Jonathan Vilma Rips Former Bucs O-Line
August 28th, 2014
Former Saints Pro Bowl linebacker Jonathan Vilma (2008-2013) looked into a national TV camera the other day and stomped on the reputations of Donald Penn, Davin Joseph, Jeremy Zuttah, Demar Dotson and other former Bucs offensive linemen.
Listening to Vilma, it’s a wonder Tampa Bay won any football games.
Speaking on NBC Sports Network, Vilma was asked about facing the old Bucs offensive line versus the current bunch.
“You know, they were definitely at the bottom of the pack as far as O-lines that we faced. We looked at them, we said, ‘Athletically, they weren’t there. They’re communication wasn’t there. The leadership wasn’t there,'” Vilma said.
“We would do simple stunts, move a defensive linemen, cross games, they didn’t ‘have an answer to it. So finally you get a guy like [Logan] Mankins with the ability, with the knowledge, with the veteran leadership he should bring, and they should shore up some of those issues.”
Man, talk about kicking a unit in the balls. Vilma laid some low blows there.
You can watch the video below. Former NFL offensive linemen Ross Tucker is pumped up about the Bucs’ acquisition of Mankins, calling Evan Dietrich-Smith and Anthony Collins average players that need a special guy on the line.
August 28th, 2014 at 9:54 am
There you go……a professional’s opinion.
August 28th, 2014 at 9:55 am
Vilma is a POS.
August 28th, 2014 at 9:58 am
I don’t want to hear from him – he is and was garbage too and so was Ross Tucker. Yes they were overpaid and under performed but they’re gone and the new players here have the opportunity to make it right.
He wasn’t the most athletic either and it definitely the pot and the kettle!
August 28th, 2014 at 9:59 am
I don’t think Buc fans were expecting a compliment from a Saints bounty hunter.
August 28th, 2014 at 9:59 am
Well our Oline did play like a bottom 5 line. Truth hurts I suppose
August 28th, 2014 at 10:00 am
But wait, I’ve been reading folks saying that it was a mistake to scrap last year’s line and start over…..I’m going to have to call BS on Mr. Vilma’s assessment. While he is a professional who has spent his whole life looking at this stuff and his opinion supports the actions of our front office who have also spent their entire lives studying and operating within the NFL, I am hesitant to go against the great football minds of the JBF commenters.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:03 am
“I am hesitant to go against the great football minds of the JBF commenters.”
Exactly. Some people just can’t let go of Zuttah. I will take Vilma’s opinion and Licht’s pedigree.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:04 am
All this and what happened to the Bucs O line that was supposed to be building to be one of the best in pro ball in the near past years. Why can’t the team have good both sides of the ball? I know what happened, but the talk about a great O line was just bunk. Back to square one.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:04 am
Licht agrees with Vilma. No identity, no leadership, no talent. Mankins fills all three voids.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:07 am
Not only Highest Paid OLine
But Highest Overrated OLine
August 28th, 2014 at 10:09 am
ha @ patrick, couldnt say it better myself
August 28th, 2014 at 10:11 am
He knows better than any of us and he has no reason to particularly hate the Bucs and fabricate lies about them. I can buy his story, our product on the field for the most part was pathetic.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:12 am
Truth hurts sometimes but Vilma is probably right about our former o line. Plus you don’t think Mankins will add some major credibility and know how to our o line with all the success he’s had in NE? That is exactly what he’ll do, and for that reason alone it was a good trade.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:12 am
Much of last years problems were due to starting the season with our “franchise” QB.
The OL was overpaid and underwhelming but there were problems everywhere.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:13 am
Great find Joe.
I like listening to people in the know.
In this case he is a former player who actually played and game planned twice a year against that oline.
His feedback trumps even coaches… even oline coaches.
Nice find Joe.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:15 am
Props to Joe for always staying balanced
August 28th, 2014 at 10:19 am
can we trade warhop for a pick? cleveland is garbage, why would we hire a coach from friggin Cleveland?!??!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!1!!!
August 28th, 2014 at 10:23 am
I’m looking at the quote and I don’t see any specific names from Vilma…..but Joe named four (and other former) so that didn’t include Meredith…..nevertheless, I think we kept the best one in Dotson. You would have to include the lack of blocking from the TE position also.
Hey guys….Zuttah is gone……as is Bennett, Blount, Talib, Wright and a host of others…..time to focus on who we have.
I do think this…..sometimes it only takes one really good player to bring out the best in others…we have more than one!!!
August 28th, 2014 at 10:24 am
In defense of our former o line, you cant really build that kind of continuity if you havent been taught how to do it. But you can damn well bet Mankins has been taught that and all you need to know about how to run an o line. That is why I fully expect this unit to finally play as a unified group. That is my hope anyway.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:24 am
When you dont use anything higher than a 5th round pick on an offensive lineman for seven or eight years, that unit is going to be sub par.
I dont think people truly understand how much of a blow it was to lose aaron sears.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:25 am
Once teams got game film on our QB, ‘cement shoes’, it made things even worse for the offense. No blocking and a immobile QB were the pits.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:25 am
More an indictment of coaching (Bostad) then anything Joe
August 28th, 2014 at 10:30 am
thats the problem collins and EDS are average or slightly above… and they were upgrades. Hopefully Mankins can help the whole line elevate their play.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:33 am
The Saints have bitch slapped the Bucs regularly for the last few years.
He isn’t saying anything that you can’t look at the game film and see for yourself.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:35 am
Lovie & Licht agree wholeheartedly with Vilma. Their actions prove it. Blowing up the line was a huge statement about their opinion of those guys.
Adding Mankins brings this line, as a whole, up to the level of average to slightly above average in my opinion. If Rishaw Johnson can become that guy at RG then this line now has the potential to become very good.
We shall see how it plays out. As a fan I’m finally excited about our line for the first time in years.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:37 am
Joe…you said you would have more about Rishaw Johnson. Where’s the more? Eager fans await.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:37 am
video isn’t working
August 28th, 2014 at 10:39 am
Sounds like Vilma is just salty. The Saints are one of our most bitter rivalries. We’ve played them tougher than almost anyone has the past few years & I think he’s officially scared of us at this point with all the talent we’ve added.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:53 am
@ Buc the Haters
FYI Vilma was cut by the Saints….
August 28th, 2014 at 10:56 am
@Gotbucs the down hill all started when Sears went nuts. Also every year we are supposed to have a great O-line half go down to injury. Then people say what the hell hapened they were supposed to be good. Ummm the injured players on the bench are what happened. The bartenders filling in were not the ones projected to be good.
August 28th, 2014 at 11:00 am
Sadly I watched every game last year and Vilma is right, our offensive line was one of the worst i have ever seen. Hopefully this year its much improved
August 28th, 2014 at 11:01 am
Vilma has been there, done that, and speaks from the heart. The L&L regime has validated his words, by their actions.
Off topic, When is Mankins coming? Where is the press conference?
August 28th, 2014 at 11:02 am
Wait…. what?
I thought Joseph, Penn and Zuttah were so awesome according to some people here…
August 28th, 2014 at 11:05 am
@ biff
Don’t kill the messenger… Vilma is right… The Bucs line last year was a bad joke… You can thank Mark Domink for that crap… Mr. “I don’t draft offensive lineman”… What a tard.
August 28th, 2014 at 11:20 am
No he did not reveal anything new, it is the same thing a lot of Buc Fans been saying that line was horrible last year so I am not surprised Vilma said what said about them!
August 28th, 2014 at 11:22 am
Snook – nailed it. good job man
August 28th, 2014 at 11:30 am
For a minute, I thought Vilma was discussing his Saints LB corps.
August 28th, 2014 at 11:33 am
Vilma is and always will be a POS regardless as to whether that’s true or not. Never did like him.
August 28th, 2014 at 11:34 am
@Eric
Off Topic, remember last week when we were discussing Robert Herron and Tommy Streeter? Boy was I wrong!
August 28th, 2014 at 11:40 am
Vilma has no reason to Lie, it was the truth.
We sucked, and we sucked bad.
Doug Martin is gonna just Love running behind Mankins, you wait and see.
August 28th, 2014 at 11:45 am
The point is that while the Bucs OL stunk – it’s not Vilma job to air it because the Saints played victim when the bounty scandal was being blasted.
August 28th, 2014 at 11:56 am
Saints shut out Doug Martin in a blowout 2012, but other games was 85 yards on 16 carries and 144 yards on 29 carries, so what is Vilma basing this on, one game that the Bucs weren’t even into at the end of the season, mmmmm
August 28th, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Why is davin Joseph picture on the headline, demar Dotson starts for this team
Umm, because the story is about the Bucs’ former offensive line. –Joe
August 28th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Not only on Game days but Mankins also comes in with the ability to teach the other O-Line how to practice as a true professional. He wont be afraid to step on peoples toes to get them to perform better. He is a true leader and will be able to seriously help make EDS and Collins that much better around him, just by enhancing their work ethics in and out of practice. Mankins will NOT allow slacking around him and will expect the best from his supporting cast. He bring to the O-Line what Vincent Jackson brings to the WR group and what McCown brings to the entire offense. EXPERIENCE, how to do it in practice and how to execute during games.
Simply put we got more than just a good talented starting guard, we got a big boost in Veteran leadership and guidance with a winning pedigree. This alone made the deal great in my eyes. We couldn’t have filled that hole with a better individual. We got exactly what we needed and when we needed it.
August 28th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
I doubt the Bucs offensive line was as bad as having to listen to Vilma on TV. He’s terrible.
August 28th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
The Buccaneers offensive line that Vilma is bashing was ranked 3rd best in 2012 for sacks allowed, 8th best in 2011, and 9th best in 2010 allowing only 26, 32, and 30 sacks respectively. Compare that with the Patriots offensive line, who is arguably the best in the business, with 26,32,25 sacks allowed in 2012, 2011, and 2010. For anyone keeping track that is almost identical records. Compare that further with the Bears who ranked 24th in 2012 with 44 sacks allowed, 26th in 2011 with 49 sacks allowed, and 32nd in 2010 with 56 sacks allowed. Over the past 10 years the Bucs have allowed an average of 30.2 sacks per year while the Patriots have averaged 29.8 sacks per year. Almost identical.
However, the Saints defense during those periods ranked dead last in 2012 and 23rd in 2011. So…this proves that Vilma is an idiot.
August 28th, 2014 at 1:34 pm
Lovie clearly agreed with him and I have saying it for last couple years. Most fans do not want to believe it but its true. Our O-line was garbage.
August 28th, 2014 at 3:25 pm
So they took down the video already?
August 28th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
i think the entire roster had been lacking in leadership and communication since sometime in january 2009. unfortunately for most of our OL (and other key players), they’ve all more or less came of age professionally in that window, and never had the opportunity to learn from a professional and competent coaching staff what a winner looks like. thank god lovie & co arrived before it was too late for the likes of mccoy and david to achieve their potential
August 28th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
His misuse of “their/they’re” is even transcribed for us.
August 28th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
POS or not, he’s pretty on point here.
August 29th, 2014 at 1:04 am
Well, he has a point. I always thought Penn was overrated. He was a bit lazy. Joseph was never the same after his injury. Jeremy Trueblood, Anthony Davis, Sean Mahan. Yea, I have to agree with him.
Notice he didn’t mention his ex-teammate Jeff Faine.