Battle Plans In Case Tristan Wirfs Or Ryan Jensen Cannot Play
January 17th, 2022
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs.
Joe wants to curl up into a fetal position and tune out the world just thinking about this.
There is a real chance that both Bucs All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs and Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen may play this Sunday. Or they may not. If the Bucs face the Rams, that is a positively frightening thought that a backup rookie center and a player playing out of position at right tackle could be tasked with stopping Aaron Donald and Von Miller.
But that very easily could be the case. Arians sort of explained his options if Wirfs cannot go. Arians explained that the Bucs could flip Alex Cappa over to right tackle and Aaron Stinnie would play right guard.
Now last year when Cappa was lost for the playoffs with a broken foot against Washington in the wild card round, Stinnie replaced Cappa and you hardly knew a difference. Stinnie was outstanding.
But what would happen if Jensen cannot play? Arians has a couple of options.
Yesterday when Jensen was hurt (he returned on the next series as he was hurt on a touchdown run), rookie Robert Hainsey was warming up with Tom Brady on the sidelines. That is one option. Hainsey has played at center in two of the last four Bucs’ games.
Earlier this year, Arians mentioned that if Jensen got hurt (this was obviously before the team became comfortable enough with Hainey) that Ali Marpet would flip over to center and the Bucs would plug Marpet’s hole with Stinnie.
So if Stinnie is playing right guard, what then? Joe’s guess is that Nick Leverett would then fill in for Marpet at left guard.
You may remember that Marpet was the Bucs’ starting center in 2017.
Both options give Joe the shivers if the Bucs are facing the Rams.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Let’s just hope the cardinals win tonight.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Cappa would probably be an upgrade over Wells. While Cappa is reasonably athletic, I am very concerned his lateral quickness.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:49 pm
We’re now dealing with things the Chiefs and Packers had to last year, and it didn’t turn out well for them. Hopefully we’ll pull through somehow.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:53 pm
You guys want a backup right tackle to play against Chandler jones and JJ Watt?
Alrighty then.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Let’s hope that both guys are back, but our O-line coaches are close to excellent.
I don’t think it matters who wins tonight, both teams started really well and then showed their flaws. Both defenses stumbled and both offenses got wonky.
If the Bucs play as close to a whole game as they played yesterday, nothing will stop them.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Chandler Jones and JJ Watt aren’t exactly pre-schoolers either.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
Much better Chandler Jones and not prime JJ than AD and Miller
January 17th, 2022 at 1:58 pm
I am confident the cortisone shot Wirfs gets on Saturday will be enough to allow him to play on Sunday.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
I’m not sure why everyone is so convinced that the Cards are a better alternative to the Rams. JJ Watt is a hall of famer and Chandler Jones is a fringe Hall of Famer who is in his prime.
Both Watt and Miller are past their primes.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Stinnie is underrated imo.
I doubt Jensen misses the game since he was able to come back in and stay in even during the 4th qtr in a blowout.
Aaron donald is doubled every play anyway.
I remember watching Cappa against top talent playing tackle ( his position in college). He always seemed like a better fit for a tackle then a guard to me. 6’7 305
January 17th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
Double Arnold, Miller is only average now.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
The one area where we’ve avoided major injury suffered big time yesterday. The health and performance of the o-line I felt was the one thing keeping us in contention for another SB… Now… We might be in serious trouble. Heal quickly big fellas!
January 17th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
I think Wells can do a decent job but the OL has to hold up next week or it will be ugly. Gotta give Brady time.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Marpet at center was a failed experiment in 2017. I wouldn’t go back to that and we need him at LG. If Hainsey could hold down the fort, we might have a chance.
That would be:
D. Smith
Marpet
Hainsey
Stinnie
Cappa
It’s not ideal, but there are worse O-lines out there for sure!
January 17th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
Oh, and GO CARDS!!
January 17th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
If the line is that decimated, Brady will look like a clown on Sunday. Sorry, but it will be New Orleans and Rams over again. Bad ass defensive line pressuring with 4 men and good CB’s slowing everyone down.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
It would require Brady to hand the ball off. You beat a great pass rush by leaning on the d-lineman for long drives, even if you need to use Brate as a FB, double tight ends and just pound away. Once their legs are gone, your pass blockers will look competent.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Wells looked bad yesterday. I know he was also banged up, but they can’t start him on the edge after what I saw yesterday. I think Jensen will be gtg, so Stinnie and Cappa on the right side is probably best but still worrisome with the pass rushers we’ll see next week. This is looking grim. Hopefully Wirfs’ youth allows him to heal and play. As the O-line goes, Brady goes. I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday’s win. Today… I’ve got a bad feeling.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
BigPoppaBuc you can say about every QB. Look at the pressure from the 49ers yesterday. It was non-stop. They need Fournette back next week.
January 17th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Guys, this version of Von Miller is a shell of the guy the personally ended Cam Newton as we knew him in the Super Bowl. Like another commenter on here mentioned: “he’s average now.” Hell I would argue that he’s not even average. At times you don’t even know he’s playing. Broncos basically gave him away for a reason.
January 17th, 2022 at 3:45 pm
Joe, you’re worried. This is is the same team that raped all comers on the way to the Lombardi. Show some faith dude.
Go Bucs!
January 17th, 2022 at 3:56 pm
Man, you start moving around players to new positions and bringing in backups to plug holes in the roster, that sounds like a disaster in the making. Hopefully, it won’t happen. If it does and they perform well, it will be a testament to good coaching.
January 17th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Good stuff Joe. Hopefully we don’t see any plans like this actually executed.
January 17th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Ryan Jensen is too mean to miss a game.
But Tristen Wirfs ankle sprain, seems more concerning.
I thought the back-ups did well yesterday. I hope I’m not missing anything, which is highly possible.
January 17th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Wirfs probably getting round the clock treatment. I got him being ready come next Sunday. I know Jensen will be there.
January 17th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
The game plan would have to involve alot of Gronk and Howard staying in for max protect and Brate and our secondary recievers stepping their game up immensely, especially if Ramsey is shadowing Evans. Gio Bernard might be the X-factor in the passing game. Probably a handful of TE screens too.
January 17th, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Bring in witch doctors, voodoo specialists, any specialists from any corner of the globe.
Oh, and the entire TB12 staff.
Heal you big bad arse!
January 17th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
Didn’t Hainsey start at RT for N.D. for three years? What am I missing?
January 17th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
It was great hearing the crowd go crazy for Jensen after he was caught on the big screens telling the trainers to “get the f#ck off me” lol.
He’ll be good to go Sunday
January 17th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
We’ve previously lost Chris Godwin (and yes, AB). We’ve had a ton of injuries. If we are to win the big one this year then … … then every man womand and child in this organization, as it were, will have to step up “big time” as Gronk would say. Adversity overcome is what makes great champions. That’s football. That’s life. We fans cannot make excuses anymore than the players can.
Go Bucs! One at a time!
January 17th, 2022 at 6:24 pm
Jimbob
Keeping TB12 upright and untouched is job 1. Everything after that will fall into place
January 17th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Jensen will play I am not so sure about Wirfs and Wells.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:35 pm
what even happened to Jensen–yet to find that out
January 17th, 2022 at 11:23 pm
season is over
January 18th, 2022 at 8:38 am
Use three TE and dunk it 4 to 6 yards. That’ll stop the Rams rushing.