Tristan Wirfs Figured It Out

July 12th, 2024

Left tackle Tristan Wirfs.

Joe has no shame admitting being wrong, thankfully. And “this Joe” also has no shame in being against this move.

Will last year’s move to left tackle help Tristan Wirfs’ legacy? Answers probably come this year (though not the major reason). That’s one reason Joe was so against flipping All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs to left tackle; Wirfs was too good at right tackle.

Joe thought flipping Wirfs might kill his Hall of Fame chances.

Wirfs as a right tackle was absolutely dominant. He just owned people. An edge rusher from the right side getting within spitting distance of Tom Brady was a borderline miracle.

It seemed Joe wasn’t the only one concerned about the move. Wirfs has since mentioned he sought counseling because of it.

As it turns out, Wirfs figured it out and tow ard the end of the season, he was pretty darn close to his dominant self playing on the left side.

Of the many things Joe is eager to see this year, is if Wirfs, after a season of seasoning at left tackle, raises his game to where he was at right tackle. If he can, he’ll be back on track for a potential Hall of Fame nod.

24 Responses to “Tristan Wirfs Figured It Out”

  1. HC Grover Says:

    He good. He will work it out.

  2. Joe in Michigan Says:

    I was right about Wirfs to LT, but wrong on Tom Brady to the Bucs, and also wrong about Luke Goedeke being a decent RT. You win some, you lose some Joe.

  3. Booger Says:

    I was wrong about Shane Baz ever starting a game and pitching a significant number of innings this season. I thought he’d only be used as an ‘opener’ or maybe ‘middle reliever’ for this season. That was dead wrong.

  4. Dave Pear Says:

    The roll of the dice metaphor is a bit extreme. If it didn’t work out, they just plug him back in at RT. It’s not like that decision was irreversible.

  5. Go bucs Smokey Says:

    Well Joe it was a good thing to be wrong about!!!!

  6. David Says:

    I agree. I was skeptical too. Felt like they were taking a pro bowler at one spot and creating potential issues at 2 spots.

    nope. He is a beast!

  7. Brian in St Pete Says:

    Thank God we did. We had nobody on our roster worthy of playing the blind side other than Wirfs. And Goedeke was revealed as not only a competent fill in but an above average replacement for Wirfs on the right side So it was a big win IMO.

  8. The Fighting Schianoes Says:

    Worked out in the end. Now we’re set at Tackle for a very long time. I did a comparison of Goedeke to Lane Johnson. Same height and weight. Only difference is Goedeke’s arms are 3 inches shorter. Hasn’t seemed to hurt him.

    Go Bucs!!

  9. SenileSenior Says:

    Like many things, you don’t know if some things will work for sure until you try it.

    Go Bucs!

  10. Dave Pear Says:

    I know everyone is anointing Goedonkey as a great RT.

    The Lions playoff game, I saw him getting smoked in the second half. He does conceal holding well, and I mean that as a compliment.

    I’m looking forward to the boiled dead crow feedbag when I’m proven wrong in 2024.

  11. Fred McNeil Says:

    He’s only going to get better on the left. If Wirfs and Goedeke have even a modest improvement as tackles we should be good for at least one more win on tackle play alone. Mauch worries me a bit. The three card monte at left guard worries me too.

  12. catcard202 Says:

    777 pass blocking snaps??? ESPN lists Bucs as having 568 reg season & 77 playoff passing attempts…(643 total pass attempts).

    Wirfs ddn’t play that much in preseason to account for the missing data total (134)

    What am I missing here? Where did PFF get their 777 total??

  13. D-Rome Says:

    I remember a JBF commenter stated sometime last year that if an offensive lineman is talented on the right side that they should be moved to the left side as soon as possible, as that is the correct thing to do. It turns out he was right. I knew Wirfs had a good year, but I didn’t realize he was that good!

  14. heyjude Says:

    All in on Wirfs! Got to keep him and show him the money.

  15. Dude Says:

    Wirfs is proof that when you merry insane athelticism with dedication to your respective craft you can be the best in whatever business it is that you’re in. As a team if we can get our entire offense to execute at the level of consistency that Tristan plays with we could make a whole bunch of noise, but that’s going to take alot of synergizing over time to even get a whiff of that type of potential.

  16. Daniel Hammond Says:

    Been paying someone’s attention to college football in the recent weeks I don’t even know have we signed him for the deal that he’s wanting where he was holding out yet or not

  17. Daniel Hammond Says:

    If we haven’t done it yet we need to it’s got to get signed got to give him what he wants

  18. Buc1987 Says:

    He’s such a stud!

  19. Travis Says:

    I think it just takes time he’ll become just as dominant on left side.

  20. Drunkinybor Says:

    Donavan was lazy at times. He claims he was not, but the eye in the sky don’t lie. I’m glad for D.Smith winning championship but his q.b. had to run a lot. Donovan could have been Great. I think he’s so naturally talented that it’s easy for him. Hr never had to work out and study like a undrafted rookie trying ro make the team. So he will always be a good L.T. Just not a great one

  21. Dave Pear Says:

    Drunkinybor- truth.

  22. unbelievable Says:

    ^ 100%

    He was a great left tackle, except when he took plays off. Which was every year except 2020 and 2021

  23. Hustle Says:

    Joe….they say Tristians best year was last year…his highest rating… and have time ranked #2 OT in the league… I think that’s what he figured out and he wants to be a staple wherever his next contract is…making it known now with his draft team is a good buisness move…locking him in this year just in case a God forbid injury is a good move on his behalf to ask for the contract now…if the Bucs won’t do it the next team can see that he thinks in terms of HIS HOF buisness

  24. garro Says:

    Famous quote from my dad comes to mind…”I thought I was wrong onece…but I was mistaken”

    🙂

    Go Bucs!