No Issues With Offensive Line
September 17th, 2014
The offensive line has really solidified with the addition of guard Logan Mankins.
It is one of the oldest axioms of football: The game is won in the trenches. It was true 50 years ago and true Sunday.
With the exception of Gerald McCoy, the Tampa Bay defensive line is getting owned on passing downs. In Lovie’s defense, the foundation is quarterback pressure up front. No pressure, and it crumbles. This is why slugs like journeyman Derek Anderson and neverbeen Austin Davis were free to carve up the Bucs.
So, to help you stop eating TUMS, Joe will turn the subject to the offensive line.
As Joe wrote Sunday night, Anthony Collins thus far has been a plesant surprise. He has faced two of the best defensive linemen the NFL has to offer and pretty much took them out of the game. Two weeks ago, Greg Hardy was a non-factor. Last week, Robert Quinn’s name was rarely mentioned.
Another person who noticed was Anthony Becht. In this film breakdown from Buccaneers.com, Becht, a former Bucs tight end and current ESPN analyst, explains how Bobby Rainey should be buying the offensive line a steak dinner for the job they did opening holes and running lanes for him.
Earlier this year, Joe got a headache just thinking about how porous the Bucs’ offensive line was. Since the trade for guard Logan Mankins, that headache subsided.
Now, Joe has a bottle of Aleve at arm’s length thanks to the ghastly ball security quarterback Josh McCown displays.
September 17th, 2014 at 2:03 pm
That sub guard…Gilkey ,sp, name wasn’t called…which as they say is a good thing for Omen
September 17th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
They have had 1 week to play together this season.
This is just going to keep getting better
September 17th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Exactly 0 snaps so far for Oniel Cousins. Let’s keep it that way
September 17th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
There’s definitely O line improvement. Remember how many procedural and holding penalties we had up front last year? This year against two top defenses: hardly any penalties and running game looked great last week. Pleasantly surprised. GO BUCS!!!!!
September 17th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Gilkey looks like he’s a good pick up to spell Mankins when needed. If McCown can quit making silly mistakes, I could see our offense easily trampling the Falcons. Aside from Trufant & Moore, they don’t have much at all on that defense.
We get a good performance outta McCown, and our pass rush shows up, I can see us easily taking the Falcons by 14 points. They’re really not that good.
September 17th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Joe
About the only thing the OL is not doing is tackling McCown before he does another bonehead play. He seems to have problems with adversity like to throw or not to throw and where to throw it if he is going to throw it. Tim Tebow is a better runner and I don’t think he throws as bad as McCown under pressure. Just a thought.
September 17th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Slugs or scrubs? lol
September 17th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
We are a lot better than the so called experts are saying, just a few dumbass mistakes from being 2-0
September 17th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
@ Joe’s:
Hey Joe’s, just wondering what proof that bottle of “Aleve” is you have standing by at an arms length…mine’s 101 😉 Also have a prediction Bucs fans: If there was EVER a game to see our yet to be seen “Dunkaneers,” it WILL BE THURSDAY NIGHT. My reasoning: Falcons sport some of the smallest height wise corners in the league. If Mccown can be accurate, it’ll be either a big play, or a big pass interference call, I’ll personally take either one at this point.
September 17th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
If it is too early to pass judgement on Lovie then it is too early pass judgement on this oline. Just because they aren’t getting creamed like they were in the preseason doesn’t mean they are good or even better than last year.
September 17th, 2014 at 3:06 pm
There’s gotta be someone desperate enough to take cousins of our hands… Wonder who watched his game tape and decided that guy should be a buccaneer, are we still using a VCR to evaluate free agents?
September 17th, 2014 at 3:42 pm
OB. when did you get out of the facility. When you get back from your weekend pass, say hello to Mark David Chapman and John Hinckley Jr. for me.
Tim Tebow is so obsessed with his his dream of being an NFL QB he is taking countless TV gigs instead of pursuing his “dream” in the CFL, like. Doug Flutie or the in door league like Kurt Ramsey.
Tebow has now turned himself into a “celebrity” not a NFL QB.
Give up on your blatant bromance dude
September 17th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
I know Joe had doubts about Collins going in so I’m glad he’s stepped up and played well and like to see Joe giving credit where its due.
September 17th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Collins has played very well. Pleasantly surprised.
September 17th, 2014 at 3:51 pm
the oline is going to be a strength as long as their all healthy, just a thought of at least keeping joseph for one more year imagine how better of our oline would be this year.
September 17th, 2014 at 5:02 pm
13 positive posts and good ole DallasBucs comes chiming in with his usual “realistic opinion” about one of Joes articles. I for one hope he is wrong because I don’t want to have to listen to him while he “breaks his arm jerkin’ off” telling everyone “I told you so”. Sorry DallasBucs just having a little fun. It seem your comments are directed at a select few of the posters here on JBF, so I think I get were you’re coming from. GO BUCS !!!!!!!
September 17th, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Gotta disagree with your headline. It’s true the O-line has improved somewhat from the total hot mess they were in the preseason, but pass protection has been spotty and despite Rainey’s stellar performance last week, the run game is average at best. I think the best you can claim is that the offensive line is a work in progress, and has shown SOME improvement over the last couple weeks. That being said we have shown a very VERY vanilla offense thus far ( that’s play calling and not necessarily the O-lines fault) and we have a 35 year old career journeyman/backup QB who makes boneheaded plays and hangs on to the ball way too long …these issues are not helping the O-line come together.
September 17th, 2014 at 5:59 pm
I disagree with premise.
While I agree this line has performed better than expected I still wouldnt say there arent any issues.
Left side seems pretty stout as you would expect with those vets.
Center has been decent. Better than last year.
Right Tackle is ok.
Right guard is where the problem is in my opinion.
I played guard in college and so I tend to focus on the Oline pretty much exclusively when Im watching a game.
I dont see any PHYSICAL issues….where someone is too slow or not strong enough to hold up to a bull rush……
What I see is problems with stunt pickup.
I know…thats to be expected when this line has a whole 2 games as a group…..and no preseason due to last minute trade for THE MANKINS.
What Ive noticed is the defense can get pressure every single time on passing plays by running a simple stunt where the inside guy heads out and the end loops back end. Typically one side picks it up but the other doesnt.
The good news is….that is the better problem to have of the two.
I believe the issue is that the center is spending too much time helping one side due to the situation at guard…..
I also have a recommendation for them, (not that they will ever read this).
You need to pull more. Every single one of those linemen can move……they need some plays like Indy was running Monday night. Overload one side……and pull center and a guard back to the unbalanced side while that side blocks down.
That tends to put a stop to that stunting crud.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:33 pm
The offensive line hasn’t looked bad, but I’m concerned about the lack of depth. If Cousins has to see playing time, we’re screwed.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
I’m sorry, but the oline did not open very many holes at all. Most of his yards were because he broke free of tackles or made them miss. I cannot remember him having an open lane more than once in the last game.
Go back and watch the tape.
This oline IS better, but it is not as good as people are giving credit for.
Also, the Bucs played teams that are 5th and 6th against the run right now. Atlanta is 26th against the run, so we should see a pretty good running game out of the Bucs. Falcons are last in the league in total defense too.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Bucs are 14th in total defense.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Of course, the Falcons are 2nd in total offense.
September 17th, 2014 at 7:21 pm
Joe, please don’t heap too much praise on the line or on Collins specifically. Hate to see DallasBuc pull a hammy having to backtrack on previous comments about the Bucs and their talent evaluations. At least you can admit he has played well and the line has improved.
Que the blind squirrel comments.
September 17th, 2014 at 9:12 pm
@ OG good point, tebow does win games maybe the bucs should sign him so we maybe can win a single game.
September 17th, 2014 at 9:17 pm
And no joe I don’t wanna download cookie jam JC
September 17th, 2014 at 9:48 pm
billy buckaroo Says:
September 17th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
“They have had 1 week to play together this season.
This is just going to keep getting better”
Agreed!! Mankins and co getting it done!!
Go Bucs!!
September 18th, 2014 at 9:52 am
Yes- with the addition of Mankins, Johnson, And Gilkey- we have added some talented guys- ant the line is looking Better every week.
Amazing- Lovie and Licht saw a problem, and corrected it!
That alone is new! And gives me the insight to be Patient.
I expected us to Struggle out the gate. Still believe.
It’s gonna get better.
Just hard ( as always) to watch the early learning curve.
But we are on the right track
Still need to draft a franchise QB.
And not Wiston.
His actions lately have proved he’s to stupid to play in the NFL
September 18th, 2014 at 11:32 am
RastaMon Says:
September 17th, 2014 at 2:03 pm
That sub guard…Gilkey ,sp, name wasn’t called…which as they say is a good thing for Omen
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His name wasn’t called because he didn’t play last week. Mankins and PO did.