Juggling The Offensive Line
August 19th, 2017
Battle to back up Demar Dotson is on.
So Thursday night at the Gator Bowl while watching the Bucs-Jags game, Joe was monitoring Caleb Benenoch at right tackle, in for the injured Demar Dotson.
(Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter channeled his inner former Bucs commander Greg Schiano yesterday when he used one of Joe’s favorite Schiano lines saying, “Demar Dotson has a groin.”)
Let’s just say Benenoch didn’t wow Joe.
At times, Benenock did OK; at times he whiffed on blocks and he wasn’t overly impressive in pass blocking. But he seemed to give America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, just enough time.
Joe, obviously, also was working folks at the game trying to learn about players who could have missed Joe’s radar.
Joe asked one Bucs guy what player jumped out at him against the Jags that Joe or others might not have caught. One of the first names out of this guy’s mouth was Benenoch — mainly because Benenoch’s natural position is guard.
It seemed, from Koetter’s words yesterday, this information was spot on and that Joe’s eyes were not deceiving him, either.
“He’s doing a nice job in the run game,” Koetter said of Benenoch. “He’s a little bit inconsistent in his pass-pro right now but we’re really happy with how he’s progressing in the run game.”
So let the musical chairs on the offensive line begin. It appears, per Koetter, either Kevin Pamphile or Benenoch will be the swing tackle, meaning they will be plugged for whatever tackle can’t go. Currently, that’s Dotson.
If Pamphile goes to right tackle, then Evan Smith would fill in for Pamphile at left guard. In a pinch, Koetter noted, brawley Joe Hawley could play guard.
August 19th, 2017 at 9:08 am
They really looked good against Jacksonville, with Marpet at center.
August 19th, 2017 at 9:10 am
The biggest thing to worry about is penalties!!!! would like that to clean up a little more in game 3 of the preseason!!!!! Also if DD69 is not ready to go in the regular season, Know that the Bucs will run more 12 personal which will have the option of the TE to help chip rusher to them!!!!! with the TE and RB healthy they can help our OT when they struggle, unlike last year!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
August 19th, 2017 at 10:01 am
Benenoch started a bunch of games at RT for UCLA and was considered by many as a 3rd rd talent coming out . Would like to see Caleb in year 2 take over Dotson’s spot successfully instead of shufflling 2 spots and moving Pamphile.
Let the young man continue to get his feet wet outside during preseason and he might just surprise us all.
August 19th, 2017 at 10:03 am
I hope the groin injury isn’t that serious, we need Dot healthy for the start of the season.
August 19th, 2017 at 10:09 am
I hope Benenoch is up to the challenge. I think he has the skills to be an excellent RT.
Leaving Pamphile where he’s at, and Plugging Benenoch in at RT makes more sense than Disrupting two positions.
Either Webster or Caleb will be the swing tackle.
Nows the time to get them reps, because it sounds like Dotson may be gone awhile
August 19th, 2017 at 10:15 am
@Joe
Since no one is talking about, Someone needs to say Kudos to CB84 took a huge step in his blocking game!!!!! Brate went from terrible blocker to looking adequate of a blocker!!!! he really got his nose in their!!!!!! This can only help the offense, the run game and especially the O-line look better!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 19th, 2017 at 10:31 am
So stoked we didn’t draft o line depth the last 2 years with our second round pics
August 19th, 2017 at 11:22 am
I’ve rewatched that game twice now, and I specifically watched bennenoch the whole time he was in. I thought his pass protection was pretty good, he whiffed on a big run block in the second level that could have sprung the back for a TD. Overall he had a nice night. His one “sack” he allowed was just as much JW3s fault as it was his.
August 19th, 2017 at 11:23 am
Well now we do need a draft another kicker
August 19th, 2017 at 11:27 am
@ destinjohn
Me too! I feel more confident with using our experienced backup guys than bringing a rookie into the mix. Although, the backups haven’t played much, they have knowledge of the playbook. Linemen take time to develop. We have good depth developing now.
The preseason will help on their development. They get to play more on real games.
In Licht We Trust!!!
August 19th, 2017 at 11:41 am
And most of u probably didn’t notice that wester replaced bennenoch at the end of the 2nd. And that is when JW was getting the most pressure off the right side. The holy roller adam humphries play was a product of wester getting beat by Fowler off the right side. Not Bennenoch.
August 19th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Pick:
UCLA ain’t the NFL.
Joe trusts the man who told him this and Joe also spoke with Benenoch after practice today and relayed this information to him. He didn’t disagree.
August 19th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
Young man just needs game reps. Why o why do Bucs fans feel young players should look like all pros the minute the set foot on a football field. First Ryan Smith now Caleb,psss. Geesh.
August 19th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
I meant that as a joke
We have no depth.
We drafted a kicker
We drafted a saftey who is awful
To be great we have to hit lay up drill second round pics