Barbecue Accomplished?
August 23rd, 2015
New Bucs right tackle Gosder Cherilus
For those just joining this year’s Buccaneers soap opera, there’s a new character in the mix.
He’s Gosder Cherilus, a veteran of 100 regular season starts and two years protecting Andrew Luck.
The Bucs just paid Cherilus big cash in free agency to replace right tackle Demar Dotson, whose knee has him limping around since halftime of the preseason opener in Minnesota.
Cherilus, 31, has played on many offensive lines. So Joe wanted to ask him what stands out about this one in Tampa.
“It’s an extremely tight group. All the guys, they actually all hang out together. You can tell we all like each other, and we’re all in this together,” Cherilus said.
Whoa! That response got Joe thinking that left guard and offensive line leader Logan Mankins might finally have had that elusive and important barbecue venue, or at least found a way to forge the brotherly bonds that eluded him last year.
It must be a good thing that Cherilus fingered unity as what stands out from his new teammates. It might be better if he called the O-line “nasty” or “physical,” but to be fair, Cherilus won’t make his debut with the Bucs until Monday night.
Until then, Cherilus said he’ll be busy studying. “Trying my best to figure out this offense and help us out,” he said.
August 23rd, 2015 at 1:01 am
Great to hear!
August 23rd, 2015 at 3:15 am
Great to hear, exactly. And, totally off subject but ;Am I the only one that is glad Dennis Hickey is not with us anymore? That guy fd us up for yrs and made our gm’s look pathetic.
August 23rd, 2015 at 5:51 am
Don’t know about anyone else, but I’m excited to have Gosder Cherilus on our Bucs OLine. Outstanding experience at RT, and has always shown great leadership qualities at Boston College (a 4-year starter), and with the Lions and Colts (continual starter).
One article that I read written when he was coming into the NFL draft described him in run blocking as ‘a classic mauler’. Love it.
Much the same description folks have used for Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet. Maulers!
Personally I’m expecting to see a much-improved run game this year. Martin, Sims and Rainey all seem to be running well behind the big guys. Best way to keep the pressure off of Jameis is for our OLine to consistently maul the other team’s DLine.
Can hear their DLines echoing Roberto Duran’s famous words in his fight with Sugar Ray Leonard … ‘No mas, No mas.’
August 23rd, 2015 at 7:56 am
The snidey BBQ jibes were boring a year ago
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:02 am
A huge upgrade over Dotson, let’s hope his knees hold up!!! This is a case of addition by subtraction.Sorry Demar, but you are a back-up for the rest of the year….
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:48 am
Coach speak for not very good
August 23rd, 2015 at 10:17 am
I’m okay wit Dot but Wombat I agree,I think this guy may be a tad bit better. But hey 6 weeks til his return means we the RT position should solidified thru out the season. Win win.
August 23rd, 2015 at 11:08 am
How are his knees?
August 23rd, 2015 at 11:50 am
Personally I’m expecting to see a much-improved run game this year.
Agree Dick I’m also very optimistic about the running game. But not so much because of the RB’s although I believe they are competent, but because of the collection of “maulers” we’re getting.
IMO the running game is actually OL driven far more than RB. I think back to some of those great Denver teams and they seemed to plug in RB after RB and each of them turned out to be excellent. If our OL lives up to our hope we’re going to be dangerous.
August 23rd, 2015 at 12:10 pm
I’ve been saying the same thing, Cherilus is an upgrade if his knees are good. I like Dot but he’s not as physical as Gosder. Just look at the guy. Dude looks mean. Demar can come back at either tackle spot.
August 23rd, 2015 at 12:17 pm
I think jameis has good enough pocket awareness that he can work with his pass blockers to avoid sacks. Hes not going to be a romo or big ben in the pocket. But he can move enough and has the cajones to throw the ball into tight windows. That brings me to the point that having superior run blocking is key for us. Cheri might not be a dominant pass blocker but thats fine for me. We need to establish the run to set up the pass. Having a good run game is key to winning games.
August 23rd, 2015 at 12:22 pm
has the cajones to throw the ball into tight windows.
He also has the cojones to make that throw even when he knows he’s about the get plastered. He does not play frightened. McCown will have my undying respect for the beating he took last year. It was painful to watch at times. But that was pretty much the end of McCowns talent. He took a beating and only cried once.
Seriously I do not question McCowns courage after last year…but the beating did seem to make him play like a very frightened man. Some of those mistakes he made last year were just amazing.
August 23rd, 2015 at 1:11 pm
I’m soooo sick of this nonsensical barbecue garbage. I know it is difficult for JOE, but please try to think of something that is new and actually humorous. I know you must try to fill up column inches with irrelevant crap, but this is too much.
August 23rd, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Chet Cherilus is the man! (if anyone seen the movie Crank) At least he has a lot of experience.
August 23rd, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Feeling more optimism re: Bucs Oline!