Bane Of The Numberscrunchers
April 29th, 2017
Reiterates o-line fine.
The stat geeks are going to freak out as if someone corrupted their Excel software with a nasty virus.
No sect of human beings screamed that the Bucs had a horrid offensive line more than the crowd that likes to pretend it knows about offensive line play, the notorious PFF tribe.
And of course, the No. 1 menace to society in their eyes is Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith. From the day he was drafted, the PFF tribe has at best been trying to force the Bucs to move him to right tackle or guard.
But the fact is the Bucs have no plans to unseat any of their projected offensive line starters. That’s the word from Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht late Friday night ,after he spoke of the day’s events during the second and third rounds of the NFL draft.
“We are confident with what we have here and once again, it was just two years ago that we were a fifth-leading rushing team and gave up whatever it was, not very many sacks,” Licht said. “It’s really just, [former Buccaneers guard] Logan Mankins is a great player, but we have the same group. In fact, we added, hopefully [guard] J.R. [Sweezy] stays on track where he is right now. We’re very excited about this group. Not to say that there wasn’t a point when we thought about bringing in some depth or we might here [Saturday], but we are happy.”
Joe has always been in lock-step with Licht in that it wasn’t the offensive line that was the problem last year, it was the running backs. In particular, it was a guy who let his teammates twist in the wind during a playoff chase while he ingested the wrong PED (allegedly).
Well, here is the rub: It seems the Bucs, in the midst of what experts believe is a ridiculously deep draft for running backs, don’t appear to have any interest in drafting a running back, either.
So if last year the offensive line wasn’t the problem, and the team doesn’t seem interested in adding to the running back corps despite a deep draft at that position, Joe can only imagine the howls from Sarasota to Cocoa Beach if the running game is trash this fall like it was last year, tied for fourth-worst in yards per carry.
April 29th, 2017 at 2:14 am
Marlon mack asap
April 29th, 2017 at 2:19 am
I’m fine with the OL but I am disappointed in the Justin Evans pick … had we just kept McDougal we wouldn’t have needed to draft a safety and could have just included the 5th rounder to move up and grab Dalvin Cook.
You better believe I’d rather have Cook AND McDougald than ONLY Justin Evans …
April 29th, 2017 at 2:21 am
I also thought they traded their 4th and 6h to move up and grab Semaj Perine … not an injured LB 🙁
April 29th, 2017 at 2:28 am
I can’t believe Marlon Mack is still available. This kid runs like Shady McCoy.
April 29th, 2017 at 2:38 am
Nklnut that’s what I thought,I would of bet money on it.
April 29th, 2017 at 3:15 am
Like sophmore homecoming started out on fire 30 seconds later everything messed up
April 29th, 2017 at 3:31 am
So you are great when licht says the online is fine, but not when he says running backs are fine? Illogical joes.
April 29th, 2017 at 4:00 am
Seen a mock draft where Pernie, Hill, and Mack all went in the 4th round.. really wanted Pernie
April 29th, 2017 at 4:15 am
It’s always something with this team, get us excited by getting OJ, then blatantly refuse to upgrade our weakest position, just like our WR corps last year, so frustrating how the entire fanbase knows something, but the management can’t figure something out. #BUCSANITY
April 29th, 2017 at 4:23 am
Beckwith might be a beast, but he’s coming off injury, and plays a position that is on the field 40% of the time, that if he even beats out Bond. Is there a plan on putting him in the middle and moving Kwon to WLB to replace LVD in a couple of years?? That’s a big fat NO!!!! Licht seems to be drinking too much craft beer sometimes, OJ was pure luck, Evans is reaching for a need, Godwin was luck again, and Beckwith was reaching for a non need, can anyone make any sense of it??!!
April 29th, 2017 at 4:44 am
If you read between the lines in Licht’s statement he’s basically saying the loss of Mankins combined with the loss of Sweezy last year was what set them back. Not the running backs (and not the offensive tackles either). Their lack of interest in a top running back in the draft proves this is the correct reading of their thoughts.
Also, add to that the fact they’re moving Marpet to center to make room for Sweezy at RG and you see another read-between-the-lines move that says the center position was also partially to blame in the eyes of the Bucs staff.
With these moves it seems obvious they feel comfortable now with 4 of the 5 OL positions (LT, C, RG, RT) going into training camp. My question is how comfortable are they at LG? I’m curious, because Pamphile was solid but average there last year. I wonder if Benenoch is in their plans this year? I know the OL can be boring to many fans but I’m intrigued to see how the LG position shakes out.
April 29th, 2017 at 4:50 am
Personally don’t think Bucs intention is to play Beckwith at Sam LB. He’s a middle LB by training with the size & attitude to knock some snot out of folks. My guess is that the Bucs want to shift Kwon back to strongside LB (his original position until Lovie got ahold of him) but keep Kwon & David on the field on obvious passing downs. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out, but I just don’t see Beckwith as a Sam.
April 29th, 2017 at 4:50 am
lol Right Lurker? Too funny
Anyone with eyes saw that it wasn’t just the RBs lol.
April 29th, 2017 at 4:51 am
Kwon isn’t moving out of MLB lol
April 29th, 2017 at 5:02 am
No justifiable reason to let AP and Dalvin walk. Needed to sign both imo.
The Goodwin pick was meh, especially with Dede Westbrook on the board.
April 29th, 2017 at 5:09 am
Seems like we wanted get bigger and thumpers to stop running backs, we were too small against the cowboys.
April 29th, 2017 at 5:18 am
Hope we can land Brian Hill in the 5th, which is 55 picks away, Jamal Williams, Joe Williams, Jeremy McNichols, Samarje Perine, Aaron Jones, Wayne Gallman, that’s 7 decent backs available, we can’t pass on all of these guys, right? Relying on Martin, Quizz, Sims and Barber to propel this offense to the next level would be criminal, rather trade for Jeremy Hill, sign Jamal Charles
April 29th, 2017 at 5:27 am
Kendall Beckwith is a great pick!!!
MLB who cant cover very well are perfect SLBs!!
He is big, strong, fast, and can shed blockers.
He has 4.6 speed. So he can cover space and get in the backfield.
Great pick!!
April 29th, 2017 at 5:44 am
Forgot about Mack
April 29th, 2017 at 6:08 am
Maybe if RB so deep this year they figure there could be some quality backs let go after draft? Wouldn’t want to bank on it myself… but…
April 29th, 2017 at 6:16 am
Coming around to Beckwith, LVD isn’t getting much younger, and he’s getting expensive, Bond Beckwith and Kwon LBs of the future
April 29th, 2017 at 6:21 am
This looks like a really strong draft. Looking forward to the season. Bucs will compete for playoffs this year. That’s been my hope and prediction. Takes time to build a winner. Bucs well on the way.
April 29th, 2017 at 6:47 am
well blount is still out there not signed, still alot of wheeling and dealing left out there to be done
April 29th, 2017 at 6:54 am
It appears the doug martin who was given a boatload of money, the one who was 2nd in the nfl in rushing a year ago, is expected back. No way we could get rid of him unless one of the few rbs left who can start are on the board in the 5th. I understand we are finally in win now mode but i hate trading away picks. Licht thought we were in win mode last year too. At least the kickers name wasnt called at end of round 3. Overall i like what he has done. Very solid draft, just want to trade down or use all our picks for once. Go bucs
April 29th, 2017 at 6:56 am
OMG.. this is the 3rd time in week. Sheesh!!
April 29th, 2017 at 6:58 am
So we have 1- 5th round pick after we traded our 4th and 6th? i think and hope we get Mack and they probably know something we don’t so i’ll sit and watch, Mack in the 5th and a few DE’s, CB’s un-drafted prospects id be fine with that outcome.
April 29th, 2017 at 7:06 am
Right tackle will be our next pick.
So far as rb, Blount can be brought in for a year.
April 29th, 2017 at 7:15 am
Moving Marpet to center is acknowledging that OL needs to be upgraded, even you Joe have admitted that center play last year was a problem.
Licht won’t trash his guys in front of the press. if Running backs were the main problem, then a one would have been drafted already.
April 29th, 2017 at 7:19 am
I agree I was a little disappointed that Forman and a couple of other backs went early. But now that I have had my breakfast and my head is clear I have a few IMO’s I’d like to post. First if memory serves me Koetter told us a few months ago he was satisfied with his RB’s. He told us after the Season he wanted more explosive plays on offense. Well Jameis got his weapons in Djax. Howard, and Godwin. The way I see it when defenses see our receiving corp whoever we have at RB is going to improve. I really believe Doug may have a decent season, added to Rodgers, and Sims and a decent OL. I love the Beckwith pick, Ok with the Evans pick. Some one made the point above that Mc Dougald might be available, he filled in well at times last year. I was surprised we let him go so easy. Overall I think the Bic’s really improved over the offseason and we still have 2 picks, a group of UDFA”s, and enough cap space to add a few need players as we get into training camp. I think the Bic’s will be fine and for all the Boo..hoooers out there try to have a nice day.
April 29th, 2017 at 7:23 am
My dam auto correct thinks Buc’s and Bic’s are the same thing. Sorry
April 29th, 2017 at 7:51 am
Just because the Bucs chose not to address the Oline does not mean they didn’t need to. The “number crunchers” were comparing them to the other 31 offensive lines and the Bucs came up short. We give the oline too much credit because Winston has above average talent at avoiding pressure.
April 29th, 2017 at 7:52 am
@Pawel … “Seems like we wanted get bigger and thumpers to stop running backs, we were too small against the cowboys.” I’m thinking the same thing. Zeke had 23 rushes … half of them were between the LG & C. IOW, straight down the gut. Kwon & David played 99% of the defensive snaps; Daryl Smith played 33%. Don’t think our SAM could’ve done much about Zeke’s taking it down the middle. It’s not just the Cowboys though … most of the teams are working to get bigger in the OLine (like the Raiders & Titans among others).
April 29th, 2017 at 8:22 am
Hey look dougie fresh just popped some more molly and he’s moonwalking on the 50 yard line
April 29th, 2017 at 8:37 am
TJ Logan from North Carolina has all kinds of juice!!!
April 29th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Totally agree with some of the other posters. The o line shuffle this off season proves that the o line had some flaws and the team is trying to fix it. Licht is going to talk bad about his o line. It is the o line he hand crafted after all. But moving Marpet to center is an obvious quick fix to improve the o line play.
What shuffling did the RBs do this year? What new RBs were added? What RBs were let go into retirement? None. We have the EXACT same group at RB that we had 6 months ago.
Joe might be in denial, but the o line was an issue. And the bucs are acrively working to correct those issues. And can’t see how you can read it any other way.
April 29th, 2017 at 8:55 am
When Licht chooses not to upgrade the oline the Joes infer that he doesn’t think the oline was a problem but rather the run game, specifically Martin was the problem. But when Licht chooses not to upgrade the RB position and all but blame the poor oline for poor performance running the ball Joe continues to infer that the problem is the RB position, specifically Martin!
Agenda much?
This phony high-powered perception and analysis is coming from a couple of guys that love to bash other outfits whose whole business is football analysis yet can’t see past their own publicized agendas and conflicts of interest! Too funny.
Keep up the good work! All that wasted time and energy on Dalvin Cook!
April 29th, 2017 at 8:55 am
With the firepower we’ll be sending out at WR, TE, and slot, our RB’s won’t be looking at stacked boxes. Quizz is a tough man. He’s playing with a lot of passion. Our running game is gonna be great. Play action and screens are gonna work just fine. We’re good. We are gonna be a tough team to defend each and every play.
April 29th, 2017 at 9:14 am
Jamal Charles is available…Blount is available. The passing game is so lethal now, the RB doesn’t need to be a stud. Think plug & play like the Patriots…Evans &Howard are the focus….You can’t realistically think the entire offense is going to be All Pros…RB is no longer the focal point of offenses, but now share duties in a role.
April 29th, 2017 at 9:33 am
Hey let’s just watch our bucs during camp and watch preseason. We can all say we know what the bucs should have drafted but we don’t have a clue to the direction our staff is taking the team. We are watching from the outside. I too was upset during the draft but let’s stick to our day jobs and let them do the same. Cause if we end up in the playoffs I won’t be questioning their choices then just like all you other people.
April 29th, 2017 at 11:51 pm
Joe is just being contrary to be contrary. He’s blind in one eye got cataracts in the other. It’s amazing he didn’t watch the same games we watched. Same baloney it’s not the lines fault blah blah blah. Fameis was running for his life many times and sacked 12 more times and our run game sucked. Not just Martins fault. The proof was in the pudding but don’t matter now. New season new line can’t be the same results.