Bucs Changing Tune?
March 14th, 2018
Bucs wooing a new offensive lineman
Are the Bucs changing their singing voice more drastically than David Lee Roth?
Throughout the offseason, both publicly and privately, the Bucs sang the praises of Ali Marpet at center. No, Marpet didn’t dominate, but he was learning a brand new position he had never played before at the NFL level. Hell, he even changed his body and started packing on the pounds.
The Bucs made it clear to those who would listen, both publicly and privately, that they were convinced Marpet had turned the corner as a center just when he got hurt late in the season.
Marpet, the Bucs said, is the future at the position.
This is really nothing new to those who pay attention. Joe vividly remembers Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht saying the weekend he drafted Marpet that he graded out as a center prospect.
So this news that the Bucs will wine and dine Crows center Ryan Jensen tonight, per Albert Breer of theMMQB.com, has Joe flummoxed.
If the Bucs put so much time and effort into training Marpet at center, and they thought he had just mastered the position, and Marpet himself said he thought he was just getting comfortable, then why throw your hands in the air and give up already?
Again, unless the Bucs have been involved in a well-coordinated offseason con, the team has been adamant that Marpet is your Buccaneers center.
Now they want to bring in a new center?
What is going on here?
March 14th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
One word: depth!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Marpet is staying at center. Easier to find a great guard than a great center.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Will most likely play G whether he signs with us or the Colts.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
They’ve also said they want to get the best 5 on the field however it makes sense. Jensen can play OG as well.
The Colts are the other team Jensen will visit – and they just drafted C Ryan Kelly in the 1st round 2 years ago. If anything both teams may be asking him to move to OG; but we all know it’d make sense to just let Jensen play C and move Marpet back to RG. And both can play either position and he’s the best interior O-lineman left.
This signing would be ideal I don’t care what they’ve said about Ali lol. OG’s make more $$ anyway I doubt he gives a sh1t
March 14th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
2 words: no plan
March 14th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
They now realize that you keep players in their position of strength, crazy right!!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
I think it’s about getting the best 5 guys on the field. Plus, it’s not a done deal they’ll outbid Indy for his services. One thing I have noticed re this Bucs mgmt team is they publicly say one thing but whether they actually mean it privately is another. Common close to the vest style employed by many in football, college and pro.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
@joe what is up with you not wanting us to improve our Oline?? Both of these guys can play C and G. Maybe marpet stays at C, maybe not. Either way this signing would make our Oline better. Funny, Joe never wrote that. –Joe
Look at Dallas, zeke is really good but he would not have had the success hes had if it weren’t for the line.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
My 2018 Free Agency Wishlist is getting smaller.
• QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (RE-SIGNED)
• RB Jerick McKinnon (SIGNED W/49ERS)
• RB LeGarrette Blount
• RB Orleans Darkwa
• TE Cameron Brate (RFA) (RE-SIGNED)
• G Senio Kelemete
• DE Julius Peppers
• DE Trent Murphy
• CB Brent Grimes (RE-SIGNED)
• CB Ross Cockrell
• K Cody Parkey (SIGNED W/BEARS)
March 14th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
@Joe…
Ummm, I believe on a prior thread, you just tried to “correct” or refute this Bucs fan’s opinion on this very Jensen topic.
For the Buc faithful out there, which is it Joe….you felt you were “right” when you refuted my posted opinion, and now writing this article? Hmm…
Go Bucs!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Ryan Jensen is a OG that was converted to OC a year ago, just like Ali Marpet. Marpet graded higher than Jensen at OC. They both can play OC and OG.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
They’re probably just going with making the interior of the line as strong as possible. They must consider Jensen an bigger improvmentthan just signing the best leftover FA guard.
To me, Jensen is a C+ center.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Jensen has started all 3 interior positions, Joe. Signing him doesn’t rule out Martpet staying at C.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Sign him and Solder. Actually give us a line that’s good.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Joe I tweeted you this guy is 320 pounds and plays guard. He’s the 9th ranked center in football according to pff
March 14th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
What’s going on here is the possibility of upgrading two positions with one signing, Joe. Marpet is a good center, but an excellent guard. Jensen is a better center than Marpet. That feels like a no brainer if they can pull it off.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
They are both offensive coordinators?
March 14th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
I was against the move of Marpet to Center from the start last year. Now that they went with it they cant give up on it after 1 season tho.
Jensen is also listed as an OG tho so maybe they will try him at LG? But if that doesn’t work out then what? Marpet at LG? Sweezy at LG?
March 14th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Solder signed with the Giants
March 14th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
@SCBucsfan…
Dave Gettleman snatched up Solder this morning for 4 years $60 million bucks! So there’s goes that dream for ya, sorry.
Go Bucs!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Sign him. He can play G and C and is one of the best in the NFL. Move marpet back to G…please.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Joe it’s simple , your upgrading two positions with one signing. It’s the obvious move
March 14th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
solder is gone to the giants……
@joe said it best…..What is going on here?….
this front office has no plan…..you can tell their just “winging it”……
no urgency….no excuse….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
This is how this team continually ruins players.
Play them out of position (scheme) or force them into changing their positions.
When the “experiment” ends in chaos, release the player to a team where they properly position them for success.
Buc organization just does not know how to evaluate talent and use it to the best advantage like other teams do.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
This isn’t rocket science. Move Marpet back to guard. Put Jensen in at center. Improve rushing attack. Win games. Keep jobs for another year and then figure out who the better center. What’s the mystery here?
March 14th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
I think we will see the Bucs focus on younger players, and Jensen fits that being only 26. Beau Allen is 26. EJ Gaines is 26. Trent Murphy is 27.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Let’s just say this is coming from the horse’s mouth.
If you consider Marpet an “experiment” at center, then the team believes it was successful.
Again, when they drafted the guy, team organization’s research suggested he graded out as a center, not a guard in the NFL.
***If*** the team believes he had just turned the corner — and the Bucs admit he struggled and they expected him to struggle some — then why toss in the towel and move him back to a position the team feels he is a lesser player at, going against their own research?
Unless, again, the cheerleading of Marpet at center is a well-coordinated con.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Marpet can play center, and he excels at OG. Sign Jenson to play center and kiss Sweezy and his floppy hat goodbye!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Sign him and get rid of the trash sweezy !!!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Jensen was fantastic at C for the Ravens last year, if we sign him he’s clearly the starter and Ali is going back to where he belongs at G. Hopefully this leads to us giving Sweezy the boot.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
How does anyone know he would come in as a guard? Magic fairy dust left over from an elf erotica play room? Marpet was trending up as a guard and slipped a bit last season.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Jensen’s a better center and Marpet’s a better guard than any FA? Was this supposed to be hard?
March 14th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
I duno why anyone’s even mentioning Solder. OT is fine with Smith/Dot. Not the best tandem in the league but the team is obviously not paying $15 mill to an OT when those 2 have at worst been average. Dotson consistently grades out as a very good RT. Smith was a high 2nd round pick whose started every game. Makes no sense to spend that much there.
Interior has been the area we want to upgrade. They wanted Norwell but not at $13-14 mill. Jensen can likely be had for $10 mill and I pray to god they get that done and / or Sitton.
In general the Bucs have been linked to the top 3 Interior lineman in FA – and the interior of the line is what obviously needs upgrading over Pamphile/Sweezy. So pretty sure they actually had a plan with interior.
THe RB market got retarded fast so they backed out. McKinnon being paid as a top 4 RB is insane. That’s like paying this DT Beau guy top 10 DT money or something.
I am fine with their approach so far to the offense as long as they get a big interior upgrade in FA and draft a RB. I’d be fine with that philosophy.
What i won’t be fine with; is not adding another CB; plus some front 7 upgrades geared towards rushing the passer; and maybe a S sprinkled in.
Still lots of CBs worth signing and still lots of rushers that’d be upgrades along with Sheldon Rankins
March 14th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Solder is gone to the NYG. 4 years, $64 million. Overpayed. Makes him the highest paid OL in the league and he ain’t the best OL.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
And then Sweezy goes back to LG. Improve 3 positions.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
What’s worse, trying to move Marpet and sticking with him at a lesser able position, or cutt No your losses and putting that beast back at OG.
I prefer Marpet at OG bc he is an animal and gets on ppl quickly.
I’d rather see Marpet chewing ppl up at OG and it’s nice to know he’s a team
Player and versatile enough to step in if needed. Having that versatility from Marpet allows the team to
Sign the best possiblle backup at OG OR C!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Solder to the Giants…fyi
March 14th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
hope they get this guy ! and also gaines ! cut sweezy and if nelson is on the board id do it!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Moving AM would also mean that the new Center will be just learning the offense and line calls!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
This is no mystery. If they don’t acquire a center, they’ll be all in on Marpet at center, and they’ll talk as if that was the plan all along. But if they can get a plug n play center, make the line stouter, then they’ll happily move Ali back. Joe dwells on the Bucs public statements too much. THey’re not obligated to tell you their plans, and they’re going to tout the positives of Marpet at C as long as they don’t have a better option. Again, no mystery here.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
Which cares, Joe? Upgrade the line. Jensen means 2(!) Oline positions get upgraded. Seems like simple math to me. Add Nelson? And the line can dominate. Who cares that last year the plan was Marpet at center??
March 14th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
I personally would rather see Marpet back at guard assuming we sign Jensen or draft a guy like Billy Price. Then you put Marpet back where he was borderline dominant and can still line up at center in a pinch.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
This is a precaution move, see when Licht signs SUH there is a chance our O-linemen might get hurt in practice trying to block SUH and Tmaxcon favorite #93, six time pro bowl, fan favorite, Superman minus the cape, Gerald McCoy.
Going to need some serious practice meat when these two rhino’s are unleashed.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
The Bucs are not and have not been in the market for a starting tackle. So yeah, that was a dream.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Our LT sucks. Winston gets hurried, sacked, hit, because the LT can’t finish. The OL is only as good as its weakest link.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Perhaps Sweezy still not being cleared medically has given them cause to pause, and they would rather move Marpet back to RG, the position he was clearly better at anyway, than risk banking on Sweezy again.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Folks saying players are costing too much…..well folks that is the FA market place spring of 2018…..for quality players…you get what you pay for and 2 half azz players don’t equal one good one…I am hopeful the y can sign Jensen and hopefully another guard….well of course Suh…only because the D is desperate for a upgrade….hopefully we can trade down …a go defense early an often…squeezing in a RB VERY early
March 14th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
There’s a reason our RBs run through the middle. Cant get by the turnstile quick enough.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
Hawley’s repalcement is all this is, back up center/guard. Depth and multi position player, not bad insurance.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:40 pm
Gives us more flexibility….whether Marpet stays at Center or goes back to Guard.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
OK…picture this…the Bucs front office is on a desert island thirsting to death…several boats pull up with gallon jugs of water for sale…the Bucs say ..”too expensive”….we’ll wait…and they watch the boats sail off into the future
March 14th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
@AlteredEgo, that’s because you can buy time and drink your own piss before you die of dehydration.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
Joe Says:
“Again, when they drafted the guy, team organization’s research suggested he graded out as a center, not a guard in the NFL.”
That’s how I had him on my wishlist that year too. I was surprised the put him at Guard, but not surprised he excelled there. He’s a hard worker.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
I would draft price in the 3rd if he last that long. With an injury he may go into the later rounds but that kid could be the future at center. Brian Price OSU
March 14th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
He’s Young & Versatile. Sign’em Up
Good call awhile back L.C.
#Trenchwarfare
March 14th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
I like Billy Price and several other centers too..I do know what kind of OG Ali is…not sure what kind of center he’ll become….draft a freaking center or sign one this FA…lets not get too cute …
March 14th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
Marpet is an all-pro level player at guard – at center he’s not that. Get a real center, move Marpet back to guard and you have a huge line upgrade.
March 14th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Sign Jensen – cut Sweezy.
Crosstrain both Jensen and Marpet at C and RG early on and see which way works best between them alternating at both positions in training camp.
March 14th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Ali to G, Jenson at C. But another G and draft replacements for Dotson and LT.
March 14th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
I say blow up the entire O line. None of them can block worth a darn
March 14th, 2018 at 4:06 pm
What happened is Sweezy sucked and is hurt again … Jensen at C and Marpet at G is way, way, way better than Marpet at C and Sweezy at G … simple as that imho.
March 14th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Keep Sweezy for depth, grab Jensen now, he has started at LG as well and is much bigger than Marpet – he can play all 3 inside positions which is what the OL coach craves – it’s all we hear from them is they want versatile lineman – grab all available talent!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 9:31 pm
Joe’s you are so correct, David Lee sounds terrible these days.