“Overscouting Reach,” And A Backhanded Robert Hainsey Endorsement
April 25th, 2022
Pedigree lauded.
Retired Bucs center and 2021 assistant coach A.Q. Shipley wasn’t just slapping the media and wanting Antonio Brown back on the field during his recent chat on national radio.
The well-spoken, 12-year NFL veteran was talking NFL draft and playing in the trenches.
Discussion on The Pat McAfee Show turned to the ability of stud Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, a likely first-round pick on Thursday who is considered a can’t-miss prospect. Shipley was asked about the common knock on Linderbaum that claims he has short arms — too short to play guard.
Shipley said that commentary “is an obvious overscouting reach” to peg Linderbaum as only a center. Shipley said he had success at guard and his arms are 1 1/2 inches shorter than Linderbaum’s, the top college center in the nation last season.
Then Shipley talked about how much he loves the Iowa and Notre Dame offensive line pedigree, and he called Bucs right tackle Tristan Wirfs, also out of Iowa, an “absolute animal” and one of his favorite NFL players.
“You take Iowa, you take Notre Dame, you know damn well you’re getting a guy that’s ready to come into the NFL and play,” Shipley said.
That comment intrigued Joe because the Bucs drafted versatile offensive lineman Robert Hainsey out of Notre Dame in Round 3 last season. Does that mean Shipley believes Hainsey is NFL-ready now?
Joe knows Hainsey is a very close buddy of Wirfs and is beloved by Bucs coaches for working his ass off. That latter fact was drilled into Joe’s head at the NFL Scouting Combine.
It will be interesting to see how competition develops at left guard this summer at One Buc Palace. Is there any chance the Bucs draft Linderbaum?
Enjoy the new Ira Kaufman Podcast.
April 25th, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Can’t have too many big uglys.
April 25th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
I’m still pat on getting a Guard.
April 25th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
Daniel Faalele converted to guard. I bet Jason could get him in the second or third round. Big ugly 6’8” 378 .lol.
April 25th, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Go DLine in the 1st
April 25th, 2022 at 1:02 pm
Corner, D line, O line…
April 25th, 2022 at 1:12 pm
If they wanna start Stinnie, I think Hainsey is great backup if anything. That’s what I’m worried about on oline. What happens if Smith or Wirfs goes down early? Gonna put grandfather Wells to get worked by studs like Von Miller in the LAR playoffs. OT and ILB are position people don’t think about.
April 25th, 2022 at 1:14 pm
I hope they are getting some backup work at OT with Hainsey, also. College position and very versatile.
April 25th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
There was one play last year where I said this Hainsey guy could have a chance to be a valuable and versatile “6th Man” type on our O-Line (or possibly a future starter w/ his pedigree and smarts). He didn’t do much that stands out specifically on that play or a “holy sh!t” moment. It just showed his speed/athleticism and his passion, excitement and want to for the game. It was him running w/ Scooter Miller as “lead” blocker all the way down the field w/ him on the 40 yard TD run by Scotty versus the Stinkin’ Panthers.
Plus, as you alluded to, he’s a harda$$ worker. And in JL I trust wholeheartedly w/ the offensive lineman.
April 25th, 2022 at 1:25 pm
The bucs got whipped in the trench against the Rams. If they don’t come out of this draft with a starter/rotational pass rusher, and a starting guard, I’d be very surprised. I don’t think Licht will draft a corner, maybe a safety.
April 25th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Or… there will be a serviceable vet released post draft .. plug and play
Use the pick elsewhere
April 25th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
SB~LV, good point. I seriously doubt the bucs roster will be set after the draft. They’ll be plenty of pre and post June 1 cuts. Then, you’ve got the trade deadline.
April 25th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
licht knows O.L. … HE PLAYED THAT POSITION IN COLLEGE
April 25th, 2022 at 1:58 pm
I was okay with the Bucs losing Jensen because Hainsey was GREAT in relief.
**Best OL highlight of the year was Hainsey blocking for a Miller touchdown**
Hainsey is a great backup C and OG. Let him add strength and the Bucs have a potential pro bowl Center in a couple of years.
April 25th, 2022 at 2:00 pm
If some of these young guard of ours are developing well our bigger need could actually be depth at tackle. Would be nice to have a better option than wells if the worst should happen. Not sure if the Bengals guy is the right option…
April 25th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
I think Hainsey will take over for Jensen one day. He’ll be a backup guard in the meantime, unless he can beat out Stinnie or whoever we draft. It will come down to whoever can block Vita Vea most effectively. just a guess.
April 25th, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Hainsey played tackle in college but wasn’t given any snaps when Wirfs went down.
I think that says it all.
Hainsey is too slow. I’m happy Cappa is gone. He was too slow too.
Mason plus a first round guard? Yes please!
Run Leonard Fournette 20 times per game.
Beg Marpet to stay in shape in case any of our guards or center go down.
Don’t forget. Ali played a whole season at center.
April 25th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
OL is not a need. A backup tackle in the later rounds might be okay, but we are good at all five starters and have a bit of depth as well.
April 25th, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Hainsey and Stinnie are probably both serviceable, but a drop off from Marpet. You’re not going to replace Marpet, other than on the other side you now have Shaq Mason.
I’m more concerned about our tackle depth as others have mentioned – Rasheed Walker from Penn State in the 4th round would make me happy there. It was brutal when Wirfs went down.
April 25th, 2022 at 2:53 pm
O-line is a second round need. We don’t want to see the team stuck, like it was last season, putting a less injured player in because of a lack of depth.
That happened even though we had Cappa and Marpet, now we don’t, so we need to fill an important hole.
Round one is a D-line guy.
April 25th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
We have a 1, 2, 3, 4 & 2 7s in the draft
I would be very happy with a CB, DT, OG & TE in the first 4……try to find a RB & LB in the 7th….or a punter as we may cut Pinion.
April 25th, 2022 at 3:36 pm
Another guy with T-Rex arms.
April 25th, 2022 at 3:58 pm
I remember Jensen said Hainsey needed to put on weight after his first year and apparently the word is he did a good job. Excited for his future whatever position that may be.
April 25th, 2022 at 4:51 pm
I am biased because I grew up in Iowa and love the Hawkeyes…
But you SINCERELY can NOT go wrong with OL guys out of Iowa.
WIRFS… case in point.
April 25th, 2022 at 6:54 pm
Hainsey going to guard would be a lot more easy of a transition than to center. If Licht thinks Hainsey can play at guard right now, then I could certainly see them skipping on picking someone.
I have complete faith in Licht to find an offensive lineman who can play right away if that’s what he needs to do.
April 25th, 2022 at 7:18 pm
Joe, please write an article about the 1995 draft. As great as Licht is, I think 1995 made McKay our best GM ever (so far). For those too young to remember, Sapp was a certain top 4 pick. Sapp tested positive for marijuana and fell all the way in our laps at 7. Then the Eagles threw the Bucs a great deal for the pick. I was crushed as everyone knew the Eagles were taking Sapp. Instead they took DE Mike Mamula, the poster child for combine overrated. Mamula was a bust and played maybe 3 years. The Bucs got the Eagles 12th overall pick at 12 plus an extra 2 nd rounder. If Sapp never tested positive for pot, he might’ve gone # 1 over Kinabalu Carter. Then at 12, the Bucs hit the jackpot…Sapp was still there ! Then the next great trade happened a couple of hours later when we traded 2 second round picks to pick 28 and got Derrick Brooks. Thank to Mike Mamula and Sapp smoking a joint, the Bucs have the only 2 first ballot hall of gamers in 1 draft. Back then the Bucs were famous as being the worst drafting team in NFL ever. Thank you Rich McKay for a day no one seems to remember enough
April 25th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
True, that joint must have had a lot of resin… or Sapp.
April 25th, 2022 at 9:37 pm
McKay had the best single draft but Licht has been a better GM over the last few years. He has the Midas touch. Everything he touches turns to gold. However his biggest mistakes have involved kickers. First in drafting Aguayo in the 2nd round. 2nd by cutting Matt Gay after he drafted him. The Rams probably don’t win the Super Bowl and maybe the Bucs do win. However he has pretty much mastered the job by now and could get a job anywhere. Yet he continues to stay in Tampa because it is a great organization. The Den of Depression is in the rear view mirror. Thank God!
April 26th, 2022 at 2:13 am
Say what you want but no one can deny that quality linemen are absolutely imperative to being consistently successful. That would be lauded as a smart move although it still doesn’t bring in your first season splash players we need this season’s all or nothin’