Early Test
July 14th, 2014
RT Demar Dotson and the Bucs offensive line will get a quick test.
Yes, we are now 11 days from training camp. Speculation about how the Bucs will look or play will slowly be chipped away, little by little, once pads are put on and chin straps are buckled.
On paper, the Tampa Bay offensive line is certainly the most vulnerable position group. By now, if you are not aware of weak spots/questions marks/holes on the offensive line, that tells Joe you haven’t read this site in a few months.
Joe has often documented the issues.
And it won’t take long to figure out how well the offensive line plays or how far they will have to grow when they face the Stinking Panthers to open the season, as noted by the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.
Bucs are 8 weeks away from seeking revenge vs. the Panthers, who swept TB by a 58-19 margin in 2013. Bucs scored one TD and yielded 8 sacks
— Ira Kaufman (@IKaufmanTBO) July 13, 2014
Eight sacks! And now this same Stinking Panthers team with the same rugged defensive line comes to play the Bucs and their rebuilt offensive line with question marks up and down the line of scrimmage.
No, Joe does not expect the Stinking Panthers to repeat their division title season of last year. Their offense should be a shell of its former self. Notice one of their projected starting wide receivers is Tiquan Underwood? And rookie Kelvin Benjamin is now the No. 1 receiver? That’s a lot of hope and prayer there.
The Bucs may have concerns on the offensive line, but nothing like what the Stinking Panthers have for their entire offense. Not quite eight weeks from now, Joe expects a defensive struggle between the two NFC South foes.
July 14th, 2014 at 8:29 am
How can the OL play be any worse than last year? Davin pretty much said they never came together as a unit.
The OL last season is a well documented disaster and was abruptly dismantled. Much of the fear this season is we have a mostly new box of chocolates. EDS and Collins should be solid. Dotson and Merideth have played well. It’s all about LG.
July 14th, 2014 at 9:01 am
Biff,
As Lovie might say in response to your comment of “How can the OL play be any worse than last year?”… we were 4-12.
Lovie’s first year ended with a 5-11, and even though, IMO his tenure overall was a success, the Bears were plagued by an inconsistent offensive led by a poor offensive line. Not meaning to be a Debbie Downer, I love Lovie, but it is what it is.
July 14th, 2014 at 9:16 am
Wanna see some bad O-Line play in 2014, watch the Panthers they lost 3 starters, SCam will be running alright, for his life…
July 14th, 2014 at 9:17 am
It’s “Louis Murphy” Day!!!!!
July 14th, 2014 at 9:18 am
@flmike
Wouldn’t that depend on how good their replacements are?
July 14th, 2014 at 9:21 am
I’m excited about our O line. for the simple reason we have had to hear about how great our TOP tier, highest paid in the league, offensive line was going to dominate for the last few years now. ( a big shout out to nicks)
only for them to come out and stink up the joint. an embarrassment, a joke, a double bagger in every sense. then their backups come in and play better!
So, bring on the back ups, the scabs, the replacements. I don’t care what you call em. I like it!
July 14th, 2014 at 9:22 am
Even if Carl Nicks can finally run in training camp, does it matter? Davin Joseph started all 16 games last year and by his own admission could only start running by this time last year. Even if Nicks can run, that does not mean he will be any good on opening day. We need to find at least 3 offensive lineman off of waivers. Let the praying begin now.
July 14th, 2014 at 9:37 am
@flmike Says:
“…Wanna see some bad O-Line play in 2014, watch the Panthers…”
I am so looking forward to this game for that very reason. AND lets not forget the Panthers don’t have one WR who caught a pass for them from last year!!! Oh, yeah, and Tiquan Underwood is projected as a starting WR. LMAO! Cam Newton will not last the season. No Oline, and no one to throw to – This should be FUN!!!
July 14th, 2014 at 9:58 am
Not to be “Captain Obvious” here but, o-line play is tied directly to offensive success( see 2013). You can’t complete passes on your back!
Hopefully we can “sneak” a few wins while this line gels.
July 14th, 2014 at 10:02 am
Our D-line players are drooling. IMO this is a great way to get our entire defense gelling quickly.
Hopefully our secretive offense will be to our benefit.
I’ll be surprise, if we are underdogs…
July 14th, 2014 at 10:15 am
Last year’s offensive line no longer exists. It’s weaknesses are obvious in hindsight. Brilliant. The weaknesses claimed in this years line are mere speculation and fear mongering. We don’t even know yet what it will look like as a final unit, nor do we know the effect that new coaching, new techniques, and off season work will have.
Maybe this line will be worse than last year, maybe it will be better. One would think better based on changes made. But to focus only imagined weaknesses in an unknown product is just a trip down Chicken Little Lane.
July 14th, 2014 at 10:23 am
Being a good O lineman has as much to do with attitude as it does skill. There have been dozens of highly skilled highly drafted O lineman that just don’t have the heart (attitude) to be good at their jobs. Don’t get me wrong; it’s tough going and not for everyone to be beat up on every single play. Seems to me that your best players at this position are the blue collar big nasty’s that just love the contact of playing on the O Line. The high profile guys never seem to work out the way you would expect them to.
July 14th, 2014 at 10:28 am
I never liked the term “defensive struggle” because it sounds like the the defenses will be struggling. It’s really going to be a “Defensive Battle”.
July 14th, 2014 at 10:32 am
bucnjim gets it. nice post
July 14th, 2014 at 10:58 am
What are we going to do if we get 1 injury on this oline? Tossing Penn, Zuttah and Joseph without providing definitive upgrades or bolstering the depth will be quite evident on Sundays. Lovie and Licht will have some explaining to do!
July 14th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Hopefully Greg Hardy will be suspended the first game.
July 14th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Joe
This is fun, we are either losing all of the games or winning them all, who knew.
11 days and we begin to find out and when the first preseason game is here we can see even better what we have and don’t have.
As for NIcks moving, did he ever, I don’t know, but he knows how to block, the question is can he while he is in.
July 14th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
58 points to a Mike Shula offense. That’s the real tragedy here.
They won’t get half that this season.
July 14th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
I remember the home game against Carolina last year. The o line looked like bowling pins getting knocked over. It was ugly I don’t think I’ve ever seen an o line get man handled that badly.
July 14th, 2014 at 3:16 pm
@Netwalker- In the heart of off-season with training camp still 10+ days away, what’s “chicken little” about speculating on the perceived(nationally and local) weaknesses of our beloved Bucs? Is there something wrong with having a conversation?
Why don’t you enlighten us with your thoughts on the offensive line as opposed to trying to chicken be-little everyone!