“Needs To See A Lot Bigger Picture”
May 25th, 2017
Leaner Ali Marpet speaks after today’s practice
Dirk Koetter calls it an “experiment.”
Ali Marpet calls it his new football life.
Joe caught up to Marpet right after practice today and chatted with the leaner-looking guard turned center to see how the adjustment through the first week spring practice with real field work was going.
Joe has yet to see a muffed snap. But Ali, do you feel completely like a center yet? Is your brain all-in?
“Absolutely,” Marpet said. “I’m a center.”
Joe asked Marpet whether he finds himself thinking like a guard through any of the play installs and during the process, and whether his guard experience is helping him.
“No. I don’t think so,” he said. “The thing is the center needs to see a lot bigger picture. So that’s the biggest difference for me, the focus on each of these reps. Tell the fans it’s going great. I’m having a lot of fun with my friends. How’s that?”
Joe can’t wait for the pads to come on in late July. There’s going to be some angry wars in the trenches this summer.
Marpet has a lot to prove. So does right guard J.R. Sweezy following a year off. On the other side of the ball, they’ll find hungry beasts like rookie 330-pound defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, who clearly is nasty and strong, plus Clinton McDonald is fighting to extend his career and Gerald McCoy doesn’t take a play off.
Joe smells a couple of training camp fights.
May 25th, 2017 at 8:51 pm
😀Yaaasss.
May 25th, 2017 at 8:59 pm
^^^
May 25th, 2017 at 9:53 pm
Yes. He may have a lot to prove at Center but it’d be unwise to bet against him.
He has that toughness+brains= football player equation FO covets.
May 25th, 2017 at 10:02 pm
Marpet is an absolute beast. He might be my favorite current Buccaneer. I just appreciate his toughness displayed on the field and his awesome approachcthe game time he is guy is an absolute a absolute steal tk fall ro us all the way in the second round.
May 25th, 2017 at 10:18 pm
really joe… gmc does not take plays off so is disappearing when it matters most categorized differently
Marpet and the friends he is having fun with, the new bucs which give us hope. it’s the loser holdovers that have zero desire to win – the gmc’s, the martins, the dotson’s the proven career losers will hold the young driven bucs back. take out the trash mr licht the bay is counting on you.
May 25th, 2017 at 11:02 pm
That last line had Tmax written all over it. Lol
May 25th, 2017 at 11:05 pm
I think Joe tossed in that GMC comment just for tmax
May 25th, 2017 at 11:44 pm
SteveK…I concur. Winston then Marpet for me.
May 26th, 2017 at 12:43 am
I would be thrilled if the move to Center works out for Marpet.
May 26th, 2017 at 6:38 am
@Tmax
Ali said he is having fun. Bet your hating that eh. Or is it just Gerald who isn’t allowed to have fun?
May 26th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Glad he thinks it is going well. I agree with Joe…Marpet has a lot to prove, as does Sweezy.
Right now, it’s all talk, but it is talk we fans like to hear.
May 26th, 2017 at 9:48 am
He’ll be a very well paid Center, probably the highest paid and it will be worth it!
My Man Marpet! I was one of the first of not THE first pounding the tables here for him before the draft, especially after his combine.
Take note Mr. Licht, next year we need to hit that RT spot high in the draft….unless someone really blows up and blooms (fingers crossed).
May 26th, 2017 at 9:53 am
tmax=cancer
May 26th, 2017 at 10:28 am
Tmax
You remember Ali’s first camp when he started beating up on GMC and lovie had to create a safe space for McCoy? Lol, ahh man how time flies. Now Ali’s all grown up. I wonder if Sweezy has been warned to go easy on the ice cream too?!