So much of an offensive line’s success comes from playing together as a unit, and that’s a product of all five guys building chemistry together over time. That’s why the Bucs are taking the unique approach that they are when it comes to building their offensive line for 2023.

Despite none of last year’s starting offensive linemen playing in the same place – or even in the team as it relates to left tackle Donovan Smith and right guard Shaq Mason – the Bucs have already picked their starting five offensive linemen.

Unlike last training camp, the Bucs won’t have any position battles going on along their offensive line this summer. Last year, there was an open competition for the guard positions after the departure of Alex Cappa in free agency and the retirement of Ali Marpet.

Then, there was an injury to Ryan Jensen, which opened up a bit of a competition for the starting center job. Robert Hainsey was the likely winner of that spot all along, and he went on to start every game there during the regular season.

Now, coachspeak and conventional wisdom will tell you that every guy still has to fight for the spot they’re in. But with training camp underway for 2023, Tampa Bay has set its starting five up front from the get-go in order to help the group build chemistry together.

“It’s huge. I think number one, we know that we had some moving pieces that we had to get going. And the more reps they get, the more comfortable they’re gonna be,” offensive line coach Joe Gilbert told Pewter Report after Thursday’s practice. “The communication with each other, that part of it. When you’re moving people around trying to figure it all out, it takes a bit. So this part of it is gonna kind of get us to be a more cohesive group quicker.”

Moving Pieces Have Bucs Needing To Build Chemistry Through Continuity

Bucs OTs Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Setting their offensive line this early is a strategic choice the Bucs have made due to the personnel turnover that the offensive line underwent this offseason. There isn’t a single player on the line who will be playing in the same spot he was in last season.

Tristan Wirfs is moving from right tackle to left tackle, while Luke Goedeke is moving from left guard to right tackle. Ryan Jensen is stepping back in at center after missing the entire 2022 regular season with a knee injury, and the team has two new guards in veteran Matt Feiler (left guard) and rookie Cody Mauch (right guard).

From the first day of training camp on Wednesday and even dating back further, these five guys are who the Bucs have chosen to start on their offensive line. And having them practice together as a starting unit throughout the next six weeks or so will help them build the chemistry they need in order to be successful.

This has already begun to take place before the pads even come on. During Wednesday’s practice — the first of training camp for Tampa Bay — Mauch and Goedeke were lining up alongside each other in drills. Feiler and Wirfs did the same. And once Jensen is ready to get back to full-speed team drills (Robert Hainsey continues to start in 11-on-11 periods), the whole five will come together and start working as unified front during 11-on-11s.

That way, by their season opener on Sept. 10 in Minnesota, the Bucs will have an offensive line made up of guys who are familiar with each other and are used to playing next to one another.

Bucs Set Their Starting Five, But Still Have Strong Depth To Lean On

Bucs C Robert Hainsey and LG Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While there aren’t any spots that are truly open along the starting offensive line, Tampa Bay has plenty of depth linemen who can step in reliably whenever needed. So, as the starting group works on performing as a unit, there will be plenty of viable options to replace anyone who falters or goes down with an injury.

Hainsey performed admirably in Jensen’s place last year at center, while Nick Leverett did an impressive job at left guard when he stepped in for Goedeke midway through the season. Aaron Stinnie has playoff experience, having replaced an injured Cappa during the Bucs’ Super Bowl run a few years ago.

Add in versatile guys like Brandon Walton and John Molchon, as well as a host of younger developmental players and there’s a lot for Tampa Bay to work with behind the starting five.

“Huge,” Gilbert said. “You get guys that have played, guys with experience that come in. And it’s gonna push the guys in front of them. All of that is a positive right now. Last year, we had some injuries. Guys got to play, which built depth for this year. Knock on wood, we’ve just got to stay healthy.”

New Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales told Pewter Report on Thursday that having everyone on the same page — starters and backups — is an important thing to develop during this time of the year.

“I think the moving pieces is important,” Canales said. “If anybody was gonna look at you and say we play with the same O-line all year, they’ll be lying. I think having the guys that can come in… Getting the first group together is important, but God forbid something happens. We get a busted shoelace or a mouthpiece is lost for a couple of plays, you get a new guy in there.

“So I think having the different mixes, the whole communication is most important. Who’s at center? He talks to everybody. So that inside-out communication is huge.”

As different as Tampa Bay’s offensive line unit looks compared to last year, the approach the team is taking with it should have everyone working as one group and firing on all cylinders by the time Week 1 comes around.