Luke Goedeke More Work-In-Progress Than Game-Ready?
August 9th, 2022
Learning curve.
This will not calm down the offensive line freakout crowd.
You know who you are. These are the folks who comment on this here website going bananas that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht hasn’t allowed himself to be gouged and taken to the cleaners by giving up three first-round draft picks for a middling left guard (or a center).
You know, like by tonight!
On Sunday, Bucs ground control coordinator and offensive line coach Harold Goodwin was asked how rookie offensive lineman Luke Goedeke is working out. A former MAC right tackle, Goedeke was drafted in the second round by Licht, who Joe believes has a sh!tload of street cred given how he has built one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, sometimes with unpopular moves.
It seems from Goodwin, Goedeke has one element of his game down. Problem is, the Bucs aren’t built to use that element.
“Run game, he’s been fine,” said Goodwin, who impresses Joe as a Bruce Arians-like straight-shooter.
Thing is, the Bucs are built to throw. No team threw more than the Bucs did last year. And pass-blocking, well, Goedeke isn’t quite there yet, it seems.
“He’s gotten better,” Goodwin said. “He’s doing a better job of throwing his hands in pass pro. … You’ve just got to think about it – this guy played right tackle pretty much his whole college career [and] he’s [now] on the left, so he’s trying to get acclimated, and he’s done a nice job the last couple days.”
While that may unnerve some Bucs fans expecting Goedeke to start at left guard, Goodwin has no doubt Goedeke will get there because of his drive.
“He’s physical; he’s smart; he’s an all-football type of guy,” Goodwin said. “He’s watching football 24/7. Sometimes you’ve got to tell him, ‘Relax and calm down,’ because he’s so paranoid that he’s screwing something up. But he’s going to be a good player in the long run.”
So Goedeke can run block but needs work in pass blocking. How much is the question? And can Goedeke be ready for Week 1 at Dallas?
Given Licht’s draft history of offensive linemen and the Bucs’ history of coaching these guys up, Joe has no fear Goedeke won’t work out.
Will Goedeke’s be able to pass his exams within the next month to be Dallas-ready?
August 9th, 2022 at 9:17 am
Said exactly no one.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:18 am
He will learn, because Goodwin is an excellent coach. If you are an inexperienced Lineman, it does not get any better blocking for Tom Brady.
Brady reads defenses fast, and gets the ball out even faster!
I think we are going to be just fine, unlike some of the doom and gloom posters here.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:21 am
I’d feel better with Tretter
August 9th, 2022 at 9:23 am
Of course!
He is a rookie playing a very complex position that rarely catches the football
August 9th, 2022 at 9:26 am
Some of the fans here want JC Tretter, who is a quality free agent Center. I think that would be a great move. The Bucs have the cap space, they needn’t play kick the can with a contract restructuring. I haven’t seen anyone demanding a trade with a high pick for a guard. The Bucs just picked up Shaq Mason for the price of a fifth-round pick. That’s the frame of reference.
Left Guard is a concern. Goedeke might have a productive career as a LG, but that doesn’t answer the question. The question is whether he’s ready to start for a Super Bowl contending team, particularly one with a QB who needs a well-formed pocket.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:26 am
As things stand right now, sounds like the Rams are gonna rip through our OL and dine on Brady’s carcass for lunch. And that concerns me.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:27 am
I actually haven’t seen anyone wanting to spend a 1st round pick on a guard….not one.
Not worried about Goedeke…..Licht picked him….if he’s not ready, Stinnie is.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:33 am
3 first round picks??? For a Guard??? I haven’t seen anyone here suggest we trade for Quenton Nelson.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:34 am
I think Joe forgot to use sarcasm font on his trade example-
August 9th, 2022 at 9:40 am
Could Nick Leverett start at the guard spot? Although I’d prefer Luke to take the reigns sooner than later because Nick is the back up center and we need the insurance.
I don’t have confidence in Stinnie’s consistency.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:41 am
Or folks still have their sarcasm shields up. 🙂
August 9th, 2022 at 9:46 am
@ Kody
That’s not going to happen. Stinnie is good in PP as is Mason. Brady knows to slide left if left or right as necessary. Mason is really good at helping out the center. Tretter would be an upgrade certainly in the passing game and reading offenses (due to experience) not so sure if he fits the run blocking scheme.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:58 am
Look if Leverett, or Stinnie who started in a SB beats him out to start, why we making that out to be a bad thing? This shouldn’t be a knock on the rookie, but good news that we have quality players ready to step in.
August 9th, 2022 at 10:05 am
Kody, Rams are not on our schedule until November 6th.
Right now, the Rams are thinking about how to replace Von Miller, Richard Wood, Odell Beckham and Andrew Whitworth. Ramsey went through shoulder surgery in June. This appears to be the same surgery that made JPP non effective last year. Leonard Floyd is injured early in training camp. They are also dealing with tendonitis in Stafford’s arm and who much that affects him during the season.
Remember McVay talking about Todd Gurley. Gurley could still play but lost the explosiveness. It feels like Stafford and Ramsey injuries could be similar.
The Rams also have to deal with everyone now giving them their best week of film study and most physical effort.
Lots of reasons to me the Rams will not repeat.
August 9th, 2022 at 10:07 am
Sarcasm shields…the bane of my existence. My life is sarcasm.
Except this: Suh.
August 9th, 2022 at 10:25 am
Tretter in about two weeks. After a price drop.
And Suh.
August 9th, 2022 at 10:38 am
The Raven’s rookie center is out with a bad foot, and Tretter is still on the couch. I think he was seen with Suh sitting next to him. I hear JPP might join them soon for a game of cards!
August 9th, 2022 at 11:00 am
Anyone expecting Goedeke to be the week 1 starter is fooling themselves, he’s playing a totally new position, he’s going to play against a whole different level of talent in the NFL vs the MAC and anyone with a little common sense should know his strengths are in run blocking and is more of a project at pass blocking. C’mon guys, let’s be real. And before I start to hear the “why not, Marpet did it” retort, let me just say Marpet was the outlier and a unique talent, how Alex Cappa progressed and grew into his role is far more typical for what we can expect from Goedeke.
August 9th, 2022 at 11:27 am
If he truly is a workaholic, I’d prefer to see Goedeke as a multipurpose backup. We saw what happened when Wirfs went down. Let him practice at RT and G this year.
August 9th, 2022 at 11:50 am
Yah joes
Cause walton next to hainsey will make everyone comfortable as brady drops back to pass. But yah. No worries. You guys are right. 😂
August 9th, 2022 at 12:01 pm
@Passingthru…yes, a ton of fans here have shat on JL. Those of us that have been here since the site started are firmly aware of this BS.
August 9th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
Would be fun to see Goedeke as a TE in jumbo packages.
August 9th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
Joe … ‘Or folks still have their sarcasm shields up. 🙂’
Ooooo, ‘shields up’? Nice Star Trek reference there Joe. But if I see ‘Beam me up Scotty’ in your next piece about Scotty Miller I’ll know you’ve had one too many Big Storm beers.
August 9th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Let him work on his craft and overtake Stinnie during the season. Best case scenario.
August 9th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Here is one thing you guys might miss with Suh. He has made a ton of money over his career. And Warren Buffett has been his financial mentor. He doesn’t have to play at a discount. He has twin children. And may decide to retire rather than get paid at a rotational salary.
I really like the guy’s game. Would really like to have him back. But think like he is… not some fantasy football fan. He has always played where he got paid. And if that is nobody, he will likely retire.
August 9th, 2022 at 12:59 pm
@ SlyPirate
That sounds like a solid idea. It couldn’t hurt to see if he can play both T/G on this level…
August 9th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
I have one superslight beef with Joe’s thinking. Every decision is a bet. Jason makes good ones, so his odds are good. Maybe 75%.. Jason isn’t the miracleman, in Jason we trust only means over Years he’s good byt Next month may not be so good so let’s lower expectations.
The cost of the hedge is very high. Let’s hope some guys in the building can be good enough but we also may have to work around the problem which can hurt us other ways as well.
August 9th, 2022 at 3:00 pm
I’m weirdly not too worried.
We ultimately need to worry about 3 solid interior positions right now with Jensen/Marpet/Cappa gone from last year.
We know Stinnie can play but not sure how he holds up all season. We know Shaq Mason can hold down the fort. And hasn’t Josh Wells done pretty well in limited time as well?
But if I had to guess
LT-Smith
LG-Stinnie or Goedke
C-Hainsey or Wells
RG-Mason
RT-Wirfs
not a terrible situation compared to most rosters. I’m having faith.
GO BUCS!
August 9th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
I’ve been calling for us to draft OG/C prospects in the 2nd round for years.
We should have more depth at OG/C.
Hainsey was a tackle in college, converted to a center.
Goedeke was a RT being converted to LG.
Caleb Benenoch was a RT converted to guard.
I wonder how LSU’s Engram who was a LG in the SEC is doing?
He was drafted one pick after we picked this RT.
August 9th, 2022 at 8:56 pm
Run the ball down their throats. Run it until they stop it.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:33 pm
Why in the hell did Jason licht draft a rg to compete for the left guard job?
August 9th, 2022 at 9:35 pm
That’s OK. Stinnie has earned the job. He can be the reserve guard in his rookie season.