Offensive Line Grade: F
November 6th, 2013
The loss in Seattle was the first time this season the offensive line played up to preseason expectations
Joe always chuckled when he heard Bucs fans on the radio scream into their phone about an All-World cornerback playing or not playing zone. This wasn’t what was crippling the Bucs in their frustrating quest to find their first win of the season. Talk about taking your eye off the ball.
The real reason the Bucs, short of sleepy, leaky Josh Freeman imploding and getting thrown off the team, were losing is that the offensive line wasn’t blocking. Running back Doug Martin had no room to run and Freeman/Mike Glennon had little time to set up to throw.
If an offensive line cannot block, the offense generally can’t do a thing and therein lies the issue.
ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas has been appalled at the Bucs’ offensive line and in his midseason grades, slapped the offensive line with a failing grade.
This unit was supposed to be one of the team’s biggest strengths. As it turns out, this unit has been a weak spot. Carl Nicks’ injury problems haven’t helped. There haven’t been a lot of holes in the running game and the pass protection hasn’t been great.
Yes, Joe understands Nicks got sick with MRSA but Nicks was hurt last year (as was Davin Joseph) and Bob Bostad, the Bucs’ offensive line coach, did a tremendous job of patchwork to get good production. This year, with a healthy Joseph (sans an infection) and the addition of Gabe Carimi, there is no way this offensive line should be playing this poorly. Only until the Seattle game did the Bucs have productive offensive line play (and look at the difference in the offense).
Joe still believes Joseph hasn’t fully recovered from his knee surgery last year and that is part of the problem.
November 6th, 2013 at 11:20 am
Bears got rid of Carimi for a reason…and a former 1st round pick in 2011 mind you. You just don’t dump a guy that quick with no good reason. I was skeptical when we got him and he’s proven my concerns. He’s barely a backup.
November 6th, 2013 at 11:39 am
I’m going to cut Carimi a little slack because when he got here he wasn’t fully recovered from an injury that the desperate Bears rushed him back to the field to soon on, plus he got Mono and lost 20lbs. And can we please show Jamon Meredith a little respect? The man is a Right Tackle who last year was asked to play Right Guard with no notice and is now playing Left Guard. He had a very solid game against Seattle
November 6th, 2013 at 11:43 am
when it comes to O-line and D-lines, the pop-star is a total failure!
November 6th, 2013 at 11:49 am
“sleepy, leaky Josh Freeman…” Beyond perfect!
I’m sorry but IMO if you’re not on the field and making what Nicks makes…you’re a BUST …..sorry about your luck dude but you haven’t paid off….enjoy your millions for absolutely NOTHING
November 6th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
The oline has been awful so has the offensive play calling that has failed to play to our QB’s or former QB’s strengths (roll out). We run one of the most basic offenses in the league, our oline can pull but we don’t get out on the edge much.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Been saying for a while that the O line is the problem. Seem like 5+ years to be exact. Hopefully the next regime would fix this by drafting solid O lineman throughout the years instead of playing the lottery with undrafted guys.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
I said from the end of the year last year that the oline was a big problem.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Bucs need to get rid of both starting guards.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
I am not going to sing total praise for the Oline, but they have allowed only 20 sacks this year which is 10th best in the league in terms of protecting the QB. The running game on offense is ranked 18th in YPG. I thought Dotson was playing very well, Penn and Zuttah holding there own and Meredith looked good this past week. Again, not a B but not a F either…but we are 0-8 so everything is frustrating.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
So, what is Nicks average pay per start, so far? He’s easily making more than Revis.
Even double Revis?
November 6th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Not so sure, myself, that it’s just poor Line play. If poor play calling can sabotage the QB’s efforts, I see no reason it CAN’t sabotage the line play , as well. look at the 1st half to second half of the Seatle game comparison , as an example, hard to say the line played poorly, in the 1st half. So, what changed ?
November 6th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
And to think all along I thought it was Legarrette Blount’s fault lol.