Bucs GM Jason Licht had a soft spot in his heart for his late-second round pick, G Ali Marpet of Division III Hobart College.

It’s the classic American tale, rags to riches, Rocky winning the heavyweight championship of the world, the Miracle on Ice.

As George Patton famously said, “Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.” And no one likes winners quite like underdogs. That’s why March Madness is so appealing. Fans enjoy watching little schools take down giants. (more…)

Yes, Joe is having trouble sleeping. The Buccaneers traded up, back into the second round last night, for the rights to draft a Division III offensive guard/tackle named Ali Marpet — while South-Carolina guard A.J. Cann, a stud four-year starter, was available. (more…)

Mark it down. Lovie Smith isn’t waiting for Jameis Winston to change.

He believes in Jameis right now — in every way. (more…)

What could be more fun than new Buccaneers franchise quarterback Jameis Winston having his first on-air sitdown with his old friend, Steve Duemig, aka “The Big Dog” and the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio? (more…)

After trades and wheeling and dealing, here’s where the Bucs stand on the draft board entering Day 3 of the 2015 NFL Draft. (more…)

“Sorry, Lovie. No defense for you. Again.”

When Team Glazer hired Lovie Smith to right the ship of the Bucs, just about anyone with a pulse thought Tampa Bay would return to its roots as a manhandling defensive unit.

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After his last pick of the evening, grabbing guard Ali Marpet in the late in the second round from Division III Hobart College, Bucs general manager Jason Licht held a press conference to explain his picks. (more…)

The Bucs desperately needed a quarterback entering last year’s draft. But they passed on good ones.

They didn’t need a tight end or a running back, yet pounced on them in the second- and third-round, respectively. (more…)

Look for a Bucs rookie at left tackle

That experiment with Demar Doston switching to left tackle at nearly 30 years old appears to be over.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht proclaimed tonight that Bucs rookie Donovan Smith, the No. 34 overall pick, is a left tackle. (more…)

New Bucs guard Ali Marpet

We all know the real problem with the dreadful Buccaneers offensive line last year was the lack of a good barbecue venue. Former All-Pro guard Logan Mankins made that clear.

But perhaps brand new Bucs rookie guard Ali Marpet, out of Division III Hobart, can conquer that challenge. (more…)

Not many highlights of football players from the football factory of Hobart College of Division-III, but thank goodness for the NFL Network.Thank goodness for YouTube.com. (more…)

The Bucs, thirsty for any help on the offensive line, decided to trade up into the late second round with the Colts and selected Division-III offensive lineman Ali Marpet of the football factory known as Hobart College. (more…)

Joe’s not about to pretend he’s watched much — or any — Hobart College football. (more…)

When Bill O’Brien, now running the Houston Texans, was at Penn State, he was in the midst of restoring a former powerhouse.

BOB was a pro-style kind of coordinator, and BOB’s offense, led by quarterback Christian Hackenberg and Bucs second-round pick Donovan Smith at left tackle, looked strong. (more…)

So Jameis is a Bucs quarterback. Drafted, signed, introduced. He’s here, Bucs fans. Embrace or stand aside.

Soon, we will have another new Buccaneer, as the Bucs pick second tonight in the second round, and yes, there is the third-round later to monitor.

Bang your comments and thoughts here all night.

Second-round pick Donovan Smith talks about his Bucs position

Offensive linemen are an interesting breed. Cattle, is what Warren Sapp used to call them, because they always hung around in a herd.

Maybe one reason for that is because there are few if any stats for college offensive linemen outside of pancakes. (more…)

New Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith is a big, big, big man. He’s 6-5 and 336 pounds. That is not a small person.

Below, you can find highlights of Smith working over Michigan: (more…)

Donovan Smith

Well, well, well. When Joe spoke with Donovan Smith, a tackle from Penn State, at the NFL Scouting Combine, Smith told Joe that he had spoken with the Bucs “many times.”

Joe stated at the time teams don’t speak with players “many” times unless there is big time interest. (more…)

New Bucs QB Jameis Winston talked about his new team facility. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

If newly crowned Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston leads the Bucs to playoff wins, then Joe would bet that whatever Jameis wants at One Buc Palace, Jameis gets.

So could an indoor practice facility be on the horizon? (more…)

The only QB to win a Super Bowl for the Bucs, Brad Johnson, traveled all the way from Athens, Ga., to be part of Jameis Winston’s day at One Buc Palace.

How big of a deal was the Bucs drafting Florida State star quarterback Jameis Winston?

First, Winston’s press conference was held in the auditorium at One Buc Palace, usually reserved for retirement ceremonies or Ring of Honor announcements or new coaches/general managers. (more…)

Jameis Winston had a very interesting and humble ending to his news conference at One Buc Palace this afternoon. (more…)

Legions of Bucs fans are wondering why Jameis Winston changed his number, away from his trademark No. 5 at Florida State University. (more…)