Blow Up The Entire Offensive Line?
November 23rd, 2014
Lovie Smith is all about staying the course when it comes to his defense. Keep up the “stern teaching” and keep upgrading the roster.
“Simple as that,” as Lovie likes to say.
But on offense, Lovie isn’t such a simple guy.
His nine-year history in Chicago was one of steady offensive change. He never had a good offense there. Never. And building an offensive line was a consistent Achilles heel.
And that brings Joe to the hot, steamy mess that is the current Bucs offense. This was a bad Bears defense Tampa Bay faced today in a 21-13 loss at Soldier Field.
After 11 games, the Buccaneers’ healthy offensive is not jelling. Joe’s not sure any one of the O-line starters is even average by NFL standards. It is that bad.
Sadly, it’s a veteran group. Anthony Collins and Demar Dotson are 29. Logan Mankins is 32. Evan Dietrich-Smith looks washed up at 28. Youngster Patrick Omameh, 24, struggled mightily today and might need something more than Tylenol for his growing pains.
Joe’s not sure whether a Buccaneers team has ever completely blown up an offensive line in an offseason. (The Bucs nearly did that this spring when they waved goodbye to Donald Penn, Davin Joseph, Jeremy Zuttah and Ted Larsen, four guys starting on other teams.) But such a drastic overhaul might be in order, and Joe suspects a new offensive coordinator would demand it.
The Bucs are a rebuilding project. The put an exclamation point on that fact today. It’s got to start in the trenches — after they draft a quarterback.
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Joe…place the blame on those that hand picked this OL….Joe and the local media can not see the forest for the trees…..L&L ..are to blame….blow them up !!!!
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:55 pm
as bad as the O-line might have played, there is no doubt that mccown made them look a lot worse than they are. there were more than a handful of plays were the protection was more than “good enuff”.
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Agreed. I-line was poor. Simple 2 man twists give are line problems.
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:58 pm
I think lovie should gather all the offensive lineman in a room Monday….and have them all write down these two things:
FALSE START
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION
Yes………..treat these veterans like lineman from college…..
Today….The whole line was like all “PENYATA” Walkers……..LOL!!!!!
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:58 pm
This article makes me want to puke, because it is so true.
I have been watching this team patch together offensive lines for as long as I can remember and for as long as I can remember we have had an inconsistent offense. Coincidence, I think not.
The first two picks in the draft need to be QB and the best o-lineman on the board.
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Put Michael Johnson on the Oline….he has experience on what it takes to stop a DE…..he experiences it every week….
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:01 pm
The offensive line is truly offensive. L&L blew up the o-line and made an already bad line even worse. Lovie also brought in an OL coach from the Browns (what?). Yes, our QB’s suck, no doubt about that, but their “suckiness” is exemplified with this horrible line. Yes, Doug Martin is not the RB of old, but he and the other RB’s can’t be this bad. There is absolutely no push from this line. This line makes more penalties than plays.
Collins- Is our highest paid OL and could very well be our worst.
Larsen – doesn’t want to be here… Period.
EDS – can’t snap and block at the same time.
Omamemeh (however you spell it)- is a 5th rd pick rookie. What do you expect.
Dotson – Is the least awful of the bunch, but still nothing to get excited about.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Joe, my (lack of) results-based hatred for Lovie Smith aside, the Bears suck. They are a BAD team. Pretty pathetic in fact. We should’ve been able to CRUSH them. Easily. Or at least win. But instead it’s excuse after excuse. This is his team, his players, his system, his refusal to go hire an offensive coordinator or at least advisor to help Arroyo during the bye week, refusal to make halftime adjustments (do he and Schiano Skype at halftime?), etc etc. I’m as tired of our instability as the next guy, but what’s better? Deciding to keep looking and find the RIGHT girl or settle for the one you got and hope her all-too-well-known bad habits suddenly go away? There will almost certainly be ‘good times’ under Smith. As there were under the two coaches that preceded him. Lovie is like swimming while holding Dumbbells. You might not sink immediately, and if the waves or current go your way every now and then you can stay afloat for a while but you know you’ve always got that weight dragging you down.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:08 pm
bottom line Tampa doesn’t know how to win come to Orlando and will show you how is done
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:10 pm
nate_tweetz says :
“Larsen – doesn’t want to be here… Period.”
That’s probably why he’s not playing for the Bucs anymore and hasn’t for awhile now.
Is this my wife hiding under a different name? I always have to tell her that a player is no longer on the team all the time.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Lovie basically blew up the line already. The outcome would likely be the same if he’s allowed to blow it up again and hand pick another bunch of underachieving, overpaid players.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:12 pm
FACT: Every Lineman Lovie cut is starting elsewhere.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:12 pm
Step right this way Mr. Winston…and behave yourself!
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:13 pm
Whatever happened to quick passes/ slants?
Seems like all pass plays are long slow developing and ask alot of this line.
Tells me that while the line has its own problems, the plays called dont seem to match up to the personnel or the blocking schemes called by the coaches.
If the line can only pass block for 3 seconds why call long developing plays.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:17 pm
Step right this way mr. Winston so you too can get clobbered.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:17 pm
Biggest problem is so-line
I believe it is the O-line coach. Some of these guys are proven talents
Both O-line and special team coach have to go this off season.
And our over paid punter
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:19 pm
It iwill be pretty darn tough to find a decent offensive coordinator for this ragged bunch…..all they have to do is look at what you just wrote about Lovie’s track record…..and no doubt that’s no secret to NFL insiders…..Lovie has a five-year deal, what kind of contracts to coordinators get?
No security at all coming here to this sinking ship….it’s why no decent assistant wanted to coach for Schiano……dead man walking….
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:26 pm
I don’t know what you guys are talking about…when we sent the last oline packing 8 months ago and purchased this burley group of sweethearts there is clearly no need to alter “gel” and study “chemistry” that we have been treated to under do-no-wrong Lovie and his lapdog Licht. Just brilliant stuff guys. Go you swarthy Buccaneers!
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:27 pm
Dude Joe you flip flop. Just last week you was giving Lovie praise like “this is what he did that was so great for us to win”. Now you’re back to “Lovie ain’t sh-t”. We are 2-9 you idiot
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:28 pm
I have come on here a number of times this year, often with numerous things I think need to be fixed on the team. There is room for improvement everywhere. But Josh McCown would probably look a little better if this O-line wasn’t as bad as it is. Not saying Josh is the man, but this line seems to be to biggest part of the problem. They are horrible. McCown did not have much time back there, although I will say he cannot sense pressure for crap. Dissapointing loss today.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:29 pm
^^joe doesn’t really follow the team. He is in it for the girls
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:31 pm
We may simply have the worst OL I’ve ever seen. Although neither Qb’s are starter material, it’s going to be difficult for any QB to be efficient with that line. They can’t pass protect, they can’t stop committing penalties, and they can’t run block. Other than that, there’s just fine.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:38 pm
Lovie’s hand picked (anti-Schiano) offense. Pretty much everyone he got rid of has played better than his selection. What a moron. Anyone think we’d be 2-9 under the old regime?
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:39 pm
EDS needs to learn how to snap a shotgun. Too much experience to suck that bad at shotgun.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:46 pm
I would take 5 Kenyatta Walkers over these pieces of $hit any day.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:46 pm
I sorta wish people like Lovie and Licht would stop discussing expectations at all. This poop troop is about as humiliating as it gets. At least you got the sense Rah and Schiano were trying…
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Ohmameh is possibly the worst guard I’ve ever seen at the pro level. Gets beat regularly and is single handly responsible for several turnovers due to his inability to block.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:54 pm
Joe should refer to the o Line as the “dotted line” since there are spaces between everyone for the D to rub through
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:00 pm
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
PENYATTA!
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:01 pm
@87ForJameisOrMariota I meant Logan Mankins not Larsen… Logan/Larsen. If you couldn’t figure that out, you’re an idiot. Trust me, I’m not your wife but you can tell her I said hi.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:01 pm
They’re offensive alright.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:07 pm
I used to be a rabid Bucs fan since day 1 but I’m positive Bucs are in the BEGINNING OF ANOTHER RICHARD WILLIAMSON/LEEMAN BENNETT ERA. I don’t even watch these meaningless games anymore . Horrible coaching + clueless player evaluation = incompetent play on the field better known as another loss. Every week I read about the same topics, Bonehead McCown plays, terrible Oline, no rushing, costly turnovers and that’s just the offense. I would need another page just for the sorry ass defense and special teams. So my question to the Glazers, Lovie and Light is what are us suffering fans supposed to be patient for? A few more years of this!
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:12 pm
is our center too fat to look up and see the play clock?
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:14 pm
should a loser team be talking s***…Mike Evans needs to st*u…Im tired of him acting like a punk
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:20 pm
Why aren’t our two rookie O-linemen getting any playing time??? Not like they could play any worse. If either one of them pans out that is one less position to worry about. A shot in the dark but a shot nonetheless. Liar Smith has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:20 pm
What coordinator did you want the Bucs to hire in week one of the NFL season?? What coordinators are sitting out there that could take over a team in week one, use someone else’s system and be successful?? McCown started off great m, completing passes to 8 different receivers. Not sure what happened in the second half. But the Bears absolutely did nothing in this game. The Bucs gave them the ball twice on the 20 yard line and bamm they took the lead. Even at the end of the game the Bears couldn’t even kill the game with just a little over a minute left. The Bucs still got the ball back for the last few seconds. This is what people mean by “they need to learn how to win”. The Bucs should have definitely won this game.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:22 pm
The QBs won’t trash the Oline no matter how bad they are……that would be like trashing someone that serves you food….
If you watch these games closely…..our QBs don’t have much time….and there are amost never any running lanes open.
A smart OC would see this and go with many more slants and screens….use the TEs more and roll out the QB…..
Our offense was a disaster today.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:26 pm
A bad QB with time to throw can be a good QB. A bad QB without time to throw is almost useless.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Draft at least 3 OLineman, use the first and third on one. Piece of crap line, overpaid and aging and will only get worse. Mankins trade was really bad, Collins and EDS both poor signings, Dotson is ok.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:31 pm
Draft the QB and then draft o-line.
Get us a QB at 2-9. Tank it baby!
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:41 pm
No QB, he’d get ruined behind this atrocity of a line. I want a QB in a position to succeed, not in one where he’s running for his life.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:45 pm
@87F better yet draft a blocking QB Geez
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:45 pm
Lovie will not draft a quarterback, simple as that.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:47 pm
On our lost offensive play, the 4th and 1, did anyone watch the players after the whistle? Logan Mankins had his helmet up laughing and talking to the Bears like they were his buddies. These are the guys that needed to be pushed back THREE FEET in order to continue the drive and Mankins and another Bucs players were treating the bears like long lost relatives. Our team has no killer instinct, they have no nastiness to them, they are too damn nice. GMC helping player sup off the ground and then this today? We need a Warren Sapp type now more than ever.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:47 pm
Meant to say our LAST offensive play.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:50 pm
sho-nuff Says:
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:12 pm
is our center too fat to look up and see the play clock?
————————————————————————————–
He sure is a pudgy lil SOB ain’t he?
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:08 pm
@John Sapp
Sounds like Richie Incognito is the guy your looking for. Man, too many “what ifs” on this team.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:09 pm
So lets recap the off-season. First, the cut Joseph, and Penn. Joseph is starting for a 4-7 Rams team that has had 3 different QB’s all get hurt and no consistent running attack, bottom half of the league. Donald Penn is block on a O-LINE that is 32nd in the league in Rushing, and a team that didn’t win there first game until this week. Penn and Joseph were overpaid, over-the hill players who are not on winning teams and didn’t make there new teams any better. Now the 2 players on winning teams, Jeremy Zuttah and Ted Larsen. Zuttah was a salary dump. They didn’t want to pay him 4 million dollars when they could get a good productive center like Evan Dietrich Smith cheaper. Hindsight being 20-20, they should have kept Zuttah because he was a solid starter who was flexible and would have been good at either guard position, but they counted on Carl Nicks coming back and they made a mistake. Now Ted Larsen, played his way out of a job last year with penalty after penalty, and the only reason he is starting out there in Arizona is because Jonathan Cooper there first round pick is a complete bust thus far. Anthony Collins had on a limited basis, good performances, but a last, he has proven to be a misfire as well. Last year’s O-Line was a bust, just like this years is a bust. So the bottom line, unlike Nicks, we can dump Dietrich Smith and Mankins in the off season. Collins will likely swing to right tackle or guard next year while we groom his replacement for 2016 when we can release him as well. Expect the Bucs to be active in free agency looking for interior lineman in free agency, and get our book end tackles in the draft. BEFORE WE GET A QUARTERBACK!
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:13 pm
Too bad lovie will not change anything of value. Bottom line is we need new coaches on our line and we need to go out and Draft qb of line and mlb. Id be happy if we got Greg hardy in free agency or suh. I can dream right. This team is in need of leaders and attitude. I also forgot to add safety and nickel corner
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:14 pm
One more thing, when I said a good solid player like Evan Dietrich Smith, that was there off season evaluation. Clearly a mistake as well. Not a good enough player. Logan Mankins is a bust, for a 4th round pick as well.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:16 pm
Logan Mankins disgusts me.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:21 pm
I have charger season tickets (don’t judge me) and penn did a good job last week and Joseph did pretty good today… Just to bad the bucs couldn’t keep them 🙁
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:21 pm
Logan Mankins was a very good player, just like Tim Brown, Dexter Manley, James Brooks, Alonzo Highsmith etc. Good players on other teams when they get to us, they are spent. Tampa Bay is where you go when you know your career is on it’s last legs.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:25 pm
Socalbucsfan Says:
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:21 pm
I have charger season tickets (don’t judge me) and penn did a good job last week and Joseph did pretty good today… Just to bad the bucs couldn’t keep them 🙁
They had good games with us as well, I remember when Mike James rush for 154 yards against the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and Bobby Rainey popped for 130 something against Buffalo. But that was few and far between. 1 game does not make a season. Consistency week in and week out is what we need.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:33 pm
Natetweetz…dude, my stomach hurts from laughing. Excellent burn sir…touche!
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:37 pm
Let mccown get ruined behind this O-line, but they BETTER draft a QB with the first pick.
Did anyone see Glennon yawning on the sidelines today? Ha ha ha that was funny shyt.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Lovie needs impact players for next year. Sitting a QB with the first pick is not gonna help. It’s gonna be OLine or pass rush.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:41 pm
As far as nate tweetz is concerned, my wife is 320 pounds of good lovin.
Baby got back right nate?
You hit that?
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:41 pm
bucrightoff..if only you knew and we shall see sunshine.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:48 pm
You’re in for crushing disappointment 87. Prepare to be let down.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:04 am
What on Earth do you expect from Lovie Frigging Smith building your offense??? My God, did no one watch the Bears during his tenure? The answer is new owners. No legit coach would work here.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:11 am
This team is a mess and a joke – I don’t think many fans will stick through another rebuilding message.
What a failure.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:50 am
Architek…a shiny new QB and everyone will stick around.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:56 am
@Joe
Why do you make a whole post detailing what I wrote in a comment I wrote on a previous post. This like the 4th or 5th time this year
November 24th, 2014 at 1:29 am
Bucs need to draft a qb first then build him a team!! Ya it stinks but yes this team needs a full rebuild
November 24th, 2014 at 1:59 am
Do not waste a pick on a MLB. Stupid Licht can get one tomorrow right off the Houston Practice Squad who is better than any MLB we have and it is the last piece Lovie needs there when David is healthy again. He can get a pash rusher in free agency. Licht needs to pick a QB at the first pick and OL with the next three picks. We don’t need a Safety. Trade off Golston and replace him with Tandy. I like McDonald as a steady backup there. We will need to cut our punter and get a good one late in the draft, and find a real return man who can take it all the way. Pay big money for a OC/Ast. HC because Lovie has no talent at running a successful Offense. Fire the OL Coach right now. Get Bostad back here. He was great two years ago.
November 24th, 2014 at 2:14 am
Are we really clamoring for last year’s line? Weren’t we all screaming the same thing then?
November 24th, 2014 at 4:37 am
@nate_tweetz
Omameh is neither a rookie nor a 5th round draft pick. Know your team or your comments won’t carry any weight.
November 24th, 2014 at 8:54 am
The run blocking is poor, but McClown had enough time for an average QB to make a play. McClown is the problem. Blow him up. Start Glennon and perhaps try to increase his trade value.
November 24th, 2014 at 12:10 pm
If you draft a quarterback and put him behind this offensive line, you will end up with another David Carr on your hands. The Texans ruined a really talented quarterback by putting behind a really bad offensive line on an expansion team, which is what our oline resembles.
November 24th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
There’s No smart GM out there that would draft a QB without fixing the line. You have a better chance getting a starting OLinemen then a QB. I see the buscs drafting a QB in the later round. Conner Cooks
November 24th, 2014 at 6:37 pm
Blow up the longer again? We’re stuck with these guys