Marpet: Center Time Will Make Me Better Guard
April 16th, 2018
Silver lining
Left tackle in college, NFL rookie right guard, true virgin center in Year 3, and now a left-guard-in-training for Year 4.
Is there any doubt Ali Marpet will play nose tackle next season?
Joe’s having a little fun there, but there’s nothing funny about Marpet playing musical chairs through much of his football career. It’s been a serious and challenging ride.
Today at One Buc Palace, Joe asked Marpet whether believes his 2017 season at center will make him a better guard. Marpet is highly optimistic.
“Yeah, I think it actually will. I think I will be able to play faster, be able to see everything a little bit better – the defense – anticipate things better,” Marpet said. “If anything, I can help [new free agent center] Ryan [Jensen] out and he can help me out. He has played guard, so he knows it from a guard perceptive, so I think just more perspectives is helpful.”
Joe agrees and Marpet’s center experience should make him a significantly better player. That’s the big upside to the Bucs’ rather wacky relocation plan for Marpet last season.
And since 2017 is in the rear view mirror, it’s all gravy and roses from here for Marpet, who says he hasn’t put in time yet studying left guards around the league.
Joe sure hopes Marpet pulls up 2015 Logan Mankins film, considering it was in Dirk Koetter’s offense. And Marpet would be very wise to dial up tape on Andrew Norwell to nail down why he got paid a king’s ransom in free agency after manning that position for the Panthers last year.
April 16th, 2018 at 7:19 pm
Moving Marpet to center was worse than Jermaine Phillips moving to linebacker. Marpet is my second favorite Buc and I’m pissed he is not settled down into a role yet
April 16th, 2018 at 7:23 pm
Marpet is the least of our worries. If we get Nelson or at least another starting OG in the draft I think OL will be fine. I think Benenoch is waiting to blossom.
He needs a regular spot though. They’ve jerked him all around the line.
Perhaps RT?
April 16th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
In a recent article, Koetter called Benenoch the”Wild card”
Benenoch has been groomed to replace Dotson
Sweezy may have been rusty , after a year off.
How we view the Bucs offensive line, may be quiet different than how the Bucs view the offensive line
They obviously agreed that Marpet at center was the weak spot on the line, along with Kevin Pamphile.
Now, we have a new center, and a new Left guard( Marpet).
Benonoch ended the season as a starter at RT.
The Bucs Oline may be Rt Benenoch, Rg Sweezy, C Jensen, Lg Marpet, LT Smith
Licht and Koetter may very well consider the Oline fixed. Any Oline talk may just be a smokescreen
April 16th, 2018 at 8:27 pm
2017@ guard would have made him an even better OG…I do understand…
April 16th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Altered
Agree man. Tired of this staff moving guys around. Hard pressed to find a situation that works out well on any team. Put guys where they belong and draft or sign guys for other spots. And I hope Benenoch starts soon. He was picked 2 spots before Jordan Howard, RB anyone? And little before Tyreek Hill. Hindsight is 20/20 of course and who knows how those guys perform with this staff. But Licht needs to step it up with his picks after the 4th.
April 16th, 2018 at 8:48 pm
Stop moving guys around.. wasting good talent
April 16th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Without Hawley, Evan Smith and marpet will get Jensen up to speed and those vets can make sure marpet is good to go. This is a strong group in the position meeting along with the d line I think the trenches have improved dramatically, this should translate to more wins
April 16th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Even when the Bucs get it right drafting a talented player, they do everything in their power to ruin it, this has Bucs disaster written all over it, I hope I’m wrong, but that’s like hoping Doug Martin would’ve lived up to his payday contract, or a lazy DT from Washington would finally start caring and produce once he got paid, it’s a Bucs life
April 17th, 2018 at 1:38 am
I agree, this is a benefit to him, learning other positions on the line is important. Marpet was a tackle in college, then a guard and then a center, having versatility like that can only help.
Then again you don’t generally use an entire season to make someone versatile, you do that in preseason and in practice.