“It’s Kind Of Weird”
May 2nd, 2019
Questions horse sense of not drafting for OL.
Ian Beckles is confused.
The former Bucs guard and popular local radio personality isn’t all that fond of the Bucs’ offensive line as it’s currently constructed. So Beckles, as he detailed on his podcast “In the Trenches,” thought surely the Bucs would at least add depth to their offensive line in the draft.
That didn’t happen and Beckles is scared that the end result of this non-move will be long Sunday afternoons of football at the Den of Depression.
“With all of those picks, the Bucs had zero offensive line help — zero,” Beckles began. “I mean we are going to be the exact same offensive line as last year. Exactly the same. We didn’t get a right guard. You know [Alex] Cappa, everybody is saying we can play Cappa. Well, Cappa couldn’t beat out [Caleb] Benenoch last year! So how good is he?
“Donovan Smith, OK. He is going to be there for a couple of years. He played better toward the backend of the season. Ali Marpet, alright. [Ryan] Jensen, maybe they overpaid him. We don’t have a right guard and we’ve got Demar Dotson at right tackle who is on his last legs. Like Demar Dotson might not make it through camp. He might not. He’s been talking about retiring for two straight years.
“You didn’t go out and get any help whatsoever on the offensive line? It’s kind of weird. … I don’t know. This is it. This is what we’ve got.”
Well, Joe found Beckles’ statement that Dotson may not finish training camp to be quite interesting. Has some birdie dropped something in Beckles’ ear that Dotson has had it with football and doesn’t want to play anymore? Beckles has called Dotson a friend in previous broadcasts.
If Beckles is speculating Dotson will get hurt in training camp, hell, you could say that about anyone on the roster. Did anyone forecast Vita Vea to get hurt on the first day of contact last summer? Did anyone shuffle through a deck of Tarot cards and find a sign that Smith would hurt his knee last summer?
As always, Beckles welcomes feedback and encourages listeners to submit Bucs questions by e-mailing him at IanBeckles@RadioInfluence.com.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:05 am
Heaven forbid we missed out on a 50% or lower chance to find another Ian Beckles. He was a real game changer eh?
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:08 am
This team is such a mess under Licht.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:09 am
I hate to agree with Beckles but in this case he’s absolutely right. Same team different year, same results.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:10 am
All valid points.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:17 am
With the addition of “I’m happy to take jobs” Watford, how can he say exactly twice? He contradicted himself. Maybe he doesn’t follow the team as close as he should? Just a loud mouth who spews nonsense.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:24 am
it’s called development.. kinda like when you are brand new at being a mechanic.. the same things you went in there with when you were new aren’t the same as what you know now a year into it. He also came in from a D3 school i mean you aren’t going to have the same production in the league (not everyone can do what Ali Marpet did). I’m not going to b!tch about anything until i see the product during training camp and pre season. These talking heads just need something outlandish to say to make headlines and get clicks. They can get them from y’all i’m not playing this game this year.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:26 am
After looking at our list of UDFAs, I’m kind of excited. There’s some good talent on that list. Especially Nick Fitzgerald. For some reason, this team seems to somehow, evaluate UDFAs better than mid to late round draft picks. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find a guard there.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:31 am
Well, I happen to know that there are two known schools of thought on football teams.
One is that you can NEVER have enough OLine depth and the other is that you can never have enough defensive secondary depth.
We can only assume that this coaching staff views this roster differently in terms of what we have.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:32 am
Thank god Elgton Jenkins was sitting there for the taking and we passed..
R1-Josh Allen OLB/DE
R2-Elgton Jenkins OG/C
R3-Dre’Mont Jones DT
R4-Jamel Dean or the Kentucky CB at that point CB/S
R5-Charles Omenihu DE/DT
Coulda shoulda
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:34 am
It could be that they were hoping to sign a top tier UDFA guard and that by not drafting any O-Line, they could use that as ammo to convince them to sign with us. They most certainly were interested in Benzschawel (he received offers from 20 teams) but he signed with Detroit.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:35 am
The biggest problem for our beloved Bucs it has not been coaching….That was one part of the several problems….the biggest has been management……You have a roster who has several holes, with a pretty severe situation with depth and much worst on cap situation, just some talent on very specific positions…..and we keep on complaining on coaching. Once again, we have a much less talented team than what we think………We can have opinion on cocahing, but just take a look on free agencies adquisitions, and on the drafts…….. I agree 100% with Beckles……you can’t be even dreaming on making playoffs with an errant QB with an OL that has BIG issues…….And we keep on adding CB!!!!! Just unreal…
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:37 am
Beckles is 1000% correct.
We will have no running game once again, b/c Emmitt Smith himself wouldn’t be able to run for sh*t behind this line.
Are they decent at pass blocking? Yes.
Does good pass blocking = good run blocking? No.
No run game, no playoffs. Simple as that.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:38 am
More IMPORTANTLY they are risking injury to their QB. smh
..and a running game? ..forget about a dominant run game.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:41 am
The depth on this team EVERYWHERE is downright scary. A couple of injuries to some major players and this could get real ugly….
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:48 am
He is right….Jensen is grossly overpaid, Marpet is our only true stud on the line. Cappa couldn’t beat out Caleb B. last year but you think he’s going to come back this year and grossly out play him?……Highly unlikely, but let’s just say he’s as good or slightly better….Caleb B. was still awful. He would grade at an F, so Cappa is a D and that’s going to be game changing for our line? Its not.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:52 am
I remember when we picked up Gosder Cherilos one year in Aug(late addition)
I remember when we traded for Logan Mankins one year late Aug (early Sept)
I expect another late camp addition once roster cuts/preseason/injuries occur
Yawn…..Carry on….Nothing to see hear
I know you gotta fill this dead air tho Joe
Go Bucs!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:52 am
The new coaching staff will validate whether Benenoch and Kappa can play
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:53 am
*here (for the grammar police)
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:03 pm
BucAllNight:
Good point.
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:20 pm
I was impressed with some of the backup linemen last year. Cappa is going into his second year, his second offensive system as well. Players usually take their biggest leap between their first and second seasons. He couldn’t beat out a guy that had been here for three seasons. Hardly cause for concern.
I really think Mike Liedtke proved himself as a decent player last season. He could very well be the starting RT coming into the season.
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:23 pm
We’re going to get some sense of OL help either through a trade like we did with Jenkins, or sign some unexpected camp release like we did with the DL WITH Nassib….everyone needs to chill and let the process play out….it’s only the first week in May!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:24 pm
****Mankins….frickin spell check!
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:31 pm
“Yawn…..Carry on….Nothing to see hear”
I think there is MUCH to see here
RG was our #1 weakness going into the offseason
RG is still our #1 weakness after FA & the draft
That’s crazy to me and incredibly unacceptable.
Warford sucks. Cappa as of now sucks. They haven’t been in pads so no one can sell me on the idea that Cappa is going to be any decent at RG till we see it, and jesus christ what a motherf*cking dumb4ss gamble to take.
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:31 pm
I’m really hoping coaching can fix the O-Line but if it doesn’t then we will have no run game again an #3 will probably lose a bunch of fumbles again cuz he won’t have time to throw an because he’s under so much pressure an no run game he’s going to have to win with his arm an honestly idk if Winston can do that. He makes some crazy plays from nothing but then he makes some boneheaded plays cuz he has to do it all himself.
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Buc all night, Joe,
Good point yes,
But here is another good and more important point..
The way we do things doesn’t work and we absolutely suck.
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:35 pm
You fans always assume that Gump will make the right move and he does not. Time after time, he doesn’t just strike out, he forgets to bring his bat to the plate.
Remember everyone thought it was so cute that Gump would jump in his swimming pool fully clothed every home victory. Think about that for a minute. He’s actually surprised when he’s successful. He’s more surprised than anyone.
Would you want a pilot who went all Martin Gramatica every time he landed safely?
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:35 pm
Maybe I missed something……so, our roster is complete?….is our first regular season game this Sunday?
No, we didn’t draft Oline….but there will be options to improve our line with the second wave of FA & UDFAs…….
I suspect a lot is riding on a GMC trade or cut…..we could pick up a couple of players with extra cap savings.
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:37 pm
I agree 100%. Under Light this team has been completely incompetent at drafting quality lineman on offense or defense. Outside of Vea we have nothing locked in long term on defensive line. We have no starting caliber right guard and no back ups worth a crap at any O-line position. How do you NOT address tackle when your starter is injury prone, 34, and been thinking of retirement?
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:51 pm
The whole right side of the O line is in serious trouble and Gump ignores it in the draft. Just don’t blame the RB’s this year and don’t expect sacks on JW or INTs to go down. Another losing season….. we did get another kicker in the draft however.
May 2nd, 2019 at 1:00 pm
LC
i agree….e.jenkins was right there for the taking…..then i thought maybe c.mcgovern in the 3rd but nope….another DB….
beckles is 100% correct regarding the oline and dotson….i’ve seen him and dotson out in public several times……even helped both of them with some title work for a food truck….if its one person that knows about dotson’s health or state of mind, it would be beckles….
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Yes, it is only May but, was Beckles inaccurate in anyway?
May 2nd, 2019 at 1:15 pm
“Kobe still thinks Carolina and their buddy Billy Beane from the Bills did Gump dirty
Both traded up 2 spots right before Gump in the 2nd round
Gump thought he would have a choice to get Little or Ford at our spot but those 2 GMs was playing poker while our Gumpy was playing tiddlywinks”
Kobe Faker
May 2nd, 2019 at 1:21 pm
Beckles maybe the only guy I know who is more down on the Bucs than Joe. Always negative. Plays well here.
May 2nd, 2019 at 2:05 pm
The OL will be better just by coaching and a year of experience being together. Don’t discount coaching and continuity. But please, get Cappa in as the starter. It cannot get worse than Benenoch.
May 2nd, 2019 at 2:11 pm
The Bucs are not playing to win it all in 2019 because they don’t have enough talent. I believe next year 2020 the Bucs will be better with their new defensive toys. They will draft at least two OL high probably in the first 3 picks. Rookie OL have an easier time transitioning than do rookie DB’s. The DB’s will all be in their second and third seasons. Wouldn’t that be something if the Bucs were the first team to play in their home stadium in the SB. Build a consistent winner.
2019> 8-8
2020> Super Bowl
May 2nd, 2019 at 2:17 pm
@Lord C: The #1 weakness of last year’s Bugs team, by far, was coaching.
May 2nd, 2019 at 2:35 pm
@Cobra
Actually agree with that. But after that it was RG in terms of a totally inept player with no hope at the position going forward.
Praying to god Cappa completely transformed his body and ability to play OG for this season at this point; or that we find some undrafted gem which is possible / happens a lot with OL.
@Kobe
We should have moved up for Ford. Not as high on Little personally
May 2nd, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Has Vegas adjusted their over/under on the Bucs post draft. By not addressing the offensive line and overdrafting a bunch of secondary players I think the over/under should now be 3.5. I would take the under on that. There will be injuries to this already young and sh1tty lineup which could end up getting Lovie Smith/Ray Perkins bad very easily. I have seen a couple of those silly 2020 mock drafts and some are assuming the Bucs will picking 1st next year. I have to say I feel that is a strong possibility after this disastrous offseason. I have no idea why Arians agreed to take over this sh1t show!
May 2nd, 2019 at 2:51 pm
That picture tells me everything I need to know about ol Ian. Pink shorts hugged up with the police.. Gotcha dude👍🏾.
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Gruden made 2 trades with teams who picked right in front of us, and BOTH of these teams took the O Linemen we planned to take.
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Opinions vary, but IMO MLB was far weaker, and more detrimental to team success than RG.
The Red Rooster was bad enough, but since he headed to the chicken coop sick bay, the Bucs had nothing in the middlle. Minter? Meh. Joe Dirt? You gotta be kidding.
I am not sure Koetter really cared about the run game based on unimaginative, repetitive run calls. If I could pre-call a run, I assure you every DC in the NFL could, too.
Koetter could call a vertical pass game, no doubt. But that is where his coaching mojo ended.
A teams can use more and better Big Uglies. But in the Bucs situation, a rookie RG will not make that horrendous defense any better.
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:17 pm
>>> That picture tells me everything I need to know about ol Ian. Pink shorts hugged up with the police. <<<
You may be missing the picture in that picture.
**********
Police said Beckles was walking into traffic while people left a Citizen Cope concert at about 11 p.m. Thursday. After an officer asked him to walk on the sidewalk, the officer wrote in his report, Beckles was “highly intoxicated, swaying and slurring his speech," and that he "had difficulty speaking in complete sentences and had the strong smell of alcohol on his breath."
After police spoke to him about obeying pedestrian traffic signals, Beckles allegedly slapped an officer on the back and told him, “OK, tough guy.” According to the report, Beckles continued jawing with officers, and he approached a horse. The officer on the horse told him to stay away. Beckles moved toward another horse, and another officer ordered Beckles not to touch the horse.
Beckles allegedly failed to listen — and touched the horse.
After posting $100 bail, Beckles was released from jail about three hours after he was booked.
**********
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:19 pm
I hate Android spell check and tiny touch keyboards…
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:27 pm
let the new coaching staff do their job..if ur not in the meeting room,what do u know so stfu…GO BUCS!!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Beckles just says stuff to fill time, people that take what he says seriously are not understanding his gimmick.
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:30 pm
Jimmy – I once saw Arnold Schwarzenegger punch a camel and knock it out, and then a police officer, on foot, chased after him in a car and nearly caught him.
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:32 pm
One time Beckles made a good point. No clue what so ever why we didn’t get at least one Olineman in rounds 1-7.
But I do believe this is going to be a great coaching staff. They have been working with Cappa individually a lot and I’m excited to see if he can be put in the right position (RG/RT) to increase his game in his second season.
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:41 pm
Dear Ian … Time to move on. Anywhere, please just move on.
May 2nd, 2019 at 3:57 pm
I didn’t want D.Smith to be paid $40 million because I saw Liedtke dominate at LT in pre-season last year, especially game 3 against starters when he got 85% of snaps.
Cappa (RG) and Liedtke (RT) totally turning the right side of the line around in 2019 would be a dream.
May 2nd, 2019 at 4:11 pm
I actually feel a little better as result of your break down Jimmy. Thanks.
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:12 pm
Call me crazy, call me a fickle fan but I lost faith in Licht long ago.
When Bunting popped up @ #39, with both RT Dalton Risner & QB Drew Lock on the board…(1st Rd Talents)…Bunting felt like a Slot-Corner NEED reach. Not that I don’t like Bunting..Just believe he’d been there in the 3rd.
I literally turned the draft off & walked away after #145….Not that I don’t think the Bucs needs a cost effective K…But I’m not in the “DRAFT a K” fan club. I would have drafted WIS RT Edwards there.
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Love him or hate him, Beckles is correct. We didn’t sing much depth in the FA market and during the draft we failed to even sniff a decent back up or any camp meat. Add in the fact that someone thinks RoJo is going to be a great pro RB at some point, and what we could be facing is another Licht nightmare. What kind of idiot drafts a KICKER instead of line hep? Yeah, our idiot.
May 2nd, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Beckles is a lot like Steve Dumig. Not quite as bad butnhe is close minded and will come up with a way to disagree with someone even if he agrees with them. Dude is full of crap
May 3rd, 2019 at 8:26 am
Warren sapped actually predicted vea getting hurt. He’s a d lineman who’s done it in Tampa obviously and warned us vea would struggle. Heckles played the o line in Tampa. And is friends with Dotson
Hhhmmm as a bucs fan I’ll listen to the former player who did it for 9 years.