No Lip From Ali Marpet
April 16th, 2018
Hopes to make sweet music at LG.
Bucs center guard Ali Marpet doesn’t impress Joe as a guy who would lash out at a coach for any reason.
Marpet, as good of a dude as there is, is a yes-sir/no-sir kind of a guy. If he ever is PO’ed at a coach, he’s more likely to punish a defensive lineman than to bark at the coach.
But Joe had to wonder, after all the hoopla about Marpet moving to center, a move that had been openly talked about by the Bucs since the week Marpet was drafted, what Marpet’s reaction was when he found out spending a year in 2017 learning to play center was pretty much a wasted season.
Marpet didn’t go there with Joe. Instead, Marpet said he reacted the way most would expect Marpet to react. In so many words, Marpet said he wants to win and if it means learning a third position in four seasons, so be it.
“It’s a new challenge,” Marpet said. “If [the move to left guard helps our team, then I am all for it and I think it helps our team.”
That’s the Marpet we have all come to know.
Marpet also added that learning to play left guard should be made easier by playing in-between two good players like Donovan Smith at left tackle and Ryan Jensen at center.
April 16th, 2018 at 8:37 pm
As I recall, Licht said he called Marpet before getting a Center and asked him if he preferred to stay at Center or move to Guard. Marpet said he’ss willing to do whatever it takes to win.
So he had the option of staying at Center. He’s a team first guy. And I bet he’ll still be a pro bowl guard.
April 16th, 2018 at 8:50 pm
If Marpet is truly moving to left guard than I highly doubt the Bucs will draft Quentin Nelson at number 7 overall to play right guard. Right?
April 16th, 2018 at 9:34 pm
No telling. Might just move Marpet back to right guard.
April 16th, 2018 at 10:12 pm
Come on Buccaneer BrownEye…you were insisting that Marpet was going to stay at center given your “insider” status. Sounds like your backpedaling better than Neon Deon and covering your tracks like Ray Lewis in a limo. Nice try though…
April 17th, 2018 at 12:03 am
I wish Donovan Smith had Marpet’s quote about changing positions. He only cares about that LT payday. He could play RT if he had to. OLman switching sides is nothing new.
April 17th, 2018 at 12:06 am
Just because Smith “says” he can’t play RT doesn’t mean it’s true.
April 17th, 2018 at 4:21 am
Donovan Smith wont play Right tackle, because it pays a ton less.and before any of you start running your mouths about hiw he should do whats best for the team, answer this-
Would you walk into your boss’s office, and volunteer to be demoted. Also recieve a 25-40% pay cut?
This from a Job that you have proven good at, and nearly everyone of your companies 31 competitors would want to hire you to do!!
Left tackle is a rare, difficult talent to find. They frequently are drafted in the top 10. Right tackles are normally taken in the latter rounds.
Donovan Smith is a good, Young left tackle. After watching him closely- I think he is the strongest LT in the league.
He is still improving.
If the Bucs did something really stupid, and Asked Smith to play Right tackle,
He would just laugh- and demand a trade.
And twenty teams would call as soon as they heard- trying to strike a deal.
LTs are hard to find- and we gave a very good one.
We had a great one- a pro bowl LT, but the stupidest fans in the world bitched about him, until he wanted to leave- and the Bucs felt they should let him leave.
And the best LT in team history walked for nothing.
Its my opinion that no Buc fan should EVER be allowed to mention LTs.
They have no Idea what they are talking about.
April 17th, 2018 at 10:12 am
Capt.Tim, I never said D.Smith was a bad LT or they he should be moved. All I said was that I wish he had Marpets mentality. When asked to move from LT in college to RG as a rookie he didn’t complain. When asked to move to C he didn’t complain. When asked to move to LG he didn’t complain. I’m sure Marpet likes money like anyone does, but is willing to play wherever it takes for the team to be successful. If there was a LT worthy of being drafted at 7, or if we picked up a stud LT in FA, D.Smith wouldn’t change positions like Marpet is willing to do. That was the point of my post. Not whether he’s is good or is our best option or not. Just what’s more important to him. And I’m sure Marpet never walked up to Licht wanting to be paid less either.
April 17th, 2018 at 10:14 am
Also, I never wanted Donald Penn let go either.
April 17th, 2018 at 10:29 am
After playing collegiately at LT, I would think Marpet would be fairly comfortable at playing LG. Same stances, same movements, just different position and considering he has played RG and C, LG will be nothing for him.
April 17th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Nelson is the pick.. this smokescreen proves it