Defenders, Coaches Hate Ryan Jensen
May 25th, 2021
Gets under people’s skin.
If you get guys on the other line of scrimmage from you pissed off on a regular basis, that means you are doing something right. You are in their heads.
Think about it: If guys regularly got over on you, they’d like you. No?
It seems that is the case with Bucs center Ryan Jensen.
In breaking down offensive linemen on his website, “Trench Warfare,” Brandon Thorn, who does quite a bit of research on offensive lines to the point of speaking with defensive coaches and defenders throughout the league, notes Jensen is not well-liked. At all.
Over the last few years I’ve gotten to meet and talk football with Ryan at our annual OL Masterminds event in Texas, which has allowed me to gain invaluable insight into his mindset as a player as well as learn more about him as a person.
When Jensen is on the field he plays with a reckless abandon, risking his body each snap for his teammates in a manner that makes his name bring out passionate opinions from those around the NFL and in his own locker room. Being on the other side of the line having to face off against him has created a sour taste in a lot of defenders’ and coaches mouths who feel that he takes his physical brand of football too far, while his teammates emphatically love him.
While the narrative around his game and playing style is a bit muddied, when you study his film it becomes clear how dominant and skilled he really is. Of all the centers currently in the NFL I would argue none protect the ‘A’ gaps in pass-protection more effectively than him due to his quick processing, above average quickness and elite-level power that routinely stuns and stops rushers in their tracks on contact. Jensen can also generate immediate movement in the Bucs’ downhill run game at the point of attack on double-teams and angle-drive blocks while providing an athletic presence on the move down the field to pick off smaller targets.
Jensen has stacked back-to-back All-Pro caliber seasons and despite not receiving a single vote for the AP team over that span (which is egregious), is the league’s premier tone-setter at the pivot with unparalleled competitive toughness and a diverse skill-set to execute any concept or scheme.
Thorn has a 14-minute cutup video on his site of Jensen drilling dudes and moving men. It’s really cool football adult entertainment for you to skip working and watch this morning.
If Jensen protects the A- and B-gaps so well, as Thorn suggests, that’s great for stopping inside pressure, the kryptonite of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Brady is under contract through the 2022 season. Jensen is a free agent after this season. Might Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht consider Jensen a franchise tag candidate to keep him around until at least Brady is finished with the Bucs?
That is, if Brady is finished with the Bucs after 2022.
That’s still up for debate.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:11 am
There is a lot of talk on this blog by posters about Jensen, so many have not realized good that he really is. He cleaned up the stupid penalties he used to get alot, especially his first year with the Bucs. After the Chicago game last year the dumb penalties were rare at best. Is he all world no, but he flat can play. Just ask Ancilone of the Saints, as he was being blocked into the 3 row of the Super Dome by Ryan. If Hainsey can beat this guy out of a job, then so be it, but that will not be any time soon. GO BUCS!!!!
May 25th, 2021 at 8:14 am
Interesting: a franchise tag for a center.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Franchise tag is at $14.5 M which would be a 40% raise for Jensen.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:32 am
Not sure why Licht has yet to extend Jensen…..he obviously has a few good years left.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:39 am
Jensen has brought attitude and physicality to our O Line.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:42 am
Those are pretty hefty accolades from Thorn. IMHO, Licht should ensure Jensen remains a Buc, with or without Brady under center. When you’ve got such a dominant O-line (reminds me of the Cowboys not so many years ago), make every effort to keep it in tact. It works for Brady and it will work for Trask, or whoever takes over following Brady’s departure.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:53 am
He uses a sniper in Call of Duty. That’s all you need to know about the respect he shows his competitors. lol The kind of guy you love as a teammate but hate going against.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:53 am
He definitely got into Chris Jone’s head.
May 25th, 2021 at 9:19 am
My favorite center to ever play for the Bucs. I hope he comes back after this season. Although I just have a feeling he won’t.
May 25th, 2021 at 9:53 am
Clodhopper…no one cares, everyone here is an actual adult person.
May 25th, 2021 at 9:58 am
So next year, already, we’re looking at Jensen, Carlton Davis, Vita Vea, and Chris Godwin as high $$$ free agents. If Cappa has a strong year, there’s another big contract. 2022 will be harder that 2021 and we will lose people. We’ll also have Suh and Gronk go on the market. Can’t assume anything without seeing how this season plays out, but could it be that Jensen might be a priority in the midst of all these other potential free agent losses? Should be interesting.
May 25th, 2021 at 10:06 am
@ Sasquatch it will be hard but not impossible because of the new TV deals. It is being projected that the cap will rise from 182.5 to 220 million next year, and then to 250 million by 2024.
May 25th, 2021 at 10:18 am
You know if Jensen is playing at top level that Brady is gonna want to keep him, and we all know what Tom wants Tom gets!
May 25th, 2021 at 10:19 am
I read somewhere that the cap may go to 250 Next yr.
May 25th, 2021 at 10:52 am
@SB Where did you read that? That would be an insane jump. I mean 182.5 to 220 is too. I think the most the cap went up year over year before is 12 million. I thought it was going to 250 by 2024 because they were spreading the revenue hit from the pandemic over the next three years. Either way 220 or especially 250 the bucs could get creative and keep everyone and add pieces.
May 25th, 2021 at 11:24 am
the tag will be used on someone from the defense….CD or VV…
imo, JL will work magic AGAIN next year….
GO BUCS!!!!
May 25th, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Love that cut up reel on Jensen! Man good times. Let’s keep it going!
May 25th, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Jensen will be back. He sets the tone and calls all the protections. He was the first person who had to get on board with TB12, and did everything that was asked of him. Definitely dont want to see him on another team in the NFC South. He was all over the film in the playoffs finishing off plays. The only guy on this team that may do just as much dirty work, for even less of the recognition is Gholston. These guys are worth every penny.
May 25th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
Go for the face
Lol. What a stupid thing to have a tantrum about. Dork
May 25th, 2021 at 6:10 pm
And every Coach and D lineman want him on their team. Sour grapes.
May 25th, 2021 at 8:25 pm
Jensen is a man amongst boys and they cannot stand it
May 26th, 2021 at 1:22 am
Jason Licht will extend him by the end of this season at the latest. He lknows how hard it is to find a good center.