NFL Films: O-Line Not That Bad
December 18th, 2018
Knowledge from experience.
There are two things Joe learned from Phil Simms.
The signal-caller for Bill Parcells’ best teams with the Giants, and a guy who nearly pitched a perfect game while winning a Super Bowl, has said there are two constants in the NFL you can run to the bank with.
No matter what NFL city you may be in, the day after a game fans scream loud and long over two things. It’s like clockwork every Monday morning, the current CBS talking head said.
The first is playcalling.
The second is the perceived lack of blocking by the local team’s offensive line.
And Simms is 100 percent correct. In Joe’s travels to NFL cities, Joe listens to local sports radio shows the day after a game and sure enough, those two subjects are always the biggest gripes of local fans. It never fails.
Bucs fans are no different. That’s why Joe is numb to the wails that the Bucs’ offensive line is the worst thing to happen to the human race since the NFL Network decided to give a platform to someone named “Michael Fabiano.”
(For example, the way some bellyache about the current Bucs’ offensive line, it’s clear to Joe they never watched Bucs games in 2014, when the offensive line consisted of the likes of Anthony Collins, Garrett Gilkey and Oniel Cousins — a true collection of horrific windmills scooped up and signed by inept Lovie Smith from his countless hours of studying prospective free agent targets in his football lab of horrors, his then-suburban Chicago basement. Now that was the standard for an awful Bucs offensive line.)
Despite the hollering from Bucs fans, the good people of NFL Films, true football professionals who collect a paycheck from the league, don’t see on All-22 tape what Bucs fans see on network broadcast television.
The NFL Films crowd apparently has data that demonstrates the Bucs are in the middle of the pack in the NFL for providing throwing time for America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
NFL Films documented teams that provided at least three seconds per dropback, per BSPN’s NFL Matchup. In the list of best and worst pass blocking teams, the Bucs do not appear, which means they are somewhere in the middle.
Joe’s not saying the Bucs couldn’t improve their blocking. We all know Caleb Benenoch is a pair of swinging saloon doors. But this reinforces something Joe learned from Simms, that the hollering about the offensive line is more often habitual, knee-jerk kvetching than something rooted in reality.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:12 am
Once again. National media doesn’t pay any attention to the Bucs. Benenoch has single handled made this a below average oline. Probably don’t know his name. And Donovan Smith is over rated they probably think he wants a huge new contract.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:14 am
been saying it for 2years now….it aint talent and players….its coaching and scheme or lack thereof….
this staff cant develop linemen, defensively or offensively, DB’s or RB’s or secondary…..
and what makes it more impressive is the fact that they’re giving this much time in a 4vert system….those route take 6seconds to develop…..lol…
#YOUFAILEDUNDERPRESSURE!!!…#WALKTHEPLANK!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2018 at 11:14 am
*probably think he deserves a huge new contract.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:16 am
this only proves the line aint as bad as folks think but it aint as good or solid as joe thinks….lol….
#YOUFAILEDUNDERPRESSURE!!!…#WALKTHEPLANK!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Koetter suppose to be great at offense and he’s kept Warhop on for this long.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:17 am
What’s interesting about the “Most pressured QB list” is the QBs on the top of the list, for the most part, would be considered “mobile” QBs. The ones below are “pocket-passers”.
Just an observation.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:20 am
Completely missing the ball here. Not what the post is remotely about.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:23 am
However, when your scheme is known for slow developing routes, you have no hot reads (per Ronde) and there is no running game
December 18th, 2018 at 11:36 am
Wrong analogy for Benenoch, Joe. He is more like a maitre d. “Right this way sir. Quarterback for one.”.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:38 am
Even Meatloafs, bats outta Hell can see its the Coaching and ownership people. Every team has talent. Example..Look at the Titans and Mariotta. He’s not a great Qb. But look at the menu they give him to serve. He plays within his limits. And the same with a lot of teams. They figure out what they can do and do it well. Our Bucs have talent. We just for some reason have not used it well enough to win consistently. And thats on coaching.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Let me know when we get a run game.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:47 am
What about the QB ?
December 18th, 2018 at 11:53 am
So what your telling us is the line can be upgraded?
A top 5 overall OL and a top 5 overall D line will get you more wins than losses. FIX THE TRENCHES
December 18th, 2018 at 11:53 am
I do believe the problem is mostly with scheme as some have pointed out; I.e., plays that are vertical and take to long to develop, zone blocking that doesn’t fit the talent, etc. Koetter and company are stuck in the past and don’t really maximize their o line’s attributes. It’s like the proverbial square peg in round hole syndrome. It’s not to say that there isn’t a talent issue; see Benonoch but I really do wonder how much of is game planning, play calling vs actual player ability.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:54 am
And this is for passing downs, not rushing. For fun, I looked up Doug Martin’s YPC stats with the Raiders: an even 4.0 yards per carry.
So, about that offensive line….
December 18th, 2018 at 11:55 am
Oh and running the ball 8 times in the second half. And what about these ridiculous sweeps.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:57 am
So the worst run blocking unit in the league isn’t in the cellar of pass-blocking too? Yay! Celebrate!
December 18th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
For a second there, I though Simms said something positive aboiut the Buccaneers. I should have known better.
December 18th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
@813bucboi
Actually, it’s the entire team, not just the coaches and schemes. Coaches and players.
December 18th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Offensive line hasn’t been that awful this year, this is nothing like in 2016 when they were the worst line in football, and last year when they were a bad line. Now they’re just a below average line, so they’re improving. Marpet being back at G is a huge boost, and the angry ginger hasn’t play anywhere close to what he’s getting paid but is OK. Smith is generally also OK, with bad games here and there, and Dotson is generally OK. Benenoch has been bad, but I do wonder how bad since often when I’ve seen him blamed for something the tape shows me that it was the angry ginger being out of position. Take this week for example, on that key 3rd and 1, the angry ginger is ran over, but Dave Moore on radio says his football says he wasn’t ran over he was supposed to get help, and says it’s Benenoch who was supposed to be there – but do we know that? Do we know it was Benenoch that was the issue and not the angry ginger, either doing the wrong thing or just getting ran over? I’m curious if there was any post game follow-up on that question.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
So we are middle of the road in pass-block. We are also wildly inconsistent(Saints game for example). We are also at or right next to dead last in run block.
I would conclude we need an overhaul on that line.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
Joe
“Completely missing the ball here. Not what the post is remotely about.”
Write about Phil’s numbers but I know what I see every Sunday. And those good numbers compared to bad numbers look like QBs much more in the shotgun than all those good QBs that can take it under center and step up in the pocket and make good throws quickly. Jameis is constantly in the shotgun with our pass first team. I’d like to see what our numbers are when Jameis takes it under center on passing plays. Guarantee it’s not three seconds unless Jameis is going to use his good eluding inside the pocket skills.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
lulllllllllllzzzzzzzzzzz
the excuses for poor play from this team’s o-line just keep piling up.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Lol. Troll job. Not that bad in comparison to what!? A peewee OL?
December 18th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Indy Colts have 3 1st round picks and 1 2nd round pick on OL-
They lead the league in least sacks allowed
The Bucs are 2nd from worst in league in run stuffs (no gain or loss on rushing play)
December 18th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Alanbucsfan
DT Ed Oliver Round 1. Hand motion and speed keeps backs from getting through holes. I would love to see him get teached up by BUCK.
December 18th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
SOEbuc-
If they spend their top draft picks on trenches, instead of trying to fix it with free agents, then they will be on course for winning down the road.
And please don’t trade a top draft pick for a coach -unlike 2002, this team is not ready to win yet
December 18th, 2018 at 9:21 pm
Biggest problem is an OC who hasn’t adapted to the HC position.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:13 pm
This o line is soft and inconsistent. I can’t think of a worse line when it’s 3rd and 1 and you’re going to try and gain a yard on the ground. We get blown up every time on those money downs that prove your manhood. Bunch of soft fun loving boys on this o line.
December 19th, 2018 at 1:40 am
The OL is as good as its weakest link. The most pressured QBs stat does not tell the full story. D. Smith will get Winston killed on the blind side. I’m more worried about that than Benenoch sucking up front. But, the more interesting stat would be whether the hits, hurries, pressure lead to Winston’s INTs, fumbles, and errant throws. That’s the real stat that you need to know.
Some of the QBs that are pressured more than Jameis may be making better decisions under duress. Case in point, Deshaun Watson. He has 24 TDs to 9 INTs while being the most pressured QB in the league. That’s partly on good coaching on what to do with the ball and partly a smart QB. Oh and it didn’t take Deshaun 4 years to figure out the NFL, so there’s that.