How Long Will It Take To Gel?
March 15th, 2014
A bunker buster was dropped on the Bucs’ offensive trenches, tight end and fullback included.
Joe’s been around football long enough to have heard offensive linemen and coaches talk a thousand times about how critical it is — and how long it can take — for an offensive line to perform well together.
Continuity is everything.
Throw in a new starting quarterback and a free agent tight end (and eventually a new fullback), and the Bucs will be almost an expansion team in the offensive trenches.
It’s understandable. As much as Lovie Smith wants to and plans to win now, the offense is going to take a while, and Joe gets that Lovie looked at aging Donald Penn and Davin Joseph and couldn’t envision them as key cogs in his next Super Bowl team. New left tackle Anthony Collins, 28, and new center Evan Dietrich-Smith, 27, are not only younger additions but they have very low mileage on them. Collins has never started a full season (scary) and Dietrich-Smith just completed his first full season at center for the Packers.
Carl Nicks remains a massive question mark along with the guard positions. One would think Demar Dotson is safe at right tackle, but if the Bucs draft one of the three blue chip tackles with their No. 7 overall draft pick, then Dotson could be relegated to backup duty.
Joe can surely envision a scenario in which the Bucs draft, say, Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews and insert him at right tackle for a year or two and then flip-flop him with Collins, who made his name in the NFLon his versatility.
So much is up in the air, but Joe finds a few facts very intriguing. Both Collins and Dietrich-Smith are known for their pass blocking, not run blocking. And the new tight end, Brandon Myers, nobody will confuse him with a blocking tight end.
That’s got Joe thinking Jeff Tedford’s mysterious offense is going to look nothing like Bucs fans have ever seen.
March 15th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
I think it will kinda resemble the Jon Gruden/Brad Johnson offense with some speedier playmakers and way more talent overall, and some spread elements (minus the stupid zone read)… Hence, we are winning the Superbowl very soon when u combine that with our dominant D. Lol, but seriously. I see McCown as a Brad Johnson/Alex Smith type of QB; which might be enough to lead us to the promised land!!!
March 15th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
And that’s a good thing. Offense in Tampa is offensive!
March 15th, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Doo-doo by any other name is still doo-doo. And since Jon Gruden was sent packing we’ve seen mostly doo-doo when it comes to offense. Maybe Tedford will change that.
Honestly, with Lovie being head coach I thought we would see a strictly run-first, conservative offense. But that’s not what it seems like they are putting together. It is looking more like a pass-happy offense.
Tedford is the biggest question mark so far. That and whether Lovie is convinced we have to score a lot of points.
Sure is leaning that way. But quarterback seems to contradict what we’ve seen so far. McCown is not exactly a high scoring QB. Neither is Glennon. Both seem more like game managers.
And that doesn’t fit with the moves we’re seeing. Make me think a QB in rounds 1 or 2.
I suspect Carr is the target, though I prefer Bortles, Bridgewater or Manzeil.
March 15th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Only two quarterbacks of take at seven is jfb and teddy bottles and Carr are 2nd rounders
March 15th, 2014 at 3:59 pm
QB is coming from the 1st round. This is going to be very interesting year. Maybe 2015 is a Super year…
March 15th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
I hope so.
March 15th, 2014 at 4:31 pm
Sammy @ 7
March 15th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
If we don’t go quarterback in the 1st round, then Murray needs to be taken later in the 3rd or 4th. Could be a huge steal.
March 15th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
Murray was a 3rd or 4th rounder BEFORE the injury. His arm is possibly not strong enough for the NFL. I think McCarron would be a way more solid pick in the 2nd or 3rd. And I definitely want Sammy at #7 if he’s available
March 15th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Meh, Matthews is the tackle I want least out of Greg, Lewan, and Matthews.
Hopefully we go QB or defense
March 15th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
I think Demar Dotson is better than Jake Matthews
March 15th, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Cj @ #7
March 15th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Carr is probably the target QB in the draft, and the offense will probably look like a west coast offense. Short passes that could go the distance. Something Carr was used to in college. We will see, I am however excited for the draft. We seem to already have a lot of pieces on defense. Looks like we could go QB, WR, OL and LB….but you never know.
March 15th, 2014 at 5:15 pm
Bring in Lewan. That guy was a beast up in Michigan!
March 15th, 2014 at 5:17 pm
At this point, I’ll take Jeff Tedford’s mysterious offense looking like nothing the Bucs fans have ever seen, In a good way, that would be something we Buc fans have been waiting for since the teams inception.
March 15th, 2014 at 5:21 pm
The game today is pin ball ring em’ up pass attack…..although come post season you better be able to punish your opponent with a superior run game !!!
March 15th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
McCown will be a pocket passer but can adapt to whatever Tedford needs. Unlike Glennon he can read the defense quickly and Tedford will let him change plays at the line. He will be the leader of the offense and the perfect mentor for Carr and Glennon. When our line gets down the new offense they will keep McCown upright. Tedford can rest his WRs by bringing in the two TE package. In short yardage they can bring in our 280 lb TE and our FSU FB as the RB to pound it up in there. McCown won’t have any problem throwing the deep ball accurately when our speedy slot receiver turns it up and runs away from their coverage either on third down too. With effective screen passes, good pass blocking, and McCown’s quick releases we should have a creative, high scoring offense to equal Phillie’s offense under Kelly, and you know Lovie will field a top ten defense. This will be an exciting season! load those cannons!!!
March 15th, 2014 at 5:43 pm
so it will be…TE Eric Ebron @ 7 ! end of story !
March 15th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Why dont we trade our number 7 pick for Darelle Revis?
March 15th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
Hey, I watched all of the Seattle games. I’m not going to take anything away from a SB champion, but Russell Wilson was not the reason the Lombardi trophy is in Seattle.
A superior team makes a difference. We got some work to do to get to that level. But it’s not just the QB. Watch the tape!
March 15th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
Hey I hope this Tedford guy works out and I’m going to root for him to. I just have a terrible feeling about him (no NFL experience). I mean Lovie’s offense’s in Chicago were terrible and the offenses in Tampa Bay are usually generally terrible. If Tedford was such an offensive mastermind he would have been in the NFL before now and he wouldn’t have been unemployed last year.
March 15th, 2014 at 5:54 pm
They are going to draft Johnny. There’s no way they will pass him up.
March 15th, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Johnny will not be picked. Lovie will not stand for drafting a player that has that kind of attitude. A player who might go out drinking heavily a night or two before a game. A player that turned his back on his head coach on national television. A player that makes the “Money” hand gestures when scoring a touchdown. A player that has shown signs that he craves the celebrity lifestyle, but can’t handle it. A player that yelled “Shut the F&@# up!!!” at his aunt, IN FRONT OF HIS PARENTS (Would still to this day get my ass whipped for that ((I’m over 30!!!)))
No.
Simply put, the pick, for a better player and in the 2nd maybe even third round, will be none other than JIMMY GAROPPOLO!!!
JGM out!
March 15th, 2014 at 6:36 pm
My hope is Licht is in Lovie’s office arguing for Johnny Football.
He said he is a bulldog when there is a player he wants.
Not like Raheem’s grandmother, a real bulldog…..
March 15th, 2014 at 6:41 pm
Warren Sapp is one of the biggest jerks ever…..
Ask most any fan that approached him.
Nobody cares, he brought it on Sunday, as Johnny will.
March 15th, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Mike eveans k Mack or barr will be ur new buccaneer
March 15th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
@Eric – Quality reference to Raheem’s grandma. That’s JoeBucsFan old school. Well done. Joe encourages anyone to hit the archives: search bulldog and raheem
March 15th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
How Long Will It Take To Gel?
well we haven’t had a consistently potent offense in our entire nfl history so hopefully it picks up some time before i die
we really need to groom a quarterback because we’ve never had one so i wouldnt complain even if we moved up to draft one and he sat out atleast have the season to learn how to play in the nfl….i hope one day i can turn on espn and hear them talking about the bucs prolific offense…..oneday
March 15th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
“hit the archives”…curious why Joe didn’t bust out…well never again busted out the Josh Freemon “Wasted Draft Pick” drum…..I have my /suspicion$$$$$$$$$$$$…hypoc……
Joe really has no clue what you’re talking about. Joe doesn’t hide from anything in the archives here.–Joe
March 15th, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Ladyfan doesn’t care what offense Lovie runs as long as it NOT THE GRUDEN DINK AND DUNK. I cannot stand that kind of offense. It makes me crazier than I already am. No to that. I’d like to see some downhill long throws caught over the shoulder on the way to the end zone….some great LaGarrett Blount type running or the very angry running of Adrian Peterson….just no dink and dunk. I don’t even mind bending on the D and taking away the big plays….but I prefer rough aggressive in your face d line…
March 15th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Theyre going to throw the ball alot. Including to the running backs. We were dead last or 30th….close enough to dead last in offense. There is only one way to go from there. Its pretty obvious this is going to be a creative offense. And with Lovie being proven at being able to create a stout defense, as long as out offense improves from last year….only one way to go when your at the bottom. It will will be a lot of fun watching bucs games again. I cant wait. Happy to have something better than we had before. Happy to finally feel good and not hopeful about the upcoming season. The Bucs lost a lot of games by three points or less last year. Considering all of the changes and the players willing to play all out for an experienced coach I am really looking forward to watching this team evolve over the next few years.
March 15th, 2014 at 8:47 pm
I really really like your Jake Mathews ideal Joe. It makes the most sense and I get the feeling Watkins would be a waste here in Tampa with Lovie. Mack will be gone by #7. Bucs are forced to go OL, which isn’t a bad thing.
March 15th, 2014 at 8:49 pm
What would really be cool is if Clowney falls to us at #7 but that’s pretty slim odds. Personally in this particular order is how I would approach my board
Rd1 #7
1st choice Khalil Mack …if he’s not there then, my
2nd choice Sammy Watkins .if not then
3rd Jake Matthews
Rd2 #6
1st Jimmy Garoppolo
2nd Derek Carr
3rd Aaron Murray
March 15th, 2014 at 9:17 pm
They are probably praying that Manziel is sitting there at 7 so they can work on a partner to trade down with.
I think Cleveland takes Watkins at #4 and then trades us their #26 and #35 to trade up for Manziel.
I don’t like how the #7 pick is going to line up for us with who’s on the board. If we stay put I think it will be Mike Evans at #7.
March 15th, 2014 at 9:59 pm
Emmanuel sanders now a bronco. cross him off your lists.
March 15th, 2014 at 10:07 pm
Does anybody have ANY idea what a head case/partier/bad attitude guy/lazy fool Brett Favre was while in Atlanta as a ROOKIE ???
He turned out to be an adequate backup QB for several seasons if I recall….. nothing amazing, but decent, HA HA
Johnny Football just M I G H T grow out of some of that.
March 15th, 2014 at 11:23 pm
“Joe doesn’t hide from anything in the archives here.”
This is, by far, the funniest comment from the Joes ever. Pretty sure you two were on the Schiano media-BJ tour, after you trotted out the “Four wins should be sufficient for Gregory to keep his job” line of nonsense. Or the “Miami and Detroit were quality wins!” nonsense.
Morris Claiborne (epic bust) still loves you two knuckleheads though.
March 16th, 2014 at 12:07 am
Watkins was suspended two games at Clemson for a drug related offense.
Nobody ever mentions it, but Manziel is horrible for going to frat parties.
March 16th, 2014 at 1:38 am
We’ll need Robinson if we want a road grader for run support, but we’ll have to move up to get him, and Im fine with that since we have a great core of RB’s….especially if he’s still there at #5…but he’s the only one I would trade up for.
Seriously, if we’re going to have a D to stretch the game and a run game to continue stretching it, this is our GOLDEN opportunity to do so!
Other than that, we could probably trade back and still land Lewan, or even Ebron. Could make Wright our wideout and use Ebron….no double teaming then huh?
March 16th, 2014 at 3:26 am
It’s scary and exciting. Scary since if it fails well it fails. But exciting to see a different play styles. Sullys was full of run up the middle 2 downs and then pass for 3rd and long. Even defenses started to actually laugh that the plan never changed. Hopefully Tedford can do something with our offense. I do recall jaquie bell and lynch coming out of his system and that gets me all hyped up to see how dougie and the rest of the RBs will do