The War On Ben Bredeson
February 18th, 2025
Michigan Man mocked.
Joe sometimes doesn’t understand where the disconnect began or how it evolved but we’ve now boarded the crazy train — with apologies to Ozzy Osbourne.
What Joe expects and sees from offensive line play is truly a different prism from what others expect and see.
Millions Of People Living As Foes.
Joe is not sitting here trying to make the case that Bucs free agent guard Ben Bredeson is the next John Hannah (look him up). He’s not. But the guy certainly is not Garrett “Whoops!” Gilkey.
Someone will have to point out to Joe how Bredeson was a “major liability” unless someone has a fully different definition of “liability.”
Some media sells it and you live the role.
The Bucs had the third-best offense last season with the fourth-best run game. How exactly can a team pull this off with a “liability” at left guard?
A team doesn’t.
But don’t tell that to Walter Cherepinsky, the man behind WalterFootball.com. To read his take on where the Bucs need to upgrade, you would think Cherepinsky was typing about Oniel Cousins.
Guard: Ben Bredeson was a major liability on Tampa Bay’s offensive front, but his contract is set to expire anyway.
This is driving Joe insane. Again, where is the evidence that Bredeson was so rotten? Joe read a stats outfit recently rank the Bucs as having the second-best pass-blocking unit in the league. You don’t do that with a turnstile at left guard.
It seems Bredeson is living with something that just isn’t fair.
Besides, Bredeson was playing next to a rookie center. If he was that awful, then Graham Barton would have been exposed as well.
There are positions on the Bucs and starters who drag the team down. Bredeson is not one of them.
Crazy but that’s how it goes.
February 18th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Walter Cherepinsky seems to be one of those guys that must find fault in things. He couldn’t find it elsewhere, so he found it on Ben Bredeson.
Bredeson also has strong injury history, so he made an easy random target. Maybe Walter is a Ravens or Giants fan and already had bias?
February 18th, 2025 at 10:41 am
He ain’t no Charley Hannah either 🙂
February 18th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Bredeson is a FA LG. Dime a dozen. He stays/goes … meh.
Real Stories:
Who will be the next backup QB?
Who will be the next MLB?
Is SirVocea Dennis a real option?
Who’s the backup RB – White or Tucker?
Starters on the chopping block?
Is Culp ready to take over as TE2?
What’s the story with CK’s calf? Can he start the season healthy?
Year 2 training with Suh. Is Vea primed for another big year?
Is Vea a HOF candidate?
Mike squeaked out 1000 yards in 2024. How many +32yo have recorded 1K?
February 18th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Even Garrett Gilkey wasn’t the POS many fans, and it was mostly fans, tried to make him out to be. One bad game in a regular season NFL game playing the center position he had never played before and he was branded. Lovie Smith should have been branded and blamed for putting him in that situation to begin with.
February 18th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Jason knows best. If Hainsey were really going to be better at LG than Bredeson, he would have been playing there last season. But maybe they’ll both be too expensive since the defense will be fortified, and we’ll be surprised by some new blood.
February 18th, 2025 at 11:15 am
@Joe
With all due respect Joseph, couldn’t care less what Walter Cherepinsky has to say about Bredeson, I care what you or the other Joseph or the sage have to say about Bredeson not Walter Cherepinsky or whatever his name is…..
February 18th, 2025 at 11:20 am
DAMN! Give SLY PIRATE a press pass!!!
February 18th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Bredeson was more than serviceable last year. Disagree with Cherepinsky. The only issue that needs to be resolved with Bredeson is free agent cost. Can’t overpaid for this guy when we have a last year rookie Elijah Klein we can plug in at a much lower cost.
February 18th, 2025 at 11:28 am
This seems like a recycled post. Didn’t Joe recently talk about this?
February 18th, 2025 at 11:31 am
🙂
February 18th, 2025 at 11:33 am
Sometimes it seems Joe doth protest too much. Some fans will call for improvement at EVERY position until we have pro bowlers at every position. Obviously that will never happen, but that’s what they’ll call for. Is BB the worst LG in the league? No. Is he the worst player at his position on the team? Most assuredly not. Is he the worst starter on our Oline? Yeah, probably. Are there better LGs in the league, and will they potentially be available? Absolutely & possibly. AND he has an injury history, AND we didn’t draft him, AND he’s gonna need a new contract. These are things fans don’t like. Some think if we’re gonna have to give this guy a decent contract (due to the TEAM success Joe mentioned, BB didn’t personally rack up any accolades that I recall), why don’t we sign a better guy (and they DO exist) for that increased financial commitment at the position? Now on the other side of the things I mentioned are the TEAM success we had with him, continuity & chemistry with the Oline (very important), and a lack of injuries with the Bucs. There are arguments to be made for each side. Just depends on how you weigh each factor.
February 18th, 2025 at 11:38 am
Gotta have some off season feetball drama!
February 18th, 2025 at 11:47 am
I haven’t read Walter’s takes in years because they are all bad, Joe should ignore this guy’s bad takes.
Bredeson is the weak link on the OL. He’s serviceable and LG isn’t a priority for improvement. I don’t hate him but I do want a serious competition in camp.
February 18th, 2025 at 11:48 am
May be this reporter is trying to get the bucs to cut BB so his desired team can pick him up.
February 18th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Some crappy snaps . A false start here n there . A couple real holding calls not the bs ones . Those are just a few hiccups alone the line . Other than that I would say the whole unit was strong & bredeson did not stick out much which is a good thing .
February 18th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
I have zero problem bringing him back. Hainsey too if they can afford it.
February 18th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Mental wounds not healing…
February 18th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
Its probably just him trying to sound like he actually did some research
February 18th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
He’s slightly better than MOST of the guards in the league, will probably get better
February 18th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
You wanna win a Super Bowl?
Run the ball and attack Mahomes.
1st round or trade back and get the best LG in the draft.
Barton and Wirfs need the missing link.
Brederson was decent. But we need ELITE.
February 18th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
He wasn’t going to be the starter before buddy from the Eagles got hurt. He can be replaced Jason Knows if he is worth keeping
February 18th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Teacherman
“Brederson was decent. But we need ELITE.”
Actually in the day of the “cap” it’s impossible to get “elite” at every position.
What is actually NEEDED are decent players in between the elite guys on a team.
Wirfs IS elite, Barton and Goeddeke have the ability to become very good.
Bredeson and Mauch are decent. To me decent means not a liability.
February 18th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Bredeson was “serviceable”. You can get the same, and probably cheaper if his price goes up. We also have Klein waiting in the wings. It’s an easy place to not spend more money than we did last year.
February 18th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
PFF (take their ratings for what it’s worth) have Bredeson as slightly below average and Barton just slightly worse than him. Barton is a rookie will get way better. Bredeson may actually be rated better with a seasoned vet to his right, which is what Barton is becoming.
Mauch was rated above average, Goedeke was very good and I won’t even bring up Wirfs… he’s one of our best players let alone best tackle in the league. Bredeson is replaceable but with Barton getting more savvy and experienced next to him, if he plays for the right price, the continuity and chemistry may be a plus. With Klein developing more and maybe adding a little depth, I like where we’re at.
February 18th, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Bigger issue is Hainsey and Bredeson leaving – who’s the backup center?
Sign Bredeson for $4m and Draft Zabel, he can play guard or center or tackle – let them battle it out for the start but definitely need depth
Klein should be ready to step up as well – is Skule a FA?
February 18th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Him Klein, whoever is next to Wirfs, and Barton should be fine. I think we need to stock up the Dline. Vea will be one year older, and Kancey has not played a full season. Hall is a FA. Need more meat on that bone. We’ve drafted a bunch of Oline, time to draft some DTs.
February 18th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
I picture a lazy slob playing with the collection of lint I’m his belly button picking his nose, typing with one finger while ordering pizza asking for a specific female to bring it to his domain. Key and peele has a skit with a big old slob ordering pizza. That’s the guy who wrote this article.
February 18th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
I wouldn’t pay too much attention to what that guy says. Sometimes these guys just say whatever to fill time or space.
February 18th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
bens problem is he played for the giants. anyone that they let go must be suspect.
somehow that barkley rb proved them wrong, but whatever. sorry, i like ben.
February 18th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Walt has some good takes at times. I wondered where the Bucs h@te came from, until I realized he’s a Philly fan. He was a kid when Ronde Barber closed the Vet down in the NFC Championship Game.
February 18th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Well, if you notice in the post, you’ll see Joe’s take.
Appreciate the kind words, thank you.
February 18th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
He isn’t that much better than Opeta and we have Klein. This is a cost we can afford to not take on. Additionally, there are IOL that will go in the 5, 6, or 7th round that can work as depth.
His departure doesn’t make the team overall any worse.
February 18th, 2025 at 3:37 pm
He played better than Cappa did this year at a fraction of the cost. Mauch played at a top 20 level. He stepped up big time.
February 18th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Re-sign Bredeson !!! Best Bucs O- line in decades Don’t break up the band!!
February 18th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
Offensive linemen get no respect. Mostly because only other professionals –coaches and players– really understand what their job is. And it’s easy for the rest of us to throw around words like “weak link” and “liability” without having to document or define them. My sympathies are with Bredesen; he seems the victim of random verbal violence.
February 18th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Ben was graded out by PFF as about average for his position so I say bring him back.
February 18th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
Walt lost a bunch of money on the Bucs a few years ago and now he hates the team.
In fairness, Joe, last year you couldn’t fathom how the Bucs would want to replace Robert Hainsey. They replaced him with a rookie that was playing left tackle in college. You also spent an entire offseason wringing your hands over the decision to switch Wirfs from right to left tackle, and like many of us tried to tell you, he made the switch flawlessly and is an All-Pro. So, your track record in evaluating offensive linemen is less than stellar.
February 18th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Brederson is a middle of the road starter. They could do better than him, but they could also do worse. It’ll all depend on the price and how they feel about Opeta possibly coming back or where they feel Klein is in development.
February 18th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Our OLine developed excellent chemistry last season, and our #4 ranking offensively reflects that. There were no ‘weak links’. Now’s the time to build on that year of experience together, not rip it apart. Re-sign Bredeson to a fair contract.
Penalties BTW tell a big story IMO; hard to keep drives moving forware if your OLinemen are contantly getting slapped with 5, 10 or 15 yard penalties. Pro-Football-Reference has a really good site for ‘2024 NFL Linemen Penalties’. There were at least a dozen OLinemen who had 10 or more penalties last season. Look at our guys though:
o Barton – 5 penalties
o Goedeke – 5 penalties
o Wirfs – 5 penalties
o Bredeson – 2 penalties
o Mauch – 2 penalties
That’s a total of 19 penalties from our starters in 2024. The previous year our starters amassed 31 penalties. That’s a helluva improvement.
We still need DEPTH though to operate every game at a high level. Hainsey will move on, but we can re-sign Opeta and Skule, and we still have Klein coming along. Sign 1 or 2 more and we’d be in decent shape.
February 18th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
Can’t pay him more than 5 mill tops. Anything more, hit the road Jack. Plenty more where he came from.
February 18th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Draft the best DB in round 1 Donovan Jackson round 2 Jack Bech in round 3 and DL in round 4 and best safety available in 5 or 6.
February 18th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Ben Bredeson was the weakest link on a really good line. However that does not mean he was a bad player, he was just #5 out of 5.
I wouldn’t break the bank to keep him, but he’s a solid starter and if you can get him for around $5m or so, I’d do so.
February 18th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
I will say some of the mock drafts I’ve seen where the Bucs just say, screw it, and take the best guard on the board – it seems nuts, but it’s intriguing as you’re giving yourself a legitimate chance to have the best offensive line in the NFL, that is still pretty young.
I think it would depend on what edge rushers are available – but if there’s a run, this could be the route to go. Also you might be able to drop to the bottom of the round and pick-up perhaps a 3rd rounder. If that happened, you’d have a 2nd and two 3rds to get some combo of ILB / safety / corner, all of which you can generally find in those rounds, guys who can come in and play early.
I’d rather spend the pick on something that is pretty certain over another JTS or Hall lottery ticket – not that I’m nearly as down on those guys as others, but I’ll take a star guard and try to find someone else in those other rounds.
February 18th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
D.R.
“That’s a total of 19 penalties from our starters in 2024. The previous year our starters amassed 31 penalties. That’s a helluva improvement.”
How many groans have emerged when you see the flag and know another 10 yard Holding penalty has been flagged! Such frustrating drive killers! When you see it quantified like that it’s not as bad as it could have been. I notice both Bredeson and Mauch get the fewest, wonder if it’s because they have great T’s beside them, who ironically are team toppers at 5.
I was shocked that Wirfs got tagged so often. He’s supposed to get the benefit of the doubt!
It’s been said that Offensive Holding “could” be called on every play, making it one of the real judgement calls with a couple of others. OB though by example is pretty cut and dry, pass interference is another Zebra call.
Care to venture a guess as to what goes through the ref’s mind when making what everybody knows is just a “judgement” call? I used to believe that the Vets and the more talented guys were permitted to “get away” with more than rooks and 2nd and 3rd year guys. Certainly a “star” has “certain privileges”.
February 18th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
It was hardly flawless. Joe suggests you do a quick (free) search of Joe’s archives from just this week to learn just how close that move came to blowing up in the Bucs’ faces.
Thank goodness it worked out. It was anything but flawless — and that comes straight from Wirfs’ own mouth.
February 18th, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Hey DR, how many those OLine penalties were bogus?
February 18th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
Hey Joe, your algorhthim have a line on me?
February 18th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Stopped reading Walt’s prognostications years ago, he’s completely clueless & out of touch on over half the teams in the league, including the Bucs. Charlie’s insight is the only thing making that site worth a visit anymore.