Bruce Arians References “Ruined” Shot For Special Achievement
December 15th, 2020
Stunning O-line play
For so many years, Joe has defended the Buccaneers’ offensive line.
No, Joe didn’t like the Dirk Koetter-era decision to move Ali Marpet to center and stick with healing J.R. Sweezy after his mysterious back injury, but Joe has defended the likes of Donovan Smith, as well as Alex Cappa when fans were freaking out about his 2019 preseason play.
Joe even noted many times that longtime right tackle Demar Dotson was nowhere near as bad as the O-line bashers were claiming. And whaddya know, they love Dotson in Denver, where the 35-year-old hadn’t allowed a sack as of Week 13.
Logic said the Bucs’ O-line was pretty good. After all, it’s impossible to rack up massive yardage like the Bucs did in 2018 and 2019 with a bad line.
On Sunday, the Bucs’ offensive line was honing its act again and Bucco Bruce Arians lauded them during his visit to WFLA-TV yesterday.
Overall, Arians noted, the offense nearly hit a special milestone again behind that line play.
“Offensive line was outstanding. We had a chance to have another no-sack, no-penalty, no-turnover game, and we had the one false start that kind of ruined that for us, but it was really, really well played by the offensive line,” Arians said.
That’s great, clean football and Joe has to applaud, and Joe also has to send a virtual high-five to Arians and general manager Jason Licht.
Remember, Arians basically walked into Tampa last season, studied the O-line film of 2018 and said, ‘We’re good.’ (He added versatile Earl Watford and Watford is out of football despite making five starts last year. Hmmm.)
This year, the line is even better.
December 15th, 2020 at 3:01 pm
The secondary was good too…
December 15th, 2020 at 3:29 pm
let’s hope they keep donovan smith consistent and this group shows up when it matters most in the playoffs
December 15th, 2020 at 3:37 pm
Wirfs has been an incredible find!
December 15th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
That’s good they can love him there. How many drives has he killed and flags has he drawn with his false starts, illegal hands to the face an so on that he always pulled here?
December 15th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
Wirf’s stones everyone is be surprised if he isn’t name pro bowl and he should be All-Pro but there is politics in the AP
December 15th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
online is good but we need to get Wirfs lining up at LT…trust me. We have to save money….LT and TE is costing us way too much….draft QB, TE, RT.
December 15th, 2020 at 4:09 pm
MadMax, I disagree with Wirfs moving to LT. He’s one of the best RT in the game. Any OT will tell you moving tackle spots is like writing with the off hand. If you want to replace the LT, do it through FA or the draft. That said, this draft should focus on the DL. Suh and JPP are older, Vea is injured, and Shaq isn’t a lock to return. They have great youth at LB and secondary. It’s time to add some young studs to the DL.
December 15th, 2020 at 4:50 pm
@SlyPirate: I disagree about Wirfs not being a solid LT.
That guy is a freak athlete, massively strong, fast, quick feet, and still growing. He was without question the #1 OL in the draft.
When pressed to play LT at Iowa, he flat dominated.
I have no doubt he could play LT at a Pro Bowl+ level in the NFL.
And since finding a decent RT is far easier in the NFL than LT, he’d be easier to replace at RT.
Unless this staff is fully all-in on the price/performance ratio of Smith at LT, I expect Wirfs to move to LT. That said, I suspect Marpet might have some influence in that decision, as he and Smith are almost a bonded linecouple on the left side.
December 15th, 2020 at 5:06 pm
The false start called on Marpet was so dumb, too. Looked like he was making calls along the line when the refs blew the whistle.
December 15th, 2020 at 5:54 pm
interesting bit on Demar in Denver ! He did seem to get a lot of penalties, but at the same time the JBF fan base can be hypercritical at times ! Joe you seem to spawn negativity, LOL.
December 15th, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Our offensive line has been above average this year. If we had beaten even one team with a good pass rush this year, I’d say that our line was good (because I’m a homer, sue me). We’ll see what happens in the playoffs, but I have serious doubts about our offensive line hanging with good defensive lines, because there is 0 proof this year that they can.
December 15th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Yay Dot!!
December 15th, 2020 at 6:18 pm
I’m generally pretty positive on the offensive line, but Dotson was clearly on the decline last offseason. I did want the Bucs to bring him back, you got a mentor for Wiffs and if he didn’t produce you’d have a proven guy to turn to. I never understand why the Bucs just cut ties with guys completely when clearly they’d still help the team if you had them around. But, with that said, Licht has proven himself to be a very good judge of offensive line talent – so questioning his decision making there isn’t justified.
December 15th, 2020 at 6:23 pm
Number one job is to protect Brady and give him the time he needs back there to hit his receivers. So that said so far I’m not real impressed with the offensive line in doing so. Grade C-.
December 15th, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Oh JFC, look at the PFF grades, they’ll confirm what most football fans see on TV. Marpet is a stud and Wirfs is on the road to the same. The rest? Poor in pass protection, above average as run blockers.
December 15th, 2020 at 7:47 pm
I could see scenarios where Bucs FO reshuffle the Bucs OL, this off-season.
From a financial stand point, it makes sense to cut ties w/ both C Jensen ($10M) & LT Smith ($14.5M)…As neither are owed guaranteed money…
TB12 is not getting any younger & will not be in TB past 2021…It makes sense get the OL ready in advance of the next face of the franchise.
December 15th, 2020 at 8:14 pm
We need to pray that we dont see the Saints in the playoffs…..because if we do, they will tee off on D. Smith/LT and we’ll struggle.
December 15th, 2020 at 9:05 pm
@ Bobby M
You better hope we don’t see the Saints for another reason. Because if Brees is back they will still use Hill like they have. The defense still will not figure out he is the one getting the ball no matter where they put him at the time. And he will totally confuse them again.
December 15th, 2020 at 9:56 pm
Donovan Smith$#@&€£*%÷+×#-(€*\/%#$&# okay. Thanks for letting me vent. He takes one step to the left, engages the DE and turns and thats it. No moving with the pass rusher just…thats it. They fly around him like hummingbirds around a plant. Find an LT. Joe, if you want to be an apologist for mediocre play, like “hes not that bad”, just stop. Stop it.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:16 am
@catcard202
“Cut ties w/ Jensen” 🤯. I always hate to be mean, but are you a casual or just that stupid?! That’s so dumb man….but I still wish you a Happy Holidays 🙏
December 16th, 2020 at 4:50 am
Wirfs: Pick #13. Pro Bowl RT for a decade.
Vita Vea: Pick # 13. Pro Bowl NT for a decade.
To pick up two amazing lineman at pick #13 is astounding.
I believe in drafting “value.”
E.G. You can always find one of the best C/OG coming out of college football in the 2nd round.
You can always find one of the best safeties and linebackers in the nation in the 2nd round.
Moreover, you are guaranteed to find a solid TE/WR/RB in the 2nd round.
I think 1st round picks are overrated.
I would always prefer to trade out of the 1st to pick up and extra 2nd rounder.
December 16th, 2020 at 6:09 am
@teacherman: the Bucs Achilles Heel is the #2 pick.
It is cursed.
December 16th, 2020 at 8:45 am
The problem with you Joe is you have selective vision. You remind me of ndog and Winston, refused to see all the mistakes AND then make excuses for him.
Most of the 42 sacks last year came because they didn’t block very well, many times our qb had people in his face as soon as he turned around not because he held onto the ball too long and if he didn’t have an uncanny ability to slip many of those free rushers would’ve been sacked 55-60 times. Plus they were weak at the attack point giving ground so that running backs were hit in the backfield or dodging before they could get going. It’s been that way since the Drug Martin days were over. It’s funny how the subtraction of Dotson,a ddition of all pro Wirfsand a minor tweaking on the line has completely changed view this team plays. 16 sacks thru 13 games is ridiculous and RoJo would be over 1000 yds now if the coaches would stop taking him out.
December 16th, 2020 at 9:45 am
Marpet had a ticky tac holding call that negated a nice Jones run
December 16th, 2020 at 2:46 pm
Yeah they have been pretty solid most of the year. But a horrible call by the refs on Suh cost us bigtime. They said he was in the neutral zone but it was not even close he had a perfect jump and even Troy Aikman and Joe Buck pointed it out. It cost us points.