O-Line “Pretty Darn Good”
June 2nd, 2017
All good.
Yesterday, Joe brought word from veteran offensive lineman Joe Hawley who believes Bucs fans should be grateful for their offensive line.
Add another Bucs offensive lineman to the chorus that things are just swell in early June. That would be new Bucs center Ali Marpet, who is taking Hawley’s old spot.
Technically, the Bucs will have two new starters on the offensive line. J.R. Sweezy, who spend the entire 2016 calendar year on floppy hat patrol, and Marpet, who is moving from right guard to center.
After underwear football practice yesterday, Marpet was asked how the offensive line was gelling.
“It’s improved a lot in a short amount of time I think,” Marpet said. “Obviously, we’re not where we need to be, but for six days or whatever it is in OTAs, it’s pretty darn good.”
Marpet added part of the reason why the development of the line has a ways to go is because he’s still learning how to play center.
“Being able to process a lot of information in a really short amount of time and then get the information out and communicate it out to everybody,” is my biggest challenge, Marpet said.
Of course, the PFF tribe would say the key to the offensive line is left tackle Donovan Smith. Some might say it is whether Sweezy can stay healthy. Joe seems to think it is how quickly Marpet can master center. Every other spot on the line will be manned by NFL veterans at their positions.
June 2nd, 2017 at 9:31 am
If the Bucs’ stable of RB’s can find holes and run for 1500yds in ’17, (which we expect them to by default of having stud WR/TE combos stretching fields) the OLINE will be fine and Pass Pro will be their biggest improvement.
It’s not like EVERY team on our sched. has elite/dominating Pass Rush/Blitz capabilities.
Have faith Me Hearties.
June 2nd, 2017 at 9:39 am
Marpet is the least of my worries. He’s proven to be smart guy that is proud of his ability to adapt. If he can transition from tackle at Hobart in one off-season to a borderline pro bowler at guard, moving to center won’t be an issue. It will take work but he’s not afraid of that. His mentality is perfect for it. I think those three on the interior, Sweezy, Marpet and Pamphille need a nickname. I’m pretty excited to watch those guys break the huddle together.
June 2nd, 2017 at 9:49 am
I would still see if Ryan Clady would come in and compete for a right tackle spot or just provide depth. He’s going to have trouble finding a starting spot at left tackle If he can do what gosder did for us in 2015…..
All signs pointing up for Benenoch, team seems to like Wester but if Smith has to miss any games… it could get ugly.
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:26 am
@Joe
The O-line should be improved, but you are sweeping the largest problem under the rug!!!!!!! DS76 was the most penalized O-lineman in the league!!! He is # 2 overall and DD69 was #7!!!! That is both of the Tackles of the Bucs in the Top 10 of most penalized players in the league!!!!!!
The “Real” Fans demand that you start asking, why they think they were penalized in buld, and how the Bucs plan to correct this major issue this year!!!!!
As Coach Bellicheat says ” Do your Job!!!!!!”
Go BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:29 am
When someone in the NFL tells Joe this — even off the record — he will believe it.
And no, Joe doesn’t consider the PFF tribe “in the NFL” even though they do quality control work for some teams, which any high school kid who never stepped on a football field could do.
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:31 am
George Warhop is on record saying if for whatever reason Demar Dotson needs to be replaced, it will be Kevin Pamphile.
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:32 am
How dare you use reason and logic on this website! The nerve of running backs to have vision and look for holes and avoid would-be tacklers!
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:54 am
“George Warhop is on record saying if for whatever reason Demar Dotson needs to be replaced, it will be Kevin Pamphile.”
I’m glad you mentioned that Joe. I sort of recall Pamphile being a tackle, not a guard. Dotson/RT is the position I would be most concerned about. He did not play well last season.
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:55 am
Joe, the Buc realist was speaking about penalties. That is a fact based argument. PFF is not fact based. My concern with D Smith is body composition. He is very big around the waist.
June 2nd, 2017 at 11:03 am
Andrew Says:
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:55 am
My concern with D Smith is body composition. He is very big around the waist.
Donald Penn he is not!
June 2nd, 2017 at 11:36 am
Understand that regarding right tackle Joe. Lets just hope they stay healthy. Once they start moving pieces.. it just gets more complicated. In essence sliding Pamphile, instead of having a back up at one spot, you now have one at two spots. My biggest concern is D Smith going down. At that point, is the chain reaction Dotson to left, Pamphile to right and Benenoch to Guard? Stay healthy Donovan Smith!
June 2nd, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Dotson is the weak link. Turning 32 this year and has never been the same since his major injury in 2015 preseason. Not that he was a great Tackle prior to injury but he was relatively solid at least and what I would call “serviceable”.
Hopefully Caleb Benenoch steps up and either wins the RT job outright or is deemed capable of starting at LG so Pamphile can take over the RT position.
If Dotson starts at RT this year we will continue to have “issues” up front.
BTW – am I the only one who was surprised they released Ben Gottschalk last month? I know he suffered a knee injury in Nov but was it so severe that he won’t be able to play this year? Anyone know details on that issue? I thought the Bucs liked him and he seemed to do OK when he played in reg season games a couple times due to other injuries last year. Know anything about that Joe? Anyone?
June 2nd, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Pick:
Bucs haven’t closed the door on bringing Gottschalk back when he’s healthy. How much of a crack open that door is, that’s another story.
June 2nd, 2017 at 9:07 pm
How in the world can we expect an o-lineman to shuffle around on the llne. I guess Marpet moving to the most challenging position on the line, a position that he has never played, is much easier then moving a tackle from the left side to the right side.