Man Up, Rookie
September 9th, 2020
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs.
Obviously, the matchup generating the most buzz for Sunday’s game is the quarterbacks.
The matchup of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and Drew Brees is getting all the run. Deservedly so. Even Arians said if he wasn’t coaching and just watching, then he’d have some cold ones iced up early before kickoff.
An under-the-radar matchup is Saints Pro Bowl pass rusher Cam Jordan against the rookie right tackle of the Bucs, Tristan Wirfs.
Joe sort of kept an eye out for Wirfs at training camp. He often went against NFL sack king Shaq Barrett and sometimes wily veteran Jason Pierre-Paul.
This sort of reminded Joe of Ali Marpet’s rookie year . People were waiting to see if Gerald McCoy would take the Division-III rookie’s lunch money. That didn’t happen. Marpet held his own.
Now Joe is not about to say Wirfs was perfect in training camp practices. But Joe didn’t see Wirfs get owned by two of the NFL’s very best either.
On offense, the key goal this year is to keep Brady upright. If he goes down the season goes down the sh!tter with him. So Wirfs will need to grow up in a hurry.
Arians was asked today if scheming and play-calling can help out Wirfs. Arians admitted it can, as will Brady getting the ball out quickly, which is no issue for him.
At the end of the day, Arians said, Wirfs will simply have to block Jordan. That’s all there is to it. Scheme or no scheme. Brady or no Brady.
“He’s going to have to block him,” Arians of Wirfs taking on Jordan. “There’s no two ways around it. He’s just going to have to block the guy.”
It really would save Joe a lot of heartburn and money buying TUMS if Wirfs can hold his own against Jordan, in the Iowa product’s very first NFL game.
The way Joe looks at it, since it is Wirfs’ first game, if Jordan doesn’t get more than two sacks, Joe won’t exactly call that a loss for the Bucs.
So long as the Bucs win.
Hey, Wirfs very well may stone Jordan. But Joe thinks for a guy’s first time out in the NFL, that’s an unfair and maybe unreasonable goal. Jordan is a damn good player. He will get his. Wirfs just has to limit that.
September 9th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Pablo would like to know if Tristan can play Left Tackle also? We need Donovan Smith gone expeditiously!!
September 9th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Jordan is good. I am pulling for the kid. Hopefully he can hold his own.
September 9th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
LJsDaddy….I think you are on the wrong website pulling for Cameron Jordan!?
September 9th, 2020 at 2:52 pm
I saw a video of Nelson putting an inside out move on Wirfs, which caused him to grab and hold his hand/arm. So, seeing that, I expect the vet is going to throw some change of direction moves on him and result in a few holding calls, but I would prefer that to sacks.
September 9th, 2020 at 2:53 pm
NO PABLO. Wirfs can’t play both left and right tackle simultaneously. Same reason Marpet can’t play left and right guard simultaneously. Need to have 5 separate o-lineman.
September 9th, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Pro-bowler edge guy against a rookie’s first game? Don’t expect too much from Wirfs. It’ll take some time. Has for every OT in the game.
September 9th, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Also, Arians may not say it, but there is literally no way the Bucs won’t be routinely helping out Wirfs with a chucking TE block in most passing situations.
September 9th, 2020 at 3:00 pm
I saw a video of Wirfs getting manhandled in a wrestling match.
September 9th, 2020 at 3:09 pm
Wirfs gonna drive Jordan to the Sunday Pancake Special at IHOP and get him extra syrup!!! Antoine Weinfield Jr gonna get a pick six Brees first throw!!!
LETS GO BUCS ROOKS!!!
September 9th, 2020 at 3:22 pm
With Brady being the G.O.A.T the zebra refs usually give him the benefit of ruffing the passer calls. another representation of the Brady effect.
September 9th, 2020 at 3:26 pm
steve-o i think he was saying that jordan is good, so wirfs has a struggle on his hands, but he’s pulling for wirfs
September 9th, 2020 at 3:28 pm
they’re gonna throw stunts and moves at wirfs like he’s never had before…
game plan: get to brady thru wirfs…
gotta hope this kid is ready…
it’s go time
September 9th, 2020 at 3:29 pm
Steve-o, Chris…yes. Pulling for OUR kid. GO BUCS.
September 9th, 2020 at 3:35 pm
Practice and a real game are two different animals. Good luck Tristan!! Good luck Bucs!!
September 9th, 2020 at 3:35 pm
Man talk about a trial by fire. First game with your team as a rookie. No pre season go out there and block Cam Jordan.
September 9th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
“Marpet held his own.”
A tale as old as time with Bucs legend Geraldine.
September 9th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
unspoken rule from goodell to the refs:
no one is allowed to touch brady 🙂
September 9th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Run right at Jordan from the get go. Let the rookie tee off on him in the run game putting his 330 pounds to good use. Let Wirfs, and Gronk double team him a few times. I’d be much more worried if Dotson was starting Sunday.
September 9th, 2020 at 6:53 pm
Watch for lots of help from TE, WR in motion, traps, and draws to slow down the heat
If we can run the ball consistently, we will win going away
The best D against Brees is him standing on the sidelines watching us run for 5 yards a clip and churning clock
September 9th, 2020 at 9:45 pm
+1 Hodad