Evidence Of Jensen’s Rub-Off Power
June 11th, 2018
Ryan Jensen-factor illustrated
New Bucs nasty-man center Ryan Jensen is one of the most interesting NFL stories.
Jensen was a Ravens sixth-round pick in 2013, a star Division II left tackle who played in just one game through the next two NFL seasons. Then he was primarily a backup guard in 2015 and 2016, before a dominant season at center last year.
And then Jason Licht made Jensen the highest paid center in the NFL three months ago.
It was part of the overhaul of the Tampa Bay trenches. And Jensen isn’t here just because he is good, the Bucs hope/expect his physical and angry style rubs off on other Bucs offensive linemen in a hurry. Apparently, they’re in need of that kind of kick-start.
Joe finds all the “nasty” talk, the tough-guy chatter, to be mostly hot air. Not complete silliness, but for veteran offensive linemen like Ali Marpet, Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson, is Jensen’s approach really going to change theirs? Joe doubts it. That’s not a complaint, just a reality check.
However, Joe recently was reading a piece on Matt Skura at the Ravens’ official website. He’s the undrafted third-year player getting a chance at full-time duty to replace Jensen in Baltimore.
Skura believes Jensen’s example made him change his approach.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the first person to be in a fight like Jensen was,” Skura said with a chuckle. “But seeing the way he played made me want to play like that as well – having that nastier mentality and finishing blocks downfield. It does intimidate people and a lot of guys really aren’t prepared to play like that from the first snap to the end of the game.”
Pretty cool to hear that right there. Joe’s got a little hope that Jensen can bring the desired mentality change across the offensive line.
It might be a tough job to change a line whose coach said they’re collective mentality and approach was lacking for the first half of last season despite no games missed to injury.
June 11th, 2018 at 11:50 am
Relying on a “tough” center to change your culture? 🤦
Anything does help tho
June 11th, 2018 at 11:54 am
“Jensen’s Rub-Off Power” and GMC’s “get-off”! Should probably keep some hot towels around!! Maybe these guys shouldn’t practice against each other!
June 11th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Bucsfan
U mean his get off quick first step into Oblivion?
June 11th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
all this “tough guy” talk has me SMDH……
if licht and the glazers can tell we’re soft on the practice field, imagine what teams think on sundays……I bet they all laughed at the soft a$$ bucs…..
seems like only kwon Winston and mike evans are the only “tough” players on a 53man roster……
I completely understand why Winston snapped vs the saints……lattimore and other teams had been calling us soft all year…..evans and Winston were the only players that got fed up with the soft label……damn shame…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 11th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Jensen does look like a great pickup. Another smart move by LIcht.
June 11th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
Lol bucsfanman
June 11th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
did this staff and front office not know we weren’t “tough” in 2016?…..and if they thought they were, what happened?…..that falls on coaching….
nice guys come in last!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 11th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
His experience calling the blocking assignments and blitz reads and pickups in Baltimore is much more to the point. It’ll help us play faster if he can take some of that off Jameis either directly or in the huddle.
A couple of teams (Arizona, Minnesota) had blitze packages we had no answer for. Announcers often made the point that our receivers had no hot reads. So, an end to the center carousel might be just what we need.
It’s at this point that I probably need to remind people that I said we’d go 12-4 last year.
June 11th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Clubber Lang!!!
June 11th, 2018 at 4:44 pm
Gmc and Jensen are extreme opposites. I don’t think your team can succeed being as soft as gmc because that doesn’t inspire anyone but you don’t have to be “nasty” like Jensen if you take ali market as the example he’s right in the middle. Nasty physical play will always motivate more than a goofy grin and soft speech McCoy brings to the table. He’d be more like Winston in that the team would muck better if those guys just took a back seat and focused on playing not motivating
June 11th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Football is a team sport but the one on one battles are what decide the outcome. No NFL player should ever be intimidated but frustrated to the point of making stupid mistakes and giving up on plays I have seen many times. You might thinks it’s no big deal if a player is tough or not but I believe you are wrong. Especially in the trenches!
June 12th, 2018 at 8:27 am
Put coach Buck on the defensive side of the trenches. “YOU WILL RESPECT ME!”