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Kevin Pamphile on Bucs’ o-line: ‘We’re not far from breaking through’

Soon-to-be free agent talks about disappointment of 2018, optimism about Bucs' offensive line moving forward.
 
Bucs guard Kevin Pamphile is an unrestricted free agent this spring but said he's expressed an interest in staying with Tampa Bay. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
Bucs guard Kevin Pamphile is an unrestricted free agent this spring but said he's expressed an interest in staying with Tampa Bay. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
Published Feb. 16, 2018

Free agency is less than a month away, and the Bucs have several decisions to make about unrestricted free agents from their 2017 squad. One is Kevin Pamphile, who started all but one game at left guard last season but still split the job with backup Evan Smith in most games.

Pamphile, 27, was a fifth-round pick out of Purdue in 2014 and took time to talk with the Times earlier this month at a "Breakfast with the Bucs" function at One Buc Place. His future with the team is uncertain, but here's what he had to say on a number of topics:

You're about halfway between the end of the season and the start of free agency. Do you have any sense of how interested the Bucs are in signing you to an extension?

"The coaches all said they want me back. Obviously, there's the business side, and we have to get the numbers right. At this point, we're getting a feel for things. I voiced my opinion that I'd like to be back. Once things get rolling with free agency, we'll see how things go.

"I've been here this whole time, four years. I've seen the progression of how we started as the worst team in the NFL to being on the cusp of being a playoff team. I want to be part of that. I'd like to continue playing here and hopefully retire here, but it's a business and things happen."

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The offensive line as a whole, Dirk Koetter went out of his way to defend the line, saying he thought much of the criticism of the unit was unfair and that the group pushed through a lot of injuries last season. How do you feel about the line's play overall?

"I'm biased, but I think we play like we're the best line in the league. Our preparation, the time we take every day, is top-notch. George Warhop pushes us and makes us a better o-line. It sucks sometimes when you get criticized for things, but we give Jameis (Winston) as much time as possible. We try to make holes for Doug (Martin) and all the other running backs.

"We get the criticism at times, but we don't listen to it. We keep working, keep going, continue the process of coming back and making sure you're making the play the next down."

You were here when Doug had the success he had in 2015, finishing second in the NFL in rushing. He's fallen well short of that in the last two years, averaging less than 3 yards per carry. How much of a motivation is there for the line to get this running game back to where it was and can be?

"We know what we can do. We're not far from breaking through. It's frustrating. We watch film constantly and make sure we understand the scheme, understand where we need to go, run-game wise. It's frustrating, because one play can be 5 yards, but if we made one more block, it could be a 20-yard gain. We've got to focus on how we get that extra block in."

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As disappointing as last season was in finishing 5-11, it seems there is a lot of motivation to get back out there and show how much better this team can be, that you can't wait for the 2018 season to get here for that opportunity.

"Just as much as anybody, we had high expectations for ourselves. We're disappointed. There were so many games let go in the last couple of seconds. We're frustrated about that. That's on us finishing strong. Every team is good, so a little play can change the outcome of a team."