Jedrick Wills Breakdown
April 7th, 2020
O-line chatter.
For those Bucs fans with fiendish long-term goals of drafting a tackle at No. 14 to play right tackle in 2020, and then for next year to throw Donovan Smith off the roster, they better start working a rosary that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht doesn’t draft Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills.
Why is that? Because a Hall of Fame general manager said Wills is a right tackle. Period.
In so many words last week while co-hosting “Late Hits,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Bill Polian said the reason Nick Saban has started Wills at right tackle for 28 straight games is because he is a right tackle. Period.
“Now I’ve heard people say, ‘Aw, he’s great! He can play left tackle. The reason he played right tackle [at Alabama] is because Tua is left-handed,'” Polian said. “That’s not the reason he is at right tackle. He’s at right tackle because he’s a right tackle.
“I have always believed that you leave a guy where he is. Because he is comfortable there. He has done well there. To ask him to change positions is really tough.”
Polian seems to think Wills will be just fine as a road-grading run blocker. But with pass protection, Polian isn’t totally sold. Yet.
“Pass protection is going to be the issue,” Polian said. “Are his feet quick enough? Can he move his hands quick enough to get into defensive rushers and allow his strength to take over at that point? It’s very hard for a guy do that. It’s very hard to do in the National Football League because the rushers have power as well. So that is the question.”
Still, Polian is of the mind Wills “will be OK” as a starting right tackle.
As for Smith playing left tackle in 2021 or beyond, if Wills is the Bucs’ pick, that will at least give Bucs fans their needed player to hate on in Smith.
April 7th, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Too much bill polian bs.
We’re are the new uniforms. Best thing to happen this season.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
Wonder whats the hold up
April 7th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
uniform reveal out on buccaneers.com
April 7th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Check buccaneers.com
April 7th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
New unis are nice
April 7th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
These are uniforms I won’t puke at anymore. All three are awesome. Kept the orange too. Love it.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:07 pm
Meh. Other than new players names they are the same as the SuperBowl era. I’ll just wear my McCoy jersey. Not much of an incentive to buy one.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:09 pm
New uniforms are pretty close to the SB unis. Glad to see the alarm clock numbers go.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:11 pm
The Pewter ones are the best. They look a little bland. I would have liked some 3 layer stripes around the sleeves or something, but still, can’t go wrong with the SB era jerseys.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:21 pm
Most of what I have read Wills is the best pass blocker of the four tackles and don’t forget the guy that replaced Tua was right handed.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Polian is becoming known for poor analysis as Father Time takes its toll.
I’d be totally OK with Smith/Wills bookends on the OL for the two Brady Years. I’m totally OK with a decade-long excellent RT from this draft.
I’m not down on Smith because he’s not Orlando Pace.
April 7th, 2020 at 2:57 pm
I’m not impressed at all with Wills. I dont understand the hype behind him.
April 7th, 2020 at 5:19 pm
Bill Polian is clueless according to this analysis! Willis has the best feet of any linemen in quite some time. Someone check his eyes!
April 7th, 2020 at 5:22 pm
If the Bucs get one of the so called top 4 OT in the 1st rd. then they should turn around & get another in the 2nd. Maybe Wilson.
April 7th, 2020 at 5:54 pm
Chances are, the top 4 OLinemen will be gone at 14.
Why not take the best running back in the draft in the 1st round, maybe after trading down a little , and then take an OLineman in 2nd round-
maybe get 2 2nd rounders by trading down and add a Safety.
April 7th, 2020 at 6:54 pm
I am a tide guy, and with that I just feel like he is just okay.
talent wise…. I say 2nd round.
April 7th, 2020 at 7:40 pm
No one wants Smith kicked off the roster that’s border line crazy. With that being said fans know the difference between greatness and mediocrity. Smith is being paid like a great left tackle and plays like an average one. Each great player weighs heavily on the salary cap so what a player makes should also be what he earns.
April 7th, 2020 at 7:46 pm
With TB-12 coming to town and raising the bar of everyon’s play ….being able to get the ball out so quickly after reading the defense like no other before him in a BUC jersey….maybe a right tackle bulldozer is all this O/line needs to become a capable well oiled machine. Time will tell!!!
April 7th, 2020 at 8:16 pm
Bill Polian has a solid insight …
“He’s at right tackle because he’s a right tackle. I have always believed that you leave a guy where he is. Because he is comfortable there. He has done well there. To ask him to change positions is really tough.”
I don’t mind drafting someone to be a RT, but I’d really like it better if that RT could ALSO play SOME LT in a pinch (say if Donovan went down). Versatility is a big plus IMO. Not looking to replace Donovan Smith though. He’s an Ironman at LT, and there’s a LOT of value in that. Yes his technique could still be improved, but he’s still a quality LT.
One of the Bucs biggest mistakes was letting Donald Penn walk in early 2014 when Lovie came onboard, and replacing him with Anthony Collins. Penn was another Ironman … 7 seasons with the Bucs; played in all 112 games and started 108 of them at LT. THAT’S an Ironman. Hopefully we don’t make the same mistake with Donovan.