How Safe Is Robert Hainsey?
January 31st, 2024
Center Robert Hainsey.
Joe gets this often: It’s not that people don’t like Robert Hainsey. It’s just that fans mostly believe the Bucs can find a better center than Hainsey.
They probably can, but Joe hasn’t done a deep dive into every inch of Hainsey game film since he was forced into starting when Logan Hall destroyed Ryan Jensen’s knee in July of 2022.
The biggest gripe Joe gets from fans is that Hainsey cannot run block. But Joe has seen enough holes that for whatever reason Rachaad White either didn’t see or chose not to run through. When White misses a hole, that’s not on Hainsey.
Now back when Hainsey took over for Jensen, there was strong support for Hainsey inside the organization. As in vocal support. Loud and vocal.
Two of those voices are now gone. Offensive line coaches Harold Goodwin and Joe Gilbert took gigs yesterday with Dave Canales in Carolina.
The Bucs will have at least one new offensive line coach, perhaps two. Yes, Joe knows Goodwin’s title was “run game coordinator/assistant head coach” but he was the lead coach for interior linemen. Folks who watched training camp practices saw this as well.
When the Bucs add at least three new offensive coaches, perhaps those men will study the film and not be as supportive of Hainsey as Goodwin and Gilbert were.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:37 am
Hainsey should be allowed to play his natural position. To get rid of him because he’s not a great center would be foolish.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:37 am
In both Lions’ wins over Bucs this year, Goff was rarely pressured and Mayfield was hurried almost the entire time.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:42 am
Hainsey was pushed to quickly into the starting lineup due to Jensen’s injury.
He was drafted primarily as depth and to eventually turn into a starter. His arrow was pointing up as a rookie but it is down now. But Hainsey still has a shot to recover if given more time to develop.
Hainsey will do fine if he goes back to a reserve role and the Bucs find a new OC to start instead.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:44 am
Hainsey is worst player we have on offense. No hyperbole. He hasn’t improved in two seasons as a starter. Maybe he’s worth keeping around as depth, but expecting him to be a good starter is not wise.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:48 am
Hainsey has done the best job that he could but he was always a stop-gap at center. He can fill in for a couple of games but he’s not someone who should be a starting center for a whole season. He’s best suited at guard. If there are no elite edge rushers at pick 26, I’d be happy if the Powers-Jackson kid from Oregon fell to the Bucs.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:50 am
Perhaps Hainsey could move to LG? There are a couple of exciting Center prospects in the draft.
As RBUC pointed out earlier Jackson Powers-Johnson. Oregon. 6’3″ 320. JR. is certainly one of them. I do not watch and honestly tend to disrespect West Coast football. My ignorance however does not negate the opinion of draft experts!
If he’s still around grab him.
I love all the Georgia players. And they had a beastly center.
Sedrick Van Pran. Georgia. 6’3″ 310. JR.
Either of those guys represents an upgrade over Hainsey. That still leaves LG!
Two good BACKUP players filled that role this season. Time for a real starter.
Perhaps it’s Hainsey. If not get an LG!
January 31st, 2024 at 7:56 am
A chain is only as strong as the weakest link and on the OL, Stinnie and this guy were running neck and neck as the weakest links. Good back up but a bottom third starter.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:05 am
OT but important. Am I the only guy here upset that the SB is fixed and SF has no chance?
The nation’s top rated “news” organization has at least a half dozen hosts who claim the Kelce/Swift romance is a psyop constructed so Taylor can turn her Swifties into woke zombies.
Some there have also claimed the entire NFL is in cahoots with this plan.
Oh the horrors! Clearly some here are on board posting as “riggedNFL”. LMAO
Do not worry. America is not about woke or any cultural issues. America is about the BENJAMINS. The NFL has become SO successful generating MEGA $$ for their owners, TV stations and networks, internet endeavors…can you say JBF, they are bigger even than the “Deep State”.
The NFL IS god in America. No “Deep State” is a match for the NFL.
Like it or not the NFL RULES!!! It’s power is now so pervasive even Goodell can just hang on for the ride! Why would they care who wins? Why wouldn’t CBS promote Taylor? They also host the Grammys?
Colin Cowherd pointed out the actual time Swift has been on camera…from a low of 18 seconds..average about :25 high of a minute during a horrid Miami KC game that was too boring to watch.
AGAIN…The NFL…the networks that host their product do not care which teams wins. They care about one thing! $$$$ And really whats wrong with that? Keeps them honest. Keep chasing those dollars. I LOVE the NFL product.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:07 am
If Hainsey starts again it’s because they felt that left guard was a more pressing need to replace, which it is. Hainsey is an average starter. I wouldn’t says he’s bad, but he isn’t good either. He would be more valuable on the roster as a middle swing guy.
My personal feeling would be to draft a LG fairly high and sign a veteran starting center, but money will be tight again, so Hainsey may survive one more year as a starter.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:23 am
The interior 3 need to improve a lot
January 31st, 2024 at 8:38 am
How long until the Bucs pick an OC? Will the new OC be picking his assistants or will our HC be doing that? How much input does Bowels have into the new OC?
January 31st, 2024 at 8:40 am
You have to ask….how will the Bucs get better next year? One of the first answers would be to get stronger in the middle of the Oline…..either at C or LG….
That should be our first or second draft pick.
Another would be to strengthen our TE room.
Another, get a power RB.
And a S.
So, there you go….our first 4 draft picks.
Edge rush…..well..we could use some help there too.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:55 am
Would he beat out Stinnie at LG?
January 31st, 2024 at 9:03 am
Hainsey is not a naturally big, strong guy. He’s pumped up.
This team will not run the ball effectively until the middle of the OL gets Big Uglies with nasty ‘tudes, not weight room pumped-up warriors.
Nothing against Hainsey, but he (and Stinnie and Leverette) needs to be replaced.
I’ll give Mauch a rook pass, but that dude needs some bulk, but not like Hainsey.
Frankly, I am happy much of the O staff is gone, especially the OLine coaches. This O could not get any more mediocre than it was.
I will be even happier when Armstrong is gone.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:10 am
Few linemen can block well for the run when the team runs up the gut 75% on 1st & 2nd down.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:11 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
January 31st, 2024 at 8:40 am
You have to ask….how will the Bucs get better next year? One of the first answers would be to get stronger in the middle of the Oline…..either at C or LG….
That should be our first or second draft pick.
Another would be to strengthen our TE room.
Another, get a power RB.
And a S.
So, there you go….our first 4 draft picks.
Edge rush…..well..we could use some help there too.
^^^^^^^^
I don’t disagree with you on the O-Line needs, but to me, Edge Rusher is high on my list, well above TE, RB & S. There are games to be won IF the Bucs had a better pass rush.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:14 am
Joe,
Two things can be true.
1. Joe has seen enough holes that for whatever reason Rachaad White either didn’t see or chose not to run through. When White misses a hole, that’s not on Hainsey.
and
2. Hainsey is one of the worst centers in the league.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:25 am
StPeteBucsFan, you nail it!! Never underestimate the power of the $$$$$$$. It’s what made this great country!!!! Just sad that in the quest for the almighty dollar, so called news channels ( really “entertainment “only, and use of this term is questionable) stoop to democracy disrupting practices of lies and deceit in the quest for that #1 $$$ generating viewer rating! Of course our court system has a way of finding justice ( search “FOX 787 million dollar out of court settlement”).
January 31st, 2024 at 9:35 am
SPBF: the globalists don’t care about the NFL or even short-term $$$. They only see a pawn to their end goal.
BUT…if you can also make $$$ and do a PsyOp at the same time, it’s all good.
Taylor Swift? Hell, I’m still stuck on Hendrix’s Woodstock Star Spangled Banner…
(I’m always behind the next reallyreallyreally Kool Thing)
January 31st, 2024 at 9:45 am
●The Bucs Center position DEFINITELY needs to be upgraded moving forward
if the team wants to compete with the better teams in the league.
●Rachaad White doesn’t think the Bucs run game is bad,so much so,he was disappointed in not being voted to the Probowl%!@?! He’s perfectly fine being a receiver playing the RB position(Bucs desperately need a physical runner to take snaps away from White)
January 31st, 2024 at 9:51 am
I’m not tired of seeing Taylor Swift. I’m tired of seeing the Chiefs.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:53 am
We blast these guys but the coaches are the ones to blame. We did the same with Marpet at center. Put him in his natural spot and he played exceptionally well. Licht tries to be too cute with his drafts, trying to find gems in the rough vs taking the obvious talent.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:59 am
I definitely agree about Jason Licht
January 31st, 2024 at 9:59 am
The interior line got mauled quite a few times in the pass game even though overall they did well in pass pro. Visually I just recall quite a few plays where Hainsey was knocked back like 3-5 yards immediately after the snap (same with both the OG’s but it seemed to happen at C the most).
And not many plays where our interior O-line got a push in the run game. Typically they went backwards and our best success was running the left using Wirfs + double teams.
I’m all for adding 1-2 interior lineman upgrades, pass rusher & DT, RB, secondary and LB depth, and sign Winfield/Evans/Baker/Wirfs and Lavonte if he’s down.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:13 am
Draft Van Pratt.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:16 am
The problem the Bucs have is if they pay Baker,ME,and Winfield there’s not enough cap space left to fill all the upgrade needs to fix the teams deficiencies
January 31st, 2024 at 10:40 am
Gracie Hunt > Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift >>>>>>>>>>>> Kelce Mom.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:41 am
It’s too bad we have so many needs in the trenches or we could draft Braelon Allen, 20 year old, 6’2” 245 lb RB out of Wisconsin. I’ve seen everyone of his snaps in his career and he is impressive. Confident he will be gone by our 2nd round pick though.
January 31st, 2024 at 11:02 am
^^
It is possible that no running backs will be taken by our 2nd pick. Pretty sure that Braelon Allen will be available our 2nd pick.
Who are your top 4 RB prospects?
January 31st, 2024 at 11:02 am
Dude is our second best O-lineman, and a great backup. Praying for Jensen to make one more comeback. Meanwhile instead of wasting draft capital on a future bust QB, let’s wail in the trenches.
January 31st, 2024 at 11:28 am
Everyone’s a expert at everything nowadays go figure
January 31st, 2024 at 11:34 am
Completely sensible. Hard to argue against any of that logic. New coaches mean new opinions and that may change the organizational stance on Hainsey for sure 👌
January 31st, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Hainsey is a SOLID career backup. He can play passably at every position but not good enough to start at any position.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Swifty is turning in to an old hag.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Bring in a solid mid-low priced FA center to compete with Hainsey. Round 1 pick to defense, a couple good edge and strong safeties should be available. Round 2 is a DT3, edge, or OG. In later rounds I’d look for a RB.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:25 pm
The interior 3 needs work. It doesnt seem like Hainsey is able to anchor/ provide push on obvious runs up the middle. Tampa used to have a big o line, they need to get back to that. Hainsey, Stinnie need to be upgraded for bigger, bader, stronger linemen, Mauch needs to get stronger in his 2nd year.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:33 pm
JOE: The problem I have with all of this is comparing Hainsey in the start of his career to Jensen at his peak. Instant perfection is not as simple as some want to believe at this level. Everyone wants to go back to PFF (which I don’t believe has much value with Oline) so they should take the time to actually look at the data. Jensen, drafted in 2013 played a total of 423 snaps for a 62.1 grade in his first three seasons. Hainsey in his first three seasons has played a total of 2,308 snaps for an average PFF grade of 61.7. I really don’t care who ends up being the Bucs center but I do think Hainsey is going to grow into a quality center in this league.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Hainey needs to work in some more leg days!!! Btw he was a 3rd round pick in 2021.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Hainsey is not a starter, he’s a backup.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:02 pm
I’m confused by so many saying we should move Hainsey to LG. Centers are typically the smallest guys on the interior, and Hainsey is already relatively small, weak for a C. But people want him at LG? He’ll get man-handled there even more, where he’ll often be tasked with block 1-on-1. And as a reminder, his natural position in college was RT, not a Guard.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Taylor Swift’s “boyfriend” just got paid $20 MILLION to push the Pfizer vaccines…
Nothing to see here folks. Just another love affair “brought to you by Pfizer”.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA…
I love it!
January 31st, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Regarding Hainsey – he is the worst starting center in the NFL for two straight seasons.
If the Bucs don’t improve their IOL they deserve what they get.
If I were GM I would –
– spend some real money and find a LEGIT center or guard via free agency.
– either move Mauch to center or leave him at RG and hope he can add about 15-20lbs this off-season.
– draft either an IOL with our round #2 pick
– move Hainsey to a back-up role where he belongs.
We all knew Feiler wasn’t going to cut the mustard and Stinnie is a 33 year old back-up but I understand the move due to our salary cap constraints last season.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:45 pm
Hainsey is not big or strong enough to play the center position. He is very serviceable, but he is playing over his head. He is smart enough to get the line calls, and more than durable enough, but its not a good sight watching him get put on his back, and it happens too much for the guy closest to the qb. I think he would be better somewhere else on the line. You should put him next to his buddy, Wirfs. He isnt a bust, and I give a cap tip for him to be able to show up for the last two seasons. Lets put him in a better position to succeed.
January 31st, 2024 at 2:17 pm
I think much will be discussed about the OL make-up, once an OC & OFF staffing vacancies are filled. It’s too early to get too dialed in on Hainsey’s development, considering the Bucs wanted the guy to play a foreign position out the gate.
Moving from RT to either G position is challenging…Moving RT to C (after a few snaps at the Sr. Bowl) is something else!
He’s gotten a little better every yr & I would expect that trend to continue…But I am 100% all-in on drafting C that has actually played C at high level vs drafting RT’s to move them to C!
January 31st, 2024 at 3:53 pm
How safe is he?
Well, lets see, he can start at tackle, guard or center.
I’d say that’s pretty safe.
January 31st, 2024 at 4:09 pm
Hainsey has all the tools in his head, he’s just not strong enough at the point of attack.
January 31st, 2024 at 5:48 pm
I know some people love stats nerds and some don’t but PFF rates Hainsey as a 52.8 which is just slightly lower than Stinnie. Mauch is way down there at a 44 but he is a rookie so they aren’t replacing him yet.
January 31st, 2024 at 5:58 pm
Hainsey is slightly bigger than Jason Kelce
January 31st, 2024 at 6:26 pm
Go look at the picture of Hainsey pass blocking for Baker on Joes article titled, “ Weekly Dining Made An Impact For Baker Mayfield” on January 24th, 2024.
Hainsey was a matador against the Eagles #93, Milton Williams.
Baker Mayfield hid a lot of our interior lines atrocious play.
Just imagine what Baker could do with a stud center and a stud LG.
Hainsey is a liability pass blocking and run blocking. He’s just not good.
Stinnie is a liability in pass blocking.
Feller is just a liability.
I want Sedrick Van Pran from Georgia with our 26th pick in the first round.
Sedrick Van Pran is 6’4” and 320 lbs of mean and nasty who went against the SEC’s best and the nation’s best players and he dominated as a 3 year starter, All American and a 2 time National Champion.
January 31st, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Go look at the picture of Hainsey pass blocking for Baker on Joes article titled, “ Weekly Dining Made An Impact For Baker Mayfield” on January 24th,
Hainsey was a matador against the Eagles #93, Milton Williams.
Baker Mayfield hid a lot of our interior lines atrocious play.
Just imagine what Baker could do with a stud center and a stud LG.
Hainsey is a liability pass blocking and run blocking. He’s just not good.
Stinnie is a liability in pass blocking.
Feller is just a liability.
I want Sedrick Van Pran from Georgia with our 26th pick in the first round.
Sedrick Van Pran is 6’4” and 320 lbs of mean and nasty who went against the SEC’s best and the nation’s best players and he dominated as a 3 year starter, All American and a 2 time National Champion.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:43 pm
If u want a below average center who is barely good enough to be a back up, he would be your guy
January 31st, 2024 at 9:07 pm
They need to replace him at center. He should be safe for the team because he can play center and guard as backup. Maybe he’ll fight for LG
February 1st, 2024 at 9:43 am
Hainsey is smart and fairly athletic, etc. but he’s not strong and gets pushed around and knocked down too easily.
February 1st, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Pash rusher
Center
Guard
Safety.
Need all 4 of those desperately, and in that order.