Another Personnel Decision In The Spotlight
October 10th, 2015
A bizarre thing happened in Chicago last Sunday. On the third play of the game, the Bears lost their starting center.
Chicago’s left guard moved to center, and Patrick Omameh, the guy who started 16 games at right guard for Tampa Bay last year, jumped in at left guard for the rest of the game.
The Bears surprised just about everyone in the NFL and won 22-20. Their offense was solid and balanced, and Joe couldn’t find anyone complaining about Omameh. And Bears fans love to complain.
This all comes to light today because the Bucs cut 25-year-old Omameh right before this season, despite his 16 games of NFL starting experience. Tampa Bay opted to roll with backup guards with zero regular-season experience at the position.
Logan Mankins injured his groin Wednesday, and he missed practice on Thursday and Friday. It is presumed second-year man Kevin Pamphile will fill in for Mankins if he can’t go tomorrow.
Did Lovie Smith miss the mark on Omameh? We might have an answer if the Bucs tank at left guard against the Jaguars tomorrow.
And why isn’t Joe mentioning general manager Jason Licht? Lovie has final say on the 53-man roster. Omameh was here, and Lovie tossed him away and opted for no experience at backup guard.
October 10th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
deja vu
October 10th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
I can’t really get too upset with Lovie (and possibly Licht depending on how much pull he has?) over letting Omameh go. The dude wasn’t playing great as a Buc, and most of us were ok with saying goodbye and wishing him well. Now letting go of guys like Zuttah, Revis, Penn, etc. and bringing in some of the FA’s they did are probably the real head scratchers for most of us.
October 10th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
another case off that was brought to the team by Dominik/Schiano. Another offensive lineman cut by Licht/Lovie, add him to Penn, Larsen, Zuttah and Joseph.
October 10th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
*another case of an offensive lineman…
October 10th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
That’s the problem with having a powerful coach with a lapdog GM. While I agree that the head coach should have significant input into the roster, the GM should be a check and balance that keeps the coach from making a bad decision.
The bottom line is that any of the backup guards on the roster probably would have cleared waivers and could have been signed to the practice squad. Losing a player that the Bucs invested 16 games in is a shame.
October 10th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
Yeah. Supposedly the biggest leap of a player’s career takes place between year one and year two. So after getting rid of Zuttah to start this guy as a rookie we get rid of him. The other guy we drafted last year we cut too. Can’t remember his name. Thank you for calling them out on this. The mainstream media ignores this stuff.
One of the reason there is so much apathy about the Bucs is the local media.
Somebody needs to tell the emperor he has no clothes.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Lovie knows nothing about offensive lineman, his lines even with the Bears have always been an issue!! Let’s just get rid of Lovie as he can’t win anyway!!!!
October 10th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Grasping at straws here funny I didn’t hear anything when this guys was let go. He has 1 good game. Last year all I heard was how this guy sucked. Movie deserves to be criticized for many many things I’m gonna hold off on the omanmeh criticism till there s more proof he doesn’t suck.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Spinning wheels got to go round. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Bucs release players with no rhyme or reason. Give us your tired huddled masses. We will pass them along.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Heard no whining when Omameh was cut……was on the worst line for the worst offense on the worst team…..needed to upgrade.
It’s not the cuts….it’s the replacements for the cuts that matter….we will see.
Glad to see some action for Pamphile…even if it isn’t his natural position.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
I’M SORRY BUT LOVIE IS A TOTAL LOSER FOR THE BUC’S , HE DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHICH PLAYERS ARE GOOD OR WHICH PLAYERS ARE BAD AND ALSO DON’T KNOW A THING ABOUT MANAGING A TEAM,, HE IS LOST, I HEAR NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS ABOUT LOVIE, HOW MUCH MORE SH-IT CAN FANS PUT UP WITH , THE GLAZERS GOT TO STEP IN AND FIRE LOVIE , HE IS NOT THE COACH FOR THIS TEAM……. SORRY !!!
October 10th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Its easy to criticize it after the fact. This guy was not very good when he was in Tampa and drawing conclusions about him after he played part of a game against Oakland is grasping for straws. Getting rid of both Penn and Zuttah last year is what needs to be criticized.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
The reason these guys are cut, released or traded is because
the Glazers are constantly value-shopping and they’ve (predictably)
ended up with a house full of Walmart garbage.
Not everyone on the team is bad though. We have some great guys
but the Glazers seem to refuse to take the financial plunge to build a
truly solid roster. There’s always way too many low-priced “hopefuls”.
This is why we lost Revis, Bennet, Talib, Zuttah, Penn, etc, etc, etc, etc
ad infinitum.
The whole operation reeks of someone desperately trying to find cheap
value. I got sick off the $10 hotdog in the club lounge. The commercials
are cheesy (e.g. the weird doctor with the face paint). The marketing
campaign comes up with t slogan that means “a long period of misfortune”.
The list goes on and on.
The Bucs aren’t like Joe Madden, Andrew Friedman and Jim Hickey.
They’re not going to make wine out of water and they need to
realize it and start re-signing more of their good players instead
of all this patented Glazer turnover.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
I do hope Lovie turns it around… Very doubtful that it happens but Omameh wasn’t exactly stellar last year, remember him getting knocked around the line of scrimmage a few times, didn’t hear a lot of complaining when we let him go… Think I’d rather find a better replacement for Mankins in next years draft\FA
October 10th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
@Joe
SERIOUSLY?? You guys know for a fact that Lovie still has finalsay over personel?? Only asking because his history in Chicago is on my side with this, as long as Lovie has final say over personel, this team will continue to swing, miss, keep and play all the WRONG PLAYERS. As I said, all one needs to do to prove this true, is go back and look at the times Lovie had control over personel in Chicago.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Are you surprised? It’s like when Big Dog gives an excuse for EVERYBODY except Winston. We should’ve kept a kicker that missed 6 attempts in 2 games. Oh it was the field, I use to kick, our Defense sucks, OH it’s not Lovie, players have to do their job, it’s only been a year, it takes time. So what about the WR’s and TE’s running LAZY routes? The drop passes, the 3 TE formations and trying to pass when there is 9 people in the box, having NO SPEED at the WR position? No mention, it’s all on Jameis. Are you really surprised?
October 10th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Does Lovie even know we have an offense. or for that matter that there is an offensive side in football.
October 10th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Interesting article, NOT..!!
I wonder if anyone, besides Chicago Cubs fans, recall that the Cubs had MLB/HOF 2B “Lou Brock” on their roster, as a rookie, and let him go.
The annals of professional sports are filled with footnotes about HOF or All-Star quality players being traded, waived or cut by their team of origin before they blossomed into great players.
I can recall a couple of Buc QB’s that were released or traded only to go on to lead a team to a winning season or appear in a Super Bowl.
Doug Williams and Vinny come to mind right away.
The all time bonehead trade prize still goes to the Boston Red Sox who traded (P) Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Now THAT was a mistake.
Or, was it a mistake…. under the contextual circumstances..??
Who Knew…???
Throwing shade on Lovie over releasing OL Omameh by suggesting his salary/skills were worth it is just without contextual peer.
We may as well start blaming Lovie for the team nutritionist’s penchant for including prunes in the team breakfast offerings affecting player performance because of the “potential” for gastronomical distress.
By the end of the season I guarantee that the name Evan Mathis will be trotted out, along with every rookie WR Lovie waived who may go on to become useful to some desperate team, as further proof that Lovie “ain’t got a clue”.
Oh, Brother…!!!
October 10th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
Joe … I loved the story you wrote back on Sep 15, 2015, entitled “Symbol Of Dysfunction Omameh Gets Cut”.
Almost as good as the one you wrote on Jul 30, 2015 entitled “Beware Of Patrick Omameh”.
In those, and many more, you painted Omameh as a human turnstile who’d get Jameis killed if allowed to play.
Now all of a sudden cutting him was a tragic mistake? Lovie Smith screws up again in Joe’s eyes? Aah yes, there’s the REAL culprit in all this: Lovie Smith. Get rid of Lovie and we’d be SuperBowl-bound … in Joes’ world of course. Ya right.
Good try Joe. At least be a little consistent.
October 10th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
How and why does Lovie continue to make terrible decisions. Look no further than the kicker position. Going with 2 rookies 2 years in row and picking the last one despite him only making 58% during his college career. Who is second guessing and and questioning these continuous bad decisions. They are mounting up.
October 10th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
I think the conclusion to be drawn here is that somehow our environment
isn’t conducive to development for a lot of players.
October 10th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
We are still paying Michael Johnson $7M, Carl Nicks $4.7M, Dashon Goldson $4M, Anthony Collins $3M, and Mark Barron $2.2M this year.
October 10th, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Didn’t Steve White say if Omameh starts he won’t watch the Bucs.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Everything so far, points to one thing: Lovie was brought in here to tank, for two years in a row. He clearly was totally out of futball, don’t care much for it, and is just drawing a paycheck. I’m telling you right now, we aren’t going to win any more games. We should all have seen this coming by now; Kotter was brought to replace him, once this year is over. By then, we are going to start looking like a futball team, by the next year after that…..we probably will be contenders, and posibly by another year after that, will be revelant. Sorry, no Superbowls in the horizon for the near future. I’m a true fan, and always will be, but this administration , don’t fool me. (too old for that). Think about it; who in hell trows away all that money, for nothing? That’s what Lovie is giving us, nothing. Bad players decisions, bad in-game decisions (everybody should already notice his lack of in-game coaching akumen) and so on…..need I say more? Get ready, Tampa! Don’t build your hopes up for these motherfukers. Don’t go all crazy on game days for them…it’s not worth your health….just be a fan….and wait for it…..yeah I said it, wait …some more….what the hell….ain’t nothing you can do.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:16 pm
@ DefenseRules
Thanks for that…..exactly….the disdain for Lovie (warranted)……colors every move that is made like Omameh (not-warranted)….
How ’bout just a bit of objectivity Buc fans?…..don’t always fall for Joe’s bait,
I want Lovie gone if he loses tomorrow…but I don’t hang every decision on him.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
THE ONLY THING IT BOILS DOWN TO IS WINNING AND THAT AIN’T A HAPPENING SO SOMEONE HAS GOT TO GO ,WHITE BLACK BROWN OR PURPLE, THEY GOT TO GO !!! THE HOLE JAM ISN’T WORKING , TIME TO PUT IN A NEW JAM, NO FORWARD PROGRESS IN THIS TEAM, THERE NOT MAKEN ANY HEAD WAY !!!!!!!
October 10th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
buc4life1979 …I thought most of us already knew Lovie has the final say on the roster.
Geesh…why do you think everyone’s been complaining about him? It’s not just the losses, it’s the personnel moves that have brought us to this many losses. The whole dayum thing falls on Lovie’s head. Even including the defense now as he’s doing the playcalling.
The dudes days are numbered.
As far as Omameh. Well Joe always considered him a human turnstile anyways, yet now he sees value in him. Go figure.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
DefenseRules…lol I just read your post.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
I looked at the Bucs salary cap numbers and it seems that the players who are actually performing are making the least money. Kwon Alexander, Ali Marpet, Gholston, Charles Sims, and Jacquies Smith all are making around or under $700K. Meanwhile, Mike Jenkins, Bruce Carter, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Sterling Moore, George Johnson, and Tony McDaniels are making from $800K to $4.5M each.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
DefenseRules
Dude I gotta say, your post be on point brotha. Keep it up
Beastly screen name as well#res
October 10th, 2015 at 3:35 pm
#respect
October 10th, 2015 at 3:41 pm
@Tampabaybucfan … I agree, Lovie can’t remain the Bucs coach if the team keeps losing. But … tomorrow is a make-or-break game for him only if his coaching costs them the game or if the players clearly quit on him. Personally don’t see either happening.
Bucs could easily be 3-1 at this point IF a handful of plays had gone differently, despite how badly we’ve played at times. But as we all know, that’s never the case in Bucsworld. If it can go wrong, it will.
What I’m looking for tomorrow is (1) Winston to rebound from the last game, move the chains, and not turn the ball over; (2) the rest of the offense to continue to look fairly solid; (3) the defense to continue to steadily improve as they have; (4) special teams to improve, especially the kicking; and (5) penalties to stay down. If they do those things, they’ll be OK I think and finally win a home game. If not, guess we’ll be leaving at the start of the 4th quarter yet once again.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:43 pm
James….it’s disgusting what’s going on. I think vets sign on the dotted line and then just say ef it, why should I try, it’s the Bucs. No one would no any better anyways. Not saying every player, but I think a lot of them check out, after they sign.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:45 pm
George Johnson wasn’t a bad acquisition. He’s a solid rotational Defensive End, nothing more. You just can’t trust a dude into the starting line up – that’s NEVER had starter minutes. That’s why some of us were still begging, for a solid veteran Defensive End, even after we acquired him.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:55 pm
U half a$$ build something – expect half a$$ results.
October 10th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
U would be amazed how good this defense would perform. If we had one Alpha on the outside.
October 10th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Joe just goes with the majority. He never has a real opinon besides that “America Quarterback” moniker
October 10th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Opinion*
October 10th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Honestly,
This writer is tripping. Dude has one good game in his life and suddenly he’s a good player we shouldn’t have let go?
I follow the Bucs religiously in the offseason, OTAs, etc. I read just about every single update on what happened and during Omameh’s entire tenure as a Buc, he sucked azz in OTAs, pre-season and gameday. Dude was a human turnstile! So what if he had a good game! I’m sure it won’t be long before he becomes an interstate that leads straight to Cutler. He couldn’t cut it in Schiano’s tenure and he couldn’t do it in the current regime.
Cutting him was addition by subtraction. …and even if by some miracle he turns out to be a quality starter somewhere else, it’s only bcuz we gave him years of practice when he should’ve been cut after his second year here. He needs to thank Tamp the Bucs for not making him go stock groceries at Winn Dixie!
October 11th, 2015 at 2:54 am
@Luvmybucs Says = On George Johnson. “That’s why some of us were still begging, for a solid veteran Defensive End, even after we acquired him.” We had a solid veteran DE all along. William Gholston.
This was the first I heard that Patrick Omameh was no longer with the team. I think the real question was not so much why Omameh was released as to who was the back-up Guard at the time he was released? I think it was Garrett Gilkey who was/is injured? Kadeem Edwards was the other Guard from the 2014 draft who was cut. The bigger question remains, if Omameh continues to perform well? Why does just about every player, play better, once they leave this team? Josh McCown, Michael Johnson, Donald Penn, Adrian Clayborn, Mark Barron, Ryan Delaire and now Patrick Omameh? Oh yea, Michael Bennett. Its a Bucs life.