Tristan Wirfs needs to bring his “A” game on Sunday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Cleveland Browns.
Wirfs struggled in the season opener and had one of the worst games of his NFL career. He gave up a sack, struggled as a run blocker, and was called for two penalties. That’s far from the All-Pro standard he has set for himself, and he will need to rebound in Week 2.
Things aren’t getting any easier, as he’ll primarily be lined up against one of the league’s best edge rushers in Jared Verse.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers need Tristan Wirfs to step up against Browns’ Jared Verse
Last season, Verse got home for two sacks against the Buccaneers while going head-to-head with Wirfs.
Verse wins with pure power and a strong bull rush that presents a real challenge for opposing linemen. Wirfs needs to be ready for a battle in the trenches on Sunday.
Wirfs needs to take control of that individual matchup and prevent Verse from getting into the backfield before the play has a chance to develop.
Not only does Wirfs need to protect Mayfield’s blindside, but he needs to help create running lanes. His abysmal 33.4 run blocking grade in Week 1 ranked 63rd out of 64 offensive tackles. Those struggles simply can’t continue.
The forecast is currently calling for steady rain throughout the contest. The Bucs are likely to go run-heavy as a result, and Wirfs needs to set the tone in the run game. Establishing the run would also prevent Verse from pinning his ears back and teeing off on Mayfield when the Buccaneers do need to pass the ball.
Nobody is panicking about his struggles in Week 1. He dealt with a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined throughout most of training camp, and he didn’t play a single down during the preseason. As a five-time Pro Bowler, Wirfs has earned the benefit of the doubt, and it’s safe to assume his poor showing in the season opener was a product of shaking the rust off.
But now that Tampa Bay is 0-1 and in desperate need of a victory, the team’s best player needs to live up to that designation. Wirfs needs to rise to the All-Pro standard that the Buccaneers have become accustomed to against a tough assignment.
If Wirfs returns to form, it will go a long way toward helping Tampa Bay control the line of scrimmage and prevent Cleveland’s defensive line from dictating the game. If he struggles again, Jared Verse could make life extremely difficult for the Buccaneers’ offense.
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