Schiano: O-Line Woes Are Diverse

December 23rd, 2013
donald penn 0822

Schiano spelled them out

Speaking today at One Buc Palace, Greg Schiano seemed to need to two hands to count everything troubling his highly-paid, veteran offensive line.

The unit is struggling mightily, and Schiano was asked why.

“Some of it is technique. Some of it is execution. Some of it is physical mismatch. Some of it is coaching; we’re not immune,” Schiano said. “Some of it is the threat or lack thereof of a passing game.”

This should make any Bucs fan queasy or running for spiked egg not.

The Bucs’ offensive line has loads of experience. Davin Joseph has been starting since 2006. Donald Penn hasn’t missed a game since 2007. Jeremy Zuttah was pressed into starting duty in 2008. Demar Dotson has been blossoming since 2009. Ted Larsen was a successful rookie starter blowing holes open for LeGarrette Blount in 2010.

How were these guys struggling yesterday with technique, execution and continuity? The same O-line coaching surely was good enough last season.

Regarding Schiano referencing an invisible passing threat, Joe can’t stomach that one, either.

Schiano and Mike Sullivan are experienced offensive coaches. Yes, Schiano has a heavy hand in his offenses. They’ve got to find a way to work with what they have to at least be competitive. Joe’s not talking miracle work here or shootout scores.

Joe doesn’t remember John Fox being stumped in Denver when he had to restructure his offense on the fly to accommodate Tim Tebow. Fox rode Tebow and that throwback, hybrid offense to the playoffs.

Fans can say the season finale in New Orleans is meaningless, but Joe’s not in that camp. Joe wants to see the New Schiano Order adjust, bounce back, rid themselves of, say, half the offensive demons that have Bucs fans hanging their heads when their team has the ball.

25 Responses to “Schiano: O-Line Woes Are Diverse”

  1. stevek Says:

    Our Rock Star GM boasts about not drafting O-Linemen. What gives?

    Bottom line, Price vs. Production is not matching up.

  2. Chef Paul Says:

    Dom HAS to change that oline philosophy in the draft this year. He just has to. There is no excuse.

    I have zero confidence that The New Schiano Order can adjust, bounce back or rid themselves of ANY offensive demons.

  3. bucfanjeff Says:

    We always wonder if\when the players will give up on the coaches.
    Is it possible some of the coaches have given up on Schiano (thus the players?)

    #FireSchiano

    We have 4 wins against crappy teams.

    #FireSchiano

  4. Bucsfanman Says:

    The addition of Nicks to an already talented OL was supposed to cement this group as one of the elite lines in football. There was more flux on the line last year and we managed to keep Freeman upright and blast holes for Martin. This is the same line, what gives?!
    Injuries aside, there is no excuse for how badly this unit has played. Heck, Miami lost its starting G AND T midway through the season and their fighting for a playoff spot.
    Enough excuses, find a way to win and start looking at OL prospects to replace those not performing.

  5. stevek Says:

    bucfanjeff,

    Cut the snake off at the head.

    #FireDominickBeforeGreg

  6. Drew Says:

    Schiano is a nice guy, but he needs to go.

  7. richardtyson Says:

    yay….lets win a meaningless game and get a lower draft pick. Remember the further away from the number 1 overall pick the more Mark is going to have to study mock drafts on the internet. This means another wasted draft pick.

  8. mvermulm Says:

    I’d give up a spot or two in the draft to end the Saints’ season this weekend.

  9. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    LUVMYBUCS Says:
    October 26th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
    Rebuild the Offensive Line 1st.
    ____________________________________

    LUVMYBUCS Says:
    October 26th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
    @PRBucFan
    Opinion respected brotha; as always. I’ve just seen entirely to many young talented QB prospects careers ruined by terrible Oline play.

    Solidifying the offensive line is a priority at this point
    IMHO-Revis is luxury we cant afford at this point
    ________________________________
    LUVMYBUCS Says:
    October 26th, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Remember the last couple years Gru was here. We had one of the lowest payrolls in the league. And yet we were still was competitive, because they signed cheap free agents that where competitive. The year Bruce & Gru were fired, we had $44mill to play with plus a bunch of draft picks.
    _________________________________
    LUVMYBUCS Says:
    October 26th, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    You add what Dom, Rah & Team Glazer did on Black Wednesday.
    Shyte Dom had like $65 mill plus a bunch of draft picks– and out of 5yrs -NOT one playoff appearance- Wow
    __________________________________
    LUVMYBUCS Says:
    December 6th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
    (Sign Free Agent)
    RG Jon Asamoah

    (Draft)
    LT-Taylor Lewan
    LT/OG-Cedric Ogbuehi (Possible 1st round pick now, so would draft Aaron Dobson)
    C/OG-Bryan Stork
    RT/OG-JaWuan James

    LT Taylor Lewan (R)
    LG Carl Nicks–Cedric Ogbuehi (R)
    C Jeremy Zuttah–Bryan Stork (R)
    RG Jon Asamoah (FA)–Gabe Carimi
    RT Demar Dotson–JaWuan James (R)

  10. RastaMon Says:

    chicken or the egg….
    1 RB
    1 WR
    1/2 TE
    even with a Brady/Manning type QB….defenses only have to recognize
    about 3 play types…..

  11. richardtyson Says:

    The bucs can only end the Saints’ season if the Cards win and they have the 49ers coming to town. I’d say the 49ers win that one. Also, i think the 49ners winning their next 2 games would play a part. All i’m saying is the bucs need some major help if they are going to end the saints season.

  12. My Buc-O's Says:

    Tired of excuses…excuses are for teenagers coming home late…they are getting the hardcore Buc Fan mad….please Glazers…..fire the GM & Coach…Dungy would make a greatGM…and he knows talent…..

  13. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Also sign one of the best blocking TE:
    Brandon Pettigrew 6-5 265

  14. SteveBucsFan Says:

    If Arizona beats the 49ers and the bucs beat the saints, then the saints miss the playoffs. in this horrible year this would make me very happy!

  15. Tackleblockwin Says:

    Time to be honest. No opposing D is scared of Mike Glennon. The box will always be stacked to shutdown the run. O line has been bad, but lets not kid ourselves…Glennon is not scaring anyone, lol.

  16. Nate_tweetz Says:

    The O line has been getting their asses handed to them for most of the year. For a team’s “philiosphy” to be ground and pound, I didn’t realize they meant our O-linemen would be on the ground while our RB & QB get pounded. Every guy on the line has played like crap this year. (including Penn, Joe). None of them get any push up the field what so ever.

    Zuttah is weak

    Davin can’t move with that bum leg and could get called for holding every other play.

    Meredith got pulled yesterday (nuff said)

    Dotson can’t hold the edge

    Penn has personally given up the most sacks he ever has the entire year and EVERY HOST I’ve heard on the radio today has said the Penn might have played his worst game ever.

    Having said all of that. I don’t know how well anyone can block when the defense knows you are going to run the EXACT SAME run play 90% of the time. Defenses don’t have to worry about tosses, screens, delays, counters, option, wildcat, ….nothing.

    Not sure what the ratio is of player/coach blame for this debacle.

  17. chickster Says:

    end the saints season are u for real wow what a bunch of f bulllsh*t on this site

  18. teacherman777 Says:

    @nate tweetz

    Solid analysis.

    There is no one to blame but luck.

    It all looked great on paper. This All-Star line that never was.

    Then Davin Joseph blew out his knee then Karl Nicks messed up his big toe. And things have been hard ever since.

    Just goes to show how The O-Line is oh so crucial in todays NFL.

    I hope we can draft Clowney, then draft a young guard in the second. Then sign a free agent LT. Then we stick with whichever guard is healthy. Its brutal. I know. But its life. But it may be time to say goodbye to Penn and One guard.

    Go Bucs!

  19. Harry Says:

    @Joe says:
    “…Joe wants to see the New Schiano Order adjust, bounce back, rid themselves of, say, half the offensive demons that have Bucs fans hanging their heads when their team has the ball.”

    Really? 15 games of this crap is not enough for you to ascertain that Schiano does not know how to “rid themselves of…demons”? I don’t think even the priest from the Exorcist could get rid of our offensive demons.

  20. bigpoppabuc Says:

    A serious swing and miss with this O-line… The biggest dissapointment of the season. The Freeman debacle was almost predictable; as that situation was going to go one way or the other. The lack of pass rush from our DEs is disappointing, but not surprising… But this offensive line is just a giant letdown. I can’t really say what the fix is. I’d hate to let such talented guys walk. Maybe young competitive blood is what they need. Some real competition and depth to fall back on when they underperform.
    I don’t know… But this offense suddenly looks depleted. Serious needs at WR, TE and O-line. Seems like the offseason is the only real interesting time to be a Buc fan these days.

  21. Mr. Patrick Says:

    If you have an unqualified coaching staff with bad, outdated schemes and playbooks, it doesn’t matter who you draft or who you sign in free agency, your team will still lose. 4-11 says so

  22. oldfart44 Says:

    @Mr. Patrick

    Amen to that, brother. Incompetent does not even begin to describe this fool.

  23. gotbbucs Says:

    The worst part is there really isnt a good place to start with the o-line rebuild. They are all replacable.

  24. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    stevek Says
    “Our Rock Star GM boasts about not drafting O-Linemen. What gives? Bottom line, Price vs. Production is not matching up.”

    Much as I like Mark Dominick, I can’t argue against your point. As I said elsewhere, the biggest disappointment in Free Agency has been Carl Nicks. Hopefully he’ll actually earn his paycheck next year.

  25. Tomcin Says:

    Get rid of Nicks, Penn & Joseph. Not earning their salary. Nough said.