“He’s Truly Leading The Ship”
December 20th, 2022
Lead dog.
Unlike injured Shaq Barrett, injured Ryan Jensen is known for tireless work at One Buc Palace trying to assist teammates. Both are on injured reserve with serious injuries.
Starting left guard Nick Leverett gushed yesterday about Jensen being so present in meetings and eager to help his linemates. Outside linebackers coach Bob Sanders talked about missing Shaq’s presence and leadership and characterized him as away from the team. All the comments came on the Buccaneers Radio Network in the past week. They are an interesting contrast.
Leverett also talked about the guy he labeled the new leader of the offensive line, first-year starting center Robert Hainsey, the Bucs’ third-round draft pick in 2021.
“Hainsey, he’s the leader of the offensive line,” Leverett said. “He’s out there, you know, calling the shots. He’s truly leading the ship. Major salute to him because he’s really doing a fantastic job.”
Leverett repeated himself when talking about Hainsey being the top dog and perfect for the role.
It intrigued Joe that a veteran on the O-line, Tristan Wirfs, Shaq Mason or Tristan Wirfs, wasn’t considered by Leverett to be the leader.
Regardless, Joe is pleased to hear the praise of Hainsey. He’s certainly had a good year for a first-time starter new to the center position. He’s also proven to be durable, which is a critical trait.
December 20th, 2022 at 1:25 pm
I’m confused. Leverett said the offensive line suffered from emotions and “shape shifting” during last week’s debacle. But here, he is impressed with fantastic leadership?
Nothing against Hainsey, he’s doing a respectable job filling in. But this doesn’t add up.
December 20th, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Hainsey is a smart kid, and has performed as well as you could expect. The biggest loss with Jensen is his superior communication. Setting protection isn’t easy. If Jensen doesn’t get hurt, I think Hainsey would’ve shined at LG.
December 20th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Might explain no run game and pressure up the middle on TB if Hainsey is leading the ship.
December 20th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
Hainsey is playing fairly well but he’s just another guy.
December 20th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
I’m no football expert but have followed Brady since 2000, in the process of him going to Tampa I began to learn about the players and became an avid watcher.
Everything that I want to say has already been said. Nothing new with the media consistently tearing apart Brady, when Brady leaves, Tampa still has a problem with Bowles, to see him destroying this team has been so painful to watch, can anyone help this guy along the way? It’s obvious that his conservative approach has blown up the let’s go attitude of the team, it’s like telling a sprinter to slow down a few inches before the finish line, I will follow Brady wherever he goes, hope Tampa owners come to their senses, football is fun to watch when it is competitive, fierce, inspiring, the best bring out the best of each other, sure the owners don’t care because they get their millions either way but what’s the point when it is painful to watch week after week. There are many sensational players in Tampa,I wish them the best, they deserve better.
December 20th, 2022 at 2:00 pm
@Redeemer Brady has always set the protection at the line. He’s one of the few QBs in the league that does set the protection. He’s done it his entire career in NE. That helps out a young center. Once the protection is set, it’s up to center to communicate to the rest of the line to execute the call. Jensen did work a little more with Brady with the protection calls.
Hainsey has been average. I’ve seen him get pushed back far too often. His snaps are also late which passes up the timing. I’ve seen Brady get on him about that. Leverette has been serviceable. Mason has been good, and Wirfs is dominant. Overall, this is an average line that can look below average in some games. That’s not enough to protect Brady. Brady in his prime years used to be able to elevate units. That’s not the case this year. If not for Brady’s quick release, we would have like 40 sacks this year.
December 20th, 2022 at 2:20 pm
They’re good enough for Tom to be playing better, but handicapped by a cretin running the offense and a comatose head coach with awful judgment.
December 20th, 2022 at 3:18 pm
I remember one of the concerns expressed on this site was Hainsey’s injury history, or what we knew of it. I guess it’s not a good idea to make assumptions on a very small sample size. It looks like we have a keeper in Hainsey. This bodes well for when Jensen returns.
December 20th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Hainesy has a PFF of 70, of you put any faith in that. Not bad for a backup, considering Donnie (makes $16 million) has a 58
December 20th, 2022 at 3:30 pm
This Jensen situation should serve them well for next year. Jensen comes back in at center, Hainsey moves to LG. That experience should help, and Leverett’s starting experience makes a difference for depth. Goedeke should come back more capable with an offseason to train. Questions on the line for next year — do we cut Donovan in a cap saving move, and move Wirfs to LT, drafting a new RT? This season is over as far as I’m concerned. I’ve moved on to next year.
December 20th, 2022 at 3:36 pm
BucsFan13 has it. Middle push equals no pocket. Leverett gives up push too although not nearly as bad as Goedeke. Kryptonite for a pocket passer.
December 20th, 2022 at 3:53 pm
@KentuckyBuc All QBs hate interior pressure, but it’s especially difficult for a pocket passer like Tom. That’s why Licht should have had a better plan in place when Marpet retired and Jensen got injured. They really trotted out a rookie LG that’s new to the position, and a center who is also new to the position. Brady never had a chance. Goedeke has given him a bad case pf PTSD. When a QB doesn’t trust his line, It can get ugly.
December 20th, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Dungy: it only doesn’t make sense if you’ve never done anything in a team sport, or worked on a team, lead a team etc. you can lead all day, if some dumbf&@k doesn’t do the right sh!t on your team, your whole team suffers.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Sasquatch, in my opinion, we should move Wirfs to LT and draft a RT. I wonder if Goedeke could train at RT. I believe he played that position in college and he would give us depth there….or start. Who knows? We have to cut Smith. It’s just business.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
I’m at a loss of words about any subject of this season. Just completely baffled!
December 20th, 2022 at 4:54 pm
@Bucsfan13 I’m always amazed when folks at home like you think they know more than the players. You have no idea what’s going on anymore than any other fan. Crazy.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:54 pm
Hainsey is average. A backup. Technical, ‘smart’, but gets pushed around, gets beat, nothing special, not an enforcer like Jensen, not a leader or protection caller like Jensen. As a backup, for spot duty, fine. The problem is that OneBuc has annointed him. Golden boy, can do no wrong (even when he does). Leverett, a JAG backup, who was awful through preseason and didn’t earn a start until the OL was in emergency mode, obviously roots for his own kind.
This is a patchwork backup OL. Period. Your veterans? D Smith is diminished. Shaq is what he always is, an undersized solid guard who needs help around him. Help he’s not getting.
December 20th, 2022 at 6:44 pm
@Steele. Perfectly said. Fans are denial because the sack total isn’t high. The pressures are still there, and it’s worse than last year. Pressures are just effective. Hainsey is Charmin soft. He was just handed the job because he’s Licht’s boy. Same with Goedeke. Starting Luke was an epic failure. Coaching malpractice on high level.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:12 pm
Hainsey has done a nice job but the Bucs miss Jensens fire and sometimes nastiness. Hope when he comes back he is completely healthy and can play a full season.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:58 pm
Bucsfan13, yes I meant the com once set. My bad.
December 22nd, 2022 at 1:31 am
You figured it would be Wirfs since he counted as two players.
December 22nd, 2022 at 2:33 pm
We need to let brady run the offense or were 1 and done in playoffs. We can beat any team out there. Lets play like the 1st half against Cincinnati. Prevent only comes in 4th qrt. Play smart guys LFGO