Bucs Finally Decided To Run Behind An All-Pro Tackle
September 30th, 2024
Using Tristan Wirfs.
Since former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians stepped down after the 2021 season, the run game of the Bucs fully and totally confused Joe.
The Bucs decided to go from a sizzling air attack to more ground and pound. For the most part, that was a giant #Fail.
One thing that drove Joe nuts was the Bucs had one of the best tackles in the game but rarely ran behind him. How could a team not want to run behind an All-Pro tackle? That’s like having Tom Brady hand the ball off.
Oh, wait…
Last year, the Bucs ran behind Wirfs less than any of their other offensive lineman, yet the Bucs had the most success running the ball — all together now — behind Wirfs.
So yesterday watching the Bucs run to the left (with success), which included a short Bucky Irving touchdown, Joe thought, “Finally, Wirfs is being used in the run game!”
So Joe couldn’t hold back. Joe went in the locker room and spoke with Wirfs. Joe recited the stat to Wirfs that the Bucs had the best running success last season running behind him but chose not to run behind him very often. Joe wanted to know what the deal was from Wirfs himself.
Wirfs seemed like he thought Joe was trying to blindside him. Ambush him. Joe wasn’t, not in any way. Joe just wanted to know.
Wirfs insisted he didn’t think there was anything malicious in what the Bucs were doing. He also said he wasn’t aware of the stats and it wasn’t something he dwelled on.
“I don’t think it’s trying to utilize me or not utilize me,” Wirfs said. “I think it’s just part of what our gameplan is.
“I’m not too worried about it. Just trying to move the ball, trying to give our backs open lanes.”
But Joe knows how stoked the big uglies get when they know their number is called to clear traffic for running backs. Wirfs recounted an example from Sunday’s game Joe thought was pretty cool.
Baker Mayfield called the play that had Irving run to the left for a touchdown. Right away, Ben Bredeson and Wirfs knew what was coming.
“‘Benny gave me a little elbow in the huddle,” Wirfs said. “We know it is coming to our side so we know we have to be good.”
Wirfs and Bredeson were, and so was Irving. Bucs touchdown!
September 30th, 2024 at 11:11 am
Some of the things the Bucs have done in the past would confuse a mathematical genius.
September 30th, 2024 at 11:13 am
I saw Wirfs destroy a cb in blocking for a td. Who would have thought it?
September 30th, 2024 at 11:27 am
Yeah but he didn’t finish the game due to injury. What’s his status?
September 30th, 2024 at 11:34 am
Running left isn’t just Wirfs. Benny and the other guys have to block too. In Coen’s presser when he was hired, he said you need to playcall using your best players – and he specifically mentioned Wirfs.
September 30th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Todd and Liam will hopefully see that this continues.
Please come back, glass eating donkey. Please.
September 30th, 2024 at 12:50 pm
A left tackle doesn’t call plays. Maybe your question should have been directed at the coaches.
September 30th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Nope. Better it is directed at a player. Joe’s more likely to get a straight answer (on the record) from a player than a coach. Besides, how many current offensive assistants were here the last two years? (The only thing Joe can get out of Tom Moore are grunts, not words.)
Joe knows what he’s doing.
September 30th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Gotta love grunting Tom Moore, and the story of him walking to OBP at 3AM because his car was flooded! He’s such a beast. What a legend. Grateful to BA for many throngs, Tom Moore is one of them.
September 30th, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Seems like they know what they got on the left side, and they are trying to get
the right side to be more balanced.
Also thought Wirfs was nursing an ankle sprain earlier in the season.
September 30th, 2024 at 5:54 pm
Spot On Joe, Valuable Insight. Hope Liam Keeps Attacking.
September 30th, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Joe knows what he’s doing 😂😂