Todd Bowles: Not Just The Offensive Line Causing Sacks
September 26th, 2024
Not blameless in sacks.
A fair amount of preseason misconceptions are being flushed out as the NFL enters its fourth week of play in 2024.
Take the Bucs. Joe thought the Bucs had a decent if not good offensive line. All of a sudden, right tackle Luke Goedeke gets a concussion and the entire offensive line collapses and gives up sacks like Santa Claus handing out presents at a kindergarten Christmas party.
Even Tristan Wirfs has looked, well, mortal.
All because one guy on the far right side gets hurt? If that really is the case, then onc could argue that Goedeke is the team’s MVP.
Baker Mayfield has been sacked 13 times including 12 the past two games. Through three games, he has been sacked on 16 percent of his dropbacks.
In the past two games, (12 sacks in 52 dropbacks) Mayfield has been sacked 23 percent of the time. That’s truly absurd.
Speaking yesterday at One Buc Palace, Todd Bowles suggested Mayfield is not blameless in all of these sacks, and that the line isn’t the sole reason Mayfield is dropping to the ground so often.
“I mean, we’ve got to get rid of the ball better and we’ve got to block it better,” Bowles said of the sacks. “As a whole, offensively, and as a team we’ve got to get better.
“We didn’t play our best [against Denver] and they played well.”
Bowles also added on the Buccaneers Radio Network that some sacks were on Mayfield.
So Joe asks why is Mayfield holding onto the ball? Joe has gone over how all but a handful of Mayfield’s pass attempts are within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage.
Are all the short throws, and Mayfield getting sacked because he’s holding onto the ball, happening because he’s waiting on guys getting open downfield?
Research shows the opposite is true for wide receiver Mike Evans.
September 26th, 2024 at 7:28 am
I don’t know them defenders are back in bakers lap quick!! Sure a few could be trying make something happen but o line play has been bad!! Klein time at RG
September 26th, 2024 at 7:33 am
This confirms what rational Bucs fans knew, the OL is bad but Baker held the ball too long. He needs to at least throw the ball away more.
And the OC needs to call quicker pass plays, more screens and slants. And is there a RB draw play in the playbook? Haven’t seen it yet.
Hopefully they bounce back Sunday.
September 26th, 2024 at 7:39 am
He wasn’t holding the ball too long against Washington?
September 26th, 2024 at 7:52 am
It’s happening because he doesn’t see over the linemen.
September 26th, 2024 at 7:52 am
The Bucs never get into a rhythm. As a couch coach, I think I would start with some confidence building plays to show the team “hey we got this.” Maybe some short passes here or there just to get the nerves out of the way. For anyone who has been in the military, you know this all the be true in stressful environments. Once you get a few deployments under your belt, you are way better prepared for the next. Now, I know this is nothing like being in the military but I think the high stress environment to perform can generate similar feelings. That is why the team did better down the stretch last year. Personally, I think we need to take the easy completions starting out, and give runs to Bucky in order for Baker to get an understanding of the defense. When you play behind the whole game you have no idea what the defense is throwing at you because you are going 3 and out consistently. That is why run plays are important. But the run plays don’t even do that because we are running White up the gut for 1 yard at a time. Probably need to start putting him at slot occasionally to throw the other team off.
September 26th, 2024 at 8:00 am
If you look back at the game Mayfield’s first attempt to Evans was intercepted. They had him double-covered with Surtain. There are going to be teams that look to completely take Evans out of the game and we have to have a game plan for that.
September 26th, 2024 at 8:02 am
Also down 14 in the first quarter, it’s likely panic mode set in and even more mistakes were made.
September 26th, 2024 at 8:03 am
As I’ve said before, blame for that Denver loss can be spread all around – coaching, poor line play, Mayfield holding on to the ball too long, injuries to key defensive players, poor tackling, etc. There were just too many breakdowns last week, and that speaks to a team unprepared and lacking urgency.
September 26th, 2024 at 8:35 am
There’s a web site that tracks stuff like time to throw, I know he averaged low 2’s all last year, be interested to see what it is this year
September 26th, 2024 at 8:43 am
Do roll outs to avoid the rush
September 26th, 2024 at 8:43 am
Psl bob, thank you finally someone that gets it, there’s so much blame to go around for everyone on both sides of the ball and that’s baker included, but even if it don’t lead to sacks, he’s getting pressured almost more than any other qb in the league, so they are getting back there. He’s got to get the ball out quicker but the o-line has looked horrendous
September 26th, 2024 at 8:56 am
Normally the rusher gets around the RT and he’d step up, provides another second or two. When pressure comes from edge AND middle, there’s nowhere to go. I think interior breaking down is having new guy at RT, people unsure of who’s gonna pick up who
September 26th, 2024 at 8:59 am
Sacks need to go wayyy down or we will see Trask pretty quick as Baker will be hurt. I like Trask but I’d rather see Baker under center.
September 26th, 2024 at 9:14 am
Last year & through the first 2 games this year, Baker was very good at ‘feeling the pocket’ and escaping when he needed to. IOW he avoided quite a sacks IMO thanks to his Houdini act. He even managed to pick up 21 yards on 3 rushes against Washington, then another 34 yards on 5 runs against Detroit (most of those didn’t appear to be planned).
Denver’s defense stopped that. They kept constant pressure coming from the interior DLine as well as from outside to keep Baker contained & in the pocket (and oh ya, on the ground). Of Denver’s 7 sacks, only 1 came from a LB or DB; the rest came from the guys up-front. And they did it by collapsing our OLine time-after-time. That takes winning your 1-vs-1’s and the Denver front succeeded in doing that.
Denver has now provided the model that every team will follow UNTIL we show that it won’t work on us anymore. We’ve got some great weapons, and Baker has shown that he can get them the ball … IF HE’S PROTECTED. All eyes should be on the Bucs’ OLine in this next game against Philly.
September 26th, 2024 at 9:43 am
Goedeke needs to ask for a huge raise
September 26th, 2024 at 9:46 am
This dude is not a QB I’ve said it all last yr hes trash rams ain’t want him the panthers ain’t want him nor did the browns. But o Tampa is the place he been looking for 😂😂😂 nothing has changed he has better weapons and still f’s up stupid sack turnovers mixed with stupid play calling man this team is doomed
September 26th, 2024 at 9:57 am
Yeah, if his absence causes the line to collapse and the quarterback to keep getting hit, yes!
September 26th, 2024 at 10:02 am
Click on my link
September 26th, 2024 at 10:02 am
Perfectly described DR. Get two professional guards on the team. Trade for them. Kidnap them. Whatever it takes. Don’t throw another year away trying to transform losers into all pros. Licht trying to prove he’s a genius with small school picks and reforming castoffs isn’t cutting it. Baker won’t last the year. You won’t look like a genius then.
September 26th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Joe – Goedeke coming back won’t magically fix everything.
Mayfield is struggling calling protections.
He’s no Tom Brady.
September 26th, 2024 at 10:11 am
Well that was a shocking answer
September 26th, 2024 at 10:12 am
The OL has sucked and there is no doubt for anyone who has watched on TV or live. “Everyone is to blame” is just muddying the waters. Of course the qb looks bad when the line can’t block. Of course the running game sucks when the line can’t block.
Bowles the Befuddled.
September 26th, 2024 at 10:18 am
Twice now in 3 games Baker has thrown an interception towards Mike when McMillan is wide open on the other side of the field. In this last game he stared down Mike from the snap. McMillan is simply too good to not be getting targets. Baker looked lost against Denver from the 2nd play on. There was pressure yes, but if Baker EVER makes them pay for a blitz, they stop. He didn’t, and neither did they.
September 26th, 2024 at 10:42 am
Look at the Offensive Line Coach as the issue. He clearly is not as strong on pass protect as our previous coaches. It does not take a whole season to figure that out, the film is there to see in three games.
September 26th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Review of the tape shows that Bowles is 100% correct that the receivers were not open when they needed to be on longer developing plays. Separation as a metric is meaningless if it occurs when the progression is not targeting the receiver.
Receivers are not “wide open” if the are open at the wrong time. Learn to watch game film correctly and you can see precisely what Bowles is talking about here.
September 26th, 2024 at 11:23 am
Ummm as I recall Baker was hot and cold last year. Streaky guy. Finished the year strong but had some dreadful streaks during the season.
September 26th, 2024 at 11:37 am
We’ll never know if the line doesn’t improve. Job one!
September 26th, 2024 at 2:26 pm
Bull, the line is giving up too much protection too quickly. Time it. You’ll see. Not enough time for the plays being called to set up.
September 26th, 2024 at 4:46 pm
I had a comment that posted- and now has disappeared.
This has happened a few times lately.
Whats going on?
Tech glitch or am I being edited for some reason?
September 27th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
All successful offenses ALWAYS starts with a solid OL. If we don’t have that, don’t expect much. We need to ensure Baker and the receivers have enough time for the play to develope. If it’s not there, then check down to a short pass. Maybe quick slants, etc. Build confidence and momentum for not just the QB, but for the all twelve guys on offense. Move the ball down field and reduce those long 3rd down plays, ugh!
September 27th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
First things first, through 3 games I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more swiss cheese o-line. Consistently bad on pass protection. The one touchdown was a picture perfect completion from Baker to Godwin, who was actually really well covered on the play! Use the whole field, on pass protection or run blocking our o-line strength is not right up the gut. How about some motion, swing passes, make those big D lineman run sideline to sideline, if nothing else they’ll get tired! Baker dropping back into the pocket like Peyton Manning will never work, because there is no pocket. And he can’t Step Up, when all the pressure is coming from the D tackles. No QB can throw passes when they’re laying flat on their back and 2 D linemen laying on top of them. It’s the OC’s job to get creative, compensate for a weak-O-line. Where’s the “plays”, where is the adjustments!?