“Sinkhole Of An Offensive Line”
March 20th, 2015
No, Joe can’t come to grips with the Woody Hayes crowd, the same crowd that cries “defense wins championships” in a quarterback-driven league, like a neighbor’s dog howling at the moon at 2 a.m.
The Bucs haven’t had a consistent quarterback since over-the-hill Jeff Garcia. Not coincidentally, the Bucs haven’t won the division since, culminating with a 2-14 record last year and winning the Chase for Jameis.
Yes, the Bucs need competent bodies up front on offense, but it’s not so putrid they can ignore drafting a franchise quarterback. Teams can always find offensive linemen (Well, hello Donald Penn! And look, there is Jeremy Zuttah in a different uniform!”).
But Joe does understand why so many fans are hammering him on Twitter demanding the Bucs do something — anything! — to bolster an offensive line that largely was old, overrated and porous last season. That’s an uglier combination than Miller Lite and scotch.
Chris Wesseling of NFL.com studied needy teams after the first wave of free agency, and he is looking right at left tackle for Tampa Bay. It must be corrected. And soon.
3. Buccaneers offensive tackle: The Bucs released Anthony Collins, last year’s failed savior at left tackle. It’s understandable that the position hasn’t been addressed in free agency, as blindside protectors were nonexistent on the open market. That said, this team can’t draft a quarterback at No. 1 overall and place him behind a sinkhole of an offensive line. The Rams are another team in need of multiple linemen.
There are too many negatives moving right tackle Demar Dotson to left tackle. You are going to have Dotson — who is an OK right tackle (if Dotson was as good as some would have you believe, then why hasn’t he nibbled at pineapple, yet?) — try to flip to left tackle, a position where he has scant experience? It’s robbing Peter to pay Paul. There is no certainty Dotson can succeed and by moving him a hole at right tackle is created.
If Evan Dietrich-Smith is so entrenched at center, then why did the Bucs spend “hours” this week interviewing a Boston College center who some project to be a third-round pick?
But here is the positive: There will be cap casualties in the coming months. Some of those will be decent players. Thus, there is no reason to panic. There is just under six months to go until the regular season begins. If we can see there is a “sinkhole” up front on offense, then surely Lovie Smith does, too.
March 20th, 2015 at 5:19 am
Are we really just going to repeat the same ole’ mantra over and over again.
March 20th, 2015 at 6:06 am
Scott, your last comment, made last week, claimed Joe lost all credibility. So what are you doing on JoeBucsFan.com first thing in the morning? If you don’t like it here, stick with ESPN or TBO.com–Joe
March 20th, 2015 at 7:00 am
There are still lots of one year stop gap guys out there that can come in and be relatively effective (which our guys weren’t last year) while the 2-3 young guys we draft this year and the 2-3 young guys we added last year develop and get some experience. Maybe there is a long term plan in place to build through the draft after all?
March 20th, 2015 at 7:03 am
I think you meant “stink-hole” Joe.
March 20th, 2015 at 7:03 am
I think we signed up punter.
March 20th, 2015 at 7:05 am
Who are the cap casualties among offensive lineman you expect? I don’t really see that happening. 2-14.
March 20th, 2015 at 7:11 am
“There will be cap casualties in the coming months. Some of those will be decent players. Thus, there is no reason to panic.”
Seems reasonable, except for one thing. We all said those exact words last year at this time. After the way they handled it last year, they do NOT deserve the benefit of the doubt on this subject.
March 20th, 2015 at 7:21 am
Maybe we could trade for don penn
March 20th, 2015 at 7:34 am
Can we cut Goldson and Koenan now? We can sign Wiz and Connelly to the OL.
March 20th, 2015 at 7:42 am
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo is very thankful that Jeff Garcia was mentioned. This made Pablo’s day”
March 20th, 2015 at 7:52 am
I just looked at the official roster on the bucs site and we have 3 lineman at each position C, T, G. I am pretty confident that our front office staff knows we need help just based on the numbers. My concern is that if they are waiting till the draft to do that, we are taking a risk. We can hope good players fall to us in rounds 2 and 3 but you never know. There are a few players left in free agency that I would at least take a hard look at…
G – Wiz, Connelly, Blalock
T – Barksdale, Long
March 20th, 2015 at 8:00 am
woody hayes member here….try winning without a defense…not many offense ONLY teams winning the super bowl….run the ball and play defense still lives and it’s traditional here….take the fancy pass happy O and stick it….hoping for a shutdown defense to return and all will be well
March 20th, 2015 at 8:26 am
I think you need both now, defense and a franchise QB, to win championships.
Oh and cheating doesn’t hurt either.
March 20th, 2015 at 8:30 am
Sure the Bucs need a LT along with numerous other holes in the roster but who can the Bucs actually target and land to help solidify the OL? Wisniewski is available but then why are the Bucs looking at the BC center so closely? The best OTs left on the board are Jake Long, Joe Barksdale and Byron Bell and its obvious that they have issues otherwise their former teams would not have let them walk, kind of like Anthony Collins…. Perhaps the Bucs can land a high caliber G or maybe even a top tier T who slips out of the first round in the draft but as BucPuck pointed out the Bucs still need to try and land someone via FA as what they currently have on roster simply can not get the job done and the draft may help fill one spot but no all the holes in the trenches….
March 20th, 2015 at 8:34 am
@BucPuck
Wiz is a center.
March 20th, 2015 at 8:38 am
bucco brice Says
“woody hayes member here….try winning without a defense…not many offense ONLY teams winning the super bowl….run the ball and play defense still lives and it’s traditional here….take the fancy pass happy O and stick it…hoping for a shutdown defense to return and all will be well”
I hate to take it to you, but it takes both.
Last year, the Seahawks offense averaged 24+ points per game. This year, the Patriots were a high scoring team as well.
Both had good defenses as well.
The truth is, Defense alone was once good enough to get you to the Superbowl, and superior defense could win it alone. But these days, you have to have at least a 60-40 split, one way or the other.
March 20th, 2015 at 8:45 am
“There were obviously some star players out there, but for the most part I thought it was a mediocre free-agent class…” – John Mara, quoted yesterday in New York Post
This is what I’ve been claiming. Suh was a good FA, but extremely high priced and out of reach for the Bucs. Hardy was refusing a long term deal, determined to play a year and then walk for more money.
I think the only player left that is worth going after is Wisniewski to play center, so we can move EDS to Guard.
Unless a good defensive end becomes available, which I doubt. I do NOT think any trades are worth pursuing at this point.
March 20th, 2015 at 8:45 am
I’d seriously consider moving up into the bottom of the first for La’el Collins if he falls that far….and in some mocks he is. Then use our 3rd pick for DE.
Safety will just have to suffer again this season.
March 20th, 2015 at 8:46 am
bucco brice (a.k.a LOVIE SMITH) it is 2015 dude
March 20th, 2015 at 8:48 am
@Bonzai, I know he’s getting old, but as desperate as we are, Osi is still available…..and U better believe Id sign him this morning!
March 20th, 2015 at 8:51 am
what’s wrong with scotch and miller lite?
March 20th, 2015 at 8:55 am
Lovie has never fielded even a decent line much less a good one in 10years. Please explain to me why we should trust him after 10 years of failure. what makes you think he will all of a sudden get it.
even if he fixes
1. winston
2. best de or ot available
3. best ot or de available
that is still a lot of holes on a bad roster. I get it’s a weak free agent class but that is not an excuse for failing to make the team better. sorry, but prove deals to has been injury prone players is not making this team better. It’s “Paying and Praying”
oh and gambling year in and year out to build your roster with second wave free agents and other teams garbage is exactly why it’s been 12 years since a meaningful win. bragging about having the first waiver claim is hilarious. all that is saying we can’t keep up with the real organizations nor beat them out for players. we need the first choice or we can’t compete.
March 20th, 2015 at 9:10 am
I really think they have switched to a supplement with FA and then build and develop thru the draft mindset. None of the FA signings are huge but they are all pretty low risk/high reward signings..best case starter/worst case depth. I see maybe 3 picks going to the oline and one FA vet pickup…guessing Connolly. Just need to hope they get an LT worth a damn in the draft or hope Pamphile pans out.
March 20th, 2015 at 9:13 am
@Tex, both are just bitter. I tried but just couldnt get into scotch. Maybe it was the brand, I dont know.
I’ll have dos cervezas x5 and some Don Julio on draft night, (the Don out of my Buccaneer coffee cup).
March 20th, 2015 at 9:41 am
tmaxcon,
I agree with the 1st part of your post. I almost wrote the same thing last night on a post. The second part isn’t as accurate. We have been signing high priced free agents for years that haven’t panned out. Carl Nicks, one of the adderral brothers, A. Collins, The Ghost, McClown,…etc. This year we signed contributors that know the Tampa2. This will help make our draft easier, where we can sign BPA as far as OL and DE for the next 4 picks after hopefully WINston. We did get Jacquies Smith and Bradley Mcdougald off of waivers last year which were both solid pick ups. I feel this year will either help L&L or put him back in his basement.
March 20th, 2015 at 10:11 am
So there were no decent LT’s available in FA yet all the haters were out here screaming for them to sign a LT. Makes sence to me.
The BC guy could be slipped in at RG as you well know Joe but it’s better if you get the EDS haters going so they will blow up your site for your advertisers.
So predictable.
I will give you props for playing these haters for the buffoons they are.
March 20th, 2015 at 10:16 am
danati74
I respect your optimism. a lot of players are needed and they can’t miss on many. they only have so many opportunities. they have to bat .750 in draft and garbage collection during second wave just to break even. man, I hope you are right.
March 20th, 2015 at 10:19 am
danati74
the other thing. i agree we missed on a lot of free agents over the years but you can’t give up and you can’t build your roster scared. not all transactions are going to work out. but from what they spent the last few years to this garbage collection run they are on this year is not a good sign. You must play to win in free agency, draft and game day. This regime plays not to lose.
Given lovie full control was a disaster waiting to happen period.
March 20th, 2015 at 10:29 am
i think it may be time to retire the phrase “Chase for Jameis”
March 20th, 2015 at 10:34 am
It looks like another all offense draft will at least make the Bucs presentable.
March 20th, 2015 at 11:02 am
While I’m a strong believer in building through the draft and supplementing lightly with free agency, depending on 1 or 2 drafts to shore this team up is like trying to bail out the ocean with a bucket.
This franchise has drafted very poorly since the Gruden/Allen regime and continuing through the Popstar Dominik/Morris/Schiano regimes. There are at least 10-12 positions that need upgrades before this franchise will be consistently relevant.
Even teams that draft well only have 3-4 players pan out per draft, and sometimes it takes a few seasons for some of them to play well. Teams generally lose 3-5 solid players per year due to attrition from injuries, retirements, trades, and free agency losses, so even the best drafting teams are lucky to tread water solely using the draft.
This franchise needs to shore up at least 10 positions and there are *maybe* 1 or 2 backup/developmental players on the current roster that are ready to step up now. There are *maybe* 2 or 3 players in the 2015 draft class that will make solid contributions this season. That leaves at least 5-7 positions that are in dire need of upgrades in free agency.
Are Lovie and Licht up to the task? Passing on the first wave of free agency when they have dire needs and money to spend concerns me. I’m certainly not going to crack open my wallet to support such a poorly managed franchise. Your mileage may vary.
March 20th, 2015 at 11:05 am
@ddneast,
you’re so easy at calling the Joes and their readers “buffoons”. Are you just miserable or something? I was thinking the same description about YOU when you attacked me for having a gun in every room (in my 4 room condo), but its ok for YOU to have 2 guns. Ive worked with people like you, you’re one of those who complains and attacks others because you think you’re so superior….oh well, have at it, its entertaining when I have the time to read it 😉
March 20th, 2015 at 11:10 am
Here I am. Right on cue. EDS played like a big stinky pile of garbage last year, and his attitude was and is even more rotten. Anyone who can’t see that, is too too big of a baffoon to be on their high horse looking down at everyone else!!
You’re welcome.
March 20th, 2015 at 11:32 am
Granted this was a relatively weak crop of free agents the only reason the Bucs are in this position is because they completely whiffed on almost every player last year. I’m usually not the guy to scream the sky is falling at every set back but this is frustrating. I just read that the Cowboys just signed Selvie so that is another DE that is NOT coming to Tampa. L&L’s plan better start coming together soon because right now this season is not looking much better than last year. Whether the Bucs pick Winston or Mariota isn’t going to mean much if he gets killed behind a horrible offensive line.
March 20th, 2015 at 11:58 am
We could’ve had Iupati or Franklin two of the best olinemen to come out in a long time. I cant beleive we didnt bring either one in. They’re like the anti Anthony Collins. Hard workers with skill and versatility AND TALENT! It would have gave us options in the draft too.
Oh well. Maybe we can still get that guy from the Patriots or draft Cameron Erving or Tra Jackson. I just hope we have a plan at RDE becsuse It’s going to be hard to get a QB, two olinemen AND a RDE in one draft without more picks and we obviously cant get that by trading our 1st OVRALL because we need a quarterback desperatley.
So as is we have too many holes and not enough picks which could’ve been avoided but…oh well. Also whats our backup plan if Bruce Carter dosent work out at Mike? It’s sure as hell not going to be Lansanah.
March 20th, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Joe, just a reminder that “defense DOES win championships.
Just ask arguably the best quarterback in your “quarterback-driven league,” Tom Brady, who gave his Super Bowl MVP truck to undrafted, free agent rookie cornerback, Malcolm Butler, after he saved the Patriots’ bacon last Feb.
For further proof, just ask another man who can lay a legitimate claim to the title of best quarterback in your “quarterback driven league,” Payton Manning. I’m sure he’ll be happy to tell you about how he and his Broncos offense were manhandled by the Seahawks’ defense a year ago.
Oh and to the point of this article, neither Brady, Manning, Russell Wilson, not even Jameis Winston can do anything if they don’t have time. And, to have time, they must have a solid offensive line.
March 21st, 2015 at 5:27 am
You are going to have Dotson — who is an OK right tackle (if Dotson was as good as some would have you believe, then why hasn’t he nibbled at pineapple, yet?)
————–
Nice argument for LaVonte David…. seriously, Dotson is fine… if the wins came he might’ve gotten recognition. Besides that, most OTs voted to the worthless Pro Bowl are put there on name recognition and are LTs to begin with. Love you, Joe… but weak weak argument.
March 21st, 2015 at 5:36 am
MadMax Says:
March 20th, 2015 at 8:48 am
@Bonzai, I know he’s getting old, but as desperate as we are, Osi is still available…..and U better believe Id sign him this morning!
—————-
You want us to sign Osi? Why? Because that is one of the few names you actually recognize? Osi was not re-signed by the sackless Falcons…. he and his 2.5 sacks last season and 10 in two years and you want us to sign his soon-to-be 34 year old self?
Then you want us to trade BACK into round 1 to take La’El Collins because some mock you saw had him slipping that far? Knee jerk reaction much?
You come on here and attack others and then you make ludicrous statements that suggest you know very little about football and then you get upset when those same people attack you. I’ve figured out your problem… you!
March 21st, 2015 at 4:43 pm
The problem, dear Joe, with waiting until cap casualties hit the market is that no one wants to play for the Bucs right now.