Tristan Wirfs: Bucs Ran To Move The Chains And Ended Up Winning
December 15th, 2024
Explains change in strategy.
As Joe noted, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh likes to build a team the way his old Michigan coach Bo Schembechler built them: Tough, physical, scary defense and pounding the football on the ground.
The Bucs today showed Harbaugh how it’s done with the big boys in the NFL.
And few were happier than Tristan Wirfs.
The Bucs’ left tackle told Joe the Bucs were passing to set up the run in the first half.
The Bucs were doing OK after a shaky start. Then in the second half, Wirfs said the Bucs decided to play ground-and-pound just like Schembechler taught his old quarterback, Harbaugh.
In the process, the Bucs fully dismantled the Chargers.
“We knew it was going to be physical coming in,” Wirfs said after the game. “We knew they would be stingy in the red zone — I don’t even think we scored in the red zone to be honest.”
(Rachaad White’s 11-yard touchdown catch from Baker Mayfield was the lone Bucs touchdown in the red zone).
So the Bucs changed gears in the second half.
“I think we committed to the run a little bit,” Wirfs said of the mentality after halftime. “We had some runs sprinkled in, in the first half, where we were kind of mainly throwing.
“So [at halftime] we were like, ‘Let’s stick to the ground game and get the chains moving. It worked out for us.”
Damn right, it worked out for the Bucs. Bucky Irving and White combined for 181 rushing yards. And Wirfs was right in that the Bucs were chewing up clock along the way.
“To finish the game running the ball was pretty awesome,” Wirfs said.
That’s no lie!
December 15th, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Love to see the ground game going so well. It makes our Bucs so dangerous!
December 15th, 2024 at 9:59 pm
My man Wirfs…my next jersey since i pushed so hard for us to draft him…then pushed to move him to LT….next jersey will be big V who i also pushed for..
Relax guys and rest…that was a HUGE win!
December 15th, 2024 at 10:01 pm
They will be dangerous the rest of the way. The new guys on defense have made a difference and Baker is so confident it doesn’t faze him if he makes a bad play, he’ll turn right around and run the same play. He has complete faith in his team mates and he loves his team. He is the Dude. It’s too bad his fans who came here with him are some rancid crying boo boos, they’ve made it hard for me to cheer for the guy. He’s a good guy, qb and is very entertaining. This game has a few things to complain about but why bother because it was a gorgeous win.
December 15th, 2024 at 10:01 pm
Baker would have had 100 yards if it weren’t for the holding penalties
December 15th, 2024 at 10:01 pm
Here’s an unrelated hot take… I like the Seahawks uniforms they’re wearing tonight, even if they’re just ripoffs of the Orlando Thunder (although the Thunder’s jerseys were much better). Anywho, the Seattle jerseys are way more interesting than the boring nonsense the Packers are wearing.
December 15th, 2024 at 10:03 pm
Bowles deserves the credit for getting them ready to play on the West Coast, and especially, for such a solid 3rd Quarter.
Running over Wirfs and Goedeke instead of up the middle was smart.
It’s going to cost a lot to keep Coen. He should not take the first crappy job that comes along.
December 15th, 2024 at 10:04 pm
The 3 seed is in play…
December 15th, 2024 at 10:10 pm
Is it just me or is Baker looking faster when he runs?
The Bucs have 2 really good RBs, a duel threat QB and a HOF WR….
The NFC is wide open this year….Lions have the injury bug, Vikings have Sam Darnold, Philly has there coaching flaws…
Bucs fans should be thinking Superbowl, believe it or not. Todd Bowels certainly seems to have his players thinking it.
December 15th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 “It’s too bad his fans who came here with him are some rancid crying boo boos” you must mean some of his fans? Why don’t you tell us which ones? Saying rancid crying boo boos makes one sound like a bit of a twit DBBF 99.
December 15th, 2024 at 11:16 pm
@Tbbucs3, im not gonna jinx it…but yep never know.
This game showed who we are and we are SB caliber once again! everybody just has to keep it together and stay on the same page…and try, try, try, to stay healthy….some of our backups are shining through and im f n loving it
December 15th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
It was nice to see us punishing someone with our run game to close it out, including going for it on 4th down I believe at the end?
It also helps when you’re able to dominate time if possession like we did today. 37 min – 23 min so believe. That’s outstanding.
December 15th, 2024 at 11:43 pm
We know we can play in the trenches with anyone. Credit to JL for building that out through the draft. We just need the back end of the D to get healthy and who knows what we can do in the playoffs. I don’t think many teams will wanna see us.
If we only get in and win one game again… I hope it’s the Packers. Tired of hearing about them and Love and their young talent built through the draft. THAT’S US! The team with a recent SB, who has beat the Packers 3 straight games, who won a playoff game last year just like they did. Everyone acting like they are on the cusp of greatness. That’s the BUCS!
December 15th, 2024 at 11:43 pm
So Wirfs is playing ok at left tackle? Hmmm. So the switch from right to left was a good move? Hmmm i hope they keep him there at Lt. Go BUCS.
December 16th, 2024 at 7:27 am
You can give Bowles all the credit you want. I’ll give it to the guy who’s offense domminated a top defense in their house. Liam Coen gets my game ball for this one.