Unexpected good game today filling the void of Logan Mankins at left guard.

Last year, Lovie Smith was roundly raked over the coals — and for good reason — for starting virgin center Garrett Gilkey.

The results were predictable. Gilkey, who never played center in his life, was expected to do well on football’s highest level. Naturally, it was a trainwreck. Gilkey playing center looked more like a Moe Howard skit that anything resembling football.

So Lovie was at it again this week, trying half the Milk Cartons, Kevin Pamphile, at left guard in place of injured Logan Mankins. Pamphile told Joe after the game it was the first time he had played guard since he was a sophomore at Purdue.

Shockingly, Pamphile held his own. Oh, he made mistakes, no question. Once, as he pulled to his right, Pamphile whiffed on a block like Karlos Peña on a slider. Joe is pretty sure America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, will feel the effects of that missed block tomorrow morning.

But overall, Pamphile showed not only can he handle guard, but he gives the Bucs much needed depth. Right now, that is the story of the season, a unit that looked porous now appears to be the team’s strength.

Left tackle Donovan Smith told Joe last week that he leans on Mankins a lot for the correct assignments. With that comfort blanket gone, Joe worried the left side of the line would collapse. Not so.

“It was a give and take,” Pamphile said of communication today with Smith. “By far, I am not Logan Makings. But as long as we communicate and are on the same page, [the line will play well].”

Pamphile noted he was nervous and a bit of doubt was in the back of his mind when coaches told him on Thursday to be prepared to play for Mankins. Pamphile knew if he got part of his game down, all would be well.

“Assignments, I knew the assignments,” Pamphile said. “I feel pretty good. about that. But it was technique I had to worry about.”