Lovie: Bucs’ O-Line Is Deepest In Team History
December 8th, 2015
Mauling and balling, eight-men strong.
Talk about rising from the sewer and landing in the Playboy Mansion.
Remember the Bucs’ offensive line last year? Remember the Bucs’ offensive line this preseason? Not only is that ancient history, it’s unthinkable, considering the makeup and performance of the offensive line this season.
In November, Joe asked offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter whether the Buccaneers’ O-line was deepest he has worked with. Koetter said, Yes.
Lovie Smith took it a step further on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night.
Lovie agreed with host T.J. Rives’ assertion that this year’s Tampa Bay line is the deepest in the team’s 40-year history. Shockingly, Lovie stepped out of his politically correct self and was happy to agree with that bold and arguably controversial take.
“I don’t think we’re offending anyone by making that statement,” Lovie said. “There’s been some good offensive linemen to come through here. Some good teams. But you’re right, depthwise, though, you can say that. I can say that and really like it’s an accurate statement.”
The revival of the Bucs’ O-line includes two key summer free agent acquisitions in veterans Joe Hawley and Gosder Cherilus. Combine that with the massive Grand Slam in the 2015 NFL Draft, and if Jason Licht isn’t NFL General Manager of the Year, then a terrible injustice will have been committed.
December 8th, 2015 at 11:20 am
Three draft picks…..Pamphile, Smith, Marpet & two FAs….Cherilus & Hawley have made the depth difference.
We need one more younger player to replace Mankins in a couple of years.
December 8th, 2015 at 11:21 am
Still hope we pick up a few more pieces in the draft
Yung Maulers
• Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor
• Jack Allen, C, Michigan State
• Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State
• Trey Braun | OG Georgia Tech
December 8th, 2015 at 11:27 am
This line is average. No studs. Just a bunch of guys that work hard as a unit. You want the truth? Could it be Dirk K’s compotent game plan that gives the o-line a chance to succeed? Jeff thinks that’s the case. The most talented line ever for the Bucs. I doubt it, but maybe the best OC the Bucs have ever had.
December 8th, 2015 at 11:30 am
Agree with the younger players in the future TBBF but not this year.
We need D and I just read that FSU’s Aguayo is considering skipping his 5th season and coming out this year. That saddens me because I’m not sure how we work a FG kicker slated to go in the first round into our draft plans.
If there was anyway to do it however I would love to see it happen and I’m no FSU supporter. But this kid has been money on the biggest college stage and brightest lights…many consider him one of the greatest college FG kickers of all time.
Look at Vinateri and Janikowski…when you get a great kicker they last more than a decade and they can determine the outcome of games…especially in the playoffs which usually turn on a play or two.
I like Barth OK but I’d LOVE to have a dominant FG kicker to go with our improved offensee and improving defense.
December 8th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Not a bad look for 2016
LT Donovan Smith | Kevin Pamphile
LG Logan Mankins |*Spencer Drango
C Joe Hawley | *Jack Allen
RG Ali Marpet | *Trey Braun
RT Demar Dotson | *Joe Haeg
December 8th, 2015 at 11:34 am
StPeteBucsFan
Glad to see you excited about a prospect. You’ve been pushing Aguayo hard.
Go ahead brotha – speak yah mine
December 8th, 2015 at 11:36 am
Kenyatta Walker and his ring would disagree
December 8th, 2015 at 11:41 am
Pleeeeease dont bring up Kenyatta. I’m still pi$$ed we traded up to get that dude.
December 8th, 2015 at 11:43 am
Joe,
Will you be at the Trop for the East-West Shrine Game this year?
December 8th, 2015 at 11:52 am
Can’t have enough protection for Jameis the Great
(Just ask the Macedonian cavalry).
December 8th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Imagine for just a moment that our GM used our throwaway 7th rounder last April on La’el Collins, preventing his free agency transit to Dallas. Oh well water under the bridge now.
December 8th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
The 2012 OL was not bad. This years is better because several of the 2012 OL ended up on IR. The fact that five of the linemen went on after leaving Tampa to start for other teams shows how talented the line was. Doug Martin set the team rookie rushing record of 1,454 yards.[
T Donald Penn (Raiders)
G Carl Nicks
C Jeremy Zuttah (Ravens)
G Ted Larsen (Cardinals)
T Demar Dotson
G Davin Joseph (Rams)
T Jeremy Trueblood
G Jamon Meredith (Titans)
December 8th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Throw in the addition of V-Jax for one more year.
December 8th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
@xandtar..I think about that all the time…I was watching him last night maul redskins dt’s….if laremy tunsil or Stanley from Notre Dame are available while we’re on the clock we have to grab one of them if there isn’t an elite cb or de…I hope we continue to build the oline for protection and running lanes for the rb’s….I wouldn’t mind seeing a mostly defensive draft with 1 or 2 offensive players…GO BUCS!!!
December 8th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Not saying the O-line does not some work.
A pass rusher or corners/safeties should be priority.
Tampa 2 ok can live with that: Qbs are still putting up career numbers, even in the wins.
December 8th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
“Could it be Dirk K’s compotent game plan that gives the o-line a chance to succeed? Jeff thinks that’s the case. ”
That’s certainly a factor in their performance. But what I see that impresses me the most is when our O-line pushes the other team’s D-line backwards – that’s not scheming – that’s pure strength and aggression!
December 8th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
This O-line is nasty!
December 8th, 2015 at 4:20 pm
XandTar and bucboi
You obviously do not read JBF much or the rest of NFL news.
AGAIN Collins was NOT going to accept being drafted #7. Why would he do that? His agent made it CRYSTAL CLEAR that Collins would not sign with any team that drafted him in the 7th round. THAT WAS NEVER AN OPTION!!!
Colllins could make far more on a FA contract than slotted in as a 7th round draft pick and his agent was not a dummy!