“Wiz” Is No Guard
March 10th, 2015
The Buccaneers officially are courting free agent center Stefen Wisniewski. So Joe thought he’d call a guy who knows Wisniewski — and the Bucs — quite well.
That would be iconic former Bucs left tackle Donald Penn, who started alongside Wisniewski on the Raiders’ offensive line last season.
Penn had good things to say about his former comrade and emphasized “Wiz is a good player, very smart, but he is a center not a guard.”
Joe hears some of his media brethren heating up Twitter with talk of 25-year-old Wisniewski playing guard for Tampa Bay because he played there early in his career.
Well, Joe’s not buying it.
Joe reached out to another reliable who confirmed that Wisniewski wants to stay a center, unless he’s somehow wowed by big bucks usually commanded by guards.
Keep in mind Wisniewski played left guard previously. That’s the position now anchored by barbecue-challenged Logan Mankins.
Joe believes the Bucs like Wisniewski’s versatility but wouldn’t hesitate to have him be their center and move Evan Dietrich-Smith to right guard. Dietrich-Smith has guard experience, too.
Also, Wisniewski was the man at center handling rookie quarterback Derek Carr, who blossomed quite nicely behind great pass protection. The Bucs (Lord willing) will have their own rookie QB in a matter of weeks.
Joe is hyperventilating at the possibility of the Bucs having an offensive lineman perform like an average to above-average NFL starter at his position. “Wiz” could be that guy.
March 10th, 2015 at 9:37 pm
interesting with an eds slide to rt guard.
March 10th, 2015 at 9:43 pm
Looking at the signings around the league many deals are already done. If we were going to make a splash. we forgot the pool..
Remember that we have had a horrid record for 10 years and i think it is going to be difficult to attract players. I see where a deal just went down in a Bradford for Nick F.
I would be surprised if there is much interest in trading up to no.1 for Winston.
March 10th, 2015 at 9:45 pm
seems good on paper but will it transpire…under that scenario all we would need technically is a LT ohh well a guy can only have hope
March 10th, 2015 at 9:51 pm
Someone help me out here please. My friend here just Revis only made 9 million in Tampa?
March 10th, 2015 at 9:52 pm
Bad coaching here will hurt any good player that comes here. Lovie is a joke
March 10th, 2015 at 9:53 pm
*said*
March 10th, 2015 at 9:53 pm
LT – Cam Irving
LG – Mankins
C – Wiz
RG – EDS
RT – Dotson
Who could hate that? Drafting Irving in the 2nd might be a stretch….but I’d like to think that this highlights just how quickly a 5 person OL can be improved with 2 additions.
March 10th, 2015 at 9:54 pm
Joe believes the Bucs like Wisniewski’s versatility but wouldn’t hesitate to have him be their center and move Evan Dietrich-Smith to right guard. Dietrich-Smith has guard experience, too.
——
Best move. Eds won’t have to snap any longer and I believe eds might man up w Logan on the other side. That leaves us with LT., what do we do there?
March 10th, 2015 at 9:54 pm
If Wiz is a good, young player, why is Oakland letting him walk? They have a boat load of cap space and could easily resign him. I guess that’s a question for the paid professionals to answer.
If Wiz is an upgrade at center over EDS, and EDS can be a decent RG, then sign the man.
March 10th, 2015 at 9:57 pm
^^^Revis was paid $15 million to my knowledge.
March 10th, 2015 at 9:59 pm
The Raiders just signed Rodney Hudson C KC for $8M and Revis made $16M for 1 rehab year.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:00 pm
@birddoggers
Thank you! I thought he got his full 16 million. I just know that this is the place to ask cause there is a lot of smart people on this site.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:00 pm
We need depth & versatility with our line…..take Wiz if we can get him….if he’s traveling to Tampa…I think he’s a Buc……
March 10th, 2015 at 10:02 pm
Tbbf
Many have traveled few have stayed. 🙁
March 10th, 2015 at 10:04 pm
^^^it could’ve been $16 million. Either 15 or 16 but $16 million sounds right now that i think about it.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:07 pm
EDS, the center that rolls the ball out of the shotgun. Hard to suck more than that guy.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:09 pm
Nobody wants to play here: besides oh yeah, the best defensive tackle in football who would’ve gotten Suh money from any team he wanted. And oh Ya Jameis Winston and Ap and Demarco Murray. But Ya you’re right Adrian Peterson listing Tampa simply because he grew a bond with lovie playing against him for years. Of course you guys are right, NOBODY wants to play here………….not when the Dolphins are willing to overpay for you and we no longer are. We will make second wave splashes as our leaders said we would
March 10th, 2015 at 10:10 pm
Possibly strengthening two positions then. Im all for it.
I said it before the start of last season and basically ever season before that. This team will go as far as the offensive and defensive line takes it.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
True that Broy. I BELIEVE!!
Said no one ever. Na I’m just playing. Lol. Kidding just kidding.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Hopefully Penn is the bigger man and put in a good word about our Bucs.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:22 pm
You had me at “Center”
March 10th, 2015 at 10:26 pm
Broy,
There are players who want to be here. We drafted GMC, he appreciates that and has planted roots here. Dashon Goldson played college at Washington and his first 6 NFL seasons in SF. He didn’t “want” to be here, we paid him to pretend he wanted to be here.
We need guys who “really” want to be here.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:28 pm
Living outside of Philly and watching all this go done makes me kind of glad Chip left us at the alter. Eagle fans are scrambling trying to come up with logic of taking on Bradford’s salary and trading him to TB, Ten, or NYJ…. not realizing this is not MLB or NBA and the salary travels with the player. By no means is this an endorsement for Lovie Smith though.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:35 pm
@NJBucsfan,
Bradford is the new Eagles QB. With Gore turning his back, expect Gurley @ 20.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:42 pm
@Bill
I have the same opinion…it is just hilarious listening to this fan base.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Bill says :
“We need guys who “really” want to be here.”
I hear ya and get ya. If that’s the case then we better just throw in the towel on free agency for awhile then. Not too many WANT to come to Tampa. I can’t tell you why, perhaps it’s the historically bad past.
Then we better just build through the draft like the old days. So we get guys like Sapp, Brooks and Barber that say “the losing stops now”.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:03 pm
So 87 are you saying trade down twice accumulate picks and begin a proper rebuilding job ?
“Then we better just build through the draft like the old days. So we get guys like Sapp, Brooks and Barber that say “the losing stops now”.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:08 pm
JoeJoes Fungi Nails Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 11:03 pm
“So 87 are you saying trade down twice accumulate picks and begin a proper rebuilding job ?”
I think I made it clear. No need for these high priced FA’s that don’t want to be here and are only in it for the money.
No, no need to trade down when you don’t know if you’ll ever get a chance to pick a possible franchise QB again, something you’ve never had.
Plus like I said before…I don’t trust the people doing the shopping. Especially since I don’t think they will be in Tampa all that long. Meaning L&L. So still NO to the trade down for me.
Hell if I trusted them to do things right, I might be in the trade down crowd,
March 10th, 2015 at 11:25 pm
I for one am glad that the bucs have been pretty quiet in this years free agency. If there’s anything that we should have learned the past couple of years its that you can’t buy all the best free agents and produce a winning team. Sure you can add one here and there, but to go out and dominate free agency doesn’t mean you’ll dominate once the season starts. Honestly I believe last years this regime just bought a bunch of talent just to see what sticks, because we had so many holes. But now its time to use free agency sparingly and build through the draft.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:26 pm
Sign “THE KRAKEN”
March 10th, 2015 at 11:28 pm
You guys sounds really desperate…
March 10th, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Andrew 1…looks like our Bucs are getting Winston after all huh?
I remember you and I discussing this months and months ago in here.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:39 pm
Hellz yea 87! Its about time we had a franchise QB of our own. Some people are down on him now, but once we start winning they’ll change their tune.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:52 pm
Andrew 1…people just think I’m over the top for this kid, because of my name. I’ll change it back after the draft OR if I see things are headed in a different direction. The name is my FSU war paint.
I’m a Bucs fan first and foremost. Hell I was a Buc fan about 6 years before I became a Noles fan. The Bucs mean more to me than the Noles.
I really don’t think I would think differently about Winston if I was not a Noles fan.
I watch A LOT of college football. People that know me, know I love college ball 10 times more than the pros. I’ve seen Oregon numerous times and I REALLY don’t think Mariota is going to make a good transition to the NFL.
The only thing I like about Mariota is his escapability from the pocket, but I’m not so sure he will pan out in the NFL. Where as I know Winston is ready to go.
I’m NOT naive to think that Winston will come in and light up the NFL though.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:57 pm
The people you don’t trust to do the shopping are in love with your boy at @ #1…hmm. Also, I find it funny that since we have decided not to overspend on day 1 of free agency, apparently that means no one wants to play here…smh.
March 11th, 2015 at 12:12 am
Shane Marco Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 11:57 pm
“The people you don’t trust to do the shopping are in love with your boy at @ #1…hmm. Also, I find it funny that since we have decided not to overspend on day 1 of free agency, apparently that means no one wants to play here…smh.”
Shake your head all you want. Many people are in love with “my boy”. Does it mean that L&L will be here after 2015? Nope. Will Winston still be here? Yup.
If you had a choice to play for an NFL team after playing for 3-4 seasons in the NFL and had aspirations of winning a Super Bowl some day, would you want to go to the Bucs? Yes or no?
March 11th, 2015 at 12:31 am
Successful NFL teams are about CULTURE. You can’t build culture with a bunch of mercenaries. I suspect this is why Lovie brings in his past players, as many other coaches do. This is also why teams try to build through the draft.
Stop this free agent BS. Draft our QB and lets begin the culture building process.
We’ve got great leaders in VJ, GMAC, and David. I don’t want high priced ass bags. We need Bucs. Every player drafted is a Buc, unless we screw it up.
March 11th, 2015 at 12:44 am
A lot of people loved Johnny Football, and RGIII, and Ryan Leaf. It’s funny that all of the free agents out there aren’t knocking down the door to play with “your boy” since he is the savior and all.
March 11th, 2015 at 12:45 am
I like Wisniewski…
But the day should start and end with a Jameis Winston post. Every day.
This should be a blog tradition at JBF.
March 11th, 2015 at 1:01 am
Clint,
So Joe starts a post about offensive linemen and you bring it back? Tell me about why you like Wiz. Lets make a daily Wiz post.
March 11th, 2015 at 1:08 am
He isn’t coming to the Bucs just like JW…Glennon and EDS for 2015.Let’s get a tackle
March 11th, 2015 at 1:59 am
If Joe gets his man lust on draft day, how long do you feel it will be before he is in the news again for something stupid dumb? Brooks can not baby sit him 24/7 365. His mantra will be I play on Dale Mabry.
March 11th, 2015 at 2:49 am
@Barry and Jack D,
This is not a Jameis post. Let’s talk Bucs OL.
You guys criticize Joe for his crush on Winston, but when he does post content unrelated to JW, you bring it back.
Tell me about “Wiz”….
March 11th, 2015 at 2:59 am
@Bill
I told you Wiz ain’t coming and I said let’s get a tackle. Nothing to see here, go back to bed. Glennon #1
I never criticized Joe and you shouldn’t be the blog police telling people what to write about. I’ll write about whatever I want
March 11th, 2015 at 5:22 am
Which tackle would you like to see?
March 11th, 2015 at 6:15 am
Might as well sign him….not much left out there.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:24 am
Well…glad to see nothing happened last night. L&L AHoles
March 11th, 2015 at 7:17 am
@87
“Then we better just build through the draft like the old days. So we get guys like Sapp, Brooks and Barber”
Sure we got our core from the draft…just like we do know with McCoy, David, & Evans.. But even back during the Brooks era we still had to hit FA to make that leap to win a Super Bowl… Rice, Johnson x2, Pittman, Spires, Dilger, McCardell, and Christy all added through FA and all had huge impacts on us Winning the Super Bowl. They just have to be the right fits at the right time.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:42 am
[…] already written quite a bit about “Wiz,” 25-year-old ex-Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski, who is on his way to […]
March 11th, 2015 at 7:46 am
winning! cures all! and with L&L running this it does not look good. glazers must have said you have all the time you need so now they probably draft MR. I am great! and s*** for next 3 years till there is blackouts. and low ticket sales. then he will get fired! and do this crap all over again. CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR PEOPLE.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:48 am
ok lurker 87 and the rest lets HEAR IT! stick up for your boys. LMFAO!
March 11th, 2015 at 7:55 am
I SURE DO MISS CHUCKY!
March 11th, 2015 at 8:03 am
@Bill
“this highlights just how quickly a 5 person OL can be improved with 2 additions.’
Agree completely. What you are saying is we have 60% of an OL capable of at least reaching Joe’s desired “average” level. And I agree with that as well as Joe’s point that we just need to be decent not all pro at the OL.
The OL is truly a team. Hard to imagine that any three players could have jelled with the two jokes that were often standing beside them. And we must never forget that the horrid play calling did this line no favors either. Add to that the fact that 2 of our 3 RB’s were playing hurt for the first 3/4’s of the year and it’s no wonder we sucked up front.
I do not expect EDS, Mankins, and Dotson to become All Pros next year. However if you found two other players as good or even better than those three we should be able to craft and adequate OL.
BTW whoever said we should go for players who like it here is also spot on.
The Michael Johnson move should illustrate this nicely. He clearly wanted to stay in Cincinnati but they let him walk. Why did we then decide to hope he would fall in love with Tampa? Because of the $$$?
March 11th, 2015 at 8:20 am
This crap about players not wanting to come here…total bull. You people think that just because no moves are made in the first 24 hours that no one wants to come?
You know who signs in the first 24 hours?
The OVERPAID, UNDER-PERFORMING PLAYERS.
Not one free agent signed since 4 pm yesterday is actually worth the money given. Certainly not Revis, who is nothing more than a mercenary. Not Suh, who, contrary to Dolphin fans, will not make the difference and win a super bowl (Fins are a worse team than the Lions, and he’ll have less support around him).
I swear, some of you either were not around for Rich McKay or you just plum forgot the proper way of doing things. It was uncommon for McKay to sign players on the first day. Fans always…ALWAYS complained that players didn’t want to come to Tampa because of the lack of activity during the first 24 hours.
Players DO want to come here. Lovie Smith is highly respected by all players, regardless of what the haters here claim. So we went 2-14 last year. So what? So Lovie and Licht bombed in Free Agency (or did they?)
Here’s the thing…no one here wants to see them making the same mistakes as last year…buying into the hype and spending without thought. Well, this year they are taking it slower and smart.
Consider this…IF this guy signs as center and EDS moves over to Guard, then suddenly our oline is fixed after we draft a tackle, then it will turn out that last year’s free agency was not so bad as everyone thought. Mankins will have worked out, EDS moving to guard would work out.
Signing this guy could reduce our needs by a factor of 2 instead of one on the oline. Then we would only need a tackle in the draft.
I like it.
So stop over reacting and be a little more patient.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:21 am
No one here considered the thought of getting a better center and moving EDS over to guard before this…except maybe Lovie and Licht.
If that is indeed their thinking, then I’m impressed.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:32 am
You know…the cutting of Anthony Collins would seem to support this theory.
March 11th, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Moving EDS to guard is not a new thought.
March 11th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
@Bonzai, I totally agree with you. L&L are playing it smart, you can still find quality starters in the so called second tier or wave as they say. Good organizations do this to build depth and add quality pieces to go with a good draft. Go bucs!