Cody Mauch Believes He Can Handle Left Tackle
May 9th, 2023
Rookie Bucs offensive lineman Cody Mauch.
Sometimes simplicity can be satisfying and fun.
Buccaneers second-round pick Cody Mauch played left tackle in college and was damn good, and he’s got excellent athleticism. The Bucs, however, believe he’s a guard.
Mauch agrees, but he also believes he’s a left tackle and a center. He trained at all three positions this offseason with former NFL offensive line coach Paul Alexander.
While Mauch is a team-first guy who will tell every coach that he’ll play anywhere to help the team, Mauch came clean a bit during his visit to SiriusXM NFL Radio last week.
“I agree. I think those would be my two best spots,” Mauch told host Pat Kirwan of playing left tackle and left guard. “Just having played left tackle for four years now at NDSU and, you know, just the left side, that’s just kind of where I’ve been lately.”
Kirwan, the former Bucs scout and Jets assistant coach and personnel director, is very high on Mauch. And as Kirwan’s regular listeners know, Alexander is a regular guest on Kirwan’s show and the duo coached together.
Kirwan fell in love with Mauch at the Senior Bowl and it seems he also has intel on him from Alexander that says Mauch is left-tackle worthy in Tampa.
“I would personally try Cody over and on the left and see if he can do it. I just think that Cody Mauch, just watching his athleticism, the way he can move,” Kirwan said.
“And my backup plan is [Mauch] at left guard, because that’s the guy you’re going to want to pull and you’re going to want to get in front of that power stuff that [offenses] want to run. He’s good at pulling .. because they’re stepping over a lot of stuff — legs on the ground, helmets, you know there’s a lot of junk that you’ve got to have the agility to get over. It was easy for him. And he knows how to fold up and go get a [linebacker]; he just really impressed me with his movement skills. So left guard is my backup plan for him.”
As for relocating All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs to left tackle, Kirwan said he’d prefer to give Mauch an honest shot at left tackkle this spring and hold off on relocating Wirfs if Mauch seems viable.
Joe would be all for that, too. But Joe’s not about to doubt general manager Jason Licht when it comes to crafting an offensive line.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:20 am
Wait did you see the o-line last year?
May 9th, 2023 at 10:22 am
Are any practices before training camp that are full pads or is it all under ware football?
May 9th, 2023 at 10:24 am
I believe this latest draft the Bucs hauled in are all great back up depth pieces with the exception of MAYBE the first pick! And even he’s still to be determined. Hope this guy Cody M. Is really that Jason licht type of guy. Allah Marpet
May 9th, 2023 at 10:25 am
I see the Bucs have signed their QB3. John Wolford. Played in LA the past few seasons…
May 9th, 2023 at 10:27 am
I highly doubt Mauch will play left tackle. Looks more like a guard to me.
I believe Goedeke will move to RT and Wirfs to LT…
May 9th, 2023 at 10:30 am
I prefer him right next to Jensen especially if you’re gonna be a running team
May 9th, 2023 at 10:35 am
Mauch had a 9.32 RAS score, pair that athleticism with good footwork, good bend, his rep to rep intensity and I think Kirwan is on to something about putting him outside then sliding him inside to OG IF he cannot handle being a pro LT. That counts both Mauch & Wirfs that personally feel they can handle being a LT, and I don’t think there’s anything stopping either player to at least being tested out at that spot with training camp and the preseason still a ways away in the offseason program.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:43 am
He could be our back up LT if something happens to Wirfs….also bu Center…but I would rather start him at LG. It’ll be a nice rotation with him and Leverette there. And Goedeke and Feiler can man the RT/RG with Hainsey giving Jensen some breaks.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:50 am
I like Kirwan, but no, he’s not a left tackle at the NFL level. He’s more of a center really, but should also do well at guard.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:52 am
It was such a theme this year to see so many college OT’s labeled as OG’s in the NFL because of the T rex arms concept.
I was googling around to see average arm length for decent LT’s. There have been pro bowlers with arm length closer to Mauch.
For example Donald Penn had 33″ arms and this guy has 32.375″ arms. Joe Stayle was 33.5″
May 9th, 2023 at 11:15 am
Lord Cornelius,
My observations were similar to yours. So many draft prospects this year were labeled undersized or with short arms. I wonder if this year is an aberration, or if this is a trend developing that may continue in future drafts.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:27 am
Put the best starting five out there. If Mauch is better at LT than anyone else on the roster other than Wirfs so be it.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:33 am
@StickinUp4Centers
Yeah I was texting with my Titans friend about all our t rex prospects lol. You never hear a scout saying an interior O-lineman needs to kick out to OT for the NFL.
If anything it just makes me think it’s very rare to find O-lineman that are great athletes / producers AND have super long arms of at least 34-35″.
Luke G has even shorter arms than Mauch but seemed to have his best play at RT vs OG.
Ultimately I am no O-line master and will kind of just trust in Licht / the staff. Our O-line was destroyed by injuries and turnover last year that no team has the depth for.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:36 am
The short arm long arm thing has always been out there…. it’s just finally being discussed. Scouts and front offices have been enamored with this for years… many draft based publications were printing arm length more than a decade ago. But now, the internet draft sites are finally focusing on it… it’s always been a fairly important measurable. The first time I recall seeing it being made a big deal was when 6’7 Robert Gallery of Iowa was drafted early in round 1. He had about 32″ arms and the Raiders moved him to guard after he was just an okay tackle. Whether that was because of his arm length or not… no idea. That was 2004.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:39 am
“Yeah I was texting with my Titans friend about all our t rex prospects lol. You never hear a scout saying an interior O-lineman needs to kick out to OT for the NFL”
It’s just the way it goes, you’ll find a longer track record of collegiate OTs getting drafted/signed and being move to the interior OL having success more than you’ll hear of OG/C prospects being moved to play OT. Some of it has to do with arm length/reach, more of it is on overall judgement on stature and athleticism. If you’re an OT coming out of college that struggles with speed/bull rushes odds are pretty good you’ll get tried out inside as it’s easier to mask that in a 3 man collective than it is leaving a college OT that struggled in college outside dealing with 1on1’s w/pass rushers.
May 9th, 2023 at 12:04 pm
I actually think Mauch can do anything he wants…..
May 9th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
My crystal balls say that the o line from right to left will look like this: TW, LG, RJ, MF, CM.. Just sayin what I see!
May 9th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
I really think his future is at center for the Bucs. For now it sounds like they want him at LG, right next to Jensen. The good thing is he can kick out to LT in a pinch, it wouldn’t be new to him, and center. Well done Licht.
May 9th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Give him shot in training camp
Maybe the blind squirrel will strike again!
May 9th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
They may try it out but personally I would rather have wirfs at left tackle than a rookie I just think wirfs is special enough to succeed at it and if you can find a stud at left tackle that’s what you want right tackle doesn’t need to be as good because the quarterback can see protection breaks down on the right side, because majority are right handed, and is in a better position to adjust.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
I think hainsey is who the bucs Invision taking over at center eventually and Cody is going to be a hellva left guard.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Okay so I got caught up in the arm length topic but after doing some research arm length is just some stat that talking heads like to put out there. Looking at the reported arm length for the ten highest paid LTs in the NFL right now and only three of them have arms over 35 inches. The other seven range between 33 – 34 inches.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Let’s hope Logan Hall doesn’t take out Mauch on the 2nd day of training camp like he did to Jensen last year.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
That would be rad of he could pull it off.
May 9th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Mauch will start somewhere on the OL from Game 1
Wirfs
Jensen
Hainsley
Feiler/Levertt/Stinnie/Goedke for the other spot
Those are your 5 starters
May 9th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Likable young man and hope he succeeds – good positive vibe. Not claiming to eat glass… or corn on the cob for that matter.
May 9th, 2023 at 7:09 pm
Thats his position, he isnt thick enough to play inside
May 9th, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Someone tell him to stfu…smdh…the hubris…he’d get worked.
This season is going to be so ugly
May 9th, 2023 at 8:46 pm
It’s totally unfair and honestly irrelevant about what the Bucs OL did last year!!!
The Bucs literally lost the entire center of their line. Think about that!!!
Cappa went to the Bengals…a loss…Marpet retired…a major loss!!!
And then Jensen goes down in the preseason…a DISASTROUS loss. Jensen is not only a good center he was the nasty heart of an otherwise talented but “mellow” group of guys.
Now Jensen will return…hopefully healthy…joined by a much larger clone in Mauch! This OL has the potential to be really good…as always injuries and health..especially Jensen’s will determine their production.
May 9th, 2023 at 8:47 pm
BTW for the “chicken littles”…hop aboard the little train that said…”I think I can, I think I can.!
If Mauch truly worked out as a terrific LT the Bucs are set for decade at both tackles!!!
May 9th, 2023 at 9:01 pm
As I’ve said before, the Bucs have an awful lot of pretty decent talent on the O-line. They are going to try 3-4-5 different guys there and see who helps them the most without making another part of the line weaker. Just give it a rest folks and let things play out. None of you really have a clue what will happen and who is really going to be the best at LG for the team.
May 9th, 2023 at 9:57 pm
There is like zero precedent for dudes with arms shorter than 33 inches being successful tackles in the modern NFL. So Mauch at LT is pie in the sky as far as I’m concerned. And it’s the same reason why I don’t buy Goedeke at RT.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:49 pm
No less an expert than Jim Mora believes that long arms are indeed an asset for NFL tackles. But they are not the end all and be all!
Mora says, “”It’s not the most important thing,” Mora said. “If you said I could have a guy with 35-inch arms but he had average feet and average lateral quickness then I would say, ‘Well, I don’t know, what’s my alternative?’ Then say, ‘OK, you can have a guy with 33 1/2-inch arms with great lateral quickness.’ I’d take the 33 1/2-inch arms with lateral quickness every single day.”
I always tend to favor the old cliche…”It’s not the size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
AGAIN Ryan Jensen languished on the Ravens bench for 3 years before breaking out in year 4 when moved to center. Jensen is a great example of a dog with a LOT of fight in him. Let’s hope Mauch is the same.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:51 pm
BTW…Joe’s boys at PFF ran analysis…I’d link but I’d get dumped into moderation.
Basically they said – “Still, there’s no correlation between arm length and performance. Another interesting thing that you can see from these charts is the wide variation in arm lengths for right tackles vs left tackles. Looking at the left tackle chart, all but 4 of the qualified players had arms between 33 and 36 inches long. Looking at right tackles, that number jumps to 13, and is apparent on both ends of the spectrum. So not only are the guys with tiny arms stuck on the right side, but so are the “long-limbed athletes”.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Excellent intell.
Meaning Bloweszo will use him as an extra TE on the right side while having Goedonkey flounder at left tackle. It’s a Bloweszo World.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:34 pm
PS -sucking down a Big Storm Wavemaker Amber Ale. Very delectable.
May 10th, 2023 at 12:32 am
Try them out everywhere I guess, but he seems too small to be a LT in 2023, where you want a giant mauler. However, at guard, he makes total sense and should start right away, and will probably be quite good.
His frame/size pretty much makes him a guard, in my opinion, but the thing is this year doesn’t matter, so you can try stuff out if you want. If he gets Mayfield or Trask killed, who cares, outside of them and their families.
The team isn’t one player away, and that gives you the freedom to take chances.
With all of that said, I thought Licht has already said they’re going to play him at guard. Again, Licht has a fantastic record with offensive lineman, and I’ll completely trust his opinion on this – in particular since it aligns with my own.
May 10th, 2023 at 1:03 am
Because Google doesn’t like links.
The absolute worst source for offensive line play is the PFF tribe. That’s not conning from Joe. That’s coming from every NFL suit and coach Joe has asked. You’re better off reading comic books to learn about offensive line than the PFF tribe.
That stated Joe has been told arm length is a bit overblown. Joe has also been told it’s important. 🤷♂️
May 10th, 2023 at 2:21 am
If arm length is overblown, point to one example of a successful offensive tackle with sub 33 inch arms Joe.
May 10th, 2023 at 2:23 am
@stpete
Mauch and Goedeke both have arms less than 32 & 1/2 inch arms.
May 10th, 2023 at 2:41 am
The unwritten rule is 34” or larger wingspan for tackles in the nfl. There are exceptions but that’s what they’re looking for. 32 3/8 w 6’ 6” tall is close enough to get him a shot. His size will pretty much rule him out for center. Tall centers just can’t get leverage fast enough and tend to get bull rushed. He could also block a 5’ 11” Qb vision of the field.
May 10th, 2023 at 3:59 am
Listen to Kirwan!
The guy really knows his stuff and he doesn’t just throw crap out there to see if it sticks like most of the so called experts these days.
Imagine if we got our LT in Mauch! What a bonus for this draft!
May 10th, 2023 at 11:29 am
All this talk about arm length is a little over blown in my opinion. Get out a ruler and look how much of a difference there is in 32 1/2 inches and 34 inches. Not much is it. The measurements are made from the arm pits and not the center of the chest where it should be measured.
Secondly, and more important, is having great feet and athleticism coupled with desire.
I don’t know if Mauch will play LT, but the tape I have seen tells me he could play LT and play it well. He played LT for 4 years, however; he is a rookie and pay the price for a year or more wherever he plays.
May 10th, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Get a ruler and see how little difference there is between 32 1/2 and 34 inches. Not much! Also, arm length is measured from the arm pits and not the center of the chest.
Everyone would like long arms for a tackle, but there are many more important traits than long arms in my opinion. After looking at the videos of Mauch he has many of them. Really good feet, outstanding athleticism, very tenacious and relentless. I’ll take what Mauch has over arms that are 1 1/2 longer than his any day!
May 10th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Everyone bagging on mauch at lt got a better plan? Oh wait let’s move the best rt in the NFL to lt……. Give the guy a chance, I’ve hes successful than the bucs are set at both tackle positions for the next decade
May 10th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Totally off topic but I think goatfarmer is secretly in love with bowles, lmao