“The Surge”
November 17th, 2015
Mauling and balling
Joe is so damn impressed by how Evan Smith has turned around his attitude and his play.
It’s pretty damn stunning. The guy has been money filling in for 1 1/2 games for Ali Marpet at right guard.
Smith hadn’t spent any time at guard in training camp or in preseason. Hell, Smith told Joe he hadn’t played right guard in four years, since his days earning a Super Bowl ring in Green Bay.
Sunday was Smith’s first start at right guard for the Bucs, after coming in before halftime when Marpet injured his ankle against the Giants on Nov. 8.
Again, Smith was strong. Former Buccaneers tight end Anthony Becht highlighted “the surge” of the offensive line on the game-winning drive Sunday. It’s all on this video. Just look at Doug Martin not getting touched for three yards, and he’s running up Smith’s ass.
Smith came to the Bucs known for being a pass-blocking center. He’s more than that.
It’s just amazing how deep the Bucs’ offensive line is. Dirk Koetter told Joe last week it’s the deepest line he’s ever been a part of.
November 17th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
And so Joe the question is how do we keep all of them happy. When you have 7 starters and only five positions it’s fun while it lasts but two guys are always going to be unhappy.
May not actually be a problem if Smith believes he will replace Mankins when Logan steps down. Dotson already appears to be miffed.
What a wonderful problem eh? I can’t remember as a Buc fan having too many decent players. LOL
November 17th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
I still think it’s worth spending another mid round pick for youthful development behind these guys (also depends on who stays after this year).
I am not sure there is a great DE market. Basically JPP or Wilkerson but Wilkerson more of a 3-4 DE. I’d love to sign a JPP AND spend our #1 pick on DE. This team has no 4 man pass rush. If we could get that going it’d make everything a lot easier on the defense.
Sign premier DE / S / CB if possible imo; along with a decent 2nd / 3rd WR.
Draft
1. DE
2. DE or CB or S
3. DE or CB or S or WR
4-7. CB/S/WR/O-line/LB/DT/RB (depends on Doug Martin / Sims finish to year)
November 17th, 2015 at 1:44 pm
@ St. Pete
Good question…..I think Dotson will be traded…..his claim that Lovie told him he would start could be his death knell……Lovie plays that stuff very close to the vest and I doubt he told Dotson that then changed his mind.
Also….Cherilus has a higher cap loss and Dotson is younger and cheaper and has another year on that contract.
I think Evan Smith will be OK….because of the money.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if we kept Mankins for one more year or tried to restructure him.
We are in a commanding position with great versatility & depth. The success of the two rookies coupled with the Cherilus pickup has made the difference.
November 17th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
@lordcornelius- no need to adopt Dumbinik’s horrible double down draft strategy. I’d draft DE in 1st or best defensive player available and then focus on getting Jameis more weapons then fill holes in the secondary.
November 17th, 2015 at 2:00 pm
The future is bright my fellow buc fans!
November 17th, 2015 at 2:01 pm
The guy NEVER was a natural center, but bowling ball guard YES.
November 17th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
@Cornelius…I agree…draft 2 de’s and 2 cb’s…not really sold on jpp but m.bennett and bruce irving from the seahawks would be great additions…if we can somehow swing both(maybe sign one to a 1or2 year deal)..then we would only need to focus on the secondary,wr and oline…if you look at lovie and licht draft history together, they will no doubt choose both 2 de’s or 2 cb’s…first year mike evans, Robert herron..also kevin pamphill and kadeem Edwards…this year d.smith and marpet along with Kenny bell and kalein clay…looks like we will be getting our wish by drafting 2 de’s and 2cb’s….GO BUCS!!!
November 17th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Amazing how we ended up with a pretty good oline.
Didn’t really expect that going into the season.
November 17th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
People have been saying this since preseason. “Move E(D)S to guard, he’s not a good center.”
The guy could barely get off a shotgun snap without rolling the ball. He probably singlehandedly cost us a game or two last season.
Good for him that he is excelling at another position.
November 17th, 2015 at 3:27 pm
@LordC
I agree completely with your draft strategy. Haven’t been on Walterfootball for awhile so I checked in….it’s a hoot. They have the Brownies picking first and taking a QB! AGAIN!!! They have Joey Bosa going 2nd to the Ravens and us picking at 17. Bosa is the only DE selected ahead us us while there are three QB’s picked ahead of us. Aren’t we glad we have #3! They had the Saints taking Connor Cook feeling Drew is getting near the end. I get that but as bad as the Aints defense has played I think they may have to put that off another year.
As for us Walterfootball says..
Robert Nkemdiche, DE/DT, Ole Miss….I don’t know how the Buccaneers are going to make Robert Nkemdiche work with Gerald McCoy, but they may decide that they can’t pass up on such a mega talent.
Mega talent? Any of you guys out there watch enough SEC ball to pronounce Nkemdiche a MEGA talent? And while you’re pronouncing how do you say his last name? If we pick him and Hey Jude continues to play well Gene Deckerhoff will have his work cut out when our D is on the field. LOL
November 17th, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Only cements the fact we should have kept Zuttah
November 17th, 2015 at 3:45 pm
I recommended he be moved to guard last off season. If we didn’t have a stabble center at last, I would say move Marpet to center. He’s welll suited for it.
And before anyone says otherwise, people didn’t think Zuttah should move to center at first either. Some of us ecommended it long before it was popular.
November 17th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
@stpetebucsfan…the n is silent…its pronounced kim-de-che…I actually would like that pick if we were picking #17…I think by then Hargreaves and Ramsey may be gone and I don’t see any elite de prospects after bosa but nkemdiche is more of a dt imo….GO BUCS!!!
November 17th, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Probably sees the Packers losing and doesn’t feel so cheated anymore.
November 17th, 2015 at 6:07 pm
813Bucboi
Thanks for the pronounciation tip. Yeah I’m with you on Hargreaves but if I recall he was also gone before 17.
Walterfootball had us taking the VA TECH CB and then in the 3rd come back and take the FSU Safety.
November 17th, 2015 at 11:41 pm
It’s a very simple answer, the players are no better than before, the scheme is so far superior to the crap we saw with Lovie’s chump OC from last year. Dirk is a real pro. It’s all about coaching. Talent from team to team is virtually equal. it’s coaching and scheme that makes all the difference. Having a stud QB doesn’t hurt, either. Go JW!
November 18th, 2015 at 10:22 am
Maybe it isn’t his attitude that has changed as much as your perspective of him Joe. You took a huge dislike towards him because he treated Winston like a rookie instead of some QB god like you did.
You are so right Jeff. A lot of the improvement is the scheme and the play calling by Koetter which is professional instead of amateurish with Arroyo, Winston helps alot too.