If NFL Offensive Lines Stink…
September 2nd, 2015
If NFL offensive lines are really as bad as some believe, then Lovie should be able to develop a pass rush, no?
Yes, yesterday, Joe brought word from various sources that the Bucs may not be nearly as bad on the offensive line as some believe after watching the jailbreak that was the Cleveland pass rush Saturday.
For example, spreadsheeters of Pro Football Focus contend the Bucs are no worse than sixth-worst during this preseason along the offensive line, without factoring the Bucs started two rookies (who will only improve) and camp meat (who won’t start in the regular season).
Then, prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports contended NFL offensive line play across the board this preseason has been putrid.
Joe agrees with all of the above. It is just that we are so hyper-focused on the Bucs, we sometimes live in a cocoon and don’t notice what is going on with other clubs.
However, if offensive line play is so rotten across the board, then it is high time the Bucs put heat on opposing quarterbacks.
Joe knows the Bucs didn’t go after a defensive end high in the draft so they could secure America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, and try to shore up the porous offensive line. As Jason Licht said when the draft concluded, you can only fill so many holes in one draft.
Licht was correct, and the Bucs still tried to find lightning in a bottle by acquiring defensive end George Johnson.
Still, if offensive lines are really this bad, then there is no more excuse(s) for the Bucs allowing opposing quarterbacks to read “War and Peace” in the pocket without getting flushed every friggin’ week.
C’mon Lovie, you are supposed to be a defensive guru. It’s your defense now. You are calling the shots. If you have to blitz linebackers, then so be it. Crutches and excuses are starting to wear thin.
September 2nd, 2015 at 5:50 am
@Joe … “If offensive line play is as rotten across the board as many claim it is, then it is high time the Bucs start showing some heat on opposing quarterbacks.”
Agree 100%. We obviously don’t have the gazelles at DE to get pressure on the QBs rapidly, but see no reason for not blitzing more. Without it, the Tampa 2 is very predictable. We’re quite good against the run, but our coverage simply isn’t good enough to keep from letting the other team dink-and-dunk their way down the field and control the clock. Opposing QB completion rates are ridiculous (McCown 74%?) as are 3rd down conversion rates. Winning the time-of-possession and turnover battles seem to be the keys for the Bucs.
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:01 am
God morning Joe,
Way to come out swinging this morning, atta baby!
Lovie is a defensive guru, and we need to turn up the heat via blitz if necessary. No more excuses, just win baby!
9-7 this year only matches Schiano’s two year win total (11).
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:18 am
Lovie should be able to do a lot of things, after all, he is a head coach in the NFL, but the only thing he’s given a lot of is losses……
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:22 am
You can’t squeeze blood from a rock, and you’re not getting a lot of sacks from this front 4. It’s just not good enough. Lovie needs to break from his philosophy of expecting the front 4 to generate pressure because this group won’t do it enough to be successful. More blitzes with corners and linebackers are needed. Whatever they need to do to get pressure this year – DO IT!
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:25 am
Not for nothing but lets say you can’t get a pass rush with your front four, there is no where it says you need to keep banging that same ol gag that lovie is trying to feed us, the seahawks, falcons, jaguars have incoporated multiple blitz packages into their defenses which are run off a base tampa 2……and if lovie isnt getting heat then he is cheating his team to do the best they can do…..hint: UNLEASH LVD on the QB LOVIE
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:32 am
And speaking of blizing linebackers, remember when Lavonte David use to get sacks.
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:36 am
I want Schoano back, at least they played hard for him.
September 2nd, 2015 at 7:58 am
Too much reaction to PRACTICE GAMES of little interest to coaches other than to evaluate players at the bottom of the roster. There is no game-planning and most teams don’t want to put anything but vanilla plays on tape. Indianapolis went 0-4 in preseason last year and the Giants went 5-0. The Buccaneers may stink this year again but it won’t be because they played poorly against Cleveland. And they may be vastly improved but not because they dominated Cincinnati. Relax. The most tell-tale signs are which players get picked up off the waiver wire.
September 2nd, 2015 at 8:44 am
A lot of defensive ends got cut. One would think that at least one of those could be an improvement…
September 2nd, 2015 at 8:48 am
You hit the nail on the head Joe. Now we will see if anybody is listening. Lovie knows defense, so it’s said.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:08 am
I wouldn’t send David to blitz- I’ll keep him in coverage, his strength – I’ll straight out send Alexander whose reputation as a hard hitter is rising- maybe that will scare them a bit.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:11 am
Thinking about it, I would send Jenkins to blitz since the receivers can’t get anymore open then what they are already might as well send an extra body to see if he can at least make them rush a bit
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:39 am
SteveK:
Thank you sir, and a belated good day to you as well.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:22 am
We actually do have gazelles at DE rushing the passer. They are all extremely fast. It turns out though that gazelles can’t run through elephants
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:28 am
then there is no more excuse(s) for the Bucs allowing opposing quarterbacks to read “War and Peace” in the pocket without getting flushed every friggin’ week.
We’re looking at YOU GMC!!!! Get er done!
@Louis Friend…..YES! We all know that Lovie’s D is predicated on getting the pressure from the front four. He doesn’t like to blitz. But again he might just change this year. He TOTALLY flipped his old defense and don’t worry about offense. If he can draft a QB with off field issues #1 to get a franchise QB…then sign an OC who is famous for tossing the football..4 vertical…and spend two years worth of top draft choices on offense he’s shown that he can change.
I’m hopeful that given the incredible athletes we now have at LB he’ll figure a way to free them up and let them blitz. If he can change on offense he can change on defense.
September 2nd, 2015 at 4:42 pm
I believe my eyes, and they’re telling me that the Bucs offensive line is in the bottom third of the league. Two rookies, with one from a Division 3 school. Mankins is way past his prime and ought to retire. Smith is average at best. Dotson is injured and the backup is fresh off the scrap heap and recovering from injury himself. I’m not sure any one of those players could start for any of the playoff teams from last year.