The Tampa Bay Bucs have one of the worst and most overrated lines in the league. Players such as Donald Penn, Jeff Faine, Jeremy Trueblood, and Davin Joseph are players who are considered to be good; but they are in fact among the worst offensive linemen in the league. Penn is considered by some to be a top ten tackle, but he is a major liability at left tackle. Jeff Faine signed a massive deal to play for Tampa, but he is one of the worst centers in the game. Davin Joseph recently re-signed and was given far too much money, and Trueblood is the player I will examine in this post.

To illustrate how poor Trueblood is as a run blocker, the Bucs were the 25th worst team at runs to the right tackle and the 26th worst at runs to the right end. These numbers are according to Football Outsiders. While Trueblood was excellent in 2008- the same with fellow tackle Donald Penn, he was absolutely awful in 2007, 2009, and 2010. Although Penn still has some value, Trueblood is a player who really shouldn't be starting at this level. He's really only a depth-guy at best.

While Trueblood is a poor run-blocker, he is even worse in pass protection. He is arguably the worst pass-blocking right tackle in the NFL, and he was beyond putrid last season. According to the Pro Football Focus, the Bucs had the 2nd worst Pressure Per Play percentage. The Pro Football Focus's Pass Blocking Efficiency statistic rates Jeremy Trueblood as the 5th worst pass blocking right tackle in the NFL; I couldn't agree more with that statement.

See, Trueblood struggles mightily in pass protection, and this is especially true against speedy edge rushers. In short, he is one of the worst tackles in the league and does not deserve a starting spot on the Bucs offensive line. It's amazing how Josh Freeman and LeGarrette Blount can succeed with such an inferior line "protecting" them. It's also amazing how people say that Jeremy Trueblood is an underrated player; he's not. If anything, he's overrated and is a lousy right tackle at that.

5th worst PBE among RTs

Sources:

www.footballoutsiders.com
www.profootballfocus.com

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Joe Soriano - Category: Bucs, Davin Joseph, Donald Penn, Jeff Faine, Jeremy Trueblood, Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount

Email this Post to a Friend

3/2011 Team Scope: Tampa Bay Bucs

March 12th 2011 14:35

I realize that there is a lockout, and it obviously both angers and disappoints me that both sides were more concerned in their own pride instead of trying to actually bargain. I know that there were a few people that kept their integrity in all of this, but I also know that there were those that didn't. Regardless, after much deliberation I have decided to continue to write about football. This is another team scope that thoroughly reviews a team's roster and their strengths and weaknesses. Enjoy.

Davin Joseph and Jeff Faine are mainstays in the interior, and I really like Donald Penn at left tackle. The problem with this team is the right side of the offensive line. Their right guard isn't so good, and they desperately need a right tackle. The combination of Jeremy Trueblood and James Lee doesn't cut it. LaGarrette Blount is a good running back that really breaks out of the hole extremely well. He is a physical runner that is extremely explosive. Cadillac Williams has almost the same kind of skill-set, so the Bucs are set with their running game.

We all know how good Josh Freeman and receiver Mike Williams are. Kellen Winslow Jr. is the guy that really opens things up for Williams, and his contributions to the Bucs are beyond what any stat sheet can say. Sammie Stroughter isn't a number two wide receiver in this league, but he can be a number 3 guy. Arrelious Benn has some promise, but I would like to see the Bucs try to draft another receiver in like the third round to put into the mix.

Gerald McCoy and Brian Price look like a nice tandem in the middle of the defensive line for years to come. I love McCoy's upside. However, the Bucs' defensive ends are terrible at generating pass rush. Stylez G. White is serviceable, but they very much need a pass rusher that can actually get to the quarterback. Geno Hayes is a pretty good player, and Barrett Ruud is the heart of this defense. They really need him to stay if they want to still be successful using the Tampa 2.

Aqib Talib is an insanely talented player. EJ Biggers has some talent, but he makes far too many mistakes. Ronde Barber is falling off, but he knows what he's doing. That's an interesting pair up at nickel and 2nd corner respectively. I think the Bucs might want to think about bringing in a corner in the draft because Barber's time in the league is almost up. Tanard Jackson needs to figure out what is going on in his life, but in the meantime, Sean Jones is showing why he was once one of the best safeties in the AFC when he played with the Cleveland Browns. Jones is a very underrated player.

Michael Spurlock is a very good returner that averages nearly 26 yards per kickoff return. Connor Barth is a solid kicker, but I don't really like their punter Robert Malone. I think the Bucs have a solid special teams unit. The Bucs have a solid offense that is anchored by a strong running game. Their defense needs to get a dynamic pass rusher to become relevant again. Overall, the Bucs are a solid young team that will once again threaten for a playoff spot.