Potential Actions By Other Teams Suggest Bucs Know What They Are Doing
August 26th, 2022
Street cred earned.
Now does Joe expect the Bucs not to try to pick up someone to play guard or center in the next few days when teams must shave their rosters to 53? Of course they’ll try.
However, if the Bucs don’t see someone they like, as Bucs coach Todd Bowles said, they won’t get someone just to get someone. They will only sign a guy if they’re confident he can help.
Yeah, Joe is nervous about the offensive line. But recent history suggests those in the know at One Buc Palace have an idea what’s going on.
First, the same guys who built a Super Bowl winner are still employed at One Buc Palace. Even former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, who was kicked promoted upstairs, is back on the field working with the offense.
Then, there is news from Cody Benjamin of CBS that two former high Bucs draft choices the team let walk this spring might be out of work in a couple of days, first-round pick tight end O.J. Howard and second-round pick Ronald Jones.
(Joe really wishes he remembered the dude’s commenter handle but there was a guy who fully lost his mind he was so in love with O.J. Howard. He used to brawl with Joe daily noting how Howard would cure the Bucs of all their ills and this Superman would lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl by himself. Never mind the Bucs already had a solid tight end and the team was crying out loud for a running back or a pass rusher. Nope, Dalvin Cook was a stiff and Howard would make everyone forget about the good Kellen Winslow and goofy Rob Gronkowski. Howard was the second coming and would revolutionize the NFL. Well, we all witnessed how that turned out. This commenter couldn’t answer the front door for the pizza delivery guy because he walked around so much with a tent pitched for Howard.)
Joe knows letting RoJo go was not popular with some fans. And there were a couple of diehards that did not want to see Howard go. But with both of those guys barely able to keep their jobs with two Super Bowl contenders, perhaps the Bucs knew something?
And maybe the Bucs see something in Robert Hainsey and Luke Goedeke and/or Nick Leverett no one else sees?
At the very least, Joe believes the Bucs’ braintrust has earned the street cred to be given the benefit of the doubt.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:25 pm
Suh.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
There will be some players we should take some interest in… hope we are able to snag a promising you OL player off waivers.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Are you comparing RoJo to #10
He has the same profile, other than draft slot, as RoJo & OJ
Hoping and a’ waiting for something special that never arrives
August 26th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
You lose Jensen then Stinnie and you don’t add another guard or center come on people wake up!
August 26th, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Hopefully no one will get hurt Saturday.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Damn, Joe bringin the heat! And the receipts! So does this mean we are going to resign Howard and Jones? /s
August 26th, 2022 at 12:38 pm
Goedeke obviously needs experience, but he was driving his man 10 yards down the field on Fournette’s opening run vs Titans last week.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
1-3 maybe 0-4 start….im sorry to be the messenger.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Good post Joe.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Personally, I believe even our offensive line will be fine. Jason Licht knows how to build offensive lines, and he always finds gems for backups.
I would love to see a couple D-line guys come in…Suh…JPP (who I wouldn’t mind coming in as an assistant coach).
I’m actually feeling pretty good about the season…so long as Brady doesn’t get injured. If that happens for an extended period, I hope Bowels has the guts to go to Trask, if for no other reason than to find out if we need a new guy.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Licht and his staff may actually know more about assessing players than any posters on this board. Hard to believe, though, from the player evaluations seen in many comments. In Licht I would trust.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
MadMax Says
“1-3 maybe 0-4 start….im sorry to be the messenger.”
3-1.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:43 pm
I hope Bonzai….trust me, i want to be wrong.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Are the Bucs wanting much higher draft pics for next year ?
August 26th, 2022 at 12:47 pm
The Bucs acquired several “journeyman” OL during the offseason and drafted Luke.
Jensen is a huuuge loss but injuries are bound to happen (see Tristan Wirfs). Good football teams overcome these obstacles by preparing for eventualities. Nobody expects Hainsey to be as good as Jensen…but…how can we know?
Stinnie was competing for the starting position.
Those reps will now go to guys who ARE available and we’ll see if they can play or not.
August 26th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
LOL – how much money did OJ Howard steal from the Bucs?
What a waste… I hated the pick from day one. Dude slid down the draft for a reason and will probably be out of the NFL very soon.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:01 pm
Bonzai, I’m with you. I think cowboys and packers are wins and saints and chiefs are toss ups. I don’t see the team letting the saints beat them both times this year again, and why not have one of those wins be this early game. Chiefs, well, there are issues but we know how to beat them. Also Brady won’t like mahomes getting any more ammo in future goat convos (from the crazies who have them. He’s phenomenal but slow down ppl!) I think 2-2 at worst, but likely 3-1 unless there are even more injuries. Brady has done well with worse OLs than this and there’s a case to be made he’s better than ever right now, likely because of his ever-increasing knowledge. They might be boring wins without big plays like we’re used to, but there will be a few wins in those first 4 games.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:06 pm
You know what you don’t hear about our OLine?
They CAN’T RUN BLOCK.
SOOOO, don’t be surprised when we start the season as a run first, early and often team.
Later in the season is when the flood gates will open in the passing game.
Although, I am on record as saying that ME13 will put up 500-600 yards and 4-5 TDs in the first 4 games.
Regardless of what our passing game does with this young OLine. They CAN Run Block. ADD in a MONSTER Full Back and we will all have fun witnessing a return to TRUE Smashmouth Football once again.
Point is the pass blocking will be supplemented by allowing these guys to do what they do best
August 26th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Yes….i do trust the Management when it comes to talent….It hasn’t always been that way……
We will pick up a FA Vet OG or we will trade for one…..
August 26th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
It was time for Howard to go. I liked the pick, but it didn’t pan out.
As for Jones, one of him or Fournette had to go. They don’t really offer anything different from the other. Your backfield needs variety. So if they chose Fournette, it’s was inevitable Jones had to walk.
As for the Oline, I think people are panicking for no reason. I don’t think Stinnie was even going to make the team at this point. Hainsey in time will prove to be an upgrade over Jensen. I’d much rather have a better run blocking center than pass blocking. Jensen gets pushed around in the run game. We’ll be fine.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Bunch of grown ass whiney putas
August 26th, 2022 at 1:21 pm
The Andouille Sausage stuffer naysayers can come on this board and say what they wish. But if we don’t win at least two of the first four, I’d be shocked. Crack…we have a monster H back. Haven’t you heard?
August 26th, 2022 at 1:24 pm
I have heard mark,
I am the one that has been pushing the idea of the Kieffer, KO. #41.
He has a future will Mike Tyson and WOOOOOO in more ways than one.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
I’m feeling 2-2.
Would be super happy with better & season ain’t over at 1-3 or even 0-4.
Started semi-slowly in 2020 & I’d take that result over 2021. At 7-5 we were all on suicide watch trashing Brady & the entire team.
Playoffs & go on a run. Jensen could come back. Gronk could sign. Suh will sign.
I am as hopeful as any year this year–more so than 2021 if I’m being honest.
Love the draft this year (cannot say that for Trask draft). Cade, Ko, Hall, White all sound legit.
#8
August 26th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
I wouldn’t mind losing the first game to New Orphan’s. Seems like that is a sign of SUPER things to come.
So, a 3-1 start would be what I expect.
Catching Dallass early should be the easiest game. 1-0
Sandbagging the Aints game. 1-1
The Chiefs will get smoked out by Kieffer KO. 2-1
Green Bay will prove to be a toss up. 3-1 or 2-2.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:45 pm
If Goedeke’s strength right now is run blocking, I suspect we’ll see the Bucs run a lot vs. CowTrans.
I also suspect we’ll see several screens, and more reliance on play-action.
Don’t be surprised if this team relies on defense more than the two seasons past, at least early on until the OL gets sorted out and more experienced. There are ways to minimize OL pass-blocking deficiencies.
At least when Fournette takes a rest, the opposing D won’t assume run as in the past with Jones.
Even with the GOAT and stacked receivers, I suspect this will be a different Bucs team.
August 26th, 2022 at 1:46 pm
When we signed OJ I was on fire, same thing after his first year, then he got injured and nothing else happen…..So he left.
Now that things have passed I would say exactly the same thing, OJ was an excellent College player and make all the sense of the world to draft him…..
You just need to go and check the tape on OJ first year….and of course after he got injured he was never the same……
Sh*t happens….. This is NFL not maths…..
August 26th, 2022 at 1:56 pm
Joe….. What’s up with Vegas odds makers …. Saying bucs having a losing season???
August 26th, 2022 at 1:58 pm
??? WHA???
What book is doing this? Wanna make some easy cash!
August 26th, 2022 at 2:32 pm
“Joe really wishes he remembered the dude’s commenter handle but there was a guy who fully lost his mind he was so in love with O.J. Howard. He used to brawl with Joe daily noting how”………….
_______________
Why don’t you just use that oh so handy archives search ya got on here Joe?
It’s quite amazing.
🙄
August 26th, 2022 at 2:37 pm
Caesar… Cbs article
August 26th, 2022 at 2:44 pm
Any O lineman they pick up, will be for depth purposes. You aren’t getting a starter from some teams castaway. A trade is a different story. I think Licht stands pat, until they see how the unit shows in the first few weeks. If it looks like dog food, I bet he swings a trade. Gotta be some tanking team, with a guy in his last year that wants out.
August 26th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
My wife went to Alabama, so we’re Tide fans around here. We were really pulling for Howard to put it together and make good on his tremendous potential, but even more than that I’m a Bucs fan from the beginning and they NFL is a prove-it league. Wanting to see a young man succeed can’t make one blind to what’s happening on the field. I wish Howard and RoJo well, but they’re apparently among the many players who just aren’t able to make that transition to them NFL.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
2-2 would be a blessing. 3-1 would be very lucky.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
Biff.. why would we think this team capable of being in the SB and having a good chance to win it, if we can’t win a couple of those games? We aren’t a young team with many pieces that might suddenly gel at the end of the season. Sure, we should be playing out best at that time, hopefully. But we should come out strong.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
The Achilles doomed Howard.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
So the good news is that the Bucs blew a first round pick on OJ, and then blew a second round pick on RoJo?
It was a no-brainer to not sign them. I think almost everyone here knew that OJ probably wasn’t going to make the Buffalo final roster. And we also suspected that RoJo was a mistake by KC as he cannot protect the passer to save his life (or Mahomes). Putting him on the field is a poker-tell for a running play. I thought he’d make the team, but yes it was a mistake by KC.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:29 pm
I thought Rojo did a halfway decent job last night when he got a few snaps for the Chiefs.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Again, im saying it, we’ll turn it around after 1-3 or 0-4 and we’ll make the playoffs…. what happens after that I dont know
August 26th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
17 – 0 is my guess!
August 26th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Cobraboy … Great analysis. I see it the same way that the Bucs should lean on the run more, early-on in particular. I think it’ll take time for our revised OLine to get its’ collective act together, especially when it comes to pass blocking to support longer intermediate & deep routes. But that’ll come; TB12 will see to that.
What concerns me is strong defenses ‘selling out’ and bringing the farm just to get to Tom Brady & knock him out of the game. He’s our ‘difference-maker’. We’ve gotta stay out of those 3rd-and-long situations where they know we HAVE to pass. We need a more BALANCED ATTACK though then we’ve had to keep that from happening. Bucs have the talent to do that; just not sure our OC will go that route.
August 26th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Common sense says The Bucs need to sign two experience offensive line men that can play guard and center
August 26th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
JOE ease that mind. Keep the faith in JL. he not only built the super bowl team he has drafted very well when it comes to the O-line. The coaches also have done a great job of developing the talent. The O-line also knows they will be protecting the GOAT so they will tighten up when it counts. Everyone one else freaking out about the Bucs but we sitting good. Yes jesen was a set back but again JL has drafted well with the o-line. Next man up. When cappa went done what happened his back stepped up nice. We lost him but the next man will at step up
August 26th, 2022 at 4:42 pm
Jensen STILL isn’t on IR, which tells me they believe he’ll be back this season
August 26th, 2022 at 6:39 pm
Letsbucinggo Says:
August 26th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Are you confident there are guys available right now that are better than what they have? Okay, please do share!
People act like it’s easy to just grab a player to fill in when you lose an O-lineman. Not the case. Year after year, teams struggle to develop depth on the O-line. And making trades often doesn’t work out any better than relying on guys you’ve been developing who already know your system. Spare us the b!tching.
August 26th, 2022 at 6:41 pm
George Says:
August 26th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
I don’t know. My common sense says that our front office knows better than you do.
August 26th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Sasquatch … Both Jensen & Stinnie would’ve made the final cut obviously IF they were healthy. Eventually BOTH will end up on IR, and we’ll STILL have to man our roster with 8-9 OLinemen.
Tells me that IF we don’t add anyone from outside (trade or cuts), then TWO of our current OLinemen will make the roster who wouldn’t have made it if Jensen & Stinnie were healthy.
I’m confident that JL & his staff are looking high & low to see if there’s ANYONE out there who’s better than those two players who we now have who’d make the roster only because of injuries to key players. And since no one seems to be truly excited about our starting OLine at this point, my guess is that few are excited about any backups we’ve already seen play in preseason. I’m expecting JL to add TWO OLinemen before we get too far along this season.
August 26th, 2022 at 8:42 pm
I agree. We upgraded at both positions with White instead of Rojo & Otten over OJ. Licht & crew ain’t no fools
August 26th, 2022 at 9:34 pm
I think it’s time to greatly lower expectations for any roster moves that move the needle, and also time to lower expectations in general. I see no interest in them going truly going all-in this season. Nothing in their behavior since before the draft suggests it, unfortunately for TB12. Who is going to have to deal with patchwork. Again.
August 26th, 2022 at 10:42 pm
steele Says:
August 26th, 2022 at 9:34 pm
This is utter nonsense. Patchwork? Yeah, I get our O-line has taken some hits. Where else are we patchwork? And even on the O-line, patchwork doesn’t really apply — Goedeke is a 2nd rounder and Hainsey was a 3rd rounder and spent a year in our system already. That’s not exactly patchwork. It’s unfortunate we lost Jensen, but Hainsey will be a quality player. Not patchwork.
Also, after the draft, we added Keanu Neal, Logan Ryan, and Akiem Hicks. Smart moves to strengthen the D. Julio and Rudolph for the O. But I guess that’s not “all in” enough.
So, what — does “all in” mean they have to go out and make a big splashy trade for a big name player? Just to make the complaining crowd happy?
August 26th, 2022 at 11:32 pm
@sas, salute my man! and im on it for our next draft 🙂
August 26th, 2022 at 11:43 pm
Joe, Whats the deal with Isaiah Wynn? Is he still on the trading block? Why don’t the Bucs make a move for him?
August 27th, 2022 at 2:39 am
we must add one guard…
we can slide by for a bit at center with tom pulling the reigns…
but a guard is a must
August 27th, 2022 at 7:43 am
I don’t think we’ll know what this team looks like until week 1. Remember preseason games are managed scrimmages. We haven’t seen the starting units play together yet or game plans designed to actually win games. On paper the O line is scary and I’m first in line saying we need help. Really think it would be through a trade, would be surprised if we could get solid talent from a roster cut.
August 27th, 2022 at 8:00 am
This continued refrain of trust Bucs management on the Oline ability is quite frankly nauseating. Bucs management will NOT play a down in the trenches. I go by what I see , and not seeing much. Brady will control this narrative and believe that. Brady will decide if we bring in Oline help by what he sees or does not see in the Indy game. Goedeke better take a huge step forward. When you keep drafting Div II olineman – eventually you will get Div II Olineman-Marpet was a rare exception.
August 27th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
Whine, whine, whine! Are you guys forgetting defense wins games too? The Bucs have upgraded the D from last year. Both the D line and pass defenders. Brady has a fleet of excellent receivers, arguably the deepest group in NFL. They also have one of the best line backer groups. And they have upgraded at running back. The only big problem is Brady may not have as much time for deep throws, but he will have better targets for short to intermediate which is his bread and butter game anyway. Pound the rock and dink and dunk plus the occasional bomb. Samo,Samo as last year. I see 3/1 as long as Brady stays healthy. I see more interceptions from the dbs. And maybe improved run defense.
August 27th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Oh ya. And I see 4/0 as a good possibility! Against the wind? Time will tell. But I think this teams chances to make it to the Super Bowl are as good as anybody else. Injuries will impact other teams too. The sky ain’t falling yet!