The Race Between Luke Goedeke And Nick Leverett
August 22nd, 2022
Bucs OL Nick Leverett.
So now that Dolphins Raiders Bucs quarterback Tom Brady is back from vacation and throwing in practice on a dime as always, Joe can move on to the next-most important Bucs subject as we inch closer to Week 1.
And that subject is who will start at left guard?
With the injury to Aaron Stinnie Saturday night, it appears, barring Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht making a deal, rookie Luke Goedeke and the pride of Rice University, Nick Leverett, will battle it out.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles said today after practice that he’s “awfully close” to naming a starter at left guard. In practice this afternoon, Goedeke got a lot of snaps with the first team blocking for Brady.
Read into this what you will, but coming off the practice field Joe saw Goedeke with a determined scowl on his face staring straight ahead as if deep in thought or perhaps peeved about something. Joe hadn’t seen that previously from Goedeke.
Moments later, Joe spoke with Leverett. Joe asked him if coaches are telling him what he must do to win the gig. Nothing, Leverett said.
“They are not looking for anything new,” Leverett said. “They want me to keep doing what I have been doing. Practicing my behind off and bringing the energy. Hone in on the details and make sure I know my playbook.”
Maybe Joe is reading too much into things here, but if the coaches like what Leverett is doing, that suggets they are satisfied with him. Otherwise, they would have told him, “Hey, we need to see you do…” more in these areas.
Goedeke had a rough night against the Titans. In the second quarter alone he had two penalties and allowed a sack. And it wasn’t like he was facing Jeffery Simmons.
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:49 pm
Yes, I was expecting much more from Goedeke against the Titans, and those were not even first teamers!
That he was called for 2 holding penalties suggest he was getting beaten on pass protection. Not good!
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Chris Tucker
I could be wrong but I think both holding penalties were on running plays….
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Like is going to start.
Nick is the only backup Center we have. You cannot risk Nick getting hurt.
There will be some growing pains but by the playoffs he should be a lot more comfortable. We as fans have to learn to live with these growing pains.
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Tom is like that hot chick running around on you. You know it, but still can’t quit it.
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Cripple fight!
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:55 pm
I hope it’s Goedeke. Let the kid play. Definitely has the brighter upside and will be the starter at some point this season anyway.
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:56 pm
Jeff – the season’s over anyway, girl. Go get a prescription for your cramps. They’re bad.
August 22nd, 2022 at 3:56 pm
🙂
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:28 pm
I may be wrong but I just dont see it
Geodeki will be ready at some point in future. They cant rely on him getting brady killed early in season. Didnt cappa come and start half way thru the year as a rookie?
Leverett is just not a starter. Same as stinnie. Not sure where this recent love is coming from? Dude is a backup. He could fill in if jensen still playing but thats not the case
Your all in with brady for 1 more year. They are Not going to line up one of those guys above next to hainsey. I mean saints defense would rack up 5-10 sacks. Aaron donald would have 5-10 all by himself 😂
I hope licht gets the right fit
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:32 pm
It seemed like Goedeke had moved in front of Stinnie at LG. He is still developing but he is probably already better than Stinnie.
Ask yourself this – if Stinnie was our 1st string LG why was he playing in the 4th QTR with 2:00 minutes left in a meaningless preseason game?
Was A.S. on the bubble? Why else would he be playing during garbage time?
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Goedeke is the future. Let the man play. His ascent should be rapid over the first half of the season as he’s put in meaningful live-fire situations.
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Marquez, if Leveret really can clearly beat Goedeke, then they’ll prob sign or trade for a center to back up Hainsey and Luke would back up Leveret.
The bucs WILL sign more Online depth.
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:39 pm
Looks like it is Leverett and that’s ok he looks good at guard and center.
they can work Goedeke in during the season he definitely did not look
ready against Titans though some of his early run blocks were very good.
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:39 pm
It’s crazy starting Goedeke. At best he’s going to have his a$$ handed to him. At worst Brady gets hurt and seasons over. There’s a reason Wirfs was able to start and be effective his first year. He was drafted high in the first round. They drafted him to solidify the line for Brady. In 2021 I said draft a O-lineman 1st or 2nd. We were drafting at the end of the round so realistically the picks were early 2nd and 3rd. We still needed quality backups. With all due respect to JL and I mean that sincerely, if you draft lineman in later rounds they’re never ready to start year one like Wirfs was. They need a year or two before they’re ready. I really believe if we had let Trask go we would have a guard ready to plug in to the line right now and Hainsey will prove my point soon. JL should be ashamed to put Brady behind this line
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:43 pm
Jeff… that works out OK, until you run into the nice cheerleader chick you are dating and the other guy, when you are out with your buddies and find out you were just the “guy on the side”. OK, it did happen just once in my life, and I learned what it feels like to be wearing the other shoes for once… or should I say the woman’s shoes.
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Tom’s back. Goedeke has 3 weeks to get ready at the direction of the GOAT himself. Tom makes everyone better. The Pats never paid big money to O linemen many times starting rookies and letting vets go while Brady was their QB. Tom will have the the whole O line ready.
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:48 pm
I got a text from a friend today. He actually said that the reason that Stinnie was playing in the 3rd period was that he was in danger of being cut.
I don’t tend to believe this but has anyone else said this (I know Joe has not).
Dan Patrick? Jenna Laine? That Tampa Bay Times Reporter who I can’t say his name on this site?
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:56 pm
After TWO season-ending injuries (or close to it) in Training Camp, our OLine options have really dwindled for a team that’s supposed to be all-in. Bucs have 14 OLinemen under contract:
o Donovan Smith … LT … Ironman
o Luke Goedeke … LG … Struggling but just a rookie
o Ryan Jensen … C … Injured (out for several months at least)
o Shaq Mason … RG … Solid
o Tristan Wirfs … RT … Injured (back in week or 2)
o Robert Hainsey … Versatile … Starter at C now
o Aaron Stinnie … Versatile … Injured (out indefinitely)
o Nick Leverett … Versatile … Starter or key backup now
o John Molchon … Versatile … ???
o Fred Johnson … T … ???
o Josh Wells … T … ???
o Brandon Walton … T … ???
o Dylan Cook … T … ???
o Sadarius Hutcherson … G … ???
Bucs came to Training Camp with a quality Starting-5, 2-3 decent backups, but not much more quality DEPTH. We’ve already seen what our 2nd & 3rd tier guys can do against comparable talent in preseason … It hasn’t been pretty. Assuming that the Bucs will keep 9 Olinemen on our 53-man roster, we’d better bring in at least 2 talented and VERSATILE Olinemen before the season starts or we’ll be in serious trouble when more injuries happen. And they invariably do.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:00 pm
It would be pure insanity to play Goedeke or Leverett at LG. Jeffrey Simmons abused the IOL during practice. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Titans sat Jeffrey Simmons, and Goedeke still got abused this weekend, by the Titan bench players. How on Earth do you think Goedeke will function against quality starters?
This is a do-or-die season; afterward, the Super Bowl window is slammed shut, with little to no prospect of it reopening. Maybe Goedeke and Hainsey will be quality starters someday. And who knows, in time Leverett might improve and make it as a career backup Guard. But it doesn’t make sense to any of these three as starters, not on a team with Super Bowl ambitions.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Give Earl Watford a call. Someone familiar with the system and could be a good depth move at G.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:06 pm
You’re reading too much, Joe – Goedeke took the majority of snaps with 1st team – he’s the starter
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:18 pm
If any of those guys can get the done, Brady will issue the code red, and back to
the bench they will go. Protecting Tom is very stressful for any lineman, especially a new one. He has such high standards and will let you know when you’re not getting the job done. Perhaps, that’s why Luke had a determined look on his face. It’s absolute malpractice to start the season with so little experience on the line. I’ve accepted the fact that despite this team mislead me to believe that this was an all in season. Their actions so far in how they’ve dealt with this OL situation tells me otherwise. The loser mentality of some of our fans are perfectly fine with just possibly making the playoffs, which will be very tough with this schedule and young offensive line. Winners make big moves to enhance their chance of winning SBs
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Watford? A lifetime tackle? Yes let’s. Aw never mind The moronity is unspeakable.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:25 pm
The coaches seem higher on Goedeke than anyone here watching TV.
They must think he just needs more reps.
We’ll see what Brady thinks by the end of the week.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:36 pm
@geno711
I wouldn’t have thought Stinnie as a candidate to get cut, but he was obviously not slated to be the starting LG. For preseason game #1, he started at RG, while the presumptive starting LG position was manned by Leverett. So yeah, Stinnie had been outplayed by a practice squad player. That’s not what any of us expected a few weeks ago.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:40 pm
@lambeau
What else are the coaches going to say about Goedeke? That he sucks, or that he isn’t ready? Until they’re given an alternative starting Guard by the front office, they have to say positive things about Goedeke.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:55 pm
I still lean back on, we won a super bowl with Kenyatta walker. you guys just don’t know. and he lined up next to cosey Coleman. you guys just don’t know. if we don’t have THE GUY on the roster, when those big names get cut in a couple weeks, well pick up one of them. have faith in coaching staff to start best player.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Brady is backmaybe he will light up the Bat Signal over Ray Jay tonight.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Dress Brady like the Michelin Man!
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:18 pm
The Patriots are shopping Isaiah wynn. Played guard in college. Any interest?
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:21 pm
nick houllis, Kenyatta did suck. Cosey was pretty good though. However, we do need to pick up someone. Hopefully, we can trade one of our many wide receivers that won’t make the team. Certainly Scotty Miller could bring us something. Darden? Not so much.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:30 pm
@Francisco Guzman
Wynn’s an OT rather than a G or C. He’s pretty good when healthy, but “when” is the problem. He has an injury history that impairs his value.
He also carries a $10.4 million contract, which is well beyond what the Bucs are willing to absorb. Current cap space is $10.3 million, and realistically the Bucs need two quality OL vets rather than one.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:31 pm
According to the conventional wisdom, Goedeke looked so bad because he was having trouble with the position switch, especially the switch from right side of the line to the left, not so much the switch from tackle to guard. His muscle memory the other way is still so strong that he was having trouble with his footwork and hand placement. i hope that this doesn’t get Brady clobbered, but I think they think his grit and mean streak will come out and he will win the job.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:43 pm
They drafted Godeke to take over that LG spot. He might not be ready week 1 but that probably is still the plan.
With this coaching staff, and Tom too, we have become one of the best OL in foorball. We were ready to ride Donovan Smith out of town, nobody was calling Jensen a pro bowler and Cappa was looking like a bust before Bruce got here. No reason to think they dont know how to fill one guard position………And if they say Hainsey can play good at Center I will trust their word til proven otherwise.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:54 pm
Goedeke should have been played at right guard instead of left. The learning curve would have been much less.
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:24 pm
@ Defense Rumes where did you get the intel that Wirfs is coming back week 2. He’s day to day and according to Bowles should be ready by week one.
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:31 pm
While it’s true that shifting an OG or OT from right to left along the OL can create “mirroring” problems (doing everything backwards), it appears that Goedeke was the LG3 prior to Stinnie going down. Preseason game #1 had a bake-off between Leverett and Stinnie, who started at LG and RG respectfully. Had Goedeke been in the running, you’d expect him to start at either Guard position.
And again, it isn’t a good sign that he got manhandled by bench players this weekend. I sure hope they find a quality vet at LG for this season. With a one-year window of SB opportunity, relying on a green rookie to protect a relatively immobile, 45 year old QB doesn’t seem like a good plan.
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:07 pm
I just picked up a copy of Madden 23…on the back it shows the Bucs coming out of the tunnel…some of the names on the cover are Ryan Jenson and Aaaron Stinnie.
The Madden curse is real!!
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:25 pm
Lot of good linemen getting cut tomorrow, a lot more getting cut the following week. I’m sure hoping to find someone who can play center and guard
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:48 pm
Great points Beeej.
Wasn’t it about this time of year that Jason landed JPP from the Giants?
Maybe I am wrong.
But he is good at what he does.
I feel confident in getting some help.
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:48 pm
for our OL
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:50 pm
Do any of you guys see the possibility of us trying to trade some of our depth at WR for some OL help?
Tyler Johnson?…. someone else?…
TKras from WDAE has mentioned it often. It is definitely a strength of ours. For most teams the guys that are battling for our 5-7 spots would be battling for the 3rd & 4th spots.
August 22nd, 2022 at 9:41 pm
Let’s trade Brady for a couple of bridge trolls and let Trask start, so we can become a losing franchise that develops losers at QB. Can’t wait for that to happen. YeeHaa.
August 22nd, 2022 at 9:49 pm
So they’re going to name the starters from the underperforming mess in-house, and that’s it? Then Tom Brady should seriously consider retiring before the season starts. Because his health will be in serious danger like never before.
How many hits, how many concussions, how many KOs on our 45-yr old GOAT does this coaching staff think is no big deal, while they stubbornly inflate mid to low grade talent, refusing to make necessary moves? Do they want even sniff the playoffs?
Stinnie regressed from some promising moments in the last season. Leverett is awful, plays like he’s drowning. Goedeke completely raw and out of sorts. Hainsey, smooth, “technical”, and that’s it, nowhere near the power and tone setting of Jensen. THESE GUYS WERE DOMINATED BY TITANS AN DOLPHINS PASS RUSHERS. They should not be starting.
Tretter, Paradis, Ereck Flowers, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Senio Kelemete etc. etc.
August 22nd, 2022 at 9:54 pm
Defenses rule,
Are you on a podcast?
August 22nd, 2022 at 10:26 pm
steele last time I checked this team has done one hell of a job in the OL department. I understand the concern but before you take a drive to the skyway why dont we see all five toghether in a game?
They have been pretty danged good at evaluating the position. Lets not pretend like thats not true.
August 22nd, 2022 at 10:27 pm
If this was Dirk Koetters staff that failed to develope a single Lineman I might be worried. Not with this staff.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:02 am
Have any of you thought maybe either Luke Goedeke or Nick Leverett would play better if are actual left tackle was playing? Sorry but our backup tackles are terrible. Any team can only have so much depth. Lets see what happens week one before we all call the season.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:26 am
If Goedecke isn’t doing better than Levertette That’s a problem because I have not seen much good from him. I have a feeling someone’s going to be signed within a week
August 23rd, 2022 at 1:37 am
wait a few more days, its Tom who will decide who gets the job
August 23rd, 2022 at 2:04 am
I think a lot of you overestimate Brady’s influence and control over the team and the roster. It’s spotty at best.
They go along with some of his requests for skill position additions, but looks like he is being overruled on the OL. No QB could be happy with what it is now. What good is that if he’s going to have one second in the pocket before three pass rushers land on his face?
As for the difference if 1. Wirfs is back and 2. Brady is there coaching, we’ve already seen it. With Wirfs and Brady, Hainsey/Stinnie/Leverett/Goedeke hasn’t looked acceptable at all. Even if Jensen were there, the hole at LG would be noticeable enough to be a red alert.
They’re really pushing it, buying time for Jensen to heal, trying to pump the confidence of the in-house guys, trying to salvage as much of previous investments as possible.
Again, Tom Brady is getting the Rumsfeld treatment. The team they have, not the team he might want.
August 23rd, 2022 at 3:10 am
the truth is we need marpet badly rn…so badly it’s not even funny…
but he’s sitting at home playing his mini banjo and chillin’…
maybe tom can go pay him a house call and light a fire under his azz…
i doubt it, but a slim trimmed down marpet looking like he’s on crack is better than any other option rn…
he can throw on weight as the season goes along…
maybe the mayor can start posting banners all over the city that say “play ali play”…
put billboards up…and posters on poster spots…
“PLAY ALI PLAY”
get ali marpet in the building…that should be a team goal rn
August 23rd, 2022 at 4:08 am
@Adam from NY
I completely agree.
I’ve been saying it since we lost Jensen.
August 23rd, 2022 at 4:58 am
IrishTony … Good try. I said that Wirfs would be back “in a week or two” not ‘by Week 2’.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Bucs might need to keep Ko Kieft as a FB in the backfield to protect Brady’s blind side if the line can’t hold up. Wouldn’t mind seeing the big fella get a hand off or 2 as well. Lol
August 23rd, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Neither Nick or Luke is our answer. Lets find a player on another teams’ rooster who is a bakup and better. Make a trade happen Licht. Brady has got to have that max protection if we are to succeed.