“Antiquated” Thinking At Left Tackle
April 8th, 2015
How desperate for a left tackle is Tampa Bay?
That depends who you ask.
NFL Films longtime Xs and Os guru Greg Cosell says the left tackle gospel is outdated.
Speaking via a podcast on TheMMQB.com, Cosell threw cold water on the conventional wisdom that the left tackle is the critical cog on the O-line.
“I think you can make an argument that it’s not necessarily true,” Cosell said. “Most coaches, when they put together pass protection concepts, they will slide the protection to one side or the other. You can slide the protection to the left. You can slide the protection to the right. The left tackle, just by gospel now these days, has become the most important position. But it’s not necessarily that way.”
Cosell and podcast host Andy Benoit chatted about how shotgun formations have cut down the importance of “blind side” protection. And Cosell says film reveals the nature of NFL passing games, with few exceptions, are not deep-drop passing games. He added that deep drops normally have “seven-man protection concepts,” which largely makes the idea of the left tackle being the key position “antiquated.”
“In some ways, with all the interior blitzing now, I’ve talked to some people who are arguing the center is becoming the more important position,” Cosell said.
This is all fun stuff for football junkies like Joe, but it makes Joe wonder what’s going on in Lovie Smith’s head.
Lovie has not had success building a strong O-line during his career. If you missed Lovie talking to Joe last month about that ongoing challenge, read here.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
“Antiquated” Thinking At Head Coach
April 8th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Antiquated…. Thought it was an article about Lovie and dungy’s ridiculous philosophies.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Give me starters along the whole line,…and yes Demar Dotson is Antiquated, one guy we traded for is Outdated, and the FA is Overated. Help!Help!Help!
April 8th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Bucs need 4 starters on oline including left tackle so they better start somewhere quick… By time they get single position upgraded Dotson will be retired
April 8th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
It seems to me that the goal is to have the best you can possibly have at every starting position….backup position….and practice squad.
Defenses will exploit weaknesses…wherever they are.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Watched a video yesterday with OC Phil Savage and he said the area between guard to guard is the most important thing to worry about when it comes to pass protection. If that’s the new belief these days then maybe taking a guard instead of a tackle in the second would be better. I still would like to see us draft LT Jake Fisher though. He’s mostly likely going to be there in the second, and even though he’s not considered an “elite” LT, he’s solid and that would be good enough for us at this point.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
I read that the Raiders are already thing of upgrading their LT position. They were saying that the always have to have a TE or RB help. It said that Penn is at a good price ( cheap ) so they might have to try to squeeze one more year before releasing Penn!
April 8th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
Like i said in another thread:
The Saints have proven year after year that you can mask “not-so-good” tackle play with a solid interior group.
Whoever is rated higher on your draft board when you pick 2nd, whether its tackle or guard, you take him. No need to put one on the pedestal over the other.
Trust your board.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Lovie hasn’t had any luck finding a good OC either. Maybe Koetter will get the best out of the guys we have, and talent we acquire through FA and the draft as well.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Agree with Celly. Take the best O-lineman available whether it be C/G/T.
The main problem with this line over the years has been the interior; largely due to Carl Nicks not panning out and Joseph flaming out.
I personally don’t view T as being as big of a need as G. I think RG is a bigger hole simply because Dotson can hold LT better than anyone on the team can play RG; and Pamphile has potential at RT.
I also am high on trading back in the 2nd because our needs meet value in the mid-late 2nd / 3rd rounds
April 8th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
I think that the Bucs need to replace all five linemen with a combination of draft choices and free agents so that they can go through the same learning curve together. By the end of the season, they may even be better than last year’s O-line.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
LT has got to be top priority! We don’t have a starter OR a backup… Dotson is NOT a LT no matter how hard Lovie’s crew tries to make him into something he is not. At least at RG we have Omamaha, its not saying much but at least we have a backup there now. Pamphile should be backup RT but not 1 LT on the depth chart is down right pathetic.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Well we don’t have a left tackle and we have a below average right one so we are set
April 8th, 2015 at 3:49 pm
I’ll play LT for 6.5 mil, I can’t be any worse than Collins.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Leave Dotson at right. Lovie, please sign Jake Long and draft Randy Williams. You got the vet and if (when) he gets injured you bring in the younger Williams. Let either Cann or Jackson back up Mankins abd let the other battle Omaehmah in camp. Sraft Williams, Cann and Jackson. Sign Long. You got depth and competition up and down the line.
April 8th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
“Whoever is rated higher on your draft board when you pick 2nd, whether its tackle or guard, you take him. No need to put one on the pedestal over the other.”
Thats true, and definitely is the best way to go. I was just giving one example of who stands a good chance at being the best one left. Could be Fisher or it could be someone else. Regardless there should be a guy left in the second who is at the very least solid, starting caliber material along the Offensive line and we NEED to take him. I would be absolutely stunned if we went with a passer rusher or any other position other than offensive line in the second round. We can get a guy there who we can plug and play from day one and at least fill one of the holes along the offensive line.
April 8th, 2015 at 5:56 pm
joes quote:Lovie has not had success building a strong O-line during his career.
that was very obvious last year. from what I have seen this offseason it is true again this September.
IF the bucs draft a QB he better get used to the taste of the grass at Raymond james stadium.
he will be saying this turf tastes good with a touch of salt!
April 8th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Celly Says:
April 8th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
Like i said in another thread:
The Saints have proven year after year that you can mask “not-so-good” tackle play with a solid interior group.
Whoever is rated higher on your draft board when you pick 2nd, whether its tackle or guard, you take him. No need to put one on the pedestal over the other.
Trust your board.
I agree with you Celly. It’s too easy to over-think simple decisions. The simple decision is to draft the highest guy on your board particularly if the draft pick fills a position of need. We need guard and tackle and one could argue that we need a center as well although I personally think that EDS is better than the credit he’s given. A center can look real bad if he has to overcome poor guard play. In recent years we wanted to draft the man wearing the “C” on his uniform. Guys like Mark Barron etc. Sure, great character guys that may have captained their Collegiate teams but really never amounted to much on the field. It’s time to start letting the players’ talent do the deciding.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:45 pm
To me this makes FSU’s Cam Erving that much more valuable. He played LT then moved to center and would probably bring a comfort level to Fameis.
He’s versatile and is expected to be there when we draft. Grab him.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Jameis is gonna need those quick legs and chubby physique to last the season. Get used to hearing the phrase “3 and out” folks. Without an o-line (and, therefore, no running game), Koetter and Jameis are going to have to get creative.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:51 pm
What the Fu*k!! Got message saying my answer was wrong, and Spam???
Move to friggin Russia Over night, Joe?
Didn’t have any obscenities or iinsults
April 8th, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Right Cosell. Left tackles aren’t important.
That’s way they draft all those Centers in the top 10- right?
Riiiight
April 8th, 2015 at 10:33 pm
If they come up with 2 or 3 good young linemen this draft, plus our QB, it’s a success. I hope they trade away all the lower round picks, and get A LT, Then Guard, then center. FSU has two good guards in this draft- plus Erving at Center. Trade the lower picks, Glennon and Martin. End up with 2 first and two second. Get your QB and 3 stud linemen- shake hands, go for drinks.
Let’s keep Jameis alive, and with a running game. Or Mariotaever- which ever.
Then give him protection and a running game. Period.
WeLl make do with FAs on everything else this year- and fix’em next year.
First, you gotta have a QB and O-line. That’s the first priority.
Let’s do that now.
April 9th, 2015 at 9:00 am
Antiquated is a good word to describe the Lovie/Licht regime.