Three Healthy Guards With No Experience
September 4th, 2015
Jason Licht needs to find the next Ted Larsen in a hurry
Before Garrett Gilkey suffered a significant injury last night, Joe wrote a story about how general manager Jason Licht must jump all over guards that hit waivers on Saturday.
But now things have reached crisis mode.
Surely, the Bucs won’t enter regular-season play with all the backup guards still on the roster, guard/center Jeremiah Warren, Matthew Masifilo and Kadeem Edwards. Combined, those three guys have zero regular-season experience at the position. And none have really impressed in preseason at guard.
That’s a recipe for disaster with a rookie out of Division III starting, Ali Marpet, and a 33-year-old veteran with chronic knee problems, Logan Mankins.
Ironically, last year’s 16-game starter at right guard, Patrick Omameh, is on the roster but Lovie Smith proclaimed him a tackle only. (Makes you wonder how he lasted 16 games at guard last year?)
Frankly, this is where general managers earn their money. Injuries happen. Guys don’t pan out in training camp. Experience matters. Licht knows the drill — he lived it last year at guard and with the virgin center — and can’t repeat the same mistakes.
Joe hasn’t studied up on soon-to-be cut guards, but the Bucs sure have. Just the pick the right guy, fellas.
The next Ted Larsen is out there! Larsen, for those who forgot, was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2010. He was among their final cuts and former rockstar general manager Mark Dominik snagged him. He started 11 games that season for a 10-6 Bucs team that featured a punishing running game.
O-line depth, barring a miracle, is always critical.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
as apparently our GM is an AC/DC fan, I imagine that he is listening to this one all day long !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDCs7ijNUVM
September 4th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Finding Ted Larson was Mark Dominik’s greatest accomplishments…
Now if you have a few hours time let me know I will list all of Mark Dominik’s failures…
September 4th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Well said joe, totally agree
September 4th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Didn’t Red Larson lead the league in false starts that year also
September 4th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
*Ted
September 4th, 2015 at 12:58 pm
To think some Bucfans who are calling for the Bucs to cut Mankins in order to save the Glaziers 7 million.
Actually Matthew Masifilo has graded out well this preseason.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Espn reporting that Bowers was cut.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Stainglassman- Also, awesome Anthony Collins graded out fantastic in 2013 as a backup left tackle. … you pencil pushing wanna-be gms amuse me
September 4th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Sounds bad, but I actually cheered when Garrett Gilkey went down. Now, if only Evans would too.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
@Larry
I predicted it in another article. lol.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bucs will go with Kyle Brindza as their kicker.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
The Seattle Seahawks are gripping right now over their own OL problems.
OTHER teams have major issues just like us. Yes this is a challenge. It’s not insurmountable. Take a deep breath guys. Everywhere in the NFL right now it’s the same…this needs improvement or that needs improvement.
Here is a challenge for all of you negative nellies. Name an NFL team that isn’t worried about some aspect of their team. Is there really a team that is perfect?
I’d feel good about my teams prospects if I cheered for Seattle, Green Bay, N.E. Kansas City and then ???? You can add a few teams. I thought that Dallas would be a real contender with that rebuilt great OL. They went 1-3..worse than us. Should I give up on them? My childhood team the Bengals went 3-1 I guess my cousins are feeling great about making the playoffs.
This is NOT just about us. It’s also about our competition.
PS records in our division
Atlanta 2-2 same as us..N.O. WINLESS…Carolina 3-1. Six games against real world beaters!! (snark font off)
September 4th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Colts once lost all their preseason games and then won 11 straight. Preseason is NOT a good measuring stick.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
With so many teams needing OL, there is going to be a lot of competition out there for players.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
It’s not about the PS record it a about the performance on the field. Although we won on the score board we lost on the field. Another backup slicing up the secondary and a rookie RB (who I like very much) running the ball down our throats. Gotta do better than that come week 1.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Chris Conte is gone.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
BuccaneerBonzai … “Sounds bad, but I actually cheered when Garrett Gilkey went down. Now, if only Evans would too.
If it sounds bad, that’s because it is.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
Eric- Is GMC a pencil pushing GM too? He keeps bringing up the Masifio’s name to point out how quickly he is transitioning from DL to OL and mentioning the guy’s strength. I’ll take his word and the leading NFL player publication evaluator who employs 28 former coach/scout/Gms with 750 years experience in NFL coaching experience over one of the Erics on JBF message board.
All I’m saying is maybe the Bucs should keep him around to see how he develops because so far hes shown some promise.
We’re all Bucs fans here with our own opinions. No need for the hate.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Surprised they cut Greene he has looked so good.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
Bucs traded for G Andy Levitre Former titian 2nd rd pick now playing with Alt.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Opps misread that last one. He got (Andy Levitre) traded to ATL Bucs missed out on him. It was under some Bucs news not sure why.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
If they deem Glennon expendable, I’d take a flyer on Barkley if Chip cuts him.
What’s the deal Moffitt? Chip already let him go. Can he help the guard situation?
September 4th, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Love & WD
Arron Murray looked pretty impressive in the game I watched him in this preseason too. I do like Seth L. as well I hope they put him on the PS. Glennon looked pretty bad last night.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:32 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai you are sick in the head actually cheering for someone when they get hurt. Whether you like the man as a football player for this team or not, you should never cheer when someone gets injured. Pathetic, man…
September 4th, 2015 at 2:34 pm
@Stan
Do you think they would cut Murray. Bray is on IR.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:43 pm
@ Joe Cool
My thoughts exactly
September 4th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Maybe not I didn’t look at their depth chart. I only notice he was in late in the game so I thought he maybe available. I wanted the Bucs to take him late in the draft a few years ago and I’m glad to see hes doing well.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
I’ve been looking for a site that has a watch list of the good players who could potential be cut. I’d like to read up on some of the DE, OL . I know the Bengals and Cowboys are going to be cutting some good players on OL.
Where is LUVMYBUCS when you need him?
September 4th, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Stanglassman, Brandon Dixon, Khaseem Greene, so far. But more surprise cuts is on the way.
September 4th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Don’t forget Bowers and Barth.
You got any OL and DE to keep an eye out for on the wire?
Someone mentioned Lawrence Okoye DE niners cut.
September 4th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
Wow… Gerold McCoy traded to New England for a fourth round pick… That’s a surprise…
September 4th, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Ted Larsen went to Palm Harbor High School. Dom didn’t have to look that far to find him.
September 4th, 2015 at 3:12 pm
I know TB is set at DT, but, the Texans cut Louis Nix. He was great for the Irish. Might be worth a look.
Also Matt Shaughnessy is out there. He has a Licht connection via Arizona I believe.
September 4th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Lol… JUst kidding…
Bust seriously, Kenny Bell is on IR…
September 4th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
I’m waiting for some DEs to hit the wire, I like our o-line.
September 4th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Why not give Dan Connolly a shot? One of the things with OLine is them getting playing time together so at least him and Mankins would have experience with each other
September 4th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
Ive got a better name than Larsen, Lets hope Marpet turns out to be the next Dan Benning. In 2005 that 4th round draft pick at guard out of Wisconsin paved the way for Cadillac Williams rookie season and gave Chris Simms time to throw.
September 4th, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Forget depth we need some new starters on that o-line.
September 4th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Track all roster cuts
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000518343/article/nfl-roster-cuts-tracker
September 4th, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Perhaps a Cliff Matthews out of ATL… Looks to be about the only DE with an upside worth some wishful thinking at the moment… But I have no idea really
September 4th, 2015 at 8:05 pm
Licht better find a good ol guy. Or he’s screwed this year up already. Forget about pulling a good de off waivers. Nobody’s gonna give up a pass rusher. Those guys are precious. Just look at bucs starters.
September 4th, 2015 at 10:43 pm
I get that Lovie wants to get all of his pressure from the front four. And as they say people in hell all want ice water.
This is another challenge to Lovie’s flexibility. LVD had ONE sack last year. He had SEVEN sacks the year before when Schiano cut him loose. Kwon has pretty much the same skill set as LVD while playing the middle.
Remember how many sacks Ronde got playing in the “Tampa 2”
I’m Mr positive but I just don’t see us running out behind One Buc and pulling a DE off the DE tree. All teams want a great DE. We’re going to have to wait until next year’s draft.
That doesn’t mean we can’t generate pressure. LVD, Kwon, Banks coming off the corner…one of our safeties…I’m not the DC but clearly we’re not going to have a great DE this year and so we’ll simply need some creativity to get our pressure.
September 5th, 2015 at 12:55 am
There will be some signings and waiver claims Saturday and sunday