Battered Offensive Line Now Leaking
December 17th, 2012
Most of the Bucs’ offensive line is manned by backups due to injuries. It’s beginning to show, as evidenced yesterday by no running game to speak of.
Joe has written this before, but the job Bucs’ offensive line coach Bob Bostad has done with a depleted offensive line has been nothing short of a miracle.
But for the first time all year, that offensive line, pretty much put together with bailing wire and duct tape after losing All-Pro Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph, and former starter Jeremy Trueblood, showed signs of being exposed badly yesterday.
There’s a reason Doug Martin couldn’t run the ball. The offensive line, especially the interior, was getting blown off the line in rush attempts. Jamon Meredith, especially, had a rough day.
Now Joe’s not pinning the loss on the offense line solely, but it seems opposing defenses have finally found the Achilles heel of a depleted group.
In some ways, it was only a matter of time before the cracks developed.
December 17th, 2012 at 8:05 pm
I agree to not totally pin the blame on the OL, but they have been struggling for several weeks now. They held their own for a while, but they are definitely struggling.
It’s good experience for them now for next year.
I really want to see the Bucs finish strong these last two games.
December 17th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Meredith hasn’t been the same since he was dinged a few weeks ago. Like the guy though, hope he sticks next year with a full off season of work.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
“There’s a reason Doug Martin couldn’t run the ball.”
One of the main reasons Martin couldn’t run the ball was because Freeman couldn’t complete a 5 yard out route. It’s really tough to run the ball when the defense is selling out on the run and saying “Beat us with your arm, Josh.” They knew in the first half Freeman wasn’t throwing out of the I/singleback formation and were teeing off on the OL. Did the offensive line have a good day yesterday? No, not by a long shot. But a lot of the rushing issues go hand in hand with Freeman’s accuracy issues. Freeman’s gotta do a better job of keeping them honest.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
@KD,
Agreed, Freeman is the key. If he can’t throw better then Tebow, then we will lose.
QB is our weakness, and in today’s NFL it is magnified. You can’t be a “game manager” if you can’t complete 60%.
Josh is good when he’s hot, and when he’s not he looks worse than Nick Foles.
Let’s bring Mike Vick to Tampa.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
I’d rather have Andy Dalton!
December 17th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Everybodys Oline is hurt by now josh is just a head case, got to deliver under direst , or find someone that will
December 18th, 2012 at 12:09 am
Gee. I wonder if the Bucs may run Martin. Let’s watch film, see what they were doing the last time we played them and what the did to other teams. Then adjust. We also see if we pressure Freeman he goes NUTS.
Looks like the Saints did their homework. It wasn’t hard to figure send the house and just rattle Freeman and stop Martin game over.
And I don’t care what anyone says, Martin is worn down.
December 18th, 2012 at 12:37 am
Oh, can we just start naming QB on other teams we would rather have? I want Colin Kaepernick.
December 18th, 2012 at 1:18 am
Over the last few weeks Iv kinda had the feeling that the Oline injuries might be finally catching up with us. I know they haven’t given up a ton of sacks. But Freeman hasn’t had as much time as he did. Over the last 4 losses Doug Martin has ran for 50,56,128 and 16 yards this past weekend. Guess the holes just arent there anymore. And that makes the offense one dimensional. Im a Freeman defender. But i cant defend this past weekends game. And hes had a couple other bad games this year. But overall I think hes had a good year. If the defense could stop anyone we wouldnt be in bad shape. I just dont think its time to give up on him yet. Our main focus this off season needs to be on this defense.
December 18th, 2012 at 8:17 am
@Stanglassman agreed. Cracks me up when people name other teams quarterbacks like we have a chance to get them. Lol. Why name Andy Dalton? I would rather have Tom Brafy, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, RG3, Andrew Luck or Aaron Rodgers. Let’s get any of them.Lol why not? If somehow the Bucs loose out and we can move up in the draft we may be able to get Barkley but who knows if he is gone the QB class is supposedly weak after that and none of the prospects have the potential of RG3 or Andrew Luck.
December 18th, 2012 at 8:26 am
Yeah. That Trueblood loss really hurts.
December 18th, 2012 at 8:38 am
@ramdog. We can all wish. After all it is Christmas time.
December 18th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Andrew Luck has a worse completion percentage, worse QB rating, Less yds/att, and a worse TD to INT ratio. Why would you take Luck over Freeman?
December 18th, 2012 at 11:00 am
@Have A Nice Day
They just seen the wins they do not see that he that not very accurate. He looks like Freeman his rookie year, but with a better team and coach. Colts haven’t beaten a team with a winning record expect for Green Bay and he forces passes and have a good deep ball sounds familiar. Their stats are kind of similar except Luck has thrown for more yards.
I understand why the love for Luck. It’s because he is a rookie and can improve his game.