In Josh Wells We Trust
December 18th, 2020
Bucs backup tackle Josh Wells
Veteran tackle Josh Wells jumps into the spotlight Sunday as the Buccaneers’ starting left tackle, per Bucco Bruce Arians.
Wells has played just 18 snaps in 12 game appearances this year.
Yeah, Donovan Smith is out because of close contact with a family member that has/had the COVID virus. (Joe thinks the restorative rest from Smith’s unexpected bye week will pay off in the playoffs.)
Undrafted in 2014, Wells stuck five years in Jacksonville before coming to the Bucs last season after the Jags cut him in preseason.
The good news is he’s played in big games. Wells made four starts in 2017, when the Jaguars won the AFC South and choked in the AFC Championship game against, you guessed it, Tom Brady.
Last year, Smith missed one game, in December at Detroit. Wells filled in at left tackle and played every snap in the Bucs’ blowout win.
It’s not ideal, but Joe’s got some confidence in Wells. And it helps that the Falcons’ have a soft pass rush.
This is the kind of game where general manager’s earn their money. If Wells and Leonard Fournette are up for the challenge on Sunday (Fournette is in for Ronald Jones), then that’s another feather for Jason Licht.
December 18th, 2020 at 1:27 pm
Joe, you hit it on the head……”It’s not ideal” but I have confidence in Wells also.
December 18th, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Hit it on the head. Wells will be fine this Sunday.
December 18th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Agree with you gbobucsfan 100%, and also with Joe
December 18th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
Seems like a great chance to see what Tristan Wirfs looks like in the left side. We should move him over and see how he looks and let Wells play right or whoever is the RT 2nd string in his place.
December 18th, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Licht will get the accolades only if and when the Buccaneers get their second Lombardi under his stewardship!
Go Bucs! Win Now!
December 18th, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Say what you will about the team this year. It sure is nice talking Bucs football in DEC instead of looking at draft picks already. Wells should be capable. Go get that win!
December 18th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
He’s a solid vet. We just need to chip to his side occasionally and maybe help out with the back.
December 18th, 2020 at 2:37 pm
Fournette ran behind him in Jax- that’s a trip
December 18th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Hope D Smith and his family are ok. Wish them the best of health.
December 18th, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Can Jensen play tackle?
December 18th, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Even more of a reason to go under center, 3TE and pound the rock!
Go Bucs! As Joe points out, play the kind of ball that The offense works best under per the analysis of Chris Simms.
December 18th, 2020 at 3:12 pm
Joe- any thought to giving Chris Simms a nickname? He’s a great analyst. And it can go something like:
“Spleenless, longest-tenured QB of Chucky, HOF daddy-having, former left handed Bucs QB-not named Steve Young or Jeff Garcia”.
Chris Simms is a good analyst and his personality is legit. Maybe you can have him be a guest on the Ira Kaufman podcast!? Do a “unbuttoned- Ira” joint episode?
December 18th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
Play LeSean McCoy. He is rested and ready.
December 18th, 2020 at 3:39 pm
Why weaken two spots? Wirfs is fine at RT. No need to fix something that’s not broken.
December 18th, 2020 at 3:58 pm
LOL, I have confidence in Wells also, because I have no choice.
December 18th, 2020 at 4:01 pm
Was Joe Haig completely exposed earlier this year? Thought he was a swing tackle…maybe just RT.
December 18th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
Perhaps we can all rest easily, after reading this past article from JBF
“”Joe feared that would happen today. And on the first three plays from the Bucs today, Wells was awful, with two flags that negated two first downs. On the third play, Jameis was picked.
After that, Jameis was rarely pressured. No, Jameis didn’t finish the game without any artificial turf stains on his uniform, but the offensive line held up a lot better than Joe expected.
In fact, in the fourth quarter, Jameis often had an impressive pocket to throw from. And for the second game in a row, Jameis threw for over 450 yards, an NFL record.
The play by Wells after he settled down, wasn’t lost on the Bucs’ franchise quarterback.
“Shout out to Josh Wells for replacing one of the best left tackles in the game,” Jameis said on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “”
December 18th, 2020 at 4:33 pm
@Jonathan – yes, Haeg was definitely exposed earlier in the year.
December 18th, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Hey Josh Wells…..
Just be ready, stay focused on every play and back peddle.
If you can do those simple things then you already better than the guy you’re replacing.
December 18th, 2020 at 6:30 pm
With any luck, BA will actually game-plan to compensate for this by having Brady get rid of the ball quickly. I’m sure Wells is capable and everything, but I’d rather not lose to the lowly Falcons because BA tried to “stick to the plan” without adapting to changing circumstances.
December 18th, 2020 at 6:53 pm
He’s next to Marpet and has experience…..not so worrisome. Usually back ups have at least one strength….either run blocking or pass blocking. Hopefully we can make something work that he’s good at.
December 18th, 2020 at 8:09 pm
Smith has been a durable, consistent, unspectacular riddle ….w/ his 2021 money not guaranteed…& the last couple years of inconsistent performances squarely be under the microscope this off-season….He needed to finish 2020 STRONG!
Now, w/ Covid taking the Bucs $14.5M LT out of the lineup, the FO gets to see what life w/o Smith looks like in a meaningful late season game (or more)… Wells gets his chance to test his wears during another playoff push & put tape down covering the GOAT’s blindside. (His agents dream/nightmare – depending on outcome)… It’s like a poorly written episode of Ballers, heavy on foreshadowing doom…At least for a couple weeks.
December 18th, 2020 at 8:55 pm
Thank goodness we have an experienced OC who is constantly changing things up to play to the strengths of his own guys while minimizing his opponent. If we had an undynamic OC who was predictable, vanilla, constant….we’d be in trouble.
Whew. Glad we got Leftwich (sarcasm)
December 18th, 2020 at 9:49 pm
The guy who almost sat out the season because he was worried about his new born getting it ends up getting it. If he did get it and this is just not a close to someone who caught it, it really is too bad. Not a big fan on how he plays, but when it comes to getting the Corona I do hope him and his family make it through it ok with no long term effects. Hope it is all a false positive and he’s turns out ok.
December 19th, 2020 at 3:43 am
has joe haeg been chris conte’d…
the vance mcdonald mush and maul play ended his career…
is joe haeg like done now???
December 19th, 2020 at 3:46 am
when jameis was here, wells got worked a couple games he was in there….worked!
i think he was on the right side tho, filling in for dotson maybe
December 19th, 2020 at 3:48 am
imagine next year the bucs dump donovan smith…
move wirfs to left tackle…
and sign demar dotson for 2 more smokey years at right tackle…
just imagine that sheet…
oh wait, and that’s when TB walks off the job too 🙂
December 19th, 2020 at 3:49 am
oh yeah…and demar will play in tennis shoes too !
December 19th, 2020 at 3:50 am
with his toes sticking out the front
December 19th, 2020 at 6:41 am
Marpet has played RG,C,LG, and he was a LT in college. Move him outside. He’s our best O linemen. I’d rather have him out there then Wells. It’s easier to plug in a LG.