Fixing The Offensive Line
February 8th, 2015
Man, the offensive line was some kind of bad last year. Joe wonders if turnover-prone quarterback Josh McCown had to seek a shrink after getting pounded like a red-headed stepchild.
Joe still maintains the only starter from last year who is safe is Demar Dotson at right tackle. Sure, Lovie might move him to left tackle, but at 30 – Dotson will turn 30 this fall — why try to teach an old dog new tricks?
Andrew Astleford of Fox Sports Florida believes the Bucs might have to go free agent shopping next month to fix this porous line.
Likely, free agency is the quickest way to revamp the line (again) after the failure of 2014. It’s unlikely that Smith and Licht can wait for a young, promising lineman to develop. The pair needs immediate results. Of course, drafting a left tackle in the high rounds would be wise. But targeting veteran players like the Denver Broncos’ Orlando Franklin and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Clint Boling for instant impact would be beneficial.
Personally, Joe thinks the Bucs should just stay clear of any Bengals free agent. You know, it worked out so well with left tackle Anthony Collins and ghostly defensive end Michael Johnson.
Fans have to come to grips with the fact the Bucs are a rancid outfit. That’s generally what a 2-14 team is. For the Bucs to get any decent free agent, they will likely have to overpay (hello, slimy Eric Wright). Not too many free agents want to play for a garbage team.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Look at how long Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have to throw the ball.
Alot of qbs would look good behind one of those OLs
February 8th, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Sign Incognito!!!
Oooops too late Buffalo already did…
February 8th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
We need to sign at least two solid free agent lineman and we need to draft at least two lineman in rounds 2-5 and that would be a good start… Keep Dotson and Mankins on the left… Keep EDS at center and we already have Omamah, Edwards and Pamphile working as back ups…
That would give us 10 solid lineman to make it through the year and that is what you are going to need with all the injuries that occur in a normal season…
February 8th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
If Koetter doesn’t have a good OL by opening day, he will be a bust because no one can play behind a bad one.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Agreed. They need to fix the line. I like Laken Tomlinson in rd 3. cam Erving in rd2 (if possible) then (another Nole) Tre Jackson in 4 and lastly (yet another Nole…sheesh) bobby Hart in round 6
February 8th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
Bonus there I guess would be continuity for Jameis…
February 8th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
yeah..yeah..yeah….I’d take this is possible…trade down with the Browns for
both their #1’s
their #2
their #3
and let the REBUILDING begin !
February 8th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
@ mac
You are absolutely on target……exactly what we need to do.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:47 pm
I think the line could be vastly improved with a combination of a FA and a say, 3rd rounder on the right side, with Dot/Mankins on the left. Add another one of each (FA and maybe a 4th-5th) plus last years picks for depth.
I’d be happy if we got a guy like James Carpenter for not too much…
February 8th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
We need to draft
LT
G
C
with the multiple picks we get after trading down
February 8th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
We arent trading down so let’s stop fantasizing and talk about reality. Winston (preferably) or Mariota, then work on the O and D Lines. You dont pass on a potential elite QB unless you know for sure you already have one which we clearly dont know.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Ding ding ding we have a winner.
Not too many free agents want to play for a garbage team.
Sadly they’ll still take the glaziers money and won’t do a got dam thing. Unfortunately it not limited to just the players. The 2014 bucs remind me of wall st raping main st.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Agree….Couch….
We are drafting one of the QBs…..I think MLB & Oline will be the next pick depending on player available…..perhaps DE.
We will know more after FA signings….
February 8th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
How about some got-damn continuity for once?
You know…like…I don’t know….maybe THE PATRIOTS!
February 8th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Michael Oher is available.
February 8th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
aaron rodgers would have had number like 28 td’s 25 Int’s with that line and coach.
February 8th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
“Destinjohnny Says:
February 8th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
aaron rodgers would have had number like 28 td’s 25 Int’s with that line and coach.
”
which is why we should not take a QB this year and concentrate on foundations both sides of the ball….every year there are QB’s that are “once in a generation”….ever notice that ?
Trade down TWICE in the first round
February 8th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Step 1: Fire Warhop.
February 8th, 2015 at 4:42 pm
Dream Scenario for me is we some how land Scherff And Peat in the First round. Then Perryman in the second if he lasts that long
February 8th, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Scherff was recruited to the University of Iowa as a 280 lb Quarterback! Now he is a 315 Mauler in the middle. Lettered in Tennis and State Champion shot putter as well. Now THAT’s an athelete
February 8th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
MariotaOrWinstonOrWalkdaPlank Says:
February 8th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Michael Oher is available.
____________________________________________________________
And there’s a reason for that. Hopefully he gets movie residuals. Otherwise picking up other teams trash is probably not advisable anymore.
February 8th, 2015 at 5:14 pm
Must replace EDS! Draft Cam Irving if we can move up to get him, he will go in the 1st.
February 8th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
This is why I think we should just trade back and work on the trenches (or use the 1st on Williams). Too many holes in the trenches!!!!
February 8th, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Joe makes the case for a trade down in picks. Jameis or marcus will not be successful without an OL.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:50 pm
How about trade Cleveland our no.1 pick for both of they’re no.1 picks along with they’re starting left tackle. I wanna see Glennon start for our Bucs with Koetter running the offense. It’s a gamble yes, but so is starting a rookie. Then draft some more OL young talent but Glennon has not had a fair shot yet.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:53 pm
No O line is going resemble an O line with Warhol coaching it. But on the other hand let him coach the O line so it will be the demise of the L&L era.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:59 pm
And by the way hope they don’t be stupid and not keep Vjax. He may be over paid but unless they are planning on getting Randall Cobb it would be unfair to whoever our QB ends up being and Mike Evans….hell the rest of the team period. How about some continuity around here for a change? Good teams that let players go do it because they can’t afford to keep them, not because they have a hitch they can replace them throughout the draft and save the ownership some money….
February 8th, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Agreed on that last point. Warhop has proven to be hot garbage.
February 8th, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Kevin S said: “How about trade Cleveland our no.1 pick for both of they’re no.1 picks along with they’re starting left tackle. I wanna see Glennon start for our Bucs with Koetter running the offense. It’s a gamble yes, but so is starting a rookie. Then draft some more OL young talent but Glennon has not had a fair shot yet.”
I think the Browns will not want to let go their one solid contributor on offense that is not under suspension: Joe Thomas and if they are willing to part with him it is likely that they think he is starting to slip onto the downside of his career as he was drafted right before the Bucs landed Gaines Adams in the draft after the 2006 season where the Bucs beat Cleveland late in the year to go 4-12 and let both Detroit and Cleveland slip by them in the draft order…. If the Bucs picked second that year they would have got Megatron and if they picked third they would have got Thomas; just goes to show how much one irrelevant win in a bad season can set a franchise back; hopefully the Skins and the Jets realize this when the Bucs grab a franchise qb this spring and they get some “Gaines Adams’ like” pick with their picks after theBucs and Titans scoop up the qbs…. Perhaps losing all those close games late may actually help L&L actually get a decent qb; I just hope he does not turn out like the guy who was selected before Megatron, Thomas or Adams: JaMarcus Russell……
February 9th, 2015 at 12:14 am
Hardy Nickerson was a FA who came to a “garbage team” and changed the culture immediately. Sam Wyche then added Lynch, brooks and Sapp, shook vigorously and then Dungy poured them over unsuspecting offenses.
They are one of two players away on defense again from having the same elixir.
The offense, specifically the OL is in need of revamping but isn’t as terrible as Joe projects.
I will try this again.
Think of the mathematical probability when you do this.
You have three new players who were rated as good O lineman come on the team.
Now I can see one going bad, but all three at the same time? Think of the mathematical probability.
The one common denominator all three share is the offensive coordinator with practically no experience.
Could the calls, formations and schemes he used have been so vanilla because he had no idea what he was doing that the other teams knew what was coming.
During the last three or four games it was so apparent even the tv announcers were questioning what the hell he was doing.
I still have one play etched in my mind from the Browns game.
The Bucs were on their own 15 to 20 yard line with the noisy raucous Dawg Pound right behind them.
So what does Arroyo call. A shotgun formation with a WR going in motion behind the center. EDS snaps the ball early and it hits the WR and the Browns recover the fumble.
Now a lot of you idiots want to blame EDS. But I prefer to blame an idiotic Arroyo for calling a play that was doomed to fail because of their position on the field.
February 9th, 2015 at 1:44 am
Franklin can play both guard spots and right tackle. Hopefully him and Mankins will bring some leadership while we develop some young players. Mankins has been here a year now so he better be ready to go in training camp(assuming he dosent RETIRE!)
February 9th, 2015 at 1:53 am
Why do yall want garbage ass mankins pats got rid of him for a reason past his prime cut him sign iupati for rg take dj Humphries 2nd rd for lt keep Dotson at rt draft laken tomlinson for lg in the 3rd and bam rebuilt line with youth and experience also give eds one more year then draft a man beast like Fredrick in Dallas and the oline is fixed offense is fine and following draft we can address the defense I’m already looking at the freak of nature from Ole miss knimdeche
February 9th, 2015 at 11:00 am
If you’re really watching knmdichi, then pay close attention to his last 2 games. I doubt he’ll go in the 1st or 2nd next year unless he turns things around.
February 9th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
The BUCS will move Dotson to LT, and Collins to RG or RT. Depending on which ‘value’ picks they can get for defense and offense during free agency and the draft.
These guys are telling you all you need to know: 1. They paid big bucks for some players and don’t want egg on their faces – they will move players to other positions if they can to save face. 2. They have used the word ‘value’ 1million times in recent history to let you know they need to watch the piggy bank a little closer than they have to date.
February 9th, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Mac. Well said. I wholeheartedly agree.