Building The Offensive Line
July 24th, 2023
Code cracked?
Nothing, and Joe means nothing, gets Bucs fans to howl at the moon quite like mentioning the offensive line.
So even though this is a neat look at how Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht builds an offensive line, Joe is confident several commenters, will wail how the Bucs’ offensive line is surely the spark behind global warming and the Ebola virus.
(Hey folks who howl like a black lab about how the Bucs’ offensive line in 2022 was the worst since George Pickett marched outside Gettysburg, how could you have the worst offensive line in the game and yet have the best right tackle in the game? Please riddle Joe that, Batman.)
Brandon Thorn, who built a unique cottage industry for himself spending most of his waking hours studying offensive line play, thinks he may have cracked the code of Licht’s roster-building when it comes to the interior offensive line.
Licht likes small school dudes and Thorn thinks he knows why.
For those that don’t know much about Matt Feiler, he comes from Division-II Bloomsburg (Pa.) by way of the Steelers and Chargers. He joins Ryan Jensen (Division-II Colorado State-Pueblo) and Cody Mauch (Division I-AA North Dakota State) on the small school gang.
Joe believes Thorn is onto something about the mentality. But there are other factors Joe thinks Thorn missed. On is the small school syndrome.
Licht likes guys with an edge to them on the offensive line. Licht loves guys with big personalities because he has said his research shows guys with big personalities are often workaholics, and workaholics are more likely to max out their talents than dudes who think they’ve got it all figured out.
Also, small school guys seem to have the mindset that they have to bust their arses harder to prove they can play.
Sometimes, all it takes is an edge like that to succeed.
July 24th, 2023 at 3:57 am
I’m excited to see this new O line in action. This unit is being built to run block. I’m looking forward to some smash mouth football, with big plays out of play action in the passing game.
July 24th, 2023 at 4:56 am
‘Joe is confident someone, or perhaps several commenters, will wail how the Bucs offensive line is surely the spark behind global warming and the Ebola virus.’
Oh that is such a nice touch Joe. Can’t say as I’ve ever seen anyone use global warming AND Ebola virus in the same metaphorical way. Awesome!
Like Hodad, I’m excited to see how our revamped OLine will do this season, although I don’t expect Mauch to be 1 of the starting 5 in Game 1. Like Cappa & Hainsey & Goedeke & others before him, chances are good that it’ll take a year to build NFL strength & blocking techniques. Wirfs already had that when he arrived as a rookie (and more).
July 24th, 2023 at 5:37 am
I think at this point JL has definitely earned our trust in building the O-line. I know that last year was painful, but that wasn’t completely Jason’s fault. You remove quality lineman like Jenson and Maupet in the blink of an eye and see how you do. I think giving JL’s record, the o-line will be very good this year.
July 24th, 2023 at 7:08 am
I think the O Line is going to very good this year and I’m the eternal pessimist.
July 24th, 2023 at 8:25 am
I think this is the most excited I’ve been to watch O-line in a while. I just want to see Mauch & Jensen double teaming a guy lol
July 24th, 2023 at 9:09 am
Phrasing Cornelius! Phrasing!
July 24th, 2023 at 9:12 am
If Ryan is healthy it will help
TW is clearly a player, was the best right tackle in the game.
But no depth
No right tackle no guards
We would have one of the worst lines in football
July 24th, 2023 at 9:16 am
What….no screaming, whining or “Deliverance” noises……about Wirfs moving to Left Tackle?…..this must be the other Joe.
Surely, it’s the individual player….not the school……we’ve learned that with multiple players over the years.
My eyes will be on Goedeke more than any other player…..
July 24th, 2023 at 10:01 am
“it will be the best offensive line that I’ve been around player-for-player,”
– Canales on Bucs OLine this past week
-sounds like 2000+ yards rushing is going to happen
July 24th, 2023 at 10:15 am
Canales said that??? Its okay to believe and wear the company hat tight but………
July 24th, 2023 at 10:36 am
Two traits I appreciate most about Bucs fans:
1. They love defense
2. They love offensive lines
That’s a savvy crew of football fans.
(BTW Joe, The offense was historically horrible, and now we have a completely revamped line. No other part of the team got a bigger overhaul. Looks like the Licht agrees with your readers. Contrary to the conventional wisdom of some writers, an improved offensive line will make the run game better.)
July 24th, 2023 at 11:00 am
The biggest issue the Bucs have on the OL with Wirfs moving to LT is they have the worst starting RT in the NFL.
July 24th, 2023 at 11:04 am
“Canales said that??? Its okay to believe and wear the company hat tight but………”
PFF had our 2022 OL ranked 9th, the Seahawks ranked 27th and most Buc fans have this idea our OL was league worst because it makes Bradys’ meh ’22 season look better in retrospect which is a massive cop-out, “blame Canada” in real life if you will. Seattles’ OL graded worse than ours but still passed the ball more efficiently, ran the ball MUCH better, and scored more points w/Geno Smith at QB. So plausible Canales is seeing things/capabilities/potential in the personnel he was given control upon signing with us.
July 24th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
“Phrasing Cornelius! Phrasing!”
hahaha yeah i missed that writing it
July 24th, 2023 at 1:09 pm
Are you saying that an OL can’t be bad if one of the lineman is elite?
July 24th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
I wouldnt be counting on Jensen . Sure hope so but not so sure about him being 100 percent beyond that injury .
July 24th, 2023 at 2:59 pm
I love Jensen . But i just don’t see him making it thru 10 +/- games . then ,, who’s the nxt man up ?? & then we see the shuffle of guys to different positions ?? plus injuries ?/ Its a long season
And , this yr we really need a running game ,even more than last yr ; because we don’t have Brady to pull out 4th comebacks
July 24th, 2023 at 6:43 pm
I just wish he were discovering these guys in the fourth round instead of the second. Maybe they aren’t all that low profile?
July 25th, 2023 at 2:46 am
Joe please put down that Big Storm and open your mind.
Simply look back to Paul Gruber. Played on some crap teams with questionable O-lines. With the exception of Grimes. Sound familiar?
Geez
Go Bucs!