Monster Of A Rookie
December 8th, 2020
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs
Yesterday in an article Joe wrote about the Bucs offense and how the Tom Brady apologists claim the offense needs time, Joe brought up an interesting thought.
If Brady, a long-time veteran, and his teammates on offense need time to gel (this is nonsense by the way since we’re in December), how is it that probably the top performer on the offense is a rookie?
That would be right tackle Tristan Wirfs. Think about it, who is playing better than Wirfs for the Bucs? Game in and game out.
Sure, there are games where Brady has a very good game, and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and foot-rubbing, car-littering Rob Gronkowski. But week after week who is playing solid, strong football? Consistently? Joe would say it’s Wirfs.
As the popular meme swirling around anti-social media suggests, prove Joe wrong.
Now the following is very dubious as it comes from the PFF tribe and nothing drives NFL suits more bananas than citing the PFF tribe when it comes to offensive linemen. Joe means they just go mental. Duly noted. But Joe thought thinks this is an interesting talking point.
If you believe what the PFF tribe flushes when it comes to offensive linemen (be very careful) Wirfs is as rock-solid as you can find. He has taken 144 snaps on pass plays on third and fourth downs. Of those snaps, he has yet to give up a sack.
That is simply outstanding.
Yes, Joe understands Justin Herbert or James Robinson or Justin Jefferson — the latter who will face the Bucs on Sunday — will likely win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. All three are very worthy.
But you could make a helluva argument that Wirfs should be the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s been that damned good.
Tristan Wirfs on 3rd/4th down this season
🔺 144 pass-blocking snaps
🔺 4 QB pressures allowed
🔺 0 sacks pic.twitter.com/b8kn11cx3x— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 7, 2020
December 8th, 2020 at 5:32 am
You gotta love it when the 1st rounder works out….. it has always been the case…….. with licht
December 8th, 2020 at 6:01 am
Yes, playing QB and RT are exactly the same, Joe.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:08 am
Nice analysis but you Joe’s crack me up with your takes on the tribe. When they trash Donovan Smith, they’re hot garbage, but when they praise Tristan Wirfs all of a sudden they become credible. Pick a side! You can’t just keep cherry picking data when it’s useful to you.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:09 am
Those are the kind of stats eventual HOF’s have. We have no Idea what Tristan will do, let alone stay healty enough to play at least a decade, but he is off that to that kind of start for his career. Again when the Bucs look for the next college lineman to draft. A good place to start is to look for the guy who can leap out of a swimming pool like a gymnast lol GO BUCS!!!!
December 8th, 2020 at 7:28 am
Between Licht, Koetter, and now BAzz, the Bucs have the best offense in their history. Period. How come we fans have to sweat Sunday’s game? It’s friggin ridiculous!
December 8th, 2020 at 7:29 am
Donovan Smith is a paycheck player………………I see absolutely no passion or drive in his game
but yet you see it on Marpet, Jensen, and Wirfs.
Donovan Smith was lazy in college and he’s lazy in the NFL…………….a zebra can’t change it’s stripe.
I think tackle and cornerback is the next draft’s top priority for this team.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:32 am
Tristan Wirfs is becoming our best lineman. Solid gold pick on that one. Loved him coming out of college.
December 8th, 2020 at 9:00 am
We should draft an Iowa lineman and a Defenseive player from LSU every draft.
December 8th, 2020 at 10:24 am
The offense doesn’t need time; Brady needs time. And he’s not getting enough with inconsistent Smith on his left. Cappa is Cappa, Marpet is pretty good and you never know what you’re gonna get with Jensen. But Wirfs is terrific.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:16 am
I have to admit that I’m having a hard time believing you’re a “super fan” of the Bucs when you rarely have anything nice to say. I’m a die hard Patriots fan, but also really like following the Bucs. They are an exciting team. I don’t know what your problem is with Brady and Gronk and the offense as a whole. I guess all of your “credentials” make you some type of jerk. Maybe you just rather enjoy watching a QB that loses all the games for you instead of having a QB like Brady who will get the team to the playoffs in his first year. I’ll still read your blog, even though you are quite aggravating. Maybe try appreciating the QB and offense you have for the next 1 + years. You might actually enjoy the games and have something nice to say.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:29 am
Following a team that has the worst home record in the NFC since Chucky was fired tends to make one jaded and impatient.
December 8th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Fair enough Joe
December 8th, 2020 at 12:39 pm
LOL, anti-social media?!? Love it and I needed a laugh. Wirfs should (who knows with the biased as all hell media in the northeast) make every all rookie team, but OROY is for skill position dudes only unfortunately.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:27 pm
Gawd, what terrible writing… LOL. Don’t change a thing baby!
December 8th, 2020 at 7:47 pm
For an rookie OL to get any real run the team has to excel.
If the team wins the final four games and heads into the playoffs on a win streak then Wirfs will begin to get some real attention.
December 8th, 2020 at 11:19 pm
Man some of your readers are real idiots. One is assuming you’re comparing him to a quarterback. LoL.
And the other is calling you out for using PFF because you trash the site with Smith. I guess reading comprehension is not his strong suit since you preface all that, but whatever.
It’s very typical and why I don’t comment as much as I used to, Buccaneer football fans are some of the most pessimistic and ignorant around.
I have never seen message boards for a team that constantly trash players, coaches, playcalling, etc. as much as Buccaneer pseudo-fans.
Oh well.
As for the article, good to see the accolades. He has been a fantastic pic. I would say another OL and an edge rusher should be priority next draft