“Pro Bowl Potential”
August 12th, 2015
Pro Bowl in his future?
It isn’t often that Joe sees Mike Mayock go all wobbly at the knees over an NFL player — like Joe does when he remembers his now trashed poster of Rachel Watson.
But that is exactly what Mayock did when for Bucs rookie guard Ali Marpet.
Mayock, the NFL Network draft guru, was at One Buc Palace yesterday as NFL Network is going hardcore on the Bucs just like BSPN, all thanks to “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.
(Today, the pride of Seminole High School, Jeff Darlington, is broadcasting live at One Buc Palace.)
Yesterday, when asked about Marpet, Mayock couldn’t sing the praises of Marpet any louder.
“The revelation has been, and I feel the best story of the entire draft, not enough people talk about Ali Marpet, Division III from Hobart,” Mayock said. “He is the 61st pick in the draft, that is the highest a Division III player has ever gone in the draft.
“All the returns thus far in Tampa is the kid is special. He has Pro Bowl potential. And going up against the likes of Gerald McCoy daily in practice. He has held his own.”
Wow, that is high praise for a guy who hasn’t even taken a snap yet in a bloody preseason game. And Mayock doesn’t go out of his way like that to talk up some stiff.
If this doesn’t get you fired up for some Bucs football, not sure what will. It gets Joe worked up.
August 12th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
I have to see it to believe it, the line was easily the worst part of the team last year.
August 12th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
@joe this was the same guy who said Mark barrons floor was a pro bowl player and his ceiling was also pro bowl.
Hopefully market actually lives up to it.
August 12th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
despite what others (@ RealAss) will say, that is really nice to hear about a player on your team
August 12th, 2015 at 3:42 pm
Wow, I was pretty skeptical that he wasn’t “all that”, I guess I was wrong. GO BUCS!
August 12th, 2015 at 3:45 pm
I’ve been saying it since he was drafted. He’s going to be a stud on the OL for a long long time.
August 12th, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Love that he’s wearing Gruber’s old number
August 12th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Honestly Marpet holding his own with McCoy is probably one of the best things I’ve read about any of the players this offseason.
He was the gamble pick & a developmental prospect; and people should have expected that he would get tossed around a bit in camp and look uncomfortable; so the fact that he is already looking like a starting guard is freaking crazy and some of the best news we could get.
Kwon developing at MLB is awesome news as well with how well Lansanah has played
August 12th, 2015 at 4:08 pm
BUSTBUSTBUS
August 12th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Big reach, but I hope it works out or it’s gonna be another long season
August 12th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
holding your own against mccoy in board drills or one on ones is a good start but stunts and blitzes and pass protection at game speed will really show whats up
August 12th, 2015 at 4:23 pm
“Big reach, but I hope it works out or it’s gonna be another long season”
So your hope for the entire 2015 season rested on our late 2nd round D3 developmental OG pick lol?
I think our 2015 1st round pick may be more key to the final wins/losses but hey to each their own
August 12th, 2015 at 4:55 pm
its finally here!!!!!!!!! three short little days.
August 12th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
Cornelius- the 1st rounder ain’t gonna be a success if he’s on his butt the majority of the game…
Think about it bro
August 12th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Mongo will soon be a fan favorite here. And if he develops in a pro bowl type player he may end up being the best offensive draft pick (only behind winston I should say) we had in franchise history. The dude already looks like a beast. Let’s hope our wishes come true Bucs fan. Go Buccaneers!
August 12th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
man if our line can come together during the year and we can get a DE next year
and hit on another player or two. we can win some games
August 12th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
This guy is going to be a stud. He is a Michael Oher type player. He just put opponents on their butts in college. Yes, it was division III but this guy was a man among boys. His pro day and the combine were outstanding. He is just showing now that he was the real deal all along. He will be opening everyone’s eyes soon.
August 12th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
August 12th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
He was the gamble pick & a developmental prospect; and people should have expected that he would get tossed around a bit in camp and look uncomfortable; so the fact that he is already looking like a starting guard is freaking crazy and some of the best news we could get.
————————-
He was only a gamble and a prospect to the uneducated fan (not calling you uneducated). The truth is you do not draft a player in the 2nd round if he is going to be developmental. You use your 5th or 6th rounder for that. After the senior bowl, Marpet was giving a 2nd round grade by the scouts due to his performance against the top o-linemen in the country and the combine solidified his grade due to his strength, speed and athleticism. Fans heard Division 3 and panicked. The evaluators on the other hand were confident in their assessment of Marpet which made me comfortable and makes me comfortable he will be at least serviceable this year. But with every player, we have to wait and see.
August 12th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
This is the kind of player who won’t ever give up! I hope he is the real deal!!!!
August 12th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Fingers crossed for both Marpet and D. Smith to be good linemen. Pro Bowl level in either case would be a huge bonus.
August 12th, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Tampa Tony, you provide such amazingly astute insight, bro.
August 12th, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Yeah drdneast because he’s a pick made by Lovie some people up will not believe any of the good reviews this young kid is receiving. We could go 16 – 0 with a super bowl, he could go to the pro bowl but because of Lovie they will still say “Oh he’s still a D3 player! If Koetter becomes head coach then they’ll be happy.
August 12th, 2015 at 7:58 pm
But he did make a true point about our 1st rounder
August 12th, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Mongo for Pro Bowl then Madden All Decade Team Mongo ! Mongo! Mongo!!!!
August 12th, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Way to go Mongo,let’s get get get ittttt.
August 12th, 2015 at 9:17 pm
A yo David Whus good my dude?
August 12th, 2015 at 9:36 pm
“Wow, that is high praise for a guy who hasn’t even taken a snap yet in a bloody preseason game”
That comment would have been fine if he were talking about Bloody Jameis though.
August 12th, 2015 at 11:46 pm
David- if Lovie leads this team to 16-0 and a super bowl or heck even one super bowl I will name my next child after him. I’m not one of those loser fans who’d rather be right than see my team win. I love winning more than being right.
I’ll say it again, I hope I’m wrong about Lovie cus I hate losing. But after 1 season he’s done nothing to give me confidence in him.
August 13th, 2015 at 1:20 am
Marpet = X-Factor