Shining Third-String Guard Nick Leverett
November 28th, 2021
Third-string guard Nick Leverett rose to the occasion.
Undrafted out of Rice University last year, today was the first real regular-season offensive line action for third-stringer Nick Leverett.
And damn did he deliver in brutally hostile conditions.
Aaron Stinnie, in at left guard for injured Ali Marpet, went down early in the game against the Colts and in jumped Leverett.
Joe saw Donovan Smith and Ryan Jensen talking to him immediately and throughout the game, but it was obvious Leverett gained a lot of confidence by the third quarter. Yeah, he let Tom Brady get drilled (maybe Brady held it too long) and he the officials got him a couple of time, but Leverett’s debut was more than successful.
On the winning Bucs drive, Byron Leftwich even called a Leonard Fournette run to go behind Leverett for a key first down.
Coaches talk a lot about a next-man-up culture, and Leverett embodied it today.
What a deep offense. As Joe has written and explained on podcasts, it’s among the most dangerous offenses in NFL history.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:36 pm
Ehhhhhhhh…..
November 28th, 2021 at 4:36 pm
Joe I’m glad you wrote this
Some people don’t understand what this guy just did
GM keeps finding linemen unreal!!!
November 28th, 2021 at 4:38 pm
I agree that given his background he did alright.
But that was far from an impressive performance if you look past him being undrafted out of Rice. Let Brady get pressured all day and gave up a sack when Gronk was wide open. Also had a false start on the final drive that Lombardi Lenny had to make up for.
If he was truly that good we wouldn’t have heard his name so much after he was inserted into the game.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:40 pm
Keep him
November 28th, 2021 at 4:41 pm
He is third string so i get it
But you may want to go back and watch game. A ton of pressure from his spot.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:43 pm
One more win and we clinch division?
November 28th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
His pass protection left a LOT to he desired, BUT he is an absolute road grader in the run game. I saw several nice blocks by him.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Awesome win we needed every player alert and focused
November 28th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Thought he did fine. Sure he does not get to practice with the first string everyday.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:51 pm
This is also about Coaching too.
All the crap said about this coaching staff by some is just hilarious.
2nd string Stinnie comes in last post season and played well.
Now down to the 3rd string Guard guy he plays well for the most part.
That is called good coaching and J Licht to finding the talent.
The Bucs are so far surviving the WAR OF ATTRITION with all these injuries.
GO BUCS
November 28th, 2021 at 4:52 pm
i dunno joe bro……dude did just okay
November 28th, 2021 at 4:54 pm
I thought Leverett did good too. It looked like DeForest Buckner was lined up on him, most / if not, all the time.
I give Leverett, a thumbs up.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
He wasn’t a sieve, but he lost leverage a few times. Brady still, probably, had the cleanest uniform in the league.
I will admit that I have seen highly drafted linemen look worse, so I’d say he earned his pay today.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
3rd stringer Vs Deforest Buckner? Yeah the Bucs came up well on that overall.
GO BUCS!!!!
November 28th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
For a 3rd stringer, he performed admirably. He’s 3rd string for a reason!
November 28th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
I think some of you guys are so used to seeing the world class, amazing offensive line play we have enjoyed for the last almost two seasons, that you dismiss average/acceptable performance from a third stringer as bad play. This guy came in cold, in his first real action in the NFL, and he more than held his own. Did he get beat a couple of times? Sure he did. Am I happy with the way he played? Your damn right I am. Good for you buddy!
November 28th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
It was a very gutsy effort. Leverett was a bit shakey but was blocking his tail off in the 4th when it mattered most. If he doesnt hold his own in there against Buckner we probably dont win the game.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:10 pm
Joes as you know you have some maroons that don’t do football and can’t tell a lineman from a milkman. This dude pulled from LG and sealed a hole for Lenny running right. Beautiful stuff. Great OL run blocking today. Colts had good pass coverage, got to give them credit. We didn’t have a lot of wide open targets.
Great win. Very impressed.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:20 pm
I’ve seen people complain about the Bucs large coaching staff, I really don’t know why, other than some people like to complain. Anyway, this is where it helps, backups are ready to play if needed. Did this kid have a good game? Not really, but he didn’t get the Bucs beat, either.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:33 pm
I think he may have earned some time as the extra lineman in heavy packages. His run blocking was strong.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:40 pm
3rd stringer stepped up. He’s due a lot of credit
November 28th, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Dude stepped up. I’m laughing at people saying we “got breaks.” We lost 3 fricken starting 4 minutes into the game? They lost Buckner for a single series? Outside of the muffed punt, nothing was going our way. Lucky my a$$.
November 28th, 2021 at 6:23 pm
can he play corner?
November 28th, 2021 at 6:51 pm
Any word on Stinnie?
November 28th, 2021 at 7:45 pm
Undrafted rookie that had to link up againt an All-Pro. I say he did pretty damn solid
November 28th, 2021 at 8:09 pm
Big Nick did great! Can’t ask for much better than that against a quality opponent and a 3rd stringer coming in cold off the bench.
November 28th, 2021 at 9:01 pm
Just think if the Bucs got acceptable play out of the depth corners they’re forced to play, the team would be 10-1 right now.
November 28th, 2021 at 9:01 pm
Absolutely. He had had a penalty and gave up a sack where Brady held it a long time.
Given the situation, and being a third string guard, the rest of the game he was outstanding
November 28th, 2021 at 9:51 pm
What a difference between this offensive line coaching and the coaching that the Koetter staff did for the Bucs.
D Smith
Marpet
Jensen
Cappa
Wirfs
Stinnie
Now Leverett
November 28th, 2021 at 11:43 pm
Rod Munch Says:
“Just think if the Bucs got acceptable play out of the depth corners they’re forced to play, the team would be 10-1 right now.”
.
.
Gotta believe that good corners are harder to come by than good guards.
November 28th, 2021 at 11:58 pm
Yup! And think about it: If a guy, who knows he’s a backup with Team-X, has a chance to start even for a garbage team and making double or triple what he would make as a backup, he sure as heck isn’t going to choose to take a lot less cash to sit on the pine.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:59 am
Joe Says:
“If a guy, who knows he’s a backup with Team-X, has a chance to start even for a garbage team….”
.
.
I was surprised that Stinnie is still here after his playoff run last season. I thought sure he was gone.