Finding the Fits: Rookie blockers key to Winston's growth, Bucs' revivalBy Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.comJune 18, 2015 11:44 pm ET 
This is part of a series -- Finding the Fits -- in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2015 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.Tampa Bay's best fit: OG Ali Marpet, Hobart, No. 61 overallIt is the nature of the game for quarterbacks to receive all of the attention and for offensive linemen to be relegated to the background. In Tampa Bay, however, the contrast between No. 1 overall pick, Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Jameis Winston and former D-III left tackle Ali Marpet is especially striking.If the Bucs are to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007, the flashy, charismatic Winston must prove every bit the franchise quarterback general manager Jason Licht and head coach Love Smith think he is. For Winston to do that, Marpet will have to quickly adapt to the much greater size and athleticism he'll see in the NFL. To complicate matters even further, Marpet will do so while making the switch to right guard.The blue-collar work ethic and tenacity that caused Marpet to stand out almost immediately at the Senior Bowl are just a few of the reasons why Licht and Smith believe the small schooler can handle such a difficult transition. Despite all of his collegiate experience coming at tackle, the 6-foot-4, 307 pound Marpet looked like a natural at left guard when asked to slide inside at the Senior Bowl. He wasn't overwhelmed by the competition but instead reacted aggressively to the closer quarters, showing a good punch, as well as the balance and awareness to help teammates in pass protection. He showed enough power to get a push in the running game and swiftly arrived at the second level.For some skeptics, the acclimation seemed almost too good to be true. A humble, hard-working small school prospect standing out against the best football players in the country? It sounded more like a project for his father, Bill -- an Emmy-award winning director -- than reality.Marpet shattered the try-hard typecast by wowing scouts at the combine with his athleticism. Not only did he ran fastest among all of the offensive linemen tested there (4.98 seconds in the 40-yard dash), Marpet also finished second in the short shuttle (4.47 seconds) and 3 cone drill (7.33). Each of these tests are designed to test explosiveness and change of direction - traits critical to his success blocking on the move in offensive coordinator's Dirk Koetter's scheme. The biggest adjustment for many tackles moving inside to guard is the close proximity and greater need for pure strength. Marpet finished tied for 5th among all Combine offensive linemen, posting 30 repetitions of 225 pounds.The storybook rise for Marpet as the draft approached was well documented and may have influenced the Bucs' decision to trade up for him. Marpet may very well have been available to Tampa Bay with first pick of the third round, but Licht wasn't willing to gamble and the Bucs traded up four spots (with Indianapolis) to snag him at No. 61 overall, the earliest a Division III player has ever been drafted into the NFL."Ali has a typical offensive lineman's mentality we liked in New England," Licht told USA Today's Jim Corbett following last month's rookie minicamp. "He just looks like an offensive lineman, like a young Logan Mankins. He's super athletic. And above the neck, he's really smart, really humble and a hard worker."While comparing any rookie to a five-time All-Pro like Mankins seems premature, Licht would know, having twice worked in New England's scouting department and trading for the 10-year veteran left guard last year.Between Mankins and Marpet, the play at guard should improve. For that success to translate into more wins, the entire offensive line must be better than it was a year ago, when the club finished tied for 30th (with San Francisco) in the NFL with 52 sacks allowed.Fellow rookie Donovan Smith should be a "big" part of the solution, as the 6-foot-6, 338 pound left tackle can dominate opponents when focused. The game seems to come easy for Smith as he possesses incredibly light feet to go along with his size and natural power but he developed a reputation as being a bit lazy at Penn State. Smith certainly was impressive in person in Mobile, however. Playing next to the no-nonsense Mankins (and rooming with Marpet) could go a long way towards helping Smith maximize his talent. Adding Smith allows the Bucs to move Demar Dotson back to his more natural right tackle position.While some growing pains are expected as the new front five gel, the talent level along Tampa Bay's offensive line is the best it has been in years. That should mean a cleaner pocket for Winston and a more dependable running game - the best protection of all for a rookie quarterback.Other thoughts on the Buccaneers' 2015 draft class:Surrounded by talent and used to success, Winston is facing a significant challenge with the Bucs, who haven't qualified for the playoffs since trotting out Jeff Garcia at quarterback. Pressure is nothing new for Winston, of course, and he seems well prepared to handle it. Scouts and coaches who put him through whiteboard exercises prior to the draft raved about his football intelligence, something that has been echoed by Tampa Bay personnel since.Winston's film room dedication and instincts are impressive but physically, his greatest assets are his size and strength, functional mobility and strong, accurate arm. Winston's ability to consistently place the ball through tight windows make his "projection" to the NFL much simpler than the adjustment that Marcus Mariota will be making in Tennessee and Winston has the built-in advantage of Tampa's already established pass-catching corps of Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins. With each standing 6-foot-5 or taller, Tampa's top receivers boast the size to take full advantage of the rookie quarterback's precision passing. Day Three picks Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay add straight-line speed, giving Winston plenty of big play targets in Koetter's aggressive vertical passing attack.Koetter's offense is aggressive and because Winston is a gambler, the combination could lead to some ugly interceptions early on. I'll bet he throws more touchdowns than interceptions, however, and helps Tampa Bay take a strong step forward in the division in 2015. By doing so, Winston could very well be in the discussion for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. I believe it will prove only the start of a long, distinguished career for Winston in Tampa Bay.Tampa Bay's 2015 draft class:•1st Round, No. 1 overall: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State•2nd Round, No. 34 overall: OT Donovan Smith, Penn State•2nd Round, No. 61 overall: OG Ali Marpet, Hobart•4th Round, No. 124 overall: ILB Kwon Alexander, LSU•5th Round, No. 162 overall: WR Kenny Bell, Nebraska•6th Round, No. 184 overall: WR Kaelin Clay, Utah•7th Round, No. 231 overall: FB Joey Iosefa, HawaiiKey Undrafted Free Agents Signed:•DT Quayshawne Buckley, Idaho•S Chris Hackett, TCU•WR Rannell Hall, Central Florida
