“Troubling” Words For O-Line
June 15th, 2015
Joe swears a day doesn’t go by that someone doesn’t Twitter him asking about the offensive line. Two weeks ago, Dan Connelly was the flavor of the week. Last week, it was Evan Mathis.
Bucs fans (partially because if they recognize a name on another roster, he must be better) are not content in any way with the current makeup of the offensive line. Joe agrees.
But the worst offensive line in the NFL? Joe can’t go that far, but John Owning of FootballInsiders.com believes so and is quite harsh on the front line of the Bucs.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best Player: Logan Mankins
Player Who Needs To Improve: Evan Dietrich-Smith
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been plagued by awful offensive line play for the last few years. Their running backs haven’t had any throws to run through and their quarterbacks haven’t had any time to throw. With the Buccaneers’ recent investment in Jameis Winston that should be extremely worrisome.
Now, the Buccaneers have attempted to strengthen the offensive line through the draft with the selections of the athletic Donovon Smith and Ali Marpet. Even though neither has ever stepped onto an NFL field yet, both should be an upgrade over their predecessors. The player who will have to set the example for Marpet and Smith is Logan Mankins, who was the only solid player on a terrible offensive line next year.
Overall, the Buccaneers offensive line is devoid of experience and talent, which is a troubling mix. Hopefully for Winston’s sake, they can figure it out quickly.
Just like last year, there is a lot of hope for this offensive line. Hope that Donovan Smith can play capably as a rookie; hope that Logan Mankins finds his Holy Grail of a barbecue grill and is reborn; hope that Evan (nee: Dietrich) Smith doesn’t roll the ball to Mike Glennon “America’s Quarterback” Jameis Winston; hope that Ali Marpet makes the transition from high school Division-III football; hope that Demar Dotson is comfortable with his contract.
Joe wholeheartedly agrees that Evan Smith needs to buckle up. Just food for thought, Marpet has taken some snaps at center. Also, per Rotoworld.com, Smith in 2017 is scheduled to make $3.5 million with a $1 million roster bonus.
If you think the Bucs — or any team — is going to pay $4.5 million for the level of play (?) Smith displayed last year, Joe has swampland in Arizona for sale.
June 15th, 2015 at 11:08 am
Any story about the OL and DL is boring. That horse has been beatin’ beyond recognition. It’s a new year. Added some fresh OL to the mix and hopefully we hit on both. History says 1. Adding a rookie DE would not have changed our prognostications this year. That word “Potential” again. Just like next years draft. If we draft the highest “rated” DE doesn’t mean we solved any DE issues.
June 15th, 2015 at 11:12 am
@Joe
The question is who is worst than the Bucs???
June 15th, 2015 at 11:18 am
And I hope the Bucs pluck a veteran, cheap, versatile, OL off the waiver wire pretty soon. Need the depth.
June 15th, 2015 at 11:20 am
@ Realist
Worse…..and, I think no team is worse…..this is why we need to pick up a veteran….using a mixture of Vets & younger developing players….
June 15th, 2015 at 11:32 am
Spot on the bucs had worst record in NFL and a team is built up front and the bucs are terrible on the OL and of course the OL is last the whole team finished last and won the winston cup 2014
June 15th, 2015 at 11:53 am
I am surprised that no one has argued against Mankins being called the “best player” maybe a year or 2 ago. The Bum knee will be on display this year!!!!
June 15th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Smith is our weakest point unless they switch him and Marpet.
June 15th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
@The Buc Realist
No doubt Mankins is going to need replacing. He’s getting older and those injuries will keep coming now.
But we can only do so much each year. I’m not a fan of making holes without buying the dirt to fill them in, if you catch my meaning.
June 15th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
I still can’t believe Warhop hasn’t been fired…
June 15th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Logan Mankins, who was the only solid player on a terrible offensive line? Mankins the only solid player on the OL? Demar Dotson had way to many penalties (15 to be exact) but ranked 3rd best RT by Pro Football Focus last year. You can not argue PBE (pass blocking efficiency, # sacks +QB hits + QB hurries) OL devoid of experience and talent? Mankins does not have experience and talent? I watch film of last year and guess which player is always in the mix holding his blocks? Evan Smith. So get off your worst OL in the NFL bullshit PFI. That was last year and BTW Joe, calling Ali Marpet’s transition from high school is bush leagUe. Marpet is a future star. Mankins is going back to the Pro Bowl, Dotson just needs to reduce holding calls, Donovan Smith is a future all pro and Evan Smith is going to kick ass so he gets paid that salary next year.
June 15th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
@R.O.- You mean kind of like the QB position? Potential? I’m not a numbers or betting guy but I would venture that DE success>QB success as it pertains to rookies. Factor in O-line play and this is not a tired conversation.
The game is won or loss in the trenches, bottom line. No it’s not sexy but it’s true.
Go Bucs!
June 15th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Marpet will eventually be Center….and EDS goes to RG. just my guess
June 15th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
It’s difficult to read this and take it seriously when the writer can’t even read over his own work to find the glaring errors. “Their running backs haven’t had any throws to run through…” Huh?
Not to mention anyone who actually is familiar with the team knows Mankins was far from the best starting player on the OL last year. I would think most would agree Dodson had a better season.
June 15th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Sam Baker was just released by the Falcons… Dirk Koetter is a fan… I wonder if we claim another player off the waiver wire today…
Probably not because he is due @ $4.5 mil this year…
June 15th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Sam Baker has been in the league more than 4 years, Meaning that he is a free-agent and not available thru waivers.
would not be surprised if the Broncos won’t kick the tires though!
June 15th, 2015 at 3:03 pm
@ realist
Your right I forgot about that waiver wire rule…
I wouldn’t mind signing him here if his knee is healthy and it kicks Garret Gilkey to the curb…
Can Baker play guard as well?
June 15th, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Noone has picked up either Mathis or Connelly so what does that say. Quit being so hysterical about your BFF, joe. It’s getting as tiring and boring as your recent copy. Joe loved Manzell as much last year.
June 15th, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Why people keep saying (the worst offensive line) they should be saying the worst QB play, how can a line protect the QB when he’s holding the ball waiting for a wideout to get open? Bobby Rainey ate up the Rams defense for 144 in the 2nd game of the season and then he was ghost. He didn’t see no more touches, last season offensive play calling was the worst i’ve since I played Little League Football for the Lakeland Lumberjacks.If Peyton Manning was the QB behind that line he would have threw for 4,500, 40 TDS with the receivers we had. Bobby Rainey would have ran for 1,000 YDS behind that line, if given the opportunity. He can run for 1,000 this season if given the opportunity. People need to quit blaming the line and look at the real issues.
June 15th, 2015 at 5:54 pm
The absolutely worst play calling that I have seen my Lakeland Lumberjacks days. The poor QB play didn’t make it any better, the only positive was Bobby Rainey. I can imagine what Logan Mankins was going through coming from the Patriots with Tom Brady at QB and the great play calling of Josh McDaniels, and having to deal with the Mickey Mouse offense we had last season. We had cartoon characters as our QB’S and Offensive Coordinator, and people criticize our defense, our incompetent offense was killing the defense.
June 15th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
The worst play calling that I have seen since my Lakeland Lumberjack days!
June 15th, 2015 at 8:23 pm
LakelandBuc Says:
“people criticize our defense, our incompetent offense was killing the defense.”
How you can say that after watching THAT defense play last year is beyond me. I think you have your wires crossed or something.
They BOTH sucked equally and the team(either side of the ball) never looked prepared to play a football game for the first 4 weeks of the season. That falls squarely on Lovie Smith.
It’s as if you’re trying to look for something or someone to blame for how bad the defense was. Look no further than Lovie Smith, you know the HC with all the experience every Buc fan was clamoring for while screaming Fire Schiano at the top of their lungs.
If Lovie didn’t tank that season last year, then this team won’t win 5 games this year and you can take that to the bank.
June 15th, 2015 at 8:35 pm
Buc1987, I’m predicting 10-6. and a top 10 defense and a top 15 offense.
June 15th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
LakelandBuc….seeing how I’m in the Tank Club. I hope you and I are both right. I just don’t believe a team can be THAT bad and I lived through some 2-14 seasons before. I honestly think Ray Perkins could have whipped last years Bucs.
So it HAD to be a tank job. You can’t be THAT bad, can you?
June 15th, 2015 at 9:20 pm
Buc1987, I’m sure Lovie tanked last season, he spent 2013 in his basement tyring to figure out a way to get Jameis Winston, Winston was off the charts during 2013 season and Lovie develop a man crush for him. Bobby Rainey ran for 144 against a good Rams defense in game 2, and they stop going to him, Josh McCown was horrible or worst than horrible and Lovie stuck with him, they had the Bengals game won, but they had 12 men on the field lol, I can go on and on. But i’m glad that Lovie tanked for Jameis, the Colts did the exact same thing when they tanked for Andrew Luck.