First Up, Jamon Meredith
July 26th, 2014
Jamon Meredith will get the first crack to secure the opening left by the departure of guard Carl Nicks.
For the first time in maybe a year, gentle giant Jamon Meredith decided to chat with members of the Tampa Bay pen and mic club after the Bucs had their practice cut short big time by lightning yesterday. Meredith talking seemed to shock many reporters, Joe included.
Ironically, when Bucs coach Lovie Smith was asked how he would fill the massive hole left by guard Carl Nicks’ departure, the very first name out of his mouth was Meredith. So Meredith discussed what life may be like without Nicks.
“I’ve always thought that we had a good group across the board, at every position,” Meredith said. “I know it’s always tough to lose somebody, a Pro Bowl-caliber guard like Carl Nicks, but we’ve lost Carl a few times in the past and we’ve been able to bounce back. This is one of those unfortunate things, but as far as our team I think we’re built ready and I think we’re built to be able to bounce back from this. We’ve got a lot of young guys that can step in. I’m experienced, Oniel Cousins is experienced, and we’ve got some guys that have played multiple positions. I think, honestly, we’ll be fine.
“Carl’s a great player and I had the utmost respect for him. I love him as a player, I liked watching him and I learned a lot from him. But he’s gone down two times before in the past and we were able to bounce back, and that was right when it happened, without time to actually plan and get adjusted to each other. It happened on the fly, and we found a way to keep improving. I think we’ll be okay. Honestly, I really do. I know the media might try to panic a little bit, but we’re okay. I think we’ll be fine.”
Bucs general manager Jason Licht noted the spot for Nicks is up for grabs and used the word “competition” for the gaggle of offensive linemen on the roster. Interesting to Joe is, during OTAs and minicamp, it was rookie Kadeem Edwards who played a lot with the first team at left guard.
Now, initially, it looks to be Meredith.
As Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune suggested yesterday, there is a very real chance that the man who will replace Nicks is not even on the roster yet.
This will now be one of the key battles of training camp: the battle to replace Nicks.
To hear more of Meredith, click on the red button below courtesy of Joe’s co-conspirators at WDAE-AM 620.
July 26th, 2014 at 9:42 am
Perfect opportunity!!!
July 26th, 2014 at 9:56 am
Joe why do you think Nicks release leaves a big hole on the OL?
Nicks only played in a couple of games over the last 2 years is that correct?
July 26th, 2014 at 10:09 am
@Ghost. Really?
July 26th, 2014 at 10:12 am
Well obviously they wanted to see what Edwards can do as they already have tape on Meredith. Just a test drive.
July 26th, 2014 at 10:12 am
Ghost, true Nicks was out before and I do believe the Bucs were wary of his future here.
It’s the media that’s building the state if doom IMO because Nicks was, and I mean was, the most dominant OG in football.
Ira is on to something. I believe a move for an OG is going to happen.
July 26th, 2014 at 10:13 am
Jamon is historically correct. In 2012 Doug Martin rushed for 11 TDs, 1464 yards, and 472 yards receiving. Josh Freeman (God bless his soul) set club records. Anybody want to guess who the RG was? Jamon Meredith – a terrible tackle, but a pretty good OG. In 2013, our illustrious coaching staff saw fit to return him to back-up LG and OT and insert Davin Joseph at RG and they both performed terribly.
L&L quickly moved to re-sign Meredith (one of only 2 UFAs resigned), not to a 1 year prove-it contract, but to a 2 year contract with a bonus and appropriate incentives. Give Schiano credit where credit is due – he and Dominik plucked young Patrick Omameh from the 49ers PS last year and he is going to compete for the starting job too.
I’ve heard talk that he or Oneill Cousins may be the replacement for Nicks. I refuse to believe that Cousins is a legitimate option – 3 years of tape doesn’t lie! I don’t know if the scheme will have any effect, but be advised. When Jamon had success it was at ROG. When he did play LOG in 2013, he did not perform as well.
From my armchair perspective, I would let Meredith and Omameh compete for ROG and the loser is quality depth. Kadeem Edwards needs time to develop. I would not hesitate to go to the 49ers and offer a trade for Iupati (UFA next year) or Boone (already a holdout from TC). The Eagles will also trade Evan Mathis, but he’s already 32 and would probably want a long-term contract. My preference would be Iupati , already an 2 year pro bowl LOG and just turned 27 in May. The 49ers have acknowledged that he will hit FA next year due to cap space restrictions.
July 26th, 2014 at 10:33 am
The battle to replace Nicks on IR?
That’s where he was most of his time here.
July 26th, 2014 at 10:34 am
@Ghost,
Agreed and seems to go along with what Meredith thinks. I personally think many are assuming the OL is gonna suck. I don’t buy. I think bad coaching lead to bad play. EDS is going to get these guys in line. I love the attitude of our new LT. He’s got McCown’s back. Just watching his intro press conference a few month’s back and reviewing his stats will show that.
Bring it! These guys can handle it well enough.
July 26th, 2014 at 10:36 am
okay so 4th rounder for Iupati and we should be all in 🙂
i mean, the bucs let some players go, or and Center Zuttah(?) for example low pick, just because they teams knew they will hit the market..
So 49ers should be happy for a 4th and Bucs for sure would be..
also agree that Meredith should be our RG.
that Boone guy from 49ers would also be nice – because i am sure – bucs fans will start to realize how incompetent Dotson is after Buccaneers will try to run and rund hard and often.. he is just tooo weak>>> http://thebiglead.com/2013/12/02/star-lotulelei-humiliated-demar-dotson-with-this-bull-rush/
and this happened far more often (and him being pushed damn near the QB etc. = pressure on QB – he is one hell of an weak ink on the line)
July 26th, 2014 at 10:45 am
Unfortunately, Mike Iupati recently signed a 5 year deal with the 49rs. How I would have liked to see him as a Buc!
July 26th, 2014 at 11:02 am
Larry,
Not correcting you, but here’s the facts!
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5763/mike-iupati
July 26th, 2014 at 11:51 am
According to PFF, Dotson was by far our best OL last year. His stats were pro bowl worthy so I wouldn’t worry about him. Another offseason to add muscle mass hasn’t hurt him any either.
Edwards probably doesn’t have the muscle mass to really push people around yet.
I’m hoping Meredith plays ROG and Omameh LOG. Or we could trade a RB and get a LOG.
July 26th, 2014 at 12:08 pm
“Bucs general manager Jason Licht noted the spot for Nicks is up for grabs and used the word “competition” for the gaggle of offensive linemen on the roster.”
Competition!?!? IMPOSSIBLE!!! Just ask DallasBuc.
July 26th, 2014 at 12:40 pm
They didn’t really “lose” Nicks. They never had him, and I don’t think they were counting on him.
July 26th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
I agree Meredith is a good RG, but he has put on a lot of upper body muscle he didn’t have last year, and at least played LG last year, so lets just wait and see how well he does this year when the pads come on. Edwards will be good after he adapts to the NFL. He was strong enough to hold his own in the Sr. Bowl against top rated DL players, so he can back up Meredith. As to Cousins, he has NFL experience and definitely has the size and strength. Lets see what he does with top coaching, before we decide he can’t do well at the position. I like the San Francisco Guard too, and I want to see what Chase Daniels can do there as well. We will be OK at Guard even if we don’t sign another player. But if Daniels plays the best there, bring in another backup center off the waiver wire and start Daniels. I am high on what he can do.
July 26th, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Owlykat Says:
July 26th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
His position coach here is the same one he had in Cleveland. He’s only here because he’s athletically gifted, but he’s never seemed to put those gifts to good use in his time in the league. Hopefully, we’ve got better people than him on the roster. I prefer Omameh, Edwards, and Meredith, and maybe Daniels could back up at guard too, as you suggest, making Cousins expendable.
July 26th, 2014 at 5:10 pm
If the Bucs are serious about winning this year they will go out and get SF G Iupati now and not wait until FA next year.
when do we find out if the Bucs saved any cap space with the Nicks settlement?
July 27th, 2014 at 11:34 am
Great guards can come from ANYWHERE. Nicks himself was a 5th rounder converted from tackle. We had excellent guard play in 2010 with Larsen (a converted OC and before that a converted DT) and Derek Hardman (another converted OT), a couple of guys picked up off the street.
Great teams aren’t overly reliant on great guard play to do well. They invest at the ends of their OL. The KC Chiefs of the late 90’s had the three best interior linemen in the game and were terrible on offense because their OTs were below average.