The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to find a way to turnaround the season quickly before an NFC South title spirals out of view. Star left tackle Tristan Wirfs understands that it is on he and his teammates to right the ship.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 0-3 start has been oddly reminiscent of last year's late-season collapse, with the offense struggling to find a consistent rhythm, and the defense struggling to get off the field on third down.
However, the play from all of Tampa's offensive position groups has been disappointing, with the offensive line perhaps leading the list.
Heading into the season, the Bucs' offensive line was projected to be one of the team's biggest strengths, with key players returning from injury and All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs holding down Baker Mayfield's blindside.
But, through the opening three weeks, the protection has been shoddy, with Mayfield taking hits and now being sidelined with an injury to his throwing hand.
On Monday, Wirfs addressed the team's winless start to the media, saying that the "calvary isn't coming," and it's on the players within the locker room to begin turning around this season.
Wirfs was one of the few bright spots in Tampa's ugly Week 3 loss against the Minnesota Vikings, holding the league's top pressure generator through three weeks, Dallas Turner, to 0 pressures on 14 reps.
The rest of the offensive line struggled, surrendering six sacks and and 12 QB hits, with the final leading to Mayfield's aggravated injury.
Despite Tampa's overall inconsistencies over the past few seasons, Wirfs has remained a constant in the trenches.
After starting his NFL career as a right tackle, Wirfs made a seamless transition to the left side of the offensive line, making history as the first player in NFL history to earn AP First-Team All-Pro honors at both right and left tackle.
Last season, the No. 13 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft earned a 92.7 overall PFF grade, ranking second among 89 qualified offensive tackles, according to PFF.
His 84.9 pass-blocking grade and 91.6 run-blocking grade each ranked top-five at his position, while surrendering just two sacks.
His run-blocking grade has taken a dip this season, but he remains one of the top-graded players in pass protection, with his 83.9 metric ranking second in the NFL at his position.
Heading into Week 4's matchup with the Green Bay Packers, the run game will be needed to produce, with the Packers surrendering nearly 140 yards per game on the ground to opposing backs.
Protecting rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels will also be important, as the undrafted free agent makes his NFL debut.
Keeping Daniels' pocket clean will allow him to get acclimated early in Week 4, and hopefully lead to some victories while Mayfield is sidelined..
