Davin Joseph Wants To Maul People Too
August 2nd, 2012
Yesterday, new Bucs left guard Carl Nicks said he wants to maul opposing defensive lineman. Joe caught up with fellow Bucs guard Davin Joseph today. He too echoed Nicks’ feelings for guys lining up across the line of scrimmage from him.
JoeBucsFan: Carl Nicks said he wants to maul people to establish a running game. Is that sort of the mentality of the offensive line this season?
Davin Joseph: Definitely. We are out here working hard to finish guys in the run game, working hard to finish guys in the passing game, working hard to be the most physical line we can be. Yeah, all of that applies.
Joe: Tell me how that physical play in the run game applies to blocking on pass plays.
Joseph: When you are able to be physical in the run game, it opens up your entire offense, really. It allows you to be so much more versatile once you get the run game going, especially when you have guys like LeGarrette who are home run hitters. You can do just about anything you want to.
Joe: So you agree with Carl Nicks that seeing a guy on his back motivates the entire line?
Joseph: Of course. Any time you can flat-back a guy it gets the juices going even more.
August 2nd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Joe,
Been a loyal reader for about 4 years now. Every year things keep on getting better and better. Keep up the good work man you may have some haters on this site but guys like me appreciate your work
August 2nd, 2012 at 2:54 pm
I feel like there was a lot of gay innuendo in that interview… lol
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Davin Joseph is one Loyal Dude, he stuck up for Trueblood, and now he is sticking up for Blount.
I have a feeling it will be too little, too late. Though I have mixed feelings about it, I see Martin as starting, and Blount playing backup.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Martin 21 carries & Blount 22 carries a game or vice versa sounds like a winning game plan to me. More to one than the other depending on defense we face. A few random carries to our other backs RB&FB no WR’s ever again.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
DJ is the nastiest and arguably best run blocking guard in the league. His top competition may come from the other side of his line.
With this O Line, the additions of Martin, VJ and Clark – the emergence of Tiquan – Free better have a big year, I think he will – I have become a Free supporter big time.
One little mentioned concern: I am not sure how the weight loss will effect Free. On one hand, he should be more nimble and conditioned; however, on the other he will be somewhat easier to drag down in the pocket which negates a huge strength of his (using size to shake off drag down tackles).
I know: it’s only 20-30 lbs and he lost fat, added muscle and probably some weight-room strength – but a 265lb QB with thick legs is a rarely held asset. I am slightly concerned that a 230lb Free will be knocked around a little more.
I hope that the net effect is a positive – we will see but Josh is running out of time to obtain greatness.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Blount or Martin? Martin or Blount?
Damn nice quandary to have!
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:51 pm
How fitting “hurricane” has someone drowning at the end of his post!
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:56 pm
They may not achieve 43 RB carries in one game all year – let alone as an average. It’s hard enough to get to 30 in a 66-72 play game for an offense. Every NFL team, except maybe Denver who ran a gimmicky offense, had an over 50% pass heavy offense – some 60+%.
In a 70 offensive play game with 55% pass – you are looking a max of 35 runs and a few will go to QB, WR and FB.
That leaves a max of 30 carries per game – 22-24 Martin and 6-8 Blount (by mid season). Earlier Blount may get some more.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Not sure what Nicks will bring to our running game but have been watching Joseph since his being drafted. Have yet to see his mauling skills on a consistant basis. It would be great to have 2 guards who “get off” on knocking players down play after play. But being from Missouri, I am a show it to me person not a tell it to me person. Time will tell.
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:33 pm
@Joe
Any chance we kick the tires on Otah? I know he failed the Jets physical but they were giving up a draft pick. He’s been released so trying him out wouldn’t be too much of a risk.
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:42 pm
DJ is one of the best run blocking guard in the league? News to me, I’ve always read that he has been barely mediocre since 09 and is one of the most overpaid players in the league.
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Where DJ and True have graded poorly is in pass-pro. Some of this is on Free holding on to the ball too long and not having a RB, Blount, that knows what to do in pass pro blitz pickup.
Both DJ and True grade very well as run blockers. I have graded them and read advanced stats on them – obviously DJ grades better than True.
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:01 pm
BTW – DJ is known as a great downfield blocker and pile cleaner – maybe the league’s best/nastiest.
For some reason, the pro-RahDom faction refuses to give DJ his due, probably bc he was a GruAllen draftee. Stupid team politics. Don’t let who acquired a player color your analysis.
August 2nd, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@ Thomas ” For some reason, the pro-RahDom faction refuses to give DJ his due, probably bc he was a GruAllen draftee.” ????
As of July of 2011 The Glazers & GM Domnick & Coach Morris gave him 53,000,000.00 of his “due” as for cleaning the pile correct me if I am mistaken but that is a 15 yard penalty..
I am not harping on Joseph, he was our best Olineman. But I have not seen him consistantly man handle his man. Sure he pancakes a few a season. Just not game after game, series after series, play after play. Can he become that skilled a player, he has 53,000,000.00 reasons to. Maybe you think he should have been offered more? As this is obviously his Neglected “due” from the team, from the management, and Coaching staff you where referring to.
I personaly can’t wait to have both of our G’s smash and smash and smash, opposing Dline. Pull either into same gap an watch some brawling happen.
Go Bucs!
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Teflon Don:
What an incredibly kind thing to write. Thank you!
It really boils down to something Joe learned in his first days as a sportswriter. Joe was told by an editor that if a subject interests you, the writer, it is very likely it will also interest fans because no one is a bigger fan of sports than a sportswriter.
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:51 pm
NJ:
No clue about Otah but Joe does know Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is monitoring the waiver wires thoroughly this time of the year. A lot of guys with some talent will get cut loose early in order to catch on with another club.
August 3rd, 2012 at 12:42 am
Oh, and Teflon Don, thanks for supporting Joe so well over the years. Readers like you are what keeps Joe going. Thanks.