The guys in the trenches are the least heralded and usually a mere afterthought by many, yet have the greatest impact on the game. Solidifying a team’s offensive and defensive line, is akin to that of a master craftsmen, pouring his foundation on a customer luxury home. They don’t start by building the roof first, they start with ground prep and laying a true foundation to build up from. Getting the foundation set is the cornerstone to building a great team. It starts with offensive and defensive linemen.
Generally speaking offensive line performance is not affected by a quarterback, whereas a quarterback's performance almost completely depends on how well the protection holds up. This is true with running backs to some degree, as well. Great offensive lines keep their quarterback upright, give receivers time to get open and create holes for their running backs.
Switching to the defensive side of the line and the two most important things for a defense is stopping the run while creating pressure. Build a dominant defensive line and teams are reward by their abilities to take over games.
Philosophy dictates what teams do in the draft. When a team drafts a player in the first three rounds, that player is expected to contribute within the first two years. Whether a team chooses to address either offense or defense line first doesn't matter, as long as they stick to whatever their plan is, and build outward.
You win football games in the trenches!
Which requires players who are big, fast, strong, agile, tough, durable and versatile playing along both lines. Anything you build, you want to build it from the ground up with a solid foundation to allow your skilled positions to maximize their ceilings.
The Bucs, have drafted what many believe is a franchise caliber quarterback, in Jameis Winston. Yet, in the four drafts Jason Licht has orchestrated, the team has largely neglected the defensive line and to some extent merely dabbled with finding key contributors to protect Winston.
Looking at where Licht has spent his draft resource capital, for players largely projected to contribute in their first two years, and its concerning that over the course of four drafts he has selected 13 players in the first three rounds, with 10 of them more of the skilled position variety. And, only one player for the defensive line. Nine of them are dependent upon how either the offensive or defensive line plays.
1st Round Selections
Wide Receiver (Mike Evans, 2014)
Quarterback (Jameis Winston, 2015)
Cornerback (Vernon Hargreaves, 2016)
Tight End (OJ Howard, 2017)
2nd Round Selections
Tight End (Austin Seferian-Jenkins, 2014)
Kicker (Roberto Aguayo, 2006)
Defensive End (Noah Spence, 2016)
Offensive Tackle (Donovan Smith, 2015)
Guard / Center (Ali Marpet, 2015)
Safety (Justin Evans, 2017)
3rd Round Selections
Running Back (Charles Sims, 2014)
Wide Receiver (Chris Godwin, 2017)
Linebacker (Kendell Beckwith, 2017)
Its evident, Licht has been building from the outside or top down. Which is why this team is so damn maddening to watch. Looking over potential draftable prospects for the trenches….And the trench players along the defensive line looks to be head and shoulders above offensive trench players, leading up to the 2018 draft.
Defensive Ends
Bradley Chubb (DE, NC State)
Clelin Ferrell (DE, Clemson)
Sam Hubbard (DE, Ohio State)
Marcus Davenport (DE, UTSA)
Duke Ejiofor (DE, Wake Forest)
Austin Bryant (DE, Clemson)
Tyquan Lewis (DE, Ohio State)
Ade Aruna (DE, Tulane)
Rasheem Green (DE, USC)
Chad Thomas, DE, Miami
Edge
Arden Key (Edge, LSU)
Dorance Armstrong (Edge, Kansas)
Harold Landry (Edge, Boston College)
Carl Granderson (Edge, Wyoming)
Josh Sweat (Edge, Florida State)
Lorenzo Carter (Edge, Georgia)
Jaylon Ferguson (Edge, Louisiana Tech)
Sione Teuhema (Edge, Southeast Louisiana)
Defensive Tackles
Tim Settle (DT, Virginia Tech)
Taven Bryan (DT, Florida)
Dre'Mont Jones (DT, Ohio State)
Maurice Hurst (DT, Michigan)
Vita Vea (DT, Washington)
Da’Ron Payne (DT, Alabama)
Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)
Derrick Nnadi (DT, Florida State)
Trent Thompson (DT, Georgia)
Guards
Quenton Nelson (G, Notre Dame)
Billy Price (G, Ohio State)
Will Hernandez (G, UTEP)
Beau Benzschawel (G, Wisconsin)
Braden Smith (G, Auburn)
Ross Pierschbacher (G, Alabama)
Tackles
Connor Williams (T, Texas)
Mike McGlinchey (T, Notre Dame)
Trey Adams (T, Washington)
Chukwuma Okorafor (T, Western Michigan)
Martez Ivey (T, Florida)
Orlando Brown (T, Oklahoma)
