Starting Rookies = Dread?
July 20th, 2015
Bucs rookie LT Donovan Smith posing with fellow Penn State product, the fetching Colleen Wolfe of NFL Now.
Yes, Bucs fans have little fingernails left, as they have been gnawing them and sweating over the very real possibility the Bucs will start three rookies on offense this year.
Then again, those three likely rookies, “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, left tackle Donovan Smith and right guard Ali Marpet, are an upgrade over the drek that played those positions last year.
Over the weekend, impossibly-cute Colleen Wolfe of NFL Now had alarm bells ringing in her head when she Twittered how the Pats may have a second-year quarterback and two rookie offensive linemen.
Joe thought that was nothing compared to the Bucs.
@JoeBucsFan Oh yeah. WAY more wildcards on the Bucs. Could be the changes they’ve needed or an ugly learning curve to witness.
— Colleen Wolfe (@ColleenWolfeNFL) July 17, 2015
Does Joe expect growing pains with the three? How could there not be? Again, Joe still thinks they will be upgrades from 2014.
Turnover-prone Josh McClown played like a spastic Labrador puppy and pulled stunts that would get a freshman high school quarterback benched. Anthony Collins was, for all intents and purposes, run off the team in early December. And Joe never got the impression Bucs fans clamored for the return of Oniel Cousins, or wanted Patrick Omameh to start another 16 games at right guard this year.
July 20th, 2015 at 11:36 am
Then again, those three likely rookies, “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, left tackle Donovan Smith and right guard Ali Marpet, are an upgrade over the drek that played those positions last year.
Amen Joe! And these UPGRADES will be working with an actual professinal NFL OC! Potentially awesome receiving corps if ME doesn’t have too bad a sophomore slump, ASJ blossoms as does Sims out of the backfield. Toss in Bell and it’s getting pretty effing exciting.
But yes I get that the two rookies are wild cards as is the hoped for improved play from Mankins and Smith. And yes the greatest receiving corps on earth is useless if their QB spends his day on his butt.
But I end with where we started. They are UPGRADES! YEAH. 10-6 baby!
July 20th, 2015 at 11:47 am
Dotson / Allen / E. Smith / Mankins / D. Smith
Sorry 87 but I’m not sure Marpet is ready yet maybe by mid-season or next year. Plus I’m sure he may have to step in before he’s ready should there be an injury. Let’s not forget that Dotson may possibly hold out for more money.
Don’t really matter! You can stick the cheerleaders out there to block for jaboo and he’ll still out play “he who shall not be named”.
July 20th, 2015 at 11:47 am
I will be very interested to see how Koetter will run his 4 vert offense. From Atlanta’s offense the past couple of years it leaves the O-line very isolated!! Throw in the number of rookies learning, questionable RB group, And the whole offense learning the offense this year ( “it takes time” says lovie ) There is a lot to be worried about!!!!
July 20th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
She is pretty damn cute!
July 20th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Not to rain on anyone’s parade but, how do we know that they’re upgrades before playing a single down? I get it, it’s hard to be worse but the reality of it is these are rookies.
The title should read, “Starting Rookies= Tempered expectations”.
We should be better with Koetter alone. If these rookies perform, that’s gravy!
July 20th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Joe, your RSS feeds are corrupt.
July 20th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
“t’s gonna be on koetters offensive plan to make sure glennon, our starting QB, gets the ball out fast enough. Glennon has the tools, just needs a good system.”
—–
LMAO, someone is very delusional.
July 20th, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Starting three rookies on offense? The downfall or downward spiral last year was the combination of McClown-Collins-Cousins-Omemah-Gilkey. Everyone says the Buccaneers have no depth at OL? Pamphile-Omameh-Gilkey-Allen-Edwards-Fregal-Coughman. Pamphile is about the only back-up I would have any faith in as a starter and his numbers last year when he played were shakey at best. Go with the players with the most talent and upside which is D Smith-Mankins-E Smith-Marpet-Dotson. Pro Football Focus had an article which discussed how rookie OT struggle in their first year. Since PFF began tacking on average a rookie OT taken in the first round would score a -2.8 in their first year. Players drafted in the 2nd or 3rd rounds had an average score of -2.1 in their first year. Anthony Collins score was -12.9. Oniel Cousins score -21.0. Patrick Omameh -10.8. Garrett Gilkey -9.5. Get the picture? On average our rookies should have a much better production rate than the players they are replacing this year.
July 20th, 2015 at 8:28 pm
Bucsfanman
Feel free to rain on our parade. You’re just trying to keep us in check. I’m outta control because of all the good things that have happened this offseason and the absence of the good things that happened for N.O., and Carolina…again Atlanta still scares me…I feel like they are a lot like us…don’t keep up with the Dixie Chicks to know much specifics but if they’ve repaired their OL and tightened up the defense..they could be tough. They are the only team in our division with receivers as good or perhaps even better than ours and Matty Ice is a proven commodity. Just like us if the Falcons keep Ryan upright and their receivers healthy they could be a load.
July 20th, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Given the PFF scores we need to start Dotson at LT and let Smith battle our second year OT, Pampile, for RT duties. Remember with Dotson inserted at LT is when our muscle hamster started looking like his old self last year. He already has chemistry with Mankins who will be much better this year! EDS was a Guard pressed into playing Center only one year for Green Bay but he was not good last year. So move him back to Guard and let him compete with Edwards for awhile and if Smith isn’t blocking DEs well enough, try him with them at RG. Our Hobart phenom played Center very well in the Senior Bowl. Try him at starting Center. Bet he won’t roll the ball back and also can pull on running plays like crazy and he is very smart and will pick up the rest fast. And no one will bull rush him. He’ll keep the pocket open for Winston to step up during outside blitzes.
July 20th, 2015 at 10:06 pm
WS99
Haha with Jameis’ reputation with women I dont think they’ll have him going up under a cheerleader at center. But if they did, based on that swimsuit calendar they put out a couple days ago, thats one lucky sob
July 22nd, 2015 at 8:19 am
We really need to sign Dotson to that extension he wants and put him at Left tackle instead of the rookie. Let Donovan play on the right in a rotation split with Pamphile. That scenario would make the most sense to me and I think once the bucs have played a game or two in preseason they should see it that way as well. I think once Marpet gets game reps in preseason games he will be ready to start at right guard since the vet Mankins is on the left. I think he and Dotson will be great veterans protecting the blind side for the rookie plus the vets can contribute on weak side run plays like draws or counters.