Licht: Logan Mankins “Excited”
February 18th, 2015
In his post-press conference press conference, Bucs general manager Jason Licht fielded all sorts of questions. One was about barbecue pitmaster Logan Mankins.
The left guard who sure seemed like he left his heart in New England, and has been pining for a place to hold a barbecue since he came to town, apparently has either had a change of heart, found someone with a grill, or both.
Licht said Mankins is “excited” to get the 2015 season underway.
“I have a great relationship with him,” Licht said. “We text back and forth. He says he is excited. He said he has never started training this early. And he is very excited about the future here and what he can bring to the Bucs.”
This is good to hear but color Joe suspicious. Yeah, Mankins had an off year last year. Yeah, he sure never seemed he wanted to be with the Bucs from the moment he first arrived. Perhaps watching his former team win a Super Bowl was some sort of therapy.
An axiom of an offensive line is that if a left tackle struggles, so too will the left guard. We all know about Anthony Collins.
Joe hopes Mankins fires up a strong brisket in his green egg. Hopefully, that will somehow translate to better play on the field.
In case you missed Licht’s press conference, the audio is below thanks to Joe’s partners in crime at WDAE-AM 620.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:06 pm
I still don’t understand the Mankins hate. The dude is one of the best in the game. Sure, he’s no spring chicken but he’s got a few years in the tank left. The guy had to practically compensate for the debacle that was an offensive line. He wasn’t nearly as bad as has been reported on this site. Color me excited to have him back. In addition,he’s a proven leader that can help gel talent on that line. Notice the word talent. We need to get some more. We still need another tackle and at least 1 more guard to complement Logan. We have issues on that O Line but Mankins is not one of them. Joe, you already said the problem. Anthony Collins. Dude was in way over his head. He’s a rotational O Lineman
February 18th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
He’s just realized the Bucs are going to draft our franchise QB is all 😀
February 18th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
@cmurda, he played terrible last year. He’s not the only one, but he was just plain bad. And his body language was that of someone who did not want to be hear. Simple as that.
Let’s hop he’s gotten over it and turns it around next season.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
With ya there cmurda. It’d be cool if the Bucs go after Dan Connolly in FA to pair him up with his former line-mate and cover our guard positions. Could go after Bulaga for RT too, used to play with EDS, and then we have a bit of chemistry on the line already. Just need to get Dotson a bit more comfortable at LT at that point and we’d have a pretty solid O-line imo. BBQ time.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
@cmurda
Agree….Mankins is a real pro…..room for improvement…..yes….but not a problem going forward…..probably a solution….
Mankins is encouraged because he will probably have at least 3 major areas of improvement…….Koetter vs Arroyo…..Mariota/Winston vs McCown…..Dotson/New LT vs Collins……
He is probably seeing the nasty weather in NE & his family has warmed up to Tampa….also, his paychecks don’t have a 5.15% tax taken out….
February 18th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
It’s been said the timing of the trade was very disruptive for Mankins. Just two weeks before the season started and basically playing the whole year unexpectedly away from his family. There’s something to be said for being a professional, but usually teams aren’t trading established vets at that point in the season. I can understand how that might be tough to handle. Hopefully, he’ll have a better organized personal life this year and get back to form.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Mankins will be 33 in March, is overpaid and on the downside of his career. And has been for years by the way, last year was not an anomaly but he’s been sliding since about 2012. Nice guy, good leader, but he’s in the bottom half of the league in terms of starting guards.
He was an upgrade last year over whoever else would have started (Cousins?), but he still was not great. And you worry his motivation is dead after Belichick was a prophet and Mankins got no ring and has virtually no hope of getting one in Tampa.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
bucrightoff Says : >>>>Spot on. Regardless of his attitude or lack there of he is simply no where near the player he was. All he is doing is taking up a roster spot best used on a player with more future.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
Here we go again. Mix one uncaring LT with one poor RG and mix with a poor inexperienced Mark Arooyo and you have the perfect recipe of a disaster for a Bucs offense last year. Most teams can compensate for one bad offensive lineman, but two is one to many.
Add an OC who really doesn’t have a clue and you have an offense that resembles the Bucs last year.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
“found someone with a grill” lolz
February 18th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Joe is like an old dog with a bone, he just won’t let go of it.
I’m starts to get boring and tedious after awhile. Like telling the limerick,
“There was an old hermit named Dave.”
It’s funny the first few times you here but after awhile you just walk away from it.
Same could be said for his constant harping about Mike Jenkins.
Put it to bed, Joe.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Give the BBQ crap a rest.
February 18th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Jameis: Did someone say BBQ?
February 18th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
I wonder if Logan knows how to grill stolen crab legs?
February 18th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
Ask him of he’ll take a $2-$3 million pay hit and see how excited he is to play here. He needs to vastly improve to be paid like a top 5-6 guard if he’s going to be paid $6million. Not sure if they can improve in that spot or not but they are probably trying to save face for that bad trade and keep him for one more year..
February 18th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
I sit in the endzone where the lineman, both O & D warmup. He is the most positive guy out there. He is always encouraging guys both offense and defense. I think the dude has forgotten more than any other lineman on the Bucs has learnt!!!! He is like a general and a hard working likeable team mate. You can’t put a price on that. He would be the one I build the O-line around, get me 4 more like him but younger and we can go places.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Crab legs jokes are getting old. Just get over it…
February 18th, 2015 at 3:39 pm
No “hate.” There is no question he played below his level of play last year, clearly missed being in New England, and was making up BS excuses for his play.
People really need to learn the difference between “hate” and “critique.” If you think Mankins played to his level of salary last year, you are the first one.
February 18th, 2015 at 5:11 pm
I was less impressed with Detrich smith than Mankins. Either way, having a proven OC all on it’s own should help the offensive line perform better. Than sprinkle in some continuity and maybe some young studs for competition and Doug Martin can have a bounce back season along with the rest of the offense.
I have said many times, I was very excited for our offense going into last season, yes even with Josh McCown as our QB. But when Tedford was gone, week 4 of the preseason, I knew all hope was lost. At this point even without knowing who our QB will be, I am just as excited as I was at the start of training camp last season. Let’s just hope no more black clouds come rolling over Ray Jay. Let’s hope….
February 18th, 2015 at 5:39 pm
He’s excited because he just found out he saved 15% by switching over to Geico.
February 18th, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Really? Half the time Mankins looked and performed like he didnt give a spit. Would not be surprised if he chose to retire.
February 18th, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Mankin’s system was screwed up last year. Whole lotta sheet rained down on his head. Not to mention going to a losing(lousy) team. I think his competitiveness will be back this season. He’s a pro. Glad to have him.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:28 am
With size of his contract I highly doubt footing the bill for some crab legs will be issue next season,or any other time in his life going forward… Smart guy.
February 19th, 2015 at 9:03 am
Mankin’s stays Vincent Jackson stays trade the first pick to Philadelphia eagles for Nick foals and their first round pick now I see franchising that could be unbeatable build a o line around Nick