O-Line Changes On Horizon?
March 24th, 2015
Yesterday at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix, Jason Licht held court and mentioned to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times he knew where “holes” were in the roster and wasn’t sweating a quick fix when Stroud asked him about the porous offensive line.
Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com believes it’s about time to act on that line, especially if Licht plans to pull the lever on Jameis Winston April 30 to kick off the NFL draft.
But it remains to see what, if anything, will happen with Wisniewski and the Bucs. In addition to guard, there’s a gaping hole at tackle. Collins was a huge flop last season and the Bucs need to have someone competent protecting the blind side of a rookie quarterback.
Right tackle Demar Dotson flipped over to the left side at the end of last season and it’s possible he could stay there. But, even if Dotson plays on the left side, the Bucs would have a big need at right tackle.
It’s easy to point to the draft and say the Bucs can address the offensive line there. But that’s asking for too much. They could get an instant starter on the offensive line in the second round. But it’s too much to expect anyone taken beyond the second round to start right away.
Yasinskas also points out, wisely, that with a rookie quarterback the Bucs may not want to start two rookie linemen. Fair point. Joe would add, it wouldn’t be smart to shift your right tackle, who is just mastering the position, over to the left side where he’s a newbie at the tender age of 29.
There will be salary cap casualties around the league in the not-to-distant future. The Bucs can likely find a steal. Also, there are trade opportunities. That’s not ruled out. The Bucs made more trades than anyone last season.
Joe isn’t ready to jump off the roof quite yet about the offensive line. It is just under six months until the regular season begins.
March 24th, 2015 at 9:05 am
What’s wrong with jake long!
March 24th, 2015 at 9:06 am
Joe isn’t ready to jump off the roof quite yet about the offensive line.
Thank you Joe! Perhaps that will calm some of our chicken littles here.
We hold the 34th pick and plenty of others as well as some trade bait to sweeten any deal to move back up into the first round. We can get an OL there.
If not…first on the waiver wire. It’s far too early for all this gripping!
March 24th, 2015 at 9:07 am
He’s rehabilitating a knee injury.
March 24th, 2015 at 9:14 am
A free agent from the Rams, RT Joe Barksdale is still available and would be a good starter or excellent back-up if the draft addresses the issue. The BUCS have completed a good job on defense, with free agency, however, they have ignored the offense so far in 2015. The draft cannot fix all the problems on the offense.
March 24th, 2015 at 9:17 am
Mychal
jake long is broken down. coming off major injuries. not durable at all which makes him a lovie guy that being said lovie has enough of those guys already in Conte, Jenkins and Melton etc…
Can’t build a good roster with cap causalities and having the #1 waiver claim. That is nothing more than glorified garbage collection. Paying has beens and praying they hold up or find the fountain of youth is the Lovie way. It’s a joke what he is doing personnel wise.
March 24th, 2015 at 9:22 am
Odds are that the OLine will be a ‘work in progress’ all next season. QB will be a ‘work in progress’ all next season. RBs will be a ‘work in progress’ all next season.
The offense is learning yet another offensive scheme from yet another new offensive coordinator (new to the Bucs that is). Several new assistant coaches, but I have hope …
We still have George Warhop.
March 24th, 2015 at 9:29 am
Odd are the offensive Line will be horrific considering Lovie has never built or fielded a decent oline in his career. Ten years of crap olines that’s what history states. what makes people think he will figure it out now.
March 24th, 2015 at 9:30 am
if you build it they will come…..drafting and scouting players just cant be hard for this regime anymore because your window is closing fast. I think they can find what we are looking for on the o line before training camp and especially since it seems like they only went after one o lineman in free agency
March 24th, 2015 at 9:32 am
Lest we forget that we also hold the 1st waiver priority, so we should get the opportunity to snag some young talent along the way.
March 24th, 2015 at 9:34 am
this was my problem with regards to last year’s o-line….waited into the pre-season to determine a LG…forced into trading…throwing people in at the last minute to form a cohesive group doesn’t usually work….hope the starters going forward are determined before the second week of may….waiting on waiver claims to plug into the o-line is going to be another nightmare….
March 24th, 2015 at 9:49 am
yawn…..
March 24th, 2015 at 9:50 am
StPete- “perhaps that will calm some of our chicken littles here”
Breaking news: the sky fell in 2014. The Oline is still just as bad as it was 6 months ago. We have rightfully earned the 1st overall pick in the 2015 draft. The chicken little charge doesn’t really work when you are the consensus worst franchise in professional football.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:00 am
I think gmc, davin joseph and Donald penn were the only recent bucs to make it to a second contract and Donald penn wasn’t our draft pick Dominick left the salary cap in good standing because he was drafting garbage……cant blame one year of bad signings for how bad this team is. I have to admit I have no idea what on earth lovie and licht were thinking when they blew up the oline completely and started over as if that’s a recipe for success but I think they regret it and see the set back. now my critic is on how fast they change it from weak link to strength and hurry boys in this era of football you don’t have long
March 24th, 2015 at 10:06 am
There’s nothing better than to read O-Line news in the morning and hope that the problem will be addressed soon. I agree, no need to jump off the roof–at least for now. We’ll see how the draft will unfold and the moves – if any- in second wave of free agency. But man… should the O-Line remain as it is, more or less, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna become the next Elizabeth Bathory, which is to say, I won’t be pleased.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:13 am
THERE’S NOTHING TO FEAR, NOTHING TO FEAR……
sound about what they say before all hell breaks loose
March 24th, 2015 at 10:22 am
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/24/eagles-may-cut-evan-mathis-if-they-cant-trade-him/
Wouldn’t be a bad place to start.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:37 am
We shouldn’t be too concerned according to Lovie’s interview yesterday, having the worst record last year put us in great position to have first dibs at all the upcoming roster cuts.
Only question I have is, how many of us Buccaneer fans make our $$$ living digging through recycle bins?
March 24th, 2015 at 10:37 am
JoeJoes Fungi Nails Says:
March 24th, 2015 at 9:49 am
yawn…..
That is the most annoying post. “Yawn, I’m so bored with this topic.” Just don’t bother posting then. Pet peeve I guess. I just want to punch you in the face.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Who cares? Whole organization is nothing but losers.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:56 am
This is my biggest concern for the Bucs. Another way we can help out the QB & the backs is to find a competent blocking fullback.
Joe, any word on potential fullbacks they’re looking to bring in? I think it would be a mistake to rely on Lane (who is unproven) to make up for what we lost in Lorig. Especially, considering the fact that ASJ is not a true blocking TE.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:01 am
Tomcin Says:
March 24th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Who cares? Whole organization is nothing but losers.
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obviously Tom does since he’s following the Buccs still 😉
March 24th, 2015 at 11:44 am
If Omamah, Cousins or Gilkey get anywhere near the field on game day or we will be screwed like a prostitute in Warren Sapp’s hotel room!!!
March 24th, 2015 at 11:54 am
It’s a new year, a new draft, special because how many times have the Bucs held the first pick. It’s a new outlook, the past has been erased for now. A potential franchise QB looms on the horizon. The law of averages say the Bucs willl not stink forever. I’ll go with that. Positive thoughts about the Bucs future are about all a fan can go on right about now.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Evan Mathis is being shopped around by the Eagles… I’m not sure what they are asking but if we can make this trade it will fix the biggest issue we have (besides QB)…
I would still want the Bucs to draft a few lineman as well in rounds 3-5…
March 24th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Move Dotson to LT and sign Barksdale for RT and either Wisnewski or Blalock. Draft Jameis, a pass rushing DE and then best available lineman. That is what I would try to do if I were Licht.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Evan Mathis is still a beast; Eagles would have to cut him since he won’t take a pay cut. I hope we are talking with his agent right now! Wait for Eagles to cut him though, unless we want to trade Goldson or Glennon.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Atlanta Buc Says:
March 24th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Evan Mathis is still a beast; Eagles would have to cut him since he won’t take a pay cut. I hope we are talking with his agent right now! Wait for Eagles to cut him though, unless we want to trade Goldson or Glennon.
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Yes, because Philly is gonna trade Mathis (because of his contract) for Goldson (who has a terrible contract). Yeah no. And Glennon? They re-signed Sanchez and traded for Bradford, but will now take a guy who slots in as their #3 QB for their starting guard. Sure I guess….
Beyond that, barring a big overpay from the Bucs, he can choose any team in the league. He’s not coming here for anything less than the highest offer.
March 24th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
“It’s easy to point to the draft and say the Bucs can address the offensive line there. But that’s asking for too much. They could get an instant starter on the offensive line in the second round. But it’s too much to expect anyone taken beyond the second round to start right away.” – Pat Y
Exactly what I have been telling you guys. Pat has it wrong on Wisniewski playing guard though. He isn’t as good at guard as he is at center. Signing him to play center would allow us to switch EDS to guard, addressing two positions with one signing.
Not much chance of getting any more upgrades until during or after the draft unless through trade or unless someone is released.
And only the ancient players are going to be released now.
March 24th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
bucrightoff Says
“Yes, because Philly is gonna trade Mathis…”
Actually, if they cannot trade him they said they will release him. That was as of this morning that I read that, so unless something has changed today…
March 24th, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Moving Dotson was a stopgap move at best.
The Bucs can not expect to have any success without a competent, veteran LT this season.
While the QOF debate rages on, massive holes on a Grand Canyon scale exist at MLB, RDE and OLT.
Just because OBP, err, King Lovie plowed the pooch last season with FA’s, doesn’t mean you sit on your hands and whimper.
March 24th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
@ bucrightoff
So what!!! We need to do whatever is possible to sign this guy… He will automatically become our BEST offensive lineman… We have more cap space then a small counties GDP!!! This line sucks and will get Winston killed on day 1…
March 24th, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Stephen White likes Kevin Pamphil’s chances to be the starting RT.