Bucs Should Learn A Luck Lesson
November 13th, 2015
Joe sees the ferocious beating Andrew Luck takes regularly and the mauling Cowboys’ offensive line coming to Tampa on Sunday. That gets Joe thinking about the NFL Draft and the future of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Right now, the Bucs have a good offensive line that might be the deepest in the NFL. Look at the results since its been gelling so well the past five or six weeks. Jameis is healthy and able to shine, and there’s a real running game.
Jameis’ ankle that was beaten up this summer after repeated clean shots from defensive ends? That’s a distant memory.
It’s all a great reminder of how much the offensive line is critical to the franchise, aka Jameis, as well as the team overall.
But the Bucs have age and question marks on the O-line. The right tackles are in their 30s and represent the weakest position. Starting center Joe Hawley will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, if the Bucs don’t re-sign him. Left guard Logan Mankins is quick to admit 11 years in the trenches have taken quite a toll on his 33-year-old body.
Joe hopes Jason Licht stays vigilant in building and fortifying the O-line. Yeah, the Bucs have a ton of holes on the roster (hello, pass rush), and O-line is their strongest unit, but how good would you feel if the Bucs drafted a manbeast guard/center type like Ali Marpet in the second round next year?
That might be the best insurance policy for the franchise QB who turns 22 in January.
November 13th, 2015 at 9:42 am
I really think this team will draft one of the stud OT’s in the draft if we’re in position — either Stanley or Tunsil — move Smith to the right side, resign Hawley, beg Mankins to come back for one more year while we figure out that LG spot moving forward
November 13th, 2015 at 9:42 am
Jameis is a real gamer as he’s taken a lot of hits so far, flung himself into the endzone……has more desire than a lot of his teammates. Has a big heart too…..hope he can stay healthy……just don’t get too close to Irkle, in case fragility is contagious…..
November 13th, 2015 at 9:44 am
Couldn’t agree more. I’d also try to take a WR within the first two days as well to make sure we maintain a solid 1-2 punch there. Secondary help will likely be the day 1 priority.
November 13th, 2015 at 9:48 am
Isn’t the OL the one group on the field that can maintain their play as they get older? But am I the only one seeing us as back on track with our OL? You can now go back to drafting need high, and sprinkling in those offensive lineman in middle to later rounds and have them develop behind our vets…
November 13th, 2015 at 9:51 am
Dear baby Jesus, please let our child Jameis continue to develop and be our franchise QB for the next 15 years. Thank u
November 13th, 2015 at 10:16 am
On topic/off topic but I am currently watching a special on ESPN news re Greg Hardy … who exactly on our O line is lining up opposite of this piece of trash, because I really want to see Greg eating turf all afternoon (yes, I am a woman).
I am a new Bucs fan, but I have been a Nole since ’88, so Winston brought me here… and I plan to support this team no matter what.
In regards to what changes should be made everyone seems to defer on opinion, and that is fine as long as we aren’t attacking each other. We all have the same end goal here … to see the Bucs win. For those who are just trolling and don’t share that goal, then Delta is ready when you are so jump on another thread/team cause we don’t need the negativity.
My thoughts (OPINIONS):
Mike Evans: trying to hard to to make the play and/or avoid the hit before the catch is secured. His mind is ahead sometimes, and he needs to focus on completing the catch first. He also needs to learn to jump (he does play basketball so this should not be an issue) and extend himself for some of the catches.
TE’s: Brate needs more pass attempts. ASJ needs to 1) heal or 2) Man up. Noone knows what the deal is with him, so we can’t make a true call, but we need a true 2nd TE… which brings me to Nick O’Leary. His talent is being wasted on the Bills practice squad. This is a guy who wrecked his motorcycle and practically walked away, plays without gloves in all types of weather, was one of Jameis’ top go-to men in college, and would cost us a lot to pick up.
WR: we have Kenny Bell on IR … James Wilder is on the Bengals practice squad wasting his talent where we can pull him in as anot her backup If need be with VJ out for the season.
Stat sheets: this one bugs the heck out of me. Yes, you use the eye test and watch film to get the best idea of how to prepare, but to ignore the “extra advantage” is just ignorant. I think Koetter is a great OC, but to blatantly cast aside the Stat sheets is like being in school and telling a teacher that you don’t want the study guide to a final exam. Makes me want to beat my head on the wall. The NFL is a business, and in business you take all the advantages that you can in order to excel and suceed.
Bottom line is that there are a lot of good targets floating around out there already that we can pick up really cheap without impacting the 2016 draft. That draft needs to focus on defense only … and there should be some good pickins coming out, too.
Again, this is just my opinion, so no need to attack … just discuss. This stuff has been floating in my mind for a couple of weeks …
Have a great day, guys!
November 13th, 2015 at 10:23 am
Skydancer, welcome to Buccaneer fandom. I don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into…just hope you’re prepared for hell
November 13th, 2015 at 10:31 am
offense looks good this year, but like joe says it won’t be long until mankins, VJax, dotson\cherilus are no longer spry enough to be reliable starters, so their replacements need to be locked in fast. i think we may have found our long-term pieces on the interior, however – i suspect hawley will be back if we want him back, i suspect, and between evan smith and pamphile one of them appears to be an adequate successor to mankins at LG.
the tackle position could use some upgrades, though. the team should have an internal goal of finding a tackle good enough that he’s worth moving donovan smith to RT (and dotson\cherilus to the bench) for.
November 13th, 2015 at 10:31 am
Thanks Creamsicle,
I have been following this site since Jameis got drafted, so I know a lot of what lurks here, lol.
I’ve also been divorced twice and am a single mom with a 13 yr old son going through puberty… I think I can handle you guys. 😉
November 13th, 2015 at 10:36 am
Need weapons for Jameis so he doesn’t target stone hands 19 times a game
November 13th, 2015 at 10:39 am
Joe Hawley will be 28 next season. Sing this guy! It is so hard to find a good center, maybe even more so than finding that franchise lt. Keep him here Bucs!
And welcome skydancer! This site can be a war zone at times but its all good.
November 13th, 2015 at 10:55 am
Bucs have focused exclusively on offense for 2 full drafts and look at what’s happened. Our offense has gotten a LOT better, and should continue to improve as Jameis does, but our defense has regressed … a LOT. Great teams have balance on both sides of the ball. We don’t. We need to focus on DEFENSE in this next draft as a minimum., and maybe for the next 2 drafts.
Let’s build on the offensive chemistry that we’re seeing this year. Resign Hawley and maybe pick up another quality FA for our OLine if one’s available. And yes, resign Martin & Rainey if they’re willing to come back for reasonable contracts.
On the defensive side, we should also resign Moore and Conte I think, and maybe Lansanah. But the Bucs need to go just about 100% defensive draft this time, and hopefully pick up at least a couple of quality defensive FAs in the process.
November 13th, 2015 at 11:04 am
Hopefully they are working on the Hawley contract right now.
November 13th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
At Skydancer3…..I AGREE. And thank you for a well researched comment.
November 13th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Skydancer3 mentioned James Wilder jr. on the Bengals practice squad. I like the kid and the whole legacy aspect of him playing for the team his father played for (1981-1989) with the run game being what it is would there be room for all three of our backs – Martin, Sims and Rainey, to add Wilder?????
I would like to see..
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/17289/james-wilder-jr
November 13th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
E(D)S can also work the LG spot if needed not to mention the development of Pamphile as well. Draft a real LT and slide D. Smith over to the right and we are set.
November 13th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
I’d like to see James Wilder Jr. in a Bucs uniform also. There is a question of his size from what I’ve read. He may need more time to develop to fit the pro game. Some homer connection here as always.
November 13th, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Imagine if Jason licht could somehow manufacture a shut down corner, a blue chip center or right tackle, and a defensive end with pass rushing ability. This team could be scary good
November 13th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
I think they should draft another guard/center. In the NFL games are won and lost in the trenches, that’s the bottom line. Bolster the trenches on both sides of the ball and you start to win games.
November 13th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Kevin Pamphile filled in nicely for Logan, develop what,s already on the roster
November 13th, 2015 at 8:35 pm
DE
DB
WR
OL
That should be the focus OL and DL should in every single draft
November 14th, 2015 at 7:25 am
Lol, O’Leary and Wilder are on practice squads for good reasons. O’Leary has questionable size and speed and can’t block. Wilder is also smallish and slow. He couldn’t even crack the lineup at FSU regularly. Posts like that invite the Gator honks to chime in with their beloved alumni. Teeeeboooow! Spare us the homerism.