When Lavonte David is the most underrated for the Bucs, well, that’s a high bar to reach.
But there is a guy on the Bucs’ offensive line that Joe thinks is fair to slap with the label, “underappreciated.”
Many believe the Bucs have the deepest wide receiver room in the game. Is it their strength? Probably.
But Gennaro Filice is not in that camp. The scribe for NFL.com is of the mind that the Bucs’ offensive line is so good, it is the straw that stirs the Bucs’ drink. When looking line, he thinks the most underappreciated lineman is none other than right tackle Luke Goedeke.
…Everyone knows about perennial Pro Bowler Tristan Wirfs, but Goedeke deserves more love. …
A second-round pick in 2022, Goedeke struggled as a rookie guard. But the Buccaneers switched him to right tackle for the 2023 campaign and haven’t looked back since. Though he can still cut down on the penalties, Goedeke’s a stout pass protector. And in the run game, he teams up with mauling RG Cody Mauch to blow open holes on the right side. With one year left on his rookie deal, Goedeke’s nearing a major payday.
Joe remembers — boy, does Joe remember — a few years ago how some fans weren’t just hollering, they were screaming for Goedeke to ride the pine. It wasn’t a crazy idea, though harsh for a rookie. Goedeke playing out of position at left guard did not help the ex-MAC right tackle.
Joe spoke with a non-Bucs coach over cocktails one evening at the combine. He told Joe that Goedeke was done a disservice by the Bucs as a rookie.
The coach told Joe that right tackle was Goedeke’s spot. He said small-school offensive linemen often struggle when being put on the opposite side of the ball where they played in college.
Then, the coach said, putting Goedeke at guard compounded Goedeke’s struggles.
So getting flipped back to right tackle not only smart, but the coach told Joe that allowed Goedeke to shine at his most natural position.
And now the Bucs may have the best bookends at tackle in the game.
