Todd Bowles Sort Of Takes A Page From Dirk Koetter About The Center Position
August 28th, 2023
Center Robert Hainsey.
Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter was very much a circle-the-wagons kind of a guy.
When the Bucs decided on their 53-man roster with Koetter, unless a player was so horrific the Bucs just could not keep him, there weren’t many roster moves outside of plugging holes from injuries.
“Our guys are our guys,” Koetter liked to say.
Yesterday, Joe sensed Todd Bowles was channeling Koetter. At center, Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett have pretty much split time practicing and playing in the worthless preseason games as injured Ryan Jensen futilely attempted to get back on the field.
Don’t expect that to change, Bowles said yesterday.
“We like the guys we have right now,” Bowles said when asked if the Bucs will sift through the NFL chafe for a new center in the next few days from the hundreds of released players as teams reach the 53-man roster limit.
“It’s hard to put ready-made starters out on the street for any team. We’ll be looking on the waiver wire for kind of everything to bolster our roster from that standpoint. If something comes available, we’ll definitely look at it at center.”
So yeah, Bowles said, your starting center is here and his immediate backup is likely already on the roster, too.
So unless the Bucs are surprised by a decent and experienced center getting released, Hainsey and Leverett will be the Tampa Bay centers to begin the 2023 season.
August 28th, 2023 at 3:58 am
Isn’t Nick Leverett the one who had all the botched snaps during the off season?
August 28th, 2023 at 3:59 am
Sheesh. Started work at 8:30 am and only just finished. I need sleep!
Later!
August 28th, 2023 at 4:03 am
Hainsey is better than Leverette.
August 28th, 2023 at 4:10 am
Buc bonzai, late in the game some guy I never heard of was in there and he snapped at least two or three of them low. Leverette has had his share too, tho.
August 28th, 2023 at 6:22 am
You’re not gonna find starting caliber offensive linemen on the waiver wire. You’re going to find veteran depth and project players.
Hainsey will obviously have to start, but it’s definitely not an ideal situation in my opinion. I just don’t think he’s stout enough to hold up unless our guards can really help him out.
August 28th, 2023 at 7:27 am
gotbucs, for the most part, you’re right, but the sheer volume of players that are going to be released today there are usually quite a few that may have some real talent. Getting down to 53 means that over 8 – 900 players or thereabouts will be released. A lot of work for Jason and the scouts and coaches.
August 28th, 2023 at 7:56 am
Shortest direct line to the qb is through the center. Bet the bucs will do a lot of roll outs!
August 28th, 2023 at 8:35 am
I think Hainsey did OK last year and will be better this year.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:07 am
I think Hainsey will be a lower third center in the league. We need to pick up an experienced backup. Leverett was letting second team DLs in the backfield and barely held his own against third stringers. Terrible. If Hainsey goes down we’re SOL. Lazy dumb coaches think their players are either better than the waiver wire, or they don’t want to spend the time coaching them up.
August 28th, 2023 at 10:23 am
According to PFF, Bob was ranked as the 13th ranked center last year. You think one of the 12 best centers in the league are going to get cut? Bucs know what they are doing. It would be good to get a journeyman backup for insurance, but Bob is the proven starter.
August 28th, 2023 at 11:05 am
It’s such a damning statement when you begin a comment with those three words.
You’re better starting a comment with, “According to the drunk at the end of the bar at my hangout… “
August 29th, 2023 at 1:50 am
Bowles speak for none ya.
If they are not looking for a center and or a ILB. He is alot dumber than I thought.
Go Bucs!
August 29th, 2023 at 3:48 am
It’s to bad Wirfs doesn’t have a twin. That would solve this center issue once and for all! But nooooo.
We got what we got.