Island Life For Tristan Wirfs
June 24th, 2023
Tristan Wirfs
It’s been well documented that Tristan Wirfs will not spend a June or July week at Catalina Island playing blackjack and fishing for tuna and Calico bass.
However, island life is in Wirfs’ near future.
That was the point made this week by former linebackers coach and Jets personnel chief Pat Kirwin on his SiriusXM NFL Radio show.
Kirwan, with co-host Jim Miller, the former Bucs quarterback, broke down the Tampa Bay offensive line and made an obvious but important point about Wirfs’ move from right tackle to left tackle.
Despite Wirfs being new at the position, he’ll be on an island and can’t expect blocking help to come his way. With veteran Matt Feiler starting alongside Wirfs at left guard, and inexperienced Luke Goedeke and rookie Cody Mauch at right tackle and right guard, respectively, Kirwan was adamant that the Bucs rarely will slide protection in Wirfs’ direction. Center and running back assistance, and from the tight end, is far more likely to be covering for the young players on the right side.
It’s an important point. Wirfs will be expected to be a lockdown tackle out on opening day.
Joe’s not concerned, as Joe may be more worried about Feiler. Kirwan noted he allowed six sacks last season blocking for Justin Herbert at the Chargers.
June 24th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
It remains to be seen if Wirfs is as good a Left tackle as he was on the right side.
June 24th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
A recipe for a Bowles disaster.
June 24th, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Wirfs has all the traits to make a seamless transition probably was the plan from the start when they drafted him as they were inevitably going to move on from Donnie who was ok but never dominate.
June 24th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Now we get to see what a real LT looks like.
Wirfs is the first really good LT the Bucs have had since Paul Gruber retired.
Tristan will be an instant upgrade from Donnie Smith and will get better and better as the season progresses.
June 24th, 2023 at 3:31 pm
Mauch is 6-6 and 300 pounds.
He used to be a TE. He started college at 220.
He’s not thick enough to play guard.
I think he’s gonna get bullied in year 1 like Goedeke got bullied.
Mauch seems better suited for RT to be honest.
He’s very athletic. Short arms. But athletic.
And he’s 6-6.
We better bring in another RT to compete with Goedeke.
June 24th, 2023 at 3:35 pm
I remember how all the Bucs O lineman shrugged their shoulders at the video of Wirfs jumping out the pool like he wasn’t special. Now he’s the greatest O lineman we ever had. Wirfs is a great person because he’s friendly, humble, and he best at what he does. Moving him a few yards to the left will not make a difference.
June 24th, 2023 at 3:37 pm
@ Pickgrin
Gruber was a bad mofo for sure.. I think Donald Penn was a great LT for the Bucs.. Always overlooked much like a LOT of Bucs.. (Lavonte, Evans..)
June 24th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
The line will be very interesting this year. Haven’t the slightest idea how it will go.
June 24th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Joe, Wirfs won’t be on an island, because he is an island!
June 24th, 2023 at 4:53 pm
I can guarantee Wirfs won’t be playing blackjack on Catalina Island… considering there is no legal gambling on the island despite having a ‘casino’ named building.
June 24th, 2023 at 5:01 pm
HC Grover … ‘A recipe for a Bowles disaster.’
I’d like to say ‘You’re better than that’ Grover but you’ve consistently proven that’s not the case. The only disaster I can see brewing is between your ears.
June 24th, 2023 at 5:13 pm
teacherman777 … I was thinking the same thing about Cody when we drafted him. He played all of his games at left tackle, but scouts expected that he’d have to move inside because of his very short arms (32 3/8″). Didn’t get very high grades in pass protection. The best analysis I read though referenced his 2 missing front teeth and mop of long red hair then wrote ‘so you get the sense you are about to watch a hockey player on turf when you turn on the game tape’. Seems appropriate.
June 24th, 2023 at 5:37 pm
Let’s see how it works with one great lineman and 3 awful ones and one good one coming of an injury.
June 24th, 2023 at 6:28 pm
Well the entire idea of putting Wirfs at LT is that he can play on an island and won’t need help vs the best pass rushers in the league. That’s where Leftwich was so stupid last year. For example, vs the Browns, Smith held his own vs one of the best pass rushers in the NFL for 3 quarters, but was struggling in the 4th, and Leftwich was such a low-IQ dullard, he never gave him any help. With Wirfs, hopefully that’s not an issue – and it’s no slight to Donnie, he was always put out on an island while just being an average tackle, and average tackles are the ones that should get help.
Wirfs is an elite RT, the best in the game, and that’s what you should expect from him at LT – if you don’t get that, no big deal, just move him back to RT.
June 24th, 2023 at 6:33 pm
teacherman777 – you’re average tackle now is going to be around 330lbs, Mauch would need to add quite a bit of muscle to play tackle in the NFL, plus he’s got short arms, which is another issue. 300-pounds for a guard is right in line with what you expect from your more athletic guards. Yes, you can have your road grater guards who are 330lb and as round as a bowling ball, but there’s more variety with guards than tackles.
Licht has a ton of credibility with offensive lineman, and there’s no way he took a guy who he thinks is too small for guard or tackle. Mauch profiles as a prototypical guard, with a mean streak, which is what Licht likes. Also Marpet was only 307lb, and was an all-pro – Maunch, once he’s in an NFL weight room, can easily pack on a few pounds if need be. I can’t really see that being an issue for him.
June 24th, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Legit possibility that Donnie gets his 2nd ring as a starting LT this year.
June 24th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Rod Munch Says:
June 24th, 2023 at 6:28 pm
Well the entire idea of putting Wirfs at LT is that he can play on an island and won’t need help vs the best pass rushers in the league. That’s where Leftwich was so stupid last year. For example, vs the Browns, Smith held his own vs one of the best pass rushers in the NFL for 3 quarters, but was struggling in the 4th, and Leftwich was such a low-IQ dullard, he never gave him any help.
__________
Why in the world would Durable Donnie/Ultimate Warrior have needed any help?
Was his tummy upset?
Did he just find out that the Golden Girls marathon on TBS got cancelled?
Or did he read some hurtful/truthful comments on JBF that struck a little to close to home?
Donnie SUCKS!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
June 24th, 2023 at 9:30 pm
Can’t understand how Mauch is being handed a job. Saw how well it worked last year with their second round pick. It’s a huge transition and that’s not a knock against the players but a reflection of poor coaching choices. Goedeke may turn into a great player, Mauch also but throwing them to the wolves day one is a recipe for disaster.
June 24th, 2023 at 9:50 pm
There’s no blackjack on Catalina 😉 That “casino” is just a movie theater
June 24th, 2023 at 9:52 pm
An island?
Lockdown?
Call the dude “Alcatraz”…
June 25th, 2023 at 12:35 am
I’m usually fairly optimistic but… A massive downgrade at quarterback
A ? at every OL position.
WR depth is very questionable
TEs & RBs … who knows
A ? at every DL position except Vea (who plays 55% of the time)
DB & LB depth concerns
An OC that apparently loves to run the ball in a passing league.
Highest scoring team in the NFL… Three years later, they can barely score a touchdown a game and they’re looking to run with questionable RBs and OL.
It does not look good.
3 years out if they do it right.
Every player will be playing for their future, and then the Buccaneers will draft their QB of the future next year.
June 25th, 2023 at 1:33 am
Well put David.
In “reality” it’s not going to be all roses. Sure plenty of games are winnable BUTTTTT… There are just too many question marks in reality for it to be as fantastic as many are trying hard to convince themselves.
Mayfield IMHO was brought in to sell a popular name seats and jerseys. He was there best shot at making a little money during an obviously down year otherwise. They (the owners) aren’t expecting the world this year. They’re probably trying to break even. Anything beyond that is gravy. Chances are good that this year they lose a little money. Smartest play they had (financially) was Mayfield. Cheapest billboard with the highest financial returns. As far as a short term investment, Mayfield was PERFECT. Sorry to say, they do not actually “expect” him to actually win games.
Also, I would imagine that both the Glazers and Licht are embarrassed that ONCE AGAIN they let NEGLIGENCE rule the day concerning a QB of the future. And no matter what any of you say, they didn’t develop Trask. It’s not Trasks fault. He’s still just a kid. I’m sure that by year 2 he started to get a bit antsy wondering why this team was squandering his opportunity and future. Trask was cursed the moment the buccaneers pulled his ticket and acted like they even sort of had a clue as to what they were doing. Especially Arians selling HIMSELF a bill of goods pretending to himself that he had the energy that it took to develop him.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Trask’s agent is advising him TO RUN FOR IT to a legitimate and serious team that knows what they are doing and where he actually has a shot. Tampa Bay has wasted yet another young qb’s time. VALUABLE TIME.
Trask has something special. You don’t do what he did in college the way he did it, with a sub-par team as the gators were in maybe the toughest division without something special.
They should have a new “by law” specifically for the Buccaneers that GUARANTEES that ANY and EVERY qb they draft be awarded 100 million GUARANTEED if a qb decides to put his future in the hands of this organization.
Perhaps then the Buccaneer Organization will take it SERIOUSLY! Also, squandering another qb’s future should come with the loss of a first round pick for EVERY YEAR they neglect to at least ATTEMPT to develop a qb. MAYBE THEN the buccaneers would be a consideration for any poor soul who is foolish enough not to boycott the draft pick from Tampa if you’re a QB.
Maybe Tampa would be credible going forward. As much as I love my Bucs, I don’t respect or support what this organization has done to young qbs “so far”. Perhaps with serious penalties for ruining futures, I’M SURE that, that would change the history of quarterback neglect in Tampa Bay Florida.
Keep in mind I DID NOT say that a lousy qb was ever going to make it, but we wouldn’t know because we’ve never actually TRIED to develop one. You’d think we would have at least developed one ON ACCIDENT by now! But… NOPE!
RIDICULOUSLY PATHETIC and INEXCUSABLE!
I would imagine that potential qb’s of the future are in a very serious fear that Tampa will call their names. Poor SOB’s. I feel for them. May God ease their pain and suffering in Tampa.
GO BUCS!
June 25th, 2023 at 9:09 am
Obvious Says:
June 25th, 2023 at 1:33 am
“And no matter what any of you say, they didn’t develop Trask. It’s not Trasks fault”
This is a flawed argument when more quarterbacks from the 2nd round don’t make it then do make it.
Out of the 2nd rounders “most” of the ones that made it have been taken in the 1st 5 picks of the 2nd round.
Drew Brees (31), Andy Dalton (35), Derek Carr (35), Jalen Hurts (53)
Charlie Batch, Brian Brohm, Brock Osweiler, John Beck, Colin Kaepernick, Kevin Kolb, Drew Stanton, Chad Henne, Quincy Carter, Geno Smith, Pat White, Jake Plummer, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tarvaris Jackson, Jimmy Clausen, Kordell Stewart, Todd Collins, Kellen Clemens, Marques Tuiasosopo, Christian Hackenberg, Shaun King, Tony Banks, DeShone Kiser, Drew Lock, Kyle Trask…
So 29 total QBs taken since 1994 in the 2nd round. I will let you decide how many became excellent NFL players.
June 25th, 2023 at 11:30 am
geno711..the dude lost me at the very beginning of that long post when he basically said Mayfield will sell jerseys.
Anyone want a Mayfield jersey?
June 25th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
I expect Goedeke to be much improved as he has a year under his belt. And excited to see what Mauch can do plus the new FA signing (not quite as excited). Our O line coaching has been A+ last few years. No question
June 25th, 2023 at 3:27 pm
That’s why you move him there. But also if Feiler fails they still have Leverett, Hainsey, or dare I saw Stinnie.
June 25th, 2023 at 10:04 pm
SECRET WEAPONS
1. Tight ends. Bucs have drafted some big dudes the past two years.
2. Chipping RB. They typically chip to the left.
I swear you guys don’t watch football.
June 26th, 2023 at 1:12 am
Great Point Joe!
BTW if Kerwan said it you can take it to the bank.
Hope Wirfs owns his island and the right side doesn’t need help from the tight end or RB.
Go Bucs!