Look To Carolina For O-Line Hope
August 1st, 2015
Bucs fans are agonizing at the state of the Tampa Bay offensive line. The thought of starting two rookies, Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith, and returning disappointing starters Evan Smith, Logan Mankins and Demar Dotson, has fans searching for Valium.
But extreme worry might be a bit much.
After all, look at what the division champion Panthers trotted out in the second half of last season. It was an inexperienced and unimpressive group.
Here were their starters:
Byron Bell LT — Undrafted free agent out of New Mexico in fourth season
Andrew Norwell LG — Rookie undrafted free agent
Ryan Kalil C — Four-time Pro Bowler
Trai Turner RG — Rookie third-round pick, 92nd overall
Mike Remmers RT — Practice squad guy for five teams in three years, including Bucs (2012-2013). Started all of December for Panthers, plus playoffs.
For those keeping score, that’s two rookies rated far below Marpet and Smith, and a right tackle the Bucs didn’t want, plus a no-name left tackle.
In addition to having the NFLs 16th-ranked offense, the Panthers won a playoff game by running the ball down the Cardinals’ throat — 41 carries for 188 yards.
Joe’s only point here is that the Bucs’ O-line should be able to produce acceptable football this year. There’s no reason for a repeat performance of uninspired garbage. Joe’s not asking for miracles, just a decent well coached effort that doesn’t get the quarterback killed.
August 1st, 2015 at 11:56 am
Excellent point. Though I wonder what the same analysis would show for other decent teams. Our OL has a chance to be quite satisfactory, imo. I think we need to pick up one veteran OL guy for depth from the waiver wire – one of these days.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Maybe the problem is th O-line coach then?? Just a thought.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:16 pm
And they won “how many games?”, in a pi$$-poor division?
*IF* the division is as bad as last year, AND *IF* the new Buccaneer O-line plays as well as Carolina’s, then your prediction of six (6) wins would qualify for the over/under line.
I am certainly not reserving rooms in Santa Clara… until after the preseason gets me so hyped and hopeful that I cannot help it.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Rain, rain go away…or we’ll have no practice today….
August 1st, 2015 at 12:32 pm
A. We’ve got a a proven OC
B. JC will be much better than McClown
C. The Defense will gel
Mark It Down……..9-7 & good enough to win The Dirty South
August 1st, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Hope we don’t have a season like last…my liver can’t handle it…
August 1st, 2015 at 12:36 pm
@Joe,
I agree. It just can’t be overstated… we didn’t have an OC last year! That is HUGE!
Also, everyone seems to be down on Warhop. I was one of them. Koetter kept him on. I think partly due to their past working relationship in 94-95 at Boston College where Koetter was the OC and Warhop was line coach. They should have a better working relationship that last years Arroyo experiment. It should translate to better play on the field.
Mankins all 6 packed up has to help too. 🙂
GO BUCS!
August 1st, 2015 at 12:40 pm
@87,
Its a monsoon in N. St. Pete. I don’t recall this much rain day after day like this in my 16 yrs living here. Amazing down pours.
It’s past time for an indoor practice facility. The Glazers need to make it happen.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:41 pm
I can summarize the “reason” in two words…..George Warhop
August 1st, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Barring injuries I think the line will be ok. Ok is enough for now. Winston and turnovers will be the key to success.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:59 pm
I can’t reiterate it enough 2014 tank level output largely across the board,2015 go time output thru out the whole organization. You folks will notice a distinctive difference I assure you all.
August 1st, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Off topic, but another beautiful day in sunny Tampa! We really need an indoor practice facility. But hey, at least they will be well practiced at playing in the rain.
August 1st, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Inflatable practice facilities are available. The Lions had one outside the SilverDome about sixteen years ago. My wife and another electrician powered up the fans for it one year. It’s no good for kickers and punters but it works fine for everything else. I know they’re not cheap, but it would be worth whatever it cost to help the team.
August 1st, 2015 at 1:34 pm
The OL should be fine as long as Omameh and Gilkey do not end up starting or seeing substantial playing time. Now that Lovie has named Winston as the starter it is imperative that the starting members of the OL get as much time playing together to build teamwork, cohesiveness and learn blocking assignments. Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet need to be on the first team offense. I keep hearing people saying Marpet is not ready? The only way he is going to get ready is by practicing with the first team and experience playing in NFL games. I could see it if there was another player on the team who was better or had more potential but his competition is Garrett Gilkey Patrick Omameh and Kadeem Edwards.
August 1st, 2015 at 1:40 pm
I really DON’T think they are going to practice at ALL today. Take a look at the radar. Lots of thundering and lightning headed to Tampa. Practice is less than an hour away.
THIS IS STUPID. Pony up Glazers and build that indoor facility ASAP!
August 1st, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Let them practice in the rain, after all they may play in it for real games that count. Football is played in any weather, except lightning, practice should be also. I would think the players like the rain, it beats the hot sun beating down.
August 1st, 2015 at 2:18 pm
37…the downpours will surely lead to injuries on a field that’s already been saturated over the last week or so. It sucks but I’d rather them skip it all together at this point.
August 1st, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Joe said a mouthful in his last sentence, underline well coached. Which seems to be lacking in Tampa. ???
August 1st, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Cam Newton was sacked 38 times last year.
An Statistically Speaking (Across the Board) he had the worst season of his Pro Career. On the flip side neither Winston or Glennon will ever be as “athletically “gifted as Cam.
August 1st, 2015 at 3:52 pm
One cannot emphasize the damage done to the Bucs in ’14 with Tedford getting sick (I don’t blame him at all) and having a poor, inexperienced QB coach having to step in at OC for the season.
If any NFL DC KNOWS what play(s) a team is going to run, an offense with 5 All-Pros on the line won’t be worth a crap.
The greatest Buccaneer offseason acquisition was Koetter. By far.
August 1st, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Pats may be starting two rookie guards, why are we worried
August 1st, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Cam can keep those athletics gifts,I’ll take a pocket passer over a guy that is second to last in the entire league last season in passer efficiency of pass attempts 20 or more yards down field.
August 1st, 2015 at 4:52 pm
Rrs I’m sure some of these folks here are quite successful in their lives. But many of which have small football minds.
August 1st, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Joe you left’em stuck with this article bro. I can think of more than one screen name that has griped and complained about our o line play all off season. You point out how our division’s winning team had members of its line arguably worse than ours last season and all of a sudden I don’t see names. I wonder why???
August 1st, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Said:
“You point out how our division’s winning team…”
Not much of a ‘winner’. They didn’t even hit .500 in the worst division in the entire league. In fact, the Panthers would not have even been in second place in ANY other division. FOUR divisions had THIRD place teams with a better record.
Let us not shoot for being as good as Carolina. Let us shoot for being able to compete with the rest of the league. Their offensive line ‘may’ have been “arguably worse than ours”, but their offense (as a whole) was much better. I am hoping that the changes in the Buccaneer offense (coaches and players) will result in an improved season.
August 1st, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Great article. That shines light on coaching. And scheme this year no excuse
August 1st, 2015 at 8:02 pm
@Hawk
Let us not shoot for being as good as Carolina. Let us shoot for being able to compete with the rest of the league.
I’m almost with you bro. I say win the division this year and make the playoffs.
We’ll probably be one and done. Then we draft a few missing pieces and next year we are able to compete with the rest of the league. Fameis and the other young players will have a year more experience.
This year it’s 10-6 and one and done in the playoffs.
August 1st, 2015 at 8:55 pm
Gee Joe, maybe the Panthers were able to accomplish that because they had an extremely experienced and competent Offensive Coordinator who knew what he was doing. Do you think.
August 2nd, 2015 at 12:19 am
And now we have an experienced and competent Offensive CCoordinator and still some people don’t see that will make much of a difference. Boggles the mind