“Some Of That’s Going To Come Down To Health”
March 31st, 2016
Injured center?
Dirk Koetter referenced injured Buccaneers at the NFL Owners Meetings last week.
Other than specifying a shoulder “cleanup” for Jacquies Smith, Koetter refused to name names, but Joe has a lead.
Speaking while sipping a Starbucks at the NFC Coaches Breakfast, Koetter firmly spoke about how starting center Joe Hawley would compete with Evan Smith for a starting job.
That was surprising on a few fronts. First, Hawley won the job with excellent play last year. Two, Smith has been a subpar center since joining Tampa Bay in 2014, but he played well starting five games for Ali Marpet at right guard last season. It was a quality effort by Smith, who hadn’t played right guard in many years. Third, Koetter was clear that Demar Dotson is the No. 1 right tackle entering the offseason and Gosder Cherilus was the definite No. 2.
So why the heck wouldn’t Koetter say the same about the Hawley/Smith depth chart?
Joe further dissected audio of Koetter, who said of the Hawley-Smith competition, “Some of that’s going to come down to health.”
With that comment, Joe assumes one of those guys has an injury — or a healing injury — right now. Hawley, 27, tore his ACL in October 2014 and returned effective in less than a year. Joe sure hopes he’s not having any lingering knee issues.
March 31st, 2016 at 10:00 am
EDS is a turnstile at center. My money is on Hawley who Koetter is familiar with from Atlanta and who Winston is used to. I’m good with EDS as interior swing backup and appliance delivery guy.
March 31st, 2016 at 10:30 am
Hopefully, Hawley is healthy when the season starts if that’s the issue. It’s good to have Smith as well. You can’t have enough O-line depth.
March 31st, 2016 at 11:40 am
Koetter didn’t need to name the starting center because there isn’t a competition its Hawleys job
March 31st, 2016 at 11:45 am
I hope Hawley stays healthy and starts at center…smith could barley snap the ball…Winston was always bending over reaching down to get the ball out of shotgun formation…it use to piss me off because it would always throw off the timing…stay healthy, work hard and win the job Hawley…GO BUCS!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Guzzie Says:
Koetter has stated there will be competition at center.
I do like Hawley’s brawling style. It matches that of Marpet and Sweezy. Nasty is good on the OL.
March 31st, 2016 at 3:11 pm
I agree with Cobraboy. “Brawley” Hawley is intense with a passion for the game. When I think of Hawley I always see him trying to aggravate some lineman between plays. A little push sure seems to get those guys attention. He is always looking for someone to block. I bet EDS could be the one with an injury. I thought he went out more than once last year with an injury? Evan Smith missed several games, once early in the season when Hawley replaced him then he went out again when he was playing guard.
March 31st, 2016 at 4:38 pm
Really hope Hawley is not injured going into the start of the season! That would be a huge blow to our oline. EDS is garbage at center, keep him at guard.
Maybe Ali will up being our center?
March 31st, 2016 at 5:18 pm
no jobs gifted. if you read koetter’s statement on the tackle situation more closely, he says dotson “will begin the offseason as the starting RT”. i think there will be at least one more potential starter in the mix at tackle and that cherilus and Dotson will in fact be fighting each other and the new guy for 2 roster spots – starting RT and swing tackle