So, How Are The Tackles Coming Along?
June 7th, 2023
Eager for training camp.
Joe understands fans want more from practice reports. Joe also talks to fans with pained faces who want more intel from Joe.
What the Bucs have been doing this spring is as close to football as playing a game of H-O-R-S-E is to the game of basketball. So there are many questions Joe gets that Joe simply cannot answer.
The Bucs, as former Bucs coach Raheem Morris called it, are playing underwear football. Zero hitting is allowed. As in none.
So if you can’t hit, you cannot tackle and you cannot block other than standing in front of someone. It really is flag football without the flags.
Yesterday after underwear football practice, Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked separately about two guys playing new positions this year: Tristan Wirfs at left tackle and Luke Goedeke at right tackle.
Bowles sort of shrugged his shoulders and admitted he won’t have a real idea until the pads come on in July.
On Wirfs, “He’s adjusting, so far, pretty [well]. We’re out of pads – you’ve got to get in pads so he can get the feel for it. His footwork is good. We like what we see over there thus far.”
On Goedeke, “”He played [right tackle] in college – he was a right tackle. It’s not uncomfortable for him. He’s energized, he’s ready to go. It’s hard to tell the progress when you’re in shorts and a t-shirt and you really can’t put hands on anybody to the point where you’re bringing them to the ground. But the progress and the intelligence has been great.”
So how are these guys doing? Joe can’t say other than to reiterate what Bowles said.
Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was asked about Wirfs at left tackle and he quipped, “He’s still big as hell!”
JTS added for guys who are scared sh!tless about this move not to fret.
“He’ll be straight… No dropoff.”
In a general sense, Joe believes there are fair questions for each and every projected starter on the offensive line. Joe hasn’t seen this many question marks on the offensive line since lousy Lovie Smith was around.
June 7th, 2023 at 5:34 am
“Joe hasn’t seen this many question marks on the offensive line since lousy Lovie Smith was around.”
^^^^^^^^^
Questions, yes, but much more talented than Anthony Collins, Oniel Cousins, Garrett Gilkey and some of those guys who (I don’t think) got jobs in the NFL after that.
June 7th, 2023 at 6:48 am
Only questions I have is whether Jenson is good to go, which they won’t answer that question, and who’s starting at right guard?
They told Wirfs he was moving to left tackle the day after their season ended, so all the hand wringing over that decision was stupid, and many of us knew it was. Given his athletic abilities, it’s asinine to worry about him adjusting.
June 7th, 2023 at 7:18 am
JTS on Tristan Wirfs … “He’s still big as hell!”
Best line of OTAs.
June 7th, 2023 at 8:02 am
So jTS is our main pass rusher…. ?
He can’t play the run…. 5 sacks?
Wirfs is clearly the best right tackle in football
If he can make the switch, at least we have one position covered on the line.
Luke and Robert are back ups at best
If Jensen can come back at full speed that will be epic.
But can he?
I think u have to say that we have the worst lines in football.
Granted we have a few pieces, but overall…
I feel bad for the coaches as they will get the blame
And it’s not their fault.
June 7th, 2023 at 8:38 am
Do not worry…remain calm….if it is not broke, Bowles will fix it.
June 7th, 2023 at 8:59 am
Joe writes the word underwear more than any sports blogger on the planet I am sure. It’s a fetish at this point.
June 7th, 2023 at 9:15 am
Tristan can jump out of the left side and the right side of the pool.
June 7th, 2023 at 10:09 am
Can’t wait for the pads to go on.
Go Bucs!
June 7th, 2023 at 10:17 am
The 76 line was worse…Much worse
LT Steve Young
LG Howard Fest
C Dan Ryczek
RG Tom Alward
RT Mike Current
June 7th, 2023 at 10:19 am
This way Mayfield will be able to see the opponent just before he is flattened like a pancake.
June 7th, 2023 at 11:25 am
Everybody is as big as hell to JTS. Just look at the way he plays.
June 7th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Haha Rjay!! Good one.
June 7th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
He didn’t sound extremely confident in his interview, but he sounded extremely committed. I sure hope he can do it “backwards”, as he mentioned.
June 7th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Wirfs?, Feiler?, Jensen?, Mauch?, Goedeke?
There’s literally a question at every spot, with some more than one question.
Who’s the starter?
Are they healthy?
Can they play the position well?
We all know, good OL are about continuity. This group has none. It will take awhile for this team to gel. Could be ugly early on. The new OC has his work cut out.
June 7th, 2023 at 1:50 pm
a good line is not only about continuity. also trust and individual play.
wirfs – trusted to do job … individual play elite
feiler – veteran starter … individual play competent+
jensen – trusted to do job … individual play elite / energy / leadership
(? recovery from injury)
mauch – rookie … individual play ? (energtic/fast/tough @ college – nfl ?)
goedeke – 2nd yr-return to college postion … individual play -unknown@RT nfl
and they are all learning a new offense & blocking schemes together
guess it is wait and see
June 7th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
SlyPirate … I still can’t see the rookie Mauch starting this year. We’ll have Stinnie and Leverett as 2 experienced OLinemen, and you never know how Hainsey will come along after this off-season. Bucs have a ton of OLinemen coming to camp besides them (Walton, Skule, O’Neal, Niese, Hermanns, Haggard, Dzani & Molchon), and you never know if one of them is gonna be the surprise of 2023. Here’s hoping.
June 7th, 2023 at 3:02 pm
Is ryan jensen going to be fully healthy? I think it is a legit concern and have heard murmurs he is still not 100%
June 7th, 2023 at 11:05 pm
Lazy work at GM to force a great team player like Wirfs to have to do this.
June 8th, 2023 at 12:42 am
@who says, we couldn’t score a decent left tackle in the draft. We couldn’t afford a serviceable free agent. We still have to restructure a contract or two or cut a veteran to sign our draft picks. Wirfs can still move back to right tackle if needed.l, but then we’ll still have a hole at LT. I don’t think they want Goedeke to play there. We’ve already got a few JAGs, but we don’t want that at that position. We’re not even shopping at Walmart this season. We’re shoplifting from the flea market.
June 8th, 2023 at 12:44 am
Whosayswho, we couldn’t score a decent left tackle in the draft. We couldn’t afford a serviceable free agent. We still have to restructure a contract or two or cut a veteran to sign our draft picks. Wirfs can still move back to right tackle if needed.l, but then we’ll still have a hole at LT. I don’t think they want Goedeke to play there. We’ve already got a few JAGs, but we don’t want that at that position. We’re not even shopping at Walmart this season. We’re shoplifting from the flea market.
June 8th, 2023 at 7:47 am
What about Brandon Walton at left tackle?? He has been there some years on the bucs team and has proving to be capable of protecting the quarterback especially Tom brady