Offensive Purge Coming?
July 2nd, 2015
Could the Bucs point C Evan Smith to the exit in a further purge of offensive players?
Yes, the Bucs were able to draft “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. And yes, the Bucs were able to beef up the offensive line with Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet.
It sure looks like with second-year man Mike Evans at wide receiver and fellow second-year man Austin Seferian-Jenkins at tight end, the Bucs have a nice nucleus.
One would think with those five guys, the Bucs should start worrying next spring in the draft about building up the defense. Aaron Schatz, writing for BSPN, isn’t so sure. Schatz is of the mind that a further purge of players is around the corner on the offensive side of the ball.
Like the Rams, the Bucs could be starting two rookies on the offensive line — right guard Ali Marpet (22) and left tackle Donovan Smith (22). But it’s not quite as big of a transition as St. Louis faces because Marpet and Smith are replacing the younger members of last year’s line, not the older ones. Barring injury, the Bucs will still have four starters at age 30 or over this season: linemen Logan Mankins (33) and Demar Dotson (30), receiver Vincent Jackson (32) and tight end Brandon Myers (30). Replacing those four players is likely on the docket for next offseason. There’s no reason for Tampa Bay to keep veterans around for the sake of it; having all that experience a year ago led to the worst offense in the league.
Actually, Joe could add one more offensive lineman on the endangered species list. That would be a center by the name of Evan (nee: Dietrich-) Smith. Let’s do the math, shall we?
Smith played subpar football (Joe is in a nice mood this morning) and isn’t openly fond of the new leader of the Bucs, Jameis Winston. Smith is due $4.5 million in 2017 (signing bonus of $1 million included). Smith will be 30 by then.
Unless Smith has a tremendous turnaround, Joe cannot fathom the Bucs shelling out nearly $5 million for him. AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has publicly spoken of how Marpet could play center.
Joe is sure you can add up this math query.
July 2nd, 2015 at 11:21 am
In E. Smiths’s defense, He didnt say he didnt like Jameis. He just wasn’t going to anoint the rookie as the next coming of Joe Montana. I’m sure Smith wasn’t the only one tired of answering Jameis questions at their own press conference. I’m looking for big things out of Smith this year. If not, Marpet is the C of the future…
July 2nd, 2015 at 11:21 am
Smith is gone in 2016. Mankins has to be lights out this year to be back too!
July 2nd, 2015 at 11:27 am
If Kadeem Edwards and Kevin Pamphile turn a corner than that could solve this issue.
If Mankins has a turn around season he should be good to start next year as well. Line can be Donovan, Mankins, Marpet/Edwards, Marpet/Edwards, Pamphile.
Not to mention VJ has at least another year barring an injury.
I think adding some mid round depth for oline and a 2nd on a receiver should handle those concerns, leaving 1st round for DE. and the rest for Defensive depth
July 2nd, 2015 at 11:28 am
7 million for Mankins, sure hope the bum knee holds up, from what I heard, it did not sound great at all.
July 2nd, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Smith is gone in 2016? Really?
Since we’re playing fantasy land here, what happens if he’s good, or even pro-bowl in 2015?
This is pointless to speculate on the 2016 team when we haven’t seen a down of the 2015 yet.
Boring!
Go Sucs!
July 2nd, 2015 at 12:14 pm
OK…..I’m a “real” Bucs fan. Or a “true” or “original” or “life-long” or a “76er” or whatever the heck kinda fan you want to call me but I have lived all over the country in the last 20 years and my faith has never wavered. I take commitments seriously and I made a commitment to this team 39 yrs ago. I Sincerely believe that we are on the cusp of something special again. Call me an optimist or a duma$$ I don’t care. If we fix our OL problems I think we will be close to unstoppable. Our bad O play last yr was largely due to the Line which affects the Defense as well. You can’t fairly judge our D last yr due to the Horrid OL play. A team is essentially a Chain and we all know that a chain is only as strong as what?
July 2nd, 2015 at 12:53 pm
I’m no Smith fan, but he NEVER said he wasn’t fond of Winston. He said rooks have to learn & earn their place. A truthful, accurate statement from an NFL veteran.
Not all are sycophants of Winston and read negative into such a statement.
July 2nd, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Buc-A-New was close, he forgot no offensive Cordinator as well
July 2nd, 2015 at 1:01 pm
I have to disagree with Joe. The last thing we need is more turnaround with the offensive line. If the OL begins to perform and show chemistry with one another I would not want to break that up. Now if Edwards begins to show promise or the team picks up a player on the waiver wire who impresses that is a different story. Evan Smith was ranked 13th overall by PFF kast year. Over the cap.com shows 10 centers who are higher paid than Smith even after his raise next year. Next year is the year the Bucs should dive into FA. With the $21M in “dead money” gone the Bucs will have over $50M in cap space avalible. There are quality DE, WR, OT and other hitting FA in 2016.
July 2nd, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Good thing Mark Dominick prided himself on NOT drafting O -Line. Dominick’s 5 year reign of terror has cost us dearly.
#BringBackChucky
July 2nd, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Really SteveK?! Really?!
I agree with the poster who mentioned the high turn-over at OL. I bet there were a lot of people out there wishing Penn was a Buc last year. Even at his worst he was better than the turnstile we paid a zillion dollars for and then cut! Remember Jeremy Zuttah? We wouldn’t even be talking about Evan had the Bucs done what they should have and kept him.
The Bucs simply can’t afford to parade one OLman after another through the gates. There has to be SOME continuity. Should we plan for the future? Yes, but not at the rate some here clamor for.
With so many “ifs” there’s no reason to make a move.
July 2nd, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Buc
Call me an optimist or a duma$$ I don’t care.
**********
Lol, “76er” I like that!
July 2nd, 2015 at 3:07 pm
#BringBackChucky
I like that moniker!
July 2nd, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Since he doesn’t want to anoint THE MESSIAH savior of the YUCS, let’s not anoint his garbage a$$ starting center either. A couple of more bowling snaps and his a$$ will be headed to Mons Venus to ask for a security job.
July 2nd, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Here is something to chew on guys. Every training camp of every team always has a few surprise stories. Some positive some negative.
Again if Mankins, Smith and Dotson simply matched their best seasons as NFL pros…not top them…not be all pro…simply play to the max of their capability…we have a huge start on a decent OL. Now if the two rookies pan out…awesome…but this could be an area of real surprise. I’m not sure what yet.
Perhaps a player off of waivers lands on our OL. Maybe one of the young guys clearly beats out somebody like Smith and that is a surprise.
No doubt…there will be a LOT of attention on the OL this year!
July 2nd, 2015 at 5:39 pm
I was not a fan of what EDS did last year, and definitely Marpet would make a great pulling center, being the fastest lineman in the combine this year and also played center very well at the Senior Bowl. If it was up to me, I would put Marpet at Center this year and make EDS show what he can do at RG this preseason. And just because Dotson, our best lineman last year, is now 30 is no reason to plan to replace him next year. Look at the ages of the Eagles’ OL. 30 is when good NFL linemen just start hitting their prime. Dotson proved last year he can also be a decent LT too and that flexibility is super Valuable! If Donovan Smith pulls a hammy this year you can just flip Dotson over to LT and start Pamphile (a young Dotson clone who played basketball like Dotson did), and we could keep our Offense going strong!
July 2nd, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Owlykat
I like your ideas a lot. In addition perhaps Marpet could master snapping the ball in the shotgun instead of rolling to the QB!
July 2nd, 2015 at 7:23 pm
I’ve been watching this EDS guy. This guy is a loser. I could be center. I’m great at centering. Quarterbacks Love it when I’m center. And I’ll make the other teams pay my salary too.
July 2nd, 2015 at 7:30 pm
You tell’em Joe.
I agree on this one.
E(D)S is like that insecure guy at work.
The name change sealed it.
wtf , is he P Diddy or Prince now?
“The lineman formerly known as Deitrich”
July 2nd, 2015 at 7:41 pm
I don’t like EDT….not since I watched his interview. His play sucked as well but his attitude SUCKS!!! I can see another Lineman being drafted next season….or another Free agent signing.
As for Vincent Jackson replacement….maybe. I kinda see Kenny Bell being that guy that plays across from Evans after Jackson retires. Hopefully Vjax has two or three more season. Two for sure…
One thing I will bet on….there is no way in hell that Lovie Smith does not get some top prospect defensive players in next years draft. At least a couple are guaranteed. He’s gotta be foaming at the mouth after these last two drafts.
I am anxious to see how they use Charles Sims going forward. Maybe he gets moved to slot over time.
July 2nd, 2015 at 10:13 pm
I believe Smith will be moved to guard before mid season. Marpet will become the new center.
July 3rd, 2015 at 3:34 am
EDS actually graded out higher than Jeremy Zuttah according to Bleacher Report 1000 Top 35 Centers. Zuttah was ranked 17th, EDS was ranked 16th. EDS even graded out as the top Center in the NFC South.
July 3rd, 2015 at 5:18 am
I am not a fan of the anti Vjax crowd – maybe ask him to take a pay cut but there’s no reason to get rid of him. He has that fitsy thing going on he might be older but, he’s just a great dude to have around and can always be a safety blanket for jameis