Current Pro Bowl Guard Puts Ali Marpet Loss Into Perspective
June 30th, 2022
An Ali Marpet colleague provides perspective.
It’s easy — and almost outlandish — to say Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet retired and the Bucs won’t miss a beat because they have Aaron Stinnie and/or fiery rookie Luke Goedeke to fill the void.
Joe is busy catching up on reading about other teams and watching condensed games on NFL GamePass of future Bucs opponents.
While soaking in Lions news and games, Joe found the following quite intriguing.
Detroit guard Jonah Jackson is the first-ever — ever! — guard drafted by the Lions to make the Pro Bowl. He was a third-round pick in 2020 and got to the Pro Bowl game in January as an alternate.
PrideOfDetroit.com quoted Jackson explaining how hard he’s been working and who he studies to perfect his craft.
Guess where he looks to become an elite pass blocker?
“(For) pass pro, I break it down with Zach Martin, Ali Marpet,” Jackson said. “Those guys are real clean, veterans of the game. I know (Marpet) just retired, but I watched the game he had against Aaron Donald in the playoffs. He had a great game versus him. So just taking those things and add them to my game. The game is slowing down as I’m getting older so I’m able to pick up on stuff like that.”
Yeah, the pass-first Bucs offense lost an elite blocker, one so good that another Pro Bowler studies him to improve. That can’t just be waved off as no big deal.
Joe has confidence in Stinnie, and that general manager Jason Licht made a strong second-round pick in Goedeke. But the test is a 20-game season into February, not just for a guy to come in for Marpet and have a handful of solid games.
Marpet will be missed, hopefully not too much.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
Most people–myself included–watch the ball when they watch a football game, and have no idea what’s going on in the trenches until it affects the ball (i.e. a quarterback sack, a stuffed run, etc.)
Since they don’t see it, it doesn’t matter. Then they just parrot whatever the talking heads say. I’m no better or worse. I usually only saw Marpet on replays.
But man, I sure TRUSTED him. He was rarely penalized, rarely gave up sacks, and was seemingly a very good run blocker. God bless him for getting out while he’s young and healthy, but I’m really going to miss him as a Bucs fan.
By the way, I have a friend that works with Metropolitan Ministries, who Marpet does some charity work for. My buddy says he doesn’t look anything like and offensive lineman any more. He lost a TON of weight. He definitely ain’t coming back.
He also said he’s the nicest football player he’s ever met.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
I have been saying this, since Marpet retired.
Unlike Cappa who was an average guard, easily replaced, Marpet was a Pro Bowl Guard, and a very athletic big Man.
It is not as easy to replace a player as good as Marpet, so we HOPE Goedeke does a good job.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
I have been saying this, since Marpet retired.
Unlike Cappa who was an average guard, easily replaced, Marpet was a Pro Bowl Guard, and a very athletic big Man.
It is not as easy to replace a player as good as Marpet, so we HOPE Goedeke does a good job.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:35 pm
I think They’ll be fine at LG. No doubt the rookie and Stinnie are a downgrade though. If anyone can mask the loss it’s Brady. Personally I think everyone will be surprised when they mash lighter fronts in the run game.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:39 pm
You simply don’t replace a player like Ali Marpet that easily…….all you can really hope for is to somehow match his play……..
At least we have 2 or 3 players that may could fill the role…..so, we have some depth on our Oline……that’s a good thing.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Depth on an offensive line can disappear quickly. The bucs line has been remarkably healthy the past two years. If Mason, or one of the tackles goes down, it could spell disaster.
June 30th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
We essentially swapped sides to have a pro bowl guard if Shaq mason I’d as advertised. I feel stinnie was almost equal with Capps but he will be playing on left side now. Unfortunately if he struggles he will be next to don instead of wirfs. Our right side may get even better, but our left side could see a bit of drop off. Donovan may not look as solid
June 30th, 2022 at 6:10 pm
There’s that word HOPE again. Seems to be showing up in a LOT of articles recently.
June 30th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Joe, I watched (as another article mentioned) The “All or Nothing” episode with the Cardinals when Bruce Arians was head coach when (people forget) Pagano was sick. It was great to actually see him coaching. We got mostly press conferences. It also surprised me how many assistant coaches he had then (2015) and brought to the Bucs. Goody, Foote, even Tom Moore. It was fun and this site sort of sent me to it. 🙂
June 30th, 2022 at 6:36 pm
Most people–myself included–watch the ball when they watch a football game, and have no idea what’s going on in the trenches until it affects the ball (i.e. a quarterback sack, a stuffed run, etc.)
_________
Not me.
June 30th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Marpet will be a bigger loss than Gronk or Suh…..hoping the brains are on it making contingency plans..
June 30th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
I guess we will see what D.Smith is made of!
June 30th, 2022 at 7:35 pm
Good Grief.
June 30th, 2022 at 7:37 pm
The problem with losing Marpet is losing continuity at the offensive line. You really like it when a unit has been together for a long stretch. But sometimes players like Wirfs fit right in. Can’t wait for the season to start. GOBUCS!
June 30th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
The thing with offensive lineman is if you never hear thier names being called during the game that’s a great thing . I rarely heard marpets name . We need to hope that the new guy holding down that spot can be as sound as #74 was . GO BUCS
June 30th, 2022 at 8:09 pm
Marpet was good as soon as he walked in the door and he’s at worst our third best linemen ever behind Gruber and Mayberry.
June 30th, 2022 at 11:34 pm
Marpet is certainly a loss but I trust Licht’s ability to draft linemen and Stinnie started in the Super Bowl, they’ll be fine.
July 1st, 2022 at 9:54 am
The lineman I’m mostly worried about is Smith! Of course the Bucs will miss Marpet but I’m stoked we picked up Mason. Don’t understimate what Brady does for the Oline!! It might take a little bit to get in sync, but I’m not concerned with Brady under center, ever!!! #LFG
July 1st, 2022 at 11:18 am
Marpet it’s by far the biggest loss of the off-season
July 1st, 2022 at 4:16 pm
Why can’t Marpet unretire like Brady and Gronk,
he’s not even 30 ?
July 1st, 2022 at 8:39 pm
LG is such an important position with respect to qb protection from his blind side. Hope his replacement can protect Brady as good as Marpet did. I am more worried about that than run blocking!