If Tom Brady Returns, Bucs Must Beef Up Backup Tackles Or Pray For Health
January 18th, 2023
Age and hits adding up?
Very interesting numbers suggest Tom Brady was dragged down more by his teammates missing games than failed Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich’s incompetence.
Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football Analysis noted that when Brady lost his starting tackles, either left tackle Donovan Smith or All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs, his numbers dropped significantly.
With Smith and/or Wirfs on the field, Brady’s touchdown-to-pick ratio was 14-1.
Without Smith and/or Wirfs, Brady’s touchdown-to-interception ratio was 11-8.
That’s a significant dropoff. Right away this tells Joe the Bucs have to do better than Josh Wells as a swing tackle. Yesterday Bucs coach Todd Bowles suggested Luke Goedeke could be a swing tackle.
Joe is actually beginning to wonder about Smith, and not for the reasons the haters do.
Smith turns 30 in June. That’s about the time many NFL offensive lineman begin to start breaking down physically. And given Smith’s durability, he’s taken his fair share of hits through eight seasons as a starter.
But that’s just it. Smith was a rock of stability, which he took pride in. This year, Smith missed four starts, the most of his career.
For many, that’s not big deal. For Smith, trust Joe, that’s a big deal in his eyes. Smith was hurt in the season-opener against Dallas and you could argue he wasn’t healthy all year. He also said an undisclosed off-field issue weighed on him.
Maybe the 2023 season will be a bounce-back for Smith? One thing for sure, if Brady returns, the Bucs need a capable backup tackle.
Here are some numbers I wrote about last week. These are from the regular season.
Brady needs a strong offensive line at this point. He was not good without his best unit protecting him. pic.twitter.com/TksQVtJTSd
— Ryan McCrystal (@Ryan_McCrystal) January 17, 2023
January 18th, 2023 at 10:12 am
So the guy that caused the problem (Jason Licht) is now going to suddenly fix it ?
What’s the definition of insanity?
January 18th, 2023 at 10:14 am
Brady will not return.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:15 am
Donovan Smith can’t block an old lady…..
January 18th, 2023 at 10:15 am
It’s like data nerds say, “Correlation doesn’t equal causation.” This is more of a coincidence than anything else… Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs both missed 4 games this season. Donovan missed the Saints (1st), Packers, Cardinals, and Falcons (2nd), while Wirfs missed the Saints (2nd), 49ers, Bengals, and Falcons (2nd). The 49ers, Bengals, and Cardinals are, by many accounts, some of top defenses in the NFL. This seems to be more a function of opponent quality than it is a function of Tom Brady’s need for a strong offensive line (by the way, what QB doesn’t need a strong offensive line?!).
January 18th, 2023 at 10:16 am
Brady needs to hang it up. Can he still throw? Sure when evreythings right, but it’s not always that way in the NFL. Even today’s pocket passers like Burrow have to make some plays with their legs, and stand in taking a hit to deliver a skrike. Did you see Brady’s chuck, and duck interception yesterday? He’s done. It’s a young man’s game. Bucs should not want him back. If you don’t get better you get worse, Tom’s not going to be better at 46.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:18 am
Even if Brady doesn’t return they still need a lineman or two. Stinnie should be back, Leaverett, Hainsey, and the rest will heal.
But an O-lineman or two should be too much of a reach , though Bowles cleaner will take all defensive guys in the first four rounds.
He does need to do something other than try to sell the defense to Dallas as their best offensive weapon.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:22 am
Cut or trade him. He’s regress from bad to worse.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:26 am
Smith had a lot of trouble in pass blocking. He was fine in the run game but got beat frequently on outside speed rushes by fast defensive ends that too often blew right past him on the outside. He got called frequently for holding and could have been called more often than he was. Not a good situation coming at Brady from his left (blind) side. This was part of Brady’s throwing mostly short quick passes and much fewer deep shots compared to past seasons. Brady looked grim most of the time this year and throwing short was his survival response.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:32 am
Shaq mason was a desperation move, easy to see why the patsies let him walk for a 5th – he ain’t that good
We have to shore the G position and get some push in the run game no matter who is the qb
January 18th, 2023 at 10:32 am
Puhlease..
The Brandon Broncos have more imaginative offenses.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:33 am
Oh yes Larmarcus. Your Brady hate has been delicious to absorb. Salty tears from Brady haters are my favorite to feast on.
Who do you cheer for? I mean, if you only follow around Brady and whatever team he goes to, just to hate on him, what pleasure have you been able to derive in 23 years since Brady has been in the league?
Say, let’s you and me grab a drink together sometime. I’ll buy you a hemlock. Sound good? We can even get Bucs Anthem, TTBucs3 and O’Neill to join us. Hemlocks all around!
See you on the Vegas or Panthers board next year! Let me guess, will your handle be JaMarcus or DaMarcus?
January 18th, 2023 at 10:35 am
Restructure Donnie, draft Jack Nelson and cross train he & Wirfs to eventually replace Donny Penn, I mean Donnie Smith.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:37 am
Tackles and Swing Tackles are the riddle of the sphinx in the NFL. 32 teams are trying to solve this riddle. Wells and Stinnie are made of glass, and that is why they are backups. Most teams have this problem, but it is particularly odd for this team as our QB is one of the least hit and sacked, but our running game is historically bad. Ultimately, the NFL should increase the roster sizes to leave space for developing linemen, and account for the increased lost time of players in the concussion protocol.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:45 am
The team is $43 million over the cap for 2023. The team will save about $15 million by cutting Smith as a June 1 cut. Smith won’t be back. He isn’t terrible but we can do just as well and save lots of money with far cheaper options out there. Maybe Wirfs CAN play LT and maybe Hainsey can slide back to his collegiate position of RT or Goedeke (which would be useful because he is a terrible guard)… or Brandon Walton, who played well the last two regular season games for Smith at LT. Point is… Smith can be pretty good… he also can be pretty bad…. but not matter what, he’s pretty freaking expensive and we can save a ton of money by dumping him. I fully expect that to happen.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:48 am
Time to send the Dongster packing. His holding penalties alone were momentum killers at the least, if not game wreckers
January 18th, 2023 at 10:49 am
Smith will be cut before next season. You can bet a mortgage payment on that.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:50 am
Actually better idea. Force him to take a pay cut like they did with Brate a couple times.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:52 am
It does appear that Smith is reaching the end of his usefulness, but I think we’re on the hook for well over 10 mil this season if he’s here or not. If we can’t trade him we almost have to keep him even if only as a backup.
Like a divorce: Cheaper to keeper.
We pick #19 this year. Hard to get a game-ready tackle that far down.
Smith’s salary itself makes it hard to sign a decent FA.
Do we want another Fred Johnson? Is he even still on the team? He’s not worth looking up.
If Brady resigns we might be able to kick the can down the road one more time by completely spending the future’s money.
If he doesn’t it’s time to rebuild.
If we’re gonna rebuild might as well start with bowlzo.
New coach can fire the rest.
Use the last guaranteed money veterans have and say goodbye next year to them.
LD54 might be the only one worth keeping.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:00 am
Whatever the reason, Smith had a horrible season. They need to figure out why and address it. I thought this was the last year of guaranteed money for him, but maybe they kicked the can down the road further with the rest of the restructuring they did to bring guys back the last two years.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:02 am
Hes worried about Donovan now? I was worried about Donovan a couple of years ago. Should’ve been worried about him then. He’s not gonna get any better.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:07 am
Destinjohnny Says:
January 18th, 2023 at 10:12 am
The definition of insanity is that this team would not have won that Superbowl without Jason Licht. He was responsible for bringing in every player except Lavonte David and Will Gholston. He built the team, he brought in Arians, and then signed Brady. Superbowl winning GM Jason Licht did that. Show some gratitude.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:12 am
Brady should retire or play for whoever can give him the best Oline and shot at another ring. That is not the Bucs who are approximately $43 million over the cap space. The bill is due and the only way to get under it is to trade away players that can be moved and prepare for the future. For instance, Wirfs and Winfield will be due extensions. Jensen likely retires after his final game as a Buc and with Brady. Do we keep paying David who is 32? Barrett is due $18 million but Achilles injury recovery are difficult to get back to 100% so no way to trade him. Bottom line: the bill is due and we don’t have the ability to get a solid Oline for Brady so he leaves.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:16 am
Licht has done a very good job. He needs to bring in new coaches … If the Glazers will let him. They might be too intimidated to fire bowlzo right now.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:18 am
Why would Brady come back here this team needs a culture change.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:22 am
Tom’s not coming back to this sh*t show. Mark the tape!
January 18th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Every NFL team deals with injuries.
It’s the coaches job to account for these changes and make adjustments accordingly…
This is where the Bucs failed. Coaches failing to make the proper adjustments in order to succeed.
It’s very basic logic.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Tony Says:
January 18th, 2023 at 11:02 am
Hes worried about Donovan now? I was worried about Donovan a couple of years ago. Should’ve been worried about him then. He’s not gonna get any better.
_______
EXACTLY!
January 18th, 2023 at 11:25 am
We’re drafting Jake Moody at 19.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:29 am
Well golly allbuccedup, silly me I thought Brady was supposed to provide that culture change. What happened to all that? Anyone?
January 18th, 2023 at 11:30 am
I wanna win everytime but we don’t always get what we want I don’t want tom brady here anymore im grateful for the championship he brought us forever im gonna be grateful he deserves the ring of honor but its time to cut the dead weight
January 18th, 2023 at 11:36 am
Therein lies the problem: We are down to duct-tape and Livin’ on a Prayer. The Bucs could have used more prayers this year, as they needed ’em. Desperately.
What an EXCITING offseason this shall be!!! (Sarcasm)
January 18th, 2023 at 11:36 am
I think Brady is good for one more year.
He’s better than most alternatives.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:37 am
I need to research this “post June 1st” rule
January 18th, 2023 at 11:38 am
When the plays are predictable, nothing works. When the players are lethargic, nothing works. Atlanta, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Cleveland. Four losses because they were not motivated. That’s poor coaching. When the coaches make no adjustments, nothing works.
How many times was the first play of each half a run? 18 games times 2 halves = 36 plays. How many were runs? I bet over 28.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:39 am
TB12 must hang it up, he just doesn’t have the mobility anymore. We need a new Veteran QB maybe Carr, maybe Jackson? IDK what the QB answer is but Brady is finished as the Bucs will never be able to give him the pass protection that he needs. The whole team needs to get younger as the window of opportunity just closed on Monday night.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:40 am
Only way Brady comes back, is if the Bucs are the ONLY team that wants him.
Brady doesn’t want to be here with a LAME DUCK coaching staff.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:45 am
… how many times did several readers point out the issues with the line. Numerous stats were given, plenty of in-game examples. But Joe, who I respect and enjoy reading, kept saying it’s not the line. With all due respect, OF COURSE ITS THE LINE!! Tom has never been able to run, NOW HES 45!!! Lol, that line gave up soooooo many plays. You look at Tom’s release time being faster, and the same amount the same of sacks etc, and that’s all you need to k ow it’s the damn line. But there’s soooo much more. The run – partly the line. R/PBWR – atrocious. Stop defending this line. Stop. It was awful. What were the big changes? The line and Bowles. I TOTALLY get the hate for leftwich cuz he should help scheme around this issue. It’s definitely more on him (and a bit licht for not finding new options, and Bowles for insisting on running) as there’s only so much you can expect from 3rd stringers. But you can’t play 3rd stringers and be like “why is everyone hating on the line? They’re great?!” It’s silly. They tried, it’s commendable, it wasn’t nearly good enough. Go at leftwich for not scheming around it, but don’t ignore WHY there’s an issue he has to try to scheme around…. Your main tackles go down and 3rd stringers playing C, LG, and replacing the T that’s hurt? Yeah, you’re done.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:45 am
As much as I like Smith, he has a huge cap hit this season and has been inconsistent this year. If I was the GM I would look at maybe trading him or cutting Smith and draft a LT or RT we would want to trade up to get one but that would open up cap room and possibly make it so Brady would want to come back
January 18th, 2023 at 11:46 am
Chris Godwin is breaking down, man I can’t think of another WR that takes the beating he does
January 18th, 2023 at 11:49 am
Bucs Must Beef Up Backup Tackles?
Donovan smith is pure trash, if I was Brady I wouldn’t want him to be my left tackle either and I’d worry for my health. Did we forget he sucked even with Winston a mobile quarterback
January 18th, 2023 at 11:54 am
Donovan is done. Most penalized player in the NFL by far.
Clean house with this team. The untouchable players are Wirfs and Winfield.
January 18th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
The bucs need to move on from d smith he has always had an issue with fast pass rushers and that is where the league is going not mention his age.
January 18th, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Get real Brady’s NOT returning. Do you know how to spell San Francisco?
January 18th, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Someone pointed out Chris Godwin is breaking down and what receivers ever took the beating he does. Julian Edelman comes to mind. He was the best slot receiver to ever play in NFL.
January 18th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Smith was a good pick for a 2nd rounder. He helped get us a Super Bowl and back to respectability. But we should draft his replacement this year, probably in the 1st round and let them battle it out in camp. This is the final year of Smith’s contract. It’s time to move on
January 18th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
So many of the decisions the Bucs have to make are dependent on OTHER decisions that have to be made. For instance, I’m not surprised Leftwich hasn’t been fired yet, because for all we know, Tom Brady likes Leftwich’s offense and if he’s to stay he doesn’t want to learn a whole new playbook.
I’m of the opinion that Brady has already won his last Super Bowl, and the Bucs can’t and won’t have a team that can win with an immobile QB that needs a clean pocket next year. Jason Licht is not an idiot, and probably feels the same way. But the ultimate bosses are the Glazers, and Tom Brady sells tickets. He gets the Bucs on national TV.
So if the Glazers decide they want Brady, we have to wait for Brady to decide he wants to play again, and play in Tampa. Brady will want reassurances that they’ll beef up the offensive line, and that they won’t change the offense otherwise. So we’ll go into more salary cap debt to make one more run.
Then we’ll probably slog through another 8-9 season before blowing it all up.
January 18th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Hondo … different builds and skill sets.
I love CG .. so much I would trade him to a post season team. He does not deserve to end his career playing for this rebuilding team
January 18th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Reloading. We have enough quality pieces in place to make another run with a great offensive coordinator.
January 18th, 2023 at 1:11 pm
The Bucs needed a mobile quarterback this season. Winston would have won more games for the Bucs in 2022. In 2020 and 2021, no way, but this season was different. Winston was used to playing behind crappy OLs and running for his life. Brady never had an OL that bad, and he never had to get rid of the ball so fast. He never had enough time to even attempt long throws. Winston could evade defenses, giving receivers time to get down field. Winston is gone. Brady won’t be back. Trask should get the chance to play with the starters. 43 TDS in a single season in the SEC is impressive. We won’t be signing any blockbuster veteran free agents. We will be lucky to hang on to our own. Bowles is full of it when he says it’s a reload. We have a decent core to build around, if we can keep most of them. We have no choice but to build through the draft and the undrafted. We need OL and pass rushers. We really need new coaches. I don’t like being able to predict what the team is going to do most of the time. I’m not a professional. If it’s that easy for me, I know our opponents can see it coming. Start Trask and fire these coaches.
January 18th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
Smith is NOT a top tier tackle, he is the MOST panelized player in the NFL since he was drafted. Do you know why O linemen get penalized? It is because they are getting beat.
Penalties = losing
losing on the O line is NOT winning the trenches.
January 18th, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Move Smith to left guard.
Move Wirfs to left tackle.
Draft a right tackle.
January 18th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Fire the Gannons! Says:
January 18th, 2023 at 10:33 am
Oh yes Larmarcus. Your Brady hate has been delicious to absorb. Salty tears from Brady haters are my favorite to feast on.
Who do you cheer for? I mean, if you only follow around Brady and whatever team he goes to, just to hate on him, what pleasure have you been able to derive in 23 years since Brady has been in the league?
Say, let’s you and me grab a drink together sometime. I’ll buy you a hemlock. Sound good? We can even get Bucs Anthem, TTBucs3 and O’Neill to join us. Hemlocks all around!
See you on the Vegas or Panthers board next year! Let me guess, will your handle be JaMarcus or DaMarcus?
Fire the Gannons! — What a hero post. Hell yes. Lets catch up in LV or Miami or Carolina or wherever and keep the train rolling. The haters must just be full of self-loathing to have nothing better to do than torment themselves over the past 23 years! HAHA!
January 18th, 2023 at 2:33 pm
One thing is certain. Tom can pick up most offences well enough to be able to play at a high level by mid season. So the question is, is Tampa Bay the best place for him his last year or two? Is all the talent here for another SB run? I’ll let you answer that question. I do think he might have better opportunities elsewhere. And not like he didn’t think about going to team up with Sean Peyton already. Where Sean goes, he may go. Those former EIU guys always cause trouble. LOL.
January 18th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Dance… Jameis was his guy. I don’t think he hates Brady personally, any more than a guy hates the guy that is now dating his ex-girlfriend. But I suspect the Trask lovers will have similar feelings to the QB that comes in here and sends Trask out of town.
January 18th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Wells was old stinking garbage long before this season. Last year in division playoffs when Wirfs went down, Wells was so awful trying to pick up Von Miller they tried to send Wirfs back in on one leg.
January 18th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
The Coroner Says:
January 18th, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Move Smith to left guard.
Move Wirfs to left tackle.
Draft a right tackle.
Was thinking the same about smith. They man can play, he’s just not quick enough on the outside. Not sure about moving wirfs but a Smith Jensen Wirfs middle could be solid imo.
January 18th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
If I were the Bucs, I’d try swapping the tackles positions from left to right as an experiment, as much as I root for Smith, he’s a bit slow of foot and seems to be a better fit as a right tackle.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:09 pm
Smith took a big downturn and something was going on in his personal life. That needs to be rectified, he’s only 30. The big problem was up the middle. They get Jensen and Stinnie back, plus Hainsey will probably be in the running for left guard.
EVERY DRAFT in the first 3 rounds (MAYBE stretch to 4)-
1 OL
1 DL
You can have all world DBs and WRs and RBs but none of it matters if you don’t have the big uglies in the trenches.
January 18th, 2023 at 10:38 pm
Just stop it! There is no way Tom Brady is coming back to this team! Better get used to it!
January 18th, 2023 at 10:41 pm
One thing is for sure the Brady free agent affect is over
If you are all happy with not making the playoffs for the next 10 years
You have your gm
January 19th, 2023 at 11:21 am
Um Joe?
Just in case you and The Sharrpos missed it he lost 4 out of 5 for a good portion of the year and one of those five starters from last year looked like he was playing with lead shoes on when he did play.
Not stats geek but I think the whole premise of they’re analysis is therefore skewed.