Odd Guard Out
March 10th, 2016
Where do the dominoes fall?
So unless the Bucs make a trade, it seems they have one more starting guard than necessary.
For months, Joe was told by Bucs sources, almost as if it was a foregone conclusion, that Logan Mankins’ successor already was on the roster. That man’s name is Kevin Pamphile.
Then the Bucs go out and grab right guard J.R. Sweezy last night. Oh, and they have budding stud Ali Marpet at right guard already.
Well, the Bucs sure as hell didn’t drop $32.5 million in Sweezy’s lap to sit on the bench.
So what — or more importantly who — gives?
Joe vividly remembers Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht saying in his post-2015 draft press conference that Marpet could play center. Now the following is sheer speculation because Joe has not spoken with any Bucs officials about it. Just trying to make sense of this.
Could it be that the Bucs plan to move Marpet to center and keep Sweezy at the only offensive position he has ever played? And they would plug Pamphile in at left guard as the team has planned for months? Or do they think Marpet is a left guard?
It seems strange to Joe that the Bucs would consider flipping a young guy like Marpet to a new position just when it seems he has right guard figured out. Besides, it wasn’t like Joe Hawley was doing a lousy job last year.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:05 am
I know we have 2 other RT’s but Pamphile was a T at Purdue. He might be a sing guy as well. You do have a point Joe, I would not mess with the Hobart Warrior and move him.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:06 am
Who knows. My thought was sweezy goes to LG but Marpet has played different sides of the line in college.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:08 am
As a non specialist, according to the fact the JR Sweezy is clearly a guy for the run game, is it possbile to imagine that the right guard position could be shared between different players depending on the play or down ?
March 10th, 2016 at 8:10 am
Good signing. N those DE’S got insane money. Cheaper to draft them, lichts specialty. I like the fact we didn’t “win” the first day of free agency. The good teams never do. Still wish we would have gotten Travis Benjamin tho. Let’s get some more FA’S on the discount and draft em baby
March 10th, 2016 at 8:17 am
I think Pamphile stays as the backup guard for both positions, and remains the 6th blocker that he excelled at last year. What’s wrong with cheap, young, & versatile depth behind Marpet and Sweazy?
I don’t see Joe Hawley going anywhere as starting C, but wouldn’t be suprised if Evan Smith finally gets the boot.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:18 am
Pamphile provides great depth….Cherilus could be the odd man out…..we have a good mixture of veterans & younger players.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:21 am
Problems like this are good to have
March 10th, 2016 at 8:22 am
Does Marpet have a nickname yet? He gets mentioned here a lot so I think it’s time he gets a nickname. I seen Hobart Warrior, however I’m throwing my hat in for The Hobart Hooligan!
March 10th, 2016 at 8:26 am
Pamphile is the new swing guy. Agree. I do think Hawley emerges at center too.
Licht learned his craft from New England Joe. Take what he says with not a single grain of salt, but from the great salt lake.
The Martin deal was a great example. Many thought, including me, that the deal was much further apart than we expected.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:27 am
@ Joehelldeloxley says:
“As a non specialist, according to the fact the JR Sweezy is clearly a guy for the run game, is it possbile to imagine that the right guard position could be shared between different players depending on the play or down ?”
absolutely no chance of that happening. they aren’t paying this guy 6+ mil a year to play split snaps. and the obvious issue with that would be from a strategic standpoint. imagine you’re a defensive linemen or a D coordinator. if you see 2 players rotating snaps on the offensive line, wouldn’t it become a bit obvious to you what the current play call is?? when the run guy comes in, you know it will be a run. when the other guy comes in, gee i wonder what they are gonna do.
i can’t believe i actually sat here and wasted 2 minutes giving a logical response to that.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:29 am
James many of us go with “Mongo”..
March 10th, 2016 at 8:29 am
Keep them all. Its a long season, Jameis is worth it, we still have more cap space than we can possibly spend, and like Buc Neckid said problems like this are “Good.”
March 10th, 2016 at 8:32 am
Donald Penn is still available…..just sayin
March 10th, 2016 at 8:38 am
So happy we get to talk about our big FA signing backup guard, maybe we sign a kicker next, that’d be a hoot
March 10th, 2016 at 8:49 am
My guess is Marpet will be playing LG and Pamphile will backup. He could also play bu at RG if Sweezy were to go down. Center wouldnt be ideal I dont think since he’s already experienced on the left side (and we have Hawley for that position). And bringing Sweezy in to play anything other than RG just wouldnt seem the right thing to do IMO.
March 10th, 2016 at 8:59 am
Maybe we can get mike Wallace or Percy harvin, at least give us some hope to make us excited for preseason games, not sure watching the great backup guard competition is gonna do it, we aren’t getting 4 defensive starters this year, or ever in one draft
March 10th, 2016 at 9:06 am
It’s called depth. What happens when Marpet or Pamphile gets hurt. Competition is what need, not pre determined starters in March.
March 10th, 2016 at 9:23 am
How can anyone say Sweezy is poor in pass protection when his QB constantly ran like a scalded rabbit so often. How do you design pass protection around a scrambling QB?
March 10th, 2016 at 9:29 am
@Tyree: that’s how you build a great O-LINE (competition)!!
March 10th, 2016 at 10:04 am
I still think they need another veteran Tackle and Center. Joe Haley is a servicable center but he’s not the future. Too small and gets pushed around a lot. He played “well” because he knew Dirk’s system.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:24 am
Well, Marpet is not a part-time player and teams don’t pay Sweezy that kind of cash to be part-time players.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:33 am
I’ve always said that I believe that Marpet has the build of a center more than a guard, and I think he would excel at that position if given the training and opportunity.
March 10th, 2016 at 10:51 am
Holy crap…they paid that much for him? Wow…Jason Licht proves it wasn’t Lovie Smith who screwed up free agency!
This guy is among the worst guards in the NFL!
March 10th, 2016 at 11:53 am
Sweezy has 4 years’s experience at right guard. He is a stronger run blocker than a pass protector. The left side of the line will have the stronger pass rushers. I believe he will play right guard, Marpet will play left guard. Hawley will play center. Pamphile will backup for guard and tackle positions. Offensive lineman get injured and if there is ever a position that you need depth, it’s OL.
March 10th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
@Joe
Wasn’t EDS the”odd” guard out last year? Wasn’t he recieving “starter money” to be solid depth at center and guard? Pamphile has been nothing but depth since he’s been here. Regadless of who’s starting and who’s sitting, if Team Glazer doesn’t mind paying for reseve depth that could start on another team to protoect THEIR team’s most precious assest, WHO THE HELL CARES?
March 10th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
If you squint when you look at him, he looks like Licht
March 11th, 2016 at 2:40 am
Joe, this article is ludicrous. Of course it’s going to be Kevin Pamphile as the odd man out. Sweezy will play left guard with Hawley at center and keep Marpet at right guard. You don’t hand Pamphile the job after ONE good game. He can be the backup guard/tackle.
March 11th, 2016 at 5:00 am
Marpets nickname is “The Hebrew Hammer”
Sweeny will go to left guard, and take Logan Mankins Spot.
Pamphile will fight for Rt spot.,if not- he is valuble as T/g backup
Mankins was the 6 ranked guard in The NFL last year
Big shoes to fill
Sweeny was 66.
Both of our outstanding Rookie linemen should be even better.
Both showed the potential to Probowlers. Donovan Smith is an absolute Physical monster at Left Tackle. Marpet is a rhino.
Cant believe O-line is a strenght!!
With a soild O-line, that can provide a good run game- your Offense can always control the Clock!
Bucs have never had a great O-line. Its a real pleasure to look fowardvto having one this year again!!