“I’m Really Glad They Did That”
September 15th, 2022
Left guard Luke Goedeke.
So all the hand-wringing and foot-stomping and hollering and pleas for Bucs AC/DC-loving Jason Licht to do something, get somebody, anybody who started a game at center or guard to rescue the Bucs seemed to be (at least for Week 1) unnecessary.
Against Dallas, from the second quarter on, the Bucs had a left side of the line consisting of backup Josh Wells at left tackle, rookie Luke Goedeke at left guard, and second-year center Robert Hinsey making his first start.
Worked out pretty well and, frankly, better than Joe expected.
Goedeke was a concern to many fans. He was stuck with the “small school” label getting drafted from the MAC as a tackle and being asked to play guard. Some apparently forgot that Licht had previously drafted a Division-III tackle and a Division-II tackle (Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa, respectively) to play guard. That worked out pretty well.
Joe spoke with Goedeke yesterday about his first at-bat. And like many college players in their first game, Goedeke said the speed of top players was eye-opening.
“I wouldn’t say anything personally surprised me,” Goedeke said. “Obviously I got more comfortable [as the game continued]. And confidence is building and gelling with the offensive line.
“If anything surprised me it was just, maybe, some of the speed of the game. Especially Micah Parsons. He’s a fast guy. So, trying to switch off twists with him is pretty difficult. [Battling speed] will come with time and technique. That will make it a lot easier.”
So how did Goedeke do in the eyes of coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich? Well, the Bucs ran Playoff Lenny a lot to the left. Goedeke plays on the left side. You do the math.
To Joe, the Bucs wouldn’t run Playoff Lenny to the left without trust in Goedeke.
“Well, you have to take what the defense is giving us,” Goedeke said. “But that does show the confidence [coaches have] in me that they trust I will get the job done on run blocks,” Goedeke said. “That definitely helps build the confidence. I’m really glad they did that.”
Joe is eager to see how Goedeke and Hainsey do this week now that there is game tape on how both play, especially facing guys like Demarcus Lawrence and Parsons doing stunts to get inside.
If Goedeke and Hainsey can perform well in two straight weeks facing quality talent, the Bucs should be good to go on the offensive line, barring injuries of course.
Watch Sunday’s Bucs-Saints game with fans and Ira Kaufman at Big Storm Brewery in Clearwater at 1 p.m.. Great food. Spectacular beer. Fun times. [Big Storm Brewery]
Watch Sunday's Bucs-Saints game w/ @IKaufman76 and Bucs fans at Big Storm Brewery
— 49th St. in Clearwater.
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September 15th, 2022 at 12:51 pm
Saints Dline played very badly last week. Hope the bucs capitalize on that and crush them.
I don’t see bucs scoring a bunch with all the injuries but I hope they destroy them in the trenches and absolutely smother them.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:03 pm
licht deserves a lot of credit for his ability to draft quality lineman.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Bucs were never in a position where they HAD to pass in the Cowboys game. We will know how good they are when we are playing from behind in the 2nd half.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:28 pm
There are no degrees of freedom left now, though. Any more injuries and Ko Kieft will have to play guard. (Only a little facetious) Not ideal.
A depth signing would be wise. Please.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Let’s hope the Bucs o-line continues to play well and doesn’t have any setbacks. After having a bad game against Atlanta you know the Saints D-line is probably thinking they can have their way with our O-line. Our defense is going to have a much tougher time with the Saints as there offense is much better than Dallas.
Injuries on our offense are definitely a big concern. Is it just me or do we seem to have an inordinate amount of hamstring injuries on our team.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:35 pm
Goedeke, Hainsey and even Wells playing well against the Dallas defense doesn’t change the fact that we need to keep trying to create better DEPTH on our OLine. Dallas’ DLine didn’t impress me, probably because they lack any true beasts. Bucs’ OLine will face some much tougher tests in the weeks ahead. Injuries are piling up.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:43 pm
Goedeke doesn’t need to be an all pro, just serviceable. He’s a fine run blocker. I actually saw him get second level a few times. If I’m Bowles, I wear that Saints defensive line out with the running game. I put no stock into the Saints defensive performance last week. I’m sure they will bring it on Sunday.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:53 pm
I was unimpressed with Hicks.
Suh.
September 15th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Jensen will eventually return, then either Goedeke or Hainsey will have to go to the bench. There is out depth.
September 15th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Licht is the Yoda of picking offensive linemen.
September 15th, 2022 at 2:48 pm
I still think Licht needs to bring in new OL personnel. Depth, depth, depth. Can’t handle any more injuries with the O-line.
September 15th, 2022 at 3:18 pm
I guess he didn’t see the two Parson sacks right over O’s left side.
September 15th, 2022 at 3:29 pm
Considering how well our “depth” has performed so far. I am willing to bet that our depth behind them is of the same elk.
Besides that, #41 and #88 are special SPECIAL blockers. They are BETTER than Gronk from the perspective of TE Blocking.
Yeah I said it. #41 and #88 are BETTER Than the OLD MAN Gronk in terms of Blocking.
Also, loved seeing Luke and Bob hustling to pick up Lenny after he was tackled.
September 15th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
The two sacks from that cry baby put the girl in Cowgirls.
For starters, he beat a guy fresh off the bench backup with a speed move on a play that his DBs covered the hot route.
Most any QB in that situation takes the sack. However, if it was not TB12, his shoestring sack would have not of happened and the QB would have scrambled to the open side and possibly scored a TD.
On the one that DS gave up. Same situation. His DBs covered the hot and DS was fooled because he anticipated an outside speed rush. Which is why DS is not an All Pro.
The Bucs still scored on both of those drives!!!
Devin White on the other hand. Both of his sacks PREVENTED the Cowgirls from scoring. In addition, he beat a double team on one and threw the RB to the ground on the other.
Notice, DW did not get put on his arse by a running back, whereas the big Cowgirl did…
September 15th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Crackwise … ‘ Considering how well our “depth” has performed so far. I am willing to bet that our depth behind them is of the same elk.’
Are you sure they came from the same ELK Crackwise, not the same ILK?
Anyways, I’ll take that bet. Look up the full definition of ILK and you’ll see why.
September 15th, 2022 at 3:55 pm
@Goatfarmer
I agree that Hicks needs to get A LOT better. However, he did do a few things that made me see him as a guy who disrupts things in the backfield.
He was involved in freeing up JTS and allowed some plays to be made on the RBs by taking out blockers.
But yeah, overall, not to impressed TBH..
September 15th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
LOL @Defense Rules,
Yeah, that definition does not help my case at all. Where can I meet ya, I will just hand over the Big Storm now.
Then again, maybe I did mean Elk!!! Those are some big boys in the trenches.
September 15th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Leftwich seems to be doing well. Now if he would just take a course on using verbs in the English language. He speaks so incorrectly it super bothers me. I thought Hicks needed more practice, too and I am sorry but I saw zilch from Darden.
September 15th, 2022 at 4:51 pm
It sounds hilarious when you put it in perspective. Foot-stomping and hollering to add somebidy to start at OL………Meanwhile we had already drafted a Guard in the 2nd Round to start and had drafted a Center the year before who we developed to start this year(pretty easy to see that was the plan had Brady stayed retired).
September 15th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
Unless they do a complete 180, the Buccaneers should be able to run all over the Saints. Atlanta manhandled them in the running game. The Saints pass Rush started to come alive in the second half and we know they are very confident going against the Buccaneers line in that regard. I would really like to see a lot of running, play action medium passes with an occasional Deep ball.
As for the Buccaneers D line against the Saints… I would like to think they’re going to have about 4 sacks. Atlanta got the best of the Saints O line as well
September 15th, 2022 at 5:44 pm
@Crackwise. You’ve said some questionable things on this board, but the most egregious thing they’ve you said was that Ko and Otton are better run blockers than Gronk. You’re out of your mind. Are you a casual? Gronk is widely known as one of the best blocking TEs ever. Don’t be a total homer. Ko and Otton do exactly nothing better than Gronk. They can’t sniff his jock. We’re missing Gronk, especially in the RZ. It’s painfully obvious.
September 15th, 2022 at 5:47 pm
@Defense Rules. You’re right about our lack of depth at the OL position. Wells is a career backup who can be a turnstile. Anyone who isn’t a total homer knows our OL depth is a problem.
September 15th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
Bucsfan13 is exactly correct. Gronk was such a superb blocker, that he could have played tackle. His last year with the Patriots, he was basically used like an extra lineman. It’s blasphemous to suggest that any TE on this roster can block like 87. Whatever cool aid you’re drinking @CrackWise, please roll back the dosage. Homerism is one thing, delusional thinking is another.
September 16th, 2022 at 1:18 am
“Against Dallas, from the second quarter on, the Bucs had a left side of the line consisting of backup Josh Wells at left tackle, rookie Luke Goedeke at left guard, and second-year center Robert Hinsey making his first start.” My Momma say’s: And let’s not forget Shaq Mason played too on the left side when pulling….. All this gushing about the left side of the line is a bunch of gas lighting. Look at the tape on the pass pro. Some of you are sugar coating it.”