Dirk Koetter Leaves No Stone Unturned
January 25th, 2017
Center Joe Hawley has a familiar name breathing down his hairy neck
Dirk Koetter has said repeatedly that he looks to free agents he knows when it’s time to fill roster holes (Roddy White not included).
So that’s why everyone should pay attention to the Bucs’ recent signing of center James Stone.
Stone, 24, started nine games for Koetter and the Falcons in 2014, when he was an undrafted rookie filling in for injured then-Falcons starter Joe Hawley. Yes, the same Hawley who started for Tampa Bay the past two seasons and could hit unrestricted free agency in March.
Stone was kept by the Dan Quinn regime in Atlanta for the 2015 season but was cut after an ACL injury and seven games played. Last season, he was completely out of football, presumably because of that knee.
But now Stone is a Buccaneer and clearly a guy respected by Koetter, who brought in several of his ex-players last year, including Bernard Reedy, Cecil Shorts and Jacquizz Rodgers.
Per NFL.com, the Bucs led the league in negative runs up the center of their offensive line. Their total of 24 was six more than any other team. The Super Bowl Falcons had just seven. Last year, the Bucs had only 13 negative runs up the gut.
Yes, center wasn’t a Bucs strength in 2016. Stone probably isn’t the answer, but Joe suspects he’ll get a legitimate shot to compete. Also, Stone, if healthy, would represent legitimate depth at center. And we all know how important that is.
January 25th, 2017 at 11:30 am
Hmm, that’s a great name for a linemen.
January 25th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Draft Ethan Pocic in the 3rd, next 10 years out interior with be a strength
January 25th, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Per NFL.com, the Bucs led the league in negative runs up the center of their offensive line. Their total of 24 was six more than any other team.
So you’re saying that they WEREN’T world-beaters in every way imaginable? That maybe Doug Martin isn’t all to blame?
January 25th, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Gottschalk played pretty well at C until he go hurt. He is 24 as well, competition baby!
January 25th, 2017 at 1:01 pm
I’d seriously own up to carrying out Lovie’s dumbass decisions and bring back J Zuttah if he becomes avail, if I was Jason Litch.
January 25th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Props to Joe for citing a stat indicative of a bad run blocking unit.
Negative runs might as well be sacks – they’re effectively the same thing – and almost always on the line and not the RB.
January 25th, 2017 at 1:21 pm
NOSBOS
January 25th, 2017 at 1:22 pm
Lets try again…lmao…NOSBOS
Agree great name for an OL. Now let’s just hope he has some stones.
One thing about Hawley…he may not have a ton of talent but he does have the stones to play the position.
January 25th, 2017 at 1:26 pm
Jeremy Zuttah is signed until 2018 and by then he will be 32 by the time he hits FA.
January 25th, 2017 at 1:30 pm
@sneedy
He is likely to be a cap casualty in Baltimore this off season
January 25th, 2017 at 1:51 pm
That was J.R. “Ride the bench” Sweezy’s strong suit….run blocking. A Healthy sweezy, upgrade at center / tackle, a healthy determined ________ fill in the blank with Rodgers, PETERSON!!, Martin, and we could finally have a serious running attack.
January 25th, 2017 at 2:02 pm
Man I really wish we had targeted Mack at center instead of Sweezy last year.
January 25th, 2017 at 3:05 pm
You stole my thunder Bucsfaninchina! I too thought it was ALL Doug’s fault!
January 25th, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Kyle Fuller C from Baylor or Tyler Orlosky West Virginia should be there in the 4th.
January 25th, 2017 at 9:21 pm
Buc4Lyfe79 Says:
“I’d seriously own up to carrying out Lovie’s dumbass decisions and bring back J Zuttah if he becomes avail, if I was Jason Litch. ”
It might be convenient to blame only Lovie, but consider this: Lovie’s number one goal was proving he could build an offense. Why would he break up an offensive line that had at least been partly successful? Answer? He wouldn’t.
Lovie was not even in charge of the salary cap. JASON LICHT was. You think Lovie, a defensive guy, would want to release one of the top cornerbacks? No.
Again, a cap move.
And so far as the bad free agent signings? Jason Licht has admitted over and over that he was resonsible for the over spending. Even as short a time ago as last week!
Lovie screwed up an several fronts, but he wasn’t the only one. Lovie wanted McCown. Lovie failed at coaching.
January 25th, 2017 at 9:26 pm
I like the signing, even though it falls right in line with Jason Licht always pursuing injury prone veterans. The kid is young, and he had to come cheap. He’s probably out of football shape, but since he’s camp meat, it costs nothing to find out if he’s going to work out.
Warning. Be cautious of a drug violation.
January 26th, 2017 at 7:21 am
Falcons offensive line has been terrible up until this year with Mack, who was the center rolling the ball back to Matt Ryan when we played the Falcons in 2015, I hope it wasn’t this guy.
January 26th, 2017 at 11:00 am
Joe I agree we need a upgrade at center but during film study I noticed that Hawley pills those extra guys off the running backs. He holds a lot but he goes to the whistle he’s aggressive and smart. Give him two brand new knees and I wouldn’t trade him for the world. Chippy don’t explain what type of blocking style he has it’s more pesky then anything. #95 on KC Jones floored him for being a pest. He grabs jerseys when the ref ain’t looking like when Von Bell grabbed Brandon Myers 2 straight times on pass plays and no flag was thrown. That’s why we didn’t make the playoff. Go see for yourself JOE.
January 26th, 2017 at 11:42 am
Leave no turn unstoned!