“Wirfs Looked Like A Natural Left Tackle”
June 17th, 2023
“This is easy, Donnie.”
A pair of highly-trained eyeballs was on Tristan Wirfs this week and they came away impressed.
Joe was high-fiving the JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters neighbors upon hearing this chatter on With The First Pick, a CBS Sports podcast.
Former linebacker and longtime Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was patrolling One Buc Palace and watching practice this week in his role as a CBS analyst.
What he saw on the offensive line left him confident the Bucs would be at least adequate there and one of their big question marks can be erased.
“[Tristan] Wirfs looked like a natural left tackle even though he’s been a numerous-Pro-Bowl player on the right side,” Spielman said with emphasis.
Spielman recalled how Wirfs was scouted as a left tackle in 2020 (Spielman was a GM then) and noted that Wirfs has all the athletic ability he needs for the position, in addition to looking fluid already. “I think that will be a smooth, easy transition for him,” he said.
Again, Joe was so pleased to hear an unbiased and professional assessment of Wirfs in his new role. Yeah, Joe gets that it’s only mid-June.
As for other questions on the Bucs’ line, Spielman voiced concerns about rookie right guard Cody Mauch being able to “anchor” in the running game when it’s called for.
Joe will speculate — based on it being underwear football season and Spielman saying he talked to important folks at One Buc Palace — that Spielman heard that Mauch concern from someone collecting a Team Glazer paycheck.
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June 17th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
See Joe… not to worry. Wirfs is ambidextrous
June 17th, 2023 at 6:53 pm
Didn’t like my comment I guess. Why would that be. Someone doesn’t like to be wrong. Hmmm.. who could that be?
June 17th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Wirfs is a natural left tackle
June 17th, 2023 at 6:57 pm
Great news for our cap situation going forward if true. And if Mauch isn’t ready at R guard, we have Stinnie or Leverett if needed.
June 17th, 2023 at 7:08 pm
Super Bowles Bound we are.
June 17th, 2023 at 7:18 pm
See Joe? You were all worried over nuthin
June 17th, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Ariens should have put Donnie at Right and Wirfs at Left.
June 17th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
I was pretty sure from the begining that Wirfs would be fine at left tackle.
I have no Earthly idea how the BUCS coaches can pencil in Much at right tackle without seeing him in pads.
June 17th, 2023 at 7:45 pm
BTW the very mention of the word oderationmay is one of the triggers.
June 17th, 2023 at 7:47 pm
Apparently pig Latin is ok
June 17th, 2023 at 8:01 pm
Even is Mauch has trouble, they need to give him the experience so he can be ready to go next season as a future starter.
June 17th, 2023 at 8:39 pm
Mauch is the future. He’s going to have to take lumps. Needs to add about 20 lbs of muscle.
June 17th, 2023 at 9:11 pm
Wirfs hasn’t played a game (with the Bucs) at left tackle, yet.
We can only pray he is as dominant at left tackle. Just don’t see any positive moving a guy from a(ny) position in which he was set the standard for excellence.
June 17th, 2023 at 10:07 pm
Wirfs was an elite wrestler no worry about him switching sides. Wrestlers can’t just wrestle to the right, otherwise they’d get their butts handed to them.
June 17th, 2023 at 10:54 pm
My Momma said it months ago after Mauch was drafted: His foot work is horrible. Stinnie should be the guy for now. I’m sure Mauch will work out fine in the long run. He certainly has the athleticism.
June 17th, 2023 at 11:25 pm
Joe Says:
June 17th, 2023 at 9:11 pm
See Joe? You were all worried over nuthin
Wirfs hasn’t played a game (with the Bucs) at left tackle, yet.
We can only pray he is as dominant at left tackle. Just don’t see any positive moving a guy from a(ny) position in which he was set the standard for excellence.
___________
You thought Durable Donning was a solid LT Joe, so the bar ain’t set real high now is it?
Wirfs will dominate as a LT just like he did as a RT.
June 18th, 2023 at 12:14 am
There are at least 8 other players besides rookie Cody Mauch who may perform better. Because he is a rookie we don’t have to force square peg through round hole.
June 18th, 2023 at 12:32 am
If Stinnie is healthy, between him, Cody and Hainsey one of those boys will hold it down. Pulling for Luke to lock it down too. Throw your boy Ko on the right side next to Luke.
June 18th, 2023 at 1:33 am
Well, he did block for a 1,000-yard rusher (as a rookie) and two different quarterbacks who threw for 5,000 yards in a season *and* won a ring.
Joe doesn’t know too many sh!tty left tackles that can pull that off.
June 18th, 2023 at 1:39 am
I listened to his podcast today on the Bucs practices. Overall said he felt good about the Bucs OL. If there was one position to concerned him most it was RT. He just said that Goedeke hasn’t proven he can play OT at this level. Not enough tape and mentioned his arm length. Said the Bucs need to have a plan B in case it doesn’t go well.
June 18th, 2023 at 2:22 am
Joe,
It can be explained:
Tom Brady, quick release
JayMiss, a slinger and occasionally lucky enough to avoid a sack
1000 yard rusher, certainly the majority of the runs were not behind DD and were to the right with Mankins
June 18th, 2023 at 2:36 am
Wirfs has not been doing any real blocking at left tackle yet. But I am confident he will be OK.
Speilman is full of it.
“Cody Mauch being able to “anchor” in the running game when it’s called for”
How in the world would anyone anywhere know anything about Mauchs “anchor” at this point? We have had no hitting!
Anchor has little or nothing to do with run blocking by the way. At least as far as I know.
Go Bucs!
June 18th, 2023 at 6:12 am
did you say you’re wiping with your left hand joke yet?
June 18th, 2023 at 6:32 am
Anyone that watched him play in college knew it wasn’t a big deal.
June 18th, 2023 at 10:10 am
I can’t wait to see Wirf’s and Feiler run block on the left side. Now maybe we can gain some yardage without Don the matador on the end. He truly acted like run blocking was the same as pass blocking. Our RB’s stop running left completely because if they did they could never get out of the backfield with Smith standing to the side with his hands on his hips holding his matador cape. He sucked.
June 18th, 2023 at 4:38 pm
How can there really be any opinion on a rookie OL concerning the run game or the pass game for that matter.
They’ve only been out there in their underwear with no real hitting. At least wait till the pads pop before we start grading OL!
June 18th, 2023 at 5:17 pm
He’s an athlete. 6-5 303. They’re going to have guards on the move. Not worried.
June 18th, 2023 at 7:15 pm
JB was getting the vapors and was on the verge of women problems. I hope this news from someone who knows football helped a little. If not there’s always Midol.
June 18th, 2023 at 10:39 pm
Rock Riley sounds like Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy