Luke Goedeke Is Stronger Than Tristan Wirfs
May 15th, 2023
Beast.
Yes, you read the headline correctly.
It’s no fish tale, though it is a fishing story.
Joe fired up fresh popcorn and watched Bucs All-Pro right tackle (left tackle?) Tristan Wirfs deep-sea fishing with guard/tackle Luke Goedeke on the the BlacktipH show. These beastly dudes were dropping major feats of strength as they battled big angry dogs of the sea.
Most interesting to Joe was Wirfs telling people on the boat that Goedeke is stronger than he is.
Considering Wirfs is one of the most powerful men in the NFL and certainly among the most explosive athletes when it comes to linemen, that was an eye-opening comment. Wirfs jumping out of pools is legendary, as was his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, and while carrying a tree on his back.
Goedeke, at 6-5, 315 (320?) pounds, is a mountain of muscle and a gym warrior. But stronger than Wirfs? Joe had to make a couple of well placed calls on that.
The answers came back clear. Yes, Goedeke is stronger than Wirfs.
So, could the Bucs now have strongest tackle duo in the league with Wirfs and Goedeke, assuming their current positions hold?
Throw in Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen’s return and the addition of 6-6, 330-pound veteran guard Matt Feiler and 6-6, 315-pound rookie guard Cody Mauch, and it’s hard to believe the Bucs won’t be able to improve their miserable running game significantly this season.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:15 pm
Wirfs is too good of a teammate, never heard this guy say anything negative tbh.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:17 pm
Get us some bench press and leg press numbers please . would love to here this .
May 15th, 2023 at 11:21 pm
Goedeke was playing out of position last year. Looking for a reset this year. This line has the potential to be really, really good.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:22 pm
In what way?
Maybe Goedonkey can lift more weight or pull a freight train a few yards further. But in terms of useful strength, let’s just say we’ve never seen Wirfs get runned over like a tank busting through a picket fence. Goedonkey got abused like a tackling dummy when he was playing guard last year. Straight runned over.
Hopefully someone can teach him how to usefully apply all that strength.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:30 pm
Mauch isn’t 315… Mostly I read that he’s about 300, perhaps a bit undersized in terms of weight. But he’s got the athleticism and the nasty.
I am expecting big things from this group. They get a little while to gel, but by midseason, they should be pounding people, provided they stay healthy.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:41 pm
Wirfs was not playing out of position. Goedeke was.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:41 pm
so are we going with wirfs at LT and goedeke at RT ?
is that the plan moving forward ?
#GoedekeWillWhoopAnyonesAssWhoPostsOnThisBoard 🙂
May 15th, 2023 at 11:42 pm
I’ve been posting this for a month.
Wirfs actually said G might be but they need to put it to the test. He also said his arms were thicker than G’s and it really bothered him.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:53 pm
Goedeke is a weight room monster, part of the reason he was drafted so high.
May 16th, 2023 at 12:03 am
You have to remember, when these guys get drafted they’re still kids. It’sa couple of years before they grow into it. ( Usually. Wirfs was a rare exception.)
May 16th, 2023 at 12:51 am
he certainly did Not play better than Wirfs !!! one of Licht’s proteced ??
May 16th, 2023 at 1:02 am
I think if the coaching is good this could be a good line. I have no negative thoughts about. They’re big and strong. Coached up they’ll be killers. Tristan Wirfs moves better but I think Luke will make a good step this year. As usual it’s just my opinion.
May 16th, 2023 at 1:24 am
Stronger in the gym is not the same as better on the field.
May 16th, 2023 at 2:01 am
The ‘glue’ on our OLine is Jensen. He’s the Alpha dog & sets the tone for all the younger guys when it comes to attitude & finishing. We desperately need him to come back 100% from his injury.
May 16th, 2023 at 2:20 am
this is a great article. You’ve actually got my attention toward something interesting and positive-offensive line development is fun. bunch of monsters
May 16th, 2023 at 2:47 am
You think Luke is strong now, wait until the wind turns. :p
I concur great article, way to go the extra mile Joes.
May 16th, 2023 at 4:27 am
Just replacing Smith at least improved the left side. He was worthless in the run game. There was no wonder why we always chose to run up the middle or to the right.
May 16th, 2023 at 4:57 am
Let’s see if it translates to the field. Olympic power lifters are extremely strong people but most of them couldn’t block a D lineman if there life depended on it. Hopefully Goedeke has functional strength that can translate to the field. We already know that Wirfs has it. If Goedeke has it we just may have another great one brewing in Tampa.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:05 am
Pure strength is great but I would guess the rookie Cody Mauch and Wirfs are more similar in movement capabilities than Goedeke.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:17 am
This doesn’t mean very much to me. I bet their reps are close. Anyone remember DT Akeem Spence? Years ago had the most reps of any lineman at the combine in 13’… and what did that translate into?
Playing these positions, at these guys sizes as all about athleticism imo. Especially at OT. EX: Demar Dotson, former college basketball player, and not a shred of experience like his peers who had been playing Oline their entire lives, yet turns out a pretty solid career as an OT. Donald Penn was a solid OT, went undrafted, underrated for his athleticism, he caught a handful of touchdowns for us, was dunking basketballs at 315lbs and he was winning bets against coaches at practice he could field kickoffs. I don’t know dick about being an O-lineman, but all I read about is MOST college OTs becoming OG at the pro-level. WE as Bucs fans, not that I recall have ever seen this go the opposite, where a former College OT didn’t work out at OG at pro level, went back to OT and was successful at it. This will be a first unless someone on here can recall otherwise. I hope Goedeke works out.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:23 am
Neither Wirfs or Goedeke are nearly as strong as the legendary Tony Mandarich.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:26 am
Just shows it’s more about technique than strength. Hopefully a off-season as a football player Luke has gotten better. He’s not good at playing in a phone booth but I do think he’ll be able to play with space. Just have to wonder if he’s athletic enough.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:47 am
My money is on Wirfs having the stronger legs.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:51 am
I’m not impressed by how strong my tackle is, of course he has to be strong but athletism is probably the best measure, interior lineman are strong.
May 16th, 2023 at 7:57 am
He was a rookie playing LG while in college he played RT. He struggled but that is to be expected for rookies, especially rookies that arent from a major program. I hope playing back at a position he is more comfortable with will allow him to turn it around. If he is able to turn this around JL will have again knocked it out of the park with a OL drafted player from a smaller school. I am rooting for this kid.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:40 am
Short arms will do that for you.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:53 am
I think Jensens knee is fried and Hainsey will be back at Center.
May 16th, 2023 at 9:00 am
You could tell by the way he got smoked in run and pass blocking last year…
SMH
May 16th, 2023 at 9:34 am
Our Oline will be the best in the NFC south maybe even the entire league watch! #GoBucs
May 16th, 2023 at 10:48 am
Only cauals are down on Goedeke. No rookie lineman comes in and sets the league on fire, especially a rook from a smaller school.
This includes Marpet. He didn’t exactly set the world on fire as a rook. He was decent, not great.
I cut Goedeke a slice of slack because he was a rook from a small school changing both positions and sides. Was he great? Nope. Was he a disaster? Not in my opinion. I will also cut him some slack playing next to a barely mediocre OL in Hainsey who also changed positions. Note that Hainsey is barely in the projected OL starter conversation. I never thought he was true NFL “starter” material, and he’s only marginally improved since his rook season.
Leftwich’s terrible, uninspired, predictable play-calling caused the OL problems. If a DC knows what is coming, especially from an uninspired bunch who KNOW the D knows what is coming, not even a gaggle of All-Pro OL will stop them. You can stack, stunt, and scheme that D into making those All-Pro OL look like rooks.
Also: I do not buy that “short arms,” like an inch or so, will have any material effect on Goedeke or any other lineman. 1′ short, maybe. 1″? Nope. That’s fodder casuals pass along to look like they know what’s what.
Never has the “short arms” metric been mentioned in Buc’s draft history. Until now, and the casuals sport wood.
Imma wait and see all that shakes down between now and the first couple PS games.
May 16th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Cobraboy is the only one talking any sense in here lol.
The article is about strength. No one is suggesting Goedke is a better lineman than Wirfs just because he is stronger. And yea Wirfs is one of the rare exceptions of a rookie o-lineman being dominant. Most guys take 2-3 years to come into their own, build up their “man” strength, etc.
Everyone chill.
May 16th, 2023 at 11:45 am
Geodeke played opposite side of line and a different position than his natural position on his rookie year with an o-line decimated by injuries,retirement,and free agency loss. I’ll send money to Vegas that he has a much improved performance in games this year. I’ll bet the entire o-line as whole will be much more superior then last year. R.Jensen is back, we have a quality free agent add(possibly an upgrade from last years FA loss)Wirfs filling the weak spot geodeke going back to his natural spot with a year exp. Ko with a year exp. ext……
May 16th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Wow
I remember seeing a clip of Wirfs lifting the Gym when he was at Iowa! If Goedeke out lifts him that is indeed an accomplishment.
May 16th, 2023 at 1:34 pm
I agree with Cobraboy on this one.
On Goedeke
On Hainsey
On Leftwich
May 16th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
Goedecke got thrown to the wolves.
Then the once in a season bad ass D-line guys started being there every week and he was overwhelmed.
He will make up for that this season. The line will gel by the bye and the long run will look as good as a new defense and our QB can carry the team.
May 16th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
Luke was pitted against pro bowlers in his rookie year. It looked bad for him but I just bet he learned a LOT. I fully believe he will be much better this year.
I also loved this article and the video that was linked. Great job, Joe.
May 16th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
@zoocomics Akeem Spence was a 4th round pick who had a 10 year career in the NFL. Not a world beater maybe but if you were expecting that from a 4th rounder than that’s on you mate. Hell if Geodeke who was a 2nd round pick has a 10 year career I’d be ecstatic
May 16th, 2023 at 9:14 pm
“let’s just say we’ve never seen Wirfs get runned over like a tank busting through a picket fence. “
You must have missed Khalil Mack body slam Wirfs his rookie year..
May 16th, 2023 at 9:30 pm
in the workout room by the water station there are snack jars as well…
– peanuts (for the ones craving a little protein)
– jelly beans (if someone needs a little sugar fix)
– ground glass (this one has goedeke’s name taped to it)
May 17th, 2023 at 2:46 am
Agree with Colorado boy and Steele.
Also if I’m not mistaken, isn’t that new guy from the Chargers a lifetime LT ? I could have sworn that I read he played LT for the Chargers the last 5 years or so. Anyway , we shall see in a few months how it’s going to go. I can’t believe they have our Bucs plugged in as the 30th best team in the NFL !!?? That’s great in my opinion , when our Bucs rip off 10 wins and a division title, I’ll have that 30th ranked team saved for them. Go Bucs
May 20th, 2023 at 8:29 pm
The o line will be much improved towards the middle of the season ,need to get the new plays down.
I think they should all dye their hair red for the away saints game !