Nick Leverett Explains What Losing Tristan Wirfs Means

December 5th, 2022

Bucs LG Nick Leverett.

No one can tell Joe that a team losing its best offensive lineman, an All-Pro at that, won’t suffer a setback of some sort.

Last week Bucs left guard Nick Leverett kept a brave face and explained to Joe that at least for the time being, the Bucs will be OK with Josh Wells starting at right tackle as Tristan Wirfs nurses his high ankle sprain.

“None really,” Leverett responded when Joe asked him if losing Wirfs will have a trickle effect down the entire line.

“We have Josh Wells who we have an extreme about of faith in. Every time he has stepped in he has [risen] to the occasion. It’s not a big drop off. It’s actually not a drop off at all. We believe in Josh. Not really worried.”

Joe understands Leverett wasn’t going to badmouth Wells, especially now that he will start for the foreseeable future. Joe wasn’t even trying to play gotcha with Leverett. Joe just wanted to know how losing Wirfs affects the left side of the line.

Last week Bucs coach Todd Bowles thought the offensive line was just starting to gel like he thought they could when Wirfs went out.

Leverett agreed with Bowles but said that’s only natural when you have the same five guys playing together over a period of time.

22 Responses to “Nick Leverett Explains What Losing Tristan Wirfs Means”

  1. Larry Says:

    B. S. !!! this is the 4th offensive lineman the Bucs have lost this year. Even with Brady that is too much. Add in Bowles and the offensive co and you have a disaster. Only Brady can save this season but it seems Bowles won’t let hm. Just sayin”.

  2. Larry Says:

    Bowles and Leftwich need to go or bring back Arians. Period. End of sentence.

  3. BucsFanSince76 Says:

    Goedeke played RT in college. Goedeke is now healthy. Goedeke looked like a guy playing out of position at RG all year. If Wells stumbles , expect to see Goedeke at RT.

  4. Bucfan1988 Says:

    Screw this, add Goedeke in there as well as the 6th OL and go max protect!!!

    Totally fine with that…

  5. BucsFanSince76 Says:

    Playing LG all year I meant

  6. Reach87 Says:

    Larry, re-read your posts. You make it sound like its never happened that an NFL team loses 4 linemen in a season. You make it sound like you know this as fact, cause you track that data…its your job. You make it sound like the head coach and OC have something to do with that. Never happened with Arians or any other HC/OC combination. You make it sound like firing the HC and OC will fix it. BL: Hilarious! You are true entertainment! Go Bucs!

  7. D-Rok Says:

    “It’s actually not a drop off at all.”

    So Wells is as good as Wirfs? HOGWASH.

  8. sasquatch Says:

    no dropoff… uh huh… okay… all-pro goes down, journeyman backup takes over… no reason for concern.

  9. Kentucky Buc Says:

    Yep, and BL is as good as Andy Reid at calling plays

  10. Jeffs Dad Says:

    Brady isnt saving anything by himself sorry

  11. Bucfan Says:

    Tank the rest of the season to get higher picks & a new coaching staff!

  12. unbelievable Says:

    They better be running A TON of max protect.

    They did in 2019 with Jameis and had much play action success. Same with 2020.

    Oh wait – we’re counting on Leftwich to do something smart and adjust a game plan for a specific opponent. Nevermind.

  13. Bucs since 76 Says:

    To stop the pass rush we to use our two rookie tight ends. I doubt BL would do such a thing or he would have help Smith against the Browns.

  14. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Put Rudolph in and let him get his a$$ beat up instead of someone else……tell him to take one for the team since he’s been a total nothing…..

  15. Mickman Says:

    Cam Jordon is all talk and too old to play all the time like he used too.

  16. Kentucky Buc Says:

    Their secondary is depleted so the B&B boys will counter by running the ball 35 times

  17. JeffreyLane77 Says:

    I fully expect the Saints to come out motivated and fully prepared. This game should be considered a must win game for both teams.

  18. BigMacAttack Says:

    No matter how the season ends, I think Todd Bowles gets another season here. BA quit and this was BA’s team and staff. I think Todd Bowles will get a chance to build his own staff and make adjustments to the roster with Licht for next season. I think Todd Bowles has earned that. He’s made some mistakes but for the most part his defense has been solid though another injury plagued year.

  19. BigMacAttack Says:

    If the Bucs want to win tonight, the defense needs to get turnovers and score. The Bucs need to come out nasty, aggressive and punch the Saints in the mouth. Literally knock Lattimore on his can even if it costs us a 15 yard penalty early. They can’t play nice tonight. They need to be nasty dirty and take every single cheap shot they can. The Saints are bullies and you have to beat a bully’s A$$ in the street.

  20. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Big Mac..

    Couldn’t Bowles have made adjustments this year..? Keep hearing that as some kind of excuse.. he could’ve changed anybody he wanted to if he wasn’t scared of his own shadow.

  21. Buc4evr Says:

    Too funny , I hope these guys on the OLine don’t really believe this sh*t. I have extreme faith that the OLine will find a way to screw up tonight. Wells will get owned. Ugh.

  22. BigMacAttack Says:

    Jmark, I don’t disagree at all. I just think the Glazers will give him another shot at it. It will be a do or die situation though IMO. Unless Sean Payton wanted to come here and I could definitely see that happening, along with Aaron Rodgers 😂