“We Were Surprised”
December 28th, 2015
A former Bucs teammate of Jameis Winston talks Jameis.(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Joe has admitted his minor obsession with Bears right guard Patrick Omameh, the guy who started 16 games at right guard for the Bucs last year only to be told this offseason that he couldn’t play the position.
(Think about that concept for a few seconds)
Omameh was OK for a 24-year-old in his first season of Bucs action, and he surely seemed like he could develop. The Michigan graduate had the size and the smarts. But Omameh was switched to tackle by Lovie Smith and cut by Tampa Bay in September. The 25-year-old quickly latched on with the Bears, who made him a starting right guard again.
Joe had a private chat with Omameh in the Bears locker room yesterday about a variety of Bucs-related topics. Needless to detail, Omameh was stunned the Bucs didn’t think he could play guard any longer.
But Omameh was not stunned that America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, turned into a Rookie of the Year front-runner.
Omameh explained that Jameis caught the Bucs’ locker room off guard when he arrived.
“I don’t think anybody that’s been around him should be surprised by his success,” Omameh said of Jameis. “I think, if anything, we were surprised by how he approached the game right off the bat. There wasn’t really a rookie mentally. He was a guy who wanted to win immediately in practice. He was used to winning with that winning pedigree. He’s a natural leader and, you know, it was early on, in the spring, that the guys started to realize what kind of a leader and a player Jameis was. I wish him all the best going forward.”
Pretty telling stuff there. And it gives a small glimpse, Joe believes, into the losing mindset that has sickened too much of the Bucs’ locker room. There’s just not enough internal demand for — and expectation of — greatness.
December 28th, 2015 at 11:40 am
another guy we let go, didn’t use right, and didn’t develop. Thats on the coach. Also sounds like JW is going to continue to grow and develop
December 28th, 2015 at 11:49 am
Mike, OmaMEH is not better than Ali Marpet. It’s not even close. Stop pretending that we lost some key player on the offense.
December 28th, 2015 at 11:55 am
D rome, it’s called…depth. Whoaaaaa
December 28th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Bottom line is there are way to many good football players playing on other teams that we let walk out of the building. Bennett, Blount, Larsen, Penn, Omameh, Foster, Revis, Zutah, Clay the list goes on and on and yet we have no depth. SMH
December 28th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
D rome… i know he’s not better than marpet… He would be a great back up when Marpet was hurt. Could also take over for Mankins next year. We spent a pick on him and then cut him and hand over a starter to another team for free. Shows coaching cant judge talent and can’t develop it. Hey but lets pick up guys like Mike jenkins and bruce carter and make them starters.
December 28th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Could it be that Panphile outplayed him? He played well for us when Mankins was out this year. I’m more concerned with what Omameh said, because it speaks to the current nature of the locker room. We have seen these players lay down for both Schiano and Lovie. These guys are a bunch of losers. As far as free agency, don’t bring in good players from bad teams or ok players from good teams, because they don’t produce. We need to draft a new culture of players like Winston, Alexander, and Marpet. This team needs some smart hounds that can grow together. NO MORE BEARS HAS-BEENS.
December 28th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
simple, just plain simple, this site should just say come here and “complain it’s all good”.
December 28th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
@Joebucsfan this article addresses the comment I left on one of your previous post “It Has Begun (Again)” about the deep rooted loser mindset around the bucs franchise, I think there is going to be an inertia between JW’s winning mentality and the bucs losing mentality for a couple years.
December 28th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
@soft..i agree..i think pamphile outplayed him…pamphile is a pretty good young player that CAN play tackle and guard if needed…I also agree with your thoughts about the type of players we have on the team…many of them losers and don’t know how to do anything but lose…instead of fighting thru adversity than fold under pressure…that has nothing to do with the coach and everything to do with the heart of a player…bring in good players from good teams…GO BUCS!!!
December 28th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
I was surprised also. That the Bears made the Bucs look like a bunch of clueless chumps. One repeat performance after another.
December 28th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Just don’t get this ‘too many Bucs have a loser mentality’ stuff. Does any fan really doubt that every single player who makes the team is a professional and wants to win? Their livelihood and their families’ livelihoods depend on them and how well they perform. And winning is perceived as being a part of performing well, isn’t it?
I don’t know any of the current Bucs players personally, but I’d venture to say that every one of them takes losing personally. Obviously some players are better than some other players. And some fit a particular offensive or defensive scheme better than some others might.
But to tag any particular player or group of players as having a ‘loser mentality’ because the TEAM loses just isn’t right.
December 28th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Actually Pro Football Focus (Joes favorite statistical reference website) has Patrick Omameh ranked 29th overall and Ali Marpet ranked 31st overall. Omameh was PFF “best player at every position” for Guards a few weeks ago and was the highest graded Bear last week. Granted I would take Marpet in a heartbeat because of his upside and nasty streak. Marpet just needs to get stronger and he will be an All-Pro. I am just sick of other teams making starters out of players we cast away. I agree with the deep rooted loser mindset around the bucs franchise. Losing has become acceptable.
December 28th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
@ 813bucboi
Lovie has made more than his share of mistakes, including both personnel and on-the-field decisions.
Its hard to find good players with upside because most teams don’t let them walk. At most you can find a malcontent that may need a new start, or good role players. Moving great players without baggage is rare in this league. However, one the biggest problems that hinders development is the lack of leaders to help teach and transition to the next generation. When we purged the locker room after Gruden, it has had a lasting impact on the organization.
We had inmates (rookies) running asylum with a rookie coach teaching them. Schaino got here and saw the mess we had and tried to clean house. But he had no veteran Bucs to lean on outside of Rhonde (who was busy learning a new position and scheme). This is not how you build a winning organization. However, I did want Schiano gone, but I now realize that the move has started the process all over again.
Be need better leadership from our coach and players in the locker room.
December 28th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
He was terrible last year. Joe has an obsession with the guy and still could only muster enough to say he played “OK”. He doesnt even start for the bears. He came in off the bench AFTER one of their guys got hurt. Why do you all put these guys on pedestals. They sucked here. If they turn it around and do well somewhere thats great for them, but the bucs didnt like them enough. Our depth at o line is just fine. Evan smith and pamphile are darn good players that are coming off the bench.
December 28th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Newbucsfan…LOL I LOVE JBF!
December 28th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
OK, Winston stayed on a straight line off the field which was great. He’s got the grit and leadership no question to put this team on his back. Physically, i just want to see him get more accurate more consistently on some of the 10+ yard routes and even some of the shorter ones. He has plenty of arm strength and actually runs pretty well in a pinch. If he can continue to build chemistry w/ his targets and improve on his footwork/accuracy i think we are set on offense with the weapons (maybe add a speedster). Just need to get some playmakers on D in the draft and/or Norman if that was at all possible! Thats my 2 cents.
December 28th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
BTW, does the Nkimdeche fall remind anyone of another DT that we took after falling in the mid/late 90s? If he checks out, i wouldnt really mind having him if he fell to us?
December 28th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
@Defense Rules when you get into an organisation like the bucs where losing is the norm you tend to find that new players coming in would quickly fall into the prevailing culture, no accountability and players will use the losing culture as a cover for their performance on the field. The fans expectation is not high in turn the players performance will mirror that, it’s a self fulfilling prophecy. GMC has the leader the last couple years hasn’t been able to inspire the troops, it’s interesting that an ex player is vouching for JW at the same time it highlights the hard work ahead for someone like JW who is off a different makeup. Time will tell if he will be able to overcome the inertia.
December 28th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
@OnlyGodnoles
So true, preach brother. I don’t understand how people don’t see this. You need veterans groomed within the organization to help build and bridge to the next generation. We started our rebuild with Raheem without the veteran mentors hungry for wins. Brooks, Sapp, and Lynch had Hardy. McCoy had Stylez G. White.