“A Stressful Deal” For Tom Brady
October 21st, 2022
A Bucs position coach weighs in.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way on the Buccaneers’ offensive line, and Joe thinks a lot of fans forget that.
All-world center Ryan Jensen was supposed to anchor the line and groom and support whichever inexperienced guard the Bucs started to his left. But then Jensen blew out his knee in late July and the Bucs had to make a judgment call.
General manager Jason Licht felt the team’s best option was to stick with its young guys rather than to chase an available veteran. (Excellent linemen are rarely on the street on Aug. 1.)
The result? Well, some Bucs fans and media are screaming that rookie left guard Luke Goedeke is a train wreck tearing down the whole team.
Joe doesn’t buy it, and neither does offensive line coach Joe Gilbert, who told the Buccaneers Radio Network this week that fill-in center Robert Hainsey has “done an exceptional job” and Godeke is showing he belongs as a work in progress.
However, Gilbert acknowledged that having essentially two rookies at those positions — two guys who didn’t play those positions in college — stresses the offense and the guy taking the snaps.
“[Hainsey is] in there basically as a rookie. You’ve got Luke playing next to him, who’s a rookie. So, that’s a stressful deal for them, for us, you know, for Tom, I mean everybody,” Gilbert said. “But I think that Hainsey has done an exceptional job of going in there and from a mental standpoint and physicality — of doing everything that we’re askin’ him to do.”
Joe likes Hainsey’s body of work. But it’s still an all-in season and the Bucs will need more from those two positions to reach the Super Bowl.
For now, Joe is thankful Hainsey and Goedeke have shown the durability and work ethic required for them to improve greatly by Thanksgiving.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:38 pm
Exceptional? I absolutely hate this coaching staff. What’s next? Keith Armstrong will say the special teams are doing an exceptional job? Hainsey has been serviceable, but sometimes he’s been below average. This is why I don’t think the team will replace Goedeke. They see no problem. North Korea style propaganda
October 21st, 2022 at 12:40 pm
When Jensen get back I think he should be plugged in a LG.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Part of me is glad Licht didn’t trade a high draft pick for a C or LG……and I’m not sure there was a FA at the time worth signing….
When you look at 2 of or 3 losses….it’s hard to blame them on Goedeke & Hainsey….
A couple of WR fumbles, a drop, a penalty and a ST failure & a suspension………negate any 2 of those and we could easily be 5 & 1….
October 21st, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Make a deal for a guard.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Poor guys.
“Stress.”
Mah heart bleeds.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:55 pm
TBBF, using logic with a bunch of basement GMs isn’t going to resonate with the basement crowd. But I hear you and I agree.
October 21st, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Precisely, TBBF, and that’s why I’m optimistic, for now.
We can do it!
October 21st, 2022 at 1:30 pm
@Redeemer. We blew it by not signing a veteran center in training camp and moving Hainsey to LG. It’s too late now. They’re not gonna move off Goedeke. Let’s be honest, this isn’t Brady’s first rodeo. He looks around and he knows this isn’t a championship level team. He doesn’t trust his OL and I believe he’s skeptical of Leftwich.
If you accept the premise that this is an all in season, and most people do, you want to surround Brady with the best veteran talent available, especially at the OL position. Once Brady leaves, the championship window is shut. The window is very small. This team will still he competitive when Brady leaves. There’s just too much talent on the team, but it’s not a SB team. If Trask was the QB, sure throw the rookie LG in the game. Let him learn. Trask is young enough to be a crash test dummy.
The 49ers know their window is about to shut. So what do they do, they go and get a world class RB. They know the NFC is for the taking. The Chiefs are still looking to improve. The Packers might make some moves as well.
October 21st, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Agree with TBBF’s point. We could EASILY be 5-1!
Yes there have been some occasional breakdowns but far more often I’ve seen Brady drop back..and wait..and wait..and wait and still not have an open target!
Is this because the WR’s are not getting open? Is it simply bad scheming that doesn’t get them open. Is it horrid play calling…that’s on TB12 as well as Leftwich.
And I do not get the few times we had 3rd or 4th and a yard and instead of using TB to simply dive for it, something historically that Brady was excellent at doing. When the QB is diving at the snap the advantage goes to the OL..they know the count…when Brady drops back and to hand it to an RB that advantage goes away and the DL have a chance to shoot a gap and stop the play for a loss.
How many critical drops have their been and near misses on the occasionally Brady bad pass. He’s the GOAT…he’s not Divine and actually CAN make the occasional bad throw.
All of this crap adds up including cement head plays like Devon White’s moronic late hit that ended up letting the Steelers remain on the field to eventually score.
As Sam Wyche might have joked..we might not be executing well but at least we are making the stupid plays.
October 21st, 2022 at 1:59 pm
The film doesn’t lie, nor does Brady’s play. Nervous, convulsive amd pissed off is no way to go through life, son. Way tyo ignore depth and capability, Bucs.
October 21st, 2022 at 2:07 pm
Trask is more mobile, and much younger. I’m looking forward to a time when the discussion is about the Bucs as a team. Right now it’s all about Brady, the Tampa Bay Brady. His focus is not on football, and this team is not going 14-3.
October 21st, 2022 at 2:29 pm
“More mobile.” I have news for you more mobility does not equal success, and mobility comes in different ways. Brady has great pocket movement and presence. Trask has made improvements in that area, but he’s nowhere near Brady’s level, and he will never be, and that’s ok.
Justin Fields is mobile and he leads the lead in sacks. Guy runs a 4.4. Justin Herbert, and he’s one of my favorite new QBs, and his OL is bad and he’s struggling. Matter of fact, his RB is his leading receiver. He’s been known as the checkdown king, which is unfair to him because he has to get the ball out quickly because his OL sucks. Aaron Rodgers is also a mobile QB, and he’s struggling behind a bad OL. Kyler Murray has looked ordinary behind his patchwork OL. Russell Wilson is also mobile and he’s getting killed behind a bad QB.
There has been a lot of people taking shots at Brady because he’s “immobile.”
They think a mobile QB would solve our problems behind a bad OL. As the examples above prove, that’s simply not true. Brady is actually protecting his line by getting the ball out of quickly and not taking unnecessary sacks. Brady’s immobility wasn’t a problem when he led the league in passing and led this team to the SB.
The fact of the matter is that if this line could hold up for just a little more time the passing game would improve. With Brady’s release, all these OL have to do is play patty cake with their defender, but they can’t even do that. When the pressure comes, it’s immediate.
Also, I would like to point out that Mahomes looked awful behind a bad OL when we won the SB. He was getting immediate pressure and even he couldn’t work his magic in the game. You’ve seen when he had a good OL. He diced us up. Stop trying to make Trask happen. Just stop it. By the way, Trask is not good in
creating out of structure
October 21st, 2022 at 2:32 pm
Getting divorced by his $400M wife is stressful for the fossil? Then, do us a favor and retire!
October 21st, 2022 at 2:36 pm
The line would be fine if we had a real OC; one who can see the problems and minimize them. Instead we have a guy who studies Zebras and their tendencies in the wild.
October 21st, 2022 at 2:39 pm
How do we know he ISN’T looking forward to it? I’m sure John looked to get rid of Yoko more than once
October 21st, 2022 at 2:48 pm
What a load of rubbish-Tretter was there for the signing after Jensen got hurt. 6th rated Center in the NFL in 2021. 1083 snaps and gave up only one sack. All-SEC LG Ed Ingram was there for the taking in the draft-Licht passed. Minnesota is sure glad to have Ingram starting and they are averaging 4.3 yards per carry and Bucs are LAST in the league at 3.1.
Licht is living on his glory signing of Brady , but he bears a ton of responsibility for the situation the Bucs Oline find themselves in , and it ain’t good.
October 21st, 2022 at 2:58 pm
Licht made His decision –now we all live with it .for the last 4 weeks ; bowles keep saying ” we’re going to work thru this ” .. I suspect we’ll hear the same thing in December.. I don’t see exceptional coaching ??
October 21st, 2022 at 3:06 pm
there may or may not have been proven OL guys available in August ; BUT Licht knew last spring he was having to replace two ( 2 ) guys last spring ,, Jensen going down in camp was the 3rd ..
October 21st, 2022 at 3:21 pm
I have felt for a long time that are coaching staff has not had a good scheme to get our receivers open. Considering the talent we have a receiver it is shocking how often the receivers seem to be well covered.
Then I look at some other teams with lesser talent who know how to scheme their receivers open and get them the ball in space where they can make yards after the catch. I really think Leftwich has been the real reason we are 3-3 this year
October 21st, 2022 at 3:33 pm
When I look at Goedeke & Hainsey both being primarily RT’s @ CMU & ND respectfully, it should be expected that it was going to take a bit of adjustment period before LG & C felt natural to them.
I expect we see both get better and better and better, as the season goes on.
October 21st, 2022 at 4:12 pm
Ever seen a Cadillac Escalade smash into the blunt end of a lane divider? I have. It bursts into flames. Looks a lot like a dumpster fire at that point.
Interestingly, it’s a lot like watching the Bowelswich Bucs play football.
Time for an enema.
October 21st, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Do people understand that we can see the tape on Geodeke getting annihilated damn near every play? Are we to believe Joe and Bucs coaches or our lying eyes? Unbelievable how you can say he’s not a disaster. Add Leftwich calling running plays behind Geodeke constantly for no gain or lost yardage and u end up with an offense that sucks. We can see with our own eyes that he’s killing this offense.
To argue otherwise you’re either delusional or a liar.
October 21st, 2022 at 4:28 pm
I think Hainsey is going real well considering. Goedeki is a rookie. Yes we’re all in but he’s what we got and he’ll be there at season end.
October 21st, 2022 at 4:42 pm
The pocket is collapsing!
For Toms first 2 years, the pocket almost never collapsed.
Tom is getting rid of the ball quicker than ever because he’s rattled.
And who wouldn’t be?
Most fans, who are not fit, might get killed if they got sacked 1 time.
DE’s and LB’s are literally the biggest, strongest and fastest athletes on planet Earth.
And they are aggressive!
Tom needs help.
Fast.
October 21st, 2022 at 4:57 pm
The kids are trying buys it’s so painful to watch – hopefully they get better as the season progresses and they get in a rhythm
We have been spoiled by an above average line for a while now, just too much to overcome in one off season
This is why the best and most consistently winning teams are always dread to g OL/DL high even when they have a good base of starters
One reason is the cap management, the 2nd is depth in the trenches is the key to saving a season like this….
October 21st, 2022 at 4:59 pm
The kids are trying but it’s so painful to watch – hopefully they get better as the season progresses and they get in a rhythm
We have been spoiled by an above average line for a while now, just too much to overcome in one off season
This is why the best and most consistently winning teams are always drafting OL/DL high even when they have a good base of starters
One reason is the cap management, the 2nd is depth in the trenches is the key to saving a season like this….
October 21st, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Notice he said Hainsey is doing good, but no mention of Goedeke. The kid needs to sit before Tom gets injured. Why play two rookies, one who’s obviously not ready when you have options on your own roster?
October 21st, 2022 at 7:07 pm
Joe … ‘Excellent linemen are rarely on the street on Aug 1.’
I thought you didn’t like EXCUSES Joe. THAT’S an excuse. There were serviceable Olinemen out there when Jensen went down who could’ve given us a lot more flexibility than we have right now. Licht chose NOT to pursue any and go with TWO rookies (your admission) playing right next to each other. The only thing dumber is letting BL keep unsuccessfully running to the LEFT as much as he does. Especially when Donovan still has in arm in a brace & obviously isn’t near 100% yet.
Bucsfan13 is spot on; any QB will suffer behind a poor OLine. Good blocking opens holes. Good blocking buys time. Our OLine isn’t consistently doing either. Our youngsters will gain experience & improve, but this offensive coaching staff needs to help them in the process. Right now this coaching staff doesn’t appear to be doing anything to help our 2 rookies. Like my Marine friends say … ‘Lead, follow, or get the he11 out of the way’.
October 21st, 2022 at 7:10 pm
We have the worst YPC and only 2 rushing tds. 67 was suppose to be a run blocker. Those are not run blocker numbers. We run a lot his way. Lenny has very few lanes and makes a lot of his yards on his own.
I said it in the off season you can’t put this OL in front of TB12.
Problem is our GM has gotten cute in the draft the past few years and we don’t have many young contributors. There is a difference between playing and contributing.
October 21st, 2022 at 7:24 pm
BoJim … ‘I think Hainsey is going real well considering. Goedeki is a rookie. Yes we’re all in but he’s what we got and he’ll be there at season end.’
Hainsey is doing better than Goedeke IMO, but neither of them are setting the world on fire. Focus on the 2 of them when we play a good defense & I think you’ll see that they BOTH struggle. I’m sure there are REASONS for it. Youth? OK. Inexperience? For sure. Neither of them having played those positions in college? I’ll buy that.
Or maybe it’s got to do with neither of them being ‘strong enough’ yet to handle monster defensive linemen who can stay fresh by rotating while they each play 100% snaps? Personally I think that could well be their biggest issue. Tristan Wirfs came in as a monster (6’5″ & 320 lbs) with incredible strength AND great technique. Neither Hainsey nor Goedeke bring that kind of size, strength or technique to the table, yet. That’s not something that a coaching staff can ‘fix’ in a week or two.
October 22nd, 2022 at 2:06 am
Defense said it best ; “its not something that can be fixed in a week or 2 ”
we’ll be ” working thru it ” as Bowles says now for 4 weks— but he’ll be saying that christmas week……
October 22nd, 2022 at 7:09 am
Good coaching can overcomes bad players…Most coaches think so… most players want to think so…Most fans see the reallity is that some players improve and some do not despite good coaching.
October 22nd, 2022 at 7:39 am
I’m not sure Bowels thinks it’s an all in season. They coach ho, hum and Licht seems to be on that ship. Both O and D line need help, that and firing BL is the only hope Bucs have. Oralbuc and sparkless, the an Trask thing I the same as let’s go 5-12. Here is a few more mobile QB’s Wilson, Jackson, Burrows, Carr, Lance, Dak, Stafford, HOW are they doing???