With the pads on and several players vying for the job, the battle for the Bucs’ starting left guard spot is heating up. Aaron Stinnie, Nick Leverett and Brandon Walton have all got their chances to roll with the first unit. Interestingly enough, all three players entered the league as undrafted free agents. It will be an intense competition for the starting role, and so far, each of them have put positives on tape for assistant head coach and run game coordinator Harold Goodwin to evaluate.

“The beautiful thing about it is it’s fun to watch,” Goodwin said after Sunday’s practice. “Think about it: You got all these guys that actually get a shot to win a job, when usually you come into camp [and] it’s pretty much solidified. To have three or four guys rotate in and try to give it their best every day, I like watching it.”

Eventually, the Bucs will need to make a decision on who to roll with. Building chemistry with left tackle Donovan Smith and new center Robert Hainsey is key, no matter who wins the job.

“At some point, I’ve just got to put my foot down and just pick a guy so we can build that communication with Donnie [Donovan Smith], build that communication with [Robert] Hainsey at that center spot. But I like to watch it,” Goodwin said. “Those guys care, those guys compete. And they help each other out. But at the end of the day, only [one] will win that job. At a certain point here, I’ve just got to go ahead and pick a guy. But they’re all doing a nice job right now.”

Count Smith, who has played next to each one of the linemen vying for the spot, as one who thinks the competition has been great.

“I think it’s great,” Smith told Pewter Report. “It’s good competition. The guys are going in there and working. There’s good communication and everything. Just trying to build to get better so then that way we can hold everything down when the season comes. But everyone’s been doing a good job.”

Stinnie’s Experience Gives Him The First Crack

The Bucs know what Stinnie is capable of. He was their starting right guard on their road to the Super Bowl when Alex Cappa went down with injury. He started three postseason contests for the team and has chemistry with some of the guys on the line already.

Bucs G Aaron Stinnie and NT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

However, Stinnie does not have this job locked up and it will take his “A” game to ensure he comes out on top in the competition. He spoke about his relationship with Smith and how having that existing chemistry can only help him. However, he acknowledges that he needs to continue to build that communication and “come out everyday and just continue to get better.”

Does Leverett’s Background At Center Give Him A Leg Up?

The rise of Leverett has been meteoric. Joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2020, he spent his first year on the practice squad. He then worked his way up to the active roster in 2021 in a reserve role. Thrust into action when injuries struck, he held his own against Indianapolis’ Deforest Buckner, one of the best defensive tackles in the league. This year, he’s firmly in the mix for the starting left guard position, and offensive line coach Joe Gilbert has been impressed with his communication in camp.

Bucs C Nick Leverett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“With Nick over the few days, he’s shown some things,” Gilbert told Pewter Report. “Our big thing is whoever is going to be that left guard [is going to have to be good] from a communication standpoint, and I think he’s doing a really good job so far as communicating with Donnie and getting us on the same page. Now obviously, the continuity isn’t there yet, but that’s hopefully where we’ll get that in camp.”

Smith knows how important communication along the line is. That’s why he thinks it can be so beneficial to have Leverett next to him knowing all the line calls.

“It’s big time,” Smith told Pewter Report. “He’s very vocal, which is pretty good to be able to transfer calls and everything. He’s doing a good job. Now he’s just got to keep it up.”

It’s a good vote of confidence from Smith in Leverett’s pursuit of a starting role. He is, however, in the mix with Robert Hainsey to replace injured center Ryan Jensen.

The Dark Horse Candidate

Walton seemingly came out of nowhere to join the fray at left guard. He’s been in with the first unit during multiple practices, competing for the open job. After making the transition from tackle, Walton has been leaning on his fellow linemen and the coaching staff for help with the move.

Bucs OL Brandon Walton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s been good,” Walton told Pewter Report. “I’ve got a lot of people around me. There’s a very good culture here. A lot of the offensive lineman have been helping me with technique, and we’ve got a good coach. The transition was smooth, and I’m just learning from everybody.”

Walton’s energy and strength immediately stand out amongst the other competitors. He thinks those qualities will help to separate him from the rest of the group.

“I bring a lot of energy and I like to stay in the weight room. So, I have a certain strength about me,” Walton told Pewter Report. “I feel like that puts me above other people. I spent a lot of time in the offseason working on my hands. It’s still a work in progress every practice. But once I get that more consistent, I feel like that’s going to give me the edge.”

Walton will be an interesting name to watch as training camp wears on. But the coaching staff has shown a trust in the second-year lineman.

Rookie Still In The Mix

Though Bucs second-round draft pick Luke Goedeke hasn’t seen time with the first unit, he still remains in the mix. It will come down to how quickly the former tackle can pick up the offense as to when he’ll get his shot with the starters. As the clock ticks toward the regular season, he’ll need to show a firm handle on the position in order to get meaningful reps.

Bucs NT Rakeem Nunez-Roches and G Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He still gets in the mix,” Bowles said. “The other guys have been here. Experience-wise, as we install, they kind of know it already. It’s good for Luke to see somebody do it before he does it, rather than just go out there and just make a mistake that way. We’re getting the older guys in there, some that [have] been here. As he gets experience, he’ll play a lot. It’s still an open competition.”

Making A Decision Sooner Rather Than Later

The competition at left guard could come down to the wire. However, Goodwin and the Bucs would like to have their line established heading into the last two weeks of camp.

“I’m thinking somewhere before the third preseason game,” Goodwin said after Sunday’s practice. “Just kind of lock it down, get it over with. But right now, it’s wide open in my opinion. I may even try to put a helmet on, some shoulder pads and give it a try myself. So, we’ll see how it goes.”

Time is of the essence for Stinnie, Walton, Leverett and even Goedeke to earn the top spot. As Gilbert alluded to in the offseason, communication is going to be a big key for whoever earns the Bucs’ starting left guard spot for the 2022 season.