Bucs DT Akeem Spence explained, from a defensive lineman’s perspective, the Bucs may be catching the Stinking Panthers at the right time.

Just like it is a new look for the Bucs offensive line, so too will it be a new look for the Stinking Panthers offensive line. The biggest difference will be the void of Jordan Gross, the stud left tackle who retired.

To fill that void, the Stinking Panthers moved over starting right tackle Byron Bell. Nate Chandler, a converted defensive lineman, is penciled in to start at right tackle Sunday.

The new people and places now scheduled to start on the front line for the Stinking Panthers has Bucs defensive tackle Akeem Spence licking his chops. For if an offensive line is vulnerable, it will be earlier rather than later.

“I think they are still gelling as a unit,” Spence said. “I think they are pretty good, really good. But just like [any] offensive line, it takes time to get that cohesiveness, to get together and working as a unit.

“I think being the first game, I think they saw us during preseason and they will be game-planning for that. Things change from time to time. Schemes change. We might hit them with a few surprises, I don’t really know what. You can work together in preseason but when the lights are on, first official game, crowd noise, stadium will be packed – probably sold out, you know, it will be hard for them to get that communication across.

“It’s going to be tough, man. It’s going to be tough.”

What Spence says makes a lot of sense. Any offensive lineman will tell you it takes time to develop a strong camaraderie to become a tight unit. New Bucs guard Logan Mankins has talked about this a lot.

So by that logic, the most vulnerable an offensive line can be is when they are still learning each other. As Spence suggested, what better time to play them when they are still bonding, and, oh yeah, have to make line calls when Bucs fans are roaring at full throat?

To hear more from Spence, click the red button below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.