“You Ask Every Line Coach In The NFL, They Were Very Impressed With Him”
October 6th, 2015
Rookie guard Ali Marpet
Joe’s trying to stay upbeat this afternoon. After all, the Bucs can’t lose to the woeful Jaguars on Sunday. That just can’t happen.
So, that means the Bucs will win and go 2-3 entering their bye week.
The brightest spot on the Buccaneers this season is the offensive line. It looks like a real NFL offensive line, a unit that’s approaching a middle-of-the-pack in the league. That’s huge progress.
A major cog in the wheel is rookie guard Ali Marpet, the second-round pick out of mighty Division-III Hobart College. Marpet has outshined rookie left tackle Donovan Smith, and Marpet has been solid on his own, by any NFL standard.
Offensive line coach George Warhop explained that Marpet isn’t surprising anyone. In fact, per Warhop, Marpet’s standout play at the Senior Bowl was universally acknowledged.
“You ask every line coach in the NFL; They were very impressed with him,” Warhop said of Marpet on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night.
“Ali’s a very efficient pass blocker,” Warhop said of Marpet’s first four NFL games. “He’s very athletic. Great movement skills. He has more power than you give him credit for. He’s only about 305 [pounds] but he can take guys off the line of scrimmage.”
Joe’s intrigued by Warhop stating every NFL O-line coach was jazzed by Marpet. Joe wonders how many teams likely passed on Marpet because they were fearful of his flimsy, Division-III experience, where he didn’t even play guard.
So far, Marpet is quite a feather in the cap of the regime.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
And still JUST a rookie…
October 6th, 2015 at 1:16 pm
And who was it that was throwing all that blowhard hate his way because he was from a small school? Bet someone has a short memory!
Never any hate. Just skepticism for the highest ever drafted D-III player. –Joe
October 6th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
As of today he’s the best player on the roster. I love how he chucks people out the way. Very physical indeed. NY represent!!!!
October 6th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
I would recommend if you can watch the games and just focus on Marpet you will not be disappointed. I can garuntee he will put a huge smile on your face with some of his blocks. His strength is truly impressive. The kid manhandled Geno Smith more than once and is by far our best run blocker.
Can’t wait for Dotson to return. We may finally have an NFL caliber line. Now we just need to find a replacement for the old man mankins.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
More good news. We’re on a roll. Cry a jag on me. Steely Dan line.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
BucFan20 Says
“And who was it that was throwing all that blowhard hate his way because he was from a small school? Bet someone has a short memory!”
That’s funny. Because as I recall, before the draft, only two people mentioned his name. Me and LUV (I think). Also, as I recall…your immediate reaction to the pick wasn’t all that positive either. So pot meet kettle.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Tampa’s 1-4 versus Jacksonville. Only win was 1995. Had Coughlin kicked the extr point instead of going for 2, we might have lost in OT and been 0-5. I realize none of that has anything to do with Sunday’s game, but being a Bucs fan living in Jacksonville, I get to hear about it all the time. Believe me, Jacksonville expects a victory and I have zero confidence in Lovie winning any “gimme” game.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
@DB55
See now, I didn’t think Dotson was THAT great.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
I think he’s better than Cherilus. Cherilus hasn’t impressed me maybe bc he’s still learning the offense? He’s improved each week but IMO one of the weaker blockers on the line.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
“Candygram for Mongo”
October 6th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
He has not committed a penalty all year!
October 6th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
What a GREAT, Did I SAY GREAT!?!?! PICKUP by our Head Coach Lovie Smith and GM Jason Licht… Steal of the draft!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith aka “Finding gems all day”
October 6th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
OneLove….a few gems and a 32 gallon bag of garbage full of crappy players they’ve picked up, then released, traded away or benched.
Bravo!
October 6th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Oh…but maybe you will be disappointed when the Bucs lose against the Jags. Sure put in the books we go 2-3 before the bye…but then we lose and go 1-4 into the bye. This team disappoints. Marpet was a great choice. I hope LT D. Smith keeps pushing thou. He has struggled, but so has just about every 1st/2nd round LT coming out of the last couple of drafts. None of them are struggling more than Jameis thou. Go Bucs!!
October 6th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Now if we can find a way to stay in the top 6 or 7 or so of next draft we can land Laremy Tunsil and have three beastly kids who can grow together like you want your o-line to do.
October 6th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Brother Ali is a superstar in the making. D. Smith is a nightmare to watch against guys with any decent combo of speed, strength and agility, but he’s pretty solid against one dimensional guys. This gives me hope for the futurefuture. Maybe Evan Smith really is that bad. It’s the only good explanation
October 6th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
flmike love tunsil and he is a better pick than bosa….and the bucs will be in the top 5 unless you have seen something that I have missed they are running right at a 4-12 finish
October 6th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
If we could land Tunsil and slide Smith over to LG and get rid of Mankins…Just imagine that line..
October 6th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
too bad about mankins on the other side. whatever he once was, he definitely no longer is. cherilus still the weakest link, but mankins not far behind.
October 6th, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Bonzai.
1. As you remember? Pretty sorry life if all you have to do is archive everyone on the site.
2. My reaction was toward the person himself and not because he came from a small school!!
3. As you see above Joe’s big deal was highest ever drafted D-III.
Article after article was the school.
Anyone that says anything about Winston not being good enough is hate. Ali was all skepticism
October 6th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
the young players provide hope for the future at least…marpet, d.smith, alexander,evans,ASJ,j.smith,david and i dare say Siberias QB are great additions…now, to get someone in to not f*ck it all up? that’s the story…BYE BY THE BYE, LOVIE….
October 6th, 2015 at 5:23 pm
A Marpet very good pick stay healthy!
D Smith is doing OK FOR A ROOKIE LT I have not seen any other rookie LT doing any better.
October 6th, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Why was Evans not targeted more in the game? Can’t he get open like Jackson? He is the big ? right now. I hope he returns to be his former threat, although he got some yards against Houston. Maybe not fully healthy.
October 6th, 2015 at 8:21 pm
BucFan20 Says
“1. As you remember? Pretty sorry life if all you have to do is archive everyone on the site.”
Look who doesn’t handle accountability so well.
October 6th, 2015 at 8:27 pm
HEY…I’m the one with the sorry life here….get chore facks str8!
Btw BucFan20…I’m on this site hmmm about 9 hours a day, Joe would tell you it’s true. I don’t forget a damn thing said on this site and by whom. Right down to the tiniest of nuggets…
October 6th, 2015 at 9:38 pm
@ Tampabaybucfan
I love it….and really, Marpet is almost a clone of Alex Karras.
Well done!
October 7th, 2015 at 1:03 am
@DodgrLover Says – LT Erik Flowers (Giants), RT TJ Clemmings (Vikings) and LT Ty Sambrailo (Denver) are all playing better than LT Donovan Smith. Rookies do struggle on every team this year on the OL. I could not understand why D Smith could not handle UDFA Ryan Delaire but did not give up a sack against Clowney and Watt? Delaire made Smith look slow. Ali Marpet is one of the bright spots on this team. He hustles, plays with passion and stays engaged until the whistle blows. Something Smith should follow if he plans on making it in the NFL. Marpet was thrown around at times by Watt. Cherilus is a big disappointment. When is the big Dotson returning?
October 7th, 2015 at 2:38 am
He should replace Mankins instantly. Hes the best player and I also say D.Smith should be moved to right guard and replaced sooner by Pamphile and later by Dotson but they need to use at least two of the first three picks on tackles this offseason in the draft though and maybe even find another tall corner in the first round which is why they should players like Mankins and E. Smith for draft picks before the deadline. Maybe even look into trading Verner and Carter also to obtain more picks. Any 3-4 base team would jump on it right now like the Steelers or Bills maybe even the Bears, Colts, or cardinals.###play4WINStonfihht4LOViE
October 7th, 2015 at 4:16 am
Amazing: L&L actually traded up and found a diamond that is not so rough. Too bad that does not offset every inept FA acquisition and the other moronic draft picks these 2 baffoons have made since the Glazer punk gave them the helm of the Pirate Ship…..
October 7th, 2015 at 4:29 am
Bonzai… You love to kiss your own ass man… Completely annoying… Madmax was calling Marpet’s name way before we picked him… Not that it matters who said what first or who is right or wrong… But you are consistently on here congratulating yourself… Congratulations man!
October 7th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Anything can happen the NFL, Joes. Usually the team with the better QB wins, and this one is a turtle race. The Jags could definitely beat the Bucs, especially if Winston keeps serving up turnovers like they’re on happy hour; however, I expect Winston to bounce back, play well, and beat the Jags handily.