It’s A Tie At Left Guard
October 11th, 2017
Battling
The next time an offensive line coach or an offensive lineman tells Joe how important continuity is, Joe might just start laughing hysterically.
Enough already.
Kevin Pamphile and Evan Smith have been splitting series at left guard this season. Joe though perhaps that was due to Pamphile’s undisclosed illness in September. But based on Dirk Koetter’s words today, it seems to be a good ol’ fashioned tie with neither player winning the battle.
“It was pretty even again last week and as we’ve discussed before, that really wasn’t the plan,” Koetter said of the competition. “It just kind of started that way and it has continued. Knock on wood we’ve stayed healthy [and] as I just mentioned, several teams have not. One of the byproducts of that is you’re developing depth. We will see how it goes. We don’t have to be in a big hurry to decide that. When one guy separates it will be obvious to everybody and when that happens we will make the move full-time.”
Whatever.
Again, Joe’s fine with Pamphile and Evans being assessed as equals, just don’t tell Joe continuity is important on an O-line. The Bucs are playing this game of snap-share by choice, just as they chose to relocate Ali Marpet who was doing a great job at right guard.
One more time, that’s all fine, just don’t say continuity matters.
Pamphile, who turns 27 in November, is in a contract year and has to be scratching his head a bit. He was the starter last year and Bucs officials routinely said he was the top-graded lineman and/or among the top. Smith, 31, is in the final year of a four-year contract.
May the best man win.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Eh, I’m okay with this. Our offensive line seems to be playing better than last year and it keeps both of these guys game-ready. It certainty hasn’t hurt anything.
“If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”
October 11th, 2017 at 5:07 pm
Do you think that they are trying to build trade value, on OL for a DE or CB?
October 11th, 2017 at 5:09 pm
PAMP ALL DAY!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
October 11th, 2017 at 5:10 pm
KP!!! I’m team Pamphile!!
October 11th, 2017 at 5:12 pm
This is just a ploy to drive down pamphile’s value. It will not work. Some team is going to pay him accordingly and that team will have a stud for the next 5 years. This is a bad decision. This is undue wear and tear on a valuable backup who also plays center. What if smith gets injured? Now you are srewed.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:17 pm
Continuity does matter. Just happens that there’s 2 guys who have been with the team for awhile and both can play without skipping a beat. It’s still continuity.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:17 pm
The Bucs hasn’t offered Kevin Pamphile a new contract, and that is saying something. I don’t believe they are that high on him. This may be his final year in Tampa, if he don’t prove himself between now and January.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Webster, I don’t think it’s a ploy at all. Realistically, the more valuable of the two is Pamphile because he can back up every position and he’s younger. If he gets hurt we’re screwed in terms of flexibility. And as far as not re-signing him at the end of the year goes? No way we let him walk. He’ll get a nice payday, just like Will Gholston did this year. As long as they’re both playing roughly the same, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Of course, one might distance himself more from the other if our OC starts running the ball more than 15-20 times a game.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Don’t really see this as a problem. We will resign Pamphile at end of the year, and maybe offer Evan Smith another 1-2 year deal depending on how they feel about Caleb and some of the young guys.
Now I’m just waiting for the impending article on GMC’s comments today regarding the anthem. I’m guessing the comments count goes well over 100
October 11th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
Its definitely a ploy. Having to pay someone who is a 2 year full time starter is more expensive than paying a part time starter. Again, smith is your first backup center and guard. No need to give him unneccesary reps unless you are trying to drive down pamphile’ value.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:38 pm
If that’s truly the case, then they better be looking for a new starting left guard next offseason. Neither one of these guys is anything better than average.
Licht needs to quit over valuing his roster. He needs to start looking at this roster as if he’s an outsider.
October 11th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Sorry but this is prob some of the dumbest it I’ve ever seen. Pamp not hurt? But they’re sharing playing time? Wtf kind of it is that? Pamp plays well, rarely gets penalties and is young. This team defies logic at times.
October 11th, 2017 at 6:31 pm
Unfortunately, this how the ball bounces in the NFL.
You can’t keep ’em all.
Look at the Chiefs Interior Offensive Line (2010-2016) as a good example.
Drafted Interior Offensive Lineman
• 2010 – 3 Round/Pick #68 (G) Jon Asamoah
• 2011 – 2 Round/Pick #55 (C) Rodney Hudson
• 2012 – 2 Round/Pick #44 (G/T) Jeff Allen
Signed Elsewhere Free Agency
• 2014 – Jon Asamoah ($) 5 year $22.5M contract w/(ATL)
• 2015 – Rodney Hudson ($) 5 year $44.5M contract w/ (OAK)
• 2016 – Jeff Allen ($) 4 year $28M contract w/(HOU)
They’ve always drafted & developed good interior offensive lineman. It has been a critical component to their heavy run, play-action style of play.
And because of this strategy – there’s always an understudy in the wings, ready to assume starter minutes.
Example(s)
• (LG) Mitch Morse – 2nd / 49th pick / 2015
• (C) Zach Fulton – 6th / 193rd pick / 2014
• (RG) Parker Ehinger – 4th / 105th pick / 2016
• (RG) Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – 6th / 200th pick / 2014
To stay relevant 5 out of the last 7 years..
• 2010 – Record: 10-6-0
• 2013 – Record: 11-5-0
• 2014 – Record: 9-7-0
• 2015 – Record: 11-5-0
• 2016 – Record: 12-4-0
The Chiefs have spent most of their draft picks & cap space; on maintaining a staunch defense.
• 2010 – Points Against: 326 (20.4/g) 11th of 32
• 2013 – Points Against: 305 (19.1/g) 5th of 32
• 2014 – Points Against: 281 (17.6/g) 2nd of 32
• 2015 – Points Against: 287 (17.9/g) 3rd of 32
• 2016 – Points Against: 311 (19.4/g) 7th of 32
Great Defense – A Good Running game – and Decent Quarterback play. Will get you to the playoffs 90% time in this league.
October 11th, 2017 at 6:42 pm
This is why I’ve been pushing for us to draft a dominant guard in next years draft.
This kid has perennial All-Pro writing all over him.
Note: I’m torn between Nelson & Bradley Chubb in the 1st.
Worst case draft Nelson in the 1st – and Tyquan Lewis in the 2nd
October 11th, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Theirs plenty of teams starving for offensive line help.
Could Pamphil be used as a bargaining chip- as we move closer to the trade deadline?
October 11th, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Luv
Sup bro? Yo if you gonna trade anybody you gotta trade Evan-Smith. And be sure to do it before the Miami game. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NK1_B8zX87w
😂🤣😂🤣🤔🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
October 11th, 2017 at 7:02 pm
DB55
I would have no problem with that.
No ones like mind games – and seems like we’ve already moved on from Pamphil.
So instead of letting him walk – this offseason for nothing.
Why not see what you can get for him on the trade market.
Maybe you can grab a DE, or CB.
October 11th, 2017 at 7:21 pm
Evans or Pamphil for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie?
October 11th, 2017 at 7:45 pm
Upgrade the defensive backfield
Corners
LCB – Brent Grimes
RCB – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
• Nickel/Slot Back – Vernon Hargreaves
safeties
S – Chris Conte
SS – T.J. Ward
• Big Nickel Back – Justin Evans
Not a bad look.
Especially giving the fact DRC is 6’2″.
October 11th, 2017 at 7:47 pm
I still think the best slot corner is Elliot but what do I know?
October 11th, 2017 at 7:49 pm
He solid
October 11th, 2017 at 8:43 pm
IF Pamp and Evan are “equal” you’d think 100% of the snaps would go to Pamp as he’s 4 years younger and could be with the team for the foreseeable future … unless perhaps the Bucs wants to drive his asking price down in free agency which would be fine by me!
October 11th, 2017 at 11:45 pm
Webster, you are correct and Pamphile knows what they are trying to do. We keep it up and he wont resign.
October 12th, 2017 at 6:21 am
Not for me Evan lost us a touchdown in the Patriots with his hands to the face penalty. Go Pamphile!
October 12th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
LUVMYBUCS-drafting an OG… should almost never happen in round 1. All-Pro guards are often found well outside of round 1. Carl Nicks was a collegiate RT and drafted in round 5…. sure Mankins and Iupati were drafted in round 1…. so was Steve Hutchinson… but drafting an OG in round 1 is a draft move of a team that is loaded or stupid. Not a team in desperate need of talent. Guards in round 1 more often than not DON’T work out. When an OT doesn’t work, they make him an OG… when an OG doesn’t work out, like Jon Cooper and Chance Warmack, he becomes unemployed. if you draft an OG in round 1, he had better be a perennial All-Pro… that being stated, Davin Joseph was an utter failure.
October 12th, 2017 at 12:53 pm
B-Man
Davin Joseph
• Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
• Weight: 313 lb (142 kg)
NFL Draft: 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23
• 2× Pro Bowl (2008, 2011)
• Games played: 116
• Games started: 112
A late 1st round pick – that turns into a 2x Pro Bowler.
Is an Amazing Human Being that does tons work in the community – is terrible?
Who Knew?
October 12th, 2017 at 10:52 pm
Apparently, Joe’s vision extends only as far as his computer screen. When Dirk Koetter refers to continuity while platooning Kevin Pamphile and Evan Smith at left guard he’s right on target. If the Bucs are alternating Pamphile and Smith, a series on and a series off, they are creating and building continuity. By rotating the two men, the rest of the O-line learns to play with either man at the position. This is reminiscent of Paul Brown’s Cleveland Browns who used to “start” three guards and replace one on each play who brought in the play from Coach Brown on the sidelines.