Bucs Aren’t As Healthy As Team Would Like You To Believe
January 13th, 2023
Banged up.
Joe believes the best Bucs player is Tom Brady.
(If for some reason you don’t believe that, perhaps you should check your meds this morning or go back to watching old 8 mm films of 1960s high school football.)
So what would be the most important element of the offense for Brady, outside of weapons? That would be protection. And that protection may be taking a major hit.
A lot of Bucs fans are hoping Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen can return Monday night. Joe hopes so too, but just as much hates the word “hope.”
One reason it’s important Jensen can play against the Cowboys to open the playoffs is because Robert Hainsey, who started all 17 games this season, hurt his hamstring in the final game against Atlanta.
The man who replaced Hainsey last Sunday is Nick Leverett, who usually starts at left guard. And he’s hurt, too.
Yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Leverett has a “sore leg.” Bowles didn’t offer specifics.
On yesterday’s injury report, Leverett was listed as being limited in practice with both a knee and shoulder injury. There was no mention of a leg injury.
Not only could the Bucs be down their top two centers, they could also be down a starting left guard.
While the Bucs, and those who cover the Bucs, are pushing the notion the Bucs are just starting to get healthy again, it doesn’t seem to Joe that the interior of the Bucs’ offensive line is remotely healthy.
This could be bigger than huge.
January 13th, 2023 at 5:12 am
How could it get worse on the OLine? My guess is that Hainsey gets a “shot” and plays. Since Jensen hasn’t played a snap all season, I would guess he would be activated and used only in an emergency? Not a good situation for an immobile QB.
January 13th, 2023 at 5:35 am
Of course there are multiple injuries. After preseason and 17 games there gave to be injuries. However, the more the hype the less the game will produce. There hopefully will be changes made Tuesday after the Bucs loss. That’s the best I can hope for.
January 13th, 2023 at 6:07 am
Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. Hopefully we’ll have a good enough OL to keep Brady safe and beat the Cowgirls Monday. That’s the concern.
January 13th, 2023 at 6:40 am
As far as I am concerned this problem can be blamed on Jason Licht when Jensen and Stinnie went down right before the season started he should have brought in a couple of OLineman but he didn’t. This has been a struggle all year.
January 13th, 2023 at 7:33 am
Bucs aint losing this one
January 13th, 2023 at 7:47 am
A Bowles blunder getting them hurt in a lame game against Atlanta. Leave it to Bowzo.
January 13th, 2023 at 7:58 am
So what would be the most important element of the offense for Brady, outside of weapons? That would be protection. And the Bucs may be taking a major hit in that protection.
What else is there?
The question…..do you play healthy backups or hurt starters?
I think we will see Hainsey at C & Leverett at LG…..hurt or not.
I would be surprised if Jensen starts….he may play…..but having him dressed is worth the roster spot….
January 13th, 2023 at 8:04 am
We play the starters but then we don’t. I’m confused.
January 13th, 2023 at 8:25 am
Only hope the Bucs have IMO is to keep 7 guys in max protection & use only 3 ‘weapons’ for Brady. ‘Next man up’ sounds really nice, but you can’t expect beat-up 2nd stringers to perform like All-Pros. If our defense can hold Dallas to single-digits, we’ve got a chance.
January 13th, 2023 at 8:31 am
Richbucsfan you are hopeful for a loss??? WTF get out of here and go somewhere else. We don’t need your negative arse comments. We are in the playoffs and it’s time for all Bucs fans to come together and get loud for this team! The mission is to win the Super Bowl and last I checked we are still on the train heading in that direction. Bucs fans better show up Monday night. I’ll be there. Go Bucs!
January 13th, 2023 at 8:39 am
Everybody hurts
January 13th, 2023 at 8:53 am
“And everybody hurts sometimes
So hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts” -REM
Well, except for you Smith, try not to “hold” on.
January 13th, 2023 at 9:03 am
This is absolutely depressing news. If Luke Goedeke comes anywhere on the field on Monday, it simply means we have no shot.
January 13th, 2023 at 9:06 am
There is one stud on the oline wirfs. Damn Jason Licht didn’t you play guard in college. Jensen is a free agent so doesn’t count towards his draft resume. D smith will get roasted and there is no one on this roster that is strong enough to get any kind of push. Can’t overcome bad online with an immobile quarterback especially with an offensive coordinator like ours
January 13th, 2023 at 9:38 am
The Cowboys are getting all of their stars back. Meanwhile, Clueless Todd destroyed the O-line in a meaningless game.
January 13th, 2023 at 10:51 am
just please please please please please like james brown just dont play luke godecke!!! Omg that guy us horrible. Hes literally worse than all the undrafted guys and practice squad linemen
January 13th, 2023 at 11:19 am
Just being real, “I’m not tired”.
January 13th, 2023 at 11:21 am
@Jeff, I disagree.
Who are these Cowboy stars that you are talking about?
Hankins may be the best of the guys coming back for the Boys. Is he a star in your mind. By the way, he is coming back as a DT from a torn pectoral. Not sure that he is going to be outstanding.
Tyler Biadasz is their center who has a lower PFF grade then Hainsey.
Tyron Smith their new right tackle is this year a down grade from Terence Steele at right tackle who is out for the year with a knee injury.
I find it hilarious that fans think that any NFL team can go into week 18 and play none of their starters. It is not a college football team with twice the amount of bodies. You only dress 46. Almost every NFL team in week 18, even if clinching a spot, have to play some of their regular offensive lineman. To me, playing the youngest guys makes the most sense if they are not injured.
Exactly what Bowles did.
January 13th, 2023 at 11:32 am
Good grief, it is the playoffs. Break out the duct tape and gitter done!!!
January 13th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Bucs are reporting dings. Dallas isn’t . Both playing mind games. Probably the opposite is true of both teams.
January 13th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
We’re going to see quick-release-dink-n-dunk Tom Brady offense come Monday night cause the O-Line sucks
I’m not banking on Jensen Playing Monday……..and if he does, it won’t be for the full game either.