Pewter Report’s Bucs Camp Diaries, a popular training camp feature on PewterReport.com, returns in 2023. We are excited to have two really good players to profile in veteran offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the Bucs’ first-round pick.

Wirfs will offer up his perspective of Dave Canales’ new offense and learning to play left tackle this summer. Kancey will take readers through the experience of rookie life in his first training camp in Tampa Bay in the Bucs defense. Look for Wirfs’ and Kancey’s Camp Diaries each week throughout training camp and the preseason.

Tristan Wirfs is perhaps the most talented player on the Bucs roster. Entering his fourth year in Tampa Bay, Wirfs won a Super Bowl during his rookie season and has been a back-to-back Pro Bowler and All-Pro. Now he’s facing the challenge of maintaining that high level of play switching from right tackle to left tackle, replacing Donovan Smith. Wirfs is emerging as one of the team’s leaders at the young age of 24 and will share his great perspective with Bucs fans during training camp.

Tristan Wirfs Camp Diary – Entry 1: I Feel As Strong As I’ve Ever Been

Tristan Wirfs Camp Diary – Entry 2: I Slid Into Luke McCombs’ DMs!

Tristan Wirfs Camp Diary – Entry 3: Heat Works To Our Advantage

The Jets Can Really Rush The Passer

By Tristan Wirfs As Told To Scott Reynolds

It was a little bit of surprise when they told me I wasn’t going to play on Friday [in the Bucs’ preseason opener]. That’s what we did last year, so I wasn’t too surprised. I wouldn’t mind not playing against the Jets if we get enough good work in against them in practice. I just want to go against somebody else to see where I’m at. I’ve gone against my own guys. You seem them every day and you know what they’re going to do, and they know what you’re going to do. We’ll see how it goes.

The intensity gets really ramped up during joint practices. They are intense, one-on-ones are intense. The most intense drill I’ve ever seen is the punt coverage drills. They get so chippy. What do you expect? You go against your own guys for so long, you want to hit somebody else. It’s fun and exciting.

I think the hype around the Jets is warranted. Aaron Rodgers a Hall of Fame quarterback. It was the same thing here. You remember how much attention we got when Tom Brady came here. It’s the same thing they’re going through.

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers – Photo by: USA Today

Aaron is an incredible player. It’s going to be fun to be around that atmosphere and being around him. It’s definitely going to be intense and the intensity will be turned up even more because of Hard Knocks. That’ll be something. It’s great for them and it’s great for football – all that buzz and all that hype.

This will be a good test for us. The Jets can rush the passer. Me and Coach Joe [Gilbert] have been talking that a lot of their stuff comes off stutter steps. Stutter-to-long arm, stutter-to-power, whatever. So you’ve got to be good with your eyes. You can’t be seeing everything with those stutters and stop your feet. Just being dialed in with your eyes and your hand placement and keeping your feet moving when you punch – that’s the key.

You have to be somewhat patient. You don’t want to come out of your shoes when you punch because that stops your feet and it gets your timing off. Us as tackles, we have the recipe to be successful in pass protection. We just have to be dialed in and get your feet to do what they need to do.

Playing On The O-Line Is A Thankless Job

It was good to see some guys get some live action. It was good to see [Justin] Skule and Luke [Goedeke] get the start at tackle. I thought they did awesome. We had a lot of mental mistakes as a team, little things we can get cleaned up. I know there were some frustrating things – things that Luke was frustrated with. But as a tackle you have to have a short memory. He’s very hard on himself – we both are. I try to be the voice of reason for him – and him for me. But you’re going to get beat sometimes. It happens. It sucks. You just have to learn from it and move on.

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

It’s insane because playing offensive line is definitely a thankless job. I hate looking at social media because if you give up one sack out of 60-some plays and people are dog-cussing you on Twitter. Again, I hate looking at it because it’s these bums sitting on their couches at home. You kind of crave that reassurance on social media, but at the same time you look for the negative – ‘What did this person say? What did that person say?’ Putting up 45 good or great plays with only two negative plays, that’s actually pretty good day for anybody.

It’s not quite like the Secret Service, because guarding the President is way more important than playing football, of course. But the goal is perfection. They have to be perfect every day. You want perfection as an offensive lineman and you strive for perfection. But it’s pretty damn hard to be perfect.

I want to play in the preseason, especially in a new position. I want to see how I’m doing. At the same time, having that practice against the Jets will be nice. But it’s different when you’re in full pads under the lights and going and doing it. If it’s just a series, that’s fine. I trust Coach Bowles. Whatever he says, I’m on board.

Markees Watts, Vita Vea Are Having Impressive Camps

Oh my gosh, Markees Watts is a good player. He was a tryout guy? He’s got a big toolbag of moves. I’m very glad I’ve gotten to go up against him much. He’s quick and he’s explosive. He can bend that edge. He’s a really twitchy guy. Props to him for busting his balls to put himself in position to be where he is. He had the strip-sack in the game, which was cool. He’s a good player. Had a great day [Sunday] and got us again [Monday].

Vita [Vea] is moving and he’s rolling around good. Whoever is going against him, he’s going to give him fits. I have to hype [Robert] Hainsey, my boy. Hainsey has had some really good 1-on-1s with him. But Vita is looking pretty dominant right now. I’m ready to see him tear some stuff up, too.

Tristan Wirfs Is Not Worried About Ryan Jensen

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I’m not worried about Ryan Jensen at all. I have all the trust in the world in [Robert] Hainsey and Nick [Leverett], and I’m not worried about Ryan. I don’t want him to rush into something and then have a setback. I want him to come in feeling as good as he can and play how he wants to play. It was so hard for him to play in that playoff game. Everyone could see it. But he wanted to go out with Tom [Brady]. I want him to be ready whenever he gets the okay and is back to his old self. That’s when I want him to come back.

We have just under a month. I’m not concerned with Ryan. I love him to death. He’s an incredible player. He’s still meeting with us, going through walk-throughs every day with us. He’s going through indys with us and doing some drills. It’s just about getting it back. A year out of football is probably tough. I want Ryan for the whole season, so no need to rush it. I’m going to support him no matter. I’m not worried about Ryan.

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