Buccaneers: 5 winners and losers from Day 1 of padded practice
By Rob Leeds
Tristan Wirfs, right tackle, Struggled early
The notion that Tristan Wirfs would immediately come to Tampa Bay and dominate from day one was far-fetched from the start. Wirfs’ ceiling is being one of the best tackles in the NFL, but the jump from college to the NFL is especially tricky for offensive tackles.
It’s easy to look like a stud without pads or in a non-game situation, but there is no way to hide a deficiency when lining up against the first-team defense. Shaquil Barrett, the best pass rusher for the Buccaneers, was apparently able to blow past Wirfs on a live down via The Pewter Report.
Barrett was one of the best pass rushers in the league last year, but this news still does not bode well for Wirfs. If he struggled with Barrett on day one, will Wirfs be ready for Cameron Jordan next month? How about Khalil Mack?
In addition to this play, which alone means very little, Bruce Arians has come out and said Joe Haeg has a shot of starting the season at right tackle if Wirfs shows too much rust.
The statement could show that Arians and the Bucs may not be as confident in their star rookie as it previously appeared, but Wirfs still has an opportunity to keep his spot and is a lock for later in the year regardless.