Did The Bucs Have A One-Legged Guard?
July 12th, 2014
As if memories of the 2013 Tampa Bay season aren’t enough to send Joe to 7-11 for a Slurpee to pour Vodka into, reading a new story penned in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has Joe in need of something stronger.
New Rams guard Davin Joseph, last year’s Bucs captain, talked about his new start in the NFC West.
You can catch Joseph’s thoughts and more via the link above, but it was something Rams O-line coach Paul Boudreau said that has Joe banging his head against a wall.
There’s no way the Rams would’ve gotten Joseph for the relatively modest price they did, without the right knee surgery coupled with the staph infection. In fact, Joseph might still be in Tampa Bay.
“When he came in for the visit, his (right) leg was like half the size of a normal leg,” Boudreau said.
When Boudreau watched tape of Joseph against Rams defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford in last year’s game against Tampa, Boudreau said, “you could see he was playing on one leg.”
Again, there’s more in the story. But keep in mind Joseph made the referenced free agent visit to the Rams in March, 2 1/2 months after the Bucs season. Joseph takes great care of his body. If his leg looked that weak in March, then Joe can only imagine how screwed up it was during last season.
So that begs the question, what the hell was Joseph doing on the field last year starting in every game if he was in such poor shape? What was the New Schiano Order trying to accomplish? How exactly were they developing talent in a season that clearly was lost?
In 2012, Jamon Meredith played rather well filling in for Joseph. Where was he? And why the heck didn’t former rockstar general manager Mark Dominik get more guard talent on the roster last summer, given the pre-MRSA injury to Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph having his leg atrophied by an infection?
Joseph’s film was ugly last season. On rare occasion, he looked like an average right guard. Joe actually ran into a high-ranking Bucs official shortly after Joseph was cut this year, and the Bucs official told Joe that Joseph’s game tape was so bad it could be career ending.
Knowing paying fans were treated to a guy who didn’t belong on the field will always make Joe ill.
July 12th, 2014 at 10:13 am
The Bucs should have never let him play, but they certainly shouldn’t have abandoned him for being a bad-A and playing through that and doing what was asked of him at far far less than 100%. It’s still shameful we didn’t bring him back. I get cutting his pay (a lot) but come on.
July 12th, 2014 at 10:16 am
I have to say…the worst thing about last year was the media. Theu sucked the life out of the few good moments by feeding the bad and made up. Last year convinced me we need strict laws on reporting.
The key thing to be addressed? Accountability.
I’ve already seen a number of obvious lies by several, though slightly less than last year.
The othe really bad thing?
The embarrassing first ten minutes of game one last year. Totally humiliating.
July 12th, 2014 at 10:19 am
Never should have let him go to another team. He needed a pay cut but I am sure he would have re-signed here to play for Lovie whatever he signed for in St. Louis. Sucks for us because I see him coming back strong. I wish him nothing but the best.
July 12th, 2014 at 10:47 am
@BB
Wow … impressive
*golf-clap*
July 12th, 2014 at 10:47 am
Can’t wait for the rams game. People made a huge deal out Penn not playing well. Joseph also. Want to see what Collins does w Quinn. What Joseph does against our dline. And most importantly I want to see Aaron Donald wrech havik bc DB55 is to Donald as Joe is to JBF.
July 12th, 2014 at 11:16 am
Meh! Spilled milk. Next!
July 12th, 2014 at 11:34 am
I absolutely agree with Kevin. I wish we would’ve resigned Joseph at lower salary. I think hell be quite effective once he regains his full strength & conditioning.
July 12th, 2014 at 11:35 am
I don’t expect Joseph to return to pre-injury form, he probably won’t even with strength and conditioning work. But I do wish the man well. He never complained or whined throughout his time in Tampa, just did his best to be on the field. What the staff did with him, if true, makes me even happier they’re fired.
July 12th, 2014 at 11:39 am
Wow! At what point will the Sciano seal-clubbing cease? So Davin Joseph’s mediocre-at-best play is now Schiano’s fault as well? This is getting comical!
July 12th, 2014 at 11:49 am
It needed to be done. We had a great line on paper but they’d get injured every single year and never got a chance to play together. This overhaul was sorely needed. Good luck Joseph.
July 12th, 2014 at 11:51 am
@Bonzai
We dont usually agree but I completely agree with everything you said. Media should be ashamed with how they acted last year without having any facts.
July 12th, 2014 at 12:01 pm
“Last year convinced me we need strict laws on reporting.”
What happened to the 1st Amendment and freedom of the press, free speech and all.
Next you’ll want to take away the post game prayers and arrest the participants.
My opinion of Davin Joseph just went up a few notches.
My opinion of the Little General has been on a constant decline since day one.
July 12th, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Good Lord, the more stories that come out about The last two HC’s tenures really makes me wonder just how much of a “madhouse” this club had become.
July 12th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
I think the out of control stuff was all on Morris.
The too much control on Schiano. But then, I also think over discipline was a good thing the last 2 years. It was needed to raise the standards of the players. Can you imagine if Lovie had inherrited Morris’s team? No way would he turn it around in less than 3 years.
Got a lot of fresh leaders on this team now.
July 12th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Well lets just be glad we have a true professional as our coach now.
July 12th, 2014 at 1:54 pm
I’d wager better coaches than him would have (and have) made the same call when faced with the same circumstances. Would this even be news if it were Belichick, Coughlin, or one of the Harbaugh brothers making the same move?
July 12th, 2014 at 1:55 pm
And more stuff comes out…
…Thank God the NIGHTMARE is OVER!!!!
July 12th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
No way… it’s impossible to believe a pro bowl guard coming off season ending injury could have actually played the entire season hurt, what sensible person in this era would believe that.
To many Couch athletes posting comments that think it makes more sensible that he’s old and his play had nothing to do with injury or the horrible system, he’s a veteran he doesn’t need coaching to play at a high level he just needs to be healthy. Wish you all the best Davin Joseph thanks for all your years of hard work, leadership and service and your commitment to the bucs
July 12th, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Good luck Davin! Hope it works out for you. See ya second week in September. Bring your A game. Show us whatcha got!
July 12th, 2014 at 4:21 pm
Just confirms what I have been saying about the worst HC in Buc’s history–Stupid Schiano! What he did to Joseph’s career is unforgivable. Not only forcing Joseph to play on one foot but having him to block for his inept pet QB whose slow release and no escapability just piled up the sacks counted against Joseph to the point he was fired.
July 12th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
I agree with that. In alot of ways, we really needed everything that Schiano brought to the table (although we did need a change after 2 years of it)… And I actually had a 20-minute 1-on-1 conversation with Schiano when he was in my vitamin store on that same topic about 3 weeks after he was fired & I thanked him for turning our organization around and righting the ship, so to speak. He was very grateful to hear some true appreciation from a real fan.
July 12th, 2014 at 9:56 pm
he’ll be going up against g mccoy in that game. mccoy may know all his dirty secrets and injuries, plus for bucs
July 12th, 2014 at 11:54 pm
Damn!!!! Owlykat just made it Glennon’s fault. Does the MGM know about this?
July 13th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Hard to say what other coaches would’ve done. You know, it wasn’t until after the Bucs won the SB that we learned Kerry Jenkins had been playing with a broken leg (cracked left fibula) most of that year. I wish Davin well, he was a great Buc that never spewed venom like many have after leaving.
July 14th, 2014 at 12:18 am
Can someone explain why Joseph sucked before 2013 then? He has been bad for years.