Can “The Pied Piper” Barbecue?
May 1st, 2015
New Bucs guard Ali Marpet
We all know the real problem with the dreadful Buccaneers offensive line last year was the lack of a good barbecue venue. Former All-Pro guard Logan Mankins made that clear.
But perhaps brand new Bucs rookie guard Ali Marpet, out of Division III Hobart, can conquer that challenge.
TheMMQB.com penned a feature on Marpet and dove into how he was a leader of men while training with other top college prospects for the NFL Scouting Combine.
The next two years couldn’t have played out any better if they were scripted. He was a conference co-MVP as a senior, never allowing a sack, then the Senior Bowl—a coup—then the combine. In between his final game and the combine, he trained with Chip Smith and former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Bob Whitfield in Atlanta, and blew the veteran coaches away.
“I’m in my 26th year doing this, and I was a little skeptical,” Smith says. “He came here, and it was like he was a sponge, physically and mentally. He went from 290 to 310, and he went from 20 bench reps to 30 in a matter of months. We immediately started seeing him improving every day, in his strength, technique, everything. He was the Giddy up and go, and we were theWhoa.”
As far as the other rookies could tell, Marpet might as well have been a D-I All-American. Smith observed the SEC’s finest prospects gravitating toward Marpet, hanging on his every word.
“When Ali walks in the room, he’s like the pied piper,” Smith says.
Marpet was quite a college student, too. So perhaps he can figure out how to organize those important team-building barbecues.
Man, Joe is pulling for this kid. What a story out of Division III. But Joe, for now, has a knot in his stomach that the Bucs passed on battle-tested standout South Carolina guard A.J. Cann.
May 1st, 2015 at 9:50 pm
This kid was dynamite at the senior bowl, so that mitigates my level-of-competition concerns. Really hope he can shore up that RG spot.
May 1st, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Love the pick. Will have a HUGE chip on his shoulder and has something to prove for ALL D3 players. He will be hungry to succeed.
May 1st, 2015 at 9:56 pm
Guess what? WE DRAFT OFFENSIVE LINEMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get ready for a brand new look at O line and QB. We’re moving in the right direction now!
Man Im stoked with these first 3 picks!
May 1st, 2015 at 9:57 pm
I’m getting so tired of reading that boring old barbecue rant I’m about ready to quit reading this site.
So old, so repetitive, so tired and now so boring.
Like listening to the same dirty limerick three times a day, seven days in a row.
May 1st, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Yea wouldve liked cann. Or tjc from pitt. But this guy could be great for our team ill be rooting for him
May 1st, 2015 at 10:01 pm
After reading this I can see why the bucs traded up for him, they must have felt strongly that he wouldn’t be there at the top of the 3rd. He certainly sounds good and the video I watched showed him as agile and athletic and having the ability to play anywhere along the line. Sounds good to me.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:11 pm
love these picks so far joe. oline as of right now id put as: rt dotson, rg hobart pride, c eds, lg mankins, lt smith. thats already much improved from last year. lets go! maybe get a pass rusher rd 4. louisville de lorenzo mauldin, fsu pj williams or why not rashaad greene for poops and giggles anyone?
May 1st, 2015 at 10:15 pm
These picks are crazy high when u can get the fit another round. I just heard with the next pick, they are taking Jameis cousin Tae Tae. Again. Sucks with some of these comments but people are saying these are great picks. Yah they are but a round or two later. Licht has not been to hard rock. No poker face. Like the Olin e effort. Just wow
May 1st, 2015 at 10:18 pm
I’ll bet money Lovie will be looking for his return specialist with the next pick. See Jamison Crowder Duke.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Omg this guy is a slam dunk! Just read stuff about him on nfl.com he is a beast!
May 1st, 2015 at 10:31 pm
Im done! Im happy! Dont get me wrong, I wanted Landon Collins, but he was gone first pick today. They can do whatever with the rest of the picks, and Im still happy.
WR Deandre Smelter would be a nice late rounder though. He’ll have time for his injury to heal and if he gets back to 100%, you’re looking at Vjax’s replacement.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:33 pm
Bird Says:
“I just heard with the next pick, they are taking Jameis cousin Tae Tae.”
Lmao.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:33 pm
I’m hoping for safety (Amos) or LB (Heeney)
May 1st, 2015 at 10:41 pm
LOL…see you tomorrow.
May 2nd, 2015 at 12:04 am
Great job of addressing needs. Very happy with Draft so far.
And still 5 picks to go. Hope they pick up another guard/center for depth.
Logan still has a year or two( or more). But sure wouldn’t hurt to rotate him once in a while. Keep him fresh, while getting backup some experience.
Counting on Logan to pull this line together. Will take time. If we don’t trade Glennon tomorrow( think we will), then we should let him start first 4 or 5 games. Let line Jell before we throw Jameis behind them.
May 2nd, 2015 at 12:30 am
So, if SEA or NE was going to draft this guy (how would we know that?), then maybe we did well. It seems like a reach when you see the evaluations of him, but I’m not the expert. I hope our coaches are. Here’s hoping we actually pulled one off under the eyes of the big boys!
May 2nd, 2015 at 7:42 am
I saw Vince Wilfork got himself a big azz BBQ smoker when he got to Houston. Maybe there is something to this BBQ thing! How could it not be? There’s no better way to bond than drinking some beers and eating some awesome food out in the sun.