ComPewter Analysis: a deeper look at Buccaneers offensive line

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 16: Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sits on the bench during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 16: Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sits on the bench during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 23: Alex Cappa #65 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on from the bench during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium on August 23, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 23: Alex Cappa #65 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on from the bench during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium on August 23, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /

On paper and on film the Buccaneers offensive line does not look stupendous, but what to the deeper numbers say about this group?

So the offensive line for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has not been very good you say? Well you are correct, they have not been good this season, but they are also not nearly the worst unit in the league.

The Buccaneers have the fourth-highest paid offensive line in the league, with Donovan Smith making over $13 million, Ali Marpet making over $10 million, and Ryan Jensen making $10 million per year on their current contracts. With a line paid like this, more production is expected, however outside of two performers this year, the Bucs’ offensive line has not been terrible.

The interior of the Bucs’ offensive line, consisting of Marpet, Jensen, and first year starter Alex Cappa (before he broke his arm in the Saints game), has been a consistently strong force up front, especially in the run game. The leaks, however, are coming off the edge, where Smith and veteran Demar Dotson have been human turnstyles for opposing pass rushers.

In this edition of ComPewter Analysis, the pewter and red offensive trenches will be blitzed. We will take a look at both the stat sheet as well as the analytical data behind the Bucs’ offensive line, see what the numbers say, and attempt to diagnose a deeper issue.