Bruce Arians Admits Ali Marpet’s Retirement Changes Offseason Strategy
March 2nd, 2022
Ali Marpet ripple effect.
After the 2021 season closed, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians only needed to worry about two spots on the offensive line, perhaps the best unit on the team.
Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen and right guard Alex Cappa were to be free agents. And even if the Bucs lost Cappa, his backup, Aaron Stinnie (also a free agent), has solid starting experience and results during the 2020 postseason. So in theory, the Bucs could plug in Stinnie to replace Cappa.
Well this past Sunday those two potential holes became three with one certain: Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet retired.
Arians noted yesterday at the Indiana Convention Center (nee: Hoosier Dome) that the Bucs’ strategy this offseason has changed.
“It changes it a bunch,” Arians said. “Surprised [about Marpet’s retirement] but not shocked knowing what kind of guy, man he is. It changes a lot of things as far as where we are heading in free agency like [with] Ryan [Jensen] and [Alex Cappa] and [Aaron] Stinnie and all of those guys.”
So does this mean the Bucs, with Marpet’s salary off the books, have more Team Glazer loot to throw in Jensen and Cappa’s faces to lure them to stay? Maybe. Arians hinted the Bucs drafting a guard is very much in play next month.
“For us, offensive line is huge,it is paramount,” Arians said. “So, yeah, we have to dive into more guys here [at the combine].”
Joe is all for drafting an offensive lineman. You can never have too deep of an offensive line and you can never have too deep of a secondary. So yeah, draft a guard and draft a corner. So long as the player develops, you cannot go wrong drafting those positions.
March 2nd, 2022 at 2:55 pm
Duh.
March 2nd, 2022 at 2:55 pm
A first rounder will be required to replace his production or high price FA.
Or go with lower production player.
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:00 pm
Bucs have three guards already on their roster play them or release them. Plus you have Robert H. listed as center if you sign Jensen plug him into guard lock Cappa up for four years problem solved. Back to original plan easy peasy.
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:01 pm
I’d argue, even with Marpet’s loss, that depth players at OT is a greater need for the Bucs. Wells proved he was a liability as a starter in place of Wirfs. On the inside, they’ve been developing some capable backups.
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:11 pm
Have any of the assembled media in Indy inquired into what their impressions are on Hainsey to get some insight into the plans for Jensen?
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:15 pm
Sign Jensen and Cappa the bucs have Hainsey and three others guards on the roster next man up.
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:19 pm
jensen is a “dude with a tude”…
and that’s not so easy to replace
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:21 pm
every time jensen found a little banjo laying around the locker room, you know what he did…?
he smashed it 🙂
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:25 pm
NFL.Com quotes Arians yesterday on the quarterback situation after Brady’s retirement:
“We addressed it last year. We drafted Kyle Trask No. 2 for a reason. He fits everything we want to do as a quarterback, and I really liked what I saw for a year.”
Rod Munchkin needs to call Arians and tell him not to believe his lying eyes. lol
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:27 pm
OG/C in the 4th unless we sign one in FA.
March 2nd, 2022 at 4:20 pm
did somebody say Benenoch? LOL
March 2nd, 2022 at 4:28 pm
All depends on Hainsey….if he’s good to go at C….then sign Cappa & Stennie & draft Oline in rounds 1-4…..we need a DT CB…..TE, RB
March 2nd, 2022 at 4:29 pm
‘You can never have too deep of an offensive line and you can never have too deep of a secondary. So yeah, draft a guard and draft a corner.’
Don’t disagree at all, BUT … Bucs also have FOUR holes in our defensive front (Suh, JPP, Gholston & McLendon), plus TWO holes in our TE group (Gronk, OJ), THREE holes in our RB room (Fournette, RoJo, Gio), and oh ya, TWO holes at QB (Brady, Gabbert). That’s IN ADDITION TO our THREE holes on the OLine and at least TWO holes in our Secondary (Whitehead & Davis).
IF we get TWO starters & ONE key rotational player out of this draft, we’ll be incredibly blessed (doesn’t happen all THAT often). And I don’t see a whole bunch of depth players from last year just waiting to move up to starter (except maybe Johnson or Grayson).
At this point, given all of the HOLES that we’ve got, I’d much rather see us draft DEFENSE than offense in the Top-3 Rnds (DT, DE/DT & CB, not necessarily in that order). Bucs can re-sign Jensen, Cappa & Stinnie (for a few shekels obviously), but our Defensive Front is OLD & at least a couple of them NEED to be replaced THIS YEAR. Getting comparable players in FA will be expensive & won’t make us all that much younger.
March 2nd, 2022 at 5:52 pm
DR, you forgot WR, Godwin???
March 2nd, 2022 at 5:56 pm
I feel bad for the season ticket holders, it’s like you had a house fire and lost everything. I van see the game day incentives now, buy a hotdogs and large soda and get two free tickets to the game.
March 2nd, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Licht is probably the best GM in the league to evaluate OL talent. He is proving it every year. Let’s stick to building homes, or shuffling stocks, or whatever it is that most of us do and let Licht do what he does.
March 2nd, 2022 at 6:00 pm
And BY GOD Joe put in a ‘block’ feature so we don’t have to skip over Listn’s feeble opinions. They just wouldn’t show up and most of us would be happy.
March 2nd, 2022 at 6:21 pm
I’m sorry SB, you’re right, your world is tumbling down, I shouldn’t be poking fun at the situation. I’ll make it up to you, I will trade you my two season tickets for a 30 pack of Coors Light and a.box.of Krispy Creme donuts. You’re welcome!
March 2nd, 2022 at 8:30 pm
LOL my world tumbling down.
Too f’n funny. I don’t judge Any part of my life on my football alliance.
Too sad that you do.
March 2nd, 2022 at 11:52 pm
I see them keeping one guard and Jensen, hopefully, and drafting another lineman. I don’t know how much that changes anything though, every single team in the NFL should draft D & O line Each and every draft. It just depends on how high. I still see the Bucs going high with D line
March 3rd, 2022 at 8:27 am
How is it possible BA has a off season strategy when he doesn’t have a in season one?