O-Line Is A Major Work In Progress
March 24th, 2014
Joe’s confident the Buccaneers’ offensive line will look better on paper in the coming months. Breathe easy. More help should be on the way.
Right now, however, the offensive line doesn’t look strong and deep. Here’s a breakdown: Caution, side effects may include nervous stomach and hives.
Demar Dotson – Fifth-year right tackle started the past two seasons and is coming off his best year, but he won’t be confused with a future Pro Bowler anytime soon. He turns 29 in October.
Evan Dietrich-Smith – During his first full season starting for the Packers last year, the center shined in pass blocking and with his extensive protection-call responsibilities.
Anthony Collins – The Bucs appear to have made history signing Collins to big money. The left tackle could be the wealthiest offensive lineman who never started a full (or half) NFL season, not counting rookies under previous labor agreements. Collins turns 29 in November.
Carl Nicks – Bad luck. Bad foot. Big contract. Great player when healthy.
Jamon Meredith – Played his best ball as a starting right guard in place of Davin Joseph in 2012. Re-signed to a two-year deal by the new regime.
Oniel Cousins – The guard/tackle has made just nine starts in six seasons — three in Baltimore, three in Cleveland, where he played under new Bucs offensive line coach George Warhop. He turns 30 in July.
Patrick Omameh – Guard was signed off 49ers practice squad last year. He was an undrafted rookie out of Michigan.
Jason Foster – No regular-season snaps taken for the 6-3, 300-pound guard.
Emmett Cleary- Undrafted rookie tackle out of Boston College. Signed by New Schiano Order in October.
Jace Daniels – Tackle lived on Bucs practice squad last year.
Again, Joe’s confident/hoping Jason Licht and Lovie Smith aren’t finished with the offensive line.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:01 am
An OLine’s performance can not be determined by the sum of the pieces but I’d feel better if these guys had more starting experience.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:02 am
The way the text wraps on my cell phone, it looks like it said Jason Foster is a 3,300 pound guard. I think that would really help our goal line offense.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:05 am
No quality depth. Lost 3 starters and signed 2 that are not necessarily upgrades at their position. We did not get better on the oline
March 24th, 2014 at 10:07 am
We will draft at least 2 OL
March 24th, 2014 at 10:13 am
We’ll draft at least 2 OL provided we acquire a couple of extra picks. There will be another wave of FA’s available after the draft too.
We’ll have at least average talent given the FO’s ability to scout, The bigger question is how quickly the unit can come together.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:15 am
Well… technically, the Bucs have their starters back in Dotson and Meredith because the other overpriced old guys were always hurt and never played anyway.
So now its time to draft new guys and let them compete and grow as backups until they are ready. Olinemen need to be younger and athletic anyway.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:20 am
If this O-Line is a major work in progress, what was last years O-Line? There’s no way anyone can convince me that we are not better by the changes that we have made so far.
There’s a popular saying “and it’s only March”. But it’s true, it is only March with time and resources left to make further improvements. With what I have seen so far, I expect nothing less!
March 24th, 2014 at 10:26 am
i think i would of kept Jermey Z for depth and flexibility over a 5th rd pick even with his salary. Looks like we will be drafting a few lineman in May.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:36 am
I tried to tell everyone that the new regime would take any low compensation for any player on the team except McCoy and David. We all can see what a garbage of a roster this team was last year. And how much work it will take for it to be able just to coompete in the nfl.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Jason Licht and the Cardinals selected an OG with their #7 pick last year. Wouldn’t be surprised to see us take Mathews, Robinson, or Lewan in the first.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Zuttah didn’t have the film to justify his salary and most likely wouldn’t restructure. It’s history now.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:59 am
You pay your elites and Dominik paid everyone!
If they had the highest paid OLine in NFL and didn’t even play like the best in the division – how can you leave those players there? Something had to change and this shows me they take losing serious.
Here’s to changing a losing culture.
March 24th, 2014 at 10:59 am
@ Espo Says:
“The way the text wraps on my cell phone, it looks like it said Jason Foster is a 3,300 pound guard. I think that would really help our goal line offense.”
And he runs a 4.60/40. Of course that’s ‘minutes’, not ‘seconds’. ;^)
March 24th, 2014 at 11:00 am
Some stopgap interior-types: OG Darryl Colledge, OG Travelle Wharton, C/OG Ryan Wendell, OG/C Wade Smith, OG/OT Paul McQuistan, RG Harvey Dahl.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:00 am
Its funny… going in to last year, I thought the O Line was as good as anyones in the league with 3 pro bowler. We have been investing heavy into the O line for a long time, with little results.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:01 am
And another thing…
When the Glazers went out and got Schiano, they were trying to change the culture with more discipline. When the players revolted a second time, team Glazer went out and got Lovie… but in the process gave Lovie the freedom to further purge the veteran cancer from the team. And this time it was the overlly vocal veterans (Revis, Penn, Joseph and Zuttah) who turned out to assume that they were bigger than the team.
And history shall be written as such.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:01 am
Always gloom and doom. So far an upgrade from the 4-12 gang. There is more to come,I doubt if Lovie and Jason are crying in their beer. Several OL prospects in draft that will be around at 7 and 38. Free agency is not over and I believe the glass is half full when it comes to Carl Nicks.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:10 am
Yep – I’ve been saying that, everything posted on JBF is all doom and gloom – it’s almost as if Joe feel he won’t have stories with more substance.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:11 am
Every area of the team is a work in progress.
What would anyone expect after five years of folks like Mark Dominik, Raheem Morris, and Greg Schiano in charge.
Great work by Lovie so far.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:11 am
I understand the cuts and trades, but with so little depth I’m concerned that maybe they’re moving a bit fast. I’m willing to wait and see, but it has to make you think that is this a plan or just a purge? I was fine till the Zuttah trade. Over paid yes, a good player to have yes. Only getting a 5th for next year was odd. There’s been pros and cons to the things that have been done. Hopefully they will surprise us and put something really good on the field. But I’m on of the few that thinks it starts in the trenches and not just the QB.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:11 am
Meant trade* not trades
March 24th, 2014 at 11:15 am
Relax…relax….we aren’t finished….just the tear-down done. I’d be willing to bet that Nicks’ progress has influenced some of this.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:23 am
i am very concerned about oline like everyone else but one other avenue to find some stop gaps is after the draft and second round of veteran player releases. i am confident in licht and lovie they have too much riding on this.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:29 am
Joe:
Gil Brandt is talking up Manziel on Sirius today.
Good stuff.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:39 am
Wow that post got all jacked up
March 24th, 2014 at 11:41 am
The previous O-line was great on paper but didn’t live up to expectations, mostly due to injury. The new work-in-progress O-line has some potential but definitely has holes. I would expect the signing of another guard and possibly better depth. I can’t imagine Lovie banking on a return Nicks, although I hope the dude can come back healthy and play again. The game starts in the trenches, hopefully the freshly dug trench holds up.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:43 am
love the rebuild on the fly
March 24th, 2014 at 11:59 am
@Architek and Martinii…. doom and gloom is a product of the guy on the radio Lil Puppy. You might have heard the Joes do a radio show with him.
March 24th, 2014 at 12:01 pm
I’ll add this though. I don’t mind the doom and gloom either. Until I see something positive(that means on the field) I have no problem with all the negative.
March 24th, 2014 at 12:04 pm
The_Buc_Realist Says
“I tried to tell everyone that the new regime would take any low compensation for any player on the team except McCoy and David.”
And you were wrong.
How many trades have they actually made?
And McCoy and David are not the only untouchables.
March 24th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
is it negativity or is it concern…
Bonzi – so who else is untouchable??? Very curious here???
March 24th, 2014 at 12:49 pm
I’m surprised nicks is till on the roster. I doubt he plays 16 more games in his career. I guess we keep him thru camp and hope for the best
March 24th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
@1987
LOL – you know what that segment is very informative but the stories posted are just so negative in content. It’s like Joe(s) question or doubt every move made but in studio it’s pragmatic versus pessimistic.
For example, if you take a snapshot of the team under Dominik and did a assessment of the overall roster you can there was too many overpaid players that didn’t give you performance.
Flip the coin and now you see the fat trimmed and better salaries for proven productive players.
Well then you have Joe come out after Revis and McCown and question everything Lovie and Licht does, even as recent as Zuttah.
REALLY!!! Zuttah….no pro bowls, no all pro, and not even best in division at the position.
Now Williams! Who has no pro bowls, no all pros, and a crappy WR like Lance Moore to be more productive. I remover we use to compare he and Dez to one another, ummm let’s first start by apologizing to Dez Bryant who’s elite.
But weeks ago when PR released the story and the Times sent out a write up Joe became a Williams apologists with the little puppy – Lovie is serious about winning and if they have to rid the team of cancers then they will.
We all want to win again so let the guys purge this 4-12 team.
March 24th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
More than two untouchables? I love Martin as much as the next fan but running backs are not hard to replace in today’s NFL. @snook. Gil Brandt also said that Josh Freeman “Does not have the desire to get better”. Getting zero interest around the league and thinks Vince Young has a better shot as a starting quarterback. Johnny Manziel sounds like a kid who could electrify the football stadium every sunday to me.
The offensive line can only improve from last season’s uninspiring effort and production. Overhyped and overpaid. Young and hungry players entering there prime sounds much more proactive to the overall future of the team. Better hope L&L can draft as well as they can recruit free agents
March 24th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
Kinda scary.
March 24th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
I was impressed with Chase Daniels last year and I think if he has put on a little more muscle he will turn out to be a good backup this year. He was a small college LT. Just get the LSU Guard in the Fifth round and keep the best center from the second or third string in preseason or pick up one from some other practice squad or from cuts. We will be better on the OL this year. We also have great coaches this year to teach and motivate our OL.