Marpet Ahead Of Schedule?
August 20th, 2015
“I need you, bro. I want to be able to walk when I am 25.”
Joe understands there is great angst among Bucs fans over the offensive line.
As Joe’s friend Jeff Cameron, drive-time radio personality for ESPN Tallahassee and pride of Lakewood High School described it from Saturday’s first preseason game, the Vikings’ defensive line came “unabated” at America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.
It’s enough for Joe to go full-blown Bobby Knight and wing a chair at someone.
So, yeah, Joe understands how the perils of the offensive line can drive Bucs fans running to the local pharmacy to refill their blood pressure meds. But there is a glimmer of hope. Yes, it’s true.
That would be rookie guard Ali Marpet. Thus far he is everything the Bucs hoped he would be. In fact, he is very likely ahead of schedule as far as development.
On Jameis’ touchdown run Saturday night, it was Marpet who sealed off a defensive end to allow Jameis room. In training camp practice, Marpet has given stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy a handful. In fact, yesterday, Joe saw with his own eyes how Marpet pancaked GMC. Yes, you read that correctly.
So Joe got a few words with Marpet after practice. He readily admits he is far from a finished product.
“As soon as I start anticipating things I will be able to play faster,” Marpet said. “That will just help me every more.”
Marpet makes no secret how much going up against GMC in practice every day has made him a better guard.
“Gerald is an awesome player,” Marpet said. “For me, it is consistency at this point. I need to get consistent and I need to clean things up. Gerald is certainly helping with that.”
After watching film of the Vikings game, Marpet seems to believe he may have been too aggressive.
“Leaking out of my sets where am I getting too far to the outside half,” Marpet explained. Too aggressive? “I think so because sometimes my feet carry me out there. I’m thinking too much. So I need to slow the game down a little bit.”
How good of a guy is Marpet? Well, considering it would be a shock if he is not starting, and one would think Marpet’s confidence would be boosted being able to go toe-to-toe with GMC . In a way, that is true.
But as he left the practice fields of One Buc Palace yesterday, Marpet, just like a scrub undrafted rookie, was carrying two sets of shoulder pads back to the locker room, not including the set he wore.
August 20th, 2015 at 10:11 am
Rooting for you Marpet get all the reps you can keep up the great work… JJ watt is coming for Jameis we need you !!!!
August 20th, 2015 at 10:18 am
This is such crap. Winston may have seen some pressure but it was nowhere close to a jail break ln every down of the pressure McClown faced last year.
This is pure propaganda where you print a falsehood enough times it becomes fact.
Winston had the jitters in the first quarter which is normal for a rookie, live with it Joe.
August 20th, 2015 at 10:21 am
Marpet might as well start, along with Smith. Sitting on the bench never benefitted a guy who needed experience to get better. Besides, they aren’t going to a super bowl this season. That’s for the next head coach to get them to.
August 20th, 2015 at 10:23 am
Am I the only one that is worried about GMC weight loss. I know that Marpet is big and strong and all. But GMC got manhandled by the vikings and it was mostly 1 on 1.
August 20th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Realist … I share your concern about GMC’s weight loss. Was mostly keying on the rookies in the Vikings game, so didn’t really notice how well GMC and other veterans were doing against the Vikings. I know Lovie likes folks to slim down so they can play fast, but a 290 pounder gives away a lot against a double-team of two 315-335 lb OLinemen. It’ll be interesting to see how well Gerald plays in the next game.
August 20th, 2015 at 10:46 am
That’s what I call a smart guy, knows what mistakes he did and he will correct them. Others will say, “Well…., what happened..” or will only say “I need to improve”, yeah do you know what or how to improve is the key.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:01 am
Ali is the man!
August 20th, 2015 at 11:05 am
Why not put marpet and smith on the ends. If hes good on the edge put him out there. Ehh nevermind we are gonna be screwed regardless
August 20th, 2015 at 11:34 am
@realist
Manhandled is definitely the word to use. I saw the left guard damn near block him out of the back of the end zone on the vikes TD run.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:39 am
I actually agree with drdneast
I didn’t think the line was as awful as everyone has been saying. Yea, Smith looked like an idiot and Jameis was forced to move around a little bit but I wouldn’t qualify it as a jailbreak
Jameis was nervous and I don’t care if he says he wasn’t. I think that’s why he flourished in the 2 min drill at the end of the half. No time to think, no time to be nervous…he was just playing football. I expect him to be much better on Monday night, but that being said he wasn’t awful on Saturday night either
Had V-Jax come up with that catch on the goalline (which he should have) and if Evans had made any kind of effort on the pick (which he should have) or had gotten his head around earlier on the skinny post on the first drive (which he should have), we’d be talking about Jameis leading the Bucs down the field for two touchdowns rather than his nervousness
August 20th, 2015 at 11:44 am
We could have a home run with this draft class……..Jameis, Smith, Marpet, Alexander look good….
Jury out on Bell, Clay & Joey I…..
August 20th, 2015 at 11:53 am
Chicken Littles unite. It seems they are flocked here and other such Buc boards. It’s hard to imagine worse fans than those the Bucs are saddled with. No matter. The band wagon will get loaded up soon enough. There will be some growing pains, but there is/will be growth. That said, don’t let reality stand in the way of some good whining.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:59 am
I’m more worried about Gilkey, Edwards and Pamhile developing into solid back ups… We need depth and those three need to step it up…
August 20th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Lets see how they do once the MNF lights are on….this is definitely Work in Progress. This team has a very long way to go.
I wouldnt get your hopes up too high this year.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Good caption under the picture Joe. So True. We need both Marpet and Smith to both be capable starters in their rookie year. It’s asking a lot of 2 rookies – but the health and availability of our franchise quarterback literally depends on the OLine vets and rookies playing sound football.
August 20th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Personally not that worried about McCoy. If weight loss works against him then well I guess Realist knew better than a bunch of highly paid trainers and actual players. I doubt it though. Dude’s an All-Pro and a top 3 DT lol. I’d calm down for now.
To Kevin guy suggesting Marpet on the outside – he simply does not have the body/frame to be a NFL T. He is built to be an interior lineman and it isn’t really close. Guy is excelling at RG and you already want to f*ck around with it? Great idea!
I like that “we are gonna be screwed regardless”. That pumps me up man!! Fire those cannons let’s get ready to suck a55 wooo!! We’re the best fans ever!
August 20th, 2015 at 4:08 pm
I can always depend on you Lord C.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:48 pm
It could be worse… U could be a redskins fan