Misguided O-Line Criticism
November 3rd, 2017
“Thank you, bro.'”
Joe is numb after hearing it so much. You know, like people saying the Bucs need a pass rush. You think?
It happens often throughout the week but the crazies come out of the woodwork on gamedays. The Bucs’ offensive line stinks, they claim, cry, bellow and holler. Joe hasn’t believed this since Josh Allen, Anthony Collins, Garrett Gilkey and Patrick Omameh stained the grass of the Den of Depression.
Now there is tangible evidence, aside from modest research and an awareness the NFL is in an offensive line crisis, that the bellyaching about the offensive is just that. Hollow.
Per BSPN NFL Matchup research, Bucs quarterbacks this season (America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and Ryan Fitzpatrick) are some of the least pressured QBs in the NFL. They were “pressured” 22.8 percent of the time on pass plays. That’s 7th best in the NFL.
(Oddly enough, four of the worst five teams when it comes to allowing quarterback pressure are winning teams.)
Joe has often believed stomping one’s feet over the Bucs’ offensive line is little more than a lazy, knee-jerk reaction. See the substance that buoys Joe’s belief.
November 3rd, 2017 at 5:07 am
so this is really embarrasing for Jameis.
It means his OLine is giving time to make the good choices and still he doesn’t make them.
November 3rd, 2017 at 5:56 am
Wake up. Jameis is just average at best.
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:11 am
Fuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-uck. What r we gonna do. Shame. How do u fix this mess quickly. I just don’t see it. This team is……. Not good.
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:16 am
For someone that claims to not believe in Stats Joe sure has been citing a ton of Stats lately…. just saying.
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:33 am
Not a good luck for the Superstar
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:37 am
The only big “issue” for the OL imo is that there are still 2 guys rotating at LG.
People complain about Donovan Smith but at least he is out there every play.
Biggest needs in offseason, imo are DE, RB, LG, CB. In that order.
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:42 am
Maybe Jameis need to start stealing crab legs and soda from a Burger King, and shoot B.B. guns. This model citizen crap is dragging his play down!!
I’d rather have a guy that gets in petty trouble and wins championships than a pillar of the community that over throws a cheetah and causes brainless fumbles
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:51 am
Interesting! Now, if only they could run-block!
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:57 am
Yep…..how about that run-blocking?
I disagree with Joeypoppins’ draft order……should be DE, DE, CB, RB
November 3rd, 2017 at 7:01 am
every 3rd down i seen vs the panthers
the oline got blown up while koetter was calling a deep bomb
November 3rd, 2017 at 7:05 am
I have faith in our line but those numbers are not a straight line absolving the O-line in some of (not all) of our offensive troubles. Among other factors, it is the TIMING of our pressures that has had the most effect. In the flow of the games our miscues have led to interceptions, called back plays, etc, which hurt the momentum we had or were on the cusp of achieving. Again, I don’t comtend they are the root cause, but they have taken their turn so far in the losses where we look bad. Little tweaks, better overall game management and some well-placed luck….we get on a roll. Keep the faith. Root for the team (vice tearing it apart at every turn), and Go Bucs!
November 3rd, 2017 at 7:16 am
And Donovan Smiths drive killing penalty every single game..
November 3rd, 2017 at 7:28 am
The criticisms have been directed at the run blocking, which has nothing to do with quarterback pressures.
Do these stats take into account untimely penalties? Nope.
If you really love Jameis as much as you guys hype up, then you should be concerned by Donovan Smith’s lack of development, because if he doesn’t grow up then Jameis is gonna get hurt a lot more.
Get some true run blockers on the right side of the line and watch this offense flourish.
November 3rd, 2017 at 7:36 am
look*
November 3rd, 2017 at 7:51 am
This also has to take into effect that fact that james gets rid of the ball and can move a little bit but the OL is flat out garbage with that turnstile out at LT, but the bucs can keep on keepn on because licht has built this team from the Kicker inward
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:03 am
So the guys from ScuttleBucs and Ira K believe that the oline sucks, especially sacred cow Donovan Smith but they are all crazies like the rest of us, right? Pride and ego causes some to lash out in strange and misguided ways!
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:23 am
We’re 2-5.
No part of this team is good enough to make us any better than 2-5.
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:24 am
Joe
How about we provide a more balanced view and show the stats from the running game and the OL. If we want to analyze OL pass plays, look no further than the 3rd down stats. If this is true, than Winston is a below average QB and we need to make a change.
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:32 am
You can have the Dallas Cowboys OL in Tampa and it would not matter if JameisNOT is the turnover machine dumb as a bag of hammers QB.
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:34 am
Jets D coming to town next. JW will have at least 3 turnovers and every time will come off the field with the deer in the headlights look…..Duh, what just happened.
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:41 am
I don’t get the “JameisNOT” moniker. What’s it mean?
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:44 am
Dang wewantgruden did jameis not give you and autograph or something sounds like some personal hatred for the guy….im 50/50 on the HC, but look at jared goff and what a bust he was going to be until mcvay shows up, maybe coach k is not the QB whisperer he was tabbed to be
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:44 am
but according to some, its lack of talent….
according to some we need to fix the oline….
BS…this all boils down to coaching….the coaches(OC mainly) aren’t putting them in position to win….simple as that!!…GO BUCS!!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 8:47 am
How much of those stats are skewered by Bucs getting behind by big numbers against Vikings and Cardinals and then racking up garbage points later.
So, according to Joes, none of Bucs rb’s belong in NFL and offensive line is just fine…talk about Ostrich think
November 3rd, 2017 at 9:28 am
Clodhopper: Its a play on James-is….James is Not. BTW: i appreciate your candor on this blog. The folks out there that have no clue about what it take to lead a team of all Alpha males has no clue on what is truly going on. To that end, 95% of all NFL players (removing kickers) are Alpha males…or they would have never made it in the league. Having to listen to a preacher QB wears on these Alpha males. Particularly, when you do not practice what you preach. It is good to see that he is dialing that down a bit. Someone must have gotten into his ear. Probably Fitz, the intelligent QB. We would have, at most, 3 losses if Fitz was the started this year.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:09 am
Offensive lines are supposed to run block effectively too. Ours doesn’t. I’d like to see a stat that shows how many times our running backs get hit behind the line of scrimmage or run into a stone wall at the line of scrimmage.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:13 am
GM: draft a kicker in the second round and not a O-lineman……
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:19 am
I guess those O-line breakdowns last week was a figment of my imagination. I guess Smith constant penalties negating big plays is a figment of my imagination. Give me a break. Jameis makes that line better. Everyone says it. Look at the amount of hurries last week. Stats lie.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:35 am
I’ve said it before, constant 3rd and 7+ yards to go numbers will generally not add up to good percentages. Add drops, pressures and the opponents to that and the numbers are not good. Fix 1st and 2nd down to minimize the distance we have to go, eliminate the untimely penalties and mistakes, and we look alot better in the win column. We have an execution problem, not a QB problem. Best QB and leader of men we have ever had. True teammate, committed to winning and making everyone better. Don’t let your frustrations with our record lead to the wrong conclusion… you’ll look like a fool when we start playing more complete games and start winning again.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:39 am
The oline has been decent in the pass game but horrible in the run game. I know this site is not big on Martin, neither am I, BUT the oline has not opened holes very often and more times than not have allowed dlinemen in the backfield before the ball is even handed off. I mean if you have a really good to great online you don’t need a hall of fame rb to run the ball some. Think about all the capital used on this Oline and then tell me the results are good. Two high draft picks (Smith & Marpet) another draft pick in Phamplie, a boat load of cash and salary cap usage in Sweezy and Dotson who is paid decently. The Oline should be much better and help the team but right now they are liability. No part of this team has played to the level of their ability and that is issue number one and that clearly includes the oline.
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:27 am
Too bad they stink at run blocking.
Very good is pass protection though.
Of course that is excluding both tackles getting false starts, holding penalties, and illegal use of hands to the face penalties every game…
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:41 pm
A running game that defenses have to even sort of game plan for sure would take the pressure off any QB. One good RB and two DE’s actually producing would change our success dramatically.
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:51 pm
The O-Line has been playing good this season. And as far as run-blocking, they have only attempted to run 153 times (30th in NFL). The NFL top rushing team (Jacksonville Jaguars) has attempted 238 rushes in the same amount of games as the Bucs. They averaged 169 YDS/G , 5.0 YDS/A. And their starting LG is former Buc ( Patrick Omameh), who L&L discarded after the 2014 season (which he started all 16 games). Omameh took the bulk of the blame for a pathetic O-Line, that was formed by L&L. That feature Bums like Onieil Cousins, Anthony Collins, Jamon Meredith, Jace Daniels, Garrett Gilkey.