I'm not that sold on Heck or his neighbor Bredeson. If there's a silver lining, it's that Heck and the offensive line has all training camp to get prepared. Better to do it that way rather than having to make adjustments in the middle of the season.With the best LOT in the NFL being out for the first 4 games, I’m going with a realistic view of 2-2.
Hoping Charlie Heck can be at least as good as Skule was against Detroit last season…but not counting on it.
The game where Hutch got 5 sacks?
Yeah, Skule had a rough day vs. Detroit. But he did improve a little after that.
That really bad part is Skule is a far better backup than Heck. Heck is not good.
I think Griz will utilize the quick passing game, and also use TE/RB and maybe 6th OL to chip to help compensate early on until Wirfs can return. All is not lost
Preface- Of course this isn't a Ryan Jensen situation. But Jensen was a fellow O-lineman (and freind of Wirfs I presume) on the Bucs with a knee issue. Out of desperation, Jensen tried stem cell therapy, because surgery would have been career ending. It was unsuccessful. Wirfs' injury of course isn't career ending, but I wouldn't be surprised if we find out that Wirfs tried stem cell therapy and that once again it didn't work. Wirfs had to try something to get his knee better. He's wearing a brace in OTAs and the therapy is nothing?
Whatever the whole story is we aren't getting it. Whatever they unsuccessfully tried, it cost Wirfs a month of the regular season.
great points, and as I said with my post, the Bucs don’t say anything and the media never asks.
@rhbucsfan i only caught part of the podcast yesterday when the news broke. I think they said he was in Colorado hiking when it happened. I also think they said last year when he was dealing with this , that a bone fragment shifted and was rubbing the ligament and they tested it by having him run and jump,football related movements etc. to see if it would shift back away from the ligament (which it did,hence no surgery). Fast forward to now,same test but this time it did not shift so they did the surgery to clean it up.
Our offense is built for any and all scenarios because we have a gamer who is deadly accurate as our QB. After sitting on this for a day, I will make no adjustments to my win predictions in the first 4 games. Tampa is still a 2.5 point fave in the Falcon game to open things up.
Our offense is built for any and all scenarios because we have a gamer who is deadly accurate as our QB. After sitting on this for a day, I will make no adjustments to my win predictions in the first 4 games. Tampa is still a 2.5 point fave in the Falcon game to open things up.
There aren't many offenses that are built to lose their multiple-time First-Team All-Pro LT. Wirfs is a big loss and it shouldn't be minimized. The drop-off from Wirfs to Heck is pretty staggering.
Yes true, but because this happened in the offseason the Bucs have a better chance to address it than they would have had Wirfs come up with an injury during the season. Obviously its still a huge dropoff and left tackles don't grow on trees, but the Bucs have a chance to use the preseason to examine the situation and perhaps make a move to deal with it if Heck isn't the answer.Our offense is built for any and all scenarios because we have a gamer who is deadly accurate as our QB. After sitting on this for a day, I will make no adjustments to my win predictions in the first 4 games. Tampa is still a 2.5 point fave in the Falcon game to open things up.
There aren't many offenses that are built to lose their multiple-time First-Team All-Pro LT. Wirfs is a big loss and it shouldn't be minimized. The drop-off from Wirfs to Heck is pretty staggering.
What about Elijah Klein? He was drafted for his versatility. He played a little LT in college. In any case I would like to see Heck have some competition for that spot.
the Bucs have a chance to use the preseason to examine the situation and perhaps make a move to deal with it if Heck isn't the answer.
Bringing in a cast-off LT after preseason would be an even bigger disaster. Most folks have no idea how bad OT depth is around the league. In the entire NFL, there may be only 3-5 backup OT's that are worth a damn. And those guys won't be available after preseason.
Good or bad, they're pretty stuck with Heck at this point.
Its never good to have him go down. Yea now is better than in the season but it still sucks. I dont know if the back up is capable or not. I guess good thing could be if he does a good job in his absence he's a guy who can give wirfs a break of fill in the line at times to be another reliable option. The next man up thing can be good if the next guy is worth playing.
Well they better have somebody else waiting in the wings in case Heck gets injured as well or totally poops the bed.the Bucs have a chance to use the preseason to examine the situation and perhaps make a move to deal with it if Heck isn't the answer.
Bringing in a cast-off LT after preseason would be an even bigger disaster. Most folks have no idea how bad OT depth is around the league. In the entire NFL, there may be only 3-5 backup OT's that are worth a damn. And those guys won't be available after preseason.
Good or bad, they're pretty stuck with Heck at this point.
Our offense is built for any and all scenarios because we have a gamer who is deadly accurate as our QB. After sitting on this for a day, I will make no adjustments to my win predictions in the first 4 games. Tampa is still a 2.5 point fave in the Falcon game to open things up.
There aren't many offenses that are built to lose their multiple-time First-Team All-Pro LT. Wirfs is a big loss and it shouldn't be minimized. The drop-off from Wirfs to Heck is pretty staggering.
I'm not sure why some are failing to grasp this
I think Griz will utilize the quick passing game, and also use TE/RB and maybe 6th OL to chip to help compensate early on until Wirfs can return. All is not lost
Yep. Multiple TE sets (good to get Culp out there more), more pony packages, quick outs, etc.
Its never good to have him go down. Yea now is better than in the season but it still sucks. I dont know if the back up is capable or not. I guess good thing could be if he does a good job in his absence he's a guy who can give wirfs a break of fill in the line at times to be another reliable option. The next man up thing can be good if the next guy is worth playing.
Next man up is something your Mom told your Dad when he was a little too agitated and flustered to get the job done…
I wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully it's only four games.
The Athletic said he definitely aggravated it sometime in the offseason - surgery was Tuesday.
Pat Kirwan was spot-on with his assessment of the Bucs “Bucs are stronger than he realized, but had concerns about o/line depth…
At least it’s not mid-season, makes a fast start more complicated…
Our Oline depth is actually not that bad. The fact that we have any puts us ahead of most teams.
@BadabingBucs - we have not survived the summer, Wirfs is going to miss the start of the season. He's our best player. Adjust accordingly.
oh i mean, it could get much worse
a set back in Godwin recovery? Sure i know you like Jalen McMillian and there's high hopes for the Emeka Edbuka but no doubt this team is more of a threat with Godwin in the line-up
then imagine an injury to another key contributor - you name it - Bucky, Geodeke, Vea, Winfield, or Reddick; yeah....it could get worse lol