Logan Mankins Motivated (Yes, Really)
June 1st, 2015
Details emerge from One Buc Palace
OK, Joe is going to share a neat little story with a cool twist. But you have to follow along. It gets better as you read.
Now there has been a lot of talk that barbecue pitmaster, Bucs left guard Logan Mankins, is rejuvenated. Yeah, yeah, yeah, after the way he and his offensive line mates played, Joe is more than a little dubious about Mankins – or any other holdover from last year’s debacle of a line – and a rekindled love for the game.
Last week, Joe had a sit down with a trusted Bucs source who repeated the narrative about Mankins being reborn, and offered details.
Essentially, not only is Mankins in some of the best shape of his life, he has grabbed the leadership reins of the offensive line and exercised authority, something he didn’t do last year.
Whether Mankins finally snapped out his mental funk that began when he was blindsided by Bill Belicheat and shipped to Tampa Bay, or he sees the end of his career coming if things don’t change, Mankins is not sitting passively by. He is aggressively ensuring that no corners are cut, both inside meetings and on the practice field.
Mankins, fed up with mental mistakes, began running gassers every time the offensive line goofs up in practice during OTAs.
Naturally, the young offensive linemen – the two rookies and the “Milk Cartons” — followed Mankins’ lead and began running gassers with him. Offsides, holding, illegal procedure, missing assignments, whatever, Mankins and the youngsters start sprinting. Soon, the veterans on the line joined in.
It doesn’t stop there. At one point recently, somebody on the offensive line screwed up and Mankins, upset, bellowed in so many words, “Damn it, let’s go,” and Mankins began running and his fellow offensive linemen were in lockstep.
Then suddenly, Mankins heard strange footsteps as he and the rest of the offensive linemen began stomping away.
And then Mankins heard a voice from the footsteps, “No, we’re a team!” the voice said, as the non-offensive lineman began hoofing it with the linemen running the gassers.
Who was it? None other than “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. Since then, every time the offensive line ran gassers for mistakes, Jameis ran right alongside.
Folks, if that doesn’t get you fired up, then Joe doesn’t know what will. Just 15 more Sundays until the regular season kicks off.
June 1st, 2015 at 7:13 am
Gotta take the “Missouri” approach with Mankins……
Simply “show us” when the season kicks off.
June 1st, 2015 at 7:18 am
Yep, it’s just the beginning. Both winning and losing are contagious. Looks like Jameis and Mankins are about to infect some people around here.
June 1st, 2015 at 7:19 am
Awesome story. I love it. I’m trying to keep my optimism in check cause I’ve been burned so many times with the Bucs. I can’t help it though. I’m excited.
June 1st, 2015 at 7:22 am
Can someone make our d ends join the sprints? They need to be in great shape if they want to get those stops in the fourth quarter.
Man this story got me jacked up. Thanks for starting off my week with an article like this Josepe
June 1st, 2015 at 7:23 am
Logan Mankins! Hat Tip Sir…
We need that kind of leadership. I take back every negative word that I’ve said, about your two bad knees.
June 1st, 2015 at 7:24 am
Our boys will be able to run, that is for sure. Will they be any good at football?
June 1st, 2015 at 7:31 am
Yup Joe, that got me fired up. I’m ready for some football!
June 1st, 2015 at 7:32 am
I’m glad we didn’t ship Mr Mankins away from our team. This guy is a leader by example first who is not afraid of getting into his linemates grill and correcting mistakes.
I do agree he was blindsided by what went down for him last season. But he is a pro’s pro in that he will do his best regardless of the situation he finds himself in. Great news he is in his best shape of his carrer. The man reportedly showed up with his six pack abs for OTA’s. (Joe love to see this with own eyes a photo op?) Let’s hope this spreads around to the other leaders on offense.
Go Bucs!
June 1st, 2015 at 7:45 am
Cool story. Not sure if any of it translates to wins or not, but it’s nice to hear hear about Mankins finally acting like he cares about being a Buccaneer and even better to hear that Winston is helping galvanize the team first attitude. Baby steps, but it’s something to feel good about after a 2-14 season.
June 1st, 2015 at 7:47 am
Tom Edrington Says:
June 1st, 2015 at 7:13 am
Gotta take the “Missouri” approach with Mankins……
Simply “show us” when the season kicks off.
———————————————————————————
he is showing you….players don’t just show up on sunday and start playing, winning starts in practice with preparation. dude is taking it upon himself to make sure not only he is better but his entire offensive line. he’s being a leader and even if he’s not the player he once was im sure you know rookies and younger players look to the veterans and do what they see vets doing. people have to let it go…ok great the bucs had one of the worst offensive lines in the league the last couple of years great wonderful we all know that. mike evans GMC lavonte david were all 2-14 also.
all you can hope for at this time of the year is motivation, dedication to getting better and hard work. are you not seeing that? lovie said football doesn’t begin until November so you may not see it when the season kicks off lol
June 1st, 2015 at 7:53 am
It has been a very long time since we as fans have been able to fully get behind our team or even a single player. We do have some talented players but because of injury or inconsistent play its been tough to rally like we did with the teams of the late 90’s & early 2000’s. The one thing we have missed the most? Leadership!
June 1st, 2015 at 8:00 am
Developing a winning attitude starts in June. This is a great start to 2015. Love to hear about this. Thanks Joe.
June 1st, 2015 at 8:13 am
@bucs4lyfe:
Still wanna see what happens when he has to block somebody that is younger and stronger than he is and is training just as hard if not harder…..
Waaaay too early …….
June 1st, 2015 at 8:20 am
This could help put a stop to all those miserable procedural penalties we got last year AND help endurance in the fourth quarter. A ton of drives ended and we lost a bunch of games due to penalties.
That’s cool about Jameis too. I’m sure they will want to protect him that much more for it.
June 1st, 2015 at 8:29 am
@Tom Edrington
I get you!! no disrespect to your opinion but what we’re hearing is really all you can ask for before training camp. I think he’s always been considered a tough guy so it’s just a matter of if the skills have deteriorated but he’s a good player or was and hopefully he still is
June 1st, 2015 at 8:32 am
Great article! Offsides is a Defensive penalty, I think you meant False Start.
Hope is a great thing, without hope none of us would still be BUCS fans.
June 1st, 2015 at 8:33 am
@Tom Edrington
Stop being a negative nancy…..
America’s BBQ Master!
June 1st, 2015 at 8:33 am
This is what I like !
This is what a leader is !
I was very sceptical about drafting Jameis Winston but if he continues like that, the Bucs Staff did the good things !
I don’t have high expectations for this year, just see another spirit from the players ont the field. Winning or losing will not be so important but I just want to see players piss off by the defeat !
June 1st, 2015 at 8:37 am
There is a very thin line between a productive NFL player and ones that struggle….usually with most , it’s not talent….it’s motivation…..and it certainly can affect other players….
I’m liking what hearing….it starts with coming into camp in shape…..(unlike Bowers)…..we are hearing stories about several players like Mike Jenkins, for example that are encoiuraging.
June 1st, 2015 at 8:42 am
Love it!!! I think this is just an early example of how our OL and QB are going to have that special cohesion and desire to be at their best for one another. This would have never occurred last season.
June 1st, 2015 at 8:42 am
Sort of shades of the Lightning with their togetherness. I like this approach also. Mankins may have been shocked to get traded to the Bucs, but he didn’t have to come here, he could have retired. I’m definitely liking him more because of the attitude and the team joining in to be a team building closeness. This can only help. Next somone will be predicting a Bucs Super Bowl run, but some high thinkers have already done that.
June 1st, 2015 at 8:57 am
Logan realizes that he may have to coach up the o-line (hint-hint George), players have pride and I am sure somewhere along the line, Mr. Mankins said that was not how he wanted to go out, good for him and the team, esp. when your #1 draft pick follows suit. I wonder what the center formerly known as EDS thought about the rook QB joining in
June 1st, 2015 at 9:06 am
this is like a dream. I hope all these things pay dividends when the gun sounds at the beginning of the season. I could not be more excited. I could not be happier. My team finally acts like a real team. I can hardly wait.
June 1st, 2015 at 9:08 am
i read on another site he’s sporting a 6-pack. you don’t get trophies for physical conditioning, but….a guard with a 6 pack?
hopefully the linemen stop making mistakes as a unit. i’d prefer stories of that over stories of running gassers as a unit as september approaches
June 1st, 2015 at 9:11 am
BTW, here’s how you know the trolls have gone – this article was perfectly teed up for a joke about jameis’ slow 40 time.
June 1st, 2015 at 9:17 am
Unless you line up offsides.
June 1st, 2015 at 9:25 am
I am happy that someone is trying to be a leader ( take notes GMC!!!) But sounds like they will run a lot due to a lot of mistakes. I just hope that Mankins bum knee can hold up until the season.
June 1st, 2015 at 9:27 am
@ pick6
Just for you…
By the time Winston got back from his first gasser, the O-line, with Glennon, had already run two plays and one more gasser. ;^)
June 1st, 2015 at 9:29 am
i am trying to be optimistic about Mankins but considering he was done a year before he even was traded to Tampa Bay I am a little skeptical how his play will be but appreciate his efforts and leadership.
Joe was Glennon and Camp Arm running with them as well??
June 1st, 2015 at 9:40 am
A dozen more of these Jameicdotes pile up and we might have to consider that he’s a good guy..
June 1st, 2015 at 9:59 am
The O lineman are the only guys on the team Winston can keep up with.
June 1st, 2015 at 10:17 am
I said it last year and I’ll repeat it, now that I’ll look like a genius since the season hasn’t begun. Mankins was a great move if for nothing else than his leadership. I don’t feel that he is washed up in any way. Obviously he has only so much time left but if he can teach this O Line how to be successful, then the trade was worth its weight in gold. Everything looks rosy in OTA’s and I realize it means nothing unless it carries over into the season but quite honestly the last several training camps have not been energizing. There really wasn’t a lot of team gelling or leaders. We have leaders now. McCoy can’t do it himself. Now we have David, McCoy, Mankins and Winston. Yes, Winston. The guy has done everything to capture his teammates’ respect and he is as advertised with his work ethic at this point. Like Brooks Higginson said, I repeatedly get burned for my optimism but I can’t help but love what I see from this team. We look to be trending in the right direction. As for the “experts” that pick us to be dead last in the division, ignore them. Their expert predictions are nothing more than a repeat of what’s happened in the past. The Bucs won 2 games last year so expect all the safe predictions staying the same. If the culture can change here so will the love this team will receive. I truly can’t ask for anything more out of Winston. He has been excellent in every way so far.
June 1st, 2015 at 10:34 am
That was knowledge cmurda. “Skull Gang-Red banner 1ball 2blades”
June 1st, 2015 at 10:42 am
tmaxcon. Showing what a perfect troll he is.
June 1st, 2015 at 10:43 am
@Tom Edrington
I believe you missed the point of this article. I really believe Joe was trying to show fans the type of leader Jameis is. We have known for about two weeks that Mankins was running gassers with the oline and that is a great sign. What we did not know is that Jameis has now started to join them. This just in, Jameis has already won the locker room and he has not even taken a snap. He has a unique leadership style and it works…….see Jameis’ history. I am not saying there have never been qbs to run gassers with the oline for mistakes, but how many times have you heard of this act? How many times have you heard of that from a rookie qb no less? This guy comes as advertised. Famous Jameis is in the building!!!!
June 1st, 2015 at 10:45 am
pick6 has to be a troll to even think of trying to make it look like it was set up for Winston haters too.
June 1st, 2015 at 10:53 am
Didn’t see it but only one practice has been open and frankly, Joe wasn’t looking for offensive linemen running sprints.
June 1st, 2015 at 10:53 am
I give the world “Jameicdotes” and no appreciation.. I’ll be over here sulking with Glennon..
June 1st, 2015 at 10:55 am
Gassers for every mistake??? The way these guys make mistakes they’re all gonna end up looking like an Ethiopian Cross Country team by the start of the season with all the gassers they’ll be running. lol!
June 1st, 2015 at 10:57 am
And then Mankins heard a voice from the heavens, “No, we’re a team!”
*********************
Sweet! The whole offense should run gassers.
I pray that this year Mankins feeds the team nails and concrete for breakfast rather than the ice cream truck that showed up last year!!!!!
“Damn it, LET’S GO!!” See that’s what we needed a little northern attitude and know how. Boston Skrong. You Skrong we Skrong lets do it big then!!!
June 1st, 2015 at 11:02 am
..I pronounce it “Jay-meck-dotes”.. Still waiting to hear back from Urban Dictionary..
June 1st, 2015 at 11:09 am
Jameis just being Jameis
June 1st, 2015 at 11:57 am
Simply put Sheree…
June 1st, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Saying all the right things?……Check!
Doing all the right things?…….Check!
Playing good football come September?…..Pending!
June 1st, 2015 at 12:38 pm
cool story, bro. brings hope and sugarplums dancing.
but anecdotal and hearsay.
but goes to show our new motto: “OWN THE MOMENT!” — jameis american sniper christ.
buccaneer football 2015 — own the moment!
June 1st, 2015 at 12:49 pm
one of the most positive things I could ever hope for……Mankins really was a force for the Pats for years. I dont blame the guy for being shell shocked last year.
As far as winston joining in…..again….one of the most positive things i could ever hope to see.
I have been critical of him and the bucs before…..I really hope he proves me wrong.
June 1st, 2015 at 3:14 pm
By the time they get to the regular season, the offensive line will be willing to do whatever it takes to protect JW.
June 1st, 2015 at 3:18 pm
[…] Per JoeBucsFan.com: […]
June 1st, 2015 at 4:13 pm
It will be interesting to see what happens if it turns out to be just one(or two) guy(s) who keeps sending them out on gassers. Talk about an ‘angry worker’.
June 1st, 2015 at 10:53 pm
Cool story Bro. Sounds like everyone on the team is getting mad. I like it.
June 2nd, 2015 at 11:15 am
Good start Logan Mankins. Good O-line play is about five or six guys thinking and acting as one. It seems Mankins is getting the formula in place and the fellas just need to keep it up. With Jameis Winston bringing the rest of the O along for the ride, it’s even better as good O starts with 11 men thinking and acting as one. If this keeps up, we’ll see much better offense this year. Maybe not championship caliber as talent may be a little too thin for that, but we’ll be in more games than last year and win a few more as well.
June 2nd, 2015 at 3:29 pm
Logan should be the best offensive lineman the Bucs have. If these younger lineman are smart enough to listen to what he has to say it will be a good start of something good on the o-line. He is a pro and has the experience that the Bucs offensive line needs. I understand why he had a bad season last year but now he needs to step up and be that leader the line needs so badly. We have alot of rookies that are going to start from day one so if this article is true this is the best peace of news I’ve heard since the Bucs drafted Mike Evans last season. GO BUCCANEERS!!!
June 2nd, 2015 at 5:41 pm
I like what I’m seen from Mankins. He is going to be the X factor of the O line. And it looks like Jameis is doing the right thing too. Everyone knows that when the O line respects and loves their qb, good things are going to happen. Go Bucs!
June 7th, 2015 at 10:48 pm
Joe Bucs Fan “America’s Turd!”