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.

I Feel As Strong As I’ve Ever Been

By Tristan Wirfs As Told To Scott Reynolds

I had a really fun summer. I went to Montana and I went fishing again. I also went on a cruise – that was the Bucs cruise – early in the year. Me and Ko [Kieft] went down to Key West one weekend. We were on like a download weekend. We went Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was a fun time. I’ve never been down there. It was a blast, but I stayed around here mostly. I’ve got a house here in Tampa and I come in here to the facility and train every day. So that was nice.

Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I heard that Dave Canales called our offensive line the most talented O-line he’s been around in the league [on the Pewter Report Podcast]. That makes you feel good. You like him saying that. You know he’s been around for a long time as a coach and coached a lot of good players. So it makes you feel good that he has a lot of confidence in us.

It’s our job to live up to that and kind of set the set the tempo and set the tone every day coming out. We want to be the leaders. We want guys to follow us, so it makes us feel good hearing that. Coach Canales is a great person and a great coach. It’s been incredible with him so far.

The first day of camp was exciting. It was really great to see everybody back here, to see everyone’s face. You’re back with your boys, and I thought it was good. A lot of good recall from June and the OTAs. It’s just about honing in on the little things and keeping balls off the ground. We had what? Maybe two – two balls in peril? I thought it was great first day.

Shaq Is Back … And Battling Tristan Wirfs

And it was so cool seeing Shaq [Barrett] back! Shaq is back! I’m so happy for him with what he went through last year, what he went through this offseason. You know that’s just, that’s devastating. Shaq’s been a great mentor to me these past four years, helping me be as ready as I can every week. It’s great to see a pass rusher like that every day and I’m so glad he’s back. I’m so happy for him. Yep, Shaq is back, and he was he was humming today. I’m sure he missed it. He was really going at it today.

Tristan Wirfs Battled With Luke The Lifter

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

Me and Luke [Goedeke], we got really close this offseason. We were lifting together every day. I really looked forward to coming into the weight room every day because I knew it was going to be a battle. I knew we’re going to push each other to get stronger. I feel as strong as I’ve ever been. It was such a fun offseason with him and the work we’re doing on and off the field.

We did hit some personal bests. On the bench, we did we hit 405 [pounds] on close grip, and that’s the most we’ve had. It’s most he’s ever had, and the most I’ve ever had, so we tied. We both ended up 405. It was fun. We were squatting 545 [pounds] one day and then 565 [pounds] the next week. We have a little unit that tracks the speed of the bar and he beat me one day, I beat him the next day. It was so fun.

I feel like his confidence is just way better than it was last year being back where he’s used to playing. Us working out here all summer, he’s looking really good. I think he’s feeling really good mentally and physically, so I’m so happy for him and so excited for him.

Speaking 12-5 Into Existence

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I saw Rachaad [White] had my back with my 12-5 prediction, which was cool. I don’t know … speak it into existence, right? It doesn’t hurt to put it out there, you know? Why be timid about something like that?

We’ve got a lot of talent on this roster. We have a lot of hard workers. I think we’ve got a great culture so far. We’re trying to build something great. We come to work with the right attitude every day – the right mindset. I’m excited about this team.

For me, my biggest fear is letting people down and I want to do my best to come in and have it be as seamless a transition as possible. They put me over there for a reason. They have confidence in me. I’m going to do the best I can week in and week out to do my job.

I put a lot of work in this offseason. I’m excited. I know there are going to be some ups and downs and I’ll get frustrated at times. But I’ll keep working and it will be alright.

Bucs fans, thank you for your support. Thanks for always coming out and cheering us on. We appreciate you more than you know. Have faith in us, have our backs and we won’t let you down.

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