Can’t Blame The Offensive Line
November 27th, 2017
Driven
It’s going to be a rough Monday morning for the Donovan Smith haters. How will they stay busy?
And those who regularly claim the Bucs’ offensive line is a steaming pile of garbage, they might have to sing a new song this week.
Look, the O-line isn’t perfect, but it’s never been as bad as so many make it out to be. Their pass blocking has been stellar throughout the season, and it was again Sunday in Atlanta. Of course, mistakes happen and are expected, but many NFL teams absolutely would kill for the pass protection the Bucs get.
Smith, particularly, bounced back from a rough stretch to play a strong game.
The running game even perked up and Joe can’t imagine what the O-linemen are whispering to themselves after formerly winning head coach Dirk Koetter gave up on the rushing attack on 2nd-and-2 in the red zone — with a chance to tie the game late and pound a reeling Falcons defense into submission. The Bucs on that drive had two successful runs in two tries.
Instead, Koetter threw three times. Game over, thanks to the Bucs’ defense (what defense?).
Throw in Demar Dotson and Ali Marpet missing snaps with injuries, and the O-line play looks even better, with Caleb Benenoch and Joe Hawley seeing action.
The Bucs have plenty of problems to scream about. The O-line isn’t one of them today.
November 26th, 2017 at 11:56 pm
“Today” – that the framework for this thread LOL.
November 27th, 2017 at 12:04 am
I wish they’d left Hawley at C, Marpet at G. Hawley’s plays with a chip and every one else buys in. Yeah yeah I know, what about Sweezy.
November 27th, 2017 at 12:12 am
Our team suck!!!
November 27th, 2017 at 12:49 am
so many needs, so few picks
November 27th, 2017 at 5:13 am
Caleb Benenoch did play well, glad to see that.
November 27th, 2017 at 6:08 am
Shouldn’t suck be pluralized? Anyway, give it a week. Next week the OL will suck and the defense will play lights out. It’s how they roll this year.
I’d give Koetter another year with the caveat that he gives up the play calling duties and that he do SOMETHING about his coaching staff.
November 27th, 2017 at 6:25 am
I would have liked to have seen a half-back pass ala the wr pass from Sanu earlier in the game. Suck the defense up with a toss pitch and let Sims or even Barber lob obe to a receiver in the end zone. I think it would have been the perfect play call against their defense…ah, hindsight. Could of have three cracks to run there as well…
November 27th, 2017 at 8:01 am
For a couple of years I’ve been calling Koetter out for running too much in the red zone….killing drives. That is because the run wasn’t working in those games…
I was shocked that he passed 3 times on 2nd and 2….
The killer was the 1 yd pass to Humphries…..how in the world to you go out for a 1 yard pass when you need 2?
For me….the right up the gut runs with Peyton Barber…..who rarely loses yardage would be the calls.
As for Barber’s low runs per carry…..two of his runs for TDs were very short yardage….those brought his average down,
November 27th, 2017 at 8:04 am
Who needs to run the ball anyways?
November 27th, 2017 at 8:45 am
Keep Hawley at center.
Sweezy and Marpet at guard.
Boom. A beter O-line.
Also,
@joe
Did you see Dotson playing on ONE LEG!!!??
The guy played through serious pain!
He has developed into one of the best RT’s in the league.
From an un drafted basketball player, to the 2nd ranked pass blocking RT in the NFL.
Demar Dotson needs an extension!! Yesterday!
Can we please lock up Dotson and Grimes before the offseason??
November 27th, 2017 at 9:49 am
Effective pass blocking does not necessarily equate to good run blocking.
Sometimes, quite the opposite.
Often in the run game the OL was blown backwards ~looking~ like pass protection.
The run blocking is abysmal and has been for two seasons now.
November 27th, 2017 at 10:33 am
Licht has totally mismanaged the personnel of this team and turned it into cleveland south, look at the Bills, Eagles and Jags as teams that turned it around in less time, the OL is a disaster and marpet cannot play center and needs to stick to guard, smith is not an LT to protect the franchise
November 27th, 2017 at 11:18 am
The hell with the best five,use the KISS principal : If Marpet is the best guard then he should play guard,Dotson is the best Tackle. So now all you have to do is insert the best center and solve the other taclkle and guard positions. I
November 27th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
“Pass blocking has been stellar”…
Totally – only 2 of the 3 QBs on our roster have gone down with injury so far this season. Just stellar.
They did actually play better yesterday. Maybe they are finally improving, but reality is the o-line has absolutely been as bad as many have been saying all season. Only 3 games out of 11 have they actually had any success run blocking.
November 27th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
They played “better”, I’ll give you that. Still, it’d be nice if they could string together some consistency.
Our “trenches” have been an abyss of productivity.
November 27th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
“You can’t blame the O-Line!”…nothing could be father from the TRUTH!!!