Bucs RT Wirfs Defends The Play Of Rookie LG Goedeke

Bucs rookie left guard Luke Goedeke’s trial-by-fire season continues with another tough matchup in Pittsburgh on Sunday against five-time Pro Bowler Cameron Heyward.

Goedeke will try to bounce back from a rough outing last Sunday against Atlanta’s Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who had six pressures in a 21-15 Bucs win over the Falcons.

The Bucs’ second-round pick has done more surviving than thriving during his rookie season, but he drew heavy praise this week from All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs, who defended Goedeke in an exclusive interview with Pewter Report.

Bucs LG Luke Goedeke and Falcons DT Grady Jarrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That is so hard – playing with three different left tackles,” Wirfs said. “People don’t understand how hard that is, especially for him. I’ve seen some stuff on social media about Luke … man, he’s balling. He’s going through a gauntlet of defensive tackles and there is more to come this week (against Heyward).

“He’s played with three different left tackles in five games and a brand new center. Plus he’s making the transition from right tackle to left guard. He’s doing quite a bit and having to learn quite a bit. He’s having to communicate with three different left tackles. It’s tough, but he’s balling.”

Goedeke, who hails from Central Michigan, played with Donovan Smith for less than a half in Week 1 before an elbow injury knocked the Bucs’ left tackle out of the game. Then, the rookie played next to backup Josh Wells for the rest of the Bucs-Cowboys game and a few plays into the Saints game in Week 2.

A leg injury forced Wells out of the lineup in New Orleans and in stepped third-string left tackle Brandon Walton, who was the third left tackle Goedeke played with in less than a two-game span. That’s far from an ideal situation for any rookie lineman to be in.

Against the Saints and the Packers, Goedeke was playing in between a left tackle in Walton making his first career start and a center in Hainsey, who was making his second and third career starts.

“I couldn’t imagine my rookie year playing next to three different guards at the start,” Wirfs said. “That would have been crazy. For him to continue to go out there and be the mauler that he is, it’s awesome to see.”

New Bucs O-Lineman Had To Start The Year In Hostile Territory

Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich pointed out that Goedeke and Hainsey’s first two NFL starts also came on the road in hostile environments at Dallas and New Orleans. Playing on the road in the NFL is a tall task for any player when it comes to communication. But when it comes to young players making their first couple of starts, it’s even harder.

“I think what helps us most is the situations they were in early in the year,” Leftwich said. “You open up the year in Cowboys Stadium – [as] loud as it can get, [as] tough of a situation as you can get. You come up the next week, you’re going to New Orleans – it’s as tough a situation as you get.

“Those guys opened the year up with two weeks where they couldn’t hear each other – it was all non-verbal communication. The job that they [did] in those situations, [it] was beautiful to watch them operate. Did they play perfectly? No, but they played well enough for us to win [those] football games.

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

“I think those moments, those times that we had together early, [are] going to help us as we get throughout this year, as we get going throughout this year. I think as a whole we’ll begin to start playing better – I’m just waiting for it to happen. I’m excited for where we’re at, the way we practice, the way we go about our work every day. I’m extremely excited about that.”

Wirfs said that continuity is the key, and the more Goedeke plays alongside Hainsey and Smith, the better he – and the offensive line as a whole – will be.

“With us five up front, it’s about us getting comfortable with each other,” Wirfs said. “You have to get a point where you know what the guy next to you is going to do before it even happens. All that takes is reps together. Me and Cappa had that last year because we played two years next to each other. Me and Shaq are getting better and better every week. Same thing with Donnie and Luke. They’re playing together now, but they missed some time together and that was huge – especially earlier in the season.

“Every week is more and more important with them just getting in reps together. Hainsey has been like a commander, getting us all in the right spots. He’s doing awesome. I think with us five up front, it’s just like me stepping in my rookie year. Those other four guys had played together for a long time and they took me right in. This year, with three new dudes up front, that’s a lot of communication that everyone has to be on the same page about.”

While Goedeke has struggled at times, especially in pass protection, Wirfs said that the most important thing is that he’s got the job done for the Bucs – no matter how it’s looked.

“Sometimes it’s grimy and it’s not perfect and it doesn’t always look clean,” Wirfs said. “But you’ve got to just hang on for the ride and get the job done. It’s not always going to look pretty, but if the job gets done, the job gets done.”

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