“Wonderful Play”
September 23rd, 2020
Strong outing.
It seems one NFL analyst really, really liked the play of two Bucs offensive linemen against the Stinking Panthers.
(When is the last time you heard that?)
In going through Bucs game tape, Arif Hasan of The Athletic was torn between selecting veteran left guard Ali Marpet or rookie right tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Hasan chose Marpet only because he saw Wirfs hit the deck once (but still did his job of not letting his man get to park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady).
… Marpet likely had the better day given some moves from Panthers edge defender Brian Burns that saw Wirfs hit the ground but didn’t result in pressure. In a week where difficult cuts had to be made, that was the difference, but it does allow us to spotlight the wonderful play of the Hobart College alum, who kept first-round pick Derrick Brown out of Tom Brady’s sight while moving bodies like a forklift in the running game. Marpet made key blocks, including on Leonard Fournette’s 25-yard run at the top of the fourth quarter and as a combo blocker on his 46-yard run to ice the game in the final two minutes.
That was a fine block Marpet used to spring Fournette, who like a good running back should do, housed it to put the game away.
Lost in Hasan’s analysis is Marpet is in his sixth season. He’s thought to be a really solid player and perhaps a Pro Bowl player. Yet a rookie playing in only his second game played equally well and locked up one of the better young pass rushers in the game, Brian Burns.
There is a lot to like in Hasan’s excerpt. Joe is starting to believe AC/DC-loving Bucs general manager Jason Licht found himself a stud amid the cornfields of Iowa.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Wait what? I saw a jbf expert tell us the Panthers defense knew the game was over. So they spread out and basically just opened up and let Fournette go. It was just an easy walk in the park.
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:09 pm
licht said: suck it haters!!!!!…LOL…
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Can we get a shout out of how well Cappa has played too? That man is developing into a great guard as well.
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Marpet did his job like a pro. However, I agree, Cappa needs some credit as well, as his ability to slide off the double and engage the LB at the next level was key to springing Fournette for the big run at the end of the game.
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:38 pm
Marpet’s been rock solid since Day 1 IMO, and it looks like Wirfs is following in the same footsteps. Donovan apparently had a good game against Carolina according to BA, but in 2 games I’ve heard very little about Jensen & Cappa.
Overall Bucs OLine has given up 3 sacks in 2 games (not all that bad) and we’ve run for 208 yds total on 48 attempts (4.3 YPC average isn’t bad either). And yet CONSISTENCY still seems to be an issue with this OLine. Take away the 3 explosive run plays over 20 yds each (21, 25, 46) and the remaining 45 carries for 116 yds rushing equates to 2.6 YPC average. Now I know you can’t take carries away, but that still means that on 94% of our rushes, our RBs are only averaging 2.6 YPC.
Bucs ran a tad over 50% on 1st down (16-for-31 first down attempts against Saints and 14-for-27 against Panthers) and averaged 4.7 yds on our 1st down attempts, but that’s deceptive IMO. Bucs gained 55 yds in 16 rushes on 1st down in Saints game, but 14 of those 1st down runs only gained 22 yds (1.6 YPC). We gained 86 yds on 14 first down runs against the Panthers (6.1 YPC) but again that’s deceptive because Fournette’s huge run (46 yds) late in that game skews those numbers (Bucs gained 40 yds on the other 13 first-down attempts against the Panthers).
Again, I know you can’t subtract runs, but CONSISTENCY is critical IMO, especially on 1st down. Of our 30 1st down rushes (141 yds altogether for a 4.7 YPC average), Bucs gained only 62 yds rushing on 27 first-down attempts for a 2.3 YPC average. Too often that put us behind the 8-ball on 2nd down, and oftentimes resulted in 3rd-and-longs (which are usually hard to convert).
Bucs have the potential to be a very good running team, but we need to be rushing more than 24 times per game average to make that happen (personally would like to see 30-32 times per game). Also need for our OLine blocking to be more CONSISTENT to justify running more IMO (and for our play design & play-calling to improve also).
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:38 pm
Bucs O-line can’t handle top tier defenses and can’t run block. Hopefully they will get better as the season progresses. Marpet is just a journeyman guard, nothing special.
September 23rd, 2020 at 2:03 pm
D.R.
Excellent observation. I’ve often “felt” that way but I just chalked it up to a fans disappointment.
It surely has felt that we are far from lining up and playing smashmouth running football. You backed my anecdotal “feelings” with actual facts and numbers.
I haven’t written us off as being able to play smash mouth physical own the LOS kind of play…where we no longer have to hold our breath on final chance and a yard for first or turn the ball over. Maybe Fournette is the answer to that and perhaps this OL has enough nasty to become mean if not dirty.
September 23rd, 2020 at 2:55 pm
Great stuff DR. I made the same comment re: consistency on the D Smith article.
September 23rd, 2020 at 3:09 pm
DR
R-E-L-A-X!!!!
its week3….
you build CONSISTENCY by doing something the correct way, over and over again…
BL has the offense building CONSISTENCY….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 3:40 pm
That is what the running game is all about. Hit it for 2 yards hit it for 2 yards it for 2 yards until they break. And that is just what we did
September 23rd, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Each unit continues to get better. Hopefully we can keep winning as these guys learn how to play together. Looking forward to four quarters of solid play this week.
September 23rd, 2020 at 5:02 pm
Marpet and LVD had elite 90+ grades fromPFF this week.
September 23rd, 2020 at 5:13 pm
DR just dont get your hopes up. I think you are going to see more of the same from this running game. Hopefully it will be the same as the Panthers game where we can find a few big plays to compliment.
We just are not built to be a mauling running team. We are a vertical passing team. Thats how we want to score. We are not trying to run the ball down the throats of our opponent all the way into the Endzone.
But I think a key factor everybodys missing is our ability on 3rd & 1. Look it up we are amazing so far at converting. I dont recall us being stopped yet. We havent been able to convert 3rd & 1 in maybe 10 years. Its stalled coun tyu less drives.
And when you look at our RBs you must factor in how useful they are on passing plays…….It seemed like we really opened that up against the Panthers. Our RBs did a fine job(Not counting McCoys blunder)……McCoy was a 1st down machine. He was a key contributor on our early scoring drives………..And Fournette made a massive impact too. On our 3rd TD Tom Brady got stuck in the pocket on 3rd Down. Everybody was covered. Fornette saw it and broke off his route to the perfect spot for Brady to see him. Fornette turned a FG into a TD on that play.
September 23rd, 2020 at 6:39 pm
JimmyJack … I know running the ball based on smashmouth football isn’t BA’s style, but I still love watching it. Bucs have been on the end of some pretty good beatdowns this century, and an awful lot of them feature the other team whoopin our arses in the trenches & a strong running game. I still remember 2018 when the Ravens best us by rushing for almost 250 yards rushing. Bummer for us, but that sure reminded me of good old-fashioned smashmouth football Bear Bryant style.
September 23rd, 2020 at 7:18 pm
Thanks D.R.
You just reminded me of the time Eddie Goerge cost me $100 by running all over us. Lol.
September 23rd, 2020 at 8:38 pm
You can see it, our Line loves to block for Fournette!
September 23rd, 2020 at 8:44 pm
I see Cappa read my comments.
He transformed his body and put on some very good lower body weight.
His lower body is noticeably thicker and stronger. I told you, guards need stroung a base.
I must publicly apologize to my hippie brother Cappa.
He is a legit. And a Pro’s Pro. He is working his tail off to get thicker, stronger, and more stout in his lower body.
PS- Like Warren Sapp, sometimes I say things to piss off players on purpose. Inhad to get in Cappas head.
Pull up the final game from last year and then our last game.
Cappa’s lower body is noticeably thicker and stronger. Even his hips have changed.
Go Bucs!