ESPN: If Bucs Can Upgrade Center, Blocking Will “Vastly Improve”
March 28th, 2024
Center Robert Hainsey.
Joe knows some folks just don’t like Bucs center Robert Hainsey. He’s sort of the new Donovan Smith, a popular fan favorite for years among Bucs fans.
(Please note the deep, dark sarcasm there.)
Joe is indifferent on Hainsey, compared to many fans. Joe has seen Hainsey open holes in games but for reasons that do not compute, Rachaad White didn’t or couldn’t read the asses of his blockers. White would slam into the back of a lineman for no gain, despite a large chunk of daylight and green grass right at his side.
If White chooses not to run through a hole and instead gets drilled at the line, Joe doesn’t know how you pin that on Hainsey (but people sure try).
And Joe noticed Hainsey is second only to the great Tristan Wirfs in the lowest percentage of pressures on dropbacks for Bucs’ offensive linemen. So it’s not like Hainsey is Garrett “Whoops!” Gilkey.
Joe is convinced Hainsey’s biggest problem is his name isn’t “Ryan Jensen.”
The reason Joe brings this up is it appears that Jenna Laine of ESPN is leaning toward benching Hainsey, which will endear her to the loud crowd hollering for Hainsey’s release.
Laine typed that if the Bucs are serious about a run game, the team must upgrade at center. New Bucs guard Sua Opeta is a sneaky good run blocker, she noted, calling to put him at left guard.
If the team can upgrade its center position in addition to this move — and there are options in this draft class — the interior run game will vastly improve.
Color Joe skeptical. If White can’t read holes consistently, how are Opeta and a rookie center supposed to magically open his eyes?
Of course, there is always a chance that new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Cohen won’t be nearly as gung-ho as his predecessor about trying to turn White into Marshawn Lynch and pound him where the Bucs’ were most vulnerable on the offensive line — the middle.
Not having White run up the gut three out of four touches might alone spring the Bucs’ run game, Hainsey or no Hainsey.
March 28th, 2024 at 7:12 am
yawn….. jounelist justifying there job …. regirgitated info
March 28th, 2024 at 7:13 am
Hainsey is PFFs 32nd ranked center by overall grade. Even if you don’t value their grading, you have to admit that being last isn’t good. Not giving up pressures at center isn’t a good measuring stick as centers almost always combo block. Very few teams use a 0 technique more than a few times per game. The Bucs compensate for Hainsey by shifting protection. To compare him to Wirfs is silly as Wirfs never gets to combo block. I don’t want Hainsey gone. He’s a decent backup that is versatile. He just shouldn’t start unless he improves.
March 28th, 2024 at 7:14 am
I believe Bowles is the meathead who wants to jam the ball up the middle on 1st and 2nd downs.
March 28th, 2024 at 7:27 am
A lot of good centers get drafted in the 3rd-5th rounds. Bucs most likely will target a guard or center in these middle rounds.
I think for years, the Bucs were more focused on pass protection. Looking forward to our new Offensive Line coach, Kevin Carberry and seeing if he can get better run blocking from our interior lineman. As for Hainsey, it would benefit him if he added lower body strength in the offseason.
March 28th, 2024 at 7:35 am
Hainsey is the wink link No Way Around It where is the problem running up the middle I wonder why because our Center can’t block that’s why he gets blown up by every big defensive tackle in the league
March 28th, 2024 at 7:42 am
The Joe’s pointed out a week or so ago that the sweet spot for drafting a center is the fourth round. But…this Powers – Johnson kid from Oregon might be worth a look in the first round if available. If he is a Ryan Jensen clone then take him. Lock up center for the next decade or so.
March 28th, 2024 at 7:42 am
Day 1-76 … ‘I believe Bowles is the meathead who wants to jam the ball up the middle on 1st and 2nd downs.’
Could you share with us a little proof of that please? How often did the Bucs run up the middle on 1st down last year? How often up the middle on 2nd down? Was Bowles calling the plays or Canales?
March 28th, 2024 at 7:44 am
Guard play last year was much worse than center
March 28th, 2024 at 7:50 am
If JPJ is available when Bucs select in Round 1 and they fail to take him or Dalton , then this will be a colossal mistake.
March 28th, 2024 at 7:59 am
Bake holds the ball on average 2.72 seconds, Brady 2.17 seconds.
You tell me why the goat made the o line pro bowl material.
March 28th, 2024 at 8:09 am
Boss,
You are the perfect example of the “GET OFF MY LAWN “guy
March 28th, 2024 at 8:13 am
Jenna Laine………
March 28th, 2024 at 8:13 am
just how much experience does Jenna Lane have behind excellent run blockers, and how many rushing yards does she have? could she even recognize an open hole or a friendly backside?
March 28th, 2024 at 8:15 am
I am not convinced by the claim that Hainsey constantly opens up holes for White…..sure, a couple here and there….but that happens with every center.
We can never go wrong upgrading in the trencehes.
We have done it on defense……Kancey, Hall, Vea…….but not on Offense since Wirfs….and look how he turned out.
Time to invest in the Offense….
March 28th, 2024 at 8:21 am
We also had very poorly graded guards to the left and right of Hainsey. I don’t agree that we have to draft the Oregon center in the first round though. Kid was a one year wonder at Oregon. Sedrick Van Pran is the guy to draft, three year starter at Georgia that includes their two national championship seasons. Kid has tree trunks for legs so a lower center of gravity versus Hainsey who relative to other offensive linemen has chicken legs.
Like any other position we draft players to provide competition at a position. Hainsey will likely be the starter again next year if only to give the rookie time to adjust.
March 28th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Weird thing is, Leonard Fournette couldnt see these holes Hainsey was making, either!
Must not be holes. Must be invisible black holes.
Our running game is horrible. Two years in a row, with two different backs
But the same center.
March 28th, 2024 at 8:28 am
Hainsey is not physical enough or strong enough to be a starting center. Period.
March 28th, 2024 at 8:32 am
I like JPJ, Barton, Frazier and Van Pran. This is a year a lot of teams need C: Seattle, Pitt, Dallas, Philly, Miami and Baltimore. I doubt ZJPJ will be there when the Bucs are on the clock. Barton and Frazier seem more likely. Van Pran is a 2nd round pick, but I would be nervous he would be there late in the 2nd rd.
March 28th, 2024 at 8:45 am
“Boss Says:
March 28th, 2024 at 7:59 am
Bake holds the ball on average 2.72 seconds, Brady 2.17 seconds.
You tell me why the goat made the o line pro bowl material.”
Where did you see that? Baker was 2.4 last year, which put him at 10th place
March 28th, 2024 at 8:47 am
Oline was and is the sole reason the run game in Tampa is historically bad. Spreading the blame to make you feel better about your lousy takes is laughable!
March 28th, 2024 at 8:51 am
And bowels running game plans have nothing to do with the lack of production. LOL
March 28th, 2024 at 8:51 am
Hainsey was rated poorly as was Mauch. There no escaping the fact that neither of these guys are very good against a blitzing defense and neither can run block. Both players don’t have the strength or movement to impose their will on most defenses. Why Jason thought drafting Mauch was a good idea is beyond me, but they will probably keep playing him, kinda like stubbornly starting JTS.
March 28th, 2024 at 8:56 am
the sentiment for Ali Marpet after his first season was similar
March 28th, 2024 at 8:58 am
Upgrading the OL is never a bad thing.
March 28th, 2024 at 9:17 am
@Bucs Guy, I’m thinking exactly the same thing. Too many teams need centers, and the centers will likely go earlier in round 2 than our #57 pick. If we pass on a center at #26, then the best centers will be gone before our Rd 2 pick at 57, and the Bucs will go with Hainsey?
So I’m thinking #26 is center/guard and #57 is edge.
March 28th, 2024 at 9:18 am
Hey Joe, I know that Robert Hansey has been working out in the off seasons with x Buck center AQ Shipley and I presume he’s working to bulk himself up and kill himself up with the bucks training staff. Do you think with another year of experience and improve strength that he can develop into a decent center? I know that other top centers in the NFL took several years to develop (Ryan Jensen, Jason Kelce) so it’s possible that with a bulked-up Cody Mauch and a stronger left guard, (be that a new draft choice or one of the Bucs free agents signings) at hansie may be a much improved player for 2024. Playing next to rookie Mauch, and less than stellar LGs along with two tackles who were adjusting to their new positions couldn’t have helped his play last year.
I think it’s possible that Hansey bulks up and grows into the job this year. Last year situation was not optimum for him, new QB, new offensive scheme, reshuffled offensive line, to tackles in their first year at a new position, rookie RG who hit the wall and came in needing to bulk up, a failed free agent left guard replaced by a mediocre Stinnie. In the right situation it’s possible Hansey could flourish this year.
What are you guys think?
March 28th, 2024 at 9:24 am
Toad:
Yeah, Hainsey and Shipley are tight and he’s been working out with Shipley for a couple of years now.
Joe’s not saying Hainsey is the next Jensen. Just that Joe doesn’t see the evidence that he’s the next Garrett “Whoops” Gilkey either. Like Joe told Jason Licht in Indianapolis on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” that Joe has seen Hainsey open holes that Rachaad White flat ignored and that Joe couldn’t pin that on Hainsey if a RB can’t read a lineman’s ass.
In response, Licht didn’t mention Hainsey’s name but did wag a finger at White.
March 28th, 2024 at 9:28 am
Hainsey worked with Shipley and bulked up LAST season too
March 28th, 2024 at 9:29 am
In the first round I’m drafting at an impact position. I want either a stud defensive end, linebacker, or wide receiver. We can address guard and/or center at some point after our first third round pick.
March 28th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Hainsey isn’t bad, but he’s no Jenson. I certainly wouldn’t get rid of him. I doubt either one of those free agents we just signed are much better. We have four picks in the first two days. I’m sure at least one will be a center or guard.
March 28th, 2024 at 9:50 am
Zach Frazier Rd 1 no doubt , put his tape on guys ! Kid is having his pro day this weekend and he is a day 1 starter and locks up center position for a decade and fit in so well with baker. Look at his QB in college and he spitting image of a Baker mayfield , his accolades and his tape should tell these Bucs he is everything we need for our O line and if you can’t keep QB up right and run ball it don’t matter what kind of edge rushers you have . We cannot wait for 2 nd Rd cause all those top centers will be gone and we will be in same spot as last year. This dude is the real deal and just watch the tape.
March 28th, 2024 at 9:53 am
Does a bear *hit in the woods?
Then Hainsey would fit it out at guard or as a proven versatile interior lineman
March 28th, 2024 at 9:54 am
@Beej – Did you mean Cappa? Ali always graded out as an above average starter regardless of position or experience.
Hainsey has never been graded as anything but average to replaceable since starting.
March 28th, 2024 at 10:38 am
Hey Joe, I’m not a big fan of PFF grades and certainly not of their OL grades however since so many here and on other sites constantly reference them I figured it would be worthwhile to look back at them. According to PFF this is a direct comparisons to seasons 1-3 for Jensen and Hainsey:
Jensen:
2013-2015. 419 snaps(all in 2015). 62.3 Grade
Hainsey:
2021-2023. 2308 snaps. 61.7 Grade
Obviously Hainsey’s grade is a three year average since he saw snaps in all three seasons.
March 28th, 2024 at 10:54 am
Hainsey is not terrible but he is too light in the azz for me.
March 28th, 2024 at 11:12 am
2023 Surprised the Hell out of me Says:
March 28th, 2024 at 7:12 am
*journalist
*their
*regurgitated
March 28th, 2024 at 11:14 am
It’s a weak running back class – and many of the guys that seem to be at the top of media-types wish lists are a lot like White in that they have really good combine testing, but their production suffers because they don’t read the lanes, they can’t set up the defense, and they excelled in college by being able to lean on being physically superior against inferior defensive effort of some of the conferences they played in. That won’t be the case in the NFL.
I think we’ll be picking RB on day 2 or 3 – and it will be someone Coen has a comfort level with, or who he’s seen in the SEC. Unless we improve the interior line, we won’t see much success. Thinking you will find a starting center or guard will be gotten with the #26 pick – is a pipe dream. Outside of JPJ, none of the remaining centers/guards will be an upgrade over Hainsey THIS season.
March 28th, 2024 at 11:33 am
Rick Says:
March 28th, 2024 at 9:29 am
In the first round I’m drafting at an impact position.
That’s what we did a couple of years ago. Now we are stuck with an “impact” player that we can’t cut and plays like garbage. First two initials are JT.
Draft a center . Good ones will be gone by second round.
March 28th, 2024 at 11:34 am
Why couldn’t hainsey move to guard? Wasn’t he playing there before Jensen’s injury?
March 28th, 2024 at 11:37 am
Hainsey is to be credited for being asked to start for two seasons, and playing to the best of his abilities. He is still the weakest link on the line. We can get away with him again this season, but we really should look to find someone better. Are we going to resign him at starter money in the future? No. Time to find that upgrade. Baker gets the ball out quickly as well. Too many batted balls over the middle, too many pressures, and no push for the run. Of course it needs to improve.
March 28th, 2024 at 11:40 am
Chase seemed to hit the holes nicely towards the end of season. With a better line, he may be the better north-south run option.
March 28th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
You see holes, but my I feel like I see very little push. Maybe it got a little better when Feiler went out. But generally it does seem to me that our middle, including Mauch, is particularly successful or strong. Hopefully Mauch beefs up and the new LGs are an upgrade. I can’t tell about Hainsey in in particular
March 28th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
That “JPJ” dude is a MONSTER. He just looks like a very BAAAADD Man!!!!
March 28th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
I would say that Ol’ Rashaad White would be all about that pick (JPJ) and Baker, too!!!! Maybe, it could be a huge help with all of the ‘batted’ passes at the line on scrimmage by Baker!?
March 28th, 2024 at 12:34 pm
They haven’t been the same since Jensen went down. But in Hainsey’s defense, the guy is priceless, can play any position on the line good enough to get by. GM’s love guys like that, basically filling 2-3 roster spots with one body. Just lacks the functional strength you want in a center.
March 28th, 2024 at 12:38 pm
I don’t think Hainsey has a problem in pass pro, he’s more than capable in that regard. Bobs problem is that he is not a great run blocker. The stat you wrote about and are using in this article is about allowing qb pressures not opening up holes for the run game. I saw flashes of Bob clearing space in the run game and I remember him downfield blocking his ass off for RW, he is serviceable as a center and probably better as a guard. All I want is a first rounder that will contribute on offense or defense on day 1
March 28th, 2024 at 12:57 pm
I think Guard or Edge day 1 but wouldn’t be surprised if JL traded down.
March 28th, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Hainsey, and Mauch were college tackles. They are not natural center, or guard. Any wonder why they struggle? There are some really good real centers, and guards in this draft. Stop assuming you can take college tackles, and move them inside. Assuming is the mother of all F ups!!
March 28th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
“Joe has seen Hainsey open holes in games but for reasons that do not compute, Rachaad White didn’t or couldn’t read the asses of his blockers. White would slam into the back of a lineman for no gain.”
Dude – this narrative is just annoying.
Not disputing that Joe saw this happen – ONCE…. maybe twice….
OK – so what.
Even the worst starting NFL OLine player at his position makes a good block every now and then.
And every good starting RB in the league misses an open hole occasionally.
But just because Joe saw Hainsey make a block and White miss a hole on the same play a time or two doesn’t mean that Hainsey is “good” at blocking or that White is “bad” at running/finding holes…
Hainsey logged 1103 snaps in 2023. And for every play Joe could actually show me on film where Hansey made a good block and opened a hole that Raschaad White ‘missed’ – I could show Joe about 3 dozen plays where Hainsey got blown backwards 2-3 yards and White did a good job of gaining a yard or 2 when it should have been a loss….
Bucs need an upgrade at Center! PERIOD!!!!
March 28th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Yeah, that’s the big thing right there… Day-1 STARTER at a major position of need. I’m all-in with it being “Center Position” or BUST. And, I believe Hainsey would be best suited (for him) being moved down the o-line & as our ‘back-up’ Center.
March 28th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
That’s a good way to get run. And you just did. Joe can and does tolerate a lot of things. That’s not one of them.
March 28th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Definitely need to upgrade Center and see if Hainsey can play guard. Getting center Zach Frazier from W. Virginia in the 2nd round and getting an Edge rusher in the 1st round would be ideal. After that getting a CB or WR would be cool. Finally, finding a sneaky good rb to spell White would be cool. Well, that’s my take…
March 28th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
(Also have to pray that Mauch gets much, much better.)
March 28th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
Two legit guys would help us greatly in first round. I know everyone is clamoring for edge but I don’t want a mediocre edge instead of a stud starting lineman or corner in first.
March 28th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
Joe keeps talking about these “huge chunks of daylight” that White chooses not to run through… the reality is this happened maybe 3 – 4 times the entire season.
Hainsey isn’t physical enough at the point of attack. It’s beyond obvious to anyone with eyeballs.
March 28th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
lol pickgrin, exactly.
I was being generous saying it happened 3 – 4 times total
March 28th, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Jerseybuc Says:
“I don’t want a mediocre edge instead of a stud starting lineman or corner in first”
Amen to that.
There are 3 Edge and 2 IOL players that are legit and basically indisputable 1st rd talents. Turner, Verse, Latu, Powers-Johnson and Barton.
I believe there’s about a 60% chance that one of those 5 falls to #26.
Bucs will be and should be very happy for the opportunity to select any of those 5 to fill a strong need. And to your point – if all 5 are off the board – and Licht can’t find a decent trade down partner – our GM best be looking at the Kool Aid kid at CB or one of the high end receivers which is the biggest strength of this draft in a BPA scenario as opposed to drafting a Chop Robinson or somesuch….
March 28th, 2024 at 2:50 pm
The film does not lie the Bucs interior o line is not good.
March 28th, 2024 at 2:52 pm
“If Bucs Can Upgrade Center, Blocking Will “Vastly Improve”.
Put this in the No Sh!t Files. And to this I will add: if the Bucs score 1 more point than the opponent, they will win.
March 28th, 2024 at 3:39 pm
He gets tossed around like a rag doll way too often. Donavan Smith is a much much better overall player than Robert. I would never compare the two.
March 28th, 2024 at 4:10 pm
Sorry, but Hainsey is in no way like Donavan Smith.
Smith is a naturally strong BIG man. Hainsey is gym-made and not naturally BIG at all. Oh, with unimpressive lower body strength.
Hainsey is “meh.” He is never great and often barely mediocre, and I don’t care how smart he is.
Smith plays arguably the second most challenging position in the NFL for a righty QB.
Overall, Smith played admirably except when dinged up. He is certainly not All Pro, but he is eons ahead of the best Hainsey can be.
Hainsey has that “versatile” moniker. That is, he can plug into different positions. The downside of “versatile” is he is not a true NFL starting quality at any, just a good guy to have around on a limited roster size.
Bucs can do much, much better at C & LG and should in the first 4 rounds. Both.
Otherwise, the running game will be the same.
It’s interesting: a great OL does not need great behind them, but a non-great OL needs great behind them.
March 28th, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Dave Canales called a ton of run plays last year to attack the 1 and 2 holes.
Robert Hainsey was one of the main reasons why those runs didn’t work.
I love White as a receiver, but he’s a mediocre tailback.
Despite White’s mediocrity as a runner it’s not White’s fault that the A gap is getting destroyed like Hainsey is a Nathan’s hot dog in a food eating contest and his defender is Joey Chestnut.
The Bucs major needs are center and edge pass rush heading into this draft.
I’m praying on to his holy weekend that the Bucs will trade for a proven pass rusher in Reddick and are able to draft either JPJ, Frazier, Barton (who has played center for Duke) or my favorite in 3 year SEC starter and 2 time national champion in Georgia’s Van Pran.
If Jason Licht can get that done then the Bucs will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders next year.
March 28th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Dave Canales called a ton of run plays last year to attack the A gap.
Robert Hainsey was one of the main reasons why those runs didn’t work.
I love RW as a receiver out of the backfield, but he’s a mediocre tailback.
Despite White’s mediocrity as a runner it’s not White’s fault that the A gap is getting destroyed like Hainsey is a Nathan’s hot dog in a food eating contest and his defender is Joey Chestnut.
The Bucs major needs are center and edge pass rush heading into this draft.
I’m eating boxes of Lucky Charms (it’s better than physically picking four leaf clovers and obtaining horseshoes or waiting for a blue moon) in the hopes that the Bucs will trade for a proven pass rusher in Reddick and are able to draft either JPJ, Frazier, Barton (who has played center for Duke) or my favorite in 3 year SEC starter and 2 time national champion in Georgia’s Van Pran.
If Jason Licht can get that done then the Bucs will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders next year.
March 28th, 2024 at 6:21 pm
Hainsey is not the answer.
March 28th, 2024 at 6:54 pm
I think it’s going to be another ‘bend but not break’ Defense this season. And, if we don’t shore up that OLine with making a ‘move’ at Center in the 1st Round, then our Offense will continue to struggle, just the same as it did last year. They’ve GOT TO get this offense going and movin’ the damm ball… They’ve GOT TO score more POINTS. The difference between being 11-6 vs 6-11 is just such a thin margin in the NFL & the Bucs are right there in that ‘sweet spot’ of being middle of the pack. I mean, you’re talking a bad break or bad call, a devastating injury or two, a couple of close games that just don’t go your way, a missed FG or bad bounce here or there, with an unfavorable schedule, etc. And, BAMMM… You are 2-5 at the trade deadline, looking to move pieces and are in the running for the TOP PICK in the upcoming DRAFT!!!! Then, you’re going to Mike Evans AND Chris Godwin and saying, “Hey, Are You Wanting To Go Through A ‘Rebuild’ & Play With A Rookie QB, etc. Orrrr, Would You Rather Join The CHIEFS or RAVENS And Get Another Shot At A Super Bowl!?” Annnnd, you’re deciding whether or not you should move Winfield Jr. for two 1’s if you can get it, since he’s STILL not re-signed. You’d be crazy not to think this could VERY easily, be a ‘likely’ scenario.
March 28th, 2024 at 6:56 pm
Get him out.
March 28th, 2024 at 7:20 pm
A new C changes this offense from good to possibly great
March 28th, 2024 at 7:58 pm
Robert Hainsey was one of the main reasons why inside runs didn’t work.
I love RW as a receiver out of the backfield, but he’s a mediocre tailback.
Despite RW’s mediocrity as a runner it’s not his fault that the middle is getting destroyed like Hainsey is a Nathan’s hot dog in a food eating contest and his defender is Joey Chestnut.
The Bucs major needs are center and edge pass rush heading into this draft.
I’m eating bowls of Lucky Charms everyday in the hopes that the Bucs will trade for a proven pass rusher in Reddick and are able to draft either JPJ, Frazier, Barton (who has played center for Duke) or my favorite in 3 year SEC starter and 2 time national champion in Georgia’s Van Pran.
If JL can get that done then the Bucs will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders next year.
March 28th, 2024 at 11:26 pm
100%!!!!!
Been saying it all off-season. Hainsey was average at pass blocking and horrendous and run blocking. Fix the center and the guards instantly get better. It is a no-brainer.
Why one of the Joe doesn’t see it is beyond me.
March 28th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Can we start a nonstop campaign about Lavonte david for the Hall of Fame?
I was looking at the last several linebackers to go into the Hall of Fame, Brian Urlacher, Luke Keuckley, Patrick Willis, Zach Thomas…
LVD has stats – interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, tackles that are equal or better than all of them. He was never used for sacks much but he still has over 33 sacks also.
He may also go down as one of the best coverage linebackers ever play the game
March 28th, 2024 at 11:58 pm
Since the Championship, our interior line is down Cappa, Jensen, and Marpet. We had a brilliant stroke of luck at the bookends. Throw a couple of premium picks at replacing those guys. Hainsey and a yearly journeyman isnt going to cut it.
March 29th, 2024 at 12:13 am
Joe knows some folks just don’t like Bucs center Robert Hainsey. He’s sort of the new Donovan Smith…
———-
Yeah, meaning a bunch of morons with really bad takes want to run him out of town.
Meanwhile Donovan goes and wins his second SB while being, by far, the best tackle they got on the Chiefs.
As for Hainsey, he’s a quality pass blocking center – you know, because the team was literally built to pass the ball. Also he wasn’t supposed to be a starter, he’s a college tackle who was moved to guard, then later to center. He’s not that good at run blocking, which wouldn’t be an issue, except for the head coach thinking it’s 1970 and you win by running the ball up the middle.
March 29th, 2024 at 12:16 am
Duane in Sanford Says:
March 28th, 2024 at 11:58 pm
Since the Championship, our interior line is down Cappa, Jensen, and Marpet.
———-
Cappa was a middling player, which isn’t bad, but he wasn’t anything special. I except Cody to be as good as Cappa was next year. Keep in mind Cappa was terrible his rookie year, and in his 2nd year, in the preseason, 99% of the dopes in the comments here wanted to run him out of town because he looked awful. Cody was better than Cappa was in his rookie year, and I suspect he’ll have a similar leap in production – and I’d take middling, since it just means average.
As for center, I assume Licht will address that in the draft, but he’ll need to take an actual center and not just another tackle he wants to move if they’re supposed to play early. If you get a starter at center in the draft, then you can move Hainsey back to guard, where he’ll be a better player.
March 29th, 2024 at 9:51 am
Donovan Smith @ LT and Tristan Wirfs @ RT are vastly inferior to Tristan Wirfs @LT & Luke Goedeke @ RT.