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J.R. Sweezy shows what Bucs were missing

 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive guard J.R. Sweezy (73), seen at center, runs through drills during training camp at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, July 31, 2017. LOREN ELLIOTT   |   Times 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive guard J.R. Sweezy (73), seen at center, runs through drills during training camp at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, July 31, 2017. LOREN ELLIOTT | Times
Published Sept. 21, 2017

By Greg Auman

TAMPA —- Sunday's season-opening win against the Bears saw the debut of 13 Bucs, a mix of rookies and free-agent veterans.

None were more long awaited than right guard J.R. Sweezy, who signed with Tampa Bay last year, missed all of last season after back surgery and hadn't played in 20 months.

"It felt really good to finally get back into the swing of things and play some real football," said Sweezy, 28, who played every offensive snap of the 29-7 victory over Chicago.

When Jacquizz Rodgers ran in for a 1-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead, it was Sweezy who blocked 320-pound nose tackle Eddie Goldman as Rodgers went in. The Bucs ran for 117 yards -- 8 short of their usual goal for a game, and well short of the line's high expectations.

"A lot of things we can work on, but if there's anywhere we can improve and take away from this game, it's the run game," said Sweezy, a three-year starter in Seattle before signing with the Bucs. "We left a lot of opportunities open. I think it'll improve, for sure."

At 6-foot-5 and 298 pounds, Sweezy came in with a reputation as a tough, physical blocker. Linemates picked up on that before he'd ever played a snap. In April, center Ali Marpet, who moved from guard to center to open a spot for Sweezy, said "he's a little bit of a jerk, which is good. It's what we want. A little bit of a mean streak."

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter hopes some of that edge rubs off on the rest of his offensive line.

"It's not always the prettiest thing, but there are plays where it's late in the play and he is 8 yards downfield trying to get after his guy or get after a linebacker," Koetter said. "He is going to bring a dimension to our team that can be contagious."

Sweezy played linebacker in high school and defensive line at N.C. State, getting six sacks as part of 13 tackles for loss as a junior in 2011. He switched to offensive line once he got to the NFL, and some of the old instincts still linger.

"I don't stop till I hear a whistle," he said. "That's something my father instilled in me at a young age."

Veteran right tackle Demar Dotson admitted in preseason Sweezy's aggressiveness stood out next to his own "finesse" game.

"The thing I love about him most is if he's not blocking anybody, if his man twists or goes somewhere, he's always looking for work, always looking to hit somebody," Dotson said. "A lot of times he'll help with my guy, help with the center.

"One play, he knocked the running back's guy and his guy down. He brings a different dimension to this team that we haven't had in a while."

Sweezy said he's felt healthy and back to his old self for months, but the full, unmitigated contact of an NFL game reinforced that Sunday.

A year ago, waiting for his back to heal, he watched Bucs games from a stadium suite. It took patience and perseverance to get back on the line, but finally suiting up Sunday was worth the wait.

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"Sitting up in that box last year wasn't fun," Sweezy said. "Remembering that, how far I came, how long the road was, the journey, just sticking with it every day, to finally get out there, was pretty awesome."

Contact Greg Auman at gauman@tampabay.com and (813) 310-2690. Follow @gregauman.