During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen had some very high praise for Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Coen called the three-time Pro Bowler “a weapon” which is a term not often used to describe offensive linemen. Typically that term is used to describe wide receivers like Mike Evans, or upper echelon running backs or elite tight ends.
But Coen knows that the Bucs have one of the best left tackles in the NFL.
“Those guys get paid for a reason, and he’s a special talent,” Coen said of Tristan Wirfs. “I’ve heard great things about him as a worker. Making the adjustment moving from the right side to the left. That’s not easy to do and he did it pretty seamlessly.
“Really excited to be able to get to work with him because weapons aren’t just out on the perimeter. Weapons are up front as well. And when you have a weapon like that up front at that position, you can utilize him by pulling him around. Get him in the screen game. Use him in the pin-and-pull game. Or whatever it is. Cutting off 3-techniques. And then obviously in pass protection. So, weapons are all over and we have a weapon at left tackle.”
Tristan Wirfs Is Recognized As One Of The Best In The Game
In just four short years Tristan Wirfs has quickly built up a cavalcade of awards. He just played in his third Pro Bowl this past weekend and he was named a first-team All-Pro in 2021 and second-team in 2022. While the Bucs currently have him under contract in 2024 via the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, it is widely expected that he will reset the offensive tackle market with his upcoming contract extension.
New Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen mentioned earlier in his press conference that he believed Wirfs was one of the top players at his position and that he was one of the reasons Coen decided to accept the Bucs’ offer.
“This was a no-brainer for me,” Coen said. “Obviously, the opportunity to work with Baker [Mayfield]. To get back with him, potentially. John Wolford’s in the room that I coached with the Rams for multiple years. The skillset on the perimeter, obviously. Youth in the running back room, tight end. And one of the best tackles (Tristan Wirfs) in the National Football League.
“This was altogether something we could not turn away from whatsoever. This is something that are really excited about as a family. My father lives an hour and a half from Tampa. I’ve spent a lot of time down here. And this was just a no-brainer for us.”
And with the varied running attack Coen is likely to bring as part of his new offensive scheme, it is likely that Wirfs will be used more out in space as part of wide zone and pin-and-pull rushing attacks. This could lead to him being recognized along the same vein as 49ers left tackle Trent Williams like this:
Coen also mentioned that he is a big believer in getting the ball into his best players hands. In Wirfs’ case it may be more “get your best players behind your other best player” and good things will happen.
Coen was also highly complementary of some of the Bucs’ other promising, young offensive linemen – right tackle Luke Goedeke and right guard Cody Mauch.
“Luke, I think he’s really underrated, honestly,” Coen said. “I think Luke is underrated. I met him in the weight room the other day – shocker, right? Totally sounds like he’s what you want those guys to be.
“Cody I evaluated a little bit coming out. To play right guard, he was a left tackle [at North Dakota State], and to move inside – that stuff happens fast. And you could see it happen fast for him at times like on combinations he’s a little bit slower. But man, he actually played with good length and I thought he pass pro’d fairly well. For a young guy to kind of do some of those things was pretty exciting. The whole interior, I think we can continue to get stronger in there, but excited about that whole unit honestly.”
If Goedeke and Mauch continue to develop and improve perhaps Coen will view them as weapons, too.
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