Tonight Could Be Harbinger For Offensive Line
August 24th, 2012
Joe got some really cool insight into the Bucs offensive line when he had a chance to shoot the breeze with backup tackle Demar Dotson yesterday at One Buc Palace.
The first thing Joe will get out of the way is how Dotson views himself as an offensive lineman. He did a good job filling in for injured Donald Penn at left tackle through training camp and the first two preseason games. But just because he played well at tackle doesn’t mean he is versatile.
When Joe asked Dotson if, in a pinch given how he has proven to be effect as a backup tackle, could he fill a hole at guard, Dotson roared laughing and shrieked, “GUARD?! I don’t know about playing guard. I think you are going a bit too far now.”
In so many words, Dotson said between laughs, it may be a dark day if he is pressed into playing guard for the Bucs.
Now Dotson added something interesting. He boasted how tonight will be the first time in a game situation that the Bucs will have their projected starting offensive line together as a unit, Jeremy Trueblood, Davin Joseph, Jeremy Zuttah, Carl Nicks and Penn.
“Right now we have a better cohesion with Donald Penn coming back so we will have all five starters out there,” Dotson said. “So this will be the first time playing together. If they play well, that will be big.”
Joe also asked Dotson about any difficulties going from the left side of the line to the right side of the line, or vice-versa. Though he admitted there is a slight difference, he largely dismissed it saying others try to complicate things too much and that blocking assignments are basically the same on either side of the ball.
August 24th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
I want us to play well, of course. But I have a sneaking suspicion we are gonna get a dose of reality tonight.
All the better, so we can find the pretenders, and the real players.
August 24th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
I think our starters will do fairly well but our backups will get beaten like a bunch of redheaded stepchildren.
August 24th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Candid answers from a blue collar dude.
I’m anxious to see tonights game. It’s the first, and only, meaningful half of any preseason game.
Good luck!
August 24th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
I expect it to be close with our starters. We’ll put points up and so will they. Once the starters go out it could get ugly for either team but I didn’t like the way our scrubs played against the Titans. Hopefully they’ll be more inspired tonight.
August 24th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
I’ve never been more excited about an offensive line going into the season. Lets hope they’re as impressive on the field as they are on paper…minus Trueblood, who I never expect anything of anymore.
August 24th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
I don’t know what’s going to happen with the team, but I do know this: If we play poorly, people will be screaming and crying as to how terrible we are. They will be calling for Schiano’s head. If we play well, people will think we are headed to the Super Bowl. There won’t be much in between. I don’t care if the starters play the whole game, these games don’t count.
August 24th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
The starters may play a lot tonight but that doesn’t mean there will be a season starting game plan. The real season is the real season. Tonight will not be useful for any indication of a win/loss column. It will be important to see how players hold and shed blocks, hang on to the ball, run routes, work together as a team, generally how well they play their position. Playing well is all that matters tonight.
August 24th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
An eerily prophetic post Joe…
I’m sick to my stomach knowing Davin is out….