“Get A Veteran In Here!”
May 26th, 2022
Painful loss?
Joe is hearing a lot of non-believers out there when it comes to the Buccaneers’ offensive line.
Seriously.
That was on this display this afternoon when Pat Kirwan, the former Bucs scout and Jets linebackers coach and personnel chief, was bellowing on SiriusXM NFL Radio during a seven-minute breakdown of the Tampa Bay offensive line.
Simply stated, Kirwan will be appalled if the Bucs don’t sign an experienced left guard for depth, or to compete with Aaron Stinnie and rookie second-round pick Luke Goedeke.
Kirwan and co-host Jim Miller, the retired quarterback, really like Goedeke. But they believe he’ll be a strong left guard when Tom Brady is already on to his next career. And neither believes Stinnie has anywhere near the experience necessary to adequately protect a 45-year-old quarterback for 17 games, and to handle being a target for defensive coordinators.
“We have a midline passing quarterback,” Kirwan began. “People come to the conclusion against Brady; blitz him up the middle and make him move off his spot. I think when you see Stinnie or Goedeke, if you see him you’re going to be bringing people off that weakside A or that weakside B gap trying to do it. Donovan Smith’s got his own problems over there.”
Kirwan went on to bark loudly, “Get a veteran in here!” before rattling off a list of experienced backup guard types still on the market.
Joe wanted to tell Kirwan to calm the F down. Bucs General manager Jason Licht has plenty of time to pick up a veteran guard, if necessary. The Bucs had a strong offense in 2015 with two starters off the street: right tackle Gosder Cherilus (signed in mid-August) and center Joe Hawley (September).
Also, Tom Brady has won multiple Super Bowls with rookie guards in front of him, and he was a non-scrambling old quarterback at the time.
Collectively, Kirwan loves the other Bucs’ O-line starters, but he calls Smith “an unusual guy.” And he dropped a Shaq Mason stat that should soothe Bucs fans who think Mason arrived in March from the Patriots as more of a run blocker: Shaq allowed just 2 sacks on 589 pass plays last season.
May 26th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
As the Stomach turns , NOT, lol The O line will be fine. Let’s not forget the Bucs have a surgeon at QB in TB12, getting the ball out with his quick reads and hair trigger release. They will be better at running the ball this year also.
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 26th, 2022 at 7:35 pm
Well…..there’s always the “Earl of Watford”
May 26th, 2022 at 7:37 pm
These guys need to calm down. Bucs have bigger fish to fry. We’ve got FOUR OLinemen who could step in to fill Marpet’s shoes: Goedeke, Stinnie, Hainsey & Leverett. One or more of them will prove more than competent to man our LG position. Bigger concern is DLine right now.
May 26th, 2022 at 7:43 pm
worry over linebacker depth something tells me LVD aint long for this game
May 26th, 2022 at 7:47 pm
I agree with DR.
Offense will be fine. We need more depth in the front four.
May 26th, 2022 at 7:51 pm
@ DR
I agree 100%. Obviously we lost one great/good and one good/average offensive guards this off season.
We picked up one good OG (Mason) to replace Cappa and I would hope one of the players you mentioned can step up and become an average/good OG.
Not to mention – we also signed Fred Johnson who can play both T/G…
May 26th, 2022 at 7:54 pm
@ DR
As far as the DL is concerned – I believe the Bucs will be signing either Suh or another vet DE/DT before training camp.
It probably depends on what Gronk will cost…
May 26th, 2022 at 8:30 pm
This is a tired and old argument. Get Brady off his spot and he struggles. That’s true of most pocket passers. Problem is, you need the defensive personnel to do that, and a really stupid coach that doesn’t adjust the play calling. Yes Mason is more of a road grater, but he only gave up 16 total pressures last year with a rookie QB!! Even if the kid they drafted doesn’t pan out, it’s much easier to hide a deficiency at LG than anywhere else along the line.
May 26th, 2022 at 8:59 pm
Golly, these guys are ignorant. Stinnie handled his own during our super bowl run, Goedeke should be a stud, we have Hainsey, I’m not worried at all about our line. If Brady needs help, we throw Ko as a fullback and call er a day. I’m more worried about our D line than O.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
The o-line is in good hands. Not worried.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:19 pm
Lenny Moore played with Raymond Berry for the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1967. He’s still alive…a veteran!!!
May 26th, 2022 at 10:01 pm
I dont think we lost out on talent but continuity is big on olines
May 26th, 2022 at 10:15 pm
You don’t draft a guard in the 2nd round if he’s not going to start
May 26th, 2022 at 10:24 pm
On my list of concerns, O-line is behind the following:
1. DL depth and Logan Hall being ready
2. JTS growth as a starter in year 2.
3. ILB — D. White consistency and L. David health
4. SS — do we have a strong safety that can cover AND play the run? Is Neal capable of being a force? Can Mike Edwards avoid being a liability against the run?
5. CB — staying healthy and consistency from CB2 and CB3. Can Zyon become a good rotational guy in year one?
6. TE — does Gronk return and how long do the rookies take to step into productive roles.
7. WR – health and depth
8. K — Can Borregales be consistent enough to beat Succop.
And then there’s…
9. OL — how does the transition to 2 new guards go in terms of cohesion and who wins the LG job?
So, yeah… LG and overall line play is a concern…. A relatively minor one.
May 26th, 2022 at 11:04 pm
It’s not like all these players are just growing on trees. 31 other teams want great guards and tackles and centers too.
It always gets me how one position not being a top 10 player at the position, and it’s a glaring gaping hole or something. There’s no team that has all-pros at every position.
May 26th, 2022 at 11:04 pm
Mason, Koedeke, Stinnie, Hainsey, Leverett. Bucs are way deep at OG.
May 26th, 2022 at 11:11 pm
Buccos…Trade up in the second round not to start.
May 26th, 2022 at 11:32 pm
Mason, Jensen, Stinnie, Hainsey, Goedeke….
I’m not worried about the Buccaneers O line except back up tackle.
Still more curious about them adding another DT in to the rotation and really really really hoping JTS takes a big step forward
May 26th, 2022 at 11:53 pm
You’re gonna need a clipboard sasquatch.
Leopold, I couldn’t agree more.
GOB, excellent post. Wake up call re: “a really stupid coach that doesn’t adjust the play calling.” I know you were not referring to Todd, but he has the most on the line, imo. he’ll want to put his stamp on early and probably not on offense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see dwhite leading the team in sacks.
DR, Marine…✊🏼
May 27th, 2022 at 5:32 am
That idiot needs to shout a lot louder. My underwear is muffling his voice.
May 27th, 2022 at 5:37 am
Depth at dline and LB are my biggest worries too.
May 27th, 2022 at 7:32 am
More concerned about edge and ILB.
The only thing we lacking at LG is experience. Talent and depth are there.
May 27th, 2022 at 9:14 am
I could not disagree with Kirwin more.
Of all the OL positions, OG may be the easiest for a rook to learn and do well. Stinnie or Goedeke will be just fine, not to mention they both will get a ton of reps in PS.
May 27th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
STINNIE WON THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP AND SUPER BOWL
You don’t think he was a target during the playoff run? Stinnie is solid.
May 27th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Easiest place to plug in a player is at guard. Even if it’s the rookie Goedeke he’ll be next to a pro bowl center, and a top notch vet LT. Oh, and Tom has seen his share of A gap blitz’s, lol, bring it.
May 27th, 2022 at 1:41 pm
Geez, O line is the least of the Bucs issues…. Sign Suh and JPP.
May 27th, 2022 at 7:34 pm
I agree that getting quality depth at any position is important. You have to have guys ready to go in case of sniper in New Orleans. Those guys are thugs. They still hit to injure.
Having Shaq Mason is going to help both Stinnie and Goedeke. Mason is not Meh Son. He is an excellent pass and run blocker. Stinnie has a lot of experience now. Goedeke looks like an enforcer for our line. Will Luke be now or future? Only time will tell. We can’t forget that we have Hainsey who has versatility.
Donovan has raised his game. Yes, a lot was due to playing next to Marpet. But when Brady came in, Smith’s game was elevated to a new level.
That is the Brady effect. He elevates people to their best game because they do not want to be the one to disappoint or get the man hit.
‘Fake ass Joes,’ you guys hit this right on the head. 🙂
LFG!!!
GO BUCS!!!
May 27th, 2022 at 9:35 pm
Kirwan is cuuckoo for cocoa puffs and our offensive line is our strongest position group.