The Legend Of Tristan Wirfs Grows
February 12th, 2021
350?
Bucs fans knows all about how rookie Tristan Wirfs might be the best right tackle in football. Some power hitters even have told Joe that Wirfs may be the best offensive tackle in the game.
But Wirfs’ greatness still seems to be growing.
Left tackle Donovan Smith stands about 6-6, 335 pounds. And in more than one interview this season, Smith has responded to questions about why Wirfs is so good with the following, “Have you seen him?” Smith usually adds that Wirfs makes him look small.
Joe brings this up because of new comments on SiriusXM NFL Radio by Bucs center Ryan Jensen.
Jensen was talking today about his size and weight and explained that “Tristan is a different animal.” Twice Jensen said Wirfs is 350 pounds (up from his NFL Scouting Combine weight of 320.) And Jensen noted that seeing Wirfs without his shirt on at the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl boat parade revealed that Wirfs barely has an ounce of fat on him at that size.
“It’s amazing how he makes other guys who are 330-pounders like Donovan look a lot smaller than him,” Jensen said.
Wirfs was drafted at 21 years old. And after possibly growing a bit and adding man weight and strength with an NFL training staff, perhaps Wirfs really is 350 pounds? Joe is not doubting Jensen.
What an absolute beast of a draft pick Wirfs was, with impressive stats and durability to go along with his mass.
If the former Iowa state wrestling champion ever wanted to raise a bundle of cash for charity, he could square off with Vita Vea in a pay-per-view event. Joe would drop $39.95 to see those monsters perform feats of strength.
February 12th, 2021 at 10:08 pm
The Wirfs / Vea match can’t happen until after next seasons championship defense! They might hurt each other.
February 12th, 2021 at 10:12 pm
Which means he will only get better. True road grader.
February 12th, 2021 at 10:20 pm
yeah wirfs is huge…he has so much less body fat than the others on the line…it’s amazing that we got him…
also…
i personally think he has made the entire line so much better…
the other guys have all stepped up there game… they gotta keep their game up to the rooks play – at least…
if you’re labeled the “worst lineman” on a brady line, everyone is gonna get on you like people got on SMB when his play dipped for a while he when he was the worst db
February 12th, 2021 at 10:23 pm
also gotta give credit to donovan…
can’t front…he has been playing terrific ball for quite some time now…
donny should be manning LT next season without question
February 12th, 2021 at 10:30 pm
rather not take a chance of injury to our star players
February 12th, 2021 at 11:17 pm
Pro football focus ranked top 100 players
Whatever that means cause devin white not in top 100
Regardless , four bucs made top 100
Brady was ranked 4 or 5
Wirfs was ranked as next highest buc at 69
He can be best tackle in nfl very soon.
February 12th, 2021 at 11:32 pm
So many people were upset we traded a 4th rounder for this guy. Worth it!
February 12th, 2021 at 11:36 pm
Would like to keep Donovan but realistically we can’t keep everybody. I would rather keep Godwin, David, Barrett and JPP. Tristan is more than good enough to play left tackle and we shld be able to get one of the best right tackles at the bottom of the first round.
Second round go edge rusher. Realize at that pick you’re likely going to get a project or situational rusher but you aren’t going to get the man at edge even at the bottom of the 1st.
3rd round cornerback for dime coverage/depth and put some heat on Jamel Dean. Hopefully SMB has gotten over the hump. Certainly stepped up when it counted.
Go Bucs!!!
February 12th, 2021 at 11:40 pm
Joe,
Ive thought about that Vita/Tristan matchup since Wirfs was drafted. Pay to see them do an Oklahoma drill even.
February 12th, 2021 at 11:51 pm
Yup.
February 12th, 2021 at 11:55 pm
Donovan Smith should be one of the last players any Bucs fan wants to get rid of. If you are looking to unload players, either you get rid of a player when someone cheaper is available with minimal dropoff or expensive players who have already peaked or are over 30.
Smith is 27 and just had his best year. He protects Brady’s blindside, he’s easily a top-10 LT and his salary is projected to be No. 15 for LTs in 2021. In short, he’s a bargain who answers the bell all the time.
Unless Donovan Smith gets popped doing something very seedy, there’s no way he gets released nor should he.
February 12th, 2021 at 11:56 pm
LOL!!!
February 13th, 2021 at 12:00 am
LOL. Now you have an idea why, unless it is stats, Joe pays no attention to those clowns.
They also thought E.J. Biggers was a good corner.
February 13th, 2021 at 12:50 am
Donavan Smith has EARNED his keep big time, when the chips were down, he has played consistently good. It has been about focus with Smith. He surely has the tools. Whatever the reason for his sometimes maddening erratic play, he has proven on one of the great runs to a championship in NFL history, that he can do the job well. LT protects the blind side of a right-handed QB. And Just look at the Chiefs with out their LT and RT. Without good play from D Smith, the Championship run does not happen. Hats off to you D Smith. GO WORLD CHAMPION BUCS!!!!!!!
February 13th, 2021 at 2:58 am
So long as Wirfs doesn’t get popped for PEDs, I like him. I’d probably even give him a second chance if he was.
Donovan Smith is worth what he is being paid.
Marpet is worth keeping.
I love Jensen. I’ve seen people her say get rid of him, but Jensen is a lot better than some here give him credit for.
Alex Cappa…well, we’ll see. I like him.
Trim the fat where we have quality depth if needed. Antonio Brown? Don’t need him. Keep Evans, Godwin and Miller and we are gold.
We don’t need Fournett either. Though I suppose he has some value.
Shaq is the guy we’ll have trouble keeping.
And Arians going up to them all and saying “You ain’t goin $%&&@ anywhere!” In a drunken stupor will come back to bit him.
Some of us remember Gruden saying close to the same thing to Keyshaun Johnson. “You’ll get paid!”
Not a coach’s decision.
February 13th, 2021 at 5:46 am
Now do LT for when Donovan moves on.
February 13th, 2021 at 7:22 am
Holy cow. That was a trip down memory lane
Ej biggers. 😂
We’ve had to many… just not so good players in between our super bowls
February 13th, 2021 at 7:46 am
He fell to us, we needed a tackle, and thank God we took him.
Some of us feel we could have stayed put and still take him, but Licht wasn’t taking any chances, moved up, and pulled the trigger.
He was a top rated tackle in the draft, and I was shocked he fell as far as he did.
February 13th, 2021 at 7:48 am
This O line will be all coming back, you can count on it. They will all be scary better next year. Still need to draft heavy on both sides of the line.
February 13th, 2021 at 7:54 am
No way Joe? Dont get carried away. Just like there was no way Jones would ever resemble a rb or no way the Bucs would beat the Chiefs playing soft in the back end. It will always be about the Benjamin’s before the X’s and O’s. You win a SB and everyone’s price goes up. Plus why did he just have his best year? Yep Brady aill be here next year too. If he gets replaced you can bet that guy will have his best year too. Your logic is sound but you are distorting what Joe has said previously. And the Bucs didn’t blitz but they certainly didn’t play soft. Definitely a difference. Bottom line: it’s unlikely that Brady will want to mess with his O-line. –Joe
February 13th, 2021 at 8:32 am
“feats of strenghth”…right after “the airing of grievences” Said Frank Costanza.
February 13th, 2021 at 8:44 am
Buc Bonzai isn’t stupid. Go back and reread what he wrote. Spot on.
As far as Wirfs… I doubt he’s over 330. The difference between a lean 330 and and fat 330 is huge. I constantly get mistaken for 210-220 despite being only 190. Being lean and muscular makes a person look way bigger than they are.
February 13th, 2021 at 8:46 am
If they can’t keep Godwin, keep Brown.
February 13th, 2021 at 8:48 am
Brandon Says:
So true.
Back in The Day I looked like I just got out of Daucau at 210 when I finally grew into my frame.
February 13th, 2021 at 10:54 am
Heck yea let’s have a wrestling match! And a sprint race w Cheetah and Scooter. Bring the old qb challenge back too while we’re at it!
NFL needs more revenue sources? Give us the dang NFL Olympics for cash prizes, sponsorships, bragging rights and charity opportunities galore (make a wish, United way, etc.)! How hasn’t this happened yet, especially during the dead-period of offseason?
February 13th, 2021 at 11:44 am
Wirfs is the best right tackle today. Leave him there. Smith is a keeper at LT.
February 13th, 2021 at 12:24 pm
Whole line played outstanding football after the bye. No way did I think they could handle wash and saints d lines. So long as they stay relatively healthy they’ll contend again
February 13th, 2021 at 12:45 pm
EJ Biggers!?!?!?!
Why are you trying to give me nightmares Joe!
February 13th, 2021 at 2:23 pm
Brown will stay. Godwin who knows?
February 14th, 2021 at 12:06 am
Again nice article Joe. Funny stuff. I agree with you guys. We need to keep the O-Line intact. Big guys are the essence of true football!
If you don’t win in the trenches, you don’t win at all!
Wirfs is fantastic, no less.
Go for another title! We waited too long to have a second!
February 14th, 2021 at 11:08 am
He is the REAL DEAL , I’m a Hawkeye , and if you aren’t impressed yet , watch Wirfs weight lifting vids …
February 15th, 2021 at 1:08 am
Wirfs is awesome.
There is video on Instagram of him in the college weight room doing doing Power Cleans with 405lbs… reps of them.