FAB 2. Benenoch The Future At Offensive Tackle

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has a plan of drafting an offensive lineman nearly every year, to keep stockpiling talent to protect the team’s most important investment – franchise quarterback Jameis Winston.

Even before Winston’s arrival, Licht spent two fifth-round draft picks on East Tennessee guard Kadeem Edwards and Purdue tackle Kevin Pamphile in 2014, and then added two more linemen in the second round in Penn State tackle Donovan Smith and Hobart guard Ali Marpet the next year immediately after Winston was drafted. In 2016, Licht spent a fifth-rounder on UCLA tackle Caleb Benenoch, but after adding four offensive linemen (Edwards was cut after one year) in three drafts, Licht could take a year off to address other positions, which he did in 2017.

After a position switch from guard to tackle this year, Benenoch, who is entering his second year in the league, is a big part of the Bucs’ future plans.

Bucs OL Caleb Benenoch – Photo courtesy of UCLA

“In Caleb’s case, he’s graduating early – young guy,” Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said after Benenoch was drafted. “But he’s got 35 starts, 31 of them as a right tackle. As Jason said, [run game coordinator/offensive line coach] George [Warhop] went out there and spent a lot of time with him and we feel like he could be a guard or a tackle. That’ll sort itself out, whether he’ll be a down the line right tackle or if he’s an inside player, but swing guys, at this point, are crucial – kind of in the role as how we used Kevin Pamphile last year. That’s how we’ll start him out and we’ll see how it goes from there.”

After a year at guard with mixed results – Benenoch played left guard against Chicago and started there at Kansas City the next week due to an injury to Pamphile – Benenoch was moved to his familiar right tackle position this offseason. But only after hitting the weight room – hard.

“I put on about 20 pounds this offseason,” Benenoch said. “I can tell in my run blocking. I am way more physical. I’m getting way more movement off the line of scrimmage. I’m sitting right around 318 or 320, when last year I was right around 300. That helps a lot from a strength perspective and it helps me be more physical out there.”

Bucs defensive end Noah Spence, who was drafted in Benenoch’s class in 2016, has noticed a big difference in Benenoch’s physique this year.

“Yeah, he’s bigger – and it’s all good weight, too,” Spence said. “His body fat went down and he looks more like a lineman this year. He looked like a tight end last year. Now he looks like an offensive tackle and he’s doing really well.

“That’s my man – he’s one of my best friends on the team. We talk every day about grinding and getting better. He’s coming out here and doing it. He’s doing all he can off the field to become the best player he can be and it’s starting to show. I’m proud of him. It’s a blessing to have a guy like that who is a hard worker on the team.”

Benenoch was behind the eight ball all year during his rookie season because he attended UCLA, a PAC-12 school that is on the quarters system rather than a semester system, and features a June graduation rather than a May graduation. Outside of rookie mini-camp, NFL rules state that rookies may not be allowed to attend OTAs until their respective school holds graduation – regardless of whether or not the draft pick is even still enrolled in school.

After missing a portion of the OTAs, Benenoch suffered a leg injury at the start of training camp last year and that put him even further behind. He caught up enough to see some action at guard in two games and that the experience of having his own game film to learn from proved to be invaluable.

Bucs OL Caleb Benenoch – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It gave Caleb some time to learn how to be a pro and watch film,” Pamphile said. “And when he got in for his first game starting in the NFL he was nervous, but he did really well. It’s a help to learn from being a backup. If you’re a starter as a rookie, you should have the skill set, but you’re still a rookie. You have to learn the mindset. It benefits guys like Caleb and I that can develop as rookies and not have that much pressure on our shoulders than a first-round pick might.”

Well into his second training camp in Tampa Bay, Benenoch is extremely comfortable with Koetter’s playbook and what Warhop is asking him to do even though he’s made a position switch.

“I’m caught up now and it’s night and day,” Benenoch said. “I have not had this much fun at fall camp in a long time because I can come out here and focus on getting better. I’m not worried about catching up and learning these plays. The plays are coming and I can just focus on my technique and being a better football player. It’s a lot of fun.”

Benenoch and fellow second-year lineman Leonard Wester, are on the Bucs’ second team and are taking turns at both right tackle and left tackle with the hopes of being the team’s swing tackle, which is the first reserve tackle off the bench capable of playing either side, this year. With Demar Dotson entering his ninth NFL season and turning 32 in October, the Bucs need to groom an eventual heir apparent at right tackle.

“I always joke with guys like Caleb and Leonard,” Dotson said. “One of those guys will take over my position one day. I won’t be able to play forever even though I think I can. I’m not going anywhere any time soon. I think that one of those two guys will take over that position one day. I’m pulling for them. I’m not here trying to hold somebody back.

Bucs OT Caleb Benenoch – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

“God has blessed me with a long career. This is my ninth season. Anything I can do to help those guys be successful I’ll do. Caleb has worked hard. He wants to do well. He believes he can play tackle, and I believe he can play tackle. Any information, knowledge or wisdom I can give to him – he can have it. And he’s the kind of guy that would soak it up.

“His punch is stronger than it was and he looks more physical. That’s what I saw when I came back from training camp. The guy is putting hands on people and he’s punching people hard. He’s locking up with people. He’s quick off the ball. I was skeptical that he could play tackle last year. I thought he was a 100 percent guard. He believed last year he could play tackle. Now after seeing him out here my mindset has changed. I believe he can play tackle. Is he ready today? No, but the more he keeps working on it he’ll get there.”

The challenge for Benenoch has not just been the move from guard to right tackle, but also to playing some left tackle for the first time.

“Coaches know I can do a lot of things, so they’re trying to get me out there and get as many reps as I can,” Benenoch said. “I think you’re on an island regardless of which tackle spot you’re playing. It just depend on what protection it is. You could be the backside at anytime. You’ve got to flip that stuff in your head going from the right side to the left side. It just takes reps. It takes work and that’s what I’m doing right now.”

While there will be an eventual vacancy at right tackle when the team moves on from Dotson in time, the Bucs are also monitoring the progress of left tackle Donovan Smith, who needs to make a big leap in his development this year to keep his starting job. Benenoch could factor into that equation depending on how he performs at left tackle in the preseason.

Bucs OT Caleb Benenoch – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Aside from Warhop and assistant line coach Butch Berry, Benenoch has been leaning on the wisdom from Dotson to help him develop.

“Me and Dot have been building a relationship since camp started and a little bit in OTAs when I got moved to tackle. He helps me out in practice every day. He helps me get better, so me and Dot have gotten pretty close.”

Ask Benenoch if he wants to be the Bucs’ right tackle of the future to take over for Dotson and he’s not shy about answering.

“Yes sir, that’s what I’m working for,” Benenoch said.

The Bucs will have a better understanding about whether he’s the answer at the position long term by the end of the preseason.