Moving Tristan Wirfs Could Be Brilliant And Could Be A Disaster
September 23rd, 2025
Back to right tackle smart?
Sunday morning, Joe typed that when Bucs All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs returns, with all the other injuries the Bucs have at offensive line, might it be better to temporarily keep Graham Barton at left tackle, Ben Bredeson at center and put Wirfs back to right tackle where he played when the Bucs won the Super Bowl for the 2020 season?
Now Joe normally is appalled at the thought of effing around Wirfs, perhaps the best tackle in the game. And for folks who think that is easy to flip sides on the offensive line, remember Wirfs, when Bowles told him prior to the 2023 season he was moving to left tackle, was so freaked out by it that he had to seek counseling.
It’s not like a player changing positions on “Madden.”
But Joe wonders, if Wirfs is OK with it — if he’s not, end of discussion, he stays at left tackle — Graham Barton has proven to be OK at left tackle. Not great against speed rushers but other than that he’s not embarrassing himself out there.
And Ben Bredeson at center? He’s doing a helluva job there, despite getting busted by FOX’s boom mics.
“That’ll be a big discussion, depending on how he’s moving this week, depending on what side he’s moving better on, if he has a side he’s moving better on,” Bowles said.
We all know Wirfs, even playing out of position, is probably better than anyone in the league at right tackle other than maybe Penei Sewell.
The fact Bowles openly admitted that the Bucs may just keep Barton at left tackle, Bredeson at center and Wirfs at right tackle tells Joe they’re more than a little serious about this. Remember how secretive the Bucs were about moving Barton to left tackle? Now they openly admit Wirfs may play right tackle?
It basically comes down to this for the Bucs: Do the Bucs think they are better off with Barton at left tackle over Charlie Heck at right tackle.
And if you think about it, Barton is only going to get better and better at left tackle for every snap he takes.
September 23rd, 2025 at 12:06 am
Man I just want them to win the dam game! This the perfect opportunity to be the true #1 seed in the nfc. Make it work get the dam DUB! 🏴☠️
September 23rd, 2025 at 12:23 am
my guess is barton swings to the right. he is already learning on the fly and he’ll be better there than heck anyway. bredesen stays at center and the two guard spots are occupied by whoever is playing best in practice. that way the weaker links are sorta parsed out and the starters can anchor the line. Even with that lineup, though, the inside will be weaker which could affect the run game.
September 23rd, 2025 at 12:25 am
I think Barton is serviceable there, but I’d rather see our left side back to normal. I didn’t want heck at left tackle but he’s been ok at right imo. Just need to have the best rg out there
September 23rd, 2025 at 12:32 am
Seth, Barton has never played right tackle in his life. At least not in college. He has played plenty of left tackle which is why he’s there right now. No way he goes to right tackle. It’s either going to be Wirfs or heck.
September 23rd, 2025 at 12:33 am
still too much mystery behind his injury in the first place. Same for Godwin. I honestly have no expectations for either of them in at least the first half of the season. I wouldn’t play either of them until they’re totally ready. This feels like gamesmanship from Todd and I have my doubts about Wirfs even playing at all. That said I think if he’s ready to roll he should do so at LT. We could get the original starting left side back and would be much easier to build a game plan.
September 23rd, 2025 at 12:33 am
What ever the genius does, it will be the more complex solution given all the options. Because you can’t be a genius if you don’t do unexpected things that no one else ever thinks of.
Wirfs will move to tight end, Des Watson will be inserted at H-Back, and 3 of Va Buc Fan’s first 5000 will fill out the OL. The other dudes will drop into pass coverage with everyone else, especially deep, especially in the 4th quarter.
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:17 am
If this is due to his health, then absolutely not. If he’s not healthy enough to play on his left side, he’s not healthy enough to play at all.
Otherwise I guess you could argue it might come down to which they think is the bigger liability: Barton at LT, or Heck at RT.
Is it better to have the left / center 60% of the original starting lineup intact and only worry about the right side? Or space out your vets in different positions, with 2 rookie-ish guards in between them?
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:20 am
My guess. Is Bucs just let Baker stay healthy.
Run, run, use Tucker and run some more.
Save Bucky and White.
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:25 am
i like this…
musical chairs on the OLine…
let’s keep it crazy until we lose a game 🙂
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:45 am
WWKCD
What would KEVIN CARBERRY do? Carberry is the OL coach. Wherever he puts Wirfs is the right call. KC has worked magic.
Kudos KC.
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:49 am
Was that Bredeson calling out 44 as the Fuc*ing Mike?! I thought that was Baker
September 23rd, 2025 at 1:50 am
Joe no write up about Bowles and Payne Durham and their secret love affair?
September 23rd, 2025 at 2:03 am
Yeah, I mentioned it before anyone and got shut down by most on here, lol. But hey, what if it works? As long as he’s ok with it, and his recovering injury. He knows the position and it will mainly be until Luke gets back. I dont see the issue.
September 23rd, 2025 at 4:10 am
Whatever works. I agree about Carberry being some sort of OL guru, or it seems that way, anyway.
September 23rd, 2025 at 4:26 am
I wonder if Charlie Heck can play right guard with Wirfs at right tackle, Barton at left tackle and Bredeson at center? No more Elijah Klein or Luke Haggard on the football field this season for me, PLEASE.
September 23rd, 2025 at 4:40 am
It’s highly unlikely Tristan is going to be 100% this week, meaning he’s going to have to shake some of the rust off.
He’s been at LT for a couple of years now. I would think that instinctively and intuitively he’s going to react/respond as an LT once the ball is snapped. Muscle memory.
Moving him to RT could compound the situation. Muscle reflex and memory reflex will instinctively have him responding as an LT.
Don’t get me wrong; I get the arguments for moving him to RT. If anyone can do it successfully, it’s Tristan.
We’ve had Philly’s number for the past couple of years, but they’re still a darn tough team.
I want every advantage we can take.
I’d lean toward Tristan at LT, Ben at LG and Graham at C, and shoring up the right side of the O-line with a blocking TE, RB, etc.
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:03 am
Yea – easy call – get Wirfs, Bredeson and Barton back to their regular spots and solidify the left side of the OLine.
Heck is our primary backup at Tackle – and Charlie will just have to do his best to hold down the fort at RT until Goedeke returns in 4 weeks or so. Plenty of options for the RG spot between Jordan, Klein, Haggard, Opeta and the newly acquired Feeney. One of them will be serviceable for the year. I think (not that) Michael Jordan already proved he can play Guard reasonably effectively for this team….
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:13 am
Dont gamble, we have enough injuries already.
When he is really ready and can play then put him at LT.
Dont do anything stupid.
Go Bucs
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:20 am
Due to the super-secrecy of Todd Bowles and the offensive line, it is quite obvious to me that on Sunday we will see Tristin Wirfs at right tackle and Chris Godwin at left guard. It’s all Common Core math.
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:26 am
Pickgrin
Exactly. Occam’s Razor. This is just smoke blowing by Bowles. If Wirfs plays at all, it’s at LT.
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:46 am
Joe … ‘The fact Bowles openly admitted that the Bucs may just keep Barton at left tackle, Bredeson at center and Wirfs at right tackle tells Joe they’re more than a little serious about this.’
OR … Todd’s playing with the Eagles’ heads (and others in the process?). Now the Eagles have no clue what our OLine will look like. Probably complicates the defensive planning a little bit?
But let’s say Bucs put the starters back into their original positions … Wirfs at LT, Bredeson at LG & Barton back at Center, with maybe Klein at RG & Heck or Haggard at RT. In that scenario, at least Baker’s blind side is protected fairly well against the Eagles pass rush, and we’d have at least 1 strong side to run to.
Yes the Eagles are 3-0 like we are, but their wins haven’t been overwhelming either. Rams had this last game won at the end, but the Eagles blocked a FG attempt with 3 seconds left in the game (that would’ve won it), scooped it up & scored a TD to win 33-26. Oh wait, deja vu, except time ran out for the Rams.
Eagles defense hasn’t been overwhelming, but they’ve been ‘good enough’ (rank middle-of-the-pack at #15, giving up an average of 21 PPG). Their run defense doesn’t appear to be as formidable as in years past (averaging giving up 133 YPG on 79 attempts thus far … 5.1 YPC). Their pass defense looks to be quite a bit better (ranks #11 in Yards Allowed). They have 3 sacks & 3 takeaways in 3 games.
Eagles offense hasn’t been overwhelming either. Total Yards in each of their 3 games: 302 yds against Cowboys, 216 yds against Chiefs. 288 yds against Rams. That’s only an average of 269 YPG (147 YPG Passing & 122 YPG Rushing on average). What’s helped them a bunch thus far is that in 3 games they’re 5-of-6 (83%) on 4th Down Conversions. The key: Eagles scored 4 TDs on those 4th Down Conversions. They’ve only kicked 3 FGs in 3 games (made all 3).
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:52 am
My prediction for the oline, from left to right:
Wirfs, Bredeson, Barton, Feeney, Heck
Let’s roll!
September 23rd, 2025 at 5:55 am
Heck did not have a bad game at RT. He was the only O lineman not flagged during the game. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Haggard played terrible. Putting Ben at LG will do more good than putting Wirfs at RT. Sew up the left side if you can. Stop the musical chairs.
September 23rd, 2025 at 6:25 am
One thing we’ve learned is you can’t believe one thing Bowles says about anything at his pressers, or anywhere else for that matter. He just makes shyte up and pretends it’s true.
I’d put the all pro right back to left tackle, brederson to LG, Barton to center. After that the right side is the only issue- but Heck is pretty shaky, so the question becomes is Barton at RT something that would improve the position vs the Iggles?? We’ll see on Sunday, until then I’ll believe nothing about it that I hear from TB!
September 23rd, 2025 at 6:57 am
Esteban85:
The secret love affair comment was so out in left field…
I had to rewind several times. That’s not a side of Bowles the public or media get to see often.
September 23rd, 2025 at 7:13 am
I like Wirfs-Bredeson-Barton-Opeta-Heck (run downs) and Chukwuma (pass downs). That should work great until Goedeke comes back! Or Feeney replaces Opeta. But Opeta is supposed to be really good…
September 23rd, 2025 at 7:35 am
Those two DT’s scared the ish out me.
Run the rock and stop Bark.
September 23rd, 2025 at 7:53 am
StpeteMatt
That might be a tip off, no?
September 23rd, 2025 at 7:54 am
Hey Joe..
It would be nice if just one of my posts showed up before hours had elapsed…
September 23rd, 2025 at 8:30 am
Wirfs, Ben, Graham, ?, Heck
Right guard is a lot easier to patch…maybe the easiest. Put a strong fella there and protect the QB.
I’m just as concerned with stopping the run.
September 23rd, 2025 at 8:49 am
Opeta was supposed to be ahead of Bredeson before he got injured last year.
September 23rd, 2025 at 9:09 am
Graham ought to feel comfortable at left tackle, he played there for 3 years at Duke.
September 23rd, 2025 at 9:12 am
each game is different and presents different challenges…we have to shore the middle of the oline against philly…
philly has to beastly DTs and speed rushers on the outside….
i’d lean more towards wirfs, jordan, barton, brenson, heck….2TE sets and chip the ends….
i honestly think we can run right at phillys ends…we’re quick but they cant hold up against the run
imo, shoring up the middle of the oline is key
GO BUCS!!!!
September 23rd, 2025 at 9:24 am
Works is coming off an injury. Right tackle will force him to screw with mechanics and aggravated that knee again. But it sure does make sense.
September 23rd, 2025 at 9:30 am
About all I can say is Wirfs is a beast, and Barton was pretty good at center last year. Go get ’em, Carberry!!!!
September 23rd, 2025 at 9:54 am
barton center, brederson on wirfs’ side whichever side that is who cares. need one good side.
September 23rd, 2025 at 9:54 am
what about Ko is he okay? looked hurt.
September 23rd, 2025 at 11:13 am
The depth chart on buccaneers.com says we are putting the left side of our line back together in their correct positions and the right guard/tackle are Klein/Heck.I do like the idea of bringing in Chuk on obvious passing downs. I wish they would do that…
September 23rd, 2025 at 7:52 pm
It’s a tough one for coaches to think about for sure, I’d like to see the left side back in tack myself personally put graham, Ben, and tristan where they played last year and maybe start sending a back or tight end over to help