4 Buccaneers doing the dirty work and getting no credit

C Ryan Jensen

In his second year with the Bucs, center Ryan Jensen has taken his performance on the field to another level after struggling in 2018. Everyone raves about left guard Ali Marpet, and deservedly so, but Jensen has also been a mauler for the Bucs this year, potentially having the best season of his career.

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When he signed with the Bucs last year on a four-year, $40 million deal, the Buccaneers thought they had found their center of the future. Starting with the Ravens before getting a massive payday from Tampa Bay, Jensen did not quite live up to the hype in his first season wearing the pewter and red. However this year, he seems to be the energy and lifeblood of the offensive line (or at least the interior of it).

While his play has declined slightly in recent weeks, Jensen has been the driving force of the interior of the Buccaneers’ line that has allowed for their rushing attack to improve from a year ago. He, Marpet, and Alex Cappa have done their part inside, while Demar Dotson and Donovan Smith have struggled mightily.

Kudos to Jensen, who was on the hotseat entering this season given his guaranteed money dries up after this year. He is not going anywhere anytime soon unless something drastically changes.