Todd Bowles Calls Luke Goedeke “Outstanding” Run Blocker
August 3rd, 2022
Rookie second-round pick Luke Goedeke, who is battling for the starting left guard gig.
Mild-mannered head coach Todd Bowles is not one to slobber publicly about a rookie or oversell any player.
So Joe was highly intrigued to hear Bowles’ answer Joe’s question today about rookie left guard Luke Goedeke.
Finally, Bucs coaches got two days of film with players in pads to study, you know, real football practice to evaluate the trenches. Joe asked Bowles what he saw on film from the Bucs’ second-round pick in Monday’s and Tuesday’s sessions.
“Luke’s tough,” Bowles began. “He’s a football guy. He’s outstanding in the run game. It’s just a matter of picking up the scheme and understanding different protections and seeing the different looks on defense. He’s going to get a lot of looks here, so he’s going to get a lot of experience quick. But he’s very bright. He’s driven to be a very good football player because he works at it, and it’s just a matter of time before it all calms down for him.”
Of course, the Bucs are built to pass and have been for years, but running is nice, too. And defense-leaning head coaches usually love to pound the ball, and Tom Brady loves to set up play-action.
Right guard Shaq Mason is known for his punishing run blocking. And now Joe hears Bowles call his rookie an “outstanding” run blocker, on the heels of general manager Jason Licht saying last week that Goedeke is “strong as an ox.”
Perhaps the Bucs will run the ball a bit more this season, though Joe’s not lobbying for that unless it’s closing out games in the fourth quarter.
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:04 pm
EVERY SB team has a great running game!
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Would love to see the Bucs establish a punishing run game this season. If they can, that passing attack will be even more deadly.
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:11 pm
I expect more of a commitment to the run, especially against lighter fronts. It makes Brady’s job that much easier. Yes, like Brady says, they have very favorable passing conditions, but lineman love to run block. Mason is a top 5 run blocking guard, and sounds like the kid is a bruiser.
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Boy, those helmet shells are… Interesting looking. Looks like an igloo. Hopefully they work as advertised though.
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:40 pm
Steven,
Those are called guardian caps and were first used last year (the Rams, I think?). They are supposed to reduce the G forces of a hit by 20%. If both players wear one, the reduction is 40%. It’s an experimental design, and if it reduces brain shimmy, it’ll be a good thing for the players, even if it looks silly.
I have a feeling we might run more this year, hopefully at least 5% more.
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:44 pm
“Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, Karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?”
Just get us out of the bottom 3rd of the league in terms of run production and efficiency. Does not need to be more, just better from play to play though, I know a chunk of our run game is dedicated to setting up the defenses for our pass attack.
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:44 pm
Wait, I’m sorry – my numbers seem to be off. I could swear I heard Dr. Stills on TV saying 20%, but when I just looked it up, most articles say more like 5% each helmet and 10% reduction when both players wear one. Interesting.
August 3rd, 2022 at 1:51 pm
Love the new Devo helmet.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Those caps are pure marketing and a waste of money. Helmets don’t prevent concussions.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:26 pm
I hope this is not a the camel getting his nose under the tent and in 5 years there will be a hard shell over the “Guardian “ and this is just getting players accustomed to the extra weight ( approximately 1lb) and size.
It is nonsensical to where them in practice where there is little head to head contact.
I wore a suspension helmet in HS and the foam insert tight fits where just coming out.
No water in practice except at break 😖 no grass to speak of on the practice field
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Those stupid looking caps remind me of the Steve Wallace hat. ABF is correct. I doubt it prevents concussion. They need to go back to leather helmets. I guarantee you nobody would lead with their head. Sure, you’d get the occasional skull fracture, but overall it would be a safer game. Obviously I’m being a bit facetious.
August 3rd, 2022 at 2:49 pm
Not a surprise to me. Probably the most underrated part of our team is our offensive line coaches.
August 3rd, 2022 at 3:20 pm
I like the idea of running the ball especially against teams like the saints rather see cam jordan wear himself out tackling Lenny rather than Tom Brady. they look for ways to injure us and that is significantly harder to do when we run the damn ball
August 3rd, 2022 at 3:24 pm
@Geno711
Agreed! If you type coach Gilberts’ name into youtube, there are a bunch of OL instructional videos teaching techniques and different mechanics for developing OLmen to emulate featuring Bucs OLmen.
August 3rd, 2022 at 4:13 pm
With goedeke/stinnie and Shaq on the other side half wonder if we will improve a bit in run blocking even if we lose a bit in pass pro. market was a stud all around, but Cappa was no road grader like Shaq seems to be. The question mark is at center of course
August 3rd, 2022 at 7:00 pm
I’m amazed at how many people know more about the brain than neurosurgeons. It may not prevent concussions entirely but a reduction in chance is worth it. Even just in practice.
August 3rd, 2022 at 8:43 pm
Nobody in the org is going to say anything remotely negative about anyone on the team. Everyone is outstanding, hard working, smart, great teammate. That’s all you’re going to hear from any coach or coordinator. Why bother repeating their non-statements? All we peon outsiders can do is look at the film (what is available), watch who plays and who gets benched and demoted, watch signings, cuts and trades.
August 3rd, 2022 at 11:26 pm
The thing is, with the threat of our incredible roster of receivers, it will open up our run game so much. Hell, would love to see Lenny and Rachaad White tearing up the field this year. Would love to see a lot more run plays. Even mixing in White with passes and Scotty on end around. Just so many options with the talent we have.
August 4th, 2022 at 12:17 am
What’s the word on Stinnie at left guard? I assume he’s going to win the spot, especially now that they’re going to have a new center, otherwise it’s like two rookies in there
August 4th, 2022 at 12:58 am
Leftwich would run it up the middle on every play if he was coaching the team, which is why he isn’t coaching the team despite being the younger ‘hot’ assistant. Whoever ends up hiring Leftwich is going to be in for quite the shock when he’s running the wishbone offense when they thought they were getting Arians & Brady’s offense.
August 4th, 2022 at 3:42 am
Hey Todd – what looks weren’t you ready for in 2021?
Oh, Cooper Kupp in a tie game with 30 seconds left!??
No you weren’t ready. Should you have been? Ya. We’re you? Naaaaa.
August 4th, 2022 at 11:20 am
Rod, why would an ex QB offensive coordinator run up the middle on every play? That’s just silly!!!! BL hasn’t passed for less than 5000 yds since he got here!!! Just sayin’!!!!