Bucs OTA Insider 5-21: Tristan Wirfs Among Absent Players

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Bailey Adams and Adam Slivon were in attendance to cover all of the action of the first OTA, which included press conferences from Bowles, wide receiver Chris Godwin, safety Jordan Whitehead and tight end Cade Otton at the conclusion. Here are Pewter Report’s observations.

Bucs Players Who Were Absent

The OTAs are voluntary, so take this list of absent players with a grain of salt. Wide receiver Mike Evans, defensive tackle Vita Vea, outside linebacker Randy Gregory and left tackle Tristan Wirfs were no-shows. Wirfs’ absence is related to his camp negotiating with the Bucs on a long-term deal. Tampa Bay picked up Wirfs’ fifth-year option for the 2024 season, but both sides are working on a multi-year contract extension. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler had the initial report and suggested that both sides remain apart in negotiations.

Tight end Ko Kieft, rookie quarterback Zack Annexstad and rookie receiver Tanner Knue were in attendance wearing jerseys but not practicing. Veteran linebacker Lavonte David was present in street clothes, but not practicing.

Right guard Cody Mauch’s back tightened up toward the end of practice and he was unable to finish the day, heading inside shortly before the team wrapped up its on-field work for the day.

Offensive Line Shuffle

The Bucs are hoping that rookie Graham Barton, the team’s first-round pick, will take over at center this year. But he’s got a long way to go to learn the offense and gain the necessary experience that will put him into position to do so. That’s why it was no surprise to see Robert Hainsey taking first-team reps at center during Tampa Bay’s first OTA practice while Barton was running with the second team.

With Tristan Wirfs being absent, Justin Skule started at left tackle with Sua Opeta at left guard, Hainsey at center, Cody Mauch at right guard and Luke Goedeke at right tackle. Tampa Bay’s second-team offensive line featured Silas Dzansi at left tackle, Ben Bredeson at left guard, Barton at center, Brandon Walton at right guard and Luke Haggard at right tackle.

It’s important to note that while starting quarterback Baker Mayfield took his initial snaps with the first-team offensive line in an early drill, he also rotated over and took snaps from Barton on the second team.

Chris Braswell’s Introduction To Bucs OTAs

It’s completely understandable that it can take time for rookies to adjust to some of the particulars in football practice at the NFL level. Outside linebacker Chris Braswell, the team’s second-round pick this season, is no exception. Braswell was not as adept at hitting the one-man sled as some of the team’s veterans like Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and YaYa Diaby were. Outside linebackers coach George Edwards made Braswell redo some of his reps after taking some coaching pointers.

Braswell also struggled to drop in coverage and get his hips turned. Since there is very little allowed contact in the offseason, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and Edwards have the outside linebackers work on pass drops quite a bit because it’s a drill that the edge rushers can actually participate in given the rules of the NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Braswell was not nearly as fluid as some of the Bucs veterans, and that’s to be expected. Jose Ramirez, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and rookie Shaun Peterson Jr. were a trio of standouts during the coverage drop drills.

Bucs’ OLB Reps Interestingly Divied Up

Extending further when looking at the outside linebacker position, it is one with plenty of snaps for the taking. During drills Tuesday morning, it was an interesting blend and order of guys getting reps.

It started with Anthony Nelson leading the way, followed by YaYa Diaby, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Markees Watts, Jose Ramirez, and the aforementioned Chris Braswell. With veteran free-agent signing Randy Gregory not out there with them, it gave more chances to undrafted free agents Shaun Peterson Jr. and Daniel Grzesiak.

When looking at this group in particular, Tryon-Shoyinka stood out today as someone who looks the part of being hungry to have a big year as his frame appeared even more defined. Competing against guys like Diaby could be one of the factors in his wanting to get stronger, but time will tell if that fully translates once the pads come on. In coverage drop drills, he did look quite spry with his movements as he continues to attempt to form a well-rounded skillset.

New-Look Secondary In Full Force At OTAs

Plenty of new pieces fill the secondary after some free-agent and draft additions by Tampa Bay this offseason. Many of them were out there getting into the swing of things Tuesday morning.

There is plenty of opportunity to get on the field and make a big impact, and one of the biggest plays of the day happened later in practice when undrafted free agent safety Rashad Wisdom intercepted John Wolford up the middle and ran down the right side of the field.

Among the other new guys in the mix, safety Tykee Smith continues to draw the praise of both coaches and players, with safety Jordan Whitehead – who is reuniting with the team over the offseason himself – commenting on what he has seen from the rookie so far after practice.

Liam Coen’s Offense Begins To Take Shape

It’s still early days for new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen, but it’s clear that the offensive players are taking this stage of the offseason seriously as the offense is being installed. That means, by the time preseason rolls around in late July and into August, everyone will be on the same page and it’ll be more about refining what they’re doing rather than learning it for the first time.

Wide receiver Chris Godwin, who enters 2024 looking for a fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season, spoke at length about Coen’s offense after practice and gave some insight into what it’s been like to start the process of getting in tune with what the new offensive coordinator wants to do.

“I think that it’s going to be a lot of moving parts for defenses to have to figure out,” Godwin said. “I think how they’re teaching it is going to allow for us to add a lot of cohesiveness within the offense. We have a bunch of terms and phrases that can get us into one formation or one play that looks like a different play. I think how it all marries up will be really beneficial for us.”

Godwin went on to explain how the players have a certain level of responsibility within Coen’s offense and as they get more comfortable with it, they’ll have a chance to take ownership of it as a group.

“I think how complex it is was probably the thing that stands out the most right now,” Godwin said. “We have to learn, we have to know a lot. As an offense, as receivers, we have to know a lot. But it’s cool that they put the onus on the players because at the end of the day, we’re the ones out there playing. So for us to be kind of empowered in that way, I think it’s been a cool change. I think it’s something that, as we build, as we learn, we’ll be able to see guys take more and more control.”

One of the features of Coen’s offense that we saw in rookie mini-camp and during Tuesday’s practice was the 3×1 formations that saw three receivers bunched up and one tight end split out to the other side. Godwin was asked how that helps get receivers some free releases, but he also discussed how else those sets can help the rest of the offense.

“It helps for the releases, but it also helps in the run game. I’m sure it helps the offensive line,” he said. “I think it’ll probably help with the quarterback as well, just in terms of being able to ID want the defense is doing. It’s clearly a lot of thought that goes into what we do, and I appreciate how passionate Liam is about what he does. He’s really juiced up about this, so I think it’s going to be fun.”