No O-Line Dumpster Diving
May 31st, 2015
A Bucs team insider explains
Yes, the offensive line was so bad last year, a Bucs fan could have yacked on his living room carpet and his wife wouldn’t have blown a gasket because she likely was in the bathroom with a finger down her throat, too.
The blocking was pathetic, embarrassing and shameful coming from a lot of men cashing checks for such a job. As a result, Bucs fans, seemingly, are willing to take anyone’s trash instead of what the Bucs have on their roster.
No, these fans are not sold on the notion put out by some that barbecue pitmaster Logan Mankins is reborn, that Evan Smith is competent, that a rookie left tackle is Tra Thomas and that another rookie ofensive lineman is the steal of the draft, despite playing glorified high school football in Division-III.
Therefore, Bucs fans are pouncing on NFL trash — let go in May no less! — because they are not convinced the offensive line is improved.
A Bucs fan, via an ESPN mailbag, asked Pat Yasinskas why the Bucs are turning their nose up castoffs like Dan Connelly, Justin Blalock and Chris Chester.
@PatYazESPN: There are reasons why those guys are available. They all are on the downside of their careers. The Bucs are committed to building their offensive line through the draft. They picked tackle Donovan Smith and guard Ali Marpet in the second round this year. They also drafted Kevin Pamphile and Kadeem Edwards last year. The Bucs are confident a couple of those young players will step up.
Joe had a cool chat last week with a well-plugged in man who works inside the walls of One Buc Palace. (Joe is saving his favorite story for tomorrow morning.) The offensive line came up and this source said if the Bucs were to pick up stiffs off the street, that’s no upgrade from Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet, and those stiffs would take away valuable snaps in practice and preseason from various young guys the Bucs want to develop. They don’t believe there is any upside bringing in old slugs.
So don’t expect the Bucs, barring injuries, to go dumpster diving for offensive linemen.
May 31st, 2015 at 10:07 am
Im ok with this but how about some dumpster diving for DE before toe touches leather this yr. Any word or thoughts on DEs that may be available Joe?
May 31st, 2015 at 10:08 am
Yack yack yacking it up. Good things can be found dumpster diving, valuable things. Decent O line prospects, not so much. But hey, one teams trash is another teams treasure, or possibly a part time fill in.
May 31st, 2015 at 10:10 am
This is the only way we find out what we have and need.
With Koetter, there will be a my way or the highway.
May 31st, 2015 at 10:16 am
I disagree! If that stiff Adrian Slowborn did not get injured. They would not have found J Smith who clearly was the better player. The correct answer is ” we are a 2-14 team, we will look at every possibility to get better.”
May 31st, 2015 at 10:18 am
The Bucs are going Incognito!
May 31st, 2015 at 10:30 am
I’m a Bucs fan. I put tile in my livingroom so the vomits an easy clean.
May 31st, 2015 at 11:16 am
@ meh. You’re a smart man. I’ve also protected myself by placing several nerf balls by my side during games. Throwing things has a lot less impact now. Unlike Joe, I have no problem hitting my TV with the remote so I have to keep the remote out of sight during games. Think positive thoughts: Tampa Bay Lightning. There we go.
May 31st, 2015 at 11:40 am
The “Warthogs” will do just fine next season.
May 31st, 2015 at 11:50 am
Just imagine if Doug Martin can bounce back and these DE can checkout. Tampa can take a WR and OL in the first and second rounds next year and just really build a great offense. Vincent Jackson isn’t gonna get any younger and I believe that if you can’t score points, then you have no chance to win. CB and S can be found later in drafts.
May 31st, 2015 at 12:03 pm
@PA
I don’t disagree that a very competent offense is needed but when you look at the successful teams in this league, they are sound in the trenches. The Bucs have gotten manhandled in the trenches the last decade. Our last solid D Line and at least competent O Line really goes back to the SB team. It’s hard to have a lot of confidence in a few rookies on the O Line and our DE’s are unknown. We seem DT strong and DE weak. Let’s just hope Melton and others can contribute on the end. Our lines are very much our weakness and I’m frankly shocked that L & L didn’t address DE. With that said, I remain hopeful. I really think Marpet can be a mauler and immediately boost our running game. The concern I have is all the harping on Donovan Smith being apt to take plays off. In the NFL, you can’t have that. He’s got the skill-set, we have to hope he also has the motivation.
May 31st, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Watched penn st vs Ohio st and penn st vs Nebraska (’12+’14) last night. Donovan Smith made the DEs for those squads invisible non factors all game. Hes like the Great Wall. I did notice that he stops blocking after 4 seconds or after the play should be dead or executed but I’m sure that can be coached up. I don’t think its laziness I think it more like “alright the ball should be thrown by now” type thing.
Either way I’m thinking of a great nickname for him. Right now im going to call him “Allstate” cuz he’s as big as Rhode Island and I think we’re in good if not great hands. Side note: Kenny Bell made cameo appearance with a few splash plays including a 90y kickoff return for TD. I’m loving our rookie class.
May 31st, 2015 at 12:54 pm
As long as Donovan Smith does not give up the second most sacs like Donald Penn did in 2013, then we will finally have improved the LT position!
May 31st, 2015 at 1:04 pm
I still think they may pick up a veteran OL guy in the next several weeks. For depth, if nothing else. We’ll see.
May 31st, 2015 at 1:27 pm
So this is what Barry’s been up to.
Nice pic Joe.
May 31st, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Depth depth depth. What if one of the. Goes down. Then what do we do. Why not get a few quality bodies
May 31st, 2015 at 2:29 pm
If the right player is available they will pick them up.
Especially if it is someone they had interest in in the draft and they get cut.
I am not saying they will start but it will improve their depth.
May 31st, 2015 at 2:57 pm
How smart is it to turn our nose at good backup OL that we need for depth but instead keep the worst OL we’ve ever had as a reserve this year? I am afraid that WarFLOP is telling his OC that we don’t need any more OL so he can protect his Brownie Pet who is as incompetent as WarFLOP himself.
May 31st, 2015 at 3:46 pm
*Snap Count (2014)
Offensive line:
• Anthony Collins: 580
• Logan Mankins: 856
• Evan Dietrich-Smith: 881
• Patrick Omameh: 851
• Demar Dotson: 922
Reserves: Oniel Cousins 319, Garrett Gilkey 188, Kevin Pamphile 109, Josh Allen 44. Note: Kadeem Edwards 0</em
May 31st, 2015 at 4:11 pm
It’s called experince. And in the NFL, it’s priceless.
You basically have Rookies backed up by rookies.
Just reminds us, that these are the same guys that brought us Collins and Cousins, then told us to relax- they were the professionals!
How’d that turn out? They realized we were right-panicked- and brought in a great player- who had no time to adjust or learn the playbook- and tossed him in as a starter.
You guys blew it last year- because you didn’t listen to me. This year, pay attention!!
You don’t need starters. Sign a couple older vets – with positive attitudes- to fill in a few plays- and provide depth and guidance.
Cheap hires, with priceless experience.
Otherwise,you got rookies advising Rookies.
Good luck, Jameis
May 31st, 2015 at 4:42 pm
I love that caption
May 31st, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Release
• Logan Mankins LG: $7,000,000
• Michael Koenen P : $3,250,000
Rumored to be traded or released
• Alex Boone RG $3,740,000
• Evan Mathis LG $5,500,000
• Kraig Urbik LG $2,200,000
(Projection)
• LT Donovan Smith | Kevin Pamphile
• LG Evan Mathis | Kraig Urbik
• C Evan Smith | Ali Marpet
• RG Alex Boone | Patrick Omameh
• RT Demar Dotson
Note: If Cincinnati Bengals release (2014 UDFA) C/G Trey Hopkins. Get’em
Practice Squad:
• C Josh Allen
• OG Kadeem Edwards
• OL Garrett Gilkey
• OL Edawn Coughman
May 31st, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Smart move by our Bucs.
May 31st, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Joes talking to someone “plugged in”! I didn’t know he knew Jaws!
May 31st, 2015 at 9:45 pm
We might as well developmour own we are going to be lucky to win 5 games