Pewter Report analyzes every place’s strengths and weaknesses in Tampa Bay, because the Bucs try and three-peat as NFC South champions.
QuarterbacksRunning BacksWide ReceiversTight Ends
Subsequent up is the offensive line, which is able to characteristic two newcomers, two place adjustments and the return of Professional Bowl heart Ryan Jensen. The Bucs parted methods with left sort out Donovan Smith and proper guard Shaq Mason. Smith had a horrible season and was affected by private issues that sadly affected his play. He was cuty attributable to efficiency and since Tampa Bay wanted to create some wage cap house. The Bucs wished to get larger and youthful, which led to Mason being traded to Houston.
The Bucs added veteran Matt Feiler will begin at left guard and drafted Cody Mauch within the second spherical to interchange Mason at proper guard. All-Professional Tristan Wirfs is being moved from proper sort out to left sort out to interchange Smith. Luke Goedeke, final yr’s second-rounder who struggled mightily at left guard, goes to interchange Wirfs at proper sort out. The return of Jensen, who missed the 2022 common season with a severe knee harm, ought to present a lift of expertise and management to the revamped offensive line.
The Power of Bucs OL: Dimension, Pace, Star Energy
Bucs OTs Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay’s retooled offensive line includes a large left aspect with 6-foot-5, 345-pound Tristan Wirfs at sort out subsequent to new left guard Matt Feiler, who stands 6-foot-6, and weighs 330 kilos. The Bucs shall be operating loads of mid-zone and broad zone in Dave Canales’ new offensive system, which comes from Seattle. Wirfs and Feiler ought to create a transferring wall and permit the Bucs to run equally nicely to the left and to the correct, in addition to up the center.
Wirfs is likely one of the league’s most athletic offensive linemen and it shouldn’t take him lengthy to grasp the left sort out place. In reality, don’t rule out one other Professional Bowl season for Wirfs at his new spot. If his knee holds up, Jensen ought to return with a vengeance in 2023 after lacking the whole common season. He grew to become a Professional Bowler for the primary time in 2021 in serving to the Bucs go 13-4, which set the single-season franchise file for wins. Wirfs and Jensen are nice leaders alongside the offensive line, with the long-haired ginger heart being the tone-setter up entrance.
The precise aspect of the road may be very inexperienced, as second-rounder Cody Mauch strikes from left sort out to North Dakota State to proper guard in his rookie season. The Bucs have had success transferring small college left tackles inside, and consider that Mauch’s profession will find yourself someplace between that of Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa. Mauch is an excellent athlete and strikes nicely in house. He wants method work in move safety, however must be a really perfect slot in Canales’ zone run sport.
Luke Goedeke began at proper sort out for 2 years at Central Michigan, and in addition began at proper sort out in Week 18 at Atlanta instead of Wirfs. He seemed extra pure there and the Bucs consider he’ll thrive at his extra pure place. Whereas inexperienced, the correct aspect of the offensive line with Goedeke and Mauch is fairly athletic and aggressive.
The Bucs have some strong, younger expertise to supply some depth. Gone is swing sort out Josh Wells, however backup Robert Hainsey began each sport at heart, Nick Leverett began half the season at left guard and Brandon Walton was a fill-in at sort out and can also be able to enjoying guard. Justin Skule and undrafted free agent Silas Dzani may sq. off in camp for the correct to interchange Wells as Tampa Bay’s swing sort out.
Finest-Case State of affairs at OL
Tampa Bay’s offensive line includes a former first-rounder in Wirfs, a pair of second-rounders in Goedeke and Mauch and the league’s highest-paid heart in Jensen. The expertise is there for the Bucs O-line to be equally adept at move safety and run blocking this yr if all of it comes collectively and this group can keep wholesome and discover cohesion.
The Weaknesses of Bucs OL: Shuffling The Deck
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs gained’t have a single starter returning in the identical spot as a yr in the past. Robert Hainsey began at heart all yr instead of Jensen, and it stays to be seen if the 32-year previous can come all the best way again from season-ending knee surgical procedure. Jensen returned for the Bucs’ playoff loss to the Cowboys, however struggled in his first motion again. But he’ll be the one mainstay on the road.
Can Tristan Wirfs make a seamless swap to left sort out in 2023, or will it take him a full season to totally modify and return to enjoying at a Professional Bowl stage? Can Matt Feiler bounce again from a down yr with the Chargers at age 30? Will Luke Goedeke discover success at proper sort out, or will he develop into a bust in Tampa Bay? How will rookie Cody Mauch deal with the transition from North Dakota State to the NFL, and the transfer from left sort out to proper guard?
There are loads of query marks surrounding the Bucs’ shuffled offensive line heading into coaching camp. If the Bucs’ coaches can put this puzzle collectively Tampa Bay’s offensive line has the potential to as soon as once more develop into one of many league’s greatest items. But when any of the puzzle items doesn’t match, it may make for an unsightly image up entrance.
Worst-Case State of affairs at OL
Tampa Bay’s revamped offensive line may run into some severe issues if the inexperience on the correct aspect exhibits up in a foul method, and if Jensen doesn’t return to his Professional Bowl kind. This group has the potential to make the operating sport take off within the new mid-zone and wide-zone scheme, but it surely may take a while to actually grasp the brand new system.
