Left Guard Upgrade Looks Permanent: “It’s His Job To Lose”
June 13th, 2023
New Bucs guard Matt Feiler, a veteran of 75 NFL starts, including playoffs.
The Bucs were not good at left guard last season and believe they have an upgrade firmly in place.
Joe is fired up and is hoping beyond hope that it’s true. Veteran guard/tackle Matt Feiler, the 6-6, 335-pound manbeast signed in free agency from the Chargers, is the starting left guard unless he chokes away the job.
That was head Todd Bowles’ message following practice today. “It’s his job to lose.”
Feiler, 30, played well enough in Pittsburgh to earn a $15 million, three-year deal from the Chargers. He played two years there and was a salary cap casualty this offseason.
With Tristan Wirfs around 340 pounds and beastly Ryan Jensen returning at center, the left side of the Bucs’ line could be the most massive in the game this season.
Joe loves putting Feiler at left guard. The last thing Wirfs needs while he adjusts to left tackle is to worry about a young player alongside him.
June 13th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
LFG!
June 13th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
This guy has deep experience and is a clear upgrade at left guard. Having him next to Tristan while he learns the ropes is also a good idea. And then he’s flanked by hopefully healthy Jensen on the other side. Nice left side there. Potentially.
June 13th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Sure would’ve been nice to a semi competent LG in place last year to protect the interior of the QB. It was coaching malpractice to have two interior guys in Godeke and Hainsey who have never played the position before in the NFL.
June 13th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Bucsfan13, the malpractice was on Licht. The cupboard was bare.
June 13th, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Bucsfan13, the malpractice was on Licht. The cupboard was bare. He’s an average GM at best.
June 13th, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Look, if Demar Dotson could play a decent RT with his decrepit knees there’s no reason to believe we can’t find a decent RG and RT out of available lineman Walton, Niese, Haggard, Stinnie, Molchon, Hainsey, (rookie) Murray, (rookie) Mauch, Leverett, (rookie) Dzansi, Goedeke, Skule, Hermanns, and (rookie) O’Neal. Jus sayin’
June 13th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Wear teams out running the ball more behind some big uglies in the Florida heat. Sounds like a good plan to me. Last year there were to many 3, and outs leaving our D exhusted. Flip the script. I hated when we’d try throwing bombs, instead of moving the chains. This new offense just might be what we needed.
June 13th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
“It was coaching malpractice to have two interior guys in Godeke and Hainsey who have never played the position before in the NFL.”
Revisionist viewpoint, what were we supposed to do after Jensen, Stinnie, & Leverett got hurt before the season opener? Go down to the local Lowe’s hire the big dude pushing carts or driving the forklift to come try out for a starting position on the OL? Honestly, what would you have down after those 3 guys went down between mid-July and late August?
June 13th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Good take Dooley, Licht had no options after all of those injuries.
June 13th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Bucsfan13
Licht destroyed Brady’s last season.
I think it was revenge for Tom trying to go to Miami.
The Bucs decided not to trade any draft picks for a good center or guard because they didn’t want to sacrifice the future for Tom
Hainsey- a college RT. Never played a game in the NFL as a center.
Goedeke- small school RT, never played guard or on the left side before.
The offense sucked because we couldn’t run the ball and Tom had to get rid of the ball faster than ever
June 13th, 2023 at 3:00 pm
dooley^^^ exactly, everyone bitches about last years line but forgets that stinnie would of been a starter along with mason and jensen. The 2 young kids got thrown in the fire and took their lumps.
June 13th, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Say what you want, but Licht is a REALLY good GM
June 13th, 2023 at 5:21 pm
Agreed Austin. When he moves on I say they bring in Teach77 to show everyone how its done. 🤔
June 13th, 2023 at 6:04 pm
EVERY BUCS FAN …
Watched every 1st down result in a run to the left for 0 to -1 yards. ZERO push. It was so predictable and SO SO PAINFUL.
I cannot wait to watch 675lbs open a hole 5 feet wide and 2 yards down field. 2nd and 5 will be the new norm.
June 14th, 2023 at 3:52 am
Feiler being a cap casualty makes me feel much better about him. However teams don’t ordinarily let a good O lineman get away. They usually try to find the money if they can unless they have his replacement. The fact we signed him for 2.5 million tells me there was not a great deal of bidding for his services.
We shall see.
Go Bucs!
June 14th, 2023 at 10:55 am
This is exciting