NextGen Stats Rewards Tristan Wirfs
January 9th, 2025
Wirfs Island.
Mary Ann may not be on this island, but for the Bucs, there’s a mountain of a left tackle that protects its beaches.
One reason you don’t see a whole lot about offensive linemen as stars of the NFL or the face of a franchise — or drooled over on the various hollering shows on sports cable networks — is that there is no way to gauge truly how good a guy is from the outside of an NFL facility.
Oh, Joe guesses charting pancake blocks is one way, but that’s almost irresponsible. That’s like determining how good a receiver is by his 40-yard dash.
So this is why Joe likes how NextGen Stats decided to single out what the computerized formula spat out as the best left tackle in the game.
Per its data derived from computer chips embedded in players’ equipment, NextGen Stats selected Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs as its All-Pro left tackle.
It seems the data on Wirfs blocking on “an island,” or one-on-one matchups, says he may let a defender visi but rarely does the defender get to stay long.
In his second season manning the blindside after making the transition from right tackle, Wirfs handled more one-on-one pass-blocking snaps than any left tackle in the league (87.1%) — and he thrived in those situations. Wirfs more than delivered when left on an island, allowing just a 5.0% pressure rate in one-on-one situations, the lowest of any left tackle with at least 100 island snaps this season. Across all pass-blocking reps, Wirfs surrendered pressure on just 4.7% of dropbacks — second-best among left tackles — and allowed just 1.5 sacks all year.
Yes, “this Joe” will fully stand up and admit not liking the thought of moving Wirfs to left tackle. Joe thought Wirfs was having a Hall of Fame career as a right tackle. And it’s against every fiber of Joe’s being to fix something not broken. And Wirfs at right tackle was not broken.
Joe is happy as hell that Wirfs is now dominating at left tackle. “Relieved” might be a better word.
Joe still thinks Trent Williams is the best left tackle in football (not by much) and that’s no knock on Wirfs. Williams is that good.
But Williams was hurt a lot this season. And Wirfs’ team is getting ready for a playoff game on Sunday night, prime time. The 49ers are in Cancun.
Scoreboard Bucs and Wirfs.
January 9th, 2025 at 4:11 am
Same Joe, I was skeptical too and worried we had wasted a pick with Goedeke. Fortunately it has worked out for everyone.
January 9th, 2025 at 4:12 am
By wasted pick, I mean that we were looking at 2 RT. It was pretty clear the learning curve was too steep.
January 9th, 2025 at 5:06 am
No better player in the League to build your team around!
January 9th, 2025 at 6:23 am
I was worried too, and am pleasantly surprised. Wirf is doing very well.
January 9th, 2025 at 6:31 am
But I thought Cam Jordan exposed him!!! LMAO
January 9th, 2025 at 6:45 am
We should’ve just kept that durable Donnie guy. He’s crushing it protecting the blindside of the pine…
Wirfs was a dominate wrestler, you cannot be a dominant wrestler if you can only move in one direction. It was only a matter of time and reps before he became comfortable on the left side. The oline is what will carry us through the playoffs, we go as far as they take us
Go Bucs!
January 9th, 2025 at 6:53 am
The great Paul Brown figured it out first and was the pioneer in giving prospects IQ tests as well. It takes more than just brawn to be a great football player it takes brains.
Players can get a long way when they are blessed physically but at the NFL they all are blessed physically and so intellgence can be the edge.
Wirfs come across as a very BRIGHT, well rounded human being who simply “gets it” in life. This is why I’m not surprised he made the transition so smoothly.
January 9th, 2025 at 7:01 am
Aside from his athleticism and proficiency at tackle, Wirfs is generally just a good guy. We have a lot of those on this team. I love my Bucs!
January 9th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Smartest guys on any team are always offensive lineman.
January 9th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Go Wirfs, Go Bucs
January 9th, 2025 at 7:57 am
And after a disastrous season at left guard, who would have thought Luke Goedeke would thrive at right tackle? Not me, for sure. But it’s working out fine. Maybe Bowles knows something we don’t?
January 9th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Wirfs is a great competitor and very tough. How many times has he tweaked an ankle and slowly gotten up? I’m always surprised he doesn’t come out of the game. Also, he has helped Goedeke play better, creating some friendly competition in the team.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:18 am
There is also almost no way to gauge how good a guy is as an EDGE rusher.
Sure, charting sacks is one way, but that’s almost irresponsible. The real question is, how good are his coverage skills? {heavy sarcasm}
January 9th, 2025 at 8:37 am
Another thing that you gotta give some credit to Bowles for. Doesn’t happen without his proverbial signature and his willingness to listen to the position coaches.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:40 am
Wirfs is the best lineman in the league Jose, and has been since he got here. Any comment to the contrary is ignorant.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:45 am
BTW moving Wirfs to LT was not “fixing” RT. It was fixing LT which was clearly broken. Although I am one to say the blind side is overrated and that rushing the strong side of a QB is underrated. So I do not disagree that we might have kept him on the right side. But in the end this was a good solution.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:55 am
Wirfs is a generational player who I firmly believe could have played and been successful anywhere on the line. Next up generational edge rusher!
January 9th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Weird (?) football fact: It takes more time for a dominant OLine is jell and play as an unified protective whole than a DLine. Once it matures (and the players stay healthy), look out!! This is the second time Licht has helped draft/sign the players who have formed excellent OLines for the Bucs. The first one was a major factor in our 2nd SB win. Looks like a very good pattern is repeating itself. Kudos to all involved, and GO BUCS!!
January 9th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Wirf’s bank account is a lot happier he was moved to right tackle.
January 9th, 2025 at 11:41 am
Has any player ever been an all pro at 2 different positions? There must be a corner moved to safety, but I doubt anyone has excelled at this level.
January 9th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
It’s remarkable how many people just continue to doubt Licht when it comes to offensive lineman, like he doesn’t have an amazing track record.
Also when all the drama queens were whining about moving Wirfs, they always just overlooked the one big thing – if it didn’t work out, you just move him back – like they did with Marpet.
Anywho, Wirfs was dominate this season, literally the only two times all season I recall him getting beat was when Wirfs, himself, seemed to click his heels and looked like his knees buckled before even getting contact and went down on his own. That happened in the Broncos game, and in the Cowboys game – both times I wondered if he was injured, but he was right back out there so just something happened.
Also Wirfs got dinged for one sack that was 100% on Baker for running backwards right into a blocker that Wirfs had pushed back and should have been no danger. If my memory was right, that was also in the Bronocos game, and Wirfs was doing what he should, it was just bad luck (and no you over sensitive Baker Boi(s), I’m not saying Baker did anything wrong).