Defining The Loss
May 27th, 2016
Bucs offensive line coach George Warhop explains the loss of Logan Mankins
The Buccaneers’ offense is down a Pro Bowl guard and a major leader in Logan Mankins.
Joe senses Bucs fans don’t think it’s a big deal.
However, Joe asked offensive line coach George Warhop to define the loss of Mankins to the average Bucs fan. Is a real loss? Joe asked.
Warhop said it’s real because Mankins made such a great impact. Warhop didn’t drop a bunch of next-man-up lines.
“I’m not ready for it,” Warhop said of Mankins’ absence. “I mean, really. I miss Logan. Logan brings, he’s a unique individual. I’ve been fortunate to be around some really good players. And he is as tough a man as I’ve ever been around. He does as good a job with the young guys as any older player, any veteran player that I’ve been around. He still play[ed] the game because he loves it, not because he was being paid well. And all he wants to do is be the best. In today’s environment, it’s hard to find guys with all those qualities.
“And it wasn’t something that he learned. I mean, that was something put in him by his parents. So it’s hard to find a guy that’s made that way.
“How are we going to miss him? I just think his leadership, in terms of how he dealt with the young guys last year. I thought he was really valuable to Ali [Marpet] and to Donovan [Smith] in their success and their growth. I mean he was talking to them all the time. I’m screaming at them. He’s talking to them. I’m pressuring them. He’s saying, ‘This is what Hop wants.” So it was a great balance for me to have him in the room.”
Warhop went on to say his current veteran linemen will fill the void in 2016. Of course, it will be much easier without two rookie starters.
It intrigues Joe that Warhop didn’t mention, during this passionate answer, anything about Mankins’ performance on the field. Obviously, it was at least solid last year after a subpar 2014.
May 27th, 2016 at 10:06 am
The O-Line will be just fine, we have George Warhop.
May 27th, 2016 at 10:13 am
his leadership was very valuable but I think we’ll do fine barring any major injuries….GO BUCS!!!
May 27th, 2016 at 10:16 am
Mankins is probably missed…..especially this BBQ weekend…..
May 27th, 2016 at 10:20 am
It’s not that he won’t be missed, but, I think that one year showing Marpet and Smith how to be pros will not fall by the wayside. I expect both of those guys continue to follow what he preached, even after he’s gone.
May 27th, 2016 at 10:30 am
i think we’ll be OK without him, but it would have been great if the Bucs could have gotten another year of Mankin’s leadership, knowledge, and toughness. He was a good role model for the younger guys plus one of the few current Bucs that knew what it felt like to expect to make the post season and have a shot at winning a Super Bowl every year vs. just talking about it as a hypothetical goal every year (only to finish in last place again). There’s something to be said for having a genuine confidence in your team from the top down that you are the best and will find ways to win instead of questioning things and just hoping for wins to happen.
May 27th, 2016 at 10:45 am
For his infield performance I do not think he will be missed.not that he was bad, but I think we can replace him. We won’t have his leadership but I think we were super lucky that he was here for Ali and donavons first year. The things he instilled in them might set them up for success for years to come
May 27th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
He didn’t come back because LOVIE gone!…I heard that to be TRUTH!
May 27th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Solid Guard play at the end of a great career aside, the impact alone that Mankins had on our young lineman was worth the 4th round pick we gave up for him. Thanks for taking that leadership and teaching and “good example” role so seriously Logan. The positive effects of your efforts in that regard will reverberate through Marpet and D. Smith and Pamphille’s heads and the Buccaneer organization for years to come.
May 27th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Warhop isn’t giving himself enough credit. If EDS had played in Mankin’s spot the whole year the line would have been just as good.
May 27th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
I think Bucs nation is sleeping on Sweezy. I’m watching him right now in the SB Seattle lost he just blocked Vince Forklift Wilfolk one on one. Sweezy pint him because you can only hope to contain that Monster. He was even athletic enough to block Nikovich. JR might be OUR best lineman. I think he is as good as Mankins. I watched tape of him against Carolina and he didn’t give up one sack. He hasn’t gave up a sack in the game I’m watching now. He wasn’t the weak link on the Seahawks line. Our GM got a nose for hiding GEMS. Let JR play RG don’t change his position Mr. Koetter. Ali did great at RG but he played on the left in college too so it’s easier for him to transition to LG. Plus that would pair him with Donovan on the blindside and they can grow together. If Demar is the starter then he need Sweezy on his side because he don’t got that DOG in him.
May 27th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
I tend to think George Warhop knows better than any of us just how valuable Logan Mankins was last year especially. Praise like ‘all he wants to do is be the best’ and ‘he was talking to them all the time’ say a lot, because of what he imparted to our rookie OLinemen. And especially on the field, where Logan was the one to tell them what to watch for on each play. Not only will Warhop miss Logan, but so will that entire OLine.
May 27th, 2016 at 4:26 pm
SacBuc$ I think they sleeping on Sweezy as well. Dude a mauler in every since of the words.
May 27th, 2016 at 4:30 pm
Look would another season of his tutelage and professionalism have hurt??? No. But after watching Ali stifle Geno Atkins on one play then he switch to Mankins the next and just proceeded to clean&jerk him I was like its about that time.
May 27th, 2016 at 4:39 pm
Mankins was really solids last year….finished plays, sustained blocks well….better than 2014, but mainly he was injured for much of that year in a new system. I was hoping Mankins would comeback one more year….sort of a letdown after the year he had….and I was hoping it was a sign that he knew this team was turning the right corner, but not to be.
May 27th, 2016 at 6:43 pm
Hire Mankins as a part time coach!
May 27th, 2016 at 8:46 pm
Logan Mankins came back last year to go to his seventh Pro Bowl. He played very well last year and gave up zero sacks. PFF ranked Mankins 13th best guard overall last year. Mankins helped pave the way for running back Doug Martin who ran for 1,402 yards. Second most yards in the NFL. New England coach Bill Belichick said Mankins was the best guard he ever coached. His presence and leadership will be impossible to duplicate.
May 27th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
The game is played ON the field. While Mankins leadership will be missed, there are plenty of guys that can fill that role.
PFF stats are for the birds. I expect this OL to be better this year minus Mankins. Yep thats right.
May 28th, 2016 at 12:48 am
It must be the “other” joe that always says, “grown men, getting paid millions, don’t need leadership.”
Of course, i think quality leadership among the players and quality leadership among the coaching staff if very critical to the success of any team. You can win a game with talented players, but you can’t win a superbowl without quality leadership on the field and in the locker room.
May 28th, 2016 at 8:12 am
The O line will be just fine. That’s the leat of our worrys.
But the thing that amazes me is how everyone praises Warhop like he’s the best line coach in the business because we had a solid year. But the year before we had the WORST line in the league and no one was praising him then. Now all of a sudden he’s a great coach agsin. Lol I don’t get it. Dont get me wrong, he did do a great job scouting Ali and Donovan and they both had terrific years, but where was he the previous years when we had one of the worst o lines in the league is what im sayin.
May 28th, 2016 at 8:19 am
Don’t forget this is the guy who praised “the great” Garret Gilkey and begged to bring him in, sayin he was a good linemen. Along with Patrick Omameh as well.LOL What great players they turned out to be. Those were the two guys Warhop handpicked. So let’s not forget about that wonderful decision. All I’m sayin is all the credit should not go to Warhop for having a succeful season on the O line.
May 28th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
I think the Bucs got what they wanted out of Mankins. Our core on that line is Marpet and Donovan. Logan showed them the way…..our young lineman don’t need to look up to a vet for 5 years. They need to take what Mankins taught them and run with it.
Our O-Line proved their worth last year. It’s up to them now to grow as a unit and continue to take over games like they did last year. That’s my expectation.
May 28th, 2016 at 10:23 pm
Lol
Again, the ignorace he sometimes is mind boggling.
Mankins is one of the Best guards in NFL history.
He set the line, every play.
And told Smith and Marpet exactly what to do
Will he be missed- yes, just like losing any legendary player.,
Like losing Warren Sapp. He wasnt at the top of his game.
But was still better than almost anyone else at his posistion.
It took years , and years, for the line to recover.
Logan was only here a couple years- but his lose will be similarly damaging to the entire offensive line.
His greatness was in the meeting room AND on the field
Hiring him as a coach is the best Idea I’ve heard!