No Worries From Marpet
July 25th, 2018
Praised. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Bucs fans have a reason for concern on the right side of the offensive line.
With right tackle Demar Dotson uncertain due to his knee surgery this spring — yeah, the Bucs are saying all the right things that Dotson is 100 percent for training camp but does that really give you peace of mind? — and last year’s starter at right guard, J.R. Sweezy, bounced from the roster, the right side of the offensive line is a mystery.
Former right guard Ali Marpet reassured Bucs fans Wednesday there is no need to panic. Caleb Benenoch, currently pegged to start at right guard, will be fine.
“Caleb has done really good in a short amount of time,” Marpet said. “He has done a really nice job of playing multiple positions which is something that obviously is asked of us quite a bit. He is a starting caliber offensive lineman.”
Benenoch, playing in place of Dotson at right tackle last year when Dotson went down late in the season, did a nice job run blocking but at time struggled with pass blocking.
Joe isn’t so much worried about Benenoch, but he is worried about Dotson. Even if Dotson is healthy in training camp, the veteran offensive lineman has been showing signs in recent years that Father Time is tapping on his shoulder. Dotson’s health and ability to answer the bell each week is just as important as Benenoch mastering pass blocking.
July 25th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Fingers crossed on both counts.
If Benenoch is legitly good to go – and Dotson’s knee is OK – then our starting OL looks fine.
Even if both are a thumbs up for the 1st game though – what happens if there is one or more injuries?
Dotson may well have had his best year last year – for 11 games.
More concerning is that Dot has missed 21 starts in the last 3 years…
With Benenoch concentrating only on the RG spot – If Dot can’t go at any point or D. Smith for that matter – then we are looking at UDFA Wester as the primary back-up for BOTH OT spots. Yikes
Here’s hoping that Cappa gets up to speed quickly because we may well need him to play this year.
July 25th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
I have hopes for Benenoch but worry that Dotson wont survive the season healthy and we have no reliable or viable steady replacement ready.
July 25th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
No matter what it’ll be better than Gosder “The Human Turnstile” Cherilus.
July 25th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Sweezy sucked last year. Our run game was actually better with Benecoch. So this isn’t really a big concern to me.
We should have a capable starting RG between Benecoch/Evan Smith/Alex Cappa imo.
It is scary to count on Dotson playing every game; so I’m most interested in seeing how Cole Gardner does with pads on. Same with Wester but Gardner seems to have excited a lot of people this offseason. Hopefully both can be capable backups / spot starters or better and we’re fine then. And Cappa may end up at RT still potentially
July 25th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
True but also helped that Peyton Barber got a lot more touches too.
July 25th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Its that time of year! Infinite optimism!
Unless you realize this team hasn’t improved itself. At all. Its actually gotten worse. Yikes.
Too bad we didn’t take Josh Allen at #7 instead of sticking with our QB Bill Cosby Jr.
July 25th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
The Bucs should put Koetter’s pic on the stadium, staring into space, lost, dumbfounded. How many were there? Which way did they go? I must find them for I’m their leader.
July 25th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Like Josh Allen is going to save this team. Oh vey!
July 25th, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Not to further rain on the “right side” parade, BUT, Pickgrin is right, Dot had his BEST year last year. Let that marinate for a minute. We ‘kind of’ pass-protected OK but absolutely stunk out loud in run-blocking last year while going 5-11. That’s not a ringing endorsement!
We have needed to eye Dotson’s replacement even prior to last year. I hope he plays well and stays healthy, but the Bucs would be wise to look for his replacement.
July 25th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
differently dont want to see benenoch at RT…..
i like wester at RT….i think he played well when he was in there….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 25th, 2018 at 5:00 pm
“True but also helped that Peyton Barber got a lot more touches too.”
Fo sho my liege