O-Linemen Were Late Believers
June 16th, 2021
Little happens up in Elmira, New York, at least outside the state prison.
So it’s no surprise that the pride of nearby Horseheads, Bucs offensive line coach Joe Gilbert, is a bit of a celebrity around his native land.
Gilbert, whose duties focus on the Bucs tackles, earned a Super Bowl ring and he was talking about the Tampa Bay experience with the local Star-Gazette newspaper.
Joe was intrigued a bit by Gilbert’s chatter about linemen. It seems they weren’t exactly steaming with confidence for much of the regular season.
The offensive line certainly did its job. What was your message to that group after the game?
Afterwards we were just all celebrating and having fun and giving each other a hug.
I think it came down to communication at the end. The guys, over I would say the last eight weeks of the season, including the playoffs, really started to come together. I think the realization that hey, this could really happen, started to sink in a little bit and I think that’s where everybody’s play started to pick up and come together, where we got a little bit closer and said, hey, this is feasible, guys. This could really happen.
When Joe thinks of the Bucs improving in 2021, Joe thinks of Tampa Bay taking a step up along the offensive line. Seriously, Tristan Wirfs should be more of a monster and make a classic, Year-2 leap. Alex Cappa and Ryan Jensen are in contract years. And per Gilbert’s chatter, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet should be playing with a lot more confidence out of the gate; and each will play this season at 28 years old, aka in their prime.
Better offensive line play should equate to more time of possession and more points. Joe’s aching for the Bucs to raise their 30.8-points-per-game average up to 34 per game.
Hey, Brady exceeded that average in 2012 with the Belicheats, so why not in Tampa?
June 16th, 2021 at 6:15 pm
I’ll see your 34 and raise you 1 Joe!
June 16th, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Things started to change after the Bears debacle. Brady was beside himself after/during that game. Donovan Smith still needs tons of help by TE, RB chipping or 6th o-lineman next to him but all other spots are solid
June 16th, 2021 at 6:38 pm
34? Nice. The Bucs? Nicer.
June 16th, 2021 at 6:52 pm
Joe
I really gotta hand it to you Joe. All day, every day, sometimes every hour, you refresh your posts. I told neighbors to check out your site and they was amazed with the amount of info and the constant updates.
I give you hearty kudos for the job you do and hope that at some point you get enough sleep. WELL DONE JOE !
June 16th, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Only 34 points, says the Brady-posting, O-line believing, Tampa-projecting, third person Joe? Consider that this is the best offense TB12 has ever worked with. And they inspire him, as well. I saw a team trending upwards, that had its season cut short by a Super Bowl. We’ll see…
June 16th, 2021 at 7:31 pm
It’s funny for us fans to think the way NFL players do. For instance I’m surprised they didn’t start playing better or caring until they thought they might make a run. So then they really started paying attention? So if they thought they were going to suck they would just suck also?? Are they not pros? I don’t like that answer. You can say human nature but that response sounds incredibly unprofessional and lazy.
June 16th, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Monk:
Thank you for the kind words. Joe believed back in 2008 fresh content throughout the day was what Bucs fans would want. Readers proved Joe correct. Thank you! 👍
June 16th, 2021 at 8:54 pm
Joe Says:
June 16th, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Monk:
Thank you for the kind words. Joe believed back in 2008 fresh content throughout the day was what Bucs fans would want. Readers proved Joe correct. Thank you! 👍
its true I love your site. I remember when you didn’t have to click on a story lol it was just there. I am always refreshing your page throughout the day. I’m happy this site has become a great success.
June 16th, 2021 at 10:06 pm
Articles like this is why I like this site.
If we can have the oline confidence optimized from game one we can do 35 per game
June 16th, 2021 at 10:08 pm
Makes me look forward to the indy game. My opinion is that’s the best online we will face.
June 16th, 2021 at 10:12 pm
Lived in Elmira a couple years. Moved away just before the Chemung River flooded the whole dam town. Most boring place I ever lived in. Don’t think anybody who was special came out of there or from Horseheads. Guess Gilbert was smart enough to leave too.
June 16th, 2021 at 10:22 pm
Hey Joe’s, sensitive question … but can t
You provide any advice for an older man whose on disability and is likely gonna die before the bucs can win three straight (my prayer) can make his own bucs blog? First off, I won’t need much revenue. I’m ok, just enough to cover expenses.
Can you help me?
June 16th, 2021 at 10:56 pm
Pine Hills:
Given that the Bucs are currently on an eight-game win streak, you should be OK. 🙂
There is nothing to it. There are all sorts of free software for blogs out there. Just start typing.
June 16th, 2021 at 11:14 pm
Arians scored big time with Gilbert.
June 17th, 2021 at 12:55 am
I have a couple of college buddies from Horseheads and Elmira and a couple high school friends who went to SUNY Elmira.
DrunkInYbor calling someone unprofessional LoL.
Anyway, DrunkInYbor, just because they picked it up when they believe that a chance does not imply they were slacking and not caring previously.
I hate when people make that in assumption.
Did you ever play sports of any kind? Think about any sport you ever played. I’m competitive, I give my all, but towards the end of a game, if something is on the line and it’s close, competitors become a little more focused which seems like they turn it up a notch. That does not mean they didn’t care earlier in the game
June 17th, 2021 at 7:30 am
Looking back this does seem pretty obvious. One example is Donny debating if he even wanted to play last year. I also think it was the Bears game that changed things.