“Here He Is Playing Better Than Everybody”
October 17th, 2016
Stunning revelation by Coach Koetter this evening.
Quite a revelation by Dirk Koetter tonight.
It might make some Bucs fans Sweezy woozy.
Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Koetter explained that staff player grades after five games revealed the best offensive lineman on the team.
Koetter even prefaced the heralded Buccaneers with a “believe it or not.” And that guy is left guard Kevin Pamphile, who entered this season with one career start. That came last year filling in for Logan Mankins.
“Here he is playing better than everybody,” Koetter said of Pamphile.
A Bucs fifth-round pick in 2014, Pamphile has matured impressively. He’s morphed into the Bucs’ most versatile offensive lineman but is now thriving in his new starting role.
Of course, the plan was for newcomer free agent J.R. Sweezy to start at left guard. Sweezy was an expensive offseason signing earning more than 10 times Pamphile’s annual pay. But Sweezy has never practiced in Tampa, and it appears he’s destined to become the answer to a Bucs trivia question.
What a great honor for Pamphile. He should be damn proud.
October 17th, 2016 at 5:53 pm
IR Sneezy, another horrible decision by Free Pass Licht.
October 17th, 2016 at 5:55 pm
Hey, where’s DestinJohnny? According to that guy Jason Licht can’t pick outside of the first round. I swear some of y’all supposed die hards are clueless.
October 17th, 2016 at 6:07 pm
I guess that “guy” could be jason licht because if he knew pamphile was any good to start, he wouldnt have signed and gave damged goods sweezy 10 million vaca this year
Im guessing our pr today is to say sweezy wont be playing and martin is too fat and not available
We need a legit experienced GM to straightened this mess
Fire Jason Gump and the new GM can give koetter 1 year trial
October 17th, 2016 at 6:09 pm
There you go Dallas, Ignore the high praise from our head coach for the 5th round Lineman, also selected by Licht; to make a dig at our GM. Try to grasp this, nobody bats 1000, not even Ted Thompson, or Billicheat. But Jason Licht has been right more often than not in the Draft, especially with the picks that Count.
He hasn’t been as good in Free agency, however J.L. has added some solid glue guys, who when healthy, are good players. Clinton Mcdonald, Rob Ayers, Daryl Smith, Jacquis Smith, Jacquizz Rodgers, Gosder Cherilus, Joe Hawley etc… I’m sure Sweezy would be doing fine as well if he didn’t have a bum back.
We have a Solid nucleus of talent, and continue to draft Young men who want to win and compete. Hell Jason Licht drafted 4 legitimate starters in the same draft. FOUR OF THEM. That feat should not be overlooked. Our team is in good hands. Patience fellow Bucs fans. Much like Clint Mac, I smell a run baby. In Licht, In Koetter, In Jameis we trust.
Lets Go Bucs! COMPETE!
October 17th, 2016 at 6:11 pm
I can’t believe I forgot to mention Adam Humphries and Cam Brate. both undrafted Free Agents. Haters gonna Hate.
October 17th, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Jason Licht is str8 trash!! Winston is str8 trash he couldn’t hit water if he jumped out of a boat. Aguayo worst pick in NFL history right up there with Ryan leaf. Jason Licht should’ve been fired along with Lovie
October 17th, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Hell, Easy (money) Sweezy probably smoked himself a bowl, kicked back with a 40oz ..to relive the pain of course. And watched the NFl games yesterday. He’ll probably call his bank or (back up to it) asking if the Bucs have deposited his salary for the month. While all the time singin those Dire Straits lyrics, Get your money for nothing and your chicks for free! E=A=S-Y Sweezy..My man!
October 17th, 2016 at 6:28 pm
And so DallasBuc doubt that you’re well read enough to study any Zen.
Here’s a thought for you. You see where you place your attention.
And so if you’re a negative nellie here is what losers like you see.
IR Sneezy, another horrible decision by Free Pass Licht.
Or you could be positive and an actual fan instead of a negative troll and see..
A Bucs fifth-round pick in 2014, Pamphile has matured impressively.
October 17th, 2016 at 6:30 pm
@Blake
Very well put. Sorry to be repetitive but Dallas Buc was the first poster and so I responded before I got to read you response. You said it well.
I wish Dallas would just give up the game and root for the freaking Cowgirls.
October 17th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
I wish St Pete would stop putting rainbow paint on a turd. This team isn’t very goo and hasn’t been for awhile . We haven’t had a three game winning streak since Schiano. We’ve had one three game streak and one four game streak since Raheem’s miraculous 10-6 year. Bad decisions like IR Sweezy is what continuously puts us in the bottom 5 teams every year. Oh yeah and brilliant trades for erratic kickers . Positive is fine, when there is positives to be had. Do me a favor and go be a Browns fan. That city is use to the same bad decisions and medeocrity we’ve been a part of for 15 years. Well, except theirs has been for 50.
October 17th, 2016 at 6:38 pm
You want to shoot for 50 like them St Pete? Keep embrassing the mediocre train at Obe Buc,
October 17th, 2016 at 6:40 pm
I can’t forgive bucs gm for 2 high draft picks on a kicker ,,,,will never be worth it !
October 17th, 2016 at 6:53 pm
@Chris I’ll Keep it short and sweet, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Jason Licht has a good eye for talent. Kids that can Ball. I have faith in Jason Licht, the Evans, Pamphile the Grand Slam and VH3 have instilled that within me.
October 17th, 2016 at 6:54 pm
I have been reading this website for quite some time and let me say that Bucs fans are among the most passionate. On the other hand they are very quick to make judgments and complain. Rich McKay was probably the best gm this team has ever had. But if you look back at all of his drafts you will see that he hit on 2 hall of famers in brooks, sapp, and hopefully lynch. Then got barber, alstott and a few complimentary players. After that he missed badly on a lot of players. For everyone to bash licht like the guy doesn’t have a clue on what he is doing are just idiots. Look back at that 2013 roster and it was garbage. Licht has come in and drafted Evans, sims, pamphile, Winston, smith, marpet, Alexander, and Hargreaves. He signed brate and humphries off the street. Free agent acquisitions were mcdonald, Evan smith, hawley, cherilus, traded for mankins, grimes, ayers, anger, daryl smith, josh Robinson. Solid free agent pickups to fill gaps for a lack of talent that dominik left him. Yes he has missed on Collins, verner, mccown melton, conte, carter and possibly sweezy but there is no doubt the guy is building a great core of players here. I get that everyone is sick of losing, I am too. But firing licht would not solve the winning problem, only worsen the issue.
October 17th, 2016 at 7:15 pm
You guys remember when the “experts who get paid” said Jared God was the best qb in the draft. Dak Prescott wasn’t even a first TD pick.
Gotta love the experts!!!
October 17th, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Doea Sweezy still gets game day checks and for how long is he getting paid?
October 17th, 2016 at 7:49 pm
Dirk is the MAN! I mean if you thought Lovie was too aggressive and wanted someone that plays for the FG in every stituation, then Dirk is THE MAN!
October 17th, 2016 at 8:01 pm
This is clearly a message being sent to Sweezy. Get back soon or there is no spot for you.
October 17th, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Jason Licht spends more money on free agents bums than any GM in the NFL. He’s a terrible GM, more UDFA’s stick to our roster than Licht draft picks.
October 17th, 2016 at 8:44 pm
Marpet, Sweezy, D Smith, Evans, Jameis, VH3, Grimes, Anger, Ayers, Kwon, Hawley, Phamphile, Daryl Smith, Brate, Humphries, J. Rodgers and Noah Spence. That is 15 quality starters and 2 backups that Licht has brought to this team in 3 years. Not to mention the entire dline we just put on the field to win a Monday night football game on the road. Yah this Licht guy is clueless. Some of you guys need to pick a new sport to watch.
October 17th, 2016 at 8:50 pm
“more UDFA’s stick to our roster than Licht draft picks”
One of the dumbest comments on this blog, to date. Kudos to you sir.
October 17th, 2016 at 8:59 pm
@Ndog,
you can add C. Sims and Jac Smith to that list. Licht has had some major misses in FA without doubt, but his drafts have been great, and he finds some quality UDFAs and mid-season FA acquisitions every single year.
Re: the draft, the fact is we’re averaging 3-4 starters per draft under Licht, which shows you just how devoid of talent this team really was.
But hey I’ve got an idea, let’s blow the whole thing up again, like we do every 2 years, and just keep doing that, cuz, you know, it’s been working out great.
October 17th, 2016 at 9:26 pm
Sidebar: Hearing alot of crazy talk out NY.
IF the JETS fire Todd Bowles
Glazers should pull out their check immediately!!!
One of the the best defensive coordinators in the league#rarebreed
October 17th, 2016 at 9:28 pm
Hire the brotha as consultant for the rest of the year.
Give’em the DC/Asst. Head Coach position next year.
October 17th, 2016 at 9:37 pm
As a jameis fan
I would like the jets to give 2 1st round picks for jameis
If jason gimp stays, i want jameis out of tampa asap before koetter the clown turns him to jaboo gabbert 2.0
October 17th, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Good for KP!!! Love Kevin Pamphile!! His signed pic sits on my desk..whenever I don’t feel like working much (work out of my house)..I look at KP’s pic and it motivates me to do my best.
Love the guy!! AND fook yeah! He’s a human building, tough as hell..love him!
October 17th, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Positive is fine, when there is positives to be had
So no positives eh Chris. None!
Let me help you with a word to describe you and Dallas Bucs posts. I’ll even give you the definition.
Hyperbole-exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Sadly for you two negative nellies your hyperbole is always negative. Must suck to be around such negativity.
October 17th, 2016 at 9:55 pm
In 2014 we had one of the worst offensive lines in football. We drafted heavy on lineman and had one of the better lines in the league. In 2015 we had one of the worst defensive backfield. We drafted and signed some corners and now we are making plays and are vastly improved. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Licbt knows what he’s doing.
October 17th, 2016 at 9:55 pm
Koetter needs to quit talking so much. He needs to be careful of how openly he “grades” players in front of the media. I’m all for accountability but no player likes to be put on blast by his coach to the pens and mics. Not a smart move by a rookie HC. Keep these kinds of things in the locker room or he’ll risk losing it.
October 17th, 2016 at 10:00 pm
“J.R. Sweezy signed a 5 year, $32,500,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including $14,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $6,500,000. In 2016, Sweezy will earn a base salary of $4,500,000 and a roster bonus of $5,000,000. Sweezy has a cap hit of $9,500,000 while his dead money value is $14,500,000.”
What do we do now that Pamphile is grading out as a quality starter? Renegotiate Sweezy’s contract if he can even come back to play, trade him, or just let him be the swing guy?
October 17th, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Trade that bum Sweezy and use that money else where
October 17th, 2016 at 10:22 pm
after we signed sweezy,i was puzzled why pamphile did not get his chance to
start.The bucs were saying good things about him.Even with Rogers hard running ,we still only averaged about 3+ yards a carry.I did like the roadgrader mentality that Sweezy was supposed to have.But it does look like we got damaged goods and paid a big bonus for it.
We do need to step our running game similar to last year,hopefully that wiil help
Jameis get in the game earlier. We went for five field goals because has not been effective early. have to see if the full blocking complement after the bye
will get jameis out of his slump.
October 17th, 2016 at 10:22 pm
Good grief some of you people are smoking some heavy stuff. The Bucs have one of the WORST offensive lines in the NFL right now. Even those bums at PFF have them rated 26th. Being the best rated guy among this group of bozos isn’t an honor at all. Getting Sweezy healthy couldn’t hurt these turnstiles.
You guys need to be realistic about these lines, both offense and defense. They’re lousy on both sides. The offensive line is just a little bit less reprehensible than the defensive one.
October 17th, 2016 at 10:25 pm
Just to show you how ridiculous it’s gotten, legions of you are praising the running game for averaging 3 yards per carry last game. Has the Bucs Nation gotten so stupid as to think this offensive line is anything more than pure suck?
October 17th, 2016 at 10:52 pm
Chris Says:
October 17th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
“I wish St Pete would stop putting rainbow paint on a turd. This team isn’t very goo and hasn’t been for awhile . We haven’t had a three game winning streak since Schiano. We’ve had one three game streak and one four game streak since Raheem’s miraculous 10-6 year.”
The season is young, young man. 5 games in. No rainbow paint over here, just give it more time. If you can’t then oh well. It ain’t easy being a Bucs fan.
October 17th, 2016 at 10:52 pm
I wouldn’t say Sweezy was a horrible signing, unless he can’t get on the field no later than the beginning of next season.
Our OLine will be way stronger if we can move Marpet to center and have Sweezy and Pamphile playing the 2 guard spots.
Wow, that would be strong.
October 18th, 2016 at 12:00 am
Agree with you on that Erik. I like Hawleys mentality but don’t think he has much left beyond this season. Evan smith is incredibly average and Dotson is a beast but has been getting non stop penalties. Has become a huge liability. Need that fixed ASAP or an upgrade at RT is due.
@Louis,
The run game was very effective in the 1st half. Not sure but I believe we averaged much higher ypc in the 1st half. In the second they were able to slow it down more but it still opened up enought that Carolina has to respect it. That’s what JW needs to be successful. He also need to start playing better obviously, but it was clear to anyone watching our run game was effective that night.
That being said, the o-line is below average run blocking and slightly above average pas blocking. I said this all year last year as well. Joe(s) would have you believe they were amazing last season but the fact is Dougie was making that stuff happen himself more times than not.
October 18th, 2016 at 7:15 am
Don’t agree with making Marpet a center.We need a natural center inthat position. In that way you eliminate bad hikes and allow a mauler to stand up and do what he does best.
October 18th, 2016 at 11:53 am
I agree with Erik as well. Having three strong interior players will greatly help the OLine play.
Bob, a natural center? There’s no such thing as a natural center. Nobody is born hiking a football between their legs. Marpet is a natural player. He is stout at the point of attack and very athletic for the position. He’s like a lengthier Jeff Christie when he was young.
October 18th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
@Brandon
was talking about somebody who has played it his entire career.If you watch a team like Dallas much of their runs do not have to go between center and guard.IT easier to kick the run outside if you run through guard,tackle gap.
evan smith doesn’t center that well.Need I remind you of the Garrett Gilkey
debacle. point is centering is a talent that takes lots of practice.
October 18th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
correction probably should have said off tackle.
October 18th, 2016 at 6:23 pm
I think this is actually great! If you see why the Cowboys are so great is that Frederick, Martin & Smith trio. I say maybe next yr they move Pham to RG, Sweezy plays his LG & Marpet can play C. Remember the talk of Marpet being a future stud C & that also allows us to put our best o-line on the field
I know this doesn’t help us out immediately but looking down the road I can see this happening. We can get rid of Hawley or Smith
October 18th, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Im confused. So should i vote for kevin Pamphile for the pro bowl bow, instead of Ali Marpet. Joe told me Marpet was our best lineman. Im so conflicted!