Why the hate?
Joe knows each and every year a good number of Bucs fans choose a player to hate.
Sometimes it’s quite valid (Joe Tryon-Shoyinka), sometimes it is fully baffling and without reason (Gerald McCoy).
And while it is a full five months before the 2025 season kicks off, the guy in the running to be doomed with this annual disdain seems to be Bucs left guard Ben Bredeson.
Joe sensed it last year in the comments on this here site with people pining for the return of guard Sua Opeta (???). Joe didn’t get that then and doesn’t get it now. When did this Opeta become John Hannah or even Charley Hannah?
(Yeah, Joe used that one-liner recently. It still applies. 🙂 )
Joe was prodded to type this after listening to one of the former high priests of the PFF tribe Sam Monson. While appearing on Mina Kimes’ podcast discussing team needs, one of the top three needs Monson sees on the Bucs is left guard — Bredeson’s spot.
“I have edge for the Bucs,” Monson began. “You know, [Haason] Reddick is a one-year deal, and who knows what version of Reddick you going to get at this point, given how last year went. At some point, I think they need to have a plan for when Lavonte David isn’t still there, even though that seems to be endless and he’s still pretty good.
“And then maybe, you know, maybe left guard. But I wouldn’t, it’s not like a desperation need. … Pretty clean roster.”
Joe doesn’t see what some do in Bredeson. Is he an All-Pro? No. Is he good? Well, you answer these questions:
Do the Bucs have a good offensive line? Yes. One could argue the Bucs have the best pass-blocking line in the game.
Can the Bucs run the ball? They ranked fourth in the NFL running the ball.
Shoot, the Bucs had the third-best offense in the league last year. Generally, if a team has a hole anywhere on the line, it doesn’t have a top-three offense.
Bredeson is young, inexpensive, durable and one-fifth of one of the best lines in the NFL. Why is there such an urge to run the guy off? Bredeson is hardly Garrett “Whoops” Gilkey or Oniel Cousins.
With all the positions on defense that need addressing, left guard would be misguided. Besides, anyone who used to run the PFF tribe outfit is maybe the last source folks need to tap into for offensive line analysis. Maybe that right there answers Joe’s question why there is a focus on running Bredeson.