Bucs Did Not Ignore OL
August 26th, 2019
“Man Jason, even Will Gholston could have got to Jameis Friday night.”
The offensive line of the Bucs displayed such a horror show Friday night, it has many Bucs fans losing their minds.
Why, it was so bad Friday, even Joe — more often than not a defender of the front-five — is outraged.
But can we please stop with this invented narrative that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht ignored the offensive line? That’s like saying America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, is a southpaw.
Licht and the Bucs very much have addressed the line, both in the draft and free agency. Now you may quibble with who Licht selected but he has hardly ignored the line.
Let’s take a look.
Donovan Smith LT: second-round pick, 2015.
Ali Marpet LG: second-round pick, 2015.
Ryan Jensen C: fifth-highest paid center in NFL, free agent 2018.
Alex Cappa RG: third-round pick, 2018.
Demar Dotson RT: inherited by Licht and re-signed in 2016.
So Licht has added (and re-signed) two second-round draft picks, wrote a very large check from Team Glazer for a center, drafted a right guard on the second day of the draft and re-signed a right tackle.
That’s not what Joe calls “ignoring.”
Again, you may quibble with the guys Licht settled on to improve the line. Ignoring? That is a lot of draft capital and Team Glazer loot invested in the front five.
August 26th, 2019 at 10:08 am
They may not have ignored the line but they managed to build a soft, slow pathetic offensive line that needs more fixes than just a couple of garbage heap pickups at cut down time….Dotson has sucked for a decade yet they put his sorry arse out there every week…. how can you develop a rg with such garbage at rt….
August 26th, 2019 at 10:09 am
He ignored it last draft to take 3 backup DBs
August 26th, 2019 at 10:13 am
C’mon!!!……the Bucs haven’t drafted an Offensive lineman in the first round since 2006 when they drafted Davin Joseph….
There are multitudes of teams who draft Olinemen in the first round….including Atlanta who drafted 2 this year…..
We have no depth in part because we have not invested in Oline draft picks.
I wouldn’t characterize us and ignoring our Oline…..but it certainly hasn’t been a priority either.
August 26th, 2019 at 10:18 am
Right guard is a huge problem until proven otherwise. Would have been nice to address that this off-season. I was also hoping they would draft a future replacement for Dotson.
August 26th, 2019 at 10:19 am
I think we were gonna draft Q Nelson but we got beat by the Colts.
August 26th, 2019 at 10:20 am
To think we were one pick away from getting Quenton Nelson *sigh*
August 26th, 2019 at 10:25 am
I bet Licht would have taken an OL in the 2nd round if Jawaan Taylor, Greg Little, & Cody Ford didn’t all get drafted right before the Bucs…
August 26th, 2019 at 10:34 am
I agree that the O-line was bad against the Browns. They looked ok during most of the preseason. We won’t know if we have a real problem..until we start playing real games. If Cappa can’t do the job then he will be replaced. As BA has said many times this isn’t our final roster. Don’t be chicken little…
August 26th, 2019 at 10:35 am
We address this line but somehow they are garbage
August 26th, 2019 at 10:36 am
Need 1st rounders on the line. Sorry but this is a continuation of Mark Dominik’s lack of investing in the oi line.
Call me negative…but this is a bad football team.
All you jokers who said it was all because of coaching should be prepping your crow entrees now. How do you like your crow?
August 26th, 2019 at 10:44 am
What?! This wasn’t a very intelligent proposal put forth.
First of all, who the h3ll is talking about what happened in 2015 (?!) in 2019?! We are 5 football years and a GM-lifetime away from 2015 hello. So throw out the 2015 nonsense.
Once the OLine issues were WELL known from day 2018 and beyond, the only relevant time period to assess “ignoring” known OLine problems or not, Licht drafts a Division III dude in the 3rd round that any other real scouting enterprise wouldn’t have even sniffed till the 5th round earliest, more 6th round.
This year MOST especially, he cowered to the BA influence by way of Bowles to OVER-SELECT wayyyy too many DB’ s this year, where we could have traded up barely for Ford on top of 2nd round or selecting any 1 BPA at RG/RT in the 3rd round this year.
Then there’s the lazy arrogance of the “we’ll just land someone in the cut down to 53” mantra. News flash buffoon, so will all other 31 teams be targeting the same thing buffet-man!
So…dropped the ball entirely in 2018 draft, didn’t address in 2018 before and during season, didn’t address in 2019 free agency, draft, post draft UDFA…and his fat self is foolishly sitting there having deferred to BA that all the wonderful spoils will just fall into the Bucs’ lap a week before Week 1. And no…Watford, is not something, anything.
I-G-N-O-R-I-NG.
August 26th, 2019 at 10:58 am
Until the OL earns a new title, they are the garbage men. I am so sick of both tackles in particular getting their butts kicked week in and week out. They are total garbage.
August 26th, 2019 at 11:07 am
Below average. Over paid. No depth at all. How long before 33 year old Mr. Bad Knees Cant Run Block Dotson goes down?
August 26th, 2019 at 11:07 am
It’s not like it is high drama approaching a shipwreck. It is what it is so make the best of it.
August 26th, 2019 at 11:08 am
The next two years in the draft will be offensive and defensive lineman.
August 26th, 2019 at 11:10 am
Lets not forget about J.R. Sweazy
August 26th, 2019 at 11:31 am
Regardless of the season’s outcome, we know Licht will be here long term. If I am Licht I draft OL early and often in next years draft. The only guy I really think is untouchable on our OL is Marpet. The rest of these guys should be fighting for jobs next year.
August 26th, 2019 at 11:35 am
I reserve judgement of the OL and the rest of the team after a few regular season games.
In Bruce I trust.
August 26th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Over/under Bucs wins in 2019: 4 1/2
August 26th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Sarasota G… beat me to it.. Rehabbing Sweezy then releasing him to open the door for Benenoch. Then Sweezy gets back to Seattle and is a pro bowl alternate.. along with safety Bradley McDougle.
These are not the actions that get a GM a long term extension, except in Tampa..
August 26th, 2019 at 11:40 am
Addressing it and properly addressing it are two different things
This line consists of two small school players, a LT who was projected as a RT by a lot of scouts, a overpaid drive killing center and a RT who’s age and injuries are catching up to him
Not very good results for the 2nd highest paid line in the league
August 26th, 2019 at 11:44 am
When he was first hired he dismantled an overpaid, aging, under achieving offensive line and it was the right thing to do (one of the few things he got right). Problem is, during his five year reign of terror he has put together another overpaid and under achieving offensive line.
August 26th, 2019 at 11:45 am
We keep ok blamming coaches( they are one Part) and the biggest failure has been GM’s!!!! Most of us know this, seems owners do not….. they even offer GM an extensión.!!! This is so riduculous!!
What are que waiting for? For a BA failure????
Please owners react!!!
August 26th, 2019 at 11:48 am
So Licht has spent that much money and draft picks on the O-Line and they are still not good. Not a good look for Licht now is it?
August 26th, 2019 at 11:53 am
First they have to turn things around. They have to create a winning culture. This means change attitudes and then produce wins through the players.
It is obvious they chose to focus on the secondary in the draft.
They chose to bypass more spending in free agency out of necessity. We got ourselves into “cap hell” by throwing good money after bad for the previous five years while propping up the previous coaching regimes.
This is why I think they did not address the OL or DL in a significant way during this off season (other than the switcheroo between Suh and GMAC). I do agree with people like Costa Rica John and others. We will have to address both of our lines in a big way next off season if we hope to graduate to playoff/Super Bowl contenders anytime soon. I don’t see Suh and JPP as the long term answers.
They will have to have to have a good combination of a strong draft, great free agent acquisitions and a very good trade or two in order to elevate this team next year. This is asking a lot. But, it is not asking too much, really. If things go well this season then they can go “all out”.
Yes they have gambled on what we had available for our OL this year. They made their decisions and we fans have no choice but trust them to some degree.
Some of you will continue dwelling on past failure and choose to assess things accordingly. So be it.
If we get to 8-8, or an even better 9-7, we may be cheered by progress and an obvious change of culture.
Let the season begin!
August 26th, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Tennessee has a pretty good O-line last I checked… anyone know who the starting RG is…. Pamphile. Always showed promise on the right side of the line (at guard and tackle) when here… so we move him to left guard, then cut him. Honestly, this is the one group that no one could ever has said, yes this is a strong group. Honestly, I long for the days of Penn, Trueblook, Faine, Zuttah and Joseph.. It looks like the 70’s Raiders by comparison.
Because I have hope, I am clinging on to a dream that this game served as a huge wake up call and the line closes ranks, circles the wagons, goes and has a BBQ or whatever it takes to get on the same page. So is the life of a Bucs fan.
August 26th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Trueblood not Trueblook…but… Maybe our O-line coach is woken up by his culpability in the Andrew Luck retirement.
August 26th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Look no further than licht drafting vh3 than a franchise LT in laremy tunsil and thats the bucs 5-11 gm
August 26th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
First off anybody who doesn’t understand why we drafted defense this year is a freaking idiot. Second thanks to Joe for writing this piese and stting the record straight.
You could also add giving huge money to Sweezy to the list. And drafting Phampile which tnew mentioned above. A few other draft picks(Benechot) but like Sweezy they didn’t work out. We also made a big play for Logan Mankins a few years back so it’s been a continuous effort to address the OL.
Until results proove otherwise in real games I will still believe coaching did a awful job with this line. Not developing one OL……not one guard not one center and not one tackle is pretty damning evidence for Dirk.
I expect to see much better results from this year’s OL even if it takes a few week to get in the new system. And I garan-freaking-tee you that Bruce and staff will develope more players then Dirk did when we look back 3 years from now.
All that said I will not be surprised to see a trade come down before the season starts for a starting caliber OLman for the right side.
August 26th, 2019 at 12:42 pm
They suck so yeah he ignored the line, ignoring a problem and putting more bad players in does not fix a problem. Licht cant decipher talent. Oh hes big and nice. Im sure he will fit into our community very well. Get some damn gangsters outnthere that want to ball the f out.
The bucs were scared of jackson, dude was a bonafide crip.
Were such a white washed gentrified puss azz team.
Go get some dudes from coral gables.
August 26th, 2019 at 12:45 pm
OL showed against the brows that they are all suck. They have GMC syndrome.
August 26th, 2019 at 12:45 pm
@Joe … “That’s not what Joe calls “ignoring.”
That’s like saying that investors didn’t ignore their portfolios when they hired Bernie Madoff to manage their life savings Joe. Sorry, but yes they did ignore it, and they paid a very high price. The Bucs also ignored their OLine and they’ve been paying a very high price also. Donovan was a reach for a 2nd rounder, as was Cappa for a 3rd rounder. Dotson was undrafted, has been beaten up pretty good over the years, and is what, 97 years old? Jensen was grossly overpaid for a guy who had ONE year of center experience was Licht showered him with money.
Lots of NFL teams actually try to build OLines using high draft picks, as in 1st rounders. Licht has been here for SIX drafts now, and has by-passed some real beasts (like Larry Tunsil among others?). Sorry Joe, but yes he has ignored the OLine, EXCEPT from a money aspect. He’s gotten really good at overpaying for average (at best) talent.
August 26th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t Steve Keim Licht’s mentor?
That would tell you all you need to know..
August 26th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Jmarkbuc Says:
August 26th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t Steve Keim Licht’s mentor?
That would tell you all you need to know…
————
You are correct. Bottom’s up with beer; bottom of division football-wise
August 26th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
LOL Joe understands what you mean (Hurrigangstas) but Coral Gables isn’t exactly Compton or East St. Louis or Florida City. 🙂
August 26th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Gump saw how bad his players were and totally ignored their lousy performance in each and every game. Then he goes out and drafts a player from a divIII school. He has drafted and re-signed bums. He is directly responsible for the lack of talent on this team.
He constant ignores players that are Soft, slow and stupid.
August 26th, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Carolina, Atlanta and New Orleans have all spent more 1st and 2nd round picks on their o-line in that same time period (on top of much better free agent investments into the offensive line).
This is why we continually suck.
We suck in the trenches. If you can’t win there, you won’t win at all.
August 26th, 2019 at 2:31 pm
Can most of us agree that Licht is here to stay.Can we also agree that many times Licht ignores the obvious stud players and goes out and picks some loosers.We have all begged to have Licht bring in some stud offensive line players.No biscuits for us from Licht—just crumbs!!!!!
August 26th, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Put me down as a quibbler on this one.
August 26th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
On the bright side…Glazers are known for extending contracts, then firing people..it’s there money.
Downside is The BA factor. Glazers seem enamored with Licht for bringing an old man out of retirement.
I hope BA does well, on the surface he would appear to be what we need. I am however, becoming less and less convinced by his brand of coach speak. Really don’t dig smoke and mirrors.
August 26th, 2019 at 4:09 pm
God I can’t wait till we win the SB again so all you couch GMs will shut the hell up. This is a complex business. There are 32 GMs trying to get just the right guy at just the right time on 53 positions continually. Not an easy thing to do. I’m an expert in my field and it ain’t General Manager of an NFL team. I highly doubt any other posters here are either. This I know: Licht is at least way better than Dominic!
August 26th, 2019 at 4:49 pm
I said it a week ago and I’m going to say it again….
Dallas Cowboys will be hurting next year when it comes to salary cap…
Resigning HUGE contracts to Dak, Zeke, and Amari Cooper. PLUS they just resigned their middle LB to a sweet extension a couple of weeks ago.
Guess who will be a free agent after this coming season?
Their RIGHT TACKLE!! La’El Collins !!!!! Dude can play!!!
Throw Dallas either a draft pic or a player, or both and get this guy now!
We will cut Jensen next year cuz he has no more guaranteed left. Probably draft a new center then?
This would be a WISE move!!!
August 26th, 2019 at 6:47 pm
That is a weak, weak list of accomplishments on the OLine – as compared to say the Cowboys, Steelers, Saints or any other “winning” organization
4 DB’s in the second round in the past two years and not one spot could have been used for a RG or RT prospect?
We are 5 deep at corner and 0 deep at RG and RT…well done Jason….
Cappa and Dot better step it up very quickly or we are in big trouble –
Remember – they either get exposure or get exposed and we all know what Friday night was…..
August 26th, 2019 at 8:29 pm
Some dope on Friday night during the game said Licht had ignored the line and I pointed out this same thing. Sort of a really stupid thing to say he ignored the issue. Also this line, minus Cappa, was good enough to be the line for the NFL’s top passing offense last year. While Cappa did look truly awful on Friday, apparently in camp he’s been fine. So we shall see. Personally I’ve never been sold on Cappa, but he’s mean, and eats his boogers, and GRRRR, he’s mean, and all you need to do is be mean to be a top player in the NFL, just ask the GRRRR McCoy haters GRRRR!!!
August 26th, 2019 at 8:51 pm
All we need to do is find the Carl Nassib of offensive linemen off the scrap heap. Or trade for a Logan Mankins type.
August 26th, 2019 at 10:38 pm
Gump could have picked up Richie Incognito for next to nothing. Even though he’s nuts and will be out for two games, he is worlds better than Cappa. No doubt BA will be looking at the waiver wire for O-line help.