Hold Up On The Offensive Line Coronation
August 22nd, 2024For weeks, maybe months, Bucs fans were singing hosannas and raising glasses to what they were convinced is an upgrade to the hated Bucs offensive line.
Well, head Bucs coach Todd Bowles yesterday implied these same folks who think the Bucs will magically pancake each and every defensive lineman each and every play might be suffering from premature jocularity.
Bowles was none too pleased about the performance of the Bucs’ offensive line during yesterday’s joint practice with the Dolphins.
“We’ve got to do some work in protection that we’ve got to clean up,” Bowles said. “I thought there were some protection breakdowns.”
And Bowles saw this first-hand. He was monitoring the offense on the practice field where the Tampa Bay offense faced the Dolphins defense. The Bucs defense was at a separate field.
The Dolphins have a pretty good defensive line and unlike the Bucs, they believe in the value of an edge rush. That was no slouch pass rushing team wearing faded white numbers on their teal jerseys.
Bowles said coaches will hit the lab to figure out what went wrong and how to fix the protection breakdowns.
Of course, it’s good to have whatever issues exist weeded out in August rather than December.
August 22nd, 2024 at 12:22 am
OMG! Our Bucs were 8 sacks behind Miami! They are trash at rushing the QB! How can a team be tied at seventh in the NFL and just be trash and not know what they’re doing at the pass rush? We’re just gonna have to have a come to Jesus with Buc’s Brass and tell them that being in the top seven isn’t good enough! You need to be top two! No excuses!
August 22nd, 2024 at 12:36 am
Look, I’ve been consistent as hell saying my biggest worry was this new O-line coach.
Guy’s got about as much NFL experience as a nun at a swingers’ convention.
Now, our old O-line coaches? Sure, they couldn’t teach run blocking to save their balls, but when it came to pass protection, they were all over it like a tongue in a cheerleader’s panties.
But this new guy? I’m hoping he’s got it, but after reading this article, I’m starting to think he got bumped up the ladder without knowing which end of the stick to lick.
August 22nd, 2024 at 12:43 am
I wish Todd would have added,
“Bowles said coaches will hit the lab to figure out what went wrong and how to fix the PASS COVERAGE breakdowns.”
Jeewhiz Crums
August 22nd, 2024 at 12:49 am
Geno – best use of analogies and metaphors all season. Well played!
August 22nd, 2024 at 2:09 am
It isn’t funny and I hope it gets fixed, but “premature jocularity” still has me chuckling with a smile on my face.
August 22nd, 2024 at 5:17 am
Bucs look like a 7 win team at best to me. Look for Bowles to have the Bucs Tennessee ready for the Commanders. This is Bowles last year, BTW. Bucs OV will take over the team post Bowles termination at the end of the season. Final Prediction for 2024, 6-11.
August 22nd, 2024 at 6:04 am
Ditto Geno… being raise Catholic as a child … that Nun line was hilarious .
August 22nd, 2024 at 6:45 am
If Barton opens up holes for Rashaad White like he has for Bucky Irving we will be wondering why we waited so long to replace Hainsey who now will be a perennial backup. Protection will be just fine it’s the run game up the middle this team has lacked and now we have it. Why did we wait so long once Jensen went down??
August 22nd, 2024 at 6:46 am
I thought we were much better until we got abused by Jacksonville 3 times in a row and now I hear Miami is basically doing the same thing. That knocked my confidence in this team down a couple of notches.
August 22nd, 2024 at 7:48 am
Still a hating fool huh grandson
August 22nd, 2024 at 8:00 am
Well when you have an offense that scores a lot of points the other team has to throw more to catch up. The more you throw, the more chances you have of being sacked. If the Bucs can score more, early, and often you’ll see our sack numbers go up like Miami.
August 22nd, 2024 at 8:20 am
No need to worry. Mayfield will fixed the Protections at the Line of Scrimmage.
August 22nd, 2024 at 9:00 am
Just throw it to ME13 early and often , because even when he is covered , ME13 is open.
August 22nd, 2024 at 10:44 am
No sh*t.
Mauch sucks, Bredesen Sucks.
Barton is a rookie.
For 3 straight years, our line has sucked, we’ve been last in rushing, QBs have scrambled for their lives. Both Brady and Mayfield.
And with Bredesen and Mauch, the line will suck again.
Which, considering how great our tackles are,is fing rediculous.
We’ll know when the Bucs are serious about making a push for the SuperBowl.
They’ll fix the offensive line and Defensive pass rush.
Until then, they are contend being also rans
August 22nd, 2024 at 11:28 am
Yup
Had at least two of the big boys running free last week. That was line calls me thinks. Center. And…I really hate to say this but the QBs got to catch it pre snap. Trask, and Woford both.
Go Bucs!
August 22nd, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Why is it that Bowles is always saying We need to….. fill in the blank….better.
How about just getting it done. Standing around and complaining that we need to just isn’t working.
While not a big fan of Mike Tomlin I respect his coaching career and passion.When I see him at his press conference after a loss with THAT look and fire in his eyes you know what is coming.
When he barks out that we HAVE to get better at whatever went wrong that day, you know damn well somebody is getting better the next week.
It is called coaching for a reason.
August 22nd, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Need to get this o-line fixed asap!!!
August 22nd, 2024 at 7:05 pm
I am tired of this Oline struggling to get any push. Maybe draft guys and play them at thier natural position. Seems to work for the rest of the league. I have been giving this Oline mulligans the past couple years. It’s past time to get it together.
August 22nd, 2024 at 7:40 pm
starters will be fine everybody. even if mauch only improves a little, brederson looks like an upgrade. tackles and center will be better than last year. biggest worry is tight end blocking. if barton fink gets hurt though, hainsey’s back in there. doubt we could survive a wirfs injury either. baker might have more to do with the line’s success than any one lineman, if you believe the stories about his blocking scheme adjustments at the line