Where Does Luke Goedeke Stand?
August 28th, 2022
Bucs rookie guard Luke Goedeke.
It sounds like Todd Bowles really hopes there very soon can be a general consensus at One Buc Palace to pick a starter at left guard.
Today in his day-after game presser, the Bucs coach was asked if rookie Luke Goedeke has won the job. Last night at Indianapolis Goedeke was given the start, which seemed like his final chance to win the opening-day job.
Less than 24 hours later, Bowles was non-committal.
“We still have to discuss it,” Bowles said. “He’s doing a lot of good things right now. We will look at the tape as a team with offensive line coaches and we will come up with a decision.
“But he has helped himself a little more. So hopefully, it comes out to be.”
How should Joe interpret that? It sounds as if Goedeke may have an edge but didn’t play well enough to be a no-doubt starter.
There is likely an underlying issue. If test results on Nick Leverett’s shoulder come back bad, the decision is likely made for the Bucs: Goedeke will start by default.
Unless the Bucs’ fishing expedition produces a big catch.
August 28th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Rookie that is not ready for this offense yet.
August 28th, 2022 at 1:35 pm
Bucs going fishing for O-Line help soon…
August 28th, 2022 at 1:38 pm
scanning last team cuts or trades involving our bottom WR’s to get a younger Vet Center and another OL for next week – Gotta do it now
August 28th, 2022 at 1:43 pm
Last man standing!
August 28th, 2022 at 1:46 pm
When the Bucs were on their own 5 yard line against the Colts – Goedeke got man handled and rag dolled by #90 Grover Stewart. It was ugly – three runs in a row and Goedeke was getting blown up and B-slapped and the Bucs lost yardage on all three attempts mainly due to Goedeke getting folded like a cheap lawn chair…
Honestly I was embarrassed for him. I’m not saying he is a bust yet – but I really hope this kid is able to improve/grow in a hurry.
August 28th, 2022 at 1:53 pm
SB. Sometimes that’s a blessing in disguise. Best way to learn is to play. If he’s the best player still standing at that position then the decision is easy
August 28th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
He is a rookie and needs a lot more development. Hopefully after last night that won’t be as the starting LG against Dallas. Praying that Jason can find a vet soon.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Marpet and Wirfs were the rare offensive linemen that were damn good out of the gate. It sounds to me that Goedeke ain’t done cookng yet and is gonna need more time until the coaches fully trust him.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:06 pm
The transition for Goedeke has been difficult for sure, it reminds me of Cappa. In Cappa’s first season he did not look good, then he had the off-season to get stronger and get acclimated to the NFL. It’s clear Goedeke needs more time.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Marine Buc said: “When the Bucs were on their own 5 yard line against the Colts – Goedeke got man handled and rag dolled by #90 Grover Stewart. It was ugly – three runs in a row and Goedeke was getting blown up and B-slapped and the Bucs lost yardage on all three attempts mainly due to Goedeke getting folded like a cheap lawn chair…”
He absolutely got his a$$ kicked on first down. The next two, as I recall were stuffed on the right side with Stewart coming across the line more laterally to make the play. For the sake or the argument, let’s agree that’s a bad series. His run blocking the rest of the game against 1’s and 2’s was very solid. He helped spring Fournette and Vaughn several times.
His pass blocking was decent, but nothing to write home about. He got beat once which did not effect the play, and the rest of the time he held his own. If you recorded it, take another look. He didn’t play near as bad as people are going on about, outside the play you and I just mentioned.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
@ Kgh4life
Exactly!
August 28th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
@ Kgh4life
I agree. Goedeke reminds me of Cappa his rookie season. That’s why I’m not going to use the “B” word yet.
I see some good things and some bad things and some ugly things. He just needs more development to truly know. I just hope he isn’t the starter week one because he is not ready.
@ Rob
Agrred. I rewatched that series a few times this morning. It was ugly on all three downs. If run blocking is his strength that showing was shockingly bad.
Fingers crossed he can develop quickly because we will need him this season.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Yes, Stewart overwhelmed Goedeke a couple of times, but overall he held his own. I think he did well enough to get the start. Goodwin seems comfortable with both Hainsey and Goedeke as well as Leverett and Molchon for depth, so I don’t see any big moves coming.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:37 pm
I would be willing to send Tyler Johnson back to Minnesota for a veteran guard/center. They now need a receiver.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:38 pm
Not a good pick nor was hainsey
August 28th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
The main problem I’ve seen with goedeke, is his hand placement. It’s a common problem when transitioning from tackle to guard. Everything is condensed inside. If you don’t have your thumbs up, and punch the sweet spot (numbers to armpits) on a D lineman it’s almost impossible to steer the defender. It looks like holding every time.
On passing plays it’s about more about footwork, but you still need set up, and punch the D lineman enough for the QB to get the ball out. It’s about creating space. These things can be cleaned up. It looks more mental than physical to me anyway. Remember, this is a guy going from tackle to guard. These things are expected. He’s a smart kid, and a hard worker. It should look better as the season progresses.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
I don’t believe Cappa started as a rookie…..Caleb Benenoch was our RG……Cappy came started his second year….
August 28th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
Yeah but Benenoch was so awful Cappa should have been playing from week 1. Or we should have gotten someone off a practice squad because he was that terrible.
Granted Dirk was always in over his head.
Probably going to roll with Goedeke. Odds of someone better isn’t there unless he completely soils the bed.
August 28th, 2022 at 3:18 pm
I thought Godeke and our whole line looked great on that first drive with all our starters in(aside from Wirfs). Once we went with Blaine and put Wells in for Donovan we regressed badly.
If we get the blocking we had on our first drive I have no complaints.
August 28th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Put him in game situations more and he’ll grow into it. He’s the future, so might as well start now.
August 28th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
He is a rookie from a smaller talent team. He is going to get schooled early and often, can he handle the mental game?
Here we are!
August 28th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
I just go back to Cappa and how TERRIBLE he looked the year he started. People are memoryholing it, but go back to the 2019 preseason, and he was awful, looked like he’d get Winston killed with his terrible play. Go back and find the preseason threads from then and look at the comments and what people said. Then, the regular season started, and he was fine, didn’t stand out at all, which is is great.
Of course Cappa was in his 2nd year, not his 1st year, and that makes a huge difference. But Cappa, unlike Luke or Marpet, needed a lot of strength work and didn’t really have good physical skills. Luke, while not Marpet level impressive, does have the physical traits to start from day 1, so it’s just the mental side he has to learn, and moving from tackle to guard, but that’s generally a pretty smooth transition.
If Licht thinks he’s fine, then he should be fine. If Licht doesn’t think he’s fine, then they’ll be signing someone else.
August 28th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Versatile 75
August 28th, 2022 at 4:42 pm
He is a small-town Wisconsin kid, that lives and breathes football. It is in his blood. He is used to the frozen tundra and perseveres. It will take some time, but the only limit on this kid will be physical.
August 28th, 2022 at 4:45 pm
I think he will be OK. May take a bunch of games but he has the right stuff.
August 28th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
75 versatile player at both guard and center positions
August 28th, 2022 at 4:47 pm
Irregardless of how the hometown press tried to sell it I didn’t like their draft this year and almost nothing I saw in the preseason changed my mind. Hall was nonexistent all summer and will be nothing but a role player giving starters a breather. Goedeke was manhandled in every preseason game, White has been over-hyped…….Vaughn has clearly outplayed him at RB and he sucks as a returner. Otten has shown potential….time will tell. McCollum was burnt toast before getting hurt and sitting out most of the preseason. The best pick they made in the draft appears to be…..wait for it …wait for it …..yes, the punter. Camarda appears to be the real deal and will be a rare difference maker at the punter position. That being said, if your best draft pick was a punter then it was truly a really bad draft. For the record I am a Jason Licht fan. But I have to call it as I see it and he really whiffed this year.
August 28th, 2022 at 5:07 pm
I think we all viewed him as a developmental guy. Never did I think he would start week 1. We need help lol.
August 28th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
If not for the QB he is playing with and how important it is for the 45 year old QB not to get broken it would be easier to be patient.
Like I said it will be his mental toughness and ability deal with frustration, he has the physical tools
August 28th, 2022 at 5:46 pm
SB~LV – OG is probably one of the easiest positions in football to play as a rookie – that and perhaps RB (outside of kickers/punters anyways). Doesn’t mean he’s going to be OK from day 1, but Licht has quite the track record with offensive lineman, and if he thinks he’s ready to play, then he’s ready to play.
Now if Licht thought a rookie corner was ready to play, I’d be a lot more concerned since Licht’s ability to find corners is suspect, and he’ll stick with losers like Ryan Smith for way too long. But offensive lineman, he’s nailed most of those picks and hasn’t stuck with losers. I know it’s not the same side as Cappa, but in reality he’s replacing Cappa, and Cappa was just an average lineman (which isn’t bad, its average), so if Luke can just get close to that, I think he’ll do fine, and then can grow from there since he has the physical tools that Cappa did not.
August 28th, 2022 at 6:17 pm
what if:
goedeke ain’t ready?
because he isn’t…
he needs to be eased in slowly, to be starting after midseason
August 28th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
Goedeke is not ready. Absolutely destroyed. Way too soon to even think about starting him. It is a sign of desperation and zero depth that they are pushing him in that direction.
August 28th, 2022 at 7:03 pm
Adam from NY says: what if:
“goedeke ain’t ready?
because he isn’t…
he needs to be eased in slowly, to be starting after midseason”
Adam, I just don’t think they have that luxury right now. Absent a salary cap casualty hitting the market by Tuesday, he’s going to be the guy. He’s going to be helped by Brady calling the protections and defenses not being able to stack the line against Brady. Given that, and what he’s shown in the run game, we may be pretty good running behind him. There are going to be growing pains but I think we’ll be ok with him. With Godwin and Gage likely not playing in the opener, we may be pounding the ball a little more than usual through the first 4 games.
August 28th, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Niners, Cowboys, Giants and Bucs need another offensive line candidate so Licht better wake up!
August 28th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
All the new “doom and gloom” posters. To call any draft a bust until we are a few years in, is frankly silly. Even Godwin dropped far too many balls his first couple years. So just be patient on that.
The good think about Goetteke is that he has some things most rookies lack. Not even considering his heart, attitude, and good football mind, which many have but his is above average, he has the physical strength which most rookies have to work at a year or two in the weight room, to get up to NFL speed. Sure, he has a long way to go with his footwork and technique. But I think he will come along faster than most of you do for the reasons stated above.
And I agree with Munch on the fact that if I am to truly trust in Licht in making a good determination of player potential and talent at any position, it would be Offensive line. And I do trust him in that.
August 28th, 2022 at 8:05 pm
mark, agree 100%. You can’t expect perfection from rookies, and yes it’s quite silly to dismiss an entire draft class, before a down of real football has been played. The jump from college to the NFL is immense. In college, it’s all about talent. In the pros, they’re all talented. It’s about getting better every day, learning, and the ability to take good coaching.
August 28th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Starting caliber o-linemen are not likely to be available without giving up something. I think the Bucs intend to roll the dice with the guys they have, and that they are not seeking the advice of the fanboys or even fanmen. And especially not the ultra-whiny fan girls types who plead, insult and try to make everything personal.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Rod … ‘I just go back to Cappa and how TERRIBLE he looked the year he started.’
One BIG difference Rod: Tom Brady. Cappa had to learn (1) from a different coaching staff; and (2) behind Jameis Winston. Jameis had this tendency to hold the ball for awhile, waiting for things to develop and oftentimes he wasn’t in sync with the OLinemen charged to protect him. TB12 is the exact opposite; much better at reading the defense & anticipating what’s about to happen.
Brady KNOWS how to use his OLinemen to his best advantage better than any QB in the game. Goedeke (and Hainsey) are learning on-the-job for sure, but they’re learning from the master. A true Field General, and that’s an invaluable advantage for a rookie I’m sure.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:28 pm
I hate to beat up this subject again, but people seem to think it’s easy to go out and find offensive linemen to upgrade your team. It’s not that easy and it’s usually not as easy as getting Shaq Mason for a 5th rounder. To get someone else to come in and be an upgrade over what we have is going to take some capital. How much are you willing to pay in draft pick compensation? Perhaps we could unload a receiver or two, since we have to unload some decent players there. Still, nobody’s holding out a helping hand and nobody has a ton of offensive line depth to spare… Maybe an experienced serviceable vet hits the waiver wire. We shall see. If we don’t find someone better at least in the short term, the only choice is to roll with Goedeke.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Mark Swygert … ‘I think the Bucs intend to roll the dice with the guys they have’.
I’d agree with that Mark if TWO of our starter-caliber OLinemen hadn’t gotten injured. Bucs will carry 8-9 OLinemen for the season, and beyond D Smith, Goedeke, Hainsey, Mason, Wirfs and maybe Leverett & Wells (5-7 players) I haven’t seen any starter-capable talent on our roster in these preseason games. A couple are potential Practice Squad candidates, but not active roster qualified IMO. Of course, the real coaches may think differently.
This is our season to run the table, or at least the best chance we’ll probably have for several years. Bucs NEED to improve DEPTH to make it through a 17-game season & potentially up to 4 games in the post-season. We NEED to bring in 2 studs who this coaching staff can get ready by mid-season at the latest. HOPEFULLY Jensen will make it back before the end of the regular season & in time for the playoffs.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:36 pm
Defense Rules Says:
August 28th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Rod … ‘I just go back to Cappa and how TERRIBLE he looked the year he started.’
——
WOW, I totally screwed that up. I mean how terrible Cappa looked IN THE PRESEASON. Then once the season started he was fine.
That’s totally on me for missing a very critical word.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:37 pm
GOB … ‘The jump from college to the NFL is immense. In college, it’s all about talent. In the pros, they’re all talented. It’s about getting better every day, learning, and the ability to take good coaching.’
Excellent excellent points GOB. Great perspective; all of us are often guilty of judging rookies by the same standards we judge the vets by. Guess that’s only natural but it’s also unfair to a degree. It takes time to ‘mature’ in any profession.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:48 pm
Defense Rules – Also I was looking at old comments to see what people said about Cappa, in that 2019 preseason, just to make sure I was remembering it right, and sure enough, people are saying Licht has to trade, right now, for a RG and RT (Dotson), they can’t go into the season with them, they’re terrible, Cappa was a small school guy who isn’t ready for the NFL, etc.
BUT, more interesting to me, was some stuff that came up, for reason, about Brady first retiring, and you brought up that we should try to get Derek Carr, and I talked about how he sucks, you can’t look at his stats, you need to watch him play and you’ll see an overrated QB who isn’t good. You attacked me for attacking your idea that Carr is the solution — but now we know that even Brady said Carr sucks and they’d be morons to keep him over taking Brady. Me and Brady have the exact same opinion on Carr, and Brady knows a thing or two about a thing or two. So I was going to come at your hard, just for fun, mocking you for that, but then I blew the line about Cappa, so as punishment, I won’t take joy in mocking you and JimmyJack for thinking Carr is a good QB.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:51 pm
Nope, I lied, I got to post it…
“Defense Rules Says:
January 30th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
….Don’t tell Rod about this potential solution though. He gets really snippy every time Derek Carr’s name is dropped as a potential Bucs’ QB. And there’s nothing more fearsome than a snippy Rod Munch.”
That comment is hilarious knowing how snippy Tom Brady gets when Derek Carr is mentioned. Me and Brady, we’re the same. When you attack me on Derek Carr, you’re telling Brady he doesn’t know what a good NFL QB is. LOL!
August 28th, 2022 at 11:41 pm
Goedke’s fake tough guy routine ain’t cutting it so far…but Cappa certainly came around…so only time will tell.
And I’d like to make a request/dedication to my main man Hot Rod…sometimes right yet never in doubt ( unlike the dopes )…
“Too Much Time On My/(His) Hands” by Styx
Keep on mining old posts…and keep on truckin’!
August 29th, 2022 at 12:25 am
Testaverde – God bless!
August 29th, 2022 at 12:31 am
This is just the Colts. There are more elite defenses out there. We need Tom’s recruiting help again.
August 29th, 2022 at 2:06 am
Whether Goedeke ever grows into a good OL or not, it doesn’t change the fact that based on preseason play he is clearly not ready now. The Bucs need a good interior line NOW. This is Brady’s last year, and that is the one thing he requires to play at the top of his game.
August 29th, 2022 at 7:17 am
Goedekes’ shortcomings are precisely why the bucs are fortunate to have Ko as a tight end fullback type. Ko can fill in as Goedeke develops under fire, as both Goedeke and Hainsey develop
August 29th, 2022 at 9:28 am
There will be growing pains with Goedeke and Hainsey!! By mid season they will be holding their own!! That should be good enough for the playoffs!! If Jensen can return then things improve more!!
August 29th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Goedeke in his postgame presser said the problem is that everything is backward since he’s never played on the left side–his punch is awkward, his footwork is off, and only reps will establish new muscle memory.
Fortunately, I think he has great coaches in Gilbert and Goodwin.
August 29th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
@leambeau That explains the problems with footwork and balance. I think he needs a year to transition. My hope is either I am wrong and he snaps to it on opening day or the Bucs go out and get a starting LG. I don’t want to see Brady headstone reading RIP GOAT.
August 31st, 2022 at 1:40 pm
Man. I killed another thread. Sorry.