Significant Step Back At Right Guard?
April 7th, 2023
Gone. But will he be forgotten?
This post comes down to whether you trust the eyes and mind of a man who played a position for a decade.
Former Buccaneers right guard Ian Beckles (1990-1996) started nine seasons in the NFL for the Eagles and Tampa Bay. So it’s safe to say he knows the position extremely well.
Beckles, a renowned basher of Bucs players during his 20-plus years on local sports radio, is less known for how he praises Bucs players he likes and appreciates.
Ryan Jensen, Ali Marpet and Tristan Wirfs spent years on Beckles’ happy list. Former Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith moved on and off Beckles’ love list, as he did with many fans. Currently, Beckles reserves his sharpest daggers for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and the overall state of the Bucs’ offensive line, as heard on his In The Trenches podcast.
This week, Beckles called the Bucs’ O-line “bottom-5” in the NFL, in part because right guard Shaq Mason was traded to the Texans.
“Shaq Mason had a pretty good year last year; I didn’t hear his name a whole lot,” Beckles said. “As a right guard, I tell you what, my eyes are there all the time. As a former right guard I’m watching him every play because that’s where my eye automatically goes. He’s pretty good. He had a pretty good year. We got rid of him for a seventh-round pick.
“Once you start getting rid of key players and people that are really giving to the team, once you starting getting rid of them for money, you lose. I’m just telling you guys that’s what happens. Because whoever is going to go in there for Shaq Mason is not going to be as good as Shaq Mason.”
While Beckles says Tristn Wirfs is the best right tackle he’s ever seen, he ranted that center Ryan Jensen’s gruesome knee injury wasn’t fixed surgically, so nobody should expect him to return to his Pro Bowl form.
Beckles added that he was told “Jensen didn’t want to play the last game” in the playoffs against Dallas and the Buccaneers really forced him to play and/or pressured him to play.
Brutal Jensen playoff film has left Beckles troubled, he said. “He sucked, and I have the utmost respect for Ryan Jensen as a football and [as a] a person. That’s a tough SOB.”
As for the rest of the line, Beckles expects Luke Goedeke to a be typical second-year guard this season and “the Bucs don’t have a left tackle.”
Joe isn’t concerned today about the offensive line. Perhaps Hainsey and Goedeke can be average guards this season with Jensen getting close to his old self.
Joe has the utmost confidence that general manager Jason Licht won’t go to war with a mess at left tackle, so Joe doesn’t think the Bucs’ offensive line will be a massive issue this season.
If it is, and the Bucs can’t score more than 18 points per game again, then a massive overhaul is inevitable for 2024.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
OL REALITY
The Bucs only have two starting OL – Jensen and Wirfs. That’s it.
Hainsey, Goedeke, Leverette, and Stinnie are backups.
Licht has the opportunity to grab 2-3 starting OL in this draft. For example:
R1: Broderick Jones, R2: O’Cyrus Torrence, R5: Andrew Vorhees
April 7th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Of course Jensen sucked that game, he should never have played. Shame on the Bucs, and Tom Brady for egging him out there. They’re all lucky he didn’t do anymore damage that would’ve cost him part of this upcoming season too.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Ah so Beckles is an orthopedic expert. And he forgets the salary cap problems. He’s not wrong about the OL play or to be concerned about it thoughts Stinnie and Leverett have both shown adequacies at guard. Goedonkey is awful at guard but maybe better at RT and, yes I’m sure they’ll give Wirfs a shot at LT along with the draft. And with Canales having a clue how to scheme run blocking concepts, maybe Bucs can be middle of the pack OL-wise.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Jensen elected NOT to have the surgery because there was a fair chance he’d have issues WALKING the rest of his life, to say nothing of playing football
April 7th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Maybe Ian should also explain how the Bucs can go get a quality left tackle with no cap space. Last I looked on SportsTrac, the top 51 cap was $2.9 million. Not a lot of room for a quality player.
And…without a proven QB it may not mean much.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Hopefully playing Dallas in the playoffs Jensen didn’t hurt his career. What I have been hearing through the grapevine Jensen is part owner of a homebuilding company in Colorado. So his NFL days are numbered. This spring or after 2023 I fully expect him to retire depending on his knee.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Can’t really disagree. Bucs don’t have anything proven except RT and maybe C. We got some decent players who maybe can fill a role, like Hainsey, but we need to restock on the offensive line and get better talent.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
“Because whoever is going to go in there for Shaq Mason is not going to be as good as Shaq Mason.”
Beckles has a crystal ball now….
April 7th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
If Jensen retires we will be hurtin for curtin!
April 7th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
And yet, you have fans on this board that don’t think the bad OL effected this offense and was a big reason for the decline on the offense. I’m a big believer that the game is won in the trenches on both sides of the ball. OL is the second most important position on the team after the QB. It’s a thankless job. You don’t realize how important to the big uglies are to a team until the whole offense is disrupted by an incompetent line. I don’t expect our guards to be John Hannah, but they can at least be competent. Any metric on the OL performance should take into consideration Brady’s quick release, which was sped up even faster this year.
I don’t agree it was a bottom 5 line, but it was below average most of the year, and downright bad when Goedeke was in at LG. As I have pointed out, the team had a historically bad running game, and the OL played a big role in the ineffectiveness of the run game. We literally got no push by the OL. We couldn’t even gain one yard on a lot of plays!! It was so frustrating to watch, and you could see the disgust on Bowles’ face. Have the Bucs ever been a dominant rushing team? No. But it was pretty bad last year, and anyone who tells you differently has an agenda to push.
Often times people get caught up in the results and not the process. We run inefficiently on first and second down, and we’re constantly behind the chains. That puts a lot of pressure on the OL and QB because the defense can just tee off. I’m looking forward to a brand new offense strategy that doesn’t require the QB to be the hero in order for us to win.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Dang of all the things to cut we did the best linemen outside of Wirfs for 5 million.
Also beckles talks like he was a HoF guard.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
Hopefully our new OC will use this as an opportunity to rebuild the offensive line to suit his “run the ball, then run the ball again, and if that doesn’t work try passing it” offense
April 7th, 2023 at 2:25 pm
The Bucs picked him up last year for a 5th round. Given that he had no push on run plays and the Bucs needed to unload his salary a 7th round was fair. I actually think that one of our boy might be an upgrade…especially in the run game.
All we heard was how Alex Cappa was hot garage…then he developed. It sometimes takes a year or two to develop young talent. I’m not trying to say Bucs with have a top 5 line. But, at least let’s see how the guys develop and what additions we make.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Hopefully our brain trust will recognize our o-line issues and resolve them so we don’t have the cluster f__ k like last year no depth and backup starters.
April 7th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Stinnie and Leverett are serviceable at G – both have played extended stretches at starter and played just as well if not better than chubby Mason
Mason was not good last year…why pay him 7mil or so
Hainsey goes back to insurance C and/or beats out Stinnie or Nick L
Goedke is the back up RT and Wirfs has to move to LT if there is an injury – maybe Fred Johnson stays on he was decent in short stints
We need a LT and it likely is the kid from Oklahoma in rd1
Might Need OLB/Edge Even worse than Oline but it’s a deep draft there
Would love to see another TE that can block too – really helps the T out in the zone run game
April 7th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
The Seahawks, for years, went to battle with what many described as terrible O-lines, but still managed to run the ball effectively. Canales likely has a good idea how that was accomplished. If you can get the running game rolling and move the pocket to buy an extra second, you can mitigate the fact that you may not have road graders across the front. I think they’ll adjust. The biggest concern is how Jensen recovers. Will he be the same player? I think we’ll be drafting a center on day 3.
April 7th, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Trenches trenches trenches trenches edge edge edge edge
April 7th, 2023 at 3:02 pm
Moving on from Mason was more about money than not being able to replace him imo. I actually think Nick Leverett should be the front runner auditioning for either guard position, but obviously Stinnie may get his shot and Goedeke is going to get a chance to earn a starting gig. Jensen, I hope is still working on his recovery, but until we get to hear about him during OTAs his status may remain a mystery until then. Even then, Licht could walk out of the draft with 3 rookie OLmen and I wouldn’t be mad at all.
Though it is kind of wild, Mason didn’t last as long w/the Bucs as Logan Mankins did.
April 7th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
TBBF finally agrees with Beckels as he is finally staying in his lane (Oline opinions)
April 7th, 2023 at 3:25 pm
It’s true Shaq Mason only gave up one sack last season. But his run blocking was horrible and he gave up 27 QB pressures – one of the highest in the NFL.
And that’s with Tom Brady at QB… Tom gets rid of the ball quicker than any other QB in the NFL. 27 QB pressures with Baker Mayfield would equal 10 sacks or more.
Plus – Mason will be turning 30 by start of season.
I give him props for staying healthy last season and for most of his career he has been durable.
But he is really just a below average OG – Bill Belichick knew it and so does Jason Licht.
April 7th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Beckles not hearing his name is both good and bad. Good yes he very seldom held or jumped off sides but at the same time he never opened up holes for the RB either. If you’re a team looking to rum the ball move on and save the cap hit which is what the Bucs did.
April 7th, 2023 at 3:37 pm
Being “pretty good”, according to Beckles….that doesn’t warrant Tampa paying him a contract that was negotiated in NE. Perhaps he would t take a pay cut/ restructure?
April 7th, 2023 at 3:49 pm
JoeBucsFan is the only site on the planet that thinks anything Beckles says is newsworthy.
April 7th, 2023 at 3:58 pm
Let’s Buccingo – if Jensen retires the pharmacies will run out of Xanax.
April 7th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
beckles stunk on the field and even more as a podcaster
April 7th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Funny how guys who were average during their careers now sit back and say what current players are or could be. I remember a few games where Beckles absolutely got beat down.
April 7th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Ian Beckles opinion is the most worthless opinion there is when it comes to anything Football related and he was trash as a player so he needs to start the bashing with himself.
April 7th, 2023 at 4:22 pm
Goedeke is a second round pick who needs to play. He should be much better in his second season, my guess he’ll play RG. Whether he’ll be better, or worse time will tell. there’s a lot of Buc players with a lot to prove this year. Should be fun.
April 7th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Bucs should re-sign Donovan Smith at low cost and switch him to RT, then trade one of the fifth rounders for Jonah Williams and play him at guard or center. Then draft defense. Jensen should retire. Barrett is toast, too, I bet.
April 7th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
I doubt Jensen was forced to play in that Dallas game. No one would have blamed him for a second for saying, “hey, I’ve been out every game this season. It’s not ready this week.”
April 7th, 2023 at 4:57 pm
Even a casual would know Jensen would want to be out there in the playoffs getting a chance to prove to himself that he can still play after an injury. Forget about Brady. I don’t see Jensen needing any motivation outside of himself.
These anonymous sources cited are ridiculous.
Any dog hates to be watching the game and potentially seeing your replacement get snaps. Does anyone think Jensen chose not to get surgery to miss a chance at coming back to play in the same season? Vita went through the exact same thing and got rewarded for it.
April 7th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
If Becklex thinks the current o-line is bottom 5 then he should feel right at home with them. Was never a fan of his.
April 7th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Let’s just say things will be interesting or a total disaster! We will find out soon.
April 7th, 2023 at 5:12 pm
@ Hodad
I hope you are right about Goedeke. He needs to step up.
The draft will give clues as to what our GM thinks about Luke.
April 7th, 2023 at 5:21 pm
We are essentially switching from an exciting, pass the ball while the QB stands in the pocket offense to a boring, old, run the ball then run the ball again offense so we may need different offensive linemen to suit a painful to watch offense
April 7th, 2023 at 5:25 pm
Does Ian Beckles ever have anything nice to say? And he’s not wrong. Letting Shaq Mason go was a head scratcher.
April 7th, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Beckles is a clown! I’ve heard him say about 2 good things about a BUCS player in ten years! Not bad for a Canadian who never did squat in the NFL, no MVP, no Pro bowls! Just a guard who eeked out a living for 9 years on shi**y BUCS teams!
April 7th, 2023 at 5:59 pm
Hodad has a direct line to the Bucs locker room. Bucs AND Brady talked him into playing. The Haters always find a way to include the best thing that ever walked through the Bucs door. Hard to shat on a Olineman that has 3 or 4 SB rings, ya he won’t be missed.
April 7th, 2023 at 6:26 pm
Ian Beckles ?? Never heard of her
April 7th, 2023 at 6:28 pm
Worst line in the nfl
Let me have ten drafts and I won’t give u that
April 7th, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Ian Beckles, your thoughts mean nothing. You abused a horse while intoxicated. Fact. You were a journeyman NFL player. Fact. No one likes you.
April 7th, 2023 at 7:33 pm
Ken – Beckles buggered a horse when he was drunk? ROTFLMAO!
April 7th, 2023 at 7:34 pm
Wait – did he get the horse drunk too?!
April 7th, 2023 at 8:56 pm
Jensen is probably washed up at this point. He has nothing left to prove and earned the money but major injury happened. Let’s hope we can find a new starter this year.
April 7th, 2023 at 8:59 pm
Hainsey is sitting at number 13 for centers on PFF. He is probably the way to go to be honest.
April 7th, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Not a Beckle fan for his analysis, but if anyone should know a bottom 5 unit, it is Ian Beckles because he lived it his whole career from college through pro’s.
April 7th, 2023 at 9:56 pm
So, what I got out of this piece is that Jason leite once again has proven he is the worst GM in the league. now if the JL Joe-Joes could just see what everyone else sees, we wouldn’t have so many cheerleader stories about JL.
April 7th, 2023 at 10:14 pm
Somehow, Jack Clark seems to know what the Bucs offense will be next season already. Nobody knows anything about what the Bucs offensive line, quarterback or running game will be next season. It’s ridiculous for anyone here to make any predictions whatsoever.
April 7th, 2023 at 10:15 pm
There have been thousands of players in the NFL. Not all of them are worthy of being a pundit. Beckles had a decent enough career as an average lineman in a completely different era of football. He has pontificated on many different things and his accuracy rate to my memory seems to be around 50%. We will know soon enough how much we have lost at right guard. But honestly if there is a drop off, I don’t think it will be a big one.
April 7th, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Jumbo got something out of the piece that only people on hallucinogenics could derive. Keep the shrooms rockin’ bro!
April 7th, 2023 at 10:30 pm
Dumbo. A Super Bowl champion GM two years ago, who got BA, who enabled getting Brady and many of the new pieces as well as pieces kept – is the worst?
Badminton must be your thing. Or duck duck goose.
April 8th, 2023 at 1:17 am
Beckles = Blah Blah, self promoting BS, Blah Blah Blah
April 8th, 2023 at 4:16 am
Bucsfan13 … ‘Often times people get caught up in the results and not the process.’
That’s one of the all-time great comments IMO Bucsfan13, and especially true when you’re trying to develop something or rebuild something. Mistakes are a fact of life, and provide invaluable learning experiences. So many in today’s world focus solely on results though, and end up missing some great opportunities to improve.
Lenny Fournette’s last season with us is a great example of that. Lenny had his worst season running the ball (3.5 YPC average) since his half-year 2018 season (3.3 YPC average) with the Jags. Last season was a major fall-off from the 4.5 YPC he averaged in 2021, and the Bucs released him (at the cost of taking a $5 mil Dead CAP hit). Yet how much of Lenny’s lower productivity was his own fault versus the OLine’s fault for poor run-blocking last year? Hard to say I think.
In any event, what we lost was a RB who gained 668 yards rushing & 523 yards receiving for 1,191 combined yards. That combined productivity wasn’t very far off from Lenny’s 1,266 combined yards in 2021 (his best year with the Bucs), even though his 2021 rushing average was better. I wonder if Ke’Shawn Vaughn (3.5 YPC average last year) or Chase Edmonds (3.6 YPC average last year) will be able to replace Lenny’s 1,266 combined yards? And hopefully provide many more yards if our goal is to become a better running team.
April 8th, 2023 at 7:10 am
Mr. Beckles promotes stem cell injection (modern snake oil) over surgery to his listeners. Now he says Jenens knee won’t be good because he didn’t have surgery. Hmmm another celebrity talking out both sides of their mouths for profits.
I enjoy listening to Beckles but you have to call out BS when you hear it.
April 8th, 2023 at 7:31 am
Even though I argue with some of you guys here ,I have to say I love when someone else outside of joebucsfan talks crap about the bucs ,we all unite..we do have a passionate fan base.
April 8th, 2023 at 10:48 am
You either control the line of scrimmage or you get beat. Period, this is ground zero in Football.
Jason Licht has done well on the o line, but as last year shows, when the injuries pile up on the line, all Jason could do was stand on the sideline and wince in pain watching the O line get beat play after play, game after game.
Yes of cousre they need QB settled, but if they do not field a competent O line,then it will not matter. .
Its all about the trenches – Oline/ Dline
April 8th, 2023 at 2:10 pm
SlyPirate Says:
The Bucs only have two starting OL – Jensen and Wirfs. That’s it.
———
You’re confusing STAR with STARTERS.
Not the same thing.
Not every starter is going to be a star.
April 8th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
the O line was an issue last yr– -thanx to inaction by Licht . It will be a Bigger issue this yr—thanx by action by Licht …..
April 8th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
You need a process to get results. The quality of the process generally correlates to the success of the results.
But results are the focus while you follow the process. If you focus on the process you get Greg Schiamoron / Mark Dumpsternik results.
April 8th, 2023 at 10:14 pm
Shaq clearly regressed and besides the connection to Brady and NE, he was no longer worth it. But what JAGs replace him now? The good old practice squad in-house boys. Significant step back, unless they make some moves.
April 9th, 2023 at 11:54 am
Steele is the only person that lives in the reality of the state of our OL. Just a bunch of JAGs.