“I Believe Ali Marpet Will Be A Dominant, Like Next-Level Center”
April 17th, 2017
The Bucs are back to work today, Day 1 of Ali Marpet’s slightly controversial transition to center.
Yes, the Bucs are taking their stud right guard and thrusting him into something new. Joe asked Gerald McCoy about Marpet’s targeted move, and McCoy let it rip.
Marpet is a great guard, McCoy said, but center should be a different story.
“I think he’ll be a dominant, like next-level center,” McCoy said of Marpet.
“He’s got, you know, these grippers; once he puts his hands on you, you’re in trouble. And I truly believe, and you can stamp this and quote it, I believe Ali Marpet will be a dominant, not good, a dominant center. I just really do. He’s so athletic. He can pull. He can make all the blocks. He’s highly intelligent.
“You know, you need a general in the middle. He’s always on the go. He only knows one speed, and when your center’s going at one speed, and you partner that with [Jameis]. that offense is going to roll.”
Heavy stuff there from McCoy.
Man, Joe sure hopes McCoy is right. Obviously, No. 93 knows what he’s looking at when it comes to offensive linemen.
A Pro Bowl, dominant center for America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston? Two kids to grow and dominate together? Oh, my.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
Why, oh why, take someone who is proficient at his position and put him somewhere else?
April 17th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
My point since before this was announced. Once these two, with their personalities get together for a couple of years. They won’t even have to think about what the other is doing. Marpet will take responsibilities off of Jameis’ plate so that he can use more of his amazing mentality to make plays.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
To get Sweezy on the field obviously. He was productive in Seattle and should continue to grow and develop. …provided that back isn’t an issue.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:07 pm
Its so funny too how people say.. I trust Koetter, Licht is really sharp in one breath and then in the other say… Don’t do this are you crazy… Marpet is a really good guard, I don’t care if you think he could be great.
Mid level franchises and personalities chose to pursue “proficiency” Great ones chose to pursue Greatness.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Joe could this me Licht will draft an OLinemen in 2 weeks?and who is taking over Goth Punk Chicks spot?
April 17th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Center is where Marpet’s athleticism can really shine. He will be a pulling fool.
And guess who likes to cut it outside and will be right behind Ali and then past him and off to the races down the sideline… Fingers crossed
April 17th, 2017 at 1:20 pm
when we drafted him, i think they always thought he would be a top flight Center. Pamphile developing as a good guard and trying to make sure we get Sweezy on the field after the deal we gave him last offseason makes this move almost a necessity.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
Hope it works out. Oline was abused last year so I am all for change
April 17th, 2017 at 1:28 pm
If it makes the team better, nobody should complain. It makes the roster very interesting when you have Hawley and Smith with Pamphille and then Sweezy. Do they consider a move to RT for Pamphille and Smith or Hawley to G?
The off-season saga continues!
April 17th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
If the sweezy is healthy and the OLine is better for it, great.
I am a little skeptical because he was on the verge of being an all-pro OG
April 17th, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Good thing D-Roca and 87 know more than Koetter, Gmac, our o-line coach and O coordinator. Someone needs to tell these millionaire professionals to quit treating this team like it’s their Madden team……. Chumps.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:42 pm
If you look it up Marpet has the exact measurables as some of the most recent great centers including Mangold, the Pouncey’s, and Alex Mack. Center is where he was born to play and I actually agree with McCoy, as I said on another tread today, this is going to be a move that will make our Oline very very good!
April 17th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
This is all smoke and LIES so that the Bucs can draft a Center.
April 17th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
1Gr8Buc…”know more”…that’s what I’m here for. lol
I have no problem with sliding Marpet anywhere within the interior of the line. Can he snap? Perhaps so. Idk.
As far as the rest of the line. No I don’t see anyone else capable of doing so.
Madden sucks. 🙂
April 17th, 2017 at 1:53 pm
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/02/nick-mangold-perfect-bridge/#comments
April 17th, 2017 at 1:57 pm
love the move….but we still have 2 major uncertainties regarding our oline….1 guard position and RT….I honestly think pamphile was better at RT than guard….but if he plays guard who will man RT?….benenoch?….its possible but the limited action I saw him in last year was at RG and he was getting smoked….maybe with a year under his belt, he’s become more accustom to the speed and strength on the game….we’ll see….GO BUCS!!!!
April 17th, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Is sweezy…on the field ?
April 17th, 2017 at 2:05 pm
I thank God every day (uh huh)
That I woke up feelin’ this way (uh huh)
And I can’t help lovin’ myself
And I don’t need nobody else, nuh uh
If I was you, I’d wanna be me too
I’d wanna be me too
I’d wanna be me too
If I was you, I’d wanna be me too
April 17th, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Buc1987 Says:
February 25th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
“1Gr8Buc…YOU need to stop. You act as if O-lineman are just interchangeable like Madden. RT is the problem anyways. More than C imo”
Can Marpet play RT? I still prefer him to stay right at G.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
The Bucs need to draft a guard no later than the 4th round. Insurance for Sweezy and possibly freeing up Pamphile to move over to RT.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
Love the move. Inside pressure was a problem all year and it wasn’t coming from the guard position. Tough guy Joe Hawley (as the Joe’s might label him if he were a better player) was often abused by big guys in the middle; i.e., most of them. JW clearly always had his eye on pressure up the middle. If Marpet solidifies the C position, that buys JW perhaps an extra half second on passing plays (allowing routes to develop, etc), which is gold in the NFL.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:31 pm
The Bucs need to forget about Sweezy. Yea I said it.
Changing up your whole line for Sweezy is a recipe for disaster. Dude will probably flake out before the bye week. And with more garunteed money in his pocket what does he care if he leaves us in the lurch.
Remember the face on Logan Mankins face when he showed up to Tampa. He played 2 seasons, got paid 7mil per (?)and immediately bounced. Lord knows how many games he missed and he sucked! Yea I said it!
At some point the Bucs must realize that they are $luts and most of these guys just come here to get some booty and bounce with no intentions on calling us the next day. Looking at you Sweezy and Revis
So I say onto J. Licht, close your legs and make them earn it. If they can’t play, you can’t pay.
April 17th, 2017 at 2:51 pm
DB55 is on a mighty roll today. Cheers!
April 17th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
2.67 20 yard split Pick. Past him like blurr..
April 17th, 2017 at 3:01 pm
55 just salty because I remind him often dominant Sweez is when facing his boy Donald over there wit the rams. Be str8 handling him like a rag doll. Both previous meeting support my claim. Spence had so called back injury as a result of weight lifting, what happened lay season. He played without problem. I expect the same from the Aaron Donald killa JR. Sweezy.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:01 pm
Like I said, with Ali’s build, strength and athleticism, he’s being wasted as a guard. Center is clearly the position that he’s built for.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:02 pm
55 he make yo boy donald stop rushing hard because he can’t move him.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:03 pm
What Celly said. Dude too athletic to remain a guard.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Pick no need to cross your fingers bro. Licht just told us not to listen to mockers. Instead follow the scouts. I read a different scout quote about Dalvin falling everyday. The issue now is becoming his attitude seems to not jibe well with these teams. Plan working to perfecto..
April 17th, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Nosbos putting that Ion care to use again. Dalvin Cook ain’t complaining
April 17th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
We’ll see NOS. I still say Cook’s tape is WAY too good for him to be falling to 19. If it happens – we get great value at 19 because Cook is damn sure a top 10 talent. I won’t be happy if we trade up for him though unless its just a couple spots for a day 3 pick.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:24 pm
Shol not how could he the weather beautiful down here homie.
April 17th, 2017 at 4:15 pm
That entire GMC presser was really something to watch. If anybody hasn’t watched it, they should. It reminded me of the Jameis presser at the end of his 1st season where he called players out for lack of effort except it was GMC calling himself out. Even tmax would be impressed.
April 17th, 2017 at 4:38 pm
Why move Marpet from guard to center you ask? To protect your franchise that’s why. I want the toughest, most talented linemen in front of Jameis. The worst pressure on a Q.B. is right up the middle in his face. Add to the fact they came in together this marriage should last for years.
April 17th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
Nole
I don’t remember that but I trust you so if you say Sweezy the man then I believe you.
April 17th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
This is NOT about getting Sweezy on the field. This about cementing one of the most critical offensive positions for the next decade! This is about creating a QB/Center combo for a decade! And BOTH capable of playing at All Pro level!
McCoy is not the only person on the Buc’s side of the ball who has seen this. It’s not a surprise.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:05 pm
To me this move shows how confident the Bucs are about Sweezy’ recovery. I also think it has to do with the fact Evan Smith has played better at guard than Center, so I assume this would mean he would slide over to be the primary G backup along the line. The more intriguing storyline to me is who is in line to replace Gosder Cherilus? Are we gonna fully convert CB to a tackle, let him rock the swing tackle role that we started to use Wester in last year and Pamphile the year before? Do we draft a tackle late and let him learn that role? We need to address a replacement for Dotson sooner rather than later, and I think letting CB fight for playing time this year is the best move. Competition brews greatness, not to mention it’s better to know sooner rather than later if he’s starting caliber. Either way I expect the week 1 line to be Smith-Pamphile-Marpet-Sweezy-Dotson. And my gut tells me that combination will be just as successful if not more successful than Mankins last season.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:35 pm
Marpet can solidify the middle. If you watched the games last year most of the disruption was right up the gut. I think sweezy grabs one of the guard spots and pamphile amd smith battke out for other guard spot. Smith played well at guard when asked too. Hawley is a back up center at best.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Look what Alex Mack did for Atlanta ‘s line last year. Feel Marpet could play at same level!
April 17th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Hey it’s Ebonics Monday……brought to you by NosBos.
Sit man, he know whaddup.
He be wit it.
Fo real now.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:06 pm
Hah^^^
April 17th, 2017 at 7:08 pm
He nasty DB. If my belief the injury was bogus is correct we got a fantastic football player bro. If you can find video of Seattle/Rams 2015 both games check him out DB. To be honest he’s the only O linemen I’ve ever seen handle Aaron Donald.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:10 pm
Dooshe you sound like you’re being made love to by an ostrich.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:12 pm
McCoy should know if Marpet is good or dominant. McCoy ain’t making extra $$ by complimenting Marpet.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:25 pm
I had a gut feeling this would happen when we drafted Marpet. I hope it works out. I think it will. Just hope Sweezy is up for filling his shoes at Guard.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
I like it … Smith/Pamphile/Marpet/Sweezy/Dotson could be a very good line and by 2019 Bennenoch could move into the starting lineup and Dotson to the bench and that could be a great line …
April 17th, 2017 at 10:28 pm
I dnt care who play where on the OL just get the best players out there