“We Are Happy”
April 17th, 2017
Content with offensive line.
The nonsense earlier this morning from Scouts Inc. got Joe so worked up Joe started listening to recordings of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht at the NFL Combine back in February.
In a private, on-the-record sitdown with Bucs reporters, one of the first questions tossed at Licht was about the much-maligned line.
There, Licht was crystal clear he envisions no major overhaul to the personnel up front.
“We are not down on our offensive line,” Licht said. “There are some things we need to do to clean it up a little bit in the overall play, and I think the players would say the same thing.
“[The line has] to cut down on the penalties, but overall, we are good. We are happy. We are in a good place in our mindset where our offensive line is right now.”
And that explains why the Bucs went through early free agency and kept the line intact.
Licht is scheduled to chat with the local pen and mic club later this morning to discuss next week’s draft (next week!). It’s safe to say Licht will again be peppered about the offensive line, and Licht will likely repeat what he said to reporters roughly six weeks ago.
For those who lie awake at night unnerved by Donovan Smith, Joe kindly wonders if a cold Bud Light would calm your angst?
April 17th, 2017 at 6:28 am
We are happy might equal we are not happy. I personally think the line is fine. All this stuff is making me nervous tho. He says they are happy with the line, we hear they want a rb first round. I tend to believe the opposite this time of year. I have noticed licht doesnt smoke screen as much as past gms have. I thought last year there was no way it was gona be hargreaves after all the talk. I just hope to goodness they dont go Oline 1st round. Go bucs
April 17th, 2017 at 6:50 am
The OLine is young and developing and there is no need to panic. IMHO, so much depends on Sweezy. If he can can come in and play well after sitting for a year then I expect good things.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:53 am
Bud light? Yuck. Maybe a nice Stella.
If Jameis makes the jump we all hope and expect he will. The offensive line might be the Achilles heel of the offense especially relying on an injured player to come back and be productive. Didn’t Licht learn his lesson from V JAX last year? This team is still woefully mediocre at c and tackle
Good gms have got to be good evaluators of their own roster
April 17th, 2017 at 6:57 am
I remember them saying something nearly identical about the wide receiver position right about this time last year. How’d that turn out?
April 17th, 2017 at 7:02 am
They are going to draft a OT in the first round. Who is Donovan Smiths back-up? Exactly
April 17th, 2017 at 7:10 am
Hey keep Same OLINE for few years in a row , not bad concept to help build one.
We need to be patient and allow these guys to come together and not expect dominance in year one.
Stupid penalties must go , that I agree
April 17th, 2017 at 7:24 am
Only fools think they’re taking a backup in the first round for any position. Who wants to draft a player that will be a rotation or part time guy? In the first round?! No way. That’s not a good way to look good. Pick a starter. WR, TE, Safety, CB, are the only real options for rd 1.
Rd2? They all shuffle. But it won’t be O or D line or LBs. obv not a QB
April 17th, 2017 at 8:03 am
“We are in a good place in our mindset where our offensive line is right now.” – Licht
I’m sorry, but if he really thinks the line is fine, he is blind. The right side is horrible. Right Tackle was useless last year, not to mention the injuries there.
And IF offensive Line was really ‘fine’, then why on earth would they be moving Marpet around????? They don’t do those things unless there is a need.
Sweezy is new at his position. He could just as easily learn the other guard spot if it came down to it.
Regardless, it is nearing the draft. Licht is not going to say “Oh, we’re going after offensive line” if he is anyway. In fact, if he is saying a position is ‘fine’, odds are that is what he’s going to target.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:07 am
If they draft a right tackle, and if Hawley is healthy throughout the year and at full strength, then the offensive line will be good. But if you go back and look at the games, right tackle collapsed constantly.
Center was the next worst spot, but we have to remember Hawley was not at full strength last year and played injured. He’s good enough IF healthy, but that is a big if.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:08 am
Bonzai, maybe moving Marpet to center to allow Sweezy to play IS why they are fine with the line.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:18 am
Bucs are in denial about their oline if that’s what they truly think. If you ain’t moving forward… you’re moving backwards. Complacency leads to losing. Adding more talent and competition to such an important position group is NEVER a bad thing.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:21 am
Flboy
Exactly. I thought the wr thing last year was a smokescreen. I was hoping anyway. I was hoping they had corey coleman sighted up. 7 rounds later still no wr. N yes we saw how that worked out. Go bucs
April 17th, 2017 at 8:28 am
Just because Jason Licht likes the line that HE put together doesn’t mean it is nearly as solid as he says it is. It just means that Jason Licht is willing to put his fevered ego ahead of what is best for this football team and it’s fans by willfully ignoring or denying what most clear-eyed people that are paying attention can easily see which is that our oline was absolutely savaged on run downs all year and especially down the stretch. They were knocked back, knocked around and knocked up and Donovan is bravely going through with the pregnancy. Not to mention how abused this line and especially these tackles were on passing downs. We all watched Winston and his near miracle escapability.
Good thing we have a robust media outlet here standing up for truth and empirical, observable facts and not running cover and delusionally peddling the bff and business partner GM agenda!
April 17th, 2017 at 8:33 am
BuccaneEric75 Says
“Bonzai, maybe moving Marpet to center to allow Sweezy to play IS why they are fine with the line.”
With Sweezy untested? I doubt it.
This isn’t like the situation we had with Zuttah (not that you claim it is). Jeremy Zuttah was not a good guard. He was depth that was starting there. But moving him to Center was smart because he played better there.
In the case of Marpet, he’s actually a top guard. It’s stupid to move him from that spot.
Sweezy has very little experience in that spot anyway and he hasn’t played in more than a year. Makes no sense. Move him to the other guard spot and let him learn THAT spot on the fly.
I predict Marpet will be moved back to guard by training camp at the latest.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:35 am
Only a short while until we see who is right. I’m excited!
April 17th, 2017 at 8:43 am
Lines take time to gel.
April 17th, 2017 at 9:08 am
A team can never have enough GOOD Olinemen!
April 17th, 2017 at 9:27 am
Buc1987 Says
“Lines take time to gel.”
Yes they do, but that doesn’t mean weaknesses cannot be spotted and fixed in the meantime.
April 17th, 2017 at 9:32 am
When it comes to Marpet moving to center ,The accuracy of the snap is concerning to me.Case in point Evan Dietrich Smith ,a center with much longer track record at center has unleashed some horrible snaps over Jameis’s head.
This creates of a possibility of a huge turnover.
The art of the snap is the primary responsibility of a center,blocking secondary. No doubt,blocking is Marpet’s best trait at this point.
April 17th, 2017 at 9:46 am
Never heard Spandau Ballet-lovin’ ex-GM Mark Dominik speak in such glowing terms. True! Could his comments be a smokescreen?
April 17th, 2017 at 11:16 am
And Seattle was a playoff team yet again with five new starters on they’re O line. I agree with Licht. Was 2015 an exception, was 2016 an anomaly??? I think the answer will be found in 2017.
April 17th, 2017 at 11:20 am
The g men O line was dicey last season But they were a playoff team why because they weren’t running out on the field with the likes of Freddie Martino and Charles Sims as they’re weapons for Eli Manning that’s why.
April 17th, 2017 at 11:53 am
Our O line was mediocre last season. Our Tackles were undependable and our Interior lineman got pushed around.
If our line plays the same this year as it did last, we will be going into the 2018 draft with OL as a top priority. So to say we’re happy with their play is irresponsible, short-sighted and banking on potential.
April 17th, 2017 at 12:14 pm
All I know is that Michael Jordan the greatest of all time, the unstoppable one, was sidelined and ultimately retired bc of a bad back. Kobe Bryant too.
So if two of the greatest athletes ever couldn’t overcome back injuries what makes us think Sweeney will?
April 17th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
The corps of this OL is presently Smith, Pamphile and Marpet. The other two spots are clearly up for grabs but there are some potential solutions that “could” work out. The neatest easiest one….Marpet becomes an All Pro Kevin Mawae style center for the next decade….Sweezy regains his health and takes over at guard and Benenoch is ready for the big time at RT.
Still I’ll be shocked if we don’t see either a draft pick…a solid UDFA or other FA sign before training camp.
April 17th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Spence did okay with an alleged back injury 55. Sweeze will be fine next season. Something about that weight room😉wink wink.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Db55
Sweezy wont be doing alot of Jumping.
Jumping with a bad back is a bad idea.
Im thinking Sweezy will be in our starting lineup this year-
Donovan Smith, Sweezy, Marpet, Benenoch, Pamphile.
And that could be a great Oline!
April 17th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
Heres the problem, with getting your opininions from sites- like The idiots “From Scouts Inc”
You are getting your opinions from articles. Articles written by people who depend on readership to stay in business.
So controversy is their bread and butter.
Its what makes me so mad at some of the otherwise terrific posters here
You read something, written by damn idiot, and then parrott it! , til the player retires, or the poster dies
There were several Predraft magazines, that loved Donovan Smoth’s skills and potential. One Mag liked him, but said he could be lazy( happens sometimes in college. You are playing for free pretty much) occasionally, and might not have the feet for Left Tackle.
6 other mags all said hed be a left tackle.
But his first year, Id see post over and over again- Smith needs to be a right tackle, lacks feet. Then theyd add- and sometimes looks lazy.
They are doing what you are doing.
Basing their opinion on an Article, written by a guy who was in seattle, and probable never watched Smith more than 15 minutes total.
Then some other dumbass, reads that article, and regurgitates on his site. Probably has NEVER WATCHED DONAVAN.
Then everyone here reads that post, believes- and cries about our Talented Young Tackle- who just Pancakes some of the leagues best DEs. Over and over again
Its Donald Penn all over again. An All pro level Tackle- whos ONLY WEAKNESS was that he wasnt drafted in the first round.
These site guys pick Oline- because most people cant follow the Oline. They work as a unit. You cant really single out an individual.
Easy marks , For cheap controvesy.
I dont read articles, to see how the line is playing
I WATCH!!! WITH MY VERY OWN EYES!!
I played OT at a high level, and know what Im looking at.
And we have a quick, hugely powerful young Left Tackle, a very good Young Guard, and a potentially pro bowl Center.
Dying to see what Sweezy and Benenoch bring to the line.
When every NFL coach, GM, snd owner is saying that we have a great DT and Oline-
Hows about believing expert opinions. And your own eyes. And our Coaches and GM
Instead of some site, written by a 17 year old- between surfing Porn sites.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Nole
Noah Spence? I thought it was his shoulder.
If you mean Akeem Spence then I’ll just rest my case.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
Akeem Spence 55. Had an alleged back injury from a freak Incedent in the weight room in 2015. Didn’t show any signs of any laboring last season. They sold us all on the same thing with Sweezy. Back injury from a weight room indecent. Me personally I don’t buy everything I hear when 86th comes to injuries. Now if they had said back surgery due to herniated disc like the cats Charles Johnson this summer I might feel differently. But I don’t recall hearing in Sweez case.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
I mention that because you mention MJ and Kobe. Spence didn’t show any signs of problem resulting from the alleged back issue last season.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
Akeem Spence 2015 11 tackles 1 sack.
Sweezy won’t fair any better but he’s got 7 mil reasons to not even try. Ya heard!
April 17th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
THANK YOU CAPT TIM !!!!!!!!!!
April 17th, 2017 at 7:02 pm
That was Spence before the so called injury. My point is he didn’t labor as a result of the so called injury bro.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:04 pm
It would take an insane amount of BudLight for me to mistake the horrid play of the moth man. I’d have to be seeing double, be really far away and mistake him for Ali. Even thats a reach. I hope his play improves and I wish him nothing but success. But you wont find me holding my breath.