Practice Is Practice
August 24th, 2017
Ready if needed.
Sometimes, we lose sight that training camp, as winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter likes to say, completely involves preparing for Week 1.
And with Demar Dotson shelved for the short term, as former Bucs commander Greg Schiano would say, “Demar has a groin,” Koetter has been using practice to get offensive linemen a few test drives at right tackle.
For a while, that was last year’s fifth-round pick, Caleb Benenoch. He missed a few practices too with an unspecified injury (Joe spoke with him earlier this week and Benenoch refused to say anything more about his injury other than he has an “issue.”).
Leonard Wester took a few spins at right tackle as well, and yesterday it was left guard Kevin Pamphile.
The feedback from Koetter? Very positive.
“Kevin Pamphile playing right tackle,” Koetter shot back when asked if there was anything about practice he liked.
Pamphile playing right tackle, if Dotson for some unexpected reason can’t go in Miami (he’s currently expected to start the season), would be smart.
Koetter has raved about Evan Smith playing left guard if Pamphile were moved over to right tackle and Koetter has even said brawley Joe Hawley could play left guard in a pinch, and he’s had a good camp.
So the pieces are in place if Dotson aggravates his groin again. And those pieces have gotten work at right tackle with the “ones.”
No need to sweat much if Dotson can’t answer the bell.
August 24th, 2017 at 5:47 am
Per Koetter:
Option# 1
LT Donovan Smith | Leonard Wester
LG Caleb Benenoch | Evan Smith
C Ali Marpet | Joe Hawley
RG J.R. Sweezy |
RT Kevin Pamphile | Demar Dotson
Option# 2
LT Donovan Smith | Leonard Wester
LG J.R. Sweezy | Evan Smith
C Ali Marpet | Joe Hawley
RG Caleb Benenoch
RT Kevin Pamphile | Demar Dotson
Option# 3
LT Donovan Smith | Leonard Wester
LG Ali Marpet |
C Joe Hawley | Evan Smith
RG J.R. Sweezy | Caleb Benenoch
RT Kevin Pamphile | Demar Dotson
August 24th, 2017 at 6:25 am
Sounds from earlier reports like Wester & Benenoch will join Evan Smith & Hawley as the 4 backup OLinemen. The last 3 I’ve seen quite a bit written about this year, but Wester not-so-much. Any idea how he’s been looking as our backup LT? Any chance Licht might pick up a veteran Tackle when the cuts happen?
August 24th, 2017 at 7:08 am
I have watched plays that Evan Smith surprised me on his pulling abilities.
Definitely some road grader traits.I like him much better at guard than center
because of some of his bad snaps at inopportune times.Also gives us the
opportunity to see if Pamphile can be the heir apparrant to Dotson when the time comes.
August 24th, 2017 at 7:12 am
I don’t see this being bad for us at all.
DD and his consistent, untimely mistakes will not be missed.
At this point I’d much rather roll with youth and keep DD as a backup this season.
August 24th, 2017 at 7:21 am
He has a GROIN????
August 24th, 2017 at 9:06 am
Dotson maybe one of Joe’s go to guys but even Joe has to admit Dotson was the WORST football player on the field for both teams each week…. They could upgrade either by other teams cuts or special Olympics could loan bucs an upgrade at RT
August 24th, 2017 at 9:11 am
tmaxcon=tasteless
August 24th, 2017 at 9:28 am
Coach Koetters first choice was Benenoch. If his injury is minor- I think he will be our RT. At least until Dotson returns. Meybe longer.
Benenoch is a huge guy, yet Very Agile. Like Marpet the year before, Benenoch was the fastest linemen in his draft Class.
Hope his injury was minor. Want to see him playing alot in last two preseason games.
August 24th, 2017 at 9:50 am
Who would have guessed Pamphile would be the second best pick in that draft class? Solid 5th rounder.
August 24th, 2017 at 9:51 am
I’m happy they are locking in Marpet at Center. Moving him around was a worry of mine.
August 24th, 2017 at 10:47 am
seems like the “dings” are piling up…..GO BUCS!!!
August 24th, 2017 at 10:59 am
RT is way more important than LG, much more difficult to find a quality starter there, no more messing around with old/injuryprone (Dotson), undrafted players (Wester) or young 5th round guys (Benenoch), Pamphile is a battle tested 4 year veteran, he’s our best option at RT, ESmith has proven to be a reliable LG, and even Benenoch looks good at guard, this needs to be a permanent move, its way overdue, we win that Cowboys game with quality RT play, should’ve moved Pamphile earlier
August 24th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Benenoch needs reps. My hope all offseason was that Caleb would take the RT job this year and we hang onto Dot as a reliable swing tackle backup.
I thought the starting Oline looked pretty good vs Jax when Benenoch was in there for awhile.
The interier with Pamhile, Marpet and Sweezy looks great and I say don’t mess with that unless absolutely necessary.
Let Benenoch take his lumps. He’s still a very young player but represents a better option moving forward (even for this year) than Dotson who honestly has never been the same player since his major injury 2 preseasons ago.
Let Caleb get 6-8 games worth of live regular season experience under his nelt and we will never look back. Its not like Dot doesn’t make young player type mental mistakes on the reg already…
August 24th, 2017 at 11:05 am
under his ‘belt’ – where’s that edit button Joe?
August 24th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Guzzie,
What round was Dotson drafted in?
Mike drop