Todd Bowles gives coach answer on Buccaneers starting role

Not that Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles would name the new starter at left guard just yet, but everyone knows that it is Luke Goedeke.

One of the most meaningless quotes from coaches in this history of sports is the false creation of a competition for a role where one does not exist. No, the Buccaneers aren’t in danger of losing Mike Evans or Tom Brady as starter.

Still, coaches choose to play obvious moves like this close to the vest, even if the idea is so preposterous as the one that there is an actual quarterback or wide receiver opening.

While it is a different situation with a rookie coming in for an All-Pro talent at left guard, no one on the planet should believe Todd Bowles when he says there is a competition brewing for the left guard role.

Pretending that there is an actual competition at left guard after the Bucs just spent a second-round pick to draft the more-than-capable Luke Goedeke in the 2022 NFL Draft is a desperate attempt at a misdirection, although none is needed.

Aaron Stinnie is a quality backup who showed out well en route to Tampa’s Super Bowl win two years ago, but his pay by the Bucs this year and the pick show how much they see him becoming a starter.

If the Bucs hadn’t drafted Goedeke or gave Stinnie a contract that revealed faith in him above a quality backup, Bowles’ words would have more meaning.

As it is, based on what we know about both players and have seen in their tapes, the Buccaneers have an obvious new starter in 2022, and it appears to be Goedeke’s job to lose.

Of all the positions to talk about a competition, left guard probably isn’t the one to start.

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