“Overrated”
June 29th, 2015
CBS Sports is not enamored with Bucs guard Logan Mankins.
There’s all kinds of legitimate finger pointing for the Bucs being an eyerake of a 2-14 team last year: turnover-prone Josh McClown, Ghost Johnson, Anthony Collins, zero running game, a porous defense … the list goes on.
(Joe is convinced fans will come to thank their lucky stars for last season, as it brought forth upon Tampa Bay “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.)
During last preseason, it was obvious that the offensive line was a complete and total jailbreak. It was so bad Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht traded away one of his favorite players, tight end Tim Wright, in order to plug the screendoor on a submarine. In return, Licht got former Pro Bowler left guard Logan Mankins.
Mankins, the barbecue pitmaster of the squad, came with a name and, frankly, in a state of shock. Joe is convinced Mankins never got over being blindsided with a trade to the Bucs, and that was, in part, why he played so below his expected level.
Prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports believes Mankins is Tampa Bay’s most overrated player.
Guard Logan Mankins: It’s hard to find a player on this team that fits this category, but Mankins still has the name, even if he doesn’t have the same game he once had. Mankins came back this year in great shape, so maybe he’s ready to get back to his old form.
Prisco is right about one thing: Mankins looks to be in spectacular shape.
Joe learned from trusted folks within the walls of One Buc Palace that Mankins is big time motivated to redeem himself this year. Is that because Mankins hears Father Time knocking on his door? Joe isn’t concerned so long as Mankins is fired up for the season.
Mankins dropped a great one-liner this spring that may explain his motivation for a rebirth and a potential turnaround in the fortunes of the Bucs. He said of new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, in so many words, it’s nice to have someone calling the plays who can read NFL defenses.
June 29th, 2015 at 7:23 am
Still want to know how the Joes can declare this guy a great griller when it seems no one has tasted his “stuff” to even declare him worthy of such accolades….
We in America take that stuff serious, so many proclaiming to have great barbecue but so few delivering on their claims.
This is especially a perplexing coming this close to July 4.
June 29th, 2015 at 7:59 am
Joe you keep going back to that one liner from Mankins about Koetter….And Rightfully SO!! It’s by far the most telling/damming info let slip about last season…Not that anyone with any degree of football aptitude couldn’t tell that our last “plug in” OC wasn’t even fit to coordinate high school offenses…Almost makes you wonder about Jason Licht having had his eyes on Jameis since his freshman year and maybe realizing after that 1st Atlanta game that the season was already lost.
June 29th, 2015 at 8:17 am
Mankins leadership on the OLine will determine in large measure how well that unit does this year in my opinion. Don’t blame him for being disappointed with the trade last year, but it sounds like he’s all-in with the Bucs this year. Lord knows we need that.
June 29th, 2015 at 8:43 am
@Buc4life1979:
I think it is Lovie who chooses his staff and he has a lot of folks on that staff who would have a hard time finding jobs with other NFL teams.
June 29th, 2015 at 9:25 am
I just don’t see how the new OC Koetter is suppose to make Mankins bum knee better. And from what I heard, the massive weight drop was to take pressure off of the bum knee. We might just see now that he cannot move and gets tossed around out on the field!!!
June 29th, 2015 at 9:29 am
Hey we Buc fans have to overrate something here with this team. Reality does not set in for a few more months, don’t ruin my flights of fantasy just yet. Lovie will be a successful coach soon, that notion is barely crawling around crippled.
June 29th, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Not a far-fetched notion.
June 30th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Summer calls us outdoors and turns any yard or park with a grill into a potential party ground. Add a few things to your grocery list and take rest knowing that you will attend your next weekend BBQ in proper form. Bringing something packaged, like a bag of chips, is an obvious sign that you stopped by a convenience store en route in a fit of panic, realizing the only preparation done before leaving was putting pants on.
First, find out what is being served and contribute something that shows some class, and improves the menu. Here are 5 creative offerings that require little skill, little time and may even generate some buzz.
1) Always have an OC who can read a defense.
2) Never hand out contracts to a career back-up who needs to start.
3) Have a QB with a quick snap to release time.
4) Coach your RB how to pass block.
5) Never trust your OL Coach when he recommends players from his former team.