A Quarterback’s Best Friend
September 30th, 2021
Fast start.
Remember for years folks used to holler how Bucs linebacker Lavonte David was one of the most underrated players in the NFL?
Joe was among the many.
It’s easy to fly under the radar when toiling for a losing franchise that few outside the Tampa Bay area followed closely.
Well, it seems leading a defense that wins a Super Bowl and chokes out three Hall of Fame quarterbacks in a row to win the title will earn you some respect.
However, Joe has noticed the same pattern starting for Bucs left guard Ali Marpet.
Since the Bucs moved Marpet to left guard in 2018, Marpet has been a rock and he’s played damn good, too.
This offseason, Joe started to read various national publications reference Marpet as a guy getting hosed in not being selected to the Pro Bowl. Joe cannot argue with that belief one bit.
Earlier this week, CBS Sports posted stats on Marpet. Let’s just say people need to be respecting Marpet. He’s developed into a top-shelf NFL offensive lineman.
Pretty cool for a Division-III dude.
Ali Marpet is having himself a season
150 pass blocking snaps (tied for most in NFL)
0 sacks allowed (tied for fewest in NFL)
0 QB hits allowed (tied for fewest in NFL) pic.twitter.com/yOQne8VcA1— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 27, 2021
September 30th, 2021 at 12:10 am
Pete has never witnessed a Bucs game & said “Ali Marpet stinks”. He’s rock solid
September 30th, 2021 at 12:26 am
Listened to some sports talk out of Boston and they were talking about what they think Bill is going to do, and how you stop Brady, and while they all strongly believe the Pats will get blown out, they said the only chance the Pats have is to rush 3, drop 8 and force the Bucs to play a very boring game where they just run the ball for 5 yards a clip. They said ideally you get pressure right up the middle without blitzing, if you do that Brady crumbles, but the Pats don’t have the personnel to pull that off.
The Boston guys said what we might see, and might expect to see, is the way the Pats played D a few years ago where they just sort of constantly moved around, never really got set. I remember what they’re talking about, but I’m not sure how to explain it other than that. I could see, in Arians offense, that causing some issues if he’s not willing to run and take the 5 yards a pop they’re going to give you.
In any case I fully expect Brady to reject a lot more plays than normal from Leftwich – and hopefully Leftwich is smart enough to let Brady call the game he wants to call.
September 30th, 2021 at 12:29 am
Who the hell hasn’t loved Ali from year one? And he a Mike Evans type that will do what he can to free up cap space in a sticky situation.
September 30th, 2021 at 1:35 am
Nice F-in job Ali. This is really likely one of the only Buccaneers whom everyone can fall behind and say he’s a great Buc.
September 30th, 2021 at 4:56 am
If NE is as weak as the record shows, this is the game to unleash the running game !
September 30th, 2021 at 6:19 am
Koetter was roasted pretty good for switching Ali to guard.
September 30th, 2021 at 6:43 am
Not only has he become a rock for our offensive line. They have moved him all over that line in previous years. I remember when we 1st selected Ali. I was like who the heck is this and why did we waste a 2nd pick on a d3 guy. JL has done a great job with this line and what I think is awesome is guys like marpet n cappa came from small schools n they both have dominated for us.
September 30th, 2021 at 7:47 am
Only question is how is his run blocking? It does not help that the Bucs insist on ‘running it up the gut’ 75% of the time on first down.
September 30th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Ryan Jensen too.The center of the O-line is so solid that Brady is safe fom his kryptonite–look at how little damage Aaron Donald did.
September 30th, 2021 at 9:13 am
May have not given up a sack, but he got his ass whooped on a 1 on 1 by Aaron Donald which would have been on a sack on most QBs but Brady saw it fast and ran for his life and threw it out of the end zone.
September 30th, 2021 at 3:02 pm
I miss the days of Tmax coming in here and saying he is an overpaid backup because his guy Jameis Winston sucked.
October 1st, 2021 at 9:59 am
Rod,
You’re referring to the D that the Pats played against Peyton Manning where they just kind of had guys all over the LOS and few were in any stances. Seems juvenile at first, because a team should be able to run them out of that formation easily but Peyton had some trouble with it.
October 1st, 2021 at 10:01 am
jiminPH Says:
September 30th, 2021 at 7:47 am
Only question is how is his run blocking? It does not help that the Bucs insist on ‘running it up the gut’ 75% of the time on first down.
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The Bucs have passed at about 3:1 ratio this year. “Running up the gut” it actually a thing if you haven’t watched football before. Ronald Jones averaged 5.1 YPC from mostly running up the gut last year.