas. I don’t see the Vikings repeating a playoff berth either. So to me the NFC is not as deep as Joe or others might think. We’ll see.
Do you fans remember all the buzz around the NFL after the 2010 season about Freeman? Well Wilson has been all the talk on NFL network this offseason too. So was Cam last summer. Again we’ll see just how deep this NFC really is. I consider our team to be part of that deep NFC as well. Call it homerism if you like. I don’t care.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:19 am
I really think we are going to make a leap in the same regards as the Niners made a few years ago. Freeman and Alex Smith are very similar in regards to consistency before Harbaugh got a hold of him. They had a great def, we have a top ten offense from last year with Freeman throwing 17 ints. We now have the same Hawk who patrolled the secondary for the niners. Revis is better than any Cb they have. Lbers while we don’t have the household names of Willis,and Bowman. I do believe David is a Stud and Foster is good and can become even better. Are d line also doesn’t have the big names minus McCoy. But you have to remember Bowers was projected to be top 5 pick and a lot of people had him going number 1, Clayborn is a Bull. Now on Offense we have a much better Offense then tht SF team had. Only player I would say 49s would have the advantage over us would be TE!Jackson, and Williams are better than any Wideouts 49ers had or have now. O line when healthy is a wash and rb I would take martin over gore because gore has tons of miles and is 30 I think or older. 11-5 I think and we are a dark horse for a long Playoff Run
July 8th, 2013 at 10:28 am
I hear ALL the talk about how friggen great our O line is……..
outside of Penn, I have yet to see the type of consistency and dominance that would warrant that talk about our O line.
and I know our 2 gaurds got hurt last year, but I did not see them pancacking anyone or blowing holes open (like they talk about) when they were in the game.
The O line needs a reality check. The field is what matters, not their contract or draft status.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:39 am
The one thing all those other teams have in common are either great defenses or they are in weak divisions. Our defense has to step up because we are definitely not in a weak division. That’s our only chance of making the playoffs with this mammoth offensive line.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:48 am
@robert…you fail to mention Nicks?
July 8th, 2013 at 10:49 am
Weak division? That’s a weak assessment. Denver, and Bmore were/are just plain better than everyone. Doesn’t freaking matter what division they’re in. Also, Baltimore’s D was not anything close to being great. You know what they had? Great QB play! Freeman should try it sometime.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:53 am
@robert
“and I know our 2 gaurds got hurt last year, but I did not see them pancacking anyone or blowing holes open (like they talk about) when they were in the game.”
For one thing Joseph was hurt in the 1st or second preseason game and Carl Nick played on a bum foot. To say that they didn’t blow anyone up you will have to look at the tape from 2011. Carl Nicks was a man amongst boys in New Orleans. Most of the runs were off Carl Nicks side before he left.
Reality check? hmmm. Top rushing team with backups… OK.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:56 am
^^^^ You’re wrong, when you play 6 games against the Bills, Dolphins and Jets, that’s practically six games in your win column. Or how about 6 games against Raiders, Chiefs, and Chargers.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:57 am
Even though the o-line is top 5, it is very difficult when the Jfro-6pak is beyond the 20’s. As i have stated many times, The rest of the team will have to drag the Dline and JFro-6Pak to the playoffs.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:15 am
Lowest common denominator argument. Good teams destroy lesser opponents. THATS WHAT GOOD TEAMS DO! Bucs play in a tougher division. Well whoop di do. If they play Denver or BMORE 10 times they lose 8 of those games. Fans keep talking about parity and any given Sunday, but when it comes to justifying another teams great record you can’t asterisk it by saying “errr uhh, yeah well…they had a weak schedule!” Herp derp..You can’t have it both ways..
If for example, the Patriots were average then they would not be beating up on the Dolphins etc every year. Trying to minimize the fact that they are just good is idiotic. I swear, football fans are the least objective group of people there is.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:18 am
As long as they are not playing on the same team as the second worst pass defense of all time, then yes!
July 8th, 2013 at 11:22 am
@ buc realist…
I’ve been saying jfro 6 pack Jackson was outside of my top 20QB’s……..and gotten pummeled for it. LOL
funny I am ALWAYS right!
this O line better stop reading the headlines, cause they aint that good.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:24 am
Losing Nicks last season was downright painful. Dudes a manbeast. It probably was a greater loss than Joseph because of the killer attitude. Nicks would talk of seeing the pain in his opponents eyes.
The talent is there but the mauling mindset is exactly what we need to make the playoffs.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:31 am
Having a Top 5 O-Line helps, but is no guarantee to go to the playoffs. Depending on whose Top 5 list you’re using, RotoWorld’s 2012 list only had 3 teams make the playoffs. The Giants and the Chiefs did not make it.
Rotoworld’s 2013 list is the same as Matt Birk’s list except for the Ravens at # 4. They again have the Giants at #4. Both have the Bucs at #5. My opinion, given the drastic changes in their offense, I don’t think the Ravens or the Patriots are a lock for this year. The Giants are not favored to win the NFC-East either. The Bucs can do it this year with a little luck and no injuries. #fingers crossed!
http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/43265/179/2013-offensive-line-rankings
July 8th, 2013 at 11:31 am
“Should A “Top-5″ O-Line Make The Playoffs?”
Yes!
July 8th, 2013 at 11:34 am
“Should A “Top-5″ O-Line Make The Playoffs?”
As long as they are not playing on the same team that has Josh Freeman as its starting QB.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:36 am
When the Bucs win the South…remember where you heard it first.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:36 am
My mistake it was 3rd preseason game.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:38 am
@Tampa2
For sake of argument,
Won PATRIOTS 52 BILLS 28
Won JETS 26 PATRIOTS 29
Won BILLS 31 PATRIOTS 37
Won PATRIOTS 49 JETS 19
Won PATRIOTS 23 DOLPHINS 16
Won DOLPHINS 0 PATRIOTS 28
6 – 0 against own division 6 – 4 out of division
Won RAIDERS 6 BRONCOS 37
Won BRONCOS 35 CHARGERS 24
Won CHARGERS 23 BRONCOS 30
Won BRONCOS 17 CHIEFS 9
Won BRONCOS 26 RAIDERS 13
Won CHIEFS 3 BRONCOS 38
6 – 0 against own division 7 – 3 out of division
The Bucs have to at least go .500 in our own division if they want a shot at the playoffs.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:47 am
@Tampa2…ahhh I hate to bring up that other F word, but Freeman is in the same boat as Flacco was prior to the 2012 season. Course Flacco had playoff appearances, and not by his own doing either. Many people were questioning his ability too. I don’t think Freeman is going to entirely straighten his game out, but I do think he will be improved enough.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:47 am
you tell me … nfc south def.. stop 22 running ????
July 8th, 2013 at 11:48 am
What do the Ravens, Patriots, Broncos, Niners and Buccaneers have in common?
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Yes they all have good O-Lines. They all also have great QBs or QBs who stepped up when there team needed them most… Well except the Bucs.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:50 am
@Couch
That goes without saying …. and the beat goes on……..
July 8th, 2013 at 11:55 am
@Buc’n Junkie
Lol, hey if the Freeman humpers can insert there 2 cents about the defense in every article, I can do the same!
July 8th, 2013 at 11:55 am
we don’t have a top 5 O line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just like we don’t have a top 5 QB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they both have the *cough* “potential” to be top 5………..
but until I see it on the field I will continue to see things as they are. mediocre.
July 8th, 2013 at 11:56 am
get em couch…
jfro, 6 pack jackson wanna be is on his way out!!!
July 8th, 2013 at 11:57 am
The Bucs have to at least go .500 in our own division if they want a shot at the playoffs.
————————————————————————–
I agree though i would say with our schedule the way it is, we need to come out of our division with 4 wins. (hopefully beating carolina twice then splitting with NO and Atl.
July 8th, 2013 at 12:05 pm
@Couch
You’re right .500 may not be enough. We need 4 wins in our division to have a chance. Of course we have to go more than .500 out of our division too.
July 8th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Why don’t we ask Doug Martin how good the O-line is?
July 8th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Wow, you copy and pasted last years schedule Buc Junkie. How impressive.. You play what’s on your schedule. No excuses. Stop trying to spin shit. The Bucs have what is considered an “easier” schedule this year based on winning %. Are you going to apologize if the Bucs go 12-4? No, of course not so stop being a gd hypocrite. And ONCE AGAIN – if these teams weren’t any good then they would not be beating up on their division. You do understand this right? You act wins are a given. Winning on Sundays is hard, and you shouldn’t take winning for granted. Teams that win consistently are kinda good and stuff.
Buc1987 – Fair point. I don’t disagree per se but a key word you included in your statement is PRIOR to 2012. It’s not 2012 and prior anymore. A lot has happened since then, such as Flacco having one of the greatest statistical playoff runs ever. Flacco/Freeman comparisons are over and frankly is insulting to Flacco at this point. Flacco upped his game. Anyone can qualify it however they want but he did and time for number 5 to do the same. I’d rather throw to Vjax and Williams all day. No excuses.
July 8th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Yes Tampa2 your right. What I’m saying is this could be Freeman’s year but like Ravens fans were prior to last season, Buc fans are this year. Ready to throw Freeman under the bus. I’m not there yet. Because I’ve seen Dilfer, King, Erickson, and Vinny. I don’t place Freeman in that group.
Again we’ll see.
July 8th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
REALY a top 5 offensive line, they must think more highly of Ted Larsen and Jamon Meredith. Not to rain on any ones parade but what should have been one of the top o-lines last year was decimated by 2 season ending injuries. Bob Bostad did a GREAT job preparing these guys to play but come on add Demar Dotson and that is 2 undrafted players that are starting at the end of the season, Meredith was draft and cut by the Bills… Who knew, I had to look it up. Freeman’s late season struggles and the teams fall from playoff contention coincide with their inability to run the ball and then compounded with the inability to protect Freeman. I won’t say it was all the collective offense’s faulth, the defense couldn’t stop anyone through the air but… My point is, this top o-line has never played one regular season game together so lets have some RESERVED OPTIMISM. I’ll be at the opener, hopefully we won’t make Sanchez look like Foyles, probably the worst game of the season. Bostad is the man, Oden can’t be worse than Cooper, I still don’t like Sheridan but… GO BUCS!!!!
July 8th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
That’s cool Jeff so you live in N.Y. then or are you traveling to the Jets game?
July 8th, 2013 at 3:21 pm
I wish that our O-line could use lightningbuc, Free’s A Boob, the_buc_realist, robert, loung, et al., as blocking dummies, because that’s all they’re good for–other than whining like little girls.
ESPECIALLY loung. That cat is worthless.
July 9th, 2013 at 5:15 am
Thank you Piratic for posting the most intelligent and factual post I’ve read in a while. Isn’t it funny how they will cite anything they can find to support their total disdain for our QB. Yet when something promising about our talented O-line is published it is met with the same regurgitation of doubt. Fans?
July 9th, 2013 at 9:30 am
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