“An Absolute Can Of Kickass”
April 5th, 2022
New Bucs guard Shaq Mason
The man who scouted, trained and coached new Bucs guard Shaq Mason for years was speaking out about his former student.
One of Joe’s favorite football interviews is retired and renowned Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. What a fountain of coaching knowledge he is and there’s nothing that guy can’t explain in a direct and clear manner with flair.
Scarnecchia visited WEEI radio in Boston over the weekend and was asked for his feelings about the Belicheats trading Mason to the Bucs in March.
Asked if he was surprised Mason was dealt, Scarnecchia said he is and he ranted about what an excellent and driven player Shaq is.
“I have a huge affinity for that guy,” Scarnecchia said. “What you got out of Shaq was everything you could possibly want.”
He felt Mason was dealt only because of the salary cap. “They didn’t want to pay,” Scarnecchia said.
Mason was not a highly touted prospect during the 2015 NFL Draft but the Patriots were dialed into him. Scarnecchia noted he was the only NFL offensive line coach at the Georgia Tech Pro Day to scout Mason. They spent a ton of time together and it had Scarnecchia going back to the film to re-study Mason, something he said he rarely does after scouting a player.
Scarnecchia chose the Georgia Tech-Mississippi State game to see Mason against top flight competition, and he remembers it blowing him away. “He was an absolute can of kickass” in that game.
The NFL knew Mason was a punishing run blocker coming out of college but the question was, “Is this a guy you can coach well enough to be a decent pass blocker?” Scarnecchia said he never thought the questionable measurables meant anything with Mason and he recommended him wholeheartedly. The Patriots drafted him late in the fourth round.
Scarnecchia likened the trade of Mason to Tampa Bay to a similar deal done in 2014 for Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins. The 74-year-old O-line guru said he was glad he wasn’t with the team that year.
“I’d have thrown myself off a bridge on that one,” he said.
Joe sure hopes Bucs general manager Jason Licht got the best of Belicheat again on the Mason deal. It sure sounds like it!
April 5th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
We can assume that’s the same thing as a “can of whoopa$$”……..glad he’s a Buc.
April 5th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
I feel like Logan Ryan was one of the beginnings of us becoming good- he set the tone for us to become a great offense, leading. The young O linemen by example. Great player, excited to see Shaq.
April 5th, 2022 at 4:50 pm
It will be interesting to see to mean dudes in Jensen and Mason right in the middle of our OL. OL gets the least glory of perhaps any position…people only notice you when you get beat and give up a sack or run stuff and so self motivated guys who really want it are terrific.
April 5th, 2022 at 5:09 pm
The cap is not the issue. He was cut because Robert Kraft didn’t want to pay the real dollars. The Patriots will go get another fourth round pick, to fill the void. It’s about cost control. Mason is a good guard, but probably not worth the price tag. Thats the Patriots calculus. Mason was a road grater when drafted. The Patriots, Dante in particular, turned him into a very good pass blocker as well. He should be a great fit for you guys.
April 5th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Belichick will be looking for a favor in the draft one would imagine. But great move.
April 5th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
now we need a damn faast running back to take full advantage
April 5th, 2022 at 5:38 pm
He may have cost some bucks but at this stage we simply can’t gamble with our oline…….with Marpet & Cappa leaving, we know we were losing two really good players.
Couldn’t leave it to Stennie & a draft pick…
This was an excellent move fro a fifth round pick…..I think Bill could have really squeezed a 4th out of us if he stood his ground….
April 5th, 2022 at 6:03 pm
Marpet and Mason would’ve been an awesome pair of Guards.. Tom! Call Ali!! One more year!!
April 5th, 2022 at 6:04 pm
What can’t be overlooked is the Bucs acquiring yet ANOTHER 2x SB, seasoned, former Patriot teammate of Tom Brady. Mason is a road grader of run blocker and together with Gronk (he’s coming back), Wirfs, Jensen, and the much improved Donovan Smith, the Bucs will have the best running game since the GOAT signed with the team in 2020.
Like the GOAT, Gronk and Ryan Logan, Shaq Mason will also bring his share of Patriots intensity, discipline and overall professionalism to the Buccaneers. Expect the Bucs to always stay ahead on downs this season, drastically reducing the number of “3 and outs”, thereby taking pressure off the defense.
April 5th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Very happy we signed him, but we need to pay Scarnecchia to scout for us to find these guys.
JL has done a good job but the extra input certainly wouldn’t hurt would it?
Another later round pick that the Pats that turned out great.
April 5th, 2022 at 6:36 pm
Shaq Mason went to Georgia Tech, not Ga. State.
April 5th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Yet another sign that the game is getting beyond the Hoodie. Moneyball doesnt work in the NFL. How many of this guy’s horrible team managment impulses did TB12 cover for?
April 5th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
A lot of people think that Bill Belicheck is always right so they are worried about this trade.
He isn’t, look what happened recently His scouts told him almost every other WR was better then Harry, he took harry. Look at this patriots offseason. So far Belicheck’s record with Brady is not good.
April 5th, 2022 at 7:16 pm
Scarnecchia is a must listen. He gives those guys at eei interviews quite often.
April 5th, 2022 at 8:14 pm
Marpet was developing into a helluva run blocking right guard early on. The previous regime then started experimenting with him at center before moving him to left guard finally. That coaching staff did not develope O-linemen nearly as well as the current people. I think it is safe to say this crew now has a much better sense of how to use the talents they see also.
If some in the know around here are saying Shaq Mason actually is an upgrade over Alex Cappa, who am I to argue with them?
April 5th, 2022 at 8:35 pm
Doosh maybe we do pay him seems a worthwhile bargain!
who are we getting in the draft to take advantage of this can kickass? Offense would be outstanding if we can run the ball like the Colts did with their guy
April 5th, 2022 at 8:50 pm
I think Hainsey beats out Stinnie for the other guard position.
He will make for an even better run game.
That dude gets to next level in a hurry.
Even Marpet was slower in block continuation down field.
Either way the jumbo package with all 6 will be formidable.
I’m really not sure it gets addressed in this draft bit of so round 4 at the earliest and let Licht find another gem.
WR is not as deep as Edge Rushers or Safeties or CBs.
If a WR is available at 27, we go get him. If not, we trade back with the Jets.
April 5th, 2022 at 8:58 pm
As much as the Bucs O line has been heralded, they still have not been a dominant run blocking team. Yes they keep Toms Jersey clean most of the time. But running the ball, so many “meh” runs by this O line. So if Shaq can strengthen the run, as is advertised, then all the more lethal for Tom against defenses. You give Tom a running game, and 35 a game will be normal. Now if the secondary can just hold up, maybe, just maybe the Lombardi #3 comes to the burgh by the Bay, and #8 for Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr.
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 6th, 2022 at 1:41 am
In that picture it looks like there is a tear in his right eye which is on the left side as you look at the picture. It never fails. Every single time I see the picture, I think my computer screen has something on it.
April 6th, 2022 at 3:11 am
Reading stories like this makes me wish that our first game of the season was tomorrow. Picking so late makes the draft even more boring than usuual and after that we will be deep in the dead zone for football. I can’t wait to see this kid smash the hell of of folks and I’m already getting antsy for real football.
April 6th, 2022 at 8:32 am
Definite upgrade over CAPPA.
I’m just worried about Stinnie being a full-time starter at LG and how the depth will be now. I have faith in Hainsey not sure about anyone else
April 6th, 2022 at 11:53 am
Mason is an upgrade over Cappa, because he is a better run blocker. Both are good pass blockers.