Schiano Bubbling, “Excited” About Gabe Carimi
July 1st, 2013
The Bucs have invested massive amounts of Team Glazer cash into their veteran, star-studded offensive line, and y0u better believe Greg Schiano wants to see them stay healthy, blow open holes for a bruising ground attack, and give Josh Freeman eons on time in play-action.
That was the plan last season, but injuries killed it.
Tonight on NFL Network, Schiano gave a seven-minute interview and was perhaps most upbeat and dialed in when the subject of the Bucs offensive line came up. Schiano said how much his staff entered 2012 relying on the unit but never saw it materialize after Davin Joseph and Carl Nicks were lost to injury.
This season, the O-line must dominate, Schiano said. “That’s really got to be, it has to be big strength of ours because we have some good skill, but, as you know more than anybody, you need to give them time to operate.”
Schiano went on to rave about former Bears 2011 first-round pick Gabe Carimi, the tackle out of Wisconsin who has been banged up through his first two seasons.
Schiano said he’s seen enough to believe the Bucs might have pulled an offseason steal of a deal.
“You know we only had [Carimi] for a couple of days there at the end of [spring practices] but boy, I’m excited,” Schiano said. “Gabe did some really good things in the three days he practiced with us. Just visiting with him, he’s kinda on the same page. So we’re excited by the addition there.”
Damn, it would be amazing if Carimi proves worthy of his draft status and the rest of the Bucs’ offensive line stays healthy. Doug Martin could have 250 carries by midseason, which likely would mean a lot of Ws for the New Schiano Order.
July 1st, 2013 at 7:53 pm
250 carries at mid season…I love the kid but I don’t want Martin carrying the ball 250 times in 8 games no matter how effective it is.
July 1st, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Get used to Martin being used like an old school RB. There’s plenty of time to rest him when/if the Bucs clinch the playoffs. Schiano knows his clock is ticking. Preserving Martin so he’s effective in 2016 is freaking meaningless.
July 1st, 2013 at 7:58 pm
More carries means more time ahead in games. More carries should mean winning. We need to pound that rock to no end and force teams into submission. I can’t wait to see what Doug can do behind this (hopefully) healthy offensive line.
July 1st, 2013 at 8:19 pm
If the knee is now 100% or close to, Carimi may push Dotson for the starting ORT spot in camp. It will be interesting to see. Possibly a steal by Dom, of whom I am not as much a fan as is our host, but I try to maintain an open mind, & to be fair.
July 1st, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Thank goodness Bruce Allen And Gruden, drafted and scout this O-line. They laid the foundation for this running attack. I tried to think of a group that the Pop-star has built, and nothing came up. Not any groups that were good from drafting.
July 1st, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Any chance that the bucs bring in and sign Willis Mcgahee to a short-term deal to give the team a little insurance at running back?
July 1st, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Realist….go away!
July 1st, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Now theres a feel good story before we start camp. Man, I can’t wait. I do plan on attending a few practices. Just hopefully this isn’t monsoon season.
July 1st, 2013 at 9:37 pm
” Schiano knows his clock is ticking.”
This is total BS. The Glazers even gave Raheem 3 years. Look how many years it took them to dump Dungy & Gruden. Frankly , I’m not sure they dump Schiano if the team goes 0 & 16, they’ve proven how patient they can be. Not that I’m making any predictions about this coming year, just total malarkey to say the Glazers change the way they do business.
July 1st, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Buc’n Junkie Says:
“I do plan on attending a few practices.”
If you do indeed attend Training Camp, please give us your takes as to what you see!!
Thanks in advance!
July 1st, 2013 at 9:50 pm
After living in Denver and having an Office in Chicago for the last 10 years, all the while being a die hard bucs fan since 1976; I feel uniquely qualified to make this statement. I have NO doubt in my mind that none of the offensive lineman who have played with cutler like him nor do they give a 100% when blocking for that pathetic little PUNK!!!! I hope Carimi is healthy and his old position coach can get the best out of him. Cutler is the modern day Jeff George the only difference is the league was deeper at the QB position when George played and George was run out fairly quickly.
July 1st, 2013 at 10:49 pm
@tmaxcon
I agree, when he got in the face of his LT or LG this past season was really low and unprofessional for a QB. Cutler is a not a leader for those actions that he did.
Carimi can be a steal, still too early to tell.
July 2nd, 2013 at 12:50 am
Only two starters are left from gruden and Allen penn and Joseph
The other three starters are all Dom @ the buc realist
July 2nd, 2013 at 1:50 am
coach schiano just send message out there .. were no fake
July 2nd, 2013 at 3:05 am
There has potential to be a huge pick up.
July 2nd, 2013 at 4:19 am
@Gaba It is three. Zuttah was a Gruden/Allen draft pick. And Dominik was VERY quick to run Zuttah out of town with the signing of Keydrick Vincent, who was a bust here.
July 2nd, 2013 at 8:07 am
@Kennedy
He wasn’t trying to run Zuttah out of town. Zuttah sucked at run blocking when he was playing guard and Keydrick Vincent was well known for doing that. Zuttah has gotten stronger since and the move to center has helped greatly.
July 2nd, 2013 at 8:09 am
Too bad Bruce Allen And Gruden sucked at scouting and drafting at every other position.
July 2nd, 2013 at 8:52 am
Nicks and Joseph both better stay healthy this year…there is only one backup offensive guard. All this talk about Revis needing to stay healthy or it’s season over? I think our offensive guards are just as important due to lack of depth.
July 2nd, 2013 at 9:02 am
@ the buc fellatioist
Allen picked all of two current Buc offensive linemen, that being Joseph and Zuttah.
Everyone who is anyone of a Buc fan knows Dom hand-picked Penn off the waivers himself when he was director of scouting; I’m pretty positve Penn, Allen, and Gruden all but admitted it to be so.
And yes, Sneedy16 said it correctly; Zuttah was undersized, lethargic, underwhelming, and practically lazy when he first entered the league. In fact, it was Gruden that benched Zuttah for being an underachiever and (supposed) malcontent. He’s matured into a quality offensive lineman since.
July 2nd, 2013 at 9:07 am
@Bonzai
Incorrect, every offensive linemen to likely make the team this year with the exception of Penn has at least some starting experience as Guard.
You stated previously it was maybe our weakest depth position, when in fact it is likely the Bucs’ strongest.
July 2nd, 2013 at 9:33 am
If Gabe plays like a first rounder & the O-Line stays healthy, they can dominate.
July 10th, 2013 at 11:23 am
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