Tristan Wirfs Top Young Offensive Tackle
September 1st, 2021
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs
While he only has been in the league one year, right now as Joe is typing this here post, it’s hard to decide what player is Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s best draft pick, Mike Evans or Tristan Wirfs.
Wirfs, the Bucs’ right tackle, was no less than sensational last year. You couldn’t ask for a better job from a veteran much less a rookie who had no offseason or preseason.
How good was Wirfs? So good that in an article on the best NFL players 25-under, Lindsay Jones of The Athletic has Wirfs as her top offensive lineman.
It’s interesting to look at the NFL’s youngest offensive tackles through the lens of the 2020 draft class, which had a handful of highly-rated players at the position but little consensus about who was actually the best. After the 2020 season, it’s hard to argue the answer isn’t Wirfs, who started all 16 games at right tackle for the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. According to Pro Football Focus, Wirfs allowed just two sacks and seven quarterback hits. Sure, it helps that Brady has one of the NFL’s quickest releases. But there’s also something to be said for Wirfs’ ability to quickly earn Brady’s trust and protect a quarterback for whom the stakes are so high.
Now twice before Joe has read references to Wirfs having given up two sacks. Now this is three but two are from the same source: The PFF tribe. Joe sure would like to know to whom Wirfs gave up this phantom second sack.
Given The Tribe’s notorious nonsense pushed as fact about offensive lines, The Tribe is hardly a source to cite for offensive line play.
(Joe has never seen NFL suits freak out like the way these guys do if you pull them aside and quote The Tribe’s offensive line grades. It would be the same reaction if your son informed you he was engaged to Rosie O’Donnell.)
But other than that, Wirfs sure is one of a kind.
Just think: NFL people like to say players take the biggest jump in ability from their rookie seasons to their second year. If Wirfs does that, we’re talking Hall of Fame level play.
September 1st, 2021 at 10:13 am
The fact that a rookie like Wirfs made the Top 100 players list is ultimate proof that the Slo Bowl should only be voted on by players and coaches. He will be an anchor on this line for years with the likes of Marpet and Cappa next to him.
September 1st, 2021 at 10:41 am
Wirfs would be a top 5 tackle at either bookend. He’ll be an all pro this year.
September 1st, 2021 at 10:43 am
Obviously Mike currently the best. When Mike retired and Wirfs has as many years in the league, then we can measure.
September 1st, 2021 at 10:44 am
@DavidBigBucFan99
You are 100% right. I no longer even consider the pro bowl worthy of being an honor. Until it does exactly what you say, I’m certainly not acknowledging it.
September 1st, 2021 at 10:45 am
I dunno, Joes, if you shave Rosie’s face and back, she might be pretty hot.
September 1st, 2021 at 10:48 am
@Joe
Why don’t you ask them (PFF)? We know the obvious sack, which was during the Chicago game. While I do not recall that second mystery sack, PFF claims they carefully review game tapes. They must have a flagged it somewhere in their archives. They are far more likely to answer you guys than some random reader.
PFF makes plenty of mistakes, but then they have to make judgement calls. They don’t know the protection scheme on any given play, so they have to base it on either proximity or best guess. It’s subjective but when the defense is running stunts you really may not be sure who on the OLine is supposed to be where and who is picking up who as the DL stunts.
September 1st, 2021 at 10:49 am
Something’s weird about this quote. “After the 2020 season, it’s hard to argue the answer isn’t Wirfs, who started all 16 games at right tackle for the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.” Shouldn’t it be “the answer is Wirfs?” Regardless, the man is a beast and was key to the Bucs’ SB run! He earned and deserves the recognition.
September 1st, 2021 at 11:09 am
Forget my last. I think see the logic now. You can’t argue against Wirfs being the best. Not enough caffeine this AM.
September 1st, 2021 at 11:12 am
If my son came home and said he’s engaged to Rosie O’Donnell. I would say son first you need to get you eyes checked out you may need glasses. Second I would say don’t sign a pre nup. Get as drunk as you can cominsate the marriage. Hide for a few months and get divorced.
September 1st, 2021 at 11:31 am
Seems to me doesn´t make much sense to compare them….Wirfs is a second year who had an imepcable first year and play as an OL, ME13 is a veteran who probably should be consider one of the best Bucs player ever and plays in a totlly different position…… With all due respect I find this quite inaccurate and adolecent
September 1st, 2021 at 12:05 pm
Going to be hard to ever catch Mike as the best but don’t sleep on Devin White either. He gets any better in his 3rd year we’re talking HOF potential.
September 1st, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Mike by a landslide but Wirfs and White certainly have the talent to catch and maybe surpass him a long ways down the road.
September 1st, 2021 at 1:42 pm
I re-watched the Bucs TD drives in the last preseason game. TB12 wasn’t even touched!
TB12 actually makes the wrong read (more like there is a better option) but he gets the ball out so quick and is so accurate that DL and DB don’t have time to make a play.
The oline did great but TB12’s fast and accurate decision making makes the guys around him shine.
September 1st, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Mike Evans because Licht actually Picked him. If you remember, Wirfs fell all the way to us, and we needed a tackle to protect Brady. His selection was a total no brainer.
September 1st, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Best pick for Licht? Wirfs by far.
September 1st, 2021 at 5:19 pm
G… Can’t beat those Big Ten O linemen. But seriously, Devin White could be even better. And JTS? Promising. So I’d just say is…wow… Jason is on a roll.
September 2nd, 2021 at 1:55 am
Licht Shouldn’t be credited with making the decision to choose wirfs. He fell to them. Just like OJ. Only one of these pics worked out.
This is not a slight on words. I would’ve chosen him before all the other OT options after watching him in the combine.
September 2nd, 2021 at 8:18 pm
For those saying Wirfs fell to Licht and the Bucs, he actually traded up to make sure he got Wirfs. If he had stayed put, another team (Miami) would have made the trade an snagged him. A lot of people criticized Licht for the trade…but are awfully quiet now.
September 2nd, 2021 at 8:19 pm
For those saying Wirfs fell to Licht and the Bucs, he actually traded up to make sure he got Wirfs. If he had stayed put, another team (Miami) would have made the trade an snagged him. A lot of people criticized Licht for the trade…but are awfully quiet now.