The Underrated Offensive Line
June 29th, 2020
Underrated?
Joe knows the favorite hobby of many Bucs fans is to cuss out the bartender not because the poor sap poured a foamy beer but to vent about the perceived Bucs offensive line play.
To hear some folks, the Bucs had five matadors playing offensive line last year. Why, it’s a miracle that Ronald Jones ran for 700 yards and that Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, wasn’t maimed for life.
But is this just habitual jibberish? It may be after Joe did a modicum of research.
Over at CBS Sports, Tyler Sully ranked his top interior offensive linemen. He had Ryan Jensen No. 7 and Ali Marpet No. 8. Over at AthlonSports.com, Joe noticed both Jensen and Marpet were ranked No. 10 overall as centers and offensive guards, respectively.
Then there is left tackle Donovan Smith, who many have been trying to run out of town from the moment Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafted him in 2015. In over 1,000 snaps last year (1,055 to be exact), the PFF tribe believes he gave up five sacks. Think about that ratio for a moment.
(Granted, sourcing the PFF tribe with anything in relation to an offensive line is dubious.)
The way people holler about Smith, you’d think he gave up a sack every five snaps. Five sacks in over 1,000 snaps? That doesn’t seem all that horrible to Joe.
If the Bucs’ offensive line was so putrid, how the hell was it the third-best offense in the NFL last year?
So maybe the offensive line of the Bucs has been what Joe has claimed all along: It’s not great but it sure isn’t the reason why the Bucs are losing and for sure isn’t the worst offensive line the team has fielded during the Lost Decade.
June 29th, 2020 at 12:10 am
>During the lost decade.
Joe I think this line is the best offensive line the team has ever had going into next year.
June 29th, 2020 at 12:43 am
Ooohhh.
Bucs offensive line was pretty good in Chucky’s last two years. That was before Jeremy Trueblood turned into a turnstile and Arron Sears went coo-coo.
June 29th, 2020 at 12:48 am
I think that TB12 thinks they are good enough and I’m guessing that he is a little better judge of that than I am
June 29th, 2020 at 1:12 am
Fair enough Joe I forgot about how good they kept old man Garcia up right during that time.
June 29th, 2020 at 2:09 am
Trueblood seemed to constantly get flagged he used to drive me crazy.
June 29th, 2020 at 6:23 am
Good question Joe…..How is Jameis Winston terrible if he led the entire NFL in total offense. Lead it in total passing yards, lead it it passing yards per game.
Was second in touchdowns.
Entire NFL
Check yo sheet
June 29th, 2020 at 6:26 am
Our weak spot last year was RT Dotson. He was descent against the pass but was one of the worst against the run. The guy just couldn’t bend his beat up knees. Our RT spot should be much better this with Joe Haeg and Tristan Wirfs.
June 29th, 2020 at 6:42 am
Here is the problem, even if they are “average” as some claim!!!!!!!! They were The second highest paid O-line in the league!!!!!!!! And were only a measly $500,000 from being The highest paid O-line in the league!!!!!!!! So if at best the O-line is “average”, then that means once again the GM has over paid and mismanaged the cap once again!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are the calls to hold the GM accountable???????
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 29th, 2020 at 7:15 am
There are times in a game where an O/Line has to dominate the LOS ….that is where the BUCS are lacking, they never seem to be able to bring out that nasty grind!!!
June 29th, 2020 at 7:37 am
big hog i think attitude and effort will change and increase, with the addition of the goat, these player’s know where they stand and how close they are to the big dance with TB12 running the show, go bucs, and remember we got gronk to help out that line also
June 29th, 2020 at 8:22 am
Hog & James..I think the grind/domination comes more from running sets. Kinda difficult when your forced to pass due to point deficits. Brady getting us in the proper pre snap reads will help the run game considerably and let the boys up front have more fun. ie: DOMINATION
June 29th, 2020 at 8:30 am
Wirfs is going to solidify that right side watch out!
June 29th, 2020 at 10:00 am
Last season the O-line was above average at pass blocking and below average at run blocking, that equals average. 2 years ago they weren’t good at all, they had Caleb Cannotblock and Jensen and Dot got 4-6 penalties every freakin game. The O line isn’t horrible but it’s not great either. If Marpet and Jensen are so good why can’t the Bucs run up the middle? At all?
June 29th, 2020 at 10:30 am
Clean House Says:
June 29th, 2020 at 6:23 am
Good question Joe…..How is Jameis Winston terrible if he led the entire NFL in total offense. Lead it in total passing yards, lead it it passing yards per game.
Was second in touchdowns.
Entire NFL
Check yo sheet
…………….
The Aints checked they sheet and decided he was worth a mil as a back up (third stringer)
$30 mil…BWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
June 29th, 2020 at 11:21 am
95+% of casual fans are clueless about offensive line play.
June 29th, 2020 at 12:40 pm
If everything stays equal and no injuries our offensive line will show itself to be one of the best in the league. When you look at the best lines the have a continuity or a consistency to them, so as long as Brady is QB this will be a unity and consistency with line. A good QB brings this to his team a great QB demands it of his team.
June 29th, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Now that is a fair point. In the fourth quarter with a game on the line, Joe isn’t sure he’s seen the line dominate. That’s a good point.
June 29th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Definitely there are times when the Oline needs to stand up, but being united in thought and purpose allows a Oline to work smarter not harder and our biggest variable has been in the QB play and the lack in continuity. This I believe will change with Brady not only running but orchestrated the offense to be cohesive and with a single objective. So when the 4th quarter rows around our opponent’s defense will be the ones confused and depleted. So making a 2 yard first down to ice the game with maybe Vita being the lead fullback will be a lot easier or at least that is what we can hope.
June 29th, 2020 at 4:24 pm
It looked worse than what it was, but it wasn’t “good” by any means. To make matters worse were the untimely drive-killing penalties.
Wirfs is an upgrade over Dotson, PERIOD. That, a better QB, and continuity will make the OL better.
June 29th, 2020 at 11:40 pm
Now do the right tackle and right guard…
😂😂😂