The Offensive Line
December 6th, 2017
Position addressed.
If regular readers haven’t noticed, Joe isn’t one to continually beat a pot and pan together on the street in the middle of the night to wake up the neighborhood screaming about the offensive line.
Sometimes, Joe isn’t sure which is more lazy, to b!tch about the offensive line non-stop or to b!tch about play-calling? Aside from Sunday in Green Bay, the Bucs have been pretty decent in pass blocking. Even after a seven-sack day by the Packers, the Bucs are still ranked No. 13 in sacks allowed. That’s not bad.
And if Peyton Barber’s day with three starters out up front (Ali Marpet and his penciled-in replacement at center, Joe Hawley; as well as right tackle Demar Dotson) didn’t explain how the lack of a running game wasn’t solely due to the front line, like most people are quick to blame, then Joe doesn’t know what else to say.
In a look back at what went wrong for the Bucs this season, ESPN.com Bucs beat writer Jenna Laine also believes the offensive line is a culprit. She implies the team should be ashamed of itself for not beefing it up.
The Bucs neglected their offensive line this past offseason, and with the struggles they had getting the running game going, that can’t happen in 2018.
Joe respects Laine a bunch. She really works hard and uses her good contacts both with the team and in the NFL. Frankly, the offensive line was addressed in the offseason.
Unless someone has tape of J.R. Sweezy playing for the Bucs last year and Marpet playing center last year, these were two positions that the team believed they actually upgraded. Sweezy, you may remember, missed all of 2016 with back surgery.
Did the offensive line improve with the upgrades — so the Bucs believed — at right guard and center? Joe would say yes, even though the results with the run game didn’t show.
Until injuries hit and Clay Matthews went wild on the Bucs Sunday, the Bucs offensive line did a good job protecting America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. Isn’t that the goal, protecting the franchise?
Yes, the Bucs did address the offensive line before the season started.
December 6th, 2017 at 5:12 am
They have addressed it, however it’s been done poorly. Smith seems to get beat in key plays, or get called for holding. Barber is a north-south runner. He can make his own holes. Martin needs a better line to succeed, and if the line has someone like Logan Mankins on it, he’d look pretty good
December 6th, 2017 at 5:53 am
Disappointed in Pamphile, I was looking for a big year form him. He was rotated in and out, I think he will be gone and sign elsewhere for 2018. Sweezy has not been very good, maybe it’s the injury or rust, but man he has not looked good. Then how much longer can you depend on Dotson? His age and injury history, so there are 2 maybe even 3 spots you have to fill for 2018.
December 6th, 2017 at 5:57 am
You’re right Joe, the OLine is awesome and they surely did improve with the upgrades. We now have a 32-yr-old ex-basketball player as our RT (oh ya, on IR), a 28-yr-old ex-DLineman as our RG (recovering from an injured back), an awesome 24-yr-old Pro Bowl caliber Guard playing Center (also on IR), a 27-yr-old 5th rnd backup as our LG (who has no business starting), and a 24-yr-old behemoth with slow feet playing LT (who should be playing Guard opposite Marpet). I see TWO ‘keepers’ on our present awesome OLine. But hey, they’re 13th in sacks allowed so all is good.
December 6th, 2017 at 6:10 am
This team sticks and can use upgrades everywhere.they don’t even have to be great individual s but must be a good unit. The online that is ! I love my bucs but I can no longer wear rose colored glasses! I can only go by watching game tape and watch every position as the plays developer..some individuals r good players but as a team they just do not play like they should and that has to do with talent and coaching of that talent and it’s just not there..so the question is , who the hell can get us back to competitive football again ? Cause as you all know we have not even been competitive in most games ESP against the good teams.
December 6th, 2017 at 6:27 am
Guard play and penalties on the Tackles are the issuses!!!! ( though the penalties on the Tackles are down from last year!)!!!!!!!!!! DS76 is still in the top 10 in penalties, 9th this year, last year he was 2nd in the league!!!!!!!!!!! DD69 is 28th this year and was 8th last year!!! Though he gets help from OJ for a good percentage this year!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2017 at 6:37 am
When you say “addressed” I can only guess you mean signing a guy in 2016 who missed ALL of last year “his FIRST year” after having back surgery? And I suppose you also mean converting a player to arguably one of the more difficult positions on the field and him NEVER staking a live snap in said position in ANY game at any point of his career at any level??? Well yes then I suppose you can say that genius Licht did address it.
December 6th, 2017 at 6:44 am
Tbr , you just described the whole offensive line ! Guards cannot jump off the line of scrimmage and blow people up , pushing forward ! Tackles are a mess even tho I’m not as down on d.Smith as most are. It would just be nice to see the unit play with push ! It’s like they try not to lose every play instead of forcing their will onto others ! I also think strength is an issue and once they do get into the second level of the D , they don’t block well in open space either ! And don’t get me started on the other line we have
December 6th, 2017 at 7:01 am
Or, is it more lazy to point at the RBs YPC when he’s got defenders in his face 4 yards deep?!
Pass-blocking tells ONE side of the story Joe.
Barber’s 100+ yard game has more to do with GB”s defense and the fact that the subs on o-line can run-block while horrid at pass-blocking IMO.
It’s pretty obvious to anyone with eyes that this offensive line stinks!
Look, Green Bay came in with an above-average run defense, 3.8 yards per carry allowed, and was returning two key pieces of their defense, including clay Matthews. See how Anthony Becht broke down Barber’s success. His view is quite different than yours. –Joe
December 6th, 2017 at 7:23 am
Offensive line is the least of our Worries.
The stupidity of continuing to play Martin made it appear to be an issue,
But the Issue is Running back.
That, and Jameis admirable trait of refusing to give up on a play- and occasionally holdingbthebball to long.
The fans of this team must all be Madden players.
They seem so impatient with our young players- if they arent all pros as rookies, then they are bust
Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet will continue to improve. Both showed improvement this year,”.
Pamphile seemingly regressed a bit-but has the talent to improve
Sweezy looked stiff, after a year off. He’ll work on Flexibilty this summer- and also will improve.
The Most important thing.
The More they play together- the better they become as a UNIT.
Good teams have great lines.
And ussually they are great- because of the time playing together.
This team has been a P.O.S. Many , many years.
A good team only a few times.
This is due, in part, to constant change.
Coaches, Systems, players.
A line of good players- who have played together and know each other,
Is often far superior to a unit of great players, who are unfamilar with one another.
Improvement is the product of stability.
Constant Change is an act of desperation, and produces Chaos.
Which explains 90% of Buccaneer history
December 6th, 2017 at 7:42 am
If our defense could get off the field on third down, the offensive line would be used more often.
Sure, we could use an additional lineman or two….will probably not resign Evan Smith or Hawley, maybe not Dotson…..we’ll got to FA for them.
Our problem is on the defensive line…..like I said we need 6 DEs….
December 6th, 2017 at 7:44 am
Wondering why 6 DEs?…….That’s because 4 won’t work out or will be injured before the season.
December 6th, 2017 at 8:00 am
“Upgrade”?! hahahahah…….this team has less wins than the year before and the OL has been a neglected part of the team since licht gave away all pro donald penn and then drafted a corner instead of a franchise LT and then a K instead of addressing the OL…..time to silverdome this group running the team
December 6th, 2017 at 8:09 am
Tampabaybucfan … OK, I’ll concede that we need 6 DEs … IF you’ll concede that we need 4 DTs, 4 CBs and 2 more Safeties on defense. (We’ll work on the offense later because … D-E-F-E-N-S-E wins championships).
December 6th, 2017 at 8:11 am
What ever changes were made to the O-Line …has not worked because our O-Line is no where near average…Barber had a decent game …but it was nothing special!!! WE LOST THE GAME!!!
December 6th, 2017 at 8:15 am
Im not judging the oline with stats just an eye test, this o line does not get consistent push in the running game and often allowed penetration into the backfield. I also see our linemen pushed back on passing plays too far. They are unable to control the line of scrimmage, our d line Has the same issue, maybe we need a new strength coach
December 6th, 2017 at 8:16 am
it does not matter how many de they bring in all will fail until cancer93 is out of the building. simple as that. no player in the history of nfl can suck the will to win out of a teammate faster than the POS cancer93… His legacy is simply the Face of the Basement Years the results are not disputable. you can not rewrite history nuthuggers just because you love his doll collection and smile. Results cut and dry she has never won a meaningful game in a 8 year career and has quit on multiple coaches. that’s our captain… captain blowout. bucs have not won a meaningful game in 15 years and with glazer clowns making decisions there is zero hope of a meaningful win in the future.
December 6th, 2017 at 8:18 am
Respectfully Joe, how do you account for the lopsidedness in blocking then? Are you saying that Peyton Barber is so much better at hitting holes than every other back on the roster? How does the o-line allow 7 sacks while busting 100+ in the run-game?
Look, I hope he proves me wrong because we desperately NEED a run-game. However, until he does it consistently, that game was an aberration.
And, to be clear, I’m not beating the DM drum. Doug SHOULD be gone after this year.
We can’t generate a running game for 11 games, defenders all up in the backfield then, voila, GB comes along.
Prove me wrong Peyton!
December 6th, 2017 at 8:23 am
Bucsfanman
martin should have been gone 2 years ago and never should have received his pay day. keeping unproductive losers is the trademark of the bucs franchise. letting talented players walk and destroying former pro bowl players careers is what bucs do best.
December 6th, 2017 at 8:28 am
TMax has become unhinged….just like his Daddy Trump! His team has regressed…Coaching be the reason!!
December 6th, 2017 at 8:35 am
Its not like this past draft was loaded with OL and RBs but licht being the shrewd GM he is outsmarted the other 31 teams and waited to pounce on the gem of the RBs of the 2017 draft because he knew the snoop protege would push us to the brink
December 6th, 2017 at 8:39 am
Yeah, that trading up for a kicker thing didn’t come back to bite us.
December 6th, 2017 at 8:47 am
Maybe tmax, but they had to address “bigger” issues. Hopefully that SOP does NOT continue. This franchise needs to be turned around.
December 6th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
What are the stats on QB hits? All I know is I saw Jameis get walloped on four different occasions going down on the same bad shoulder which took him out for two games.
December 6th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
When you look at offenses that are very good at using all their weapons like the Bucs have so many of, you see a bad ass O Line and that’s not something we have. We have one top notch player in Ali Marpet and that’s it. We need a couple more top notch or close to top notch players on the line and I think this offense could really be doing it big.
December 6th, 2017 at 12:36 pm
^^^You can start with Connor Williams in the first^^^ I know everyone wants and we will probably end up getting a defensive player but I sure as hell would not be upset with that pick.
December 6th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
@SOE-
We’ve allowed the 12th most QB hits in the league (76). AKA good pass blocking according to J0e.
Cuz you know, when 2 of the 3 QBs on your roster have missed significant time due to injuries sustained from hits and sacks, that means your o-line is providing good pass protection.
7 sacks and 14 QB hits last week.
Over 6 QB hits almost every week this season, along with a minimum of 1 sack
AND Struggling to run the ball 9 out of 12 games this year.
December 6th, 2017 at 1:12 pm
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This TEAM has a ton of holes everywhere. The ONLY positions it’s set at is: QB, WR, TE, LBs and DTs … that’s it.
We need TWO CBs, TWO DE’s, RB, S, G, RT/LT, etc.
This is primarily why the Glazers should have demanded Koetter LOSE the Jets/Phins game on purpose … a top 4 pick could have been traded down to a team who wanted one of the FIVE projected 1st round QBs (Darnold/Rosen/Allen/Mayfield/Jackson) for a king’s ransom … but no … we win those two meaningless games and now will probably get the #6-8 pick and won’t be able to trade down … we can still grab a Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, Quenten Nelson, Mike McGlinchey … or maybe even Bradley Chubb, but that’s it … no much-needed extra picks to go with them.
BAD FRANCHISES DO STUPID THINGS …. JUST ASK THE BROWNS
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December 6th, 2017 at 2:02 pm
@NFLNut
Don’t think we’re “set” at DT. I haven’t seen Brown do sh#t this season. I have liked Clinton McDonald while others have not but he’s getting over the hill now at 30. And two DE might be a bit extreme. Gholston is terrif at run stopping and if Noah can get that shoulder healthy I think he could become good at getting to the QB quickly. If we could get Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety with the what looks like rising Justin Evans, that hole could be jammed so freakin tight it would need a jack hammer to get through. But all I know is this D sucks at the moment. I suppose only time will tell.
December 6th, 2017 at 3:35 pm
^ I only said “set at DT” as I don’t think the team will be looking to draft or sign one until the following year … GMC, Clinton, Swaggy, Siliga, Stevie T (if returns from injury) … I just think the team will consider the DT position one of the last ones they need to concentrate on.
As for DE’s … I look at Spawn as a 3-4 OLB and hope we go to a 3-4 next year as Spawn-Kwon-Bekwith-LaVonte could be the best LB group in the entire league and give our defense elite speed.
December 6th, 2017 at 9:31 pm
^ Agreed about Spawn. Could be a great OLB, especially since he lost all that weight, but also was fast and had good movement in his injured rookie year in the 4-3. If we could get a kick ass 3-4 DC with those four hard hitting speedsters at LB and possibly add Minkah, Chubb, or Key, this defense could go from horrific to terrific in one year.