Cody Mauch’s Improvement Helped Offensive Line Rise
January 29th, 2025
Key to strong o-line.
One player Joe felt needed to pick things up for the 2024 season at times seemed overwhelmed in 2023.
That would have been Bucs rookie guard Cody Mauch. Joe loved his heart and his attitude, but there were games where it seemed like Mauch was not on the same level as NFL defensive lineman.
Joe had confidence that if Mauch had a full offseason in an NFL weight room to bulk up, he’d have a chance to improve.
And that’s exactly what happened. Match that ornery attitude (between the lines — Mauch is actually a teddy bear off the field) with more bulk and you have a really solid player.
In fact, Kevin Patra of NFL.com thinks Mauch was an under-the-radar stud.
Offensive linemen generally don’t get enough praise when they improve. Mauch deserves it for making a MASSIVE leap from Year 1 to Year 2. As a rookie, the Buccaneers guard allowed 48 pressures and seven sacks. This season, those numbers dropped to 18 pressures and two sacks. He went from a near liability as a run and pass blocker to a reason why Baker Mayfield and the offense continued to click. Given that he was playing next to a rookie center in Graham Barton, Mauch’s rise is even more impressive. The Bucs offense as a whole improved in 2024 for a variety of reasons — Bucky Irving’s injection, Liam Coen’s play-calling, Mayfield’s continued improvement — but the offensive line’s bolstered play is up there. No one improved more than Mauch.
That’s a great point Patra made about Mauch. He became a strong player despite playing next to a rookie center.
Joe expects Graham Barton to be a better player next season (he has to work on those snaps) for the very same reasons Mauch was better: a combination of a full offseason in an NFL weight room and a year of NFL experience.
Mauch was a big reason the Bucs offensive line became one of the better fronts in the game. Barton, if he mirrors Mauch’s jump, could make the line even better.
January 29th, 2025 at 4:08 am
Good for Cody. He had the right attitude from the get go. One hell of a job
finding these guys Jason.
January 29th, 2025 at 4:14 am
Joe, if Barton can mirror Mauch’s jump maybe you’ll get his first name right?
January 29th, 2025 at 5:45 am
One other thing I sure helped the OL if true, the Bucs changed from zone blocking to gap blocking
January 29th, 2025 at 6:28 am
Now about that Pass Defense….
January 29th, 2025 at 6:53 am
I love this guy! Cody and Luke Gedecke bring a real nastiness to the right side of the Bucs line
January 29th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Looks like Obie Taylor on steriods. Cody, get some front teeth, you’re not a hockey player. Besides, having a full set of teeth is better for your overall health. How do you even eat an apple?
January 29th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Super excited about Barton’s development for next year. I thought he exceeded expectations this year considering he was moved from tackle to center…and at the NFL level too boot. One year in a NFL weight room, a full year to absorb tweaks in the playbook etc. Can’t wait!
January 29th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Hodad look at the guy, you know damn well he’s never eaten an apple
January 29th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Like a real buccaneer, Hodad, Mauch cuts his apples with a stiletto. Someone on this Krew needs to look like they battled through Scurvy!
January 29th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Nice article about the unsung heroes on the teams. It does seem like Cody is forgotten at times. He is a good guy and his farming background helps out a lot too. Have to be tough and gritty as farmers. Cody is.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:33 am
I’m proud of that young man.
January 29th, 2025 at 11:40 am
Mauch was INCREDIBLE with his lack of penalties too, only two this season!
snaps/penalty so number of snaps between penalties
Mauch 567 snaps/penalty
Wirfs 145
Bredeson 141
Barton 133
Goedeke 101
Penalties and yards accepted:
Mauch 2 penalties, 15 yards total for the regular season
Wirfs 7 55
Bredeson 8 65
Barton 8 69
Goedeke 9 60
January 29th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Jason Licht is 6 for 6 drafting 1st, 2nd or 3rd round Offensive Linemen.
(Smith, Marpet, Cappa, Wirfs, Goedeke, Mauch)
January 29th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Barton is going to be a stud. His rookie mistakes were costly but he’s too smart to keep making them over and over again even if other players do
January 30th, 2025 at 9:44 am
The wasted pick crowd is gonna lose it Joe! (Mauch is a tackle)
BTW Hainsey stunk as well according to those folks (Filled in admirablly after bulking up). Barton is a tackle. Goedeke should be cut imediatley if not sooner. (trying to extend him right now) As a right tackle.
But then again some of those folks think we don’t need an O line at all and should never, ever waste a draft pick on one.
Go Bucs!
January 30th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Dudes so tuff he doesn’t even need teeth.