Iron Sharpens Iron
August 29th, 2020
Competition helps.
Joe understands thinking of the recent Bucs seasons past may induce projectile vomiting. But work with Joe here.
Imagine three years ago, if the Bucs would have drafted right tackle Tristan Wirfs. To learn the ways of the NFL he would have been practicing against the likes of all-bark, no-bite Robert Ayers and offsides-jumping, Lightning-trolling, belly-shirt-wearing, practice-hating, kicker-heckling, tree-grinding , non-contact-football-loving, chicken-wings-grilling, playing-time-squawking, TV-cooking-star, half-sack Swaggy Baker.
Boy, what wonderful examples of professionalism they would have been for Wirfs.
Instead, the Bucs’ rookie right tackle squares up against NFL sack king Shaq Barrett, lethal pass rusher and veteran Jason Pierre-Paul and powerful defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. And the way Wirfs is playing, he may be able to hold his own against Pro Bowler Cam Jordan of the slimy Saints in two weeks in New Orleans.
Yesterday after the scrimmage at the Den of Depression, Joe asked Wirfs to talk about what defensive players are helping him and in what ways.
“I usually go against Shaq and JPP the most,” Wirfs said. “Shaq’s a really good rusher – they both are really good rushers. I think being able to see that every day in practice and you have [Ndamukong] Suh down at the three [technique] – those caliber of guys every day in practice [and] getting to go against them – I know they’re making me better.
“Hopefully I’m doing my best to make them better. But, I think being able to go against them is really nice.”
In two plays yesterday Wirfs stuck out. In a good way.
On a Ronald Jones run to the right, Wirfs and foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski blew a hole open that Bucco Bruce Arians could have rolled his golf cart through.
And as James Palmer of NFL Network twittered, hard-hitting Jordan Whitehead was on the wrong end of a Wirfs block.
#bucs ran a screen to Gronk and rookie T Tristan Wirfs was out in front and exploded S Jordan Whitehead in the open field.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 27, 2020
No, there was no offseason. No minicamps, no OTAs, and only an abbreviated and softened training camp and preseason.
Still, Wirfs is coming along just fine, it seems. The question Joe has about Wirfs likely will be answered on Sept. 13. That is, will Wirfs be far enough along in his development that he isn’t school by Jordan and the Saints, and in the process that maims park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
August 29th, 2020 at 10:07 am
for the most part he will be fine, yeah but he’ll get beat, and have growing pains, all pro linemen get beat from time to time, the bucs will give him help with tight ends, and RB’s in whatever the play their running at the time
August 29th, 2020 at 10:17 am
High hopes for Wirfs. Will just take a bit of time. Maybe he will be fine already in NO. Big game all round.
August 29th, 2020 at 10:38 am
Definitely good Wirfs is getting challenged. Between that the DBs having their hands full, that is next best thing to games. so I like the chances we have in NO in two weeks, but that continues to be THE game I worry about the most.
August 29th, 2020 at 10:57 am
Iron can “sharpen” all the iron it wants, it does not matter when the head coach is a broken down and rusty old nail that has not done anything in the last 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 29th, 2020 at 11:13 am
Has he actually been named the starter yet?
August 29th, 2020 at 11:19 am
Realist, you are the only troll here who posts the same exact nonsense in every single post. Why don’t you just copy and paste to save yourself the finger work posting the same garbage in every single post. I am just goung to skip reading your unoriginal and repetitive blogs which indicate how much of a non Bucs supporter that you are.
Since nobody can make you just go away, as much as we all wish that we could, I won’t waste my time any further on the JBF official Troll.
If we are sheep then that makes you the brown stuff that sheep leave behind.
Have a great day!
August 29th, 2020 at 11:21 am
Geez Joe, I keep telling you, Wirfs is our most experienced RT. No other player on our team has had more game snaps at RT the last three years then Wirfs. He needs to get up to NFL speed is all, and he’s getting that against Shaq, JPP, Suh, Vea, every day. He doesn’t have to learn a new position, like, Marpet, Cappa did. The kid knows how to play right tackle.
August 29th, 2020 at 11:25 am
*schooled
August 29th, 2020 at 11:33 am
You can rarely go wrong drafting a top Olineman……Perhaps we can do the same next year and convert D Smith’s big salary to a smaller rookie contract. We’ll need the cap space.
August 29th, 2020 at 11:35 am
I’m gonna say something that may be a bit controversial but I think it’s true. Every year those hoping to get drafted have to make the rounds to the sports channels(didn’t want to disrespect the site by naming that place in Bristol) and then all the visits to different team sites for interviews. That didn’t happen allowing them to keep working out and getting in shape. I think the sickness (again not wanting to disrespect the site) is going to be a reason we may not see guys hitting that “rookie wall” our new RT is going to a beast.
Lets go Bucs!
August 29th, 2020 at 11:35 am
Blows my mind how some of you are treating week one like it’s the damn Super Bowl. The Bucs mangled, devoured, B-slapped the Saints up and down the field two years ago. You what it meant ultimately? Jack crap. The Bucs lost week one to the saints during their super bowl year. Stop acting like you’re going to jump off the sunshine skyway bridge if they lose week one. Get-a-grip.
August 29th, 2020 at 11:37 am
This is a story I’ve been waiting to see. I hope the guy can become an all pro. At the very least it looks like he’ll be an upgrade over Dotson.
August 29th, 2020 at 11:46 am
…Get-a-grip…
Haha good one. Face30 has the right mentality. I like our chances though against those aints
Go Bucs
August 29th, 2020 at 11:51 am
Rayjay1122..you’re right!
August 29th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Tristian Wirfs might be ok on opening day?
In the immortal words of Lloyd Christmas, “So you’re saying there’s a chance!?”
August 29th, 2020 at 12:38 pm
@Rayjay1122 and Buc1987
Let it be known that The Buc Realist is not above negotiations and comprises!!!!!!!! Just last month myself and Tampabaybucfan were able to come to a detente!!!!!!!!! My terms are if you are able to convince Joe to give full carte blanche back to “The Buc Realist” then I will post a “positive” post 25% of the time!!!!!!!! What is off the table and nonnegotiable, is that I will ask directly for Joe to reinstate ” The Buc Realist”!!!!!! Nor will I apologize as I maintain that the joke I made of Jay-miss “franchise records” while distasteful, was clearly still in bounds of the JBF comment rules, and is still funny and still holds up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are my terms!!!!!!!!!!!
Intern Zach asks: Mr. Realist, why do you call them sheep????
The Buc Realist says: “Because the always come when called”!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 29th, 2020 at 12:43 pm
Jaymiss says:
Joseph will not be extorted, blackmailed, strongarmed nor bullied. He runs a clean, tight ship and often gives enough rope to commenters to get themselves run. Adios amigo.
August 29th, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Realist, um, how shall I put this? No one, and I mean no one cares. Seriously. Troll all you like with the same regurgitated garbage but as Ricky gervais says so often, I don’t care. And no one else does either.
August 29th, 2020 at 1:28 pm
LOL Stop it! Wirfs hasn’t played a snap in the NFL yet. The Big Ten is not the NFL.
August 29th, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Still would’ve drafted A.J. Epenesa in the 2nd round.
As much as I LUV’d watching Junior in Minnesota. His injury concerns are real.
Note mention our defensive line need an infusion of young talent.
I mean can you imagine A.J. Epenesa learning the tricks of the trade from JPP, Suh, and Barrett?
O’well it is what it is. Lets hope for the best
Go Bucs!
August 29th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
You make some good points regarding Wirfs, Hodad. At least something worth thinking about.
Because BA had said more than once that he mistrusts drafting linemen in the first round. I did not know what to expect in this year’s draft. I did see our needs as well as many others this year I guess. Arians had even voiced the idea that you are just doing the next coach a favor in so many words.
Either Licht and his scouting staff did a helluva sell job on Arians or BA and his staff all concurred with targeting Wirfs early on. Iowa has a reputation for churning out quality offensive linemen for the NFL.
It will be telling if Tristan starts at New Orleans. That would bode well for where our OL could be come December.
August 29th, 2020 at 3:24 pm
Looks like another hard working, professional player for the Bucs. These guys are not listening to social media BS and are putting in serious work.
#LoveTWirfsAss&Legs