Betting On Benenoch
January 22nd, 2018
Appreciated internally
For four years under offensive line coach George Warhop, your Buccaneers have done a strong job developing newbie offensive linemen.
There’s no denying it. Just look at the record, including starting Jaguars left guard Patrick Omameh.
Then 24-year-old Omameh started all 16 games for the Bucs in 2014. It was his first NFL action as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan in ’13. Then he was booted to the curb for a Division III left tackle named Ali Marpet, who Warhop transitioned very quickly into a stout right guard.
Rookie left tackle Donovan Smith thrived in a hurry under Warhop in 2015. And 2014 fifth-round pick Kevin Pamphile went from “Milk Carton” to wildly versatile contributor a year later.
There have been lesser name youngsters who also contributed, including center Ben Gottschalk, who looked good until a freak injury stole his career last season in Kansas City.
And that brings Joe to 2016 fifth-round tackle/guard Caleb Benenoch.
Just after last season ended, Joe asked Dirk Koetter to share personal highlights from his o-line. Koetter went right to Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson and named them alone.
But previously on his Buccaneers Radio Network show, Koetter said Benenoch was standing out as a punishing run blocker.
The record shows when Benenoch took over at right tackle with five games to play, the Tampa Bay running game improved. Of course, that’s when Doug Martin began getting phased out slowly in favor of Peyton Barber.
Regardless, Benenoch can run block, and there’s every reason to believe he’ll improve. He turns 24 in August. Benenoch’s pass blocking needs work, though.
So what to do with Benenoch? Do the Bucs look to become more of a run-first offensive line with younger legs. Or do they ride with Dotson for his 10th year with the team after he’s missed 18 games over the past three seasons?
Joe would love to see the Bucs get young, hungry and angry on the o-line. This regime has had much better luck developing youth than banking on handpicked retreads.
January 22nd, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Warhop is capable of coaching these kids up, no reason to draft o line early, need to get a late round guy with right size and motor every draft, and keep Warhop instructing/coaching.
Keep Dotson but expect injury and plan to replace as needed with Bennenoch who needs additional coaching up.
MUST have a new RB, younger is better, good draft for backs so pick one in round 2, hopefully trade down for additional high draft pick.
Oh and get rid of Doug Martin, get a big back–like elliot, fournette, ajayi or a. peterson.
January 22nd, 2018 at 2:58 pm
counting on a unproven player will have us reaching in the draft every year…..benenoch is ok I guess….good depth….versatile…but 16game starter, idk…..I saw him get slapped around vs c.jordan and j. peppers but they do that to a lot of tackles…lol….we’ll see….im optimistic about his future….this staff…not so much….GO BUCS!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:00 pm
When you say Kevin Pamphile is “wildly versatile” does that mean he sucks at different positions?
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:01 pm
the backs i mentioned were just example i know they will never be available–just need one similar
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:09 pm
it’s time to move on from dotson. ian beckels needs a cohost.
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:14 pm
When you add it up….fans seem to want to get rid of every player……Pamphile, Sweezy, Dotson…..I guess we better keep Benenoch.
I do agree that Warhop seems to do better with developing than he does with some of the FAs we brought in…..the only good FA was Mankins.
We need a back that can run over defenders because we can’t seem to move them out of the way.
I know we have a glaring need at DE….but we could do a lot worse with our # 1 than RB(Barkley) or CB(Minkah) or G (Nelson)…..
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:26 pm
For four years under offensive line coach George Warhop, your Buccaneers have done a strong job developing newbie
wish we could say that about the DE and CB coach…..GO BUCS!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Dotson was having one of his best years. Benenoch is a very solid backup “swing” tackle. If we draft Nelson plug and play at LG then pamphile would be solid back up swiss army knife as we all know he can also play tackle. I am in STRONG opinion we sure up our O line this draft with Nelson and a starting center possibly. Then IMO move Marpet back to RG and boom we have nasty PHYSICAL oline. We desperately need DE pass rushers but I dont see many impact players in draft minus Chubb..and he will be shaking commissioner’s hand well b4 # 7 rolls along. I LOVE “Joe’s” idea few weeks back about Quinn from the rams. If of coarse he is cap casualty, if he is not maybe trade for him..who knows maybe 5th rounder or 4th would do the trick.and then next year draft a DE early.
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:46 pm
Tom Brady makes his O Linemen look like all pro’s. Then again he knows how to read a defense and take what is given.
The reason we used to be good is because of leadership at the player level.
we have a bunch of players all about themselves. no leadership.
shut up and play.
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Licht’s craft beer that you like so much Joe must be up well over 100 proof by now. Only reason I can see for you penning a line which says “For four years under offensive line coach George Warhop, your Buccaneers have done a strong job developing newbie offensive linemen. There’s no denying it.” That fallacy is on par with just about everything I see coming out of Washington DC nowadays, from both parties.
What did Warhop have to do with Omameh? Patrick played here ONE year … then we WAIVED HIM. Didn’t trade him or even keep him as a backup. Pamphile is a ‘wildly versatile contributor’? Love it. Check his ratings; might be ‘backup quality’ but that’s about it. Benenoch standing out as a ‘punishing run blocker’? Nice touch on throwing Martin in there (yet again), but reality is that Dotson is a much better blocker across the board. Far as Donovan Smith goes, he’s maybe an average LT … not horrible, not great. Ali Marpet is the true mauler … guess that’s why they moved him to Center so they could tie his hands. You might be betting on a 5th round pick (Benenoch) Joe, but I’d much rather see us start drafting true maulers like the Cowboys did, Oakland did, Tennessee did, etc. Maybe then we’d have a decent running game AND some better pass protection.
BTW, did you happen to notice the pass protection that Brady got the other night from his OLine? And against a top-notch DLine too.
January 22nd, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Re-sign Dotson to a 1 year deal atleast, hes earned it.
January 22nd, 2018 at 4:17 pm
That offense line coach sucks and every lineman the have sucks , only time they had any punch to him was when making spent one year there have they picked up incognito Paired with Swenzymes they could’ve had a little start
Every yard in every season Martin has played he has got on his own as soon as opposing defenses figured out the box have nothing upfront it’s easy to stop a small guy their offense of line is terrible plain and simple and has been for years they have no tradition upfront whenever they have a good run or a good blocking series which is never it all seems like an accident
January 22nd, 2018 at 4:23 pm
His pass blocking needs work? What pass blocking
January 22nd, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Keep him, Dotson, and add another OT either in FA or the Draft for more competition. Don’t settle for sh1t like this by counting on a guy who has flashed promise vs actually establishing himself as a force.
January 22nd, 2018 at 4:59 pm
So Pat O. started every game in 2014 at age 24 but was kicked to the curb because we drafted Marpet? Here’s a novel idea, why didn’t we keep both? That’s how you build depth, by developing, and keeping your own. How much better would we be had we kept him?
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:09 pm
Koetter also said he thought the O-Line was one of the best at the end of this year and EVERYONE knows that’s no where near true. I did think Benenoch looked like he was developing some what, but I also have believed Peyton Barber has been a good back since his rookie year. If Benenoch can turn out to be a good run run blocking OT like Koetter says and we got the dominate run blocking Nelson at OG that could be a huge addition to our running game, a serious need for Jameis and the offense.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Hodad,
The Bucs cut the 24 year old Patrick Omameh less than two weeks after trading Tim Wright and a 4th round draft pick ( DE Trey Flowers) for the 33 year old Logan Mankins. That’s how the Bucs do things, it’s the Bucs way.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:18 pm
LakeLand
Omameh was freaking horrible when he was here. He was constantly rotating with guys like Ted Larsen lol
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:19 pm
” So what to do with Benenoch ?” Maybe we should get rid of him, like we did Penn, Zuttah, Larson, Omameh, & Gottschalk. It’s worked great so for.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Easy,
It’s funny you say that because Ted Larsen went on to start at Guard for the Arizona Cardinals. And Patrick Omameh went on to start for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They wasn’t good for the 6-10 Bucs, but they can start 16 games for playoff teams.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Not the 6-10 Bucs. They were the 4-12 and 2-14 Bucs.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:43 pm
I just really don not know what some of you people are watching. Stop listening to the talking heads and watch with your own eyes. Jameis was running for his life all year and we had one of the worst running games in the NFL. What else is the O-Line asked to do? Those are literally their only jobs, to open holes for the running game and to protect their QB. Marpet is good (could be great at G, D. Smith is fair at best at LT, I don’t care what statistic you throw at me, I watch every game and have for 35 years. He could be great at G or RT but we move the wrong guy. Our coaches play designs and play calling don’t help the O-line and certainly don’t help the RB or QB which in turn hurts the TE and WR. The worst thing about our Offense is clearly our Defense. So this is the year the Glazers decide to stand pat, LOL. Playoff teams are firing coordinators that helped to get them to the playoffs and we are “holding strong”. So frustrating, there will be 20-30K fans at the games by the 5th game next year if Dirk and Smitty don’t change. SMDH!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:45 pm
I guess OG Patrick Omameh, OG Ted Larsen, OT Donald Penn, OC Jeremy Zuttah were all horrible for the Bucs. But they can start for a playoff team and Penn made 1st team All-Pro. Jeremy Zuttah made the Pro Bowl.
January 22nd, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Demar Dotson is under contract through 2019 and will make $4,615,000 this year and worth every penny of it. Dotson was the fourth highest rated right tackle) by PFF. Not bad regardless of what you think of PFF. Our best OL is with Marpet at Guard and Hawley at Center. We need to draft a Guard or better yet go after the best FA available.
January 22nd, 2018 at 7:41 pm
6-10 talent
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:20 pm
The o-line was terrible this year. Couldn’t open holes for the running back and had Winston under duress. Look at all four teams in the Championship, they have great o-lines. Great d-lines too
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:21 pm
Bennenoch seems like RG not a RT to me … he’s a poor pass blocker
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:23 pm
Benenoch is a very interesting prospect. In his youth he was a soccer player from Nigeria…and apparently a good one. He’s very athletic for his size(he was the fasted OL at his combine) and another year in our system might reveal some good progress.
He had an EXCELLENT career at UCLA!!!!
2015 – Started all 13 games along the offensive line (nine at tackle and four at guard) … Team leader with 35 consecutive starts … Team surrendered just 14 quarterback sacks, the second-lowest total in school history … Helped pave the way for Paul Perkins, the third-leading rusher in school history.
2014 – Started all 13 games at right tackle … Named honorable mention all-conference … Helped pave the way for the Pac-12’s leading rusher, Paul Perkins, who ran for the second-highest single-season rushing total in school history.
2013 – Started the last nine games of the season at right tackle … Named second-team Freshman All-America by 247 Sports … Presented the John Boncheff, Jr. Award for Rookie of the Year on offense at the team banquet.
All players do not come out of college ready to start in the NFL. Usually it takes a few years. I certainly do not want to give up on Benenoch yet.
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:07 pm
Only mildly related to betting on a player but I’m really curious about JBF posters opinion.
First let me say that both Brady and Bortles played very, very well in THAT game.
That was ONE game. Do we believe Bortles is the real deal or a one hit wonder?
Meanwhile with that ONE good game because of the situation…AFC title game in Foxboro against the Pats will make it hard for the Jags to now move on from Bortles. This may have been a Pyrrhic playoff run for Marrone and the Jags.
A lot harder to dump Bortles after that game. They may be hosed and chained to Bortles. If he IS the real deal no sweat…but if he turns out to be the Bortles we have seen so frequently in the past the Jags are hosed.
What say ye JBF posters? Bortles success good for the Jags next year and beyond? Or does it stick them with a mediocre at best QB heading into next year?
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:04 pm
Comical to me hearing the masses say DONT DRAFT A GUARD AT 7. I mean if he is best player left on the board then why not??!!!?? A probable perennial prow bowler on the Oline sounds like a no brainer to me. Don’t we need to improve run game ? Don’t we need to better protect Winston? Look what happened when JW got injured, it would be great to get a can’t miss DE but doesn’t look like that will happen at #7 this year. And trading up is fine if your a player or two away, we CLEARLY are not. So imo best bet is solidifying the best Line we can offensive\defensive and the way the chips are apparently gonna fall Nelson should be are guy. Zach Martin from dallas is a stud, and by most accounts Nelson is more advanced at this stage than Martin was. ” FIX TRENCHES” Is a theme i keep hearing and in agreement with so start it off with the kid from Notre Dame.. Yes we can get a guard in later rounds, but not a sure fire guy like Nelson. N we cant afford to mess around we need resuts.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:23 pm
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StPeteBucsFan,
Bortles is not a real QB imho … he’s a gimmicky game-manager that can only throw out of play-action like Mariota.
I also do NOT think he did anything special in the Pats game … I didn’t see him make even one play that a typical back-up QB can’t make … seriously.
He had ONE nice throw in the entire game … to the right sideline over a defender … that was it … everything else was basic.
Anyways, if I’m the Jags I am CUTTING Bortles if I can sign Jimmy G or Cousins or even if I can trade for Alex Smith.
ELI MANNING is the name that keeps coming up … and that’s a tough decision due to Manning’s age … but … I think I’d even cut Bortles if I could get Manning cheap (as in a 3rd and 5th round pick or something like that), though I’d also draft a QB early … someone like Mason Rudolph in the 2nd round, so I have a guy Eli can groom to be the future.
Anyways, I believe that had the Jags had Alex Smith or Cousins in that Patriots game, the Jags would be in the SuperBowl hands down …
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January 23rd, 2018 at 3:41 am
@joe
You forget Oneill Cousins? Worst o-lineman I have ever seen.
Logan Mankins should be hired immediately!!!!
As our O-line coach!
January 23rd, 2018 at 7:27 am
“Benenoch’s pass blocking needs work”
A mild understatement. I had high hopes for Caleb – but his development is going slower than expected from what I saw him put on tape last year when he was playing after Dot got hurt.
January 23rd, 2018 at 8:22 am
You guys who want to keep Dotson are insane. The best ability is AVAILability, and he ain’t half the time…not to mention he is now getting older.
Dump him. Addition by subtraction.
January 23rd, 2018 at 8:24 am
NFLNut Says
“Anyways, if I’m the Jags I am CUTTING Bortles if I can sign Jimmy G or Cousins or even if I can trade for Alex Smith.”
I don’t see that happening. Bortles may not be elite, but by doing well this year he forced the Jags to keep him.
January 23rd, 2018 at 8:25 am
Also, Eli Manning will not be available.
January 23rd, 2018 at 9:01 am
Lets just fire everyone on the Bucs and let the fans pick every player through a vote! I am sure that would work out better.
January 23rd, 2018 at 9:35 am
Our biggest problem is we continue to settle on players. We think we are set at a position or HOPE we are set on a position and it bites us in the a** during the season. If we want to pencil in Benenoch as the offseason or opening day starter fine but if the best OT in the draft comes our way we had better take him… You can never have too many great players at one position.
January 23rd, 2018 at 9:43 am
logan mankins wasn’t that good here…another example of us getting burned by the patriots in player swaps or pick ups…the hoody and tom chuckle about how they steal from the bucs and give them toilet turd in return…we don’t need logan mankins for sh*t…all he had when he got here was good pedigree and a cool ass name…
i hear he is starting a napkin company with his wife…called “mankins napkins”…even that sounds pretty coo!
January 23rd, 2018 at 11:47 am
Caleb is garbage he’s responsible for more jw fumbles than opposing dlines
January 23rd, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Beneoch is only good as a reserve G. Dotson is our best Tackle and can even play LT if needed. LT Smith will be an All Pro at LG but he is a turnstile Tackle hurting Jameis, and must be moved this year. Get a LT in the draft.
January 23rd, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Dotson garbage too.