“The Guy That’s Just Never Talked About”
April 16th, 2017Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
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More from Dirk Koetter’s recent chatter session at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix.
Fair or unfair, Tampa Bay fans throw lots of darts and daggers at their own.
Donovan Smith (unfair) comes to mind. So does Chris Conte (usually fair).
Plenty of love is tossed around, too. Many, many Bucs are adored.
But then there are the guys who fly under the radar.
Take versatile offensive lineman Kevin Pamphile, last year’s starting left guard who did a damn good job.
The 26-year-old is entering a contract year, the last season of his very inexpensive rookie deal. If Joe were Jason Licht, Pamphile would be a major priority to get a contract extension. Joe would even be in more of a hurry to pay Pamphile than to pay Mike Evans.
The Bucs can (and will) slap their fifth-year option on Evans before next month’s deadline. That means Evans will lock in about a $14 million salary for 2018. No hurry there.
But Pamphile is a guy who could walk at the end of this season. He will be in high demand, barring injury.
Dirk Koetter gave Joe a take on Pamphile at the NFC Coaches Breakfast last month in Phoenix, as Joe wolfed down mountains of expensive fruit.
“Kevin’s the guy that’s just never talked about, and he’s just a real solid player,” Koetter said. “A lot of those O-linemen like it that way. They don’t want to necessarily be talked about. They just want to get their job done. And we’re real happy with Kevin.”
(Full audio above) Koetter added that Pamphile “hopefully is in Tampa for a long time.”
Lots of Bucs fans bellow that general manager Jason Licht must reserve money to give fat new contracts to Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith. Well, if Pamphile has another good season at guard, then Marpet and Smith will have to take a backseat temporarily.
April 16th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Big Pamphile can start on many teams. Better pay him!!!
April 16th, 2017 at 11:40 am
I agree that Pamphile really stepped up and was a solid contributor on our OL last season. If Sweezey can start and is worthy of his salary at the guard position and Marpet can anchor the center position solidly, then I feel pretty good about our Interior OL. Donovan Smith did get exposed a little too often in pass protection for my liking but he will do. RT is an issue though IMO. Dotson gets beat too often and is a real penalty machine and Gosder C. was horrible.
April 16th, 2017 at 11:51 am
I could live with Pamphile at guard, I can’t live with garbage at center. I really hope Sweezy can stay healthy at RG so we can see a good pocket with Marpet at center.
I realize this is a weak offensive line class, my hope is that it’s weak enough to push the top guys down the board. I still love Forrest Lamp and want him on this team, but I also realize he’s not a top 25 prospect. My hope is he slides into the 2nd and becomes a possible trade up option in the 2nd just like Marpet was.
I’m tired of crossing my fingers and praying the o-line works out every year.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
When your LT consistently kills drives and leads the league in penalties the criticism is warranted
April 16th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Licht(guesaing he made the calls) definitely seems to have a knack for assembling Olinemen. Pretty sure that Jason is a former lineman himself. Maybe that means we can believe that Sweezy will be a big addition for us…………But yeah I know the dude gets not a bit of credit til he prooves it on the field.
Huess its just fun to imagine even better line play thaen we had last year with a fresh and eager rookie RB gashing opponents and moving the ball downfield.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:22 pm
He will not make big money. Not a big deal. Bucs have plenty
April 16th, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Come on gotbucs. What are you praying for? We got D.Smith and Marpet both coming into their third year together. Both of whom have shown nice abilty and improvement 1st 2 seasons. These guys work hard too and have learned from some true pros…..Mankins and Hawley. Say what you wish about Hawley but you cant say a bad word aboth his work ethic. The guy is one oof the toughest players out there and gives the most effort then anybody on the team. That part of his game is one of the funnest things on the field to watch. If you dont think the work ethic of guys like Mankins and Hawley doesnt rub off onto teammates you are dead wrong.
D. Smith and Marpet are our two leaders there and are well prepared. As the articles mentioned Pamphile has a solid year of experience coming innto this season. Them three guys are a solid base to start with IMO. How the rest will shake out is a question mark right now but we have a solid starting point and we have players on the roster who have proven a lot of worth at the NFL level. Our line is looking good right now.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
I don’t understand how mediocrity is accepted at LT, arguably one of the most important positions in football. The bucs need to find a bonified franchise stud for left tackle and use smith as either a backup or trade bait.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Hey Mike. How bout we let our LT get into a real game(playoff) and go up against a feared passrusher and see how he fares? Then we can call him mediocre or whatever. One things gor certain is that our RT got into that basic scenario last year vd Dallas and got whipped soundly nearly every play.
That position has to improve or it wont matter who plays LT
April 16th, 2017 at 12:39 pm
You all worrying about RT, realize we still have Caleb Benenoch who was very raw but is super talented. I’m excited to see what he brings this training camp.
April 16th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Benenoch is a nobody really. I have to say so far so good with the developement of our drafted lineman but until he is put into real action and shows results the RT position is one that is not good.
Think it would be wise for the team to invest into beefing up that position. Cant put all your faith into an unproven player and returning players who failed for us last year.
April 16th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I think Pamphile did an admirable job at guard, but I think his best long term fit is at RT. I hope to draft an interior lineman early who can start along with Marpet and Sweezy, and have Pamphile compete with Dotson at RT.
April 16th, 2017 at 1:41 pm
Had Benenoch stayed at UCLA he would be a 2nd round pick next week.
April 16th, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Benenoch shouldn’t be a factor in 2017. He was hurt all of last year, to count on him being ready early this year would be foolish. He knows the offense but he has not played at the NFL level. I like the player and I hope he maybe can play in the second half our season, should we have an unfortunate injury at Guard or Tackle .
Hoping that he is our RT in 2018.
April 16th, 2017 at 2:15 pm
He’s come a long way from the milk carton days.
Good job Pamphile
April 16th, 2017 at 2:48 pm
I am sure the Bucs will draft another lineman in the draft and will continue to do so most years from here on out. In the fourth I could see them taking Siragusa and then Davenport in the fifth.
April 16th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
Love how the Bucs are building their line.
They find raw guys with good numbers and great Intangibles.
Then, they give’em to OL coach George Warhop for a year.
Voila!
Pamphile was playing at a high level , by the end of last season.
And more importantly- our 3 young guys were playing good AS A UNIT.
Something that takes a trained eye to see.
Which, by the way, none of you bitching about the O-line have.
Nothing. Blind. clueless. Ignorant
Bet against Benenoch this year, and you will probably loose your money.
As “Dewey” stated above-correctly, Caleb would have been a 2nd round pick in this draft. He really was a steal.
My bet?
Hes put in about 10 pounds of Muscle, polished a few things up
And is your Starting RT this season.
Unless Sweezy cant hold up.
Then, we have a very young, talented OLine. They have experience playing together, and already chemistry as a unit.
They may be starting together for 8-10 years
April 16th, 2017 at 5:00 pm
I haven’t heard of this lineup, but it makes sense
Smith at LT
Benenoch at LG (he is a guard not tackle)
Marpet at center
Sweeny at RG
Pampile at LT (started at left tackle before)
Backups are Evans (guard or center), Dotson (RT), Wester (T), Hawley (C)
April 16th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
Caleb has played Both Tackle and guard. Is listed as such in Bucs website.
Had the exact same 40 time as Ali Marpet
Marpet had best time his year. Benenoch was 3rd fastest his year.
He was in top of his class Acedemically.
I love the Kid- and think you will see him starting soon this year- and for years to come
April 16th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
Not sure why but I am still on the Samaje Perine vibe for some reason.
April 16th, 2017 at 6:49 pm
Saying this I understand that this makes not much sense with all the Marlon Mack visits
April 16th, 2017 at 6:50 pm
The truth of the matter of the draft is at 19 we will have many great players to choose from on both sides of the ball. Trade back or stay put when it’s all over we should have a safety,DE,OL man ,CB RB and WR that start on this team ! God Bless!!!
April 16th, 2017 at 8:28 pm
I remember when he was taken in the draft. . Late round draft pick and put on the taxi/practice squad. Pro body…not sure what smarts & desired he had. There a lot of these guys you can pick up in the 5th, 6th, & 7th round. Two years later, they’re starting.
April 16th, 2017 at 8:47 pm
SB Says:
If we don’t get Dalvin in the first I would be good with us getting Perine in the third.
April 16th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Interesting juxtaposition Ocala. But the first part was a nonentity.
April 16th, 2017 at 9:04 pm
Pamphile is what the term “developmental player” was made for. He’s also living the American dream, being born in Haiti and having the opportunity here in the USA. But him being 4th round after expecting to go in the 6th, if at all, is remarkable. He was just kind of there for a couple of years and really did well when given the coaching, and given the chance last year. I’d say he’s a guy to get signed now. It would be a huge bump over his rookie contract and perhaps not so much money that if he doesn’t keep the level up, not a big problem. At worst, he’s a formidable back up if starter isn’t something he will earn conistently.
April 16th, 2017 at 9:09 pm
I am not saying in any way that I don’t want Dalvin cook. Not sure why you put his name in my mouth. I will welcome him with open arms if that’s what Jason Licht does.
April 16th, 2017 at 10:17 pm
Puff piece for bff and biz padner GM. Carry on carrying water!
April 17th, 2017 at 1:47 am
Nobody’s mentioning Gottschalk either. He started 1 1/2 games at 2 different positions last year (C, LG) and looked pretty good in his 1st real live action before getting injured. The coaches like UDFA tackle Wester as well.
Benenoch, Gottschalk, Wester – if even one of those 3 guys steps up and grabs a starter spot – we are in better shape up front than many believe.
I was critical of the Oline play in general and the Tackle play in particular last year. It probably had as much to do with disappointment (seeing them take steps backward from a pretty good showing in 2015). Doug Martin’s crappy running didn’t help – but there was no doubt the Oline was not playing that well as a whole last year.
I am willing though to trust the coaches and GM that we can stand pat with what we have this year – with the addition of a healthy Sweezy and expected improvement from all 3 of our young developing starters – and have success up front in 2017.
If Hawley, Evan Smith and Dotson are all backups either early or later this year – because they lost their starting bid to a younger player – Then I would say we are in good shape. That’s a solid and experienced backing unit right there. And if all 3 are playing reserve roles – then the young players who replaced them would obviously be playing well.
Or maybe Dotson has a big come back year and plays well. It could happen. Maybe Dot was never fully recovered last year from his major injury in 2015 and then got hurt again last year additionally. Cherilus had looked reasonably OK when he started in 2015 – but he looked BAD last year when he was forced to start at RT.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:57 am
Pamphile cannot play LT or RT!!
He is way too slow and his butt is too big.
He cant move laterally.
He is servicable at guard because he can move up the field. But he cannot slide his feet! Go watch the game where he played RT.
His first step to the outside is sooooo slow.
He is also too short to play tackle.
April 18th, 2017 at 12:55 am
Donovan Smith may not be a bad player, but the notion that he will receive a “fat” contract is just as absurd (if not more-so) than saying he isn’t a great player (which he isn’t). He will be payed as a bottom 1/3rd left tackle. He will be a fixture on our line for years, but the guy is too slow for LT in the modern NFL.