“They Are My Favorite Offensive Line”
June 26th, 2021
Praised by former NFL RT.
Year in and year out, the Steelers had what was considered the top offensive line. And a guy who was an anchor there for eight years was talking about the Bucs’ front-five.
That player would be Max Starks. The Orlando native co-hosted “The Blitz” last week, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, and he raved about Tampa Bay’s line.
“They are bringing all five [starters] back,” Starks began. “That is huge. I cannot begin to tell you what that does for continuity.”
Starks, who won two rings with the Steelers, admitted that the Bucs’ offensive line is talented at both run and pass blocking. He said one reason is the Bucs have so many weapons. The ability to move the ball and use the entire field (short passes, long passes, all sorts of runs), he said, greatly helps out a line.
And Starks, being a former right tackle, gushed over Tristan Wirfs.
“You can’t ask for a better rookie year result,” Starks said of Wirfs. “First, you start for the team that drafted you. And then you find out you have Tom Brady that you are blocking for and then you win a Super Bowl. It doesn’t get any better than that.
“If you are trying to write the perfect story, you cannot write it any better than it played out [for Wirfs].”
Starks, who is a close friend of Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, said he will be monitoring the Bucs a lot this year. And not just because they have one of his former assistants with the Steelers as the coach (Bruce Arians) or because they are Super Bowl champs.
Starks has a slightly more selfish reason.
Of the Bucs’ front five, Starks said, “They are my favorite offensive line.”
June 26th, 2021 at 2:12 pm
This o-line is 7 deep (that’s why he likes it).
June 26th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
It was only two and three years ago that the Buccaneers offensive line was much maligned. Fans and observers have very short memories indeed.
Immediacy is everything. This is just one more demonstration as to why the “NFL means ‘not for long!'”.
June 26th, 2021 at 3:22 pm
One of the reasons why people doubted Brady would go to the Bucs was that the offensive line wasn’t good at pass protection. I took that with a grain of salt as Tampa Bay tended to rely on longer passing plays back then, and had a QB who wasn’t a fast processor like Brady, who uses the entire field with a horizontal passing attack.
And of course that criticism also came before Wirfs was drafted as RT.
June 26th, 2021 at 4:25 pm
Or maybe that criticism was missed placed!!!!!
June 26th, 2021 at 4:52 pm
I guess I have to give Smith a chance. If he can piss with the big boys and truly a top tier LT, I’d be happy to pay him, but he has not shown throughout both his gigantic contracts. LT or RT if Tristan can slide to the left in the first round 2022 if he can’t pull it off. Deep with Stinnie and Hainsey. I love Hainsey sitting for a year. He’s smart as hell. Put on some weight like you’re not already 305 lbs.
June 26th, 2021 at 5:03 pm
Hey Jimbo tell that to Tom Brady.
June 26th, 2021 at 5:23 pm
I just eat this stuff up. Thanks Joe for finding/writing stories like this
June 26th, 2021 at 5:43 pm
SOE
👍🏻
June 26th, 2021 at 5:43 pm
Aceofaerospace….And i get much more giddy when it’s not from GMFB. When it’s greats like this speaking on it, I believe it that much more and I’m already very much believing already.
June 26th, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Ace.
Me too. That why I’ve come here. JBF is the best Buccaneers news aggregator by far. These are great little tidbits you’d miss without them.
June 26th, 2021 at 8:06 pm
We had two rookies who should have been front runners for ROY.
Wirfs and Mr. Peace out MFER!
June 26th, 2021 at 8:11 pm
Eddie
Nobody can tell Brady sht. He’s an anomaly. Not mortal. And not subject to nature’s laws like the rest of us slovenly sloppy fatasses. It is what it is man.
😎
June 26th, 2021 at 9:11 pm
The OL is as good as the QB. Read the field and release the ball fast – the OL looks great. Hesitate, hold the ball, scramble and the pass rush is coming at you and the OL does not look good.
June 26th, 2021 at 10:20 pm
Joe – other good nuggets from a Lori locust interview on the calm down podcast with charissa Thompson and Erin andrews. More and more time goes by I realize how well Arians came in to Change the culture here.
June 26th, 2021 at 10:56 pm
Missed placed?? Geez
June 27th, 2021 at 10:49 am
Sounds like some revisionist history, or forgetful memories around here…
The o-line was pretty good at pass protection even when Jameis was here (at least during his rookie year and his last year). Their biggest issues were having 2 tackles that constantly got penalties, and run blocking that was below average.
Adding Tristan Wirfs (and Gronk), along with the development of Cappa helped fortify the run game. And obviously having Brady behind center has helped the entire line play better. It’s now one of our strengths, without question. Pass protection was incredible most of last season. Let’s hope they all stay healthy!
June 27th, 2021 at 4:28 pm
The quote actually was a very bad take. When talking about bringing all five starters back he says he cannot begin to tell you what that does for continuity! Wait! What? So continuity does a lot for continuity? Sorry to nit pick but that is an absurd take. A real take would explain what continuity does for a team and their success.