Marpet: Blame The O-Line
July 26th, 2018
Suggests o-line played poorly.
Joe is confident several people will be jumping up and down about this in glee.
For those who are unoriginal and blame the Bucs offensive line for everything from the defense being a complete sieve to global warming and the war on straws, this is your day.
You can thank Ali Marpet.
Yesterday when Marpet spoke before the local pen and mic club at One Buc Palace, Marpet was asked why the Bucs run game stunk last year (Hey Ira, ever heard of Doug Martin?). Marpet jumped on a hand grenade and claimed it was the offensive line.
“It is tough to put your finger on why we haven’t been successful but it is clear we haven’t been successful in the run game,” Marpet said. “We need to do better. The offensive line as a whole has taken ownership that we haven’t been performing to the level we would have liked. But we were capable.”
This all sounds nice and fuzzy, but props to Marpet being a stand-up teammate. Joe watched games too — live at the Den of Depression.
First off, if you want a bad Bucs offensive line, how about a few years ago when it was anchored by the likes of Anthony Collins (who never played another snap of football after the Bucs told him to go home in December of the lone year he played for the Bucs), Garrett “Whoops!” Gilkey, Oniel Cousins and Josh Allen. That was an insult to sober football fans, old and young.
Joe has seen dams with open floodgates that didn’t leak as bad as that line.
Joe also watched the Giants and Broncos last year. Egads!
The reason the run game stunk was simple: The Bucs, like a heroin addict, couldn’t stop giving the ball to Doug Martin even though he was done. A guy who set an 83-year old NFL record for worst yards per carry (2.9) in back-to-back seasons with over 100 carries is the reason.
There is no way the Bucs had the worst offensive line in 83 years. C’mon.
Not to mention, if the line was so horrid, how come Peyton Barber ran so much better? Unless you believe Marpet and his teammates were laying down for Muscle Hamster.
July 26th, 2018 at 9:21 am
Again….there is enough blame to go around. Agree totally with Joe that this OL was far from our worst…I’d call them average at best but they didn’t suck out loud.
So..yeah the OL had a part…the RB had BIG part…the QB didn’t help…the play calling from the Coach didn’t help…Licht’s franchise was way out of balance…there are PLENTY of reasons…everybody had a part to play in last year’s debacle. I’ve even heard a couple of Buc cheerleaders had Body Odor…it was a really tough year!
July 26th, 2018 at 9:24 am
It’s coaching and the inability to motivate the big boys on the OLine. Let’s face it, there are MANY 6’5” 320 Pound human beings walking this earth. To that end, there is not any difference with the ones that make it in the NFL… It’s all between the pound human beings walking this earth. To that end, there is not any difference with the ones that make it in the NFL… It’s all between the ears and how they are coached and motivated.
July 26th, 2018 at 9:27 am
I applaud you Mr. Marpet! The first step to fixing a problem is admitting the problem. Nice to see the different groups taking the responsibility for poor play last year. When we start playing as a team and holding each other accountable, the w’s WILL come.
July 26th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Regardless of where the responsibility lies for last year, lets hope we don’t have that problem this season. I have much hope in Rojo. But I hope Koetter eyes are functioning properly and he too can see what Rojo can add to our run game. I like Koetter, but he is friggin blind/hard headed at times with what he sees.
July 26th, 2018 at 9:39 am
@Marpet … ““We need to do better. The offensive line as a whole has taken ownership that we haven’t been performing to the level we would have liked.” I like it; that’s the right attitude to go into the season with.
@Joe … “The reason the run game stunk was simple: The Bucs, like a heroin addict, couldn’t stop giving the ball to Doug Martin even though he was done.” Yup, it’s ALL on ONE player, not the TEAM. Martin stunk last year, but he only had 138 carries (crappy 2.9 YPC average). The other 3 RBs had 193 carries (for a less-than-sterling 3.9 YPC average). Even if Martin had averaged the same 3.9 YPC, that’s less than 9 more yds per game rushing.
Our problem wasn’t JUST Doug Martin. When both your QBs have better rushing stats than all of your RBs, something’s wrong. Bucs’ OLine was OK at pass protection last year, but they sucked at run blocking. Sweezy on one side of center & Pamphile on the other … BOTH of them now gone. Yup, it was ALL Doug Martin’s fault.
July 26th, 2018 at 9:43 am
Psssst! Hey Sheep, playcalling helps Oline tremendously
In the new NFL offenses, the competent OCs call plays to slow down the pass rush and help the Oline in the run game
July 26th, 2018 at 9:45 am
Just about every fan base in the NFL thinks their offensive line is horrible, with the exception of Dallas. Even the year the Bucs won the Super Bowl people were complaining about the offensive line and Kenyatta Walker was the guy blamed the most.
July 26th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Our offensive line was terrible, IMO. Jameis saved this O-line from a worse grade because he is hard to tackle and is more shifty (awkward) than he looks. This, of course led to some stupid throws and fumbles. We also had one of the worst run games in the league. We were constantly hit behind the line of scrimmage. I think Dirk was to blame for some of this, there was no innovation in our gameplay and our play calling was painfully predictable. Having said that, last year was an utter disaster any way you look at it. No more looking backwards for me, it is always easier in hindsight. As long as Dirk changes things up all around, I think we will surprise a lot of people.
BTW, the biggest surprise in the offseason? Only Jay Hayes was fired. How in the world did the ST coaches, O-line coach and D-back coaches survive. It is rather astonishing to me.
July 26th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Lol Donovan Smith, setting the world on fire according to JBF HQ
July 26th, 2018 at 10:32 am
Joe- De-nial is not just a river in Africa!!! For a minute there, I thought you were going to cave. Nope, you managed to stick to your faulty perception that Doug Martin is solely to blame for everything Buccaneers. Congrats to you on that!
For those that watched d-lineman blow up the RB 3 yards deep, I must respectfully disagree with your take. Barber’s yards came behind mostly back-up lineman who weren’t previously blocking when Martin was in. Lets not even mention the fact that Jameis was running for his life on nearly every play!
I’m glad that Marpet takes ownership. It is a group in need of much improvement. Hopefully the upgrades do just that.
July 26th, 2018 at 11:15 am
Ali Marpet is a guy that we need to get squared away to a long term deal, soon. He is someone that is a pro bowl caliber player and a leader.
July 26th, 2018 at 11:23 am
Well no chit.
Too bad Joe is still so stubborn he refuses to place ANY blame where it belongs, even when they players say so themselves.
July 26th, 2018 at 11:25 am
scheme and play calling…..that’s the answer…..both are outdated….
remember 2015…..we ran the ball like crazy and was good at it….doug had a great year…finished #2 in the league that year…..and who was holding dirks hand?….lol….that’s right….you guessed it….dirk is an average OC….nothing more…
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 26th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
The change more than half the o-line over the offseason and the offensive lineman even say they are the problem but joe still thinks the runnning game is about the RB SMH. They really let anybody make football blogs now a days huh?? I mean doug needed to go 4sure but running the ball is about blocking from the o-line, anybody can carry the ball thats why they arent paid well DUHHH!!!!!!! Bucs o-line has to improve this year for this team to be succesful
July 26th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
I wondering if licht should have just drafted Will Hernandez over Vita in the 1st.
I’ve been saying that this season will come down to how well the oline plays. The right side of the line needs help, imo it’s currently non-existent.
July 26th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
He sucked. The OL sucked. No RB on the Bucs looked even average. Peyton Barber didn’t take over a quarter of football much less a game. Why does this team strive to be average and this website push them there? Anyone watching the games with even a hint of football experience knows the Bucs couldn’t run the ball. NFL RBs do not forget how to carry the football. Koetter would be wise to move Marpet to RG to save his job.
July 26th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Why did Peyton Barber run so well behind the same line?
July 26th, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Joe
Barber and Rodgers ran for the same ypc. Why are you so up on Barber when Rodgers is not only the better back but can catch and pass protect?
Barber should be #3 on the depth chart. Rodgers, Rojo, Barber.
July 26th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
i like that Joe ignores the fact that the Bucs were averaging 83 yards rushing for the first 3 games of the season when drug martin was suspended!!!!!!
We all agree drug martin was bad, But the running game was not “fixed” when others were running when dm22 got basically benched!!!!!!
even when the 2 backup O-line started, Who were better in run blocking and held the line instead of losing ground) Payton barber only averaged 67 yards a game for the final 5 games!!!!!!!!
July 26th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
The first step in problem solving is acknowledging the problem. Barber and Jones will each have 1000 yards rushing in 2018. Bank.