Bucs Latest In A Trend?
April 24th, 2021
Offensive line chatter.
A former NFL offensive lineman seems to be sensing a trend with successful NFL teams. And the Bucs are only the latest.
Geoff Schwartz, who works all sorts of radio and various football sites, played eight seasons in the NFL as a guard. Four were with the Stinking Panthers.
He pumped out a very interesting fact about Super Bowl teams starting with the 2017 Eagles; if you don’t have a strong offensive line, you are not winning the Super Bowl.
2017 Eagles… best OL in football
2018 Patriots … OL dominated in playoffs
2019 Chiefs … Pro Bowl LT and All Pro RT
2020 Bucs … All Pro caliber LG, C and RTI’d make sure my OL is set before drafting a WR. That’s just me.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) April 23, 2021
Raise your hand if you thought the Bucs had their best offensive line last year since Team Glazer bought the team? Down the stretch and to the playoffs, the line just mauled people.
Time? Almost always there was plenty of time to survey options before the throw of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Those deep balls to Scotty Miller? Those do not happen without time to throw. Those touchdowns Playoff Lenny scored in the playoffs? Those do not happen without holes to run through.
Yes, the team the Bucs beat to win the Chiefs just really beefed up their offensive line by trading for left tackle Orlando Brown. Still, one cold argue the Bucs have the best offensive line of the two teams, and maybe in the NFL.
April 24th, 2021 at 12:15 am
I mean, no offense to cappa but if they grab a stud guard in this years draft, where’s the weak spot? D Smith? That’s not too shabby.
By no means is this a diss on cappa!
April 24th, 2021 at 12:18 am
Games are eon in the trenches and I know this story is hint that we should draft more line help and I agree 100% however I still say QB at 32 for the 5th year option.
April 24th, 2021 at 12:24 am
I think you meant orlando brown
April 24th, 2021 at 12:34 am
Bucfan593:
Thank you.
April 24th, 2021 at 12:39 am
This wisdom is almost as old as the game itself. Why would anyone second guess it? Load the trenches.
April 24th, 2021 at 12:40 am
Drafting Wirfs was genius.
The guy went from college straight to NFL elite
April 24th, 2021 at 1:25 am
Cainishere: Let’s think this through…Do you really want the Bucs to reach for one of Davis Mills, Kyle Trask, or Kellen Mond with the 32nd pick? Do you really want the Bucs to pull a Green Bay Packers of the 2020 Draft (taking Jordan Love, when someone like Antoine Winfield Jr. might’ve put them in the Super Bowl)? Wouldn’t you rather the Bucs give it their best shot at repeating by not taking someone who probably wouldn’t play a down in 2021?
April 24th, 2021 at 1:48 am
1st round pick should be O-Line or D-Line EVERY year! No questions asked. Give me an O line that can provide 5 or 6 Mississippis every down and JayMiss could have been a real pro-bowler. Anything after 6 and his ADHD kicked in and what he did after that was anyone’s guess….Usually scrambling and throwing a pick. But even he could succeed with a top O line. It’s not rocket science!
April 24th, 2021 at 2:02 am
With the Chiefs fleecing the Ravens in the trade, this draft has to be DL, Edge/OLB, OL, CB. Not one pick should be outside that. We’ll worry about QB and RB next year. Also, divisional opponents will be picking up WRs this draft, a RB ain’t gonna play D.
RB at #32? You gotta be an idiot to throw that pick away.
April 24th, 2021 at 2:07 am
@Bucsfan951,
It’s not about weakness, it’s about quality depth. The Chiefs were decimated with injuries. The Bucs had solid backups who held it down when we needed someone to step up.
We have an opportunity to fill some crucial spots with starter quality depth.
April 24th, 2021 at 4:34 am
Totally agree with Schwartz about the need for a strong offensive line to win the SB, but I think you could say that about EVERY position group in today’s NFL. Winning today is about BALANCE, on BOTH sides of the ball (plus having an effective S/Ts group).
High quality teams like those we beat in the playoffs were all well-balanced (OK, except for Washington who only got in because their division is so weak IMO). New Orleans (12-4) had a great coaching staff, great QB & tons of talent … just not quite enough. Green Bay (13-3) had a great coaching staff, great QB & tons of talent … just not quite enough. And Kansas City (14-2) also had a great coaching staff, great QB & tons of talent … just not quite enough.
Our Bucs had the best BALANCE of all the playoff teams, and that carried us through. And no team played better COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL in the playoffs last year than our Bucs … 9 takeaways vs 4 giveaways. We took advantage of others’ mistakes, after we helped them make those mistakes.
IMO it all starts in the trenches. If you can’t win those ‘up-close & personal battles’ the rest of it is moot; ain’t gonna happen. At least 1 OLineman & 1 DLineman should be drafted in the Top-4 rounds every year, providing the talent’s there of course. Counting key rotational players & high quality depth, you’re talking around 30% of your team being OLine & Dline. Would seem to make sense to draft (then develop) as many as you can to keep the ‘costs’ within the budget and to keep ‘fresh blood’ always in the hopper.
April 24th, 2021 at 4:39 am
Ravens GM should be Fired for helping the Chiefs greatly improve. SMFH
April 24th, 2021 at 5:17 am
Are we sure that Orlando Brown Jr. is a great Left Tackle? He complained his way off of his last team. Although 40 times aren’t that important for O-Linemen, he ran a 5.85 at the Combine. That’s one of the slowest times I’ve heard of.
April 24th, 2021 at 6:27 am
2020 Bucs … All Pro caliber LG, C and RT
_______
What?
No mention of our All-World LT?
The horror………
The horror………
April 24th, 2021 at 7:16 am
D line and O line top priority. Period. Skill positions are already loaded. Back up qb and line backer also important.
April 24th, 2021 at 7:23 am
I think Licht should extend Jensen’s contract and if he is unable to do that in a team-friendly way, we should draft a center in rounds 2 or 3 to replace him.
We have Stennie if Cappa isn’t cooperative next year.
April 24th, 2021 at 7:43 am
It’s not so clear cut. Does the OL make the QB look good or does the QB make the OL look good? Chicken and egg question. Of the four teams mentioned – the QB and the OL were all good.
April 24th, 2021 at 7:44 am
The thing many seem to miss is what the Ravens really did in this deal. Brown was basically a one year player in the last year of a few million a year contract, expecting huge money next year. It is surmised that he will have to be franchised next year to keep him. The Ravens figured they weren’t going to make the SB this year…and they weren’t going to franchise him next year. So in many ways, this is draft picks for a one year rental, very likely.
April 24th, 2021 at 7:51 am
Round and round we go who we pick nobody knows… even JL at this point.
I am getting itchy, I hope Jason doesn’t, to trade up in front of the Saints and get that ONE player !
April 24th, 2021 at 7:51 am
Some of the credit has to go to TB12. There was only on change and it was at RT, the rest of the line was the same. Why was 2020 so much better than 2019. TB12. He did not hold onto the ball. He threw passes away and he was decisive.
April 24th, 2021 at 8:01 am
Defense Rules is correct. That’s what I’ve always said. Pick OLine and DLine high every year. I would say at least one of your 1st or 2nd round picks should always be a lineman in every draft.
April 24th, 2021 at 8:09 am
Injuries will kill any position. Yeah we are stellar right now, but oline, dline and corner are pretty damn crucial.Those are my postions I aim for. Best player available.is good and all, but that player would have to.nlow everyone out of the water to.take him.over another more important decison
April 24th, 2021 at 8:17 am
Using the point value assigned to draft picks, the Chiefs got Orlando Brown for a mid 2nd round pick. I think a lot of teams would have made that trade straight up. Not sure why the Ravens gave up their 2nd round pick in this deal because I believe he’s a 1st round quality player. That’s what has me scratching my head
April 24th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Almost 3 months later I’m still loling at the Chiefs being without their tackles and doing nothing about it in their gameplan.
April 24th, 2021 at 8:32 am
Clod … after watching the Bucs during the decade of misery or whatever Joe calls it should should know a team can not game plan around superior talent and succeed. We did NOT play the Chiefs when they were at full strength!
Just like stock disclaimers
“ past performance does not reflect future performance “
The Chiefs are a very very scary team!
The have those explosive playmakers the Bucs are lacking!
April 24th, 2021 at 8:32 am
It should come as no surprise that The Big Uglies are who wins football games at all levels.
I have preached this since high school.
April 24th, 2021 at 8:46 am
John Madden said that O Line was the most important area of a football team, and CB was second. Not too many people know more about football than him.
April 24th, 2021 at 8:46 am
Games are won in the trenches!
April 24th, 2021 at 9:21 am
Bucsfan951 Says
“I mean, no offense to Cappa…”
At this point, replacing him would be a waste of a pick.
April 24th, 2021 at 9:24 am
Irishmist Says
“John Madden said that O Line was the most important area of a football team, and CB was second. Not too many people know more about football than him.”
I would disagree with that. Both points.
First, Quarterback, Offensive Line and Defensive Line are the most important spots.
Second, John Madden was once a genius…but he left that behind long before he retired.
April 24th, 2021 at 10:03 am
Bucsguy…one year deal guy.
April 24th, 2021 at 10:06 am
Why is common sense seemingly so uncommon?
April 24th, 2021 at 10:07 am
Guy…Browns salary less than four million this year. Next years franchise tag number for O line? Probably about 15 mil. next year.
April 24th, 2021 at 10:14 am
In other news … water is indeed, wet.
April 24th, 2021 at 10:43 am
And look at my dumb ass calling for Creed Humphrey the entire time instead of a RB or QB in the first round.
April 24th, 2021 at 11:04 am
Cowboys/Giants/Skins did it for years
Glad we finally have some pieces together
DRAFT DL/OL early and often
April 24th, 2021 at 11:17 am
Even after the Orlando trade, the Bucs have the best O Line in football. The blueprint to win and have sustainability is putting a lot of focus on the lines on both sides of the ball and the secondary. Those skill position players sound sexy but they can’t work their mojo if the big boys up front aren’t ballers.
April 24th, 2021 at 11:46 am
And with the 32nd pick of the NFL draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Landon Dickerson, Center, Alabama
April 24th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
Landon Dickerson… come on down!
April 24th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Thing is he also has experience playing Guard….put him in rotation as C to give Jensen a breather, then back at Guard. Then when Jensen’s contract expires, boom we have our man…or keep Jensen at C (if we have the funds) and Landon at Right Guard….
then somehow someway, Rondale Moore in the 2nd.
April 24th, 2021 at 3:32 pm
Max…I think that would be a great pick.
April 24th, 2021 at 8:13 pm
MadMax…We already have Cappa and Stinnie possibly battling out the starting RG position.
April 25th, 2021 at 12:22 am
Want to stay relevant in the playoff picture every year?
Round 1-4 of
Every
Single
Draft
(In no particular order)
….
OL
DL
Position of need
Position of need
April 25th, 2021 at 12:52 am
@SOE, exactly…and whose battling at Center other than Jensen? Nobody
Like I said, rotational Guard/Center to break him in…then he fills the spot at Center.
btw, no offense but he will remove Cappa and Stinnie…they will be backups, trust me.