Blame The Offensive Line
August 18th, 2015
Look no further.
For enraged Bucs fans who threw their remotes at their TVs Saturday night — a desperate ploy to convince their significant others to upgrade to a 70-inch HDTV? — over the porous Bucs offensive line, below is more ammunition for your next shrink visit.
NFL analyst Cian Fahey, who writes for Football Outsiders among other outlets, wasn’t quite won over by “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, in his first NFL game. But Fahey was fair, as well. Want to know why Jameis may have struggled early in the game? Fahey says look no further than the offensive line.
Evans had beaten DB, but ball is underthrown. Likely can blame it on OL giving him no space to step into: pic.twitter.com/XFvIFNEtSF
— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) August 16, 2015
Joe has a hunch this will be a recurring theme until or unless the offensive line is shored up — Joe isn’t going to rail on the two rookies up front because, well, they are rookies.
Joe just hopes Jameis is in one piece by the time January rolls around.
August 18th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
And the bengals D line is just as good, so prepare yourself for another O line beating on monday
August 18th, 2015 at 3:24 pm
Blame the offensive line but please, whatever you do, don’t blame do-no-wrong Lovie Smith or his little lapdog GM. They are just so nice and should not be associated with any of the things that represent miserable failures on this football team. It wouldn’t be fair to them.
August 18th, 2015 at 3:29 pm
Some of the balls Jameis threw Saturday night, early in the game especially, were well off target. Even he said that he had butterflies. Understandably so, he’s a rookie playing in his first NFL game. Please don’t chock up all of his bad throws to ‘blame the offensive line’ Joe.
Oh wait, in your photo I see Gilkey (72) and Omameh (66). OK, go ahead and blame the OLine.
August 18th, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Released Penn and Traded Zuttah killed any hope this line had. No depth at offensive line since Dom never drafted any quality linemen.
Fire Loser Lovie
August 18th, 2015 at 3:46 pm
I think the people are blowing the game way out of proportion. I dont think the O-Line was all that bad. Was 10x worse 1st pre-season game last year. Winston had some good and bad throws like a rookie playing in his 1st game. All 3 phases of the team just didnt look ready to play.
August 18th, 2015 at 4:50 pm
lol @ commenters. No o-lines are magically fixed overnight. If you thought this O-line would go from worst in the NFL to dominant then you need to lower your expectations.
None of you ever offered up any reasonable suggestions for what YOU would do in the offseason outside of just harping on past negatives that no one can do anything about. There weren’t any probowl guards or tackles just sitting on the market besides Evan Mathis; who doesn’t play RG.
Also Penn isn’t that great of a LT and didn’t play that great last year. Zuttah was a loss but that’s it realy. THe line had been declining in play significantly.
I for one am just happy the rookies haven’t looked overwhelmed and show they can hang. Who knows how you guys would be panicking if we had a Eric Fisher type situation. Donavon Smith already looks more promising and Fisher was the #1 overall pick.
August 18th, 2015 at 4:51 pm
I think the people are blowing the game way out of proportion.
Lol exactly. I also remember the O-line looking way worse last preseason. Like just incredibly horrifically bad.
August 18th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
The game was just what you saw. Practice. The Bucs had some problems, some good plays also. I still feel optimistic about the new season. By any measurement, the Bucs looked better and I expect continuing progress.
August 18th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
I agree with Lord Cornelius…
Come on guys! Its one game…and again, the vikings had the unfair advantage of having one the week before. Marpet will step in and be solid. Smith will struggle early, but they’ll give him help on passing downs and by the end of the season, he’ll be a bona fide NFL LT. EDS played good and we know Mankins will be there. If we have problems for a bit at RT, better there than C or LT….besides, the new Cherilus guy may take Dotsons job for good…you never know….
Calmeth people….we have a real QB finally
August 18th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
It was just the 1st preseason game, so there is time for the OL to come together some. I actually thought Marpet held his own for the most part. I think he is going to become a solid starter in this league. Smith got dogged on his first play but it was a sick move by a veteran against a rookie as he started what looked like a bull rush to Smith’s outside shoulder then quickly executed a spin move to the inside with a straight shot at Winston since Sims ran right by him as he was running a pass route out of the backfield instead of lending secondary blocking support. I am going to wait and see how we look in week 3 against the Browns since that is more of a dress rehearsal for the season and is a team we should beat if we are in fact improving.
August 18th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Hoop there it is! Go Bucs!
August 18th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
@DallasBuc, seriously bro get some new material !!!!! It’s REALLY getting old !!!!!!!
August 18th, 2015 at 5:53 pm
It’s preseason, Dirk Koetter isn’t showing the league what we have. I don’t know why people are so serious about preseason.
August 18th, 2015 at 7:08 pm
Can we stop with the Viqueens played one more game than the Bucs? The Steelers played one more game than the Jags and they didn’t even look close to as bad as the Bucs did.
Yes, the pre season matters. 2-14 teams can’t just flip a switch week 1 and be good, pre season is a time to create chemistry and get on the same page.
August 18th, 2015 at 7:29 pm
It was the 1st preseason game, The sky isn’t falling yet!
August 18th, 2015 at 8:11 pm
+1 Lord Cornelius!!!
August 18th, 2015 at 8:47 pm
This is the way it is going to be all season. If Joes sweetheart gas a rocky game it will be someone elses fault.
Rewatched the game and except for the one sack Smith gave upand the two bad snaps, the offensive line held up well.
Gilkey actually had a good game at guard despite what you lurkers think that constantly need a whipping boy and scapegoat to wodk out on.
August 18th, 2015 at 9:36 pm
Marpet is already far superior to Gilkey at Guard and it was Marpet who by his great run block overpowering his opponent sprung Winston for the touchdown. So Marpet needs as many reps with the first string he can get before the season starts and Gilkey had no business playing first string anything. He should not be playing Center ever again. Maybe third string Guard or off the team. But if EDS can’t keep the room in the center of the OL so Winston can step up then move Marpet to Center and try EDS at RG. If Pamphile beats out Smith at LT let Smith Learn RG and compete there too!
August 18th, 2015 at 10:27 pm
I liked the center from Usf we put in he looked solid Kadeem Edwards looked good too were alot better than people think just let it happen.
Lets go Coach Smith.
Lets rock #3.