Hope Rests On … Luke Goedeke?
July 3rd, 2023
Unique observation.
The Numbers Guys simply have no use for Kyler Traskfield.
As Joe has documented, The Numbers Guys at BSPN, Mike Clay, a spreadsheeter, and Seth Walder, a guy who never met a number he didn’t like, believe the quarterback position will drag the Bucs down this year. That’s why they have the Tampa Bay roster ranked at No. 27 — sixth-worst in the NFL.
However, Walder confessed the Bucs have good players but it likely won’t matter with Traskfield behind center.
In fact, Walder decided to walk out on a pirate’s plank. He stated the only way he believes the Bucs can have any success is that Traskfield gets exceptional blocking from the starting tackles. Therefore, Walder believes (incredibly) that the “X-factor” for the Bucs is none other than Luke Goedeke.
Yes, you read that right. Not Traskfield, not Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, not Rachaad White, but Goedeke, the projected starter at right tackle.
X factor for 2023: RT Luke Goedeke. The second-year player is kicking out to right tackle with Tristan Wirfs moving to the left side. Goedeke is essentially unproven at the position at the NFL level. For a team this low in our rankings, the Bucs have quite a talented roster … outside of quarterback. But if Mayfield or Trask can have two reliable tackles to go along with the strong receiver core, things might not be so bad in Tampa in 2023.
Of course, Goedeke is green as grass at right tackle in the NFL — don’t get Joe started that he was a right tackle in college blocking children. Yeah, in the MAC!
Sure, Goedeke looked “comfortable” at right tackle in his lone game there last year, a glorified exhibition game in Atlanta. The Dixie Chicks had trash for a pass rush last year.
Joe doesn’t give a damn if Goedeke looked comfortable or was sweating his stones off. Could he block? That’s what Joe cares about. It’s one thing if Goedeke looked good against the Dixie Chicks. What’s he going to look like facing Cam Jordan and Brian Burns twice a year?
When is the last time you read the key to a team either being in the running to draft its franchise quarterback or making a playoff run rides on its right tackle?
July 3rd, 2023 at 8:13 am
if he’s the hope we’re f’d.
July 3rd, 2023 at 8:14 am
In the pictures I saw of Goedeke on the Buc website from OTA’s he looks like he got a lot bigger. I’m assumming stronger too. The dude looked like he aged five years in the offseason. He had his NFL awaking last year. I expect him to do well. You’ve seen him Joe, look bigger, stronger to you?
July 3rd, 2023 at 8:30 am
If he stinks it up at RT they need to have someone take his place before second week of August.
July 3rd, 2023 at 8:49 am
Danger Will Robinson! If a boat has 2 holes and only one cork it will sink.
July 3rd, 2023 at 9:06 am
We’ve also got Walton, Skule, Hermanns, & Niese competing to fill the void left by the departure of Josh Wells. Goedeke is another player on offense that should benefit from us switching to a predominately zone look running the ball as even in the MAC, C.Michigan for all of Lukes’ time there were a zone heavy rushing attack, which might play to Lukes’ skillset better than lining up at OG and being asked to make you’re block on the man lined up over you on the way to getting paws on a 2nd level defender. Now he’ll be asked to hit a particular spot in space(probably on the move) and seal out more often than winning a 1on1.
July 3rd, 2023 at 9:22 am
That’s his natural position….I expect him to perform well.
July 3rd, 2023 at 9:29 am
I do not buy the ‘Traskfield’ spin. The HC/DC wants Mayfield. The Traskfield spin he started is to keep the Trask Mob pacified. Then we now hear of OC/QBC Canales who somehow is going to ‘develop’ Mayfield while designing and running a whole new offense as OC. This recipe is for a 24 skidoo disaster in the making. How can OC/QBC Canales even design his offense with 2 totally diff QB styles and not know who the starter is?
July 3rd, 2023 at 9:31 am
I know that being strong isn’t the only trait to being a good RT but wasn’t it Wirfs that said Goedeke is the strongest dude on the roster. Also RT is his natural position. If Goedeke fails, and I don’t think he will, there is always Matt Feiler. So there is hope.
July 3rd, 2023 at 9:36 am
Hope so. A full offseason in an NFL weightroom can do wonders for a guy’s build.
July 3rd, 2023 at 10:16 am
Licht passed on Ed Ingram who started all 17 games for a playoff squad , Goedeke had better pan out for Lichts’ sake.
July 3rd, 2023 at 11:06 am
I’m still worried about Luke. In the final game against the Falcons last season, he allowed the DE to get inside his chest numerous times. This tells me his arm lenght might become an issue. A better DE would’ve eaten his lunch.
July 3rd, 2023 at 11:36 am
Joe…..how do you feel about the word hope again?
July 3rd, 2023 at 11:53 am
By the end of the season he seemed to have figured it out
July 3rd, 2023 at 12:03 pm
If Goedeke isn’t good enough to be the starting RT, the Bucs will find somebody (Brandon Walton?) who is. If Bowles leaves a struggling Goedeke in the starting lineup, he’s basically firing himself.
July 3rd, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Who will his replacement be after we play the saints? I agree with Joe, we only play Atlanta twice, after that the pass rushers we will face, we may have to sign another qb or two because ours will be on injured reserve.
July 3rd, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Didn’t Hainsey play tackle at ND. Why is he not getting a shot at RT?
July 3rd, 2023 at 12:24 pm
BSPN should laid these guys off
July 3rd, 2023 at 12:29 pm
“Didn’t Hainsey play tackle at ND. Why is he not getting a shot at RT?”
Hainsey indeed played RT in college, but was moved inside as a pro because he’s not the best option to be left on an island with speedier and more athletic edge rushers he’d face in the NFL. So it’s why he’s been cross-trained at C & G, because it compliments his strengths while covering up some of his weaknesses as an interior OLmen. Also this is the first year since drafting Wirfs that he isn’t locked in at RT and the staff has been prepping Bobby to see action since being drafted. Brandon Walton imo is probably the lead dog in being our new reserve swing-tackle.
July 3rd, 2023 at 12:58 pm
With Lict’s record on drafting offensive lineman and developing them I think Luke Goedke will be a solid starter. Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa were both very good on the line. Cappa turned into a starter during his second year and then got a huge contract with the Bengals not only that but both lineman were from small schools. Godeke fits that mold he has a year under his belt and offseason I think Goedke will do well based on what we have done in the past.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:50 pm
The O-line will be better this year. Size on th left and athleticism on the right they have options on what they can run.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Joe … ‘That’s why they have the Tampa Bay roster ranked at No. 27 — sixth-worst in the NFL.’
Personally I think they’re way off, BUT … IF their prediction holds true, we’d be picking #6 next year in the draft. We should be able to grab a decent QB drafting that high.
My personal feeling is that we’ll finish someplace between 7-10 and 10-7. Where in there we land will depend upon (1) how well we do in close games; and (2) how well we can do in our division IMO.
Last year we finished 8-9, scoring only 313 points (18.4 PPG) while surrendering 358 points (21.1 PPG). IF we could’ve just scored 3 more PPG, we could’ve won 2 more games (we lost 2 games by 2 points or less last season) and could’ve potentially finished 10-7 (maybe even 11-6 IF we’d really tried in that last Atlanta game).
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:54 pm
I am hopeful Goedeke, JTS and L. Hall will have breakout years.
When Goedeke was drafted I was skeptical of his ability to start at right guard. During the preseason (especially against Indy) he was straight up “rag dolled” by the bigger and stronger IDL he faced.
I compare Goedeke to Alex Cappa. Both were small school athletic tackles with similar body styles who were asked to move inside to fill a team need at guard.
Cappa’s first two seasons were also pretty bad or at least below mediocre but he improved with time and experience.
I believe moving Goedeke to RT will help him because he will be facing smaller and lighter linemen – however he will also be facing more athletic and quicker players and I’m not 100% sure he will be able to handle those assignments either…
This team has so many question marks this season… This is another to add to the list.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:57 pm
Good info Dooley; thanks. I too expect Goedeke to do well at RT since it’s his natural position apparently, all OLinemen seem to get bigger & stronger by their sophomore year, and he’s now got a year of NFL experience under his belt. He’s a keeper.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Jose, for a guy who hates mock drafts you sure do love mock-season-predictions. Anyway, things like this are killing me and the end of July cannot get here fast enough.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:59 pm
Good info Dooley; thanks.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:59 pm
I too expect Goedeke to do well at RT since it’s his natural position apparently, all OLinemen seem to get bigger & stronger after their rookie year, and he’s now got a year of NFL experience under his belt.
July 3rd, 2023 at 2:07 pm
*** Left guard not right.
July 3rd, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Goedeke will succeed at RT. He’s coming into year 2 with his eyes wide open. He’s super strong, super competitive, knows RT, and will put in the work. He’s got speed rushers and power rushers to practice against. No reason to think he won’t succeed.
July 3rd, 2023 at 2:51 pm
LOL, He is a “Glass Eater”, so he will be fine, just ask him
July 3rd, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Hope is not a strategy
July 3rd, 2023 at 3:21 pm
My new nicknames for Bucs O-linemen
LT Tristan Wirfs – “Chewbacca” because he is a beast
LG position not fully decided yet, if Fieler then he’s “the Taxman”, gonna make you pay the tax
C Ryan Jensen – Eric the Red,
RG Cody Mauch – Munch (he will chew up D linemen)
RT Luke Goedecke – T Rex (he has short arms)
July 3rd, 2023 at 3:58 pm
In Licht I trust! Especially when it comes to highly drafted OL players.
Goedeke will be fine. He’ll take some lumps early on most likely but will turn out just fine at RT.
The fact that there is ZERO talk of “competition” for the starting RT spot leading into Training Camp tells you that the coaches are also very comfortable Goedeke will be solid.
July 3rd, 2023 at 5:22 pm
I think he could be a decent run-blocking RT.
If we play a TE to chip on passing downs and a TE to help the RT block, then I can see Goedeke being okay.
I think it was unfair to start him last year.
Offensive lineman need 2 years to gain the strength necessary to play offensive line.
Cappa was much better in year 3.
So was Jensen.
So was Marpet.
I hope Stinnie can start at RG and Mauch can have a red-shirt year.
And let Mauch play some 6th lineman, like a TE to get some reps this season.
I do not recommend starting Mauch year 1.
He could lose his confidence like what happened to Goedeke last year.
July 3rd, 2023 at 7:49 pm
TampaBayBucsFanSince1976 Says:
July 3rd, 2023 at 10:16 am
Licht passed on Ed Ingram who started all 17 games for a playoff squad.
Did you watch Ingram all his games last year? You pushed him before the draft last year. I get it, you liked him.
But the dude ended up giving up 11 sacks as a guard. That is not good.
Would you be on the Ingram bandwagon if he had given up 11 sacks for the Bucs last year?
July 4th, 2023 at 5:04 am
While I understand the Logic of the ridiculous stat nerds. If Goedeke fails at RT what does Bowles do? History shows…nothing. What does Canales do…who knows.
Canales/Bowles better have a Plan B. But
Move Wirfs back? Then what? Kick Feiler out to LT? Left guard? Who’s on first! Shuffling an offensive line mid season is a recipe for disaster!
Bottom line is they better be pretty damn sure Goedeke or someone else can handle it before the season starts.
BTW who’s to say Mauch can handle the same thing they tried with Goedeke last year? That is, going from college to the NFL with a position switch as a rookie.
Those worthless preseason games should be interesting Joe.
Go Bucs!
July 4th, 2023 at 9:33 pm
The best teams always seem to rely on young unproven guys. The chiefs played about five rookie DBs last year, I think. Coaching.