Good Ol’ Tristan Wirfs
March 22nd, 2024
Dominant stat.
“This Joe” confesses to have been worried sick and freaked out about moving All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs to left tackle.
It was later learned the pending move freaked out Wirfs, too.
There are four unshakable beliefs in Joe’s four-legged table of football success: Get a quarterback, get after the quarterback, production, production, production and don’t fix what is not broken.
Moving Wirfs, the game’s best right tackle, grotesquely violated Joe’s final credo. Fortunately, this didn’t bite the Bucs in the posterior. Talk about a sigh of relief.
How well did Wirfs play at left tackle? Nobody played better. Per a series of stat geeks who monitored quarterback pressures, it seems the Bucs were tied with the 49ers for lowest percentage of pressures allowed through the left tackle position.
Both the Bucs (Wirfs) and the 49ers (Trent Williams) allowed 12 percent of pressures on pass plays. No wonder Baker Mayfield is so tight with Wirfs.
Thank goodness Joe’s fears were not realized.
Allowed pressure last season by offensive line/their percentage of dropbacks with some responsibility, and QB self-owned pressures.
Trent Williams, Penei Sewell, Tristan Wirfs reliable as ever
Jason Kelce glaring loss after retiring
Joe Alt logical fit with Titans pic.twitter.com/butUztIZUX
— Football Insights đź“Š (@fball_insights) March 21, 2024
March 22nd, 2024 at 4:36 am
I had no doubt.
March 22nd, 2024 at 4:59 am
The best tackles play Left tackle. It is the most critical position. Thats where the leagues best Defensive ends line up.
To leave Wirfs on the right side is a huge waste of talent. He’d be blocking the defense’s run stopping Defensive end. Teams typically run to the right side. TEs line up next to te right tackle. Again, wirfs is facing a lesser defensive end, with the help of a TE.
Meanwhile, a less talented tackle is by himself, facing a extremely talented pass rusher. At risk? Baker Mayfield’s blind side. A free shot at the player key to all our success.
And Left Tackles make substantially more money. Keeping Wirfs on the left side is literrally taking money from his pocket.
Its common practice to draft a talented young Tackle, and start him out on the right side. Let him adjust to the NFl speed. After a season or two- he goes to the hot side- left tackle.
Wirfs has played left tackle in college. Hes not learning how to lanch a ship at Cape Canaveral.
Left hand down, slide left, slide left, slide left
Right hand down, slide right, slide right, slide right.
It’s a game. The best offensive linemen plays on the left side. Wirf is that guy- he has to have Mayfields back.
Ill never understand any reluctance to place Wirf where he belongs.
Donovan Smith was a fine, unappreciated tackle- but Some Tampa fans have always hated every left tackle thats played here, since JoeBuc opened shop.
But it reached a point where Donavan’s play was slipping, and Wirfs had become a dominant Tackle. The Bucs made the move, that they had decided on years before. Im sure of that.
It was always the right move. Right for Wirfs. Right for the Bucs
Sorry it was so stressful for both of you, but it turned out EXACTLY the way it was supposed to.
March 22nd, 2024 at 6:08 am
We all know it freaked you out. Leading up to the start of the 2023 season, you wrote an article a week on why it freaked you out.
March 22nd, 2024 at 6:32 am
I believe he can play better. Tristan is a freak. We may see another level from him…
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:03 am
Also agree with G- Buc. I think we may see him at a higher level this season. There is an exciting vibe with the Bucs right now, and it will carry through the season. Hopefully, less stressful too. Go Bucs!
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:05 am
the man is gifted ,if he stays healthy he will be in canton
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:21 am
Wirfs did this battling some pretty serious injuries last year too. He really had no business being out there a few games playing on one leg. What a stud. I’m so glad he’s a Buc.
People need to keep him in mind when they think I rather have the 2nd ranked (whatever position) over the 4th best in a particular position in the draft. That 4th chosen guy could very well be the best.
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:01 am
i’m liking tristan’s war paint !
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:03 am
If I’m reading the graph right, then Mauch gave up 27% pressures as a rookie. He’ll get stronger over the off-season and do much better next year. Hainsey was 2nd best at 16% !
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:15 am
And all this while being hurt late last season. What a stud! Bucs definitely got the best tackle in that tackle rich draft. In JL we trust.
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:23 am
the new york giants are also starting to be very happy with andrew thomas…
but on the other side of town, the new york jets are starting to think mekhi becton has become a total bust…
both guys were part of that tackle rich draft
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:40 am
Yes, and the 40+ articles on the subject were tiresome. Kinda stupid when someone constantly beats a dead horse and is constantly wrong.
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:48 am
We did have something broken……left tackle…..and by moving Wirfs there, we fixed it.
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:54 am
He should be comfortable now. Next season is going to be good for him.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:38 am
That move could have backfired massively. They either got lucky or had a pretty good idea that not only would it fix their left-tackle issues, it would rehabilitate Goedeke as well.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:52 am
The chart shows a pressure rate of 12% (LT) — 21% (LG) — 16% (C) — 27% (RG) — 21% (RT).
Wirfs was amazing and LG was not great. But after that, I’m full of surprise. Everyone eviscerates Hainsey but… 16% is better than the rest of the line after Wirfs, of course (although that rate puts him in the worst half league wide). Maunch? I thought he was doing better than that. Hopefully, Maunch sees a second year boost. Goedeke is in the better half but, again, I thought he played better than that.
But, overall, our O Line compares fairly well with, say, the highly-rated Eagles except for now-retired Jason Kelce at center who was almost perfect.
Obviously, there is a lot of room for improvement. We really need Maunch to make that jump. But I also think if we get solid improvement (in addition to a veteran Maunch) in EITHER LG or C, we can overload a side enough to start seeing more reliable rushing.
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:05 am
Ooof, bad numbers for Mauch…
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:06 am
Hahahaha! Joe eviscerated Show Me the TD’s.
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:27 am
Capt Tim
Excellent post! I think most of us are familiar with the old bromide of teams wanting their best OT’s on the left side to protect the QB’s Blindside. And in fact I think there was even a movie that included it right in the title.
But not many of us take the time as you did to point out the difference in opponent that RT’s and LT’s face much less where TE’s lineup making the RT’s job easier. Plus the history of other teams drafting talent to teach on the right before moving to the left.
WELL DONE!
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:09 am
The chart shows a pressure rate of 12% (LT) — 21% (LG) — 16% (C) — 27% (RG) — 21% (RT).
Who-ever graded that did not watch the same games I did. And I’m an o-line coach, so I know how to grade linemen. Hainsey was far, far worse than 16%. The other numbers look about right. Hainsey graded out about 32% for just the 2 Carolina games… and was worse at Atlanta.
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:19 am
StPeteBucFan,
Thank you. Very nice of you to say!
Joe- thank you for beating the dead horse! Month long discussions with my fellow well informed BucFans are why Ive been showing up here 10+ (15?) years.
Sadly, Ill love posting”draft in any Order-DE,Pass rushing Lber, center, guard”
Right up to the draft. Thats what fans do! Voice our opinions on what we think the team needs to win.
And Ill be here, until I cant be here.
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:27 am
Where’s Chris From Apple Roof been? I hope he’s okay.
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:43 am
His left groin needs 1,000 more reps.
I once saw an old Donald Penn, who we never should have cut!
Donald Penn had been moved to RT.
And his right groin was so slow!
The kick out is everything for a tackle. Left or Right.
Goedeke is good to go at RT because his right groin is strong. He has a solid kick out.
Tristan’s left groin will get more flexible and more powerful with every rep.
God willing, he will stay healthy and give us a decade or more of stability.
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Is anybody head spinning like mine I like football but u guys post like u r being paid cause u r so in demand too run an NFL defense or even offense
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:16 pm
We moved Wirfs to tackle, started a rookie, a journeyman guard, and Hainsey in the interior, and dodged a bullet. Is this not the definition of playing with fire? We have been down Marpet and Jensen for two seasons. Gotta fix that.
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Oh, nice, I like data.
That’s an interesting chart, made even better by the fact that Wirfs played hurt for a bunch of games last year, and to my eye there was a clear drop off for those games. Remove them from the chart, and he’s literally the best LT in football. Licht, get his long-term deal done, his price is only going to go up.
Cody, to his defense, after getting off to a very rough start, really improved as the year went along. I’m still thinking he’s going to be a very good player – he was just physically overmatched – but watching him he always seemed like he knew what he was supposed to be doing, he just wasn’t strong enough to do it. However, one of the big reasons that Licht drafts college tackles, is that they have big frames and can put on a lot of muscle, and I think we’re going to hear in training camp about how much stronger Cody is. I hope so anyways, because if we don’t, I’ll be concerned.
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:43 pm
If you buy into those statistics, then the weakness on the offensive line last year was the right guard. That was Mauch. Not sure why everyone gets a big Rocky Johnson over this guy.
March 22nd, 2024 at 1:44 pm
LANshark Says:
Who-ever graded that did not watch the same games I did. And I’m an o-line coach, so I know how to grade linemen. Hainsey was far, far worse than 16%
———–
Hainsey was very solid in pass protection, which is what his rep is, and what the chart shows. He struggled in the run game.
March 22nd, 2024 at 4:33 pm
Hainsey must be relegated to backup lineman. He’s a good backup. He was the weak link in the chain. Mauch will be better next season.
March 22nd, 2024 at 4:36 pm
Teach that’s about one or two too many mentions about a man’s groin for my liking.
March 22nd, 2024 at 5:19 pm
This shows Hainsey being decent, which I just don’t buy. I would imagine the metric with the guard and center is difficult because they pass players off to each other quite a bit. The rookie right guard looked horrible but he’s a rookie. I still think improving the center position would improve the entire interior line.
Besides, this is not taking into account running, plays, which interior line also had plenty of issues.
I fully expect them to draft a center or guard and they’ve already signed two guards in free agency. I am all for drafting the center out of Oregon, but if they do nothing else it should still improve simply by everyone having another year at that position together.
March 22nd, 2024 at 5:27 pm
Wirfs is the best lineman in football. Hopefully when the negotiations for his new contract are done he’s the highest paid OL in the game. He deserves it, all pro at RT and LT
March 22nd, 2024 at 7:06 pm
And I was in these comments saying it would work. The idea that an elite right tackle couldn’t learn to play left tackle made no sense to me. High schoolers with far less football intelligence do it all the time.