Building The Offensive Line
April 24th, 2015
If one suggested the Bucs had the worst offensive line in the NFL last year, Joe wouldn’t argue. The lone decent guy was right tackle Demar Dotson, who led the NFL in penalties at the position.
One certainly could tear apart the team for not (yet) upgrading the line in free agency with a rookie quarterback coming in (it’s hard to believe there were no free agent linemen looking for work who couldn’t have helped the Bucs). But Joe would be floored if the Bucs didn’t draft at least one offensive lineman. How could they not?
The middle rounds of the draft are supposed to have great value for offensive linemen this year, and Joe would lay cash the Bucs draft at least two.
How rotten was the Bucs’ offensive line last year? Aaron Schatz of FootballOutsiders.com, by way of BSPN, offeres gory details.
Quiet need: Offensive line — A quiet need in comparison to the need for a quarterback, in much the same way that the annoying guy who’s talking your ear off on an airplane is “quiet” in comparison to a crying baby in the row behind you. The Bucs were dead last a year ago in adjusted line yards, a Football Outsiders metric that measures run blocking early in runs, and 29th in adjusted sack rate. They also led the league with 58 penalties (including declined/offsetting) from offensive linemen.
Joe knows the following rankles folks at One Buc Palace but here is hoping they are too busy studying linemen in the draft to notice: Anthony Collins was a whiff. He’s gone. Logan Mankins may be over the hill, and Joe won’t even mention how not having a barbecue grill cost him. And, no, Joe is just not sold on Evan Dietrich-Smith. Always beware of inexpensive players who Packers yoda Ted Thompson no longer wants.
And Joe is not sleeping well with the thought of Dotson moving to left tackle at the ripe age of 29.
April 24th, 2015 at 9:11 am
Still time left…..I wonder if Carl Nick’s toe has heeled…and if he wants to make a few million more for his retirement account?
April 24th, 2015 at 9:17 am
Looks like Bucs are frontrunners for AP if they really want him. The jags are out, Boys are out, Falcons have slight interest nothing big, and the cardinals who are interested in him but are on the Vikings schedule.vikings don’t want to trade him to a team on their schedule. Lets see if the Bucs pull the trigger!
April 24th, 2015 at 9:24 am
We could have had Incognito. But we did not need an all pro to build a good line. Look how that worked out.
April 24th, 2015 at 9:36 am
Like it or not Winston Mafia, O-line is the biggest need by a long shot. But we don’t have a franchise QB and are in perfect position to get one, so why not pull the trigger?
O-line should be the pick for the next 2 or 3 rounds. Good ol Jameis Winston won’t be able to do sh*t without any protection, or a running game. Make it happen L&L, or don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
April 24th, 2015 at 9:45 am
“Joe won’t even mention how not having a barbecue grill cost him…” – JOE
Ummm…
April 24th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Incompetent Lovie Smith and his bobblehead lapdog GM deserve every bit of criticism for blowing up the existing oline and replacing it with an appreciably worse lineup at every changed position. Joe left the following greats out of his article that these bozos decided to sign and start the season with:
Omameh
Cousins
Meredith
Gilkey
April 24th, 2015 at 10:09 am
O Line rounds 2 and 3. Protecting a rookie QB is more important than fixing the D Line. We might lose games because of our D Line, but our rookie QB won’t develop properly without pass protection and a running game. Go defense rounds 4-7.
April 24th, 2015 at 10:14 am
Can’t discuss this now, on the way to the drugstore for acid reflux meds and anti-diarrhea meds before draft day and more of this talk.
April 24th, 2015 at 10:14 am
And PLEASE, no more trades with the Patriots. They must have One Buc listed as Suckers on speed dial!
April 24th, 2015 at 10:26 am
Plenty of opportunity to address OL early if the Bucs trade out of #1. Some fans will obviously blast the team for a move like that, but it makes little sense to draft a guy you put all your chips on to become a franchise QB and proceed to get him gun shy or hurt from the beating a bad OL can cause. Sorry but I just don’t see last year’s “talent” with maybe a couple late round picks making much improvement.
April 24th, 2015 at 10:35 am
They still might keep Glennon to take the beating this year.
April 24th, 2015 at 10:35 am
trade for rivers tell chargers to throw in dj fluker and their #2 this year and 17 overall, you get 2 big time Tackles to work with
April 24th, 2015 at 11:47 am
L&L should trade Doug Martin and a 3rd round pick for New England’s oldest and most broke down lineman!
April 24th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
@ Buc Realist
Would be funny if it wasn’t something we could see Licht doing. Still willing to give him a chance to improve as a GM, but patience isn’t a strong suit in the NFL
April 24th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
TRADE THE #1 PICK!!!! the bucs o-line couldn’t stop Clearwater high schools d-line! I agree with a comment above. the bucs should have taken Richie incognito. that was stupid to pass on him.
April 24th, 2015 at 4:33 pm
It doesn’t matter who plays QB or RB until they get high quality OL.
I love it that everyone thinks these great OL will come in the late rounds , start this year and play well enough to win games.
April 24th, 2015 at 6:05 pm
Save the late rounds for the depth picks. O Line in rounds 2 and 3 please.
April 24th, 2015 at 6:33 pm
Why cant the Buccaneers simply sign an OT and or OG from FA? Joe Barksdale (OT Rams) Davin Joseph (OG Rams), yes I am serious, Davin Joseph! Bucs should take the best available player at pick 34 then a RB at pick 65.