The Buccaneers & The O-Line Shortage
April 4th, 2020
Earl Watford at practice in England.
Demar Dotson started 15 games for the Bucs at right tackle last season, while versatile 29-year-old Earl Watford also made four starts on the Bucs offensive line.
Both are unemployed.
This is somewhat intriguing considering NFL executives and coaches are quick to say there’s a shortage of quality offensive linemen and that it takes years to develop most college O-linemen, who are used to spread offenses rather than the NFL-style game.
Why, presumably, are teams not jumping at the chance to sign Watford, who played for less than $1 million last season?
Where is the calling for Dotson, who is at least serviceable and durable, missing just two games over the past two seasons for an offense that threw for 5,000+ yards in 2018 and 2019?
Joe can’t answer these questions. Perhaps Dotson is considering retirement or the Bucs told him to hang tight until the draft is over, but that’s not what Joe’s heard.
So in a league that widely acknowledges an O-line deficiency, and in a year that will see rookies struggle following a screwed up or eliminated offseason program, Watford and Dotson are unemployed. Interesting.
April 4th, 2020 at 2:07 pm
We will drafting two offensive lineman. One will be a right tackle like Thomas or Willis and one will be a guard/center like Nick Wells in the middle to later rounds.
We have @ $6 million left to spend on free agents. Dotson and Watford aren’t going anywhere. They will be available after the draft if we still need them. Both could be signed for @$3 million and would be solid depth.
April 4th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Don’t know what’s up with Watford but can Dotson do anything but play RT? Maybe they want more versatility?
Or maybe they do wanna let the draft play out. Maybe Licht has couple targets. Draft a few guys like we did with DB last year……….Then after the draft you have a better idea which kind of free agents you are looking for.
Also could be waiting thinking a guy they like could be cut during the off-season.
We do gotta protect Tom that’s for sure. That’s a tough guess to try and figure what they’re thinking.
April 4th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
At this point most FAs will have to wait for the draft to shake out. Why pay 1 mil now for a washed up OT when you might make him obsolete 3 weeks later w a middle-round draft pick?
All will settle after the draft.
April 4th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Bucs had better have a hella O line for Brady. if he gets hit repeatedly…
April 4th, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Marine has it pegged.
April 4th, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Watford and Dotson are unemployed. Interesting.
So is Jameis
April 4th, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Jason Licht said an effective Oline will just appear-it will be like a miracle(said with a hand motion while saying it).
April 4th, 2020 at 2:59 pm
I would consider Watson for less than a mil. but not Dotson.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Sorry meant Watford.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Huh it’s like those fans who were complaining about the o line and its depth were onto something…
April 4th, 2020 at 3:14 pm
You can’t be more versatile than Watford. He could play all of the positions on the OL including OC. He also already knows our Offense having played for BA in Arizona. However, Cappa easily outplayed him at LG, which may explain why BA didn’t rehire him.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:14 pm
RG not LG.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
If you were a GM, and you were looking at a draft that’s loaded and deep at the OT position, would you sign a 34 year old who has looked to be on his last legs? I love Dot, maybe he’ll be back if we need him. Same with Watford, but we should come out of the draft with better options.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:28 pm
I think this year will have record breaking penalties. Rookies won’t be able to get used to speed of nfl and the playbook. If there is a reduced training camp are you really wanting a rookie to go up against elite nfl rushers? No rookie mini camp no voluntary workouts I don’t know about trusting a rookie tackle simply based off college tape. I feel bad for rookie head coaches except the one in Carolina. Think Dallas is up to speed on their new coach playbook even if they are vets? Gonna be some ugly football played first half of the year except for teams returning their core players like us, Atlanta New Orleans and others.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:33 pm
A universally admitted liability in run blocking and “at least serviceable” overall evaluation is not someone you sign until ALL other options have been explored. Seems like a nice, quiet guy who does what he does in a dignified and professional manner… but a last resort, not an attractive option at this point in his career. You’ll know who’s desperate at RT after FA and draft by who (if anyone) ends up signing Dot.
This doesn’t seem very interesting… just obvious.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:36 pm
We won’t be doing anything. The team will be.
They may rework some contracts. I’d read or heard somewhere that they were attempting to do so with several players. That was over a week ago then, and the only one I saw done was Brate.
At this point, the lies and misdirection are kicking up. Joe Haeg was probably just to try to make people think we won’t go OT in the first round…it won’t work though, but I bet we see Licht or Arians talk him up before the drat.
This is the time of the off season I always consider taking a break.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:38 pm
Marine Buc … Agree wholeheartedly that Bucs SHOULD draft 2 OLinemen, and hopefully they take that to heart. Right now we have 9 OLinemen on the roster … 3 Tackles (D Smith, Haeg & Seaton), 4 Guards (Marpet, Cappa, Bailey & Stinnie), plus 2 Centers (Jensen & Fabiano).
Odds are we’ll carry at least 9 OLinemen on the roster, and possibly even 10 if we go down to 2 QBs. Since Seaton, Bailey, Stinnie & Fabiano have a grand total of 8 games started among them, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll be adding more talent. Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see us draft 2 OLinemen AND add an affordable veteran OLineman to the mix.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
Zack Bailey, Anthony Fabiano, Brad Seaton, Aaron Stinnie, Josh Wells
These guys are still around….perhaps they are viewed as “quality” Olinemen (sarcasm)
Seriously, Watford & Dotoson are both easily replaced……or we would certainly sign them on the cheap…..if they were that good….they would have been picked up.
April 4th, 2020 at 3:56 pm
The market is 32 teams and not one is interested now. Ditto with Jameis.
What does that tell you about their value?
April 4th, 2020 at 4:02 pm
You Joe’s clearly can’t evaluate offensive lineman. Tape does not lie and to think these other teams haven’t already looked at their film is shortsighted. They’ll probably get picked up but it will clearly be after the draft.
April 4th, 2020 at 4:55 pm
Dotson was done before last season.
April 4th, 2020 at 5:24 pm
Why don’t the Bucs resign Watford? Bucs beating Bucs.
April 4th, 2020 at 5:26 pm
These are 2nd wave of free agency guys, they’ll get signed.
April 4th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
Marine Buc…Yeah I’ve been saying a OG/C with one of our fourth’s. People don’t bring it up much. Shaq said it. “losing Nassib was huge.” If we don’t get Kinlaw I have no problem with OLB Zack Baun (Wisconsin) in the third. Watched the tape and he could kill it in Bowels 3-4.
April 4th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Other then Dotson, is there anyone else unemployed besides JW?
April 4th, 2020 at 6:32 pm
if I owned an NFL I would spend so much on scouting o lineman….
I would have 20 people employed just vetting lineman
April 4th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
Same thing with cornerback you mentioned earlier but nothing about this off-season is normal. It may have to do with physicals and meeting players so it’s hard for us to evaluate these free agency decisions to other seasons. I believe that is also a reason why jameis and cam are still free agents.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:51 pm
Consider both Dotson and Watford for depth after the draft at the right price based on who we draft. If we get a top 4 OT, no need for Dotson as we believe they are plug and play. If you trade back and pick Jones or Cleveland in the 1st, call Dotson and sign him as insurance. Yes I know you signed Haeg, but with Haeg, D Smith, Dotson and Josh Jones you would have definately upgraded your depth at tackle. Same consideration for Watford based on if you pick someone as an interior lineman at G/C.
This is a very deep draft for RB, DT and WR. There are a lot of quality players in these positions on day 2 and into day 3 as some will slip. What the Bucs really need is an extra 2nd rd pick by either trading down in the 1st or trading OJ. Then you could get a DT (Suh replacement) and RB (CEH) both in the 2nd round. My choice would be OT (Thomas) in the first, DT (Madubuike) and RB (CEH) in the 2nd, S (A. Davis) in the 3rd, G/C (Hansen, Cushenberry or Harris) and Edge in the 4th (Anae, D. Taylor, A Robinson), WR (Proehl) in the 5th and RB again (Taylor, Jr) in the 6th. This is my draft and I feel pretty good about it and the players being available in those rounds — though I still debate about tge order in the 4th and 5th rounds.
So why not pick a QB? Because there are no QBs picked on day 3 that make an impact and last as a starter for 10 years. Name 1 or 2 other than Brady in the last 20 years. This isn’t a deep QB draft. The only QB I would draft on day 2 is Jalen Hurd if I have an extra pick and he’s available. If not, use your 1st rd pick in 2021 for a QB. Trade up if necessary to get the guy you really like including using your 2022 1st rd pick. What other needs could you have in 2021? LT, Edge (JPP eventual replacement), backup DT (if Suh leaves) and maybe a CB.
April 5th, 2020 at 1:01 am
First off, whether we agree on sports stuffs or not- Everybody stay safe and well! I’m routing for you, your family’s and your friends.
Now to the football stuffs… I think its pretty obvious they are going to try and trade back in round 1. If not round 1 they will in round 2 and/or 3.
They need more picks and tis is a good draft. I can see them picking up one of the better Rb’s and one of the best of the 2nd tier group of O-Tackles. I see a Qb as well, esp if they can trade back in Rd 1 and pick up an extra rd2 and rd3 pick.
Just please…no kickers and only 1 DB (*A safety.) We’ve spent enough picks on the secondary recently imho.
April 5th, 2020 at 9:38 am
I suspect OL won’t be an issue after this off season.