Explains o-line comments.
At least in Joe’s mind, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht made a bolder than bold statement about his team earlier this week.
When Licht took to the podium at the Indiana Convention Center, the beehive of the combine, in downtown Indianapolis, Licht declared his offensive line to be the best room on the Bucs.
“We have an offensive line who I think, we think, is very, very good,” Licht said. “It’s one of our strongest rooms in the in the building, if not the strongest.”
This from a general manager of a team that has a wide receiver room of Mike Evans (if he is re-signed), Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and (if he is re-signed) Sterling Shepard.
So when Licht appeared later the same day on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” Joe admitted to Licht that he was taken aback by Licht’s statement.
Oh, Joe agrees with Licht that the line is damn good — when healthy. Very good. But holy cow, how deep is the Bucs’ receivers room? Joe has never seen a group this deep. Hell, Tez Johnson could likely start for Arizona or the Raiders. And he’s at the bottom of the food chain for Bucs receivers.
So when Licht was on Ira’s pod, he detailed why he said what he said. And Licht admitted, he may be a bit subjective because he was an old offensive lineman.
“I certainly didn’t mean to take anything away from anyone else or any other room,” Licht said. “And we certainly have an outstanding receiving room. Thank you for giving me an opportunity and a platform to clarify that.
“Being an ex-offensive lineman, I just am very proud of the way we as an organization have assembled that room and the chemistry that they have and the importance of that room.
“If you don’t have great offensive linemen, you are maybe not going to be able to realize how good your receiver room is with their protection and ability to produce in the run game as well. For me saying that … I think everything on offense begins and ends with the offensive line.”
Well, Joe totally agrees with Licht that without a good offensive line, it’s like having a leash on your offense. Can’t dip into the full playbook without time to throw.
And Joe does think Licht makes a good point. One reason the Bucs receivers are so great is that when the offensive line was healthy, they allowed Mayfield to create plays.
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Jason Licht Says Bucs’ Offensive Line (When Healthy) Is Best Unit On The Team