Breakout
July 22nd, 2014Joe understands many Bucs fans have swilled untold pints of beer, thrown down countless shots of bourbon or ate several bottles of Tums worrying about the Tampa Bay offensive line. There is valid reason to be concerned.
If Carl Nicks cannot go — Joe has heard from reliable people both promising and troubling feedback about Nicks — then the Bucs are in a world of hurt with rookie Kadeem Edwards and Patrick Omameh as possible starting guards.
This just in: The NFL isn’t the Ohio Valley Conference, in case you were wondering about the rookie, Edwards. But Aaron Schatz of the football thinktank FootballOutsiders.com, by way of BSPN, suggests fans shouldn’t be running to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge if Nicks is a no-go come Week 1.
In fact, Schatz believes Omameh will be one of his 25 breakout NFL players this season.
25. Patrick Omameh, G, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Omameh went undrafted a year ago and signed to the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad. Tampa Bay plucked him from there in mid-October, and while he never appeared in a game, the Bucs clearly had plans for him. He goes into training camp in the lead for Tampa Bay’s right guard position. The scouting reports on Omameh a year ago dinged him for sometimes being unable to finish blocks or move properly to the second level, but he’s a consistent and powerful drive-blocker. His greatest attribute, however, is his intelligence. He was offered scholarships at MIT and Princeton before heading to Michigan, where he made academic All-Big Ten. What can we say, we’re suckers for a player with brains.
Interesting. Omameh is considered a strong drive blocker, which reads run blocker to Joe. And let’s be honest, the 49ers are loaded on the offensive line so it was near impossible for a guy like Omameh to make any progress climbing the depth chart with all of those roadblocks (and road graders) in front of him.
And if Omameh is a good drive-blocker, then he should, initially, be able to slow down a pass rusher, at least initially. McCown has show the ability to pass the ball on quick drops.
So, this is all starting to add up a little bit, isn’t it?
Damn that former Bucs rock star general manger Mark Dominik!
July 22nd, 2014 at 1:51 pm
There is hope!
The Tampa Tribune reports Bucs LG Carl Nicks (toe) has been cleared to play.
July 22nd, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Yes damn that former idiot Dominick! Get off his sack joe! Yes he got some good players in here, so what! I could’ve gotten us some good players with top 10 draft picks every year! And how are you even going to stand up for him for a player that has yet to take a snap with us?! Just because he is a hold over from last years roster doesn’t mean much. By all means I really hope he becomes the best RG in the history of the NFL, but to give Dominick props for him already? That’s a joke
July 22nd, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Dude, this is month-old news. Nicks was cleared to play in OTAs. Hardly “news.”
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Hey, I didn’t report it. The Tampa Tribune did. You’re brethren colleagues.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:02 pm
We’ll see what happens Friday. I’m guessing he goes to PUP immediately. Has the guy been able to run yet?
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Now this is good news! I for one do not think nicks will ever see the field again, very unfortunate, but none the less his career is pretty much over. From what I have read, he still walks with a limp, not runs, squats, jumps, P90x’s with a limp,but WALKS with a limp! How do you think that will translate in the trenches?
I hope this guy can come in and at least be a decent starter. Still upset we let zuttah go!
So we can blame Dominick for all the busts, but not the good pick-ups?
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:03 pm
I’m less worried about the O-line than a lot of people, although it still has to rank as the biggest question mark heading into camp.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Which the Tribune reported back in OTAs, as did Joe, as did just about everybody covering the team.
What next, Lovie Smith has been hired as coach?
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Dominik’s track record on personnel was mixed at best, but mostly awful.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Hey Joe, great news!!! The Glazers hired Lovie Smith!! 🙂
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:16 pm
“Mostly awful”
No, the team was awful as in bad coaching awful. Raheem “MONICA” morris and Greg “halftime is for pee pee breaks, not adjustments” schiano would struggle to get hired by Tampa Jesuit. Dominik’s biggest flaw was Dline and to be far price was good until his freak injury.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:17 pm
panhandle:
Logic and reason will get you nowhere on this site, sir!
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Besides center you do not need a big name just a big bad attitude. Show me some big nasty’s and they will show you how to block.
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:48 pm
This will be a fun year to watch for many reasons. Who pans out and who doesn’t is one of the reasons. Now, can someone break the news on how to pronounce this cat’s last name?
July 22nd, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Joe:
I know, I know….I apologize for my behavior!
“Dominik is at fault for the MRSA, he has no eye for good medical talent”!
Better?
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:09 pm
panhandle buc:
🙂
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:24 pm
the recent report on Nicks was about being cleared for training camp and not being put on the PuP.
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Let’s hope the reports of Carl Nicks being good to go are accurate. God knows we could use the big guy this year!
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:37 pm
There is no such report. Nicks was cleared to play IN JUNE when he passed his physical (passed an examination from three different doctors Joe was told last week).
Passing a physical and being able to play are two totally different elements.
Woody Cummings Twittered Nicks has been cleared to play, which is accurate. This happened in June when Lovie announced Nicks passed his physical, which Cummings reported on at the time. Nothing has (publicly) changed since.
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:49 pm
Why do fans “worry?” It’s a waste of mental energy, their jobs aren’t on the line, so why worry?
Sit back and let’s see what happens.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:30 pm
I still maintain Nicks being cleared to play has MRSA driven legal implications.
Now, about that Patrick Omameh guy…..
In related news, sadly, Mother Theresa remains deceased.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Dominik is trash, that is all
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:53 pm
Wow Joe, you’re all up in arms about SAMCRO repeating the Nicks story, yet it seems like half the articles you post mention how bad the Bucs played last season. Talk about old news. Who doesn’t know the Bucs were awful last year? Yet most every day I come here, there’s another story starting off with the same reminder.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:59 pm
I’m guessing his name would pronounce as Omammy.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:59 pm
Have the Bucs played a game since January?
Or would you prefer Joe to go dark from five months a year?
SAMCRO was regurgitating an old story trying to claim Banks will not be on the PUP list, which is categorically false. No one knows if he will or he won’t, with the possible exception of Banks himself.
July 22nd, 2014 at 5:03 pm
If that is true, there are some heavy-hitters doctors either setting themselves up for a nasty lawsuit or staining their reputation.
July 22nd, 2014 at 6:29 pm
Joe: “Have the Bucs played a game since January?
Or would you prefer Joe to go dark from five months a year?
SAMCRO was regurgitating an old story trying to claim Banks will not be on the PUP list, which is categorically false. No one knows if he will or he won’t, with the possible exception of Banks himself.”
Getting a little flustered? Banks???
No one is saying go dark. That’s a strawman. You post lots of good content here. That’s why I come. But the constant drone about last years horrid team to start off so many articles is far worse than SAMCRO’s single reference to an article out today about old news. It’s not like nothing happened since last season. You have creative skill. Make use of it. Beating up on SAMCRO was too much not to bring up the obvious.
July 22nd, 2014 at 6:43 pm
It’s not just the tribune reporting on Nicks, Pewter Report is also reporting it. I think we all know he was cleared to play back in June, why would 2 respectable print media sources report the same thing at the same time, maybe there’s something to it…..just sayin’.
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:26 pm
You don’t get a scholarship from MIT by being stupid. If he is smart and physical then all you really need is proper coaching to be a success.
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:28 pm
I tell you, those new uniforms are starting to look better. I will really like them if they start winning…
July 22nd, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Hey! I just read Carl Nicks is cleared for Training Camp…
July 22nd, 2014 at 9:57 pm
Wish you would check Joe’s site more than once every two months. 🙁
July 23rd, 2014 at 1:30 am
Your a smart man (men w/e), he tweeted that with a clear intention.
And it was taken that way ;), but you can write a piece about how he is “misleading” us if you want ahahaha.
Cause he could have easily clarified his tweet, because in BucNation almost everyone took it as he is good to go AND HE KNOWS THAT. He saw the reactions and replies he is not blind. However, he chose not to…
July 23rd, 2014 at 6:16 am
When will the Carl Nicks debacle finally end? Inquiring minds want to know?
July 23rd, 2014 at 9:46 am
To all the people mad we didnt sign another OG this offseason.
Just remember this.
Next off-season, we can add the best OG on the market because Nicks will be cut.
We just need to find a way this year to get by with young talent, then sign the best OG available next off-season.
July 23rd, 2014 at 10:43 am
Will find out Friday.
Maybe as early as this afternoon.
July 23rd, 2014 at 11:03 am
Hey! I just read Carl Nicks is cleared for Training Camp…
Wish you would check Joe’s site more than once every two months. 🙁
-sarcasm daily reader