FAB 3. CHALK ONE UP FOR GOTTSCHALK

When starting center Joe Hawley’s MCL injury flared up against Atlanta on Thursday Night Football he was destined to miss last Sunday’s game against Chicago. That began a domino effect at center that saw Evan Smith step into the starting role for just six plays against the Bears before an MCL injury of his own opened the door to a player with zero NFL experience.

Enter Ben Gottschalk, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent signed by Kansas City in 2014, and resided on the practices squads of the Chiefs, 49ers and Buccaneers over the last three years.

This was the first time Gottschalk was even active and dressed for a game in his NFL career. He did not expect to even play, especially a few snaps into the game against Chicago.

“So, first off, Ben Gottschalk, he came up off the practice squad earlier in the week, so he got very little time with the first offense and to go out there, play 69 plays like he did, I thought Ben filled in very admirably,” Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said.

Not only did Gottschalk play, he showed he was prepared and played well in a much-needed 36-10 blowout victory at Raymond James Stadium.

“It was great, there are really no other words to describe it,” Gottschalk said. “I’ve been in the league three years and this is the first game I’ve ever been active and to be able to get as much playing time as I did it felt really good.

“It’s great to win at home – it’s great to win period. I’m so excited right now. It’s the first win we’ve had all season at home.”

Gottschalk was the last to leave the locker room. He was all smiles after his NFL debut, soaking in the entire experience.

“I didn’t have any mental errors,” Gottschalk said. “When I was on the practice squad last year it was crucial for me because I got to really focus on my technique and how to actually play center. I never did that in college. I never played center.

“I played left tackle. I played a little bit of guard, but I hadn’t played a lick of center until I came into the NFL. Center is definitely a major jump going from college to the NFL. They always say when you are in college you play football, and when you are in the NFL you learn football. There is a lot that I have learned over the last three years and there is a lot I have yet to learn.”

Gottschalk did everything a young NFL player wants to do – put out some film. Put out some good film that will convince the Bucs that he should be in the mix for a roster spot in 2017 whether it be as the backup center or even as a possible starter if he continues to play well. Gottschalk signed a two-year deal worth $990,000 with $540,000 due next year when he was elevated from the practice squad last week.

Hawley is in the final year of a two-year deal that paid him $3,328,125 and includes $750,000 in incentives. The 28-year old is well liked by the Bucs, who will likely try to re-sign him before he hits free agency.

Smith will be 31 next year and is entering the final year of a four-year contract that will pay him $4.5 million next year, including a $1 million roster bonus. If Hawley is re-signed, Smith will be Gottschalk’s primary competition.

If Hawley, who returned to practice this week, can’t start on Sunday, Gottschalk will notch his first ever start in the place where his NFL career began – in Kansas City.

“Kansas City is a great team and I’m looking forward to getting back to Arrowhead,” Gottschalk said. “It’s going to be loud I know that. Their fans are hardcore. They love their team.”

Gottschalk loves his team, the Buccaneers, especially general manager Jason Licht, who found the former SMU left tackle in one of the most long shot manners.

“Jason and his staff found me through the veterans combine and that whole process, you can tell that this front office works hard to find guys anywhere,” Gottschalk said. “They only did the veterans combine one year and I was one of the few guys that even got signed by any team, so it’s kind of overwhelming to think about my path and how I got here. But I’m here now and I have to make the most of my situation.”

Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who often goes up against Gottschalk in practice, has seen his development behind the scenes first-hand.

“Benjamin’s a very hard worker, he doesn’t let anything phase him and he always gives it 100 percent,” McCoy said. “He rarely makes mistakes, and when he does make a mistake it’s technique. Knowing his calls, knowing his plays, you rarely see him make a mistake.

“His improvement from just knowing him last year to now … sometimes in the NFL you got people coming in and out and you don’t even know their names, but people know his name now. Not just us, people around the team know that’s Ben. Everyone’s excited because they’ve seen how good he’s gotten and the work he’s put in. People don’t play this game to not start. You want to play the game because you want to play someday.”

That day was last Sunday, and Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston said the offense didn’t miss a beat with Gottschalk at center.

“It was like riding a bike,” Winston said. “He got out there and I’m very proud of him. He got out there and just executed. He didn’t panic, he just did his job and that’s what we expected from him. We didn’t think that it was going to be that quick [that he was going to get into the game], but I’m happy of how he played and Caleb [Benenoch] as well. Just them two being side-by-side, you’ve got to think that a lot of stuff is running through their mind, but the way that they were able to remain calm and have a very good day, it was impressive.”

Gottschalk and Benenoch were third-team players a week ago in practice and would often line up together, and as fate would have it, they both saw their first NFL action in the same game and were able to carry over some of their on-field chemistry from the practice field to Raymond James Stadium.

“It’s funny because Caleb and I had the same offensive line coach in college – Adrian Klemm,” Gottschalk said. “He was the O-line coach at SMU for two or three years while I was there and then went over to UCLA with Caleb. I feel like Caleb and I went to the same school because a lot of the coaching we received was from the same guy. Caleb is a rookie, but I feel like I’ve been playing next to him for the last few years.”

Gottschalk doesn’t know what the future holds. If Hawley is ready to go on Sunday, Gottschalk might not play a single snap in the game – or the rest of the year for that matter. But with a pretty impressive performance in emergency fashion, Gottschalk made a favorable impression that the team will evaluate for the 2017 season.

“I think was invaluable he got a chance to play,” Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “Do I think Ben was ready three or four plays into the game that he was up? No, probably not, but again, he’s one of the best in the world. Everbody that’s on our roster is one of the best in the world and the team’s going to count on him to do the job that gives us the chance to be successful and I though he did that.”