Lack Of “Competition”
March 12th, 2015
Bucs fans — and former players — are already stressing out over the makeup of the offensive line.
Yes, Bucs fans are beginning to look up psychologists covered on their Obamacare plan because they can’t take it any longer.
Bucs fans watch the screendoor-on-a-submarine of an offensive line last year and, and on Day 3 of free agency, the Bucs have yet to address the Swiss cheese of a front wall.
It is enough for Jameis Winston fans to grab paper bags to help them stop hyperventilating from fear and angst.
It isn’t just Bucs fans who are stressing. So too are former Bucs players.
Take the case of former Bucs quarterback Shaun King. The St. Petersburg native, one of but three quarterbacks in Bucs history to lead the team to an NFC title game, took to Twitter to voice his concerns.
Only complaint i hv with bucs free agency is no oline additions. We need competition everywhere along our oline come training camp.
— shaun king (@realshaunking) March 12, 2015
Ive been kinda quiet but my patience is starting to wear thin. BUCS NEED OL AND DE help immediately!
— shaun king (@realshaunking) March 12, 2015
King has a valid point. At times, it seems as if the team treats the offensive line like yesterday’s leftovers. You stare into the fridge and eye the leftovers and spend two or three minutes trying to talk yourself into eating it or tossing it.
But again, who the hell wants to play for a 2-14 team with uncertainty at quarterback (at this date)? Very few, unless you overpay. Look how that turned out last year.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:17 am
Hilarious pic…..
March 12th, 2015 at 10:17 am
Lovie “We don’t need no stinkin’ offense to win” Smith….
Leopards don’t change their spots…
March 12th, 2015 at 10:18 am
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the BUCS are not worried about the OL. I mean, check it out…. last year they were sort of counting on Carl Nicks… but… guess what ? …. he couldn’t play ! so… what do they do ? NOTHING…. only after the preseason started and the OL was called out… they made a deal for Mankins….. good player… a little late though… for him to adjust after being “THE MAN” in NE at this lte date was expecting too much ! So… what else did they do ? Count on Cousins ! OMG ! If this isn’t proof that the Bucs undervalue OL play, I don’t know what is ! so… what does Lovie say…. “we will play better (OL) this year” ! well.. no duh… pretty hard not to ! … but just further evidence that the Bucs don’t want/value an ELITE (or maybe, even GOOD) OL. It’s just a bunch of big guys that you can “plug and play” (and don’t have to pay)…. right, Lovie ? Now, I tired of Gruden’s ways quite a bit (though I will always love him for our Super Bowl)… but one thing I will say in his defense…. he really tried to build the OL…drafted Joseph, and the right OT from BC (same year) … got the center and Carl Nicks from NO…. I mean… he tried ! and knew the importance of the OL…..There are two trains of thought in the NFL… get the SKILL guys and “just get by” with average OL … or… build your OL and then fill in the missing skill guys…. For an easy and recent lesson on which works best… check out Dallas… or another team on the opposite side of the spectrum who has been “impact position” oriented…and see who comes out on top and lasts,,, (can’t come up with a good example off the of of my head… I’m sure there are many… maybe WAS ?}… anyway.. any valuable, fancy house is only as good as its foundation !
March 12th, 2015 at 10:21 am
Lovie Smith seems wholly unconvinced of the importance of an adequate offensive line. However, he seems conviced that Conte can get it done and we are going to win 10 games with his great defense alone.
Can any believe the fans out there questioning the judgement of Lovie Smith?
March 12th, 2015 at 10:27 am
bash me all you want for hating lovie but he is doing the exact same thing here he did in Chicago which was a slow painful death. a couple of good seasons surrounded by mediocrity and BAD personnel moves. i don’t care about a super 9 years ago which he lost to the NFL’s best regular season QB but the biggest big game choker of all time. so what. what did you do last year 2-14 past is the past the glazer boys need to stop living in it. They boys have not made 1 single head coaching hire that was successful or smart.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:28 am
Why should we b surprised? Love never built an O line in Chicago, and same goes here. Figured he would’ve learned this in the basement
March 12th, 2015 at 10:31 am
When people chastised the Bucs for not spending any money back in Raheem’s day, it was the same problem. Top-notch players who command big money first have to want to play on your team. It doesn’t matter how much you offer someone, if they think you are a perennial loser they’ll pass on you.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:31 am
@ Lawrence:
I guess Lovie learned to love the basement…. which seems to be where we are and destined to be !
March 12th, 2015 at 10:31 am
I’m just waiting for the announcement that we signed Jamarcus Webb to be our starting left tackle. Lovie has a long storied history of downright lousy offensive lines.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:32 am
The Bucs are the worst run organization in the Nfl. Fire incompetent Lovie Dovie.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:38 am
Love train, get on board the love train. Lovie is just not in sync. The Glazers must be second guessing themselves.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:38 am
I’m glad Joe and King reminded the Bucs, I’m sure it just slipped their minds.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:39 am
Regardless of what the Bucs do this off season , the ship goes down anyway with the drafting of Winston. I have friends inside the FSU program that have dealt with Winston on a daily basis and they say he’s an absolute punk to everyone in the building . He’s really good at pillling the wool over people’s eyes apparently with him “killing” interviews and meetings. What a joke this kid is
March 12th, 2015 at 10:42 am
Shaun & I finally agree on something…..but, his statement is such a “no-brainer” that even Shaun can get it right…
“Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
March 12th, 2015 at 10:43 am
@ Hunter—
I’m sure Joe will hate this…. but… I have a VERY STRONG suspicion that you are right !
March 12th, 2015 at 10:46 am
Starting to think the Bucs have the worst fanbase in the NFL reading these comments. No support, no optimism, just jaded, griping b!tches.
They worked on Bulaga, brought in Wiz and I’m sure there are plans to move forward once they know what Wiz is going to do. I’ve been watching this team suck for just as long as anyone but just because they haven’t fixed the o-line in FA yet doesn’t mean they aren’t attempting to do it, it doesn’t mean Lovie hates offense, it doesn’t mean Licht is incompetent…you guys are ridiculous.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:49 am
@JFat:
I dont’ thik Lovie HATES offense… I jus think he is indifferent to it ! and as far as Licht goes, I agree.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:51 am
@Jfat
Thanks for that attempt at objectivity and fact. Alas objectivity and facts are not always appreciated on a sports blog. But I appreciate them and that post was spot on!
March 12th, 2015 at 11:03 am
@ Hunter
There are a TON of first hand accounts i have heard that directly contradict what you are saying. I don’t buy it.
He’s cocky so that may rub people the wrong way; but I’ve never heard anyone describe him as a punk or bad person; although being confident/cocky can get you called a punk I guess bys ome. And just in general some people like to talk sh*t about everyone
March 12th, 2015 at 11:06 am
Also I agree with JFat. Fans are f**king dumb and crazy here for the most part.
There aren’t a lot of great O-line prospects in free agency. Most have average grades at best. You can’t force people to sign here that don’t want to. We’re talking to guys and making attempts; so they obviously recognize it’s a need. It isn’t being ignored.
It isn’t Madden. You can’t just offer whatever you want to whatever O-lineman you want and make it happen. I wanted Wiz really bad but what if EDS is saying he refuses to move to Guard? (even so I’d rather sign Wiz and cut EDS) But still; this is a lot more complex than people make it out to be
March 12th, 2015 at 11:13 am
People need to settle down. JFat is correct. It’s nice to see posters occasionally have some sense of perspective.
March 12th, 2015 at 11:19 am
Why do you have to make fridge analogy after a King story? Fat people of the world unite! They will not take this sitting down…unless it is in front of a table filled with food.
March 12th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Atleast we don’t have the smart fans on here saying because we didn’t sign a talent like Ted Ginn Jr. that we won’t win more than 4 games…
Then again I skipped through most of the comments so they could have already posted lol
March 12th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
I, for one, am not too worried.
I trust Koetter. I believe that if Koetter went to Lovie and said, “Listen, I need upgrades at A, B and/or C on the offensive line.” then it would get done.
If Koetter is OK with us not yet upgrading the line, then who am I to judge and/or complain.
In Lovie/Licht/Koetter i trust.
#GoBucs
March 12th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
Ragging on L&L because they haven’t signed any new players in our area of greatest need – especially saying they just don’t recognize or care about the need is pretty damn ignorant.
How many “good” Oline players were actually available when free agency began? Less than the # of fingers on one hand for sure. And they all want 40% more $ than they are really worth. And many, many teams have OLine needs and problems so its a tough situation for a lot of teams – not just the Bucs.
The only way to fix this major OLine problem properly is to draft well, draft high and draft often at Offensive Line for at least the next 2 years. They should draft 3 OL players with the picks in rounds 2,3,4,5 and 5 – and then do it again next year. THEN we will have some talent and competition and depth without overpaying.
Exhibit A as to why Mark Dominic was a terrible GM is that in 5 years as GM – he only drafted ONE OL player. ONE – a 5th rounder who never even saw the field way back in 2009. Its no wonder our OL is so bad.
March 12th, 2015 at 3:19 pm
The comments I readout here about Lovie are beyond ignorant and stupid.
Last year every pick was for the offense . They hired probably the best OC available on the market yet I continue to read, “Lovie doesn’t care about the offense.”
He tried to fix a very porous 2013 O line which didn’t work but the key word was ” tried.”
Such unfounded opinions appear to be based on nothing but hatred. When you base your opinions on your “gut” and unfounded “hatred” then you will never listen to rational thought and reason.
Such silly pathetic little children.
March 12th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Pickgrin you are on your game today. Love the way you back up your statements with facts I wasn’t even aware of.
Couple the lack of,picks with the fact we brought in Carl Nicks who probably came here with an injury related to playing on artificial turd, and you have the reason for this units struggles.
March 12th, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Hunter I’m sure if your “friends” are right and telling the truth, this will be a giant red flag for the Bucs.
But somehow I doubt the veracity of your “friends.”
For one reason this is the firs time I have ever heard of this rumor and it is coming from unsubstantiated “friends.”
Usually if something like this is true, it comes from more than one source as is the case of a Warren Sapp being called a jerk by many people because of his behavior.
March 12th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Joe…. I can’t find a psychologist that accepts my Obama Care Plan. Similar to every other practice as well. HELP!!!!!