Tackling The Right Tackle Position
February 27th, 2020
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Earlier this week when both Bucco Bruce Arians and Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht climbed out of their groundhog hole to find their shadows in the gloomy Midwestern winter sky that is Indianapolis in February, and to speak with the pen and mic club, neither ruled out a transaction on offense.
No, not Tom Brady, but Demar Dotson.
Both did not rule a potential return of Dotson at right tackle. It seems, however, this is not a move of high probability.
Jenna Laine of ESPN doesn’t want to hear this nonsense. Laine wrote for the four-letter that it would behoove the Bucs to stop fooling around any longer and go draft a right tackle who could potentially replace Donovan Smith at left tackle down the road.
Offensive tackle: This is assuming the Bucs bring back quarterback Jameis Winston in some capacity, although that’s not a foregone conclusion. Either way, they need a replacement for right tackle Demar Dotson and a possible future replacement for Donovan Smith on the left side if that doesn’t pan out. Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas and Josh Jones will all get a closer look.
Now look, Joe is in no hurry to chase Donovan Smith out of town. It’s not like we are talking Anthony Collins here and Joe is adamant that Smith had his best season as a pro in 2019.
Of course, Laine explains this is all predicated on the return of Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
If Jameis doesn’t return? Laine seems to think grabbing a right tackle in the first round is off the board.
February 27th, 2020 at 12:51 am
If no JW3…Then who’s behind door #2???
A local born Bridge QB in FA?
A Dalton bridge trade w/ CIN??? (Brate & a 4th Rd Comp pick?)
A Carr 2yr bridge trade w/ LVR?? (OJ Howard & a 2020 4th Rd Comp pick?)
A grizzled FA Vet on his last legs??? (Rivers/Flacco/ VET Mentor QB Name Here)
Cause TB12 & Gizele ain’t walking through that door…(tampering rules be damned).
If no JW3…Then Herbert, Love & Eason are under the microscope & the FO has serious trade up/down considerations to make. (Move up to #3/4 for Herbert? Stay put @ #14 for Love? Deal into back into the 20’s for Eason & an extra day2/3 pick?? (Preferred scenario.)
February 27th, 2020 at 5:47 am
I’d be happy with a Tackle with our first pick. I wouldn’t be happy if we sign Philip Rivers, essentially pigeonholing our 1st pick into being a QB. We need a better O-Lineman than Dotson, I love the guy but he needs to be replaced (or at least have competition for the RT job).
February 27th, 2020 at 5:47 am
catcard202 … Some intriguing possibilities in there, but I still don’t see BA taking a rookie QB unless a ‘I can’t believe my good fortune’ type QB scenario unfolds (say a QB who BA thinks has real promise to take over in 2021 falls to us at #14 … very unlikely BTW)).
BA wants to win NOW, not tomorrow. Surely the best QB in his eyes is the QB who gives him the best chance of making that happen … NOW. Jameis fills that criteria, IF BA believes Jameis can be ‘fixed’ and IF Jameis doesn’t try to break the bank. Personally I think a QB like Derek Carr also fills that criteria, but getting him to Tampa is a whole different matter, and one that’s outside of BA’s control.
For right now though, Bucs NEED to solve the RT problem (aka ‘We don’t have one’). If we don’t solve that problem in FA, I’d bet that the Bucs will spend a 1st Rnd pick to grab one of the Top 4-5 Tackles (those with starter-potential). Now if BA’s asleep when we pick & JL is at the helm, heaven only knows who we’ll end up with.
February 27th, 2020 at 6:10 am
I would be thrilled with us drafting a OT at 14. I am not a Donavan Smith hater, but what better way of having competition for Smith AND filling a position of need at RT!
February 27th, 2020 at 7:32 am
Goathouse is projecting Becton to be the first OT off the board at #4 to the Giants.
Whoa!!
February 27th, 2020 at 7:49 am
I knew i saw something in Becton back in october but didnt realize he’d blow up to be a top 10 (or top 5) pick. I was thinking 2nd round. Thats ok though. Trade down, grab Bartch in the 3rd, Hunt in the 5th for depth.
February 27th, 2020 at 7:55 am
Becton is a massive human being. After listening to many interviews by the elite pass rushers, they consistently say that taller tackles are easier to pass rush against since they do not normally get enough bend to handle an elite pass rusher. Becton is different, he is gumby! His raw talent is All Pro potential. Jedrick Willis seems to have the highest floor, he’s a grinder, not overly big or tall and is solid in the running and passing game.
Wirfs does look more like a guard and if we’re looking to double up on offensive linemen in the 1st 3 rounds then I would be all for Wirfs. He has All pro potential at guard, he’s the best run blocker in the draft. Would it be terrible if Cappa was our 6th offensive linemen? He’s quite athletic and would be great to bring in as an extra TE for a power running game.
Andrew Thomas is huge but doesn’t have great balance or flexibility, he also seems better suited to be a guard. He kinda reminds me of Donovan Smith lol.
Josh Jones is raw but definitely has the raw skills to be an excellent starter.
We have an opportunity to transform our team with this draft if we can land a couple good lineman with an attitude. We have the best blocking WRs in the league and could have the most lethal playaction game in the history of the NFL. Put a Derrick Henry like running back on our team and a couple decent lineman and any QB can be successful. I still think Derek Carr would be the absolute perfect QB for Arians’ system if we can work that out.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:09 am
No, no, no!! Look at what this offense did with the existing O-line last year. Had Jameis not turned the ball over as often as he did (often at the most inappropriate times), and had Gay made one or two critical field goals, the Bucs would have been in the playoffs. So, tackle is not the most urgent need. Safety and RB are. Sure we need to replace Dotson. Do that through FA. Draft tackles as developmental players in later rounds of the draft. Based on his prior comments, I just can’t see BA drafting a tackle with one of the Bucs’ premier picks.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:47 am
Got nothing but love for Dot… He’s up there in age, however, can still be used as a back up… I have mixed feelings about Smith & it does take awhile to develop a OT… Smith did have his best year last year & seemed to play to the whistle on most plays…
February 27th, 2020 at 11:08 am
Sign Dotson to a one year backup deal. Attempt to sign Conklin, Williams or Bulaga in FA. If that fails the use our first pick on a RT. Second pick could be DT, S or RB.
February 27th, 2020 at 1:52 pm
If either TE and a 4th lands us a Dalton (locked in at $18 for 1 year) or Carr (locked in for $20 x 2 years), do it immediately. Best deal would be Brate and 4th for Carr… would be a helluva consolation prize if Chucky lures Brady to Vegas… and 2 years left on contract with no guarantees means we can see how rookie QBs fall and/or take even more of a project like Eason or Gordon instead of having to force our way into the Herbert or Love scrum.
February 27th, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Yeah because we have the money to pick up O Line in Free Agency.