Offensive Line Really Playing Well
November 2nd, 2024
Key reason O-line has balled.
Folks love to stomp their feet about the offensive line. It’s not just in Tampa. It’s everywhere across the NFL.
Well, lost in the fog of losing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the same game, and the defense getting blistered worse than a Mike Smith defense, the Bucs’ offensive line has been playing damn good ball.
What will people holler about now?
For example, last week against the Dixie Chicks, Joe could have driven his Bill Currie Ford-bought F-150 truck through the holes created for Bucs running backs. That’s not an exaggeration.
The holes the line opened, damn, even Rachaad White could have seen them (and did).
And it wasn’t just the run blocking that was awesome. Not once was Baker Mayfield hit by the Dixie Chicks in 52 dropbacks. Not once! That’s domination, folks.
Like Bus offensive linemen like to talk about, offensive coordinator Liam Coen noted cohesion and consistency has been a significant element to developing a strong front line. And, Coen noted, since right tackle Luke Goedeke returned from concussion protocol two weeks ago, the Bucs’ offensive line has been a different beast.
“Playing with the similar group for the last few weeks,” Coen said of the way the offensive line has developed. “Getting Luke [Goedeke] back into the fold has obviously been helpful for us from a moving-people standpoint.
“I just think that they’re probably getting some chemistry, cohesiveness. They’re always going to be a little banged up at this point in the year, but I’ve got to trust them and continue to run the football.”
Joe has never been an offensive line hater, except the 2014 Bucs offensive line. (Now that was brutal!) Joe just has a fundamentally different standard for offensive lines than many fans. Still, this year’s line has played the best Joe has seen since the 2020 Super Bowl season.
This summer Joe wrote on this here corner of the interwebs and spoke about on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” that around Thanksgiving is when the Bucs’ offensive line should really come together.
It’s now the beginning of November. Perhaps the Bucs linemen are ahead of schedule?
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:10 am
if you want to defeat KC, run the ball 52 times.
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:12 am
squad’s leveling up…
turning into real time roadgraders…
gotta love it
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:15 am
Bucsfan, totally agree! Get the run game going and Otton and the WRs will find space for the passing game.
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:26 am
i’m really starting to miss sunday afternoon games…!
i’m feeling like an abandoned child at around 2 pm on sunday afternoons these days…
3 of the last 5, including the chiefs, have been outside the sunday afternoon window…
i can barely take it…lol…
at least when on sunday night football, the anticipation, the build up, is there…as you watch the earlier window’s games, twiddling your thumbs…
thursdays are alway’s just too soon…
and monday nights are very cool and all, but fall and winter sundays are built for football…!
#JustAyeLousyFansPerspectiive
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:45 am
i realistically thought the 3 headed monster was going to get 45 touches last game…
35 runs: 15 tuck, 10 buck, 10 rachaad…
and 10 touches via receptions for the group…equaling 45…
it didn’t happen, not even close…
i grew up in the era where i’d watch walter payton carry the ball sometimes 32-35 times a game and jimmy wilder could see 40 touches in a game on his own…no lie!
sometimes i think the league could get thrown for a real monkey wrench if a team simply goes back to pounding the rock 1970’s and 80’s style…just running it down your throat all game, eating clock…and running it some more…now that’s a true throwback game…no creamsicles needed…
i’ll tell ya…50 touches on monday by the buc’s rb’s and you certainly will keep the ball out of mahomes and kelsey’s hands for a good portion of the game – granted we are moving the rock and the o-line is beasting out…
wow i would love to see a throwback game plan like that…with sprinkling in some modern day coen/mcvay style offense to catch them off guard…
coach is a follow the rules type guy, so he’ll prolly just go with what you’d expect from a tampa bay offense – which could lead to a loss
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:51 am
KC can be beaten. That ball club has had a lot of luck during this run.
And why is this O Line so much better? What is different?
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:02 am
They must have had dinner together so they can get to know each other.
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:08 am
The fact-free hate against Rachaad White continues I see. Go ahead and compare his stats with Bucky in the last 4-5 games they both played together. Actually I’ll do it for you so you can see how dumb this narrative is:
TB vs ATL
White: 4.8 ypc, 29 rushing yards, 38 receiving yards
Irving: 4.9 ypc, 44 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards
TB vs BAL
White: 4.0 ypc, 40 rushing yards, 71 receiving yards
Irving: 2.9 ypc, 23 rushing yards, 54 receiving yards
TB vs ATL
White: 7.2 ypc, 72 rushing yards, -6 receiving yards
Irving: 4.9 ypc, 44 rushing yards, 12 receiving yards
TB vs PHI
White: 4.9 ypc, 49 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards
Irving: 4.9 ypc, 49 rushing yards, 6 receiving yards
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:17 am
Glad to hear the O line is playing well ! That’s pretty obvious since we’ve had success running the ball in the majority of the previous games. Improved O line will have to prove they can perform Monday night as the KC defense will be prepared to stop the run. But we have the best of three worlds on the ground and in the air with White, Buc, and Tuck !
You know they are going to stack it up front on us and make us try to beat them long.
I believe the Bucs can win it, but it will be a battle to the end !
Go Bucs !!
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:49 am
After Monday’s public humiliation, Liam will be named interim head coach and then maybe there is a chance to fix the defense, depending on who is elevated to be DC.
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:52 am
ModHairKen Says:
“why is this O Line so much better? What is different?”
All 3 interior positions are upgraded.
– Bredeson is an upgrade over Stinnie/Feiler
– Barton is an upgrade over Hainsey…. future Pro Bowler
– Mauch’s play vs his rookie year is more consistent and a clear upgrade
and Bredeson is the old man of the group at 26…
It took 3 years – but Licht was patient and has now successfully rebuilt our OLine that was completely devastated by the quick succession losses of Cappa, Marpet and Jensen.
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:57 am
^ it’s also a completely different scheme, which is a HUGE factor. Canales was clueless when it came to the run game.
November 2nd, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Dave Pear..Glazers have never fired a coach mid-season.
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Thanks for the post 👍🏼.
Unfortunately, nothing will sway the critics from the narrative that Rachaad is not a good running back.
Rachaad White not being good at running the football when he takes a handoff is not a narrative. It’s a reality over several hundred rushes. The numbers bear it out.–Joe
It’s a main “theme” of @ least 1 of the Joe’s and I’m not sure RW could get his respect even if he led the league in rushing and YPC.
O-line needs to keep up the good work 🤞🏼
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:43 pm
The defense is the problem.
November 3rd, 2024 at 1:13 am
Unbelievable
Good call. Best since 2020 is hilarious. Goedeke just got back after three weeks protocol? Who remembers Detroit game? My hand is up.
November 3rd, 2024 at 2:09 am
Given how the offense is so clearly outplaying the defenseless unit Tood coiches, it won’t be long before Tood will intervene because Liam is making his “defense” tired.