The reason the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have kept their heads above water at 2-3 is the least known aspect of their team, but one which has remained healthy all year and that is their offensive line.
Unsung Heroes: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Line
The Bucs’ front five isn’t mentioned among the league’s best offensive lines for a couple of reasons, the main one being that the Buccaneers have a losing record and thus, they won’t get much attention unless they start winning.
Another reason is that the Buccaneers’ offensive line doesn’t really have a household name that gets people excited. The most notable member of the offensive line is a tackle that doesn’t even start and that is Gosder Cherilus. Cherilus has been a right tackle his entire NFL career, and in his ninth season as a pro, he has seen some historical moments.
Cherilus was drafted 17th overall in 2008 out of Boston College by the Detroit Lions and went into the frying pan right away. He played 16 games and started 13 for the Lions, who went 0-16 that season. However, he was there in 2011 when the Lions went 10-6 and made the postseason for the first time since 1999. He played 16 games, started 15 in the process.
After five years with the Lions, Cherilus played with the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons. For 2013 and 2014, Cherilus protected the right side of quarterback Andrew Luck and helped him make the postseason in two consecutive years.
Cherilus started 16 games in 2013. He was apart of the historic comeback against the Chiefs in the Wild Card game, in which Luck rallied the Colts from 38-10 in the second half to win 45-44. The Colts reached the AFC Championship game the following season and Cherilus started 13 games in that season as well. 2015 was his first year with Tampa Bay and he once again started 13 games.
A Group of Contribitors
The other notable lineman is Evan Dietrich-Smith who has been with Tampa Bay for three years, but had success with the great Green Bay Packers‘ line for four years. Other contributors include tackle Demar Dotson, who’s been with the Buccaneers since 2009, tackle Kevin Pamphile, guard Joe Hawley and center Ali Marpet.
In addition to tackle Donovan Smith, the Buccaneers have developed a strong, mobile young line that has meshed and for the most part controlled the line of scrimmage. They have struggled a little blocking the run as the Buccaneers have averaged 3.3 yards per attempt, which is 29th in the NFL.
In spite of Jameis Winston‘s turnover problems this year, and the fact that he is a quarterback who likes to be deliberate in the pocket and let things develop, he’s been sacked only 12 times, which is tied for sixth best in the NFL.
The Buccaneers have already faced some of the best pass rushing teams in the league including the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals. If Winston continues to get the same protection, it’s only a matter of time before he turns that into more positive plays and also turns the Buccaneers’ season in a positive direction.
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