The Watford Files
October 18th, 2019
There’s a great chance teams around the NFL are calling Bucs general manager Jason Licht this week to ask about the availability of versatile offensive lineman Earl Watford, last Sunday’s starting right guard.
Confused?
Joe is not after listening to Bucco Bruce Arians.
After scrutinizing film of the Bucs-Panthers game, Arians said Watford played “really well” in place of Alex Cappa.
“Earl played really well. Earl didn’t have a problem. He could’ve played better in the running game,” Arians said. “[Replacement right tackle] Josh [Wells] – he got a holding penalty when Jameis came out of the pocket and got him a holding penalty. His only bad play was the sack-interception, but he played as expected. I didn’t think they were going to go out there and just set the world on fire, but they didn’t play bad.”
That’s impressive (if you believe it) for the Bucs to have two no-name dudes step in as starters and thrive. Again, if you believe it. The phone must be ringing off the hook at One Buc Palace for Watford in advance of the Oct. 29 trade deadline. Cheap, effective backup offensive linemen are hard to find. And Watford played “really well” against a stout Carolina front.
Joe got through nearly three full quarters of film on Watford and threw in the towel. It’s not pretty, but if you had a low bar, then yeah, maybe Watford did play “really well.”
Perhaps undrafted rookie free agent Zack Bailey was going to be a good backup guard, but he landed on injured reserve this month. The Bucs don’t have young depth on their offensive line. Add that to next year’s list of needs.
October 18th, 2019 at 12:19 am
Earl Watford is garbage. He practically miss every single assignment on every play but remained in the game? I wondered why him and Wells haven’t been upgraded
October 18th, 2019 at 12:24 am
Lamarcus Says:
“I wondered why him and Wells haven’t been upgraded”
Cause your team and mine are the Bucs….just deal!
October 18th, 2019 at 12:33 am
Life with the worst gm man
October 18th, 2019 at 12:46 am
Buc1987
Lol
October 18th, 2019 at 12:55 am
Bullchit Bruce is in mid season form! Lying to anyone who will listen
October 18th, 2019 at 12:56 am
Anyone who thinks Jameis is coming back next year is in denial. This crap about proving himself in the next ten games is comical on two fronts. First, he’s had four years. What’s 10 more games going to show? Second, history shows he’s good for at least 2 more absurd games.
I was done when he got hit and fumbled but the team recovers it, and you’d think he’d be more aware the next play. But no. Clueless. Unaware. Careless. Uncoachable. Period. End of story. Another high pick QB disappointment.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:24 am
@mod You get that from a sarcastic post about “elite” backup Oline? Lol the team in general is “elite” get a grip man the team is broken from the the top down.Winston is the least of our worries fu@#ing period.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:25 am
I’ll take that bet Ken.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:40 am
bag of donuts
October 18th, 2019 at 1:45 am
Winston has to find his lovs for the game again. Play chess not checkers. Slow down and play.
October 18th, 2019 at 4:57 am
Hmmm, reading BA’s words “played really well” AND “didn’t play bad” in the SAME paragraph makes one wonder. BIG difference.
Jameis was abused physically during that game, as badly as in any game he’s ever played IMO. Our OLine & protecting backs should hang their head in shame. Our OC didn’t help him one lick by having him attempt 61 passes when he KNEW they couldn’t protect Jameis. And especially having him attempt so many DEEP passes in that situation. Jameis is paid well to play QB, but danged, call a decent game next time Byron & give him … and the TEAM … a fighting chance to win.
October 18th, 2019 at 5:55 am
Everyone Has to play better around Jameis, how true. That’s because he’s a slow dimwitted QB who takes forever to get rid of the ball. He locks onto his first read, and either throws a pick if he’s covered, or runs around like an escaped mental patient until he’s sacked, and fumbles. It’s the lines job to hold up forever while he squints downfield looking for someone to throw to, usually the other team. The receivers need to do their jobs, and figure out a way to come back, and catch his errant throws. Hey but when the games out of reach Jameis is at his best putting up meaningless stats, that’s our Jameis.
October 18th, 2019 at 6:13 am
There is a full on offensive lineman crisis in the NFL. Good GMs know this. It’s easier to find a good QB than a solid lineman these days.
October 18th, 2019 at 6:19 am
Didn’t the Joes say that an O-lineman can’t be a difference-maker?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:25 am
Let all FAMOUS HATERS KNOW THIS (ModHairKin) and the rest of you people that…FAMOUS is doing his part, trying to get better and so is the rest of this team, we coming out of the bye week like gang busters! POUND THE ROCK will be our new mantra! GO FAMOUS GO BUCS DEFENCE!!
October 18th, 2019 at 7:45 am
Guess this was a poor attempt at sarcasm. I’d trust a lie of BA after watching film than I would you watching it. Not sure what some of you were watching but really need to stop trying to break down tape and just watch the game like a fan should because some of you dont k ow what the freak your talking about. How would anyone outside of one buc place know what a guys assignment was well enough to say a guy missed every single one, LaMarcus must be bobo Wilson upset he just got cut
No one has yet to say a word about Ali marpet getting beat like a drum on a Geraldine sack but are going against a backup for not playing like a pro bowl starter.
October 18th, 2019 at 8:12 am
They both played poorly. Bruce is lying yo you and you dont watch the film so you dont know any better.
October 18th, 2019 at 8:18 am
How come BA who is supposed to be an offensive guru doesn’t call bootleg option plays for JW when the team is on the goal line? 2-minute drill type plays anywhere down the field? DK did that at the beginning and the offense was very successful. With these receivers, how about more laterals and option plays? It takes the weight off the offensive line and drives defenses crazy. Bucs have the players who can do these plays. Why aren’t they called?
October 18th, 2019 at 8:43 am
Oh great now our new head coach thinks we’re all idiots! Sorry BA we watch the games too.
October 18th, 2019 at 8:52 am
Orlbucfan—
Very valid questions. Scheming is not our gift. Just turnovers. There we excel.
October 18th, 2019 at 8:56 am
I didn’t think Watford was bad. Wells was awful and unfortunately our usually reliable lineman (Marpet, etc.) were also awful.
October 18th, 2019 at 9:17 am
I prefer The Rockford Files. James Garner was better than The Earl of Watford, just ask Ira Kaufman.
October 18th, 2019 at 9:32 am
a bye after a terrible game sucks. smh
This team is all over the place. Too many conclusions for a team that has been all over the place. Very good and very bad.
I’m reserving judgement til january.
October 18th, 2019 at 9:35 am
danny
i agree….
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 18th, 2019 at 10:53 am
Nobody played bad but the Panthers D line was in Winston’s earhole on almost every drop back? Did BA watch the wrong game footage?
October 18th, 2019 at 11:47 am
Flat out lie.
Watch the video of first play of the game when Jay-Miss threw an INT. Watford loses his guy and belly flops on the ground. The eye in the sky don’t lie.
October 18th, 2019 at 11:47 am
Poor Jameis.
25 sacks. So few games in.
Putting Cappa at right guard was a great move, but we should have drafted a right tackle knowing Dotson is in his last season.
October 18th, 2019 at 11:48 am
Add it to the list of needs for the last 5 years. Add DL too.
October 18th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
The entire line would be playing better if they knew there was someone waiting to catch the ball and get YAC right after the snap….but NOOOOOOOOOOOO LETS FORCE OUR WILL ON THE OPPOSITION AND TELL THEM WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO!!!!
LIKE LEFTWICH SAYS AS LONG AS THEY EXCECUTE IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT KIND OF COVERAGES THE DEFNESES ARE SHOWING RIGHT????
WEAKLINK!!!!!!!!! IM LIIKE A BROKEN RECORD!!!!!!!
October 18th, 2019 at 4:14 pm
Orlando buc, yeah funny how quick paced and creative the offense was in preseason with arians calling all.of the plays and how slow , lethargic and simple it is with Byron Leftwich.
This crap is garbage