Tristan Wirfs Playing Left Tackle? Jason Licht Isn’t Sure About That
March 1st, 2023
Question.
While slugging it out with 30 other reporters, niceties won’t get the job done.
So when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht stood at the podium at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis at the combine yesterday, elevated from the throng of #NFLMedia gathered before him, Joe had no choice but to bark this question at Licht before anyone else could get a full sentence out of his or her mouth.
“Can Tristan Wirfs play left tackle?”
As you likely know, JoeBucsFan.com legendary columnist Ira Kaufman said early last week on his podcast, that he learned starting left tackle Donovan Smith will be a cap casualty.
Joe understands some folks, aka the Smith haters, plan to dance on his football grave if/when Smith is released. Many believe it’s real simple: Plug Wirfs in at left tackle and have Luke Goedeke play right tackle. Task completed. Smith expunged.
Licht’s reaction to Joe’s question didn’t sound like he is eager to see his All-Pro right tackle moved.
“That remains to be seen,” Licht said about Wirfs playing on the left side. “We haven’t seen it yet in the NFL.
“I think he has all of the traits to do it if that were the case to do it, but we haven’t had any spring practices, OTAs or anything like that yet.”
Todd Bowles told Joe 1-on-1 yesterday that flipping from one side of the line to the other is much more complex than most folks realize. And Wirfs dominating at right tackle doesn’t mean he would automatically have the same success at left tackle. Some can flip; others can’t.
This Joe has been clear on Wirfs potentially moving to the left side: Hell no!
Joe rigidly follows a simple motto of “don’t fix something that isn’t broken.” Wirfs at right tackle sure as hell isn’t broken.
If Smith is toast, OK. Then go get a left tackle in the draft or someone looking for work when the free agency dinner bell rings two weeks from today.
March 1st, 2023 at 3:04 am
Well joe, LT is broke. And we may have the best fix possible in house who’s young and wouldn’t cost us a dime this season in salary cap, and wouldn’t cost us a single draft pick. IF that were the case then we’d have a young stud franchise LT locked in for years (after extending him). And you’re saying no to this idea because you don’t want to rock the boat with him being good at RT? Did experimenting with marpet at center for a hot minute drastically mess with his career when we decided nah let’s put him back at guard? It would be an idiotic move to not Try Wirfs (who’s a special talent by numerous metrics) at LT.
March 1st, 2023 at 3:24 am
My question would be why don’t we know already if TW can flip to the left side, (I’m sure they do). Offer Donnie a team friendly contract and if he bolts say bye-bye and lug in LG at Left Tackle and move on! This upcoming season will not be the same as last season, we will be a run first team for sure!
March 1st, 2023 at 3:46 am
Joe denying Wirfs a chance to make LT money. Why don’t we at least let him try if he wants instead of the definitive NO?
March 1st, 2023 at 3:47 am
Just draft a left tackle and br done with it. They know that Wirfs can play anywhere I seen him at Iowa switch back and forth from right to left during a game. Iowa’ s regular left tackle kept getting hurt
March 1st, 2023 at 3:51 am
…and why doesn’t the team at least offer to Smith to move to the right side first which might prolong his career? If he’s against it then release him but at least offer it before you release him. If he accepts it and does very well in camp then you can negotiate a new contract at RT money.
March 1st, 2023 at 4:12 am
This conversation again? Moving Smith to RT? No, just no. He himself said he couldn’t do it and even Joe in this article said that its not as easy as it looks. If he can’t get it done to satisfy anyone on the left side, he sure as hell won’t on the right which will be significantly harder for him. He either gets cut, takes a paycut or we end up actually keeping him (doubtful per The Sage). I’m with Joe, don’t fix what ain’t broken.
March 1st, 2023 at 4:13 am
Rand they need cap space plus after seeing him play this year it looks like hes about a year or two from retirement.
March 1st, 2023 at 4:49 am
Just trade down our 19th and grab Jaelyn Duncan. That will be a great young duo of bookends for our o line going forward.
March 1st, 2023 at 5:54 am
Smith should go to left guard
March 1st, 2023 at 6:49 am
Not a Smith hater here, but he was literally the worst starting left tackle in the league last season. He allowed the most sacks of any LT in the leage, and he was the most penalized LT, including the most holding penalties, of any LT in the league last season.
One doesn’t need to be a “hater” to say that Smith is no longer worth starting money at LT, and as long as we have a right handed quarterback, LT is too important to accept worst in the league performance.
It ain’t rocket science, or hate. It’s facts.
March 1st, 2023 at 6:53 am
If anybody can make the switch work it’s Tristan Wirfs.
March 1st, 2023 at 7:02 am
Donovan MAY end up being a salary CAP casualty like Ira has predicted, but maybe not. Cut him & save $10 mil is what’s behind Door #1, but then we’d have to replace him with what’s behind Door #2 (Wirfs moving to LT in a contract year) or Door #3(signing a better LT than Donovan for $10 mil or less) or Door #4 (drafting a starting LT at Pick #19 or moving up).
Probably some other doors that could be opened, but BEFORE we start opening other doors, let’s make sure that the answer isn’t sitting right in front of us. Smith had a bad year, yes, BUT his elbow was pretty badly injured, he had another injury during the year, and apparently went through a lot of other ‘stuff’. If he’s healthy & all that other ‘stuff’ is no longer an issue, keeping Donnie for the last year of his contract MAY end up being the best option that we have.
March 1st, 2023 at 7:07 am
A big part of Smith’s problem last year was attitude. That will certainly not improve being offered a smaller contract or a demotion to another position. Thanks for the SB, Donovan! Good luck in your future endeavors.
March 1st, 2023 at 7:22 am
On the topic of switching Tackle positions, I read that Wirfs said, ” it’s like learning to wipe your asse with your left hand. It’s awkward at first, but you get used to it”. He went on to say that he did switch in college and was prepared to play whichever position they needed him to play when drafted. Love this guys class. Lol
Tristan is coming up on his contract year. I wonder how much his value increases with a dominant year at left tackle in the books?
March 1st, 2023 at 7:25 am
Wirfs playing left tackle will depend on who they get in the draft.
March 1st, 2023 at 7:30 am
Joe Pepsi is spot on. The 3 most important positions on a team is QB, LT and Pass rusher. Right now the Bucs has neither. It would be criminal for the Bucs not to try Wirfs at LT. Joe, what makes you think Wirfrs would fail, he could dominate and then we have our LT for years.
March 1st, 2023 at 7:38 am
Pepsi nailed it.
Also, of course Licht is gonna be vague about it, it’s what GMs do.
March 1st, 2023 at 7:38 am
I don’t know enough about offensive line play in the NFL to know if moving Wirfs from RT to LT could actually work. Isn’t there more to it than just moving a guy around?
March 1st, 2023 at 7:59 am
Wirfs is so talented I’m quite sure he can make the switch……the question is RT…….Goedeke could be up to the task but would essentially be a rookie.
Regardless, we need to make some cuts and D Smith is a prime candidate.
March 1st, 2023 at 8:12 am
Rand Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 3:51 am
…and why doesn’t the team at least offer to Smith to move to the right side first which might prolong his career? If he’s against it then release him but at least offer it before you release him. If he accepts it and does very well in camp then you can negotiate a new contract at RT money.
___________
That’s just dumb.
Durable Donnie needs to go.
March 1st, 2023 at 8:14 am
I’m in the mindset that wirfs is already top 5 OL arguably #1 RT I wouldn’t mess with that success
March 1st, 2023 at 8:26 am
Joe will repeat: Do. Not. Fix. Something. Not. Broken. Right now Wirfs is playing like a Hall of Famer. A once in a lifetime guy. Joe cannot fathom why anyone would want to or try to risk screwing that up.
Let Wirfs be. Go out and find a left tackle. Most teams can do that. Rarely can teams find a guy like Wirfs to play right tackle.
March 1st, 2023 at 8:26 am
Left tackles make $15 a year or better, Wirfs is the best RIGHT tackle on the league, and HE is gonna make $15 or better wherever he plays. Moving him to the left saves us the difference between whatever Donnie makes and what Goedeke makes
March 1st, 2023 at 8:27 am
most of smith bad plays were related to moving to his left to protect the outside, as a left guard that part of his play will be minimized and moving right to protect the a gap would be more prominent in the play. perhaps he could do that as well or better than leveret(sp) or goedke. get restructured contract. and freeup a draft pick. … when drafte many projected him as guard.
March 1st, 2023 at 8:33 am
Jimm,
Great idea if you don’t factor in the part about his laziness.
March 1st, 2023 at 8:35 am
Either they do or they don’t…I have my reasons why I think he should:
1) He’s athletic enough, would just need to get used to that side.
2) It’s easier to find a starting Right Tackle in the 2nd or 3rd Rounds (Goedeke has short arms for Tackle, IMHO). I want the Bucs to get a CB in the 1st.
3) I think he’d dominate on the left side in the run game. Most edge rushers on that side are smaller.
We’ll see.
March 1st, 2023 at 8:46 am
Other teams have moved their Tackles around with success- Jets, Bengals, Steelers, Cowboys.
JL mentioned Spring practices and OTA’s – let’s see what develops.
March 1st, 2023 at 9:02 am
LT and RT are not the same position. Just like C and G are different. Just like MLB and OLB are different.
I think Joe is right. Don’t fix what ain’t broken.
All you people who hate Donovan Smith, who has this team had who was better? He’s been very good. He was hurt and had something going on last year. Find a way to keep him.
March 1st, 2023 at 9:04 am
@ DR
“Door #3(signing a better LT than Donovan for $10 mil”
Good luck with this one… lol
Not a lot of qualified LTs available in FA – especially for what the Bucs can afford to pay.
Option #1 – the Bucs do the O-line shuffle – moving Wirfs to LT.
Option #2 – the Bucs draft a LT with pick #19 or with pick #50.
Donnie was a 2nd round pick and one thing Licht is pretty good at is finding solid O-lineman in the first three rounds.
– Smith
– Marpet
– Cappa
– Wirfs
– Goedeke?
No easy answers this off season.
March 1st, 2023 at 9:09 am
Totally agree with JBF: don’t move Wirfs. Leave it alone. He might be the best RT in the NFL. Go find an LT.
March 1st, 2023 at 9:20 am
Let me answer this question for you. Wirfs is your new LT. Write it down
March 1st, 2023 at 9:28 am
I agree with this. Wirfs is on a Hall of Fame track. Leave him there.
March 1st, 2023 at 9:34 am
@ Buccos
I agree.
Wirfs played some LT at Iowa so it’s not like it is completely foreign to him.
Plus – I’m sure he is aware that LTs typically get paid more than RTs and he is in a contract year.
When asked recently about switching to the left side Wirfs said he was capable of doing so and compared it to whipping your behind with toilet paper using the other hand that your used to using… lol
If Josh Wells can play both the left and right side than so can Wirfs.
Let’s not forget that Ali Marpet started off playing right guard – then moved to Center – then moved to left guard.
So our GM has a history of shuffling O-lineman around based on the team’s needs…
March 1st, 2023 at 9:37 am
If he’s a Hall of Famer, then he can definitely make the switch to where the Bucs need him most, Left Tackle.
March 1st, 2023 at 9:54 am
ModHairKen Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 9:02 am
All you people who hate Donovan Smith, who has this team had who was better? He’s been very good. He was hurt and had something going on last year. Find a way to keep him.
_________
Very good?
That’s laughable. He flat out sucks Ken.
Answer to your question……
PAUL GRUBER
March 1st, 2023 at 10:11 am
Just draft a tackle and sign another UDFA to replace Josh Wells as a swing tackle serving as depth if getting rid of Donovan Smith is the way we’re going.
March 1st, 2023 at 10:21 am
We can find the best RT in college football at the end of the 1st round of the 2nd round.
We must switch Wirfs to LT. And extend his contract.
He’s a Hall of Fame OT. Either side.
Goedeke is NOT good enough to start at RT.
We need to draft the best RT in college.
RT’s rarely get drafted in the 1st round.
So we could get the best RT in college football this draft.
March 1st, 2023 at 10:25 am
Just find a left handed QB.
March 1st, 2023 at 10:29 am
Joe it IS broken…. And by it I mean LT, which is the more important position. Hopefully the Bucs will give him a chance in camp to see if he can make a smooth transition, and if he’s able to be as elite on the left side as the right, then we are set at the position for many years to come! Goedeke was awful at LG and looked decent in one game at RT. I like giving the kid a chance to take over that spot.
March 1st, 2023 at 10:34 am
^^^^^problem solved. Hahahah
March 1st, 2023 at 10:36 am
If Donovan is released as expected, the “don’t fix what’s not broken” philosophy simply does not apply. There are few things more broken than an NFL offense with a void at left tackle. What are the chances you are going to find a better solution than Wirfs in the draft or in free agency?
BTW – Dooosh on the looose is straight on. Paul Gruber is easily the best LT the Bucs ever had.
March 1st, 2023 at 10:36 am
agree, don’t move the best right-tackle in the game just to make him possibly the worst left-tackle.
March 1st, 2023 at 10:53 am
For the people saying Goedeke had a good game at Right Tackle vs. the Falcons…The Falcons had 21 sacks on the year. To put it in perspective, the Bucs had over twice that amount (45) and their pass rush wasn’t very good.
March 1st, 2023 at 10:59 am
Who Says Says Can’t Say Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 10:36 am
agree, don’t move the best right-tackle in the game just to make him possibly the worst left-tackle.
^^^^^^^^
What makes you think Wirfs would possibly be the worst LT? You know he’s very good at football, right?
March 1st, 2023 at 11:38 am
So let’s get this straight, the NFL is full of backup tackles that can swing left to right, but given an offseason of work, we’re questioning whether Tristan Wirfs can make that switch? This is just coach/GM speak leading up to the draft. Get out of here with this nonsense.
Ali Marpet somehow managed to go from right guard, to center, to left guard. Even the trash can wrapped in a #76 jersey could have done it, he’s just to bullish to try.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:43 pm
gotbbucs Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 11:38 am
So let’s get this straight, the NFL is full of backup tackles that can swing left to right, but given an offseason of work, we’re questioning whether Tristan Wirfs can make that switch? This is just coach/GM speak leading up to the draft. Get out of here with this nonsense.
Ali Marpet somehow managed to go from right guard, to center, to left guard. Even the trash can wrapped in a #76 jersey could have done it, he’s just to bullish to try.
^^^^^^^^^
Good point, if Josh Wells can do it, a superior athlete like Wirfs can surely do it.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Joe we get your opinion on it. But quit projecting your view into the minds of Others as if it’s theirs. The way you titled this article is intended to come across that licht is skeptical at the idea – not true. You are, doesn’t mean licht is. Just like when Canales talked about his elation over new RB coach and his prior teams fumble stats – you write an article about Canales may have tipped us off on how excited he is about Fournette – no.. that was your projection onto Canales based on your personal feeling of Fournette. The rest of us knew he was highly likely to get cut. Your writing is getting less and less objective each year.. Just FYI
March 1st, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Donovan Smith just plays and looks very old. He is very much past his prime and isn’t an answer other than to be a backup spot player. He physically isn’t the player he was 3 years ago. Too many injuries and not enough juice anymore.
Someone mentioned Donald Penn the other day. Now that dude was a really tough guy and played years past what most NFL players on the lines do, he looked heavy but was always in great shape.
Donovan looks out of shape.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:20 pm
Let me help you out here Joe…
If they are releasing Smith then Wirfs, who clearly is the best T they have, will be moving to LT. Write it down in stone.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:51 pm
What about Goedeke trying as LT? Is Walton good enough to be Backup at LT?
March 1st, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Again, the clueless Smith haters.
He played really banged up last year. Smith Hurt was still better than anyone else we had.
Smith had alot of holding calls, because he had a 46 year old WB, and was told to prevent him from getting hit, at cost.
You guys couldnt piece that together?
That said, i think Smith will be a salary cap victim. Because we have an outstanding young Tackle- who can play Lt.
Tristan Wirfs.
It is common practice, to start a rookie at Guard or RT, his first year, to give him time to learn game speed. Then you move him to LT.
Left Tackle is the most important spot on the line by a long shot.
You want your very best lineman to be in your most important position.
Tristan Wirfs.
Left Tackles are hard to come by. RTs are badically road graders- far easier to find.
We NEED Wirfs at LT, if Smith leaves- to protect our new QB
March 1st, 2023 at 4:15 pm
You never know until you try
V I c T o r y!
March 1st, 2023 at 4:46 pm
So a guy who plays tackle at a pro bowl level can’t move from right to left but the Bucs backup swing tackle is expected to play both positions and play reasonably well.
SMH.
March 1st, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Capt.Tim Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Again, the clueless Smith haters.
He played really banged up last year. Smith Hurt was still better than anyone else we had.
Smith had alot of holding calls, because he had a 46 year old WB, and was told to prevent him from getting hit, at cost.
___________
Clueless haters?
Yet you say “Smith hurt is better than anyone else we had”
How about Wirfs?
A 46 year old WB?
Do you mean a 45 year old QB?
He’s still 45 btw.
Durable Donnie has never been better than mediocre and frequently sucks out loud.
He’s mentally weak and has no passion for football.
You’re done Donnie!