“I Felt Like A Dog With My Tail Between My Legs”
February 21st, 2021
Tristan Wirfs speaks
Today, Tristan Wirfs might be the best offensive tackle in the NFL. Left or right, Joe doesn’t care.
And there are many reasons why.
Among them are his attitude and the support he received from teammates.
Without spring practices, Wirfs was hurled into a raging fire at training camp. Hey kid, go contain Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul.
Wirfs’ A-list attitude helped turn the beatings into a positive.
“I was going against Shaq Barrett and JPP every day. You know, I’d come home and I felt like a dog with my tail between my legs sometimes. Just because I felt like I didn’t have a very good day because, you know, if felt like sometimes they were working me over in our team periods,” Wirfs told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “You just gotta learn from it and keep pushing forward. That’s what I tried doing; come to work the next morning with a good attitude and give good effort and you’ll be alright.”
Wirfs also noted as the season marched on, left tackle Donovan Smith and backup tackle Josh Wells were relentless when it came to helping him. He said Smith was always asking him about what he was seeing from a defense during games and offering his take, if necessary.
Seven-year veteran Wells, per Wirfs, would study him in a series and then provide his feedback when Wirfs would leave the field.
A second-team All-Pro who didn’t miss a snap last season, Wirfs has set one hell of a high bar. Feeling like that bad dog is far in the rearview mirror.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:32 am
What a rookie. TB-12 is happy.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:48 am
Wirfs….. you’re a stud but please don’t take advice from Durable Donnie.
I hope you’re just being polite.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:54 am
Great anecdote on how championship teams need a blend of the young and the experienced. Awesome pick by the GM.
February 21st, 2021 at 7:52 am
Wirfs was the steal of the first round and Antoine Winfield was the steal of the second round. Licht went yard on those 2 picks!
February 21st, 2021 at 8:24 am
Champion teams are built around the line of scrimmage. Hopefully we draft at least one olineman this draft. Can never have too much depth there.
February 21st, 2021 at 8:39 am
Whatever and from whomever he is learning from it’s clear it’s paying off. During practice he has to take on Shaq and or JPP? You can’t get much more experience than that. Same with Stinnie & Suh. Great to see the collaboration between veterans and rookies, not every team has that. Maybe it has something to do with BA’s coaching style, make everyone accountable.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:41 am
Great blurb about Wells. You think a backup is sitting on the bench eying cuties in the stands but Wells finds a way to contribute.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:44 am
Oh so Donny out here coaching the rook n look how will he did and Donny had a great season him self. Funny how most of the people wanted to run him out of town. Smh hope we keep Donny.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:50 am
I was at a Draft Day Party, and knew we badly need a Tackle.
Me and most of the people at that Party were absolutely shocked when Wirfs fell to us.
So glad we got him!
February 21st, 2021 at 10:07 am
Compared to many of the guys Wirfs had to block in games on Sundays he is facing better competition in practice during the week. That will either make or break you, and he has come out looking like an all pro. And he has solved the RT position for the next decade. GO BUCS!!!!!
February 21st, 2021 at 10:10 am
#1 Bucsfan,
It took Donnie 6 years to finally put in some effort. Do you wonder why it took so long?
The answer is his replacement was playing on the other side of the line. Donnie saw Wirfs everyday and knew if he didn’t pick it up he’d be gone and probably wouldn’t get LT money anywhere. Wirfs is the reason for Donnie’s successful season not the other way around.
It’s sooooo obvious.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:19 am
Pray for line health if you want to win the Superbowl again. I guarantee the line won’t be as healthy next year .
February 21st, 2021 at 10:28 am
@ joe
I saw white and david were 2nd team all pro but i did not see wirfs was named 2nd team. Did you misspeak or did the nfl announce that? I cant find that announcement anywhere.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:33 am
Ben the line wasn’t totally healthy this year. Cappa broke his ankle, Marpet missed 2 games I believe with a concussion, Jensen got moved to his spot then the backup center had a career ending injury. I can’t remember if Smith missed a game or got hurt during a game and went out for a little while but Jensen and Whirfs are the only 2 that I can say for sure that I don’t remember missing any time at all.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:41 am
Hmmmm…… seems like a certain LT is expendable.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:55 am
Brandon Beane did a great job, but Licht was even better this past year. I highly doubt that Licht would trade his superbowl ring for whatever the hell Brandon got for being executive of the year. 😋
February 21st, 2021 at 10:56 am
Meanwhile Andrew Thomas had a very tough year here in Jersey with the G men. He was taken over Wirfs cause he was a LT. Another example of forcing positional need over talent. Thomas may work out for the Giants eventually but I am ecstatic thst Wirfs fell to us.
February 21st, 2021 at 11:01 am
I wasn’t impressed with Andrew Thomas at Georgia.
I made a point of watching him because I knew we needed a T in the draft and he was rumored to be very good.
Ehhh
He looked a little lazy and didn’t show the best technique in the 4 games I watched. Glad he got snatched up early.
I will admit I didn’t get to watch Wirfs, but so glad we got him.
February 21st, 2021 at 11:09 am
He’s so easy to root for. Might be my favorite Buc dare I say?
February 21st, 2021 at 11:22 am
Positive minds always win! Your on the right track,remember endurance is strong!
February 21st, 2021 at 12:02 pm
awesome player!
February 21st, 2021 at 12:25 pm
As a Bucs fan from Washington State I’m used to seeing bias with regards to my favorite teams (Seattle Mariners, Portland Trail Blazers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers). But doesn’t this seem ridiculous?
We believe – along with Joe – that Wirfs might be the best OT in the game. He’s the second best offensive acquisition Champa made last season.
And he’s second team AP? This team has proven to be the best in football. We shouldn’t have to settle for a rookie making the AP list. Give Wirfs his proper props.
February 21st, 2021 at 12:52 pm
Our entire Oline is under contract as are Brady, Rojo & Vaughn…..Brate & OJ….Mike & Scotty & Tyler…
We have the nucleus of our offense together….Brady can work with whatever else we give him.
Work on keeping the defense.
February 21st, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Isn’t he the one that Mack hip tossed like a bag of potatoes 🤣🤣 lol
February 21st, 2021 at 4:40 pm
Good thing about having a qb like Brady is he wants a.good OL and is involved in the process.Peyton was the same way.These other QBs are funny on how they buy themipod’s or TVs.. the real QBs help coach and make them better, demand they block,and use TEs to block if they need to….
February 21st, 2021 at 4:40 pm
I think Tampa Bay should look hard at drafting O Linemen this draft. Donovan Smith was pretty bad early this season, but improved quite a bit as the season progressed. People gripe about his salary, but Smith is really only pulling in around the average starting salary for LTs that are not on rookie contracts. That being said, this team is going to run into cap issues again next season, and there are two contracts on that O Line looks pricey: Smith and Jensen. Take a developmental LT in the first round, and look for a quality interior C in the third.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:20 pm
Interesting to look at Wirfs’ statement from another perspective: What does it say about Shaq & JPP? They’re so good that they caused a stud RT (2nd team All-Pro) to feel like “a dog with my tail between my legs” during practice. Probably have the same impact on opponents during games I would think. Maybe Bucs might be well-advised to keep BOTH of them awhile longer?
Wirfs’ praise says a LOT about Donovan Smith & Josh Wells also. Awesome teammates.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:27 pm
Don’t be surprised if JPP retires. He has 2 SB rings, and his neck injury a couple years ago scared the crap out of him. That said, glad Licht signed Wirfs.
February 21st, 2021 at 7:08 pm
I’m so happy for one of the nicest guys to come out of Iowa Hawkeye football. We love this guy in Iowa. Treat him well Florida!!