Not Worried About O-Line
June 1st, 2016
Can J.R. Sweezy make folks forget Logan Mankins?
Among national reports, especially the numberscrunchers’, there is a lot of hand-wringing about the offensive line of the Bucs.
Yes, Logan Mankins is a big loss. The Bucs are confident J.R. Sweezy can get the job done.
In look at the Bucs for the upcoming season, Conor Orr has questions about the Bucs ‘front line.
Can a few small upgrades aid the offensive line? The Bucs added J.R. Sweezy this offseason, which might not exactly be a player-for-player replacement for the retired Logan Mankins. The team struggled up front, at times, which is common for two rookie starters at key positions. Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith will be interesting to watch. The team is banking heavily on their development in order to keep the offense balanced.
In a microscope, yeah, Joe can agree the Bucs’ offensive line struggled. Ali Marpet early on wasn’t the greatest of pass blockers. And against the Colts, the offensive line may have had its worst game of the year. They got flat beat up.
Still, we are talking about a line that broke open holes to allow the Bucs to rush for 2,162 yards, fifth-most in the NFL, and a whopping 4.8 yards per carry. Joe documented many times how only three NFL teams allowed fewer sacks than the Bucs. and that was with a rookie quarterback and two rookies up front, including at left tackle.
Sorry, you won’t see Joe quibbling about the offensive line as we enter the beginning of June. Training camp begins next month.
June 1st, 2016 at 7:34 am
It should also make us feel better that our Oline bench includes Pamphile, Cherilus, Smith & Benenoch….
June 1st, 2016 at 7:45 am
Its the NFL!!! We should always worry about the O-line!!! Because if you do not its the QB that pays for it!!!! Throw in the mix of all of the awful teams and the garbage time the O-line played in and the fact that this O-line was one of the most healthy through out the year. This year will be a true test!!!!
June 1st, 2016 at 7:59 am
J.R. Sneezy has perfect hair. He’ll be fine.
June 1st, 2016 at 8:31 am
It only takes an injury or two… 4.8 yards is tied for highest in the NFL, not a bad job Oline!
June 1st, 2016 at 8:54 am
It’s seems as if half of the league prognosticators are finding reasons for the Bucs to be in the cellar (even if the offense was tops in the league and weren’t even at full strength most of the year) and the other half point to reasons why the Bucs could be a sleeper that sneaks into the post season. It’s like they are all positioning themselves to say “I told you so”. I just want all the doubters to not try and spin it but just admit they were wrong when and if the Bucs have a great season this year.
June 1st, 2016 at 8:55 am
A stat that is overlooked here was Doug’s ability to break tackles. Does anyone know yards before contact for last year? Doug’s ability to break contact made the o line look pretty good and that 4.8 could be inflated.
Don’t get me wrong our line was a huge surprise last year and was absolutely amazing considering what we all were saying last summer before we played any games.
June 1st, 2016 at 10:22 am
I watched Donovan Smith pretty closely last season, and that is one strong dude. A lot of times his technique failed him but he was able to simply shove defenders who had beaten him outside to the ground. He got beat inside often and that’s where we’ll miss mankind the most. But if Smith can improve on his feet and recognition he should be a hell of a LT. Now Marpet, that guy is going to be a perennial pro bowler. Just has everything you look for in an NFL guard. Some polishing and more experience and he’ll be dominant. Bed thing about this group is they’re (for the most part) very young.
June 1st, 2016 at 11:00 am
J.R. is not going to replace Logan and that’s OK. We need him to be solid. If we can get that, this OL will be fine…..sans injury of course.
June 1st, 2016 at 11:24 am
Agree with the sacks stat, Warhop talked about how we were one of the highest teams in terms of QB hits though, so a bit misleading to just look at sacks
I feel like the OL did a pretty good job last year all things considered. Looking forward to Sweezy DSmith and Marpet crushing people in the run game
June 1st, 2016 at 11:29 am
Click on Joe’s link above labeled fifth most in the NFL. Then click on defense, rather than offense. Then click on the yards, until the worst rushing defenses for 2015 are listed at the bottom. Then see if you can spot any of our 2015 opponents down there near the bottom.
tickrdr
June 1st, 2016 at 12:03 pm
In the NFL offensive lineman don’t regress in their second years. You can’t say that about most positions but you can with OL. If Smith and Marpet weren’t good enough or strong enough to play the position they would not have been on the field last year……and they would have been abused when they got in.
You can say the same about Phampile. When he got in the other team knew it and couldn’t take advantage. We didn’t skip a beat when Kevin was in.
The way I see it the Bucs will be upgraded next year at Smith and Marpets positions simply from them having experience now. Upgrading two spot on an already good OL is very significant!!
June 1st, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Since we’re splitting hairs and possibly over analyzing, some of the sacks and hits are on Jameis Winston. Despite Joe’s “America’s Quarterback” schtick, Winston was still a rookie last year and quite obviously held the ball too long on a number of occasions, allowing opposing defenses to get a sack or a QB hit that didn’t have to happen. Now, like the O-line, Winston is a year older and a year wiser so he’ll probably shed some of the unnecessary sacks and hits by recognizing the play isn’t working out as planned and dumping the ball off or throwing it out of bounds earlier.
June 1st, 2016 at 2:37 pm
not the biggest concern on this 6-10 ballclub by a long shot
June 1st, 2016 at 6:22 pm
If ASJ can go a stretch of games without injury, help with some blocking assignments, and get open for a few dump passes it would help this O-line a lot.
June 2nd, 2016 at 1:17 pm
History seems to indicate that Sweezy was/is a dominant run-blocker. It’s his pass-blocking skills that need improvement. I worry about that a little, for him and the whole O-line, as pass-blocking is more difficult individually and as a unit.
Someone please tell me why it will be so difficult to replace Mankins? Experience, leadership and toughness are only valuable if you have the ability to get out of your own way or even touch your toes! His body, and possibly mind, were ready for retirement when he was traded here. Thanks for your service, now rest “dem bones “.
June 2nd, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Gang- I reviewed Sweezy’s games against Carolina and posted my thoughts on reddit. PFF is silly
https://www.reddit.com/r/buccaneers/comments/4m8elw/jr_sweezy_game_review_carolina_panthers_x2/