“Dire Need Of A Talent Injection”
April 2nd, 2024
Many viewed the Bucs as overachievers last season, and perhaps Tampa Bay overachieved at two particular positions.
Those would be center and left guard. Robert Hainsey, a late-third-round pick in 2021, mans the middle and veteran Aaron Stinnie spent most of the season at left guard. Stinnie, the undrafted survivor, a 2020 postseason hero, is now on the Giants.
Hainsey and Stinnie did reasonably well, and perhaps they indeed overachieved for their talent level. But Joe knows many fans think that duo was playing to its very low ceiling. And in that crowd is former NFL MVP Rich Gannon, co-host of The Blitz on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Gannon discussed the Bucs’ needs this week and while he agonized about Tampa Bay’s very shaky pass defense, Gannon seemed most dialed into the offensive trenches.
Regarding Stinnie and Hainsey’s positions, Gannon said the Bucs are in “dire need of a talent injection.”
Is it really “dire?”
Well, Joe realizes someone must take the fall for the Bucs’ ranking 32nd in yards per carry for the second consecutive season. And Gannon went there, too, also noting that Baker Mayfield is a shorter quarterback.
The rushing-yards stat is unacceptable and it is partly due to the interior offensive line. Still, Joe is willing to roll with Hainsey at center and, perhaps, newcomer free agent Ben Bredeson at guard.
But Joe does agree with Gannon’s overall premise. The Bucs could use a shot in the arm of raw talent in the interior offensive line.
April 2nd, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Dire is a excellent choice of words
If you can watch the Lions game and see how the OL was beaten into submission by the Lions DL , that kept the Bucs defense on the field too long and the Lions bullied the Bucs DL into ineffectiveness with their two studly running backs.
Not to worry the Bucs IOL WILL be improved!
April 2nd, 2024 at 3:52 pm
Let’s get a line of all college left tackles
April 2nd, 2024 at 3:56 pm
A complete rebuild (which is what we are doing) takes time. We the Bucs have been bringing in new talent, but the process takes time. No one has the patients anymore, but I think we are on a great pace to reload quickly.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:02 pm
Talked to a steelers fan today, they said they wouldn’t mind trading for trask.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:03 pm
JPJ or Barton in the 1st/Frazier or Van Pran in 2nd for C. Mahogany or Puni in 3rd for G. This would go a long way in shoring up the strength of the IOL. Then with Hainsey and the Bucs 2 FA pickups as backups, the IOL would be markedly increased and I believe with the addition of a power RB, the Bucs could be at least an average running team instead of at the bottom of the NFL as it has been the past 2 years.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:04 pm
The Lions game to me was the litmus test showing our edge rush and OL are not at SB worthy levels.
It isn’t just the run game – our interior OL was what was blown up in the pass game consistently as well. Going from Marpet/Jensen/Cappa to Stinnie/Hainsey/Mauch has visually been a massive downgrade in run and pass.
Mayfield could have probably taken another 20 sacks that he Shake n Baked out of or that would have been Brady sacks.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:05 pm
It’s clear as day the need is dire. Hainsey is best suited as a backup. This isn’t about pinning blame on them, we need a RB2 as well. With all the talk of not wanting to lose Jensen how can you not see the massive hole there. It’s simple the Bucs need a mauling C. And they eventually need a new RG. Opeta is better than Brederson I think for now at G. Talking about drafting a C or WR and the interior of our Oline apart from Mauch is subpar. Willing to roll with Hainsey and Brederson is a big problem
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:17 pm
That line ran Brady & Lenny off……they punished him….and if it weren’t for Baker’s tenacity, he would have joined them.
We need to spend either a 1st or 2nd on an interior lineman. To do otherwise is to ignore the problem.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:19 pm
Also a true power back with vision. Like Earnest Graham was
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:38 pm
I expect Hainsey to be at least a little bit better this year with more experience and hopefully a little more strength. If Bredeson is a slight improvement over Stinnie then we are ok. I want to be better than Ok but we won’t be bad at all. Also, the right side, which was very very young last year should be much better. Overall, could be a good to very good line.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:41 pm
It doesnt take an expert to see how horrible the middle of our offensive line was performing. Stomach turningly bad. Worse as the season wore on.
Ben Bredeson cant start in the NFl, due tono fault of his own.
Hes a T-rex.3rd shortest arms on an OLinemen in NfL history.
Hard to overcome that. Hes a backup center. Hainsey shouldnt be a backup at Center. He should be a backup Guard.
We need to redo the contracts of Wirfs and Winfield.
Then sign some decent Vets.
Im still high on Center Connor Williams and Guard Dalton Risner.
Then draft a couple young guys.
And fix the dang PASS RUSH
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Grab a bad-ass center and move Hainsey to guard or draft one in later rounds. We need a Jensen clone.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:48 pm
I would almost put a RB1 ahead of edge. White is 50th in the league in YAC, so even if he gets a hole, he’s tackled immediately after 3 or 4 yards. I want a great back, who’s experienced in a mid-wide zone system, and runs hard like Pacheco.
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:57 pm
Colonel Tim speaks truth again.
April 2nd, 2024 at 5:01 pm
IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE
Canales’ rushing attack ranks astonishing high at number 32. If there were more NFL teams, the Bucs would be ranked even lower.
April 2nd, 2024 at 5:32 pm
I think a C upgrade is all that’s needed. Not a Hainsey hater but he can be upgraded in the draft. For those saying C and G first 3 rounds… I think that’s too much of a luxury to be double dipping on the IOL with our other needs for depth at CB, LB, WR, TE, RB.
I’m quite comfortable with Hainsey Brederson Opeta and a rookie competing for 2 spots. If we are drafting 2 OL in the first 3 rounds, one of them better be a tackle to back up Wirfs or Goedeke.
April 2nd, 2024 at 5:35 pm
Hainsey is bad, Mauch is horrible, both are either at the bottom or near the bottom in ratings. I don’t care what anyone says, these guys are turnstiles against a good D line. We also have TEs that can’t block. On the D the edge rush isn’t there and the interior push doesn’t exist w/o Vea and he can’t play all the snaps. Hall and JTS need to go, both are pathetic. The secondary is suspect, but it may because of the lack of a pass rush or the fact that they are forced to play a soft zone? Unless the Bucs get bigger, faster and stronger in the trenches they aren’t going anywhere. I don’t care how the Bucs organization try’s to spin it, they just don’t have much talent in the trenches.
April 2nd, 2024 at 5:46 pm
I think it takes teamwork to be ranked #32 in the running game. If you have an above average running back and a sorry line, you’re around #20. Same if you have a great line and a sorry running back. To be in the top say, 10-15, you gotta have better than average at both RB and O line. To be top 10, someone has to be great….RB or O line, and the other needs to be above average. If you’re #32, your RB sucks and so does your line.
April 2nd, 2024 at 6:01 pm
Yes the need is dire! Hainsey
and Brederson are not.the answer. Also we do need a very good RB2 as well as better blocking by tight ends. But a.DE is probably of more importance than the offensive line . I do not know how Light is going to fix all our problems without a miracle or two!
April 2nd, 2024 at 6:42 pm
It hasnt been a secret. We are down Marpet, Jensen, and Kappa since the SB run, and we havent really improved or solidified anything since then. Im sure Brady didnt appreciate that up front pressure in his last season, and Baker having bad windows over the middle likely contributes to how hard it is to get the ball to a slot guy like Godwin. The run game speaks for itself with the guys we have. A premium pick on an interior likely starts and at the worst raises the talent level in the room. I also recognize that our run game coordinator deserves a lion’s share of the blame as well.
April 2nd, 2024 at 6:54 pm
2 legit plug in guys in first round on the interior OL. How well they actually do once in the league we don’t really know but the scouting reports seem to think these guys are building blocks. Protect the QB help the run game and Todd can figure out how to pressure the opponents with different looks. Still can address edge and D in round 2 and 3.
April 2nd, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Dave Pear,
Thank you, and thanks for the promotion!
April 2nd, 2024 at 7:08 pm
Baker was knocking on the door of the AFC Championship game without legit WRs
Baker was knocking on the door of the NFC Championship game without a legit run game
Give him both and he’ll bust that door down
April 2nd, 2024 at 7:12 pm
I think Sua Opeta is gonna snag the LG position….
Dude is strong as hell and can move people….
Need to upgrade Center as primary focus…
Gimme Zach Frazier for that!! Hainsey is a backup…..
I think Mauch’s gonna put on some man weight for this season….
He’s gonna be decent once he gets some experience under him.
He’s got great feet & good leverage…
April 2nd, 2024 at 7:23 pm
“Still, Joe is willing to roll with Hainsey at center and, perhaps, newcomer free agent Ben Bredeson at guard” – Joe
Then you have zero right to gripe about the offensive line next season.
You admittedly don’t research draft prospects and don’t look at mock drafts, yet you are very opinionated about who the Bucs should draft and what players could or could not be available for the Bucs pick. Make that make sense.
April 2nd, 2024 at 7:41 pm
IOL was atrocious. Made Baker play like Houdini and opened no holes for White.
April 2nd, 2024 at 7:42 pm
Look at their PFF grades…
April 2nd, 2024 at 7:43 pm
Duane in Sanford … ‘I also recognize that our run game coordinator deserves a lion’s share of the blame as well.’
That’s a GRRREAT point Duane. We not only changed OCs (for the better me thinks), but there were several other offensive coaching changes that’ll come into play.
We signed Kevin Carberry as the OLine coach. He spent 2023 as the Saints’ OLine assistant, and 2021 & 2022 as the Rams’ OLine coach (Rams won the SB in 2021 as I recall). Could be a nice hire. Also added Brian Picucci as the assistant OLine coach (lot of experience, mostly at the college level, to include working for … Liam Coen).
Bucs also signed Josh Grizzard as their passing game coordinator. He spent the last 7 years with the Dolphins in several offensive positions.
Brian McClendon joined us as our new WR coach. He’s got 17 years of coaching experience, all at the college level, to include 2 stints at the Univ of Georgia as their passing game coordinator and WR coach.
Justin Peele is our new TE coach. He’s got 11 years of NFL coaching experience, and served as the Falcons’ TE coach for the past 3 years and as the Eagles TE coach for the 6 years prior to that.
A couple other offensive coaches switched coaching positions, so it’ll be interesting to see how this new coaching staff performs in 2024. Personally I believe that Points Scored is the only measure of performance that really counts. If this group can improve upon our #20 ranking (20.5 PPG average) and get us into the Top-10 of NFL teams I’d be elated (Colts ranked #10 last season with a 23.3 PPG average). I’d think that 1 more FG per game is doable.
April 2nd, 2024 at 8:29 pm
Opeta might work at LG but we are in DIRE need of a Center, which should be our 1st pick. Also draft a RG and let he and Mauch fight it out during camp. We need to draft a power RB to eventually be our RB1, a Tight End that can catch AND block, and some serious defensive Edge talent with unstoppable speed.
April 2nd, 2024 at 8:35 pm
Yeah, it crazy. Saw another new mock draft yesterday, that had Nabers dropping right into ATL’s fricking LAP!!!! That would be some REAL BAD News there, if that were to happen. Think about it… Nabers-London-Bijon Robinson-PITTS-Mooney-Rondale Moore. Oh yeah, with KIRK COUSINS to get them the BALL. Not. Good. But, I was thinking about this earlier… The reason they are starting to ‘look’ Soooo LOADED to everyone, is because they have been picking at the very TOP of the draft now, for several years. And, they have taken ‘skill’ position talent on OFFENSE with literally, every single one of those picks!!!! The Bucs have been drafting at the very END of the Draft, for the most part, for several years now.
April 3rd, 2024 at 12:24 am
Graham BARTON
April 3rd, 2024 at 8:07 am
Could the predictable play calling on 1st & 2nd downs be a slight part of the problem with the running game?
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:30 pm
True about LG and Center but Mauch needs to get bigger and stronger right now. Can’t afford to wait too many years for his development.
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Very well played sir. And excellent troll settle and under the radar.
“Talked to a steelers fan today, they said they wouldn’t mind trading for trask.”
April 4th, 2024 at 9:51 am
If they want to compete with the Falcons who are now loaded up on offensw, the biggest mistale would be to take them lightly. Licht needs to act, adding talent in the trenches on both sides of the line. Bigger and meaner o line is needed run the ball more, control the line. A pass rush is needed to disrupt the other teams passing offense. As of now, I dont see enough talent to be a legitimate advantage over the Falcons. Not saying they can’t compete, but the Falcons have more depth at key offensive positions and they can seriously run the ball. They will be a problem, anyone who disagree’s is falling into the trap.