Hawley Solves Mystery, Sparks New One
September 21st, 2017
Talks shrinkage
After talking to Joe Hawley yesterday, Joe has decided Hawley deserves a giant trophy for what he accomplished last season.
This summer on the Ira Kaufman Podcast, winning head coach Dirk Koetter revealed that Hawley played center much of last season under 280 pounds and the Bucs needed to upgrade with more beef at the position.
Understood. But Koetter didn’t say — and Joe didn’t ask at the time — why Hawley shrunk. Keep in mind Hawley weighed 297 pounds at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine and played most of his career near that weight.
Koetter later talked about the Hawley shrinkage but never revealed the reason. Joe asked offensive line coach George Warhop about it this summer and Warhop said, “You better ask Joe that.”
Finally, Joe got a private moment to ask Hawley what happened yesterday.
Simply stated, Hawley, who made 15 starts last season, said his knee injury early in the season was so significant it prevented him from weightlifting with his lower body during the week. And that led to Hawley being unable to maintain his ideal weight and muscle level. Combine that with Hawley deciding to enter the season playing a little lighter than usual, in the high 280s, and things got ugly.
Hawley added he played Week 17 against the Panthers at 270 pounds. Yes, 270 pounds. That’s like the size of an NFL center from the 1970s.
Unbelievable. Hawley deserves an award for just hitting the field at that size.
But that begs the question: What the hell was he doing out there with the playoffs on the line in the final few weeks at that size? Evan Smith was active and available, per Joe’s research.
This is a real head-scratcher. Yes, the Bucs ran the ball solidly against the Saints on Christmas Eve (21 carries for 89 yards) and the O-line isn’t why they lost that game. But man, Hawley probably played that game at 272 pounds with his knee at 85 percent.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:10 am
Koetter makes questionable decisions on a weekly basis. Love the guy but sometimes I question his decision making. But that’s whatever, as long as we keep winning it doesn’t matter.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:11 am
Kind of tells you what they thought of Evan Smith at center at the time.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:15 am
Evan Smith is a better guard than center but can play either in a pinch.
Hawley’s knee problems were pretty obvious as we saw him go down to the turf because of it multiple times last season. To his credit – he toughed it out and continued to play – but was obviously struggling at times.
I hope Joe Hawley has gotten healthy and put some weight back on – his services may be needed at some point this year. Marpet has already had ankle issues a couple times in 2 years.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:17 am
I think this speaks more to Coach K recognizing the kind of warrior Hawley is and unless it got to the point where he simply couldn’t cut it or was going to get Jameis injured, saying we’re sticking with Joe because he’s earned that.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:28 am
I’m with you here. Look, regardless of what one may think of Evan Smith the fact remains is that, at the time, he was likely at least 30lbs heavier than Joe Hawley. Size matters at that position and I don’t think you should have a starting center weigh less than your starting DE.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:40 am
Hawley is much better at line calls. He sets the Oline blocking far better than Evan- although Evan is a better blocker.
Smith is a better guard than center.
Thats why they wanted to keep Hawley in there
September 21st, 2017 at 11:42 am
Bwaaaahaaaaa
It’s getting very entertaining reading JBF. Reading keyboard kommandoes who have never coached in the NFL grading their opinion against Dirk Koetters.
It’s just hilarious….it really is. Do you guys really expect us to believe you could make better decisions or know more than Koetter? Sorry but I just can’t buy it.
For starters he turned a losing team around and is 9-7…er now 10-7 and you guys are what…oh that’s right 0-0
September 21st, 2017 at 11:50 am
We were hot with Hawley at center, so I totally understand not making a change. Yes we lost those 2 towards the end, but we also won the last game (while he was at his lowest weight). I don’t think he was the problem. If anyone remembers the Cowboys game, the problem was at RT, not at center.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:52 am
I kinda sorta think that Dirk Koetter wanted to make the playoffs as much as any Bucs fan or writer. Also kinda sorta think that week-to-week last season he started those players who he & his other coaches felt would give us the best chance of winning. My hat’s off to Joe Hawley for playing through all that he did (especially the knee problem), but the culprit here isn’t Coach Koetter … It’s lack of OLine depth last season. We’re better off this season because JR Sweezy is now in there, but realistically we still don’t have adequate OLine depth (especially LT depth). Hopefully everyone stays healthy because I don’t see OLine depth improving dramatically any time soon.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:52 am
From a between the ears standpoint, center is the most important position on the line. Hawley clearly is very good at that part of the game. Not to mention that he is usually good for one personal foul on the opposing team, as he is always pissing people off.
September 21st, 2017 at 11:53 am
Get ’em stpete! I agree.
Hawley brings more than size to the equation. Watch the ‘other’ tape of him playing whistle to whistle always the 1st to stick his nose in the melee. The guy’s a football player, a throwback.
September 21st, 2017 at 12:03 pm
I’ll tell you why Evan Smith wasn’t out there instead of Hawley.
It’s because Evan Smith sucks at snapping the ball.
Remember the the phantom spot of grass that made him roll the ball at the Qb’s feet? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
September 21st, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Also, if you are a Dirk Koetter hater, you are not a Stick Carrier. Period.
September 21st, 2017 at 12:06 pm
“What the hell was he doing out there with the playoffs on the line in the final few weeks at that size? Evan Smith was active and available, per Joe’s research.” – J0E
You are forgetting that they tried Even Smith at Center and it was a massive failure the year before. He had a bunch of bad snaps and played horribly.
I think if the Bucs felt they had a choice, they would have put Hawley on IR. Clearly, they were not comfortable with the thought of Evan Smith at center again.
September 21st, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Since Pablo has lost the only Hispanic Buc….Aguayo “El A$$”……Pablo will adopt Hoe Hawley as an honorary hombre…..after all, look at that pic….doesn’t Hoe look like one of the cartel?”
September 21st, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Absolutely not. That’s not the point. I am only questioning the decision just like many of you questioned the decision in giving Charles Sims the ball on 3rd and 1 against the Bears. I question the decision in the same way I question whether or not the McCoy haters took their meds. Questioning the decision doesn’t mean me (or anyone) is sitting here saying it’s the wrong call. Basically I’m wondering out loud why a coach would start a relative lightweight at center. As usual, Capt. Tim provided an answer that makes sense.
Let’s not trip over ourselves when it comes to Dirk Koetter. There’s only a handful of coaches in the NFL where there decisions should never be questioned and Koetter isn’t one of them yet.
September 21st, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Bellicheck and all sorts of good coaches make questionable calls / decisions in games and with personnel and they all make mistakes.
Same thing with GMs and QBs.
That’s why you have to grade all this sh1t on the curve called reality. The same posters that obsess over bad picks or signings by Light; also ignore tons of good signings / picks. The same people who obsess over Winston missing a few throws; will ignore that every QB misses at least one throw typically a week if not more; and that Winston is relatively one of the top 1/3 QBs in the league at 23 years old. That apparently will never be good enough. He could be top 5 this year and people will complain he wasn’t #1.
These same people bring up the 2nd round picks; but then ignore the fact that Light is batting either average or better than average with the rest of the NFL in that round since the average is 50% success (Smith, Marpet, Spawn vs ASJ, Aguayo . Evans = unknown but even if he’s a bust Light is doing at least average in that round)
If Evans ends up being a solid starter some point next year; then Light will be 60% in round 2 which would be very solid and probably top 10 in the league. I bet even if htat happens – you will still see the negative nancies of this site talking about who we could have gotten instead of ASJ or Aguayo.
It’s just a stupid delusional way to approach following the team imo. You’re just going to give yourself a lot of needless grief.
September 21st, 2017 at 12:18 pm
^^^^What he said
September 21st, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Maybe because playing well is more than just being a certain weight. Matt Lehr, formerly of the Cowboys and Falcons (and a Buc for a minute) showed up to Falcon camp one season absolutely shredded at 255 and played the whole year at or around that weight. It’s not always about weight. The Denver Broncos lines of the Super Bowl winning teams of the 90’s were extremely light and agile. Jeff Bostic centered for the Redskins Hogs lines of the 80’s and never weighed more than 260… Mark Stepnoski of the famed Cowboy lines of the 90’s never weighed much more than 260. If a guy can play, he can play, it doesn’t matter how light he is. If a guy can’t play, he can’t play, no matter how heavy he is. Obviously, bigger guys are preferred, but they aren’t always better.
September 21st, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Also what he👆said.
September 21st, 2017 at 1:13 pm
Agree with posters who remember Smith’s errant snaps,I think they hit the nail on the head.Also agree that Smith is a pretty good guard and it is the reason he is still here.
September 21st, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Digging for a non-story.
You continue to make comments like this, ones that are malicious and baseless. Why? Would you prefer Joe not share information — and seek information — on something that the head coach himself has mentioned several times publicly, which means he believes it was significant? Next time will be your last comment. –Joe
September 21st, 2017 at 2:34 pm
Joe Sez:
Isn’t that a little bit excessive Joe? I don’t think my comment could accurately be described as malicious.
I wasn’t questioning the Hawley part. That actually is interesting… The part about Evan Smith seemed to be digging for controversy IMO.
September 21st, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Joe, remember the last time Evan Smith started against the Colts?? He nearly got Jameis killed, and keep in mind that is a weak defensive Colts team, especially on the line.
September 21st, 2017 at 3:32 pm
His weight might have been one reason he was repeatedly, REPEATEDLY pushed back into the back field as soon as he snapped the ball. He had no arse to stop those 300lb plus DT’s. He plays with an attitude I like, hard nose hit them until the whistle stops blowing. Glad to have better understanding as to why he was not as effective as he has been during his career.
Go Bucs!