“Comfortable” With OL Backups
October 24th, 2015
If Bucs LG Logan Mankins can’t go Sunday, Lovie Smith isn’t worried.
Joe thought prior to the Jags game that Logan Mankins being out was really bad news.
That meant the Bucs were playing with three backups (including Joe Hawley at center and Gosder Cherilus at right tackle) to go with two rookies.
Instead, the offensive line was incredibly strong and maybe played its best game of the year. Now with Logan Mankins back to practice and Evan Smith nearing a return, some Bucs fans want to leave well enough alone.
Bucs coach Lovie Smith discussed the backups/now starters yesterday.
“We’re always careful with guys as they [prepare to return from injury],” Lovie said. “Joe Hawley’s play is encouraging. I always tell the guys if you deserve to play, some kind of way you’ll get it. Something will happen where you will get an opportunity and then it’s what you do with that opportunity.
“Joe Hawley has stepped up. We feel very comfortable with him playing. Just like Kevin Pamphile did last week too. Another guy got an opportunity to play and they put good play on video.”
Joe isn’t anti-Pamphile based on his play against the Jags. But Joe would like to see Mankins back in there.
Rookie left tackle Donovan Smith has told Joe more than once how much he leans on Mankins for the right offensive calls and that Mankins is always right; that Mankins sees things that Smith would never see.
That’s why Smith is a rookie.
Yes, Smith played just fine without his security blanket against the Jags. Maybe Smith needed to be taken off the training wheels? Still, Joe would rather see Mankins start but isn’t paranoid about Pamphile playing any longer, either.
October 24th, 2015 at 8:02 am
Leave the line alone lovie
October 24th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Coming out of D.C. with less than a win will be a total bummer. That’s why I don’t expect to be bummed out at 4pm tomorrow.
October 24th, 2015 at 10:04 am
How’s the weather in DC? Are you guys freezing yet?
Love Mankins I think he’s tough as nails. I see him more as our oline coach than anything else. Not for nothing but mankins has missed a few blitzes up his gap and 1 too many penalties (IMO) for a $7mil All Pro.
I’m all for starting the young cats, if it’s going to be a “throw away” season we might as well birth a new oline. And I hope the bucs offer Mankins a coaching job when he decides to step down.
October 24th, 2015 at 11:57 am
The OL looked decent against the Jags; hopefully they put in a solid game vs the Skins….. I am a bit worried that Mankins might play worse than Pamphile did before the bye and that would also indicate that Lovie, Licht and that OL coach Warhop have no clue about evaluating talent…. Anyhow, this is a winnable game if the Bucs can control the clock and avoid turnovers; hopefully the OL continues to gel no matter who gets the start…..
October 24th, 2015 at 7:23 pm
Wasn’t Pamphlet consider a bust by many on this blog? Talent needs time to develop. I think Lovie is doing a great job developing the talent that was selected when Schiano was the and a great job developing the talent selected now that Lovie is the coach.