Surviving Justin Skule, Aiden Hutchinson

September 15th, 2024

Joe issued a warning on Friday’s Ira Kaufman Podcast.

Joe was admant that if backup right tackle Justin Skule was to start for concussed starter Luke Goedeke, then the consequences would be dire. This was based on Joe watching Skule through training camp and preseason, and on the opponent.

The Lions were going to line up beastly pass rusher Aiden Hutchinson across from Skule often.

It wasn’t just that Hutchinson is an elite player, it was because Skule’s strengths are not those that match up well against a guy with incredible get-off and athleticsm — strengths of Hutchinson.

Interestingly, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said Thursday that he absolutely would have a plan to let Hutchinson wreck today’s game.

Hutchinson finished with five sacks.

“We’ve got to have a plan to not let [Hutchinson] and [Marcus Davenport] wreck this game, right? So we’ve got to have chips. We’ve got to have things in place in order to protect everybody – protect both tackles,” Coen said Thursday.

“It doesn’t matter who – we can’t walk out of the game Sunday and say, ‘Man, Aidan Hutchinson beat us because we didn’t have a chip on him on this play.’

“That would be a little frustrating. We’ve got to go into it, regardless of who’s playing, with a really strong chip plan or plan to at least keep those guys on their toes.”

Skule on Hutchinson 1-on-1 failed too often, and the chipping of Hutchinson by Cade Otton and Rachaad White wasn’t much help. Hutchinson was a game-wrecker and it still didn’t matter. Skule hung tough late and the Bucs defense saved the day in the 20-16 victory.

Man, when is the last time the Bucs endured such a dominant defensive performance by an opposing edge rusher and still walked out eating a “W?”

The good news for Joe is, aside from the victory, Skule picked up valuable experience and there’s a solid chance Goedeke will be back soon.

50 Responses to “Surviving Justin Skule, Aiden Hutchinson”

  1. adam from ny Says:

    can you get walton back in the building as a swing tackle?

    please

  2. Chad Says:

    Definitely can’t wait to have Luke back

  3. White Dogg Says:

    Get healthy Goedeke! We the fans amd the team needs you back!

  4. John Ransom Says:

    If you just knew the sack differential and the rushing yards from White, you would have never picked the Bucs to win. Resilient group!

  5. BucNasty Says:

    Wish I had saved screen shots of all the Goedeke haters. We really missed him today. Skule looked like a fool

  6. Nprbuc Says:

    How about Klein or Ko Kief lining up next to Skule after the second or 3rd rush to his outside shoulder? But then what do I know watching from a couch in NPR. Just seemed obvious that chipping Hutchinson wasn’t going to stop that beast. Guess that’s why I am an old man on a couch and not an OC but I don’t feel that this was Coen’s finest effort.

  7. Beeej Says:

    So they thought Skule > Walton? I’m suddenly questioning everything in my life

  8. 1#bucsfan Says:

    That was tough to watch but the lions couldn’t capitalize on a dominant performance by him

  9. Jeffs grandpa Says:

    Officially 4.5 sacks and White was partially responsible for 2 of them

  10. Defense Rules Says:

    Jeff’s grandpa … I didn’t see anyone chip blocking on the first 3 sacks that Hutchinson got. Those were rapid fire & brutal.

  11. Lakeland Says:

    The tackles on the practice squad is better than Skule

  12. Dave Pear Says:

    Drule needs to be cut. Now. Don’t even let him on the airplane. Anyone off of any practice squad would be at least as awful if not a little better. What a scrub. Horrible.

  13. LakelandSteve Says:

    No excuse for 5 sacks. Not sure why they weren’t chipping him from the beginning. Thanks God for Baker Mayfield making some timely plays.
    Also how about Todd Bowles and the defensive coaches getting that mish mash of a defense prepared to play like they did. Bowles deserves a lot of credit.

  14. Georgia Redneck Says:

    Five sacks. What happened? We didn’t get the game in Georgia.

  15. Dave Pear Says:

    My 14 year old mutt wouldn’t have played any worse than Drule.

  16. Xristos Says:

    Happy to get the W.
    The Defense stepped up and played way better than i thought they could (considering the players out).
    But in all honesty Skule almost cost us the game. He was shocking. 5 sacks and the 2 of them he had good help from TE and RB.
    The coaches overestimated him and in the 1st 3 drives he gave up 3 sacks. After they helped him and he was still awful. At some point is not only his fault but the coaches that continue to let him in. If Goedeke is out next week i hope they seriously consider another Tackle.
    Go Bucs

  17. Joe in Michigan Says:

    That reminded of the NFC Central days and how the Bucs never really did block Reggie White when he played for Green Bay…For the fans pining for the days of Brandon Walton, it probably been just as bad if he was in there, IMHO. Walton didn’t beat out Josh Wells for Swing Tackle a few years back, did he?

  18. Joe in Michigan Says:

    *Reminded me

  19. lambchop Says:

    I was just watching this presser and thought hmmm, we almost lost because we didn’t have enough of a game plan to help Skule out. I’d love to have someone ask Liam why they went 1-on-1 with Hutch for too long.

  20. Joe in Michigan Says:

    *Would’ve been (I’ve had several concussions in my life)

  21. Tbbucs3 Says:

    No Skule wasnt good today, but he did hold his own against Hutchinson for about 10 seconds on that clutch Mayfield run in the redzone. So, credit where credit’s due…kept battling after a long day.

  22. Tucker Says:

    It was a rough ride for sure but not gonna nitpick after a win against a tough opponent.

  23. Gipper Says:

    Should have had a plan to double team Hutchison. Can’t believe Coen allowed Baker to get mauled by that guy. Needed two tight ends today. Neither back was going to be effective in keeping that guy off Baker.

  24. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    You hate to advocate someone’s firing….but he needs to be gone

  25. BucsBeast Says:

    Skule HAS to go! There has to be a UPS driver out there
    that can block better then him.

  26. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Dave Pear: That would be cruel and unusual punishment to leave Skule in that sh!thole (Detroit).

  27. TDTB Says:

    I thought they were going to role with Hainsey at right tackle. Did that change? Did I miss something?

  28. H-Town Darryl Says:

    You called it….You f’n called it *sigh*

  29. Rod Munch Says:

    Skule is trash. Cut him. There is no excuse for him to ever see an NFL field again.

  30. Rod Munch Says:

    TDTB Says:
    September 15th, 2024 at 7:39 pm
    I thought they were going to role with Hainsey at right tackle. Did that change? Did I miss something?

    ———

    He was a college RT, but I’ve never heard anyone say the team is trying him out there. They should, there’s no way he wouldn’t be a billion times better than Skule – even if he kicked the bucket halfway through the game and they put him in an office chair at RT, he’d be dramatically more effective than Skule.

  31. Miller5252 Says:

    That was a rough go all day. At one point Otton was tasked with blocking him by himself with no help. I really like the new OC, I think he’s gonna make this offense one of the best we’ve seen. But….. if it was his call on how the RT blocked, had help, chipping and everything else that was part of the train wreck on the right side today he needs to get himself some coaching help. How old boy at RT stayed in the whole game was just bad coaching. 3 in one quarter should have had the RT pull an AB and tell him to strip down and find your own way home.

  32. Matt_PcAfee Says:

    Ira, 1 of 2 Joe’s we trust..

  33. ModHairKen Says:

    They win. Skule did not cost them the game.

    Enjoy the win. Don’t think Denver is going to roll over. This is an important game. In fact, it may be the most important game of the week for them. Follow that.

  34. Knothead71 Says:

    I would respectfully like to remind some of ya’ll about some of the past posts here on JBF. Some of you guys gave up on Geodeke. If memory serves some of you ding dongs nicknamed him Geodonkey. Now, suddenly we’re all a twitter for Luke’s return? And we’re going to rain hate down on Skule because he got beat by an unreal athlete?
    Some of you dipsticks have no clue about how combat sports are played and furthermore I believe some of the crackhead posters on this forum are fans of other teams.
    The fact is BUCS WIN! BUCS WIN! BUCS WIN!

  35. Dave Pear Says:

    Joe in Mich – I actually suggested he be bused to Windsor. The ballet could comfort him until he gets picked up by a CFL team.

  36. Bucagator Says:

    Why didn’t we put Hainsey out there? He played right tackle in college.

  37. Dave Pear Says:

    Goedonkey is short for glass eating donkey. So chill.

  38. My Momma Says:

    On one of Hutchinson’s sacks, he stunted to the inside and Mauch didn’t switch off to pick him up.. Mauch and Barton had a lot of troubles switching off. They late. Go look at the tape.

  39. Tom Edrington Says:

    Would LOVE to be in that room when O-line coach goes over film with linemen…….

  40. Simeon4HOF Says:

    Thankful America’s QB survived school today

  41. Mr. Editor Says:

    I’m not comforted by the lack of depth at the Tackle positions. Just glad that Hutchinson did not get a chance at mean-mugging the Bucs sideline at the end of the game.

  42. Rupert Says:

    Cade Otton had one good chip on Hutchinson and sent him a out three yards sideways. Saw Vea ragdoll Ragnow on one play but couldn’t finish got the sack.

  43. Yar Says:

    Nobody blocked Reggie, not just the Bucs.

  44. Bucschamp Says:

    Somebody drug test Hutchinson

  45. unbelievable Says:

    Skule should never play another snap again.

    Honestly the whole line was getting thrown around today, especially Skule and Mauch.

    Nevertheless, we persist. Go Bucs!

  46. Aaron Says:

    It wasn’t Washington lol and you mean Go Saints right Fboy

  47. Buc4evr Says:

    Skule was bad, but Mauch wasn’t too much better. Both need to be gone. Mauch can barely pass block, but was getting killed on run blocking. Doesn’t have the strength to drive block.

  48. adam from ny Says:

    let skule ride it out next week…maybe…maybe…if goedeke can’t go…

    he had a disastrous first half…and possibly got a little better as time went on…lol…notice i’m loling 🙂

    when josh wells first came in a few years back, he was also a hot mess…then he settled in and was decent…

    maybe skule needs to relax and play a bit and settle in with the first line of behemoths…

    i’m pretty sure he wouldn’t say he performed well either…lol

    #YesHeFugginSuckedToday

  49. adam from ny Says:

    also please note:

    don’t make fun of skule because he can kick your azz…

    and clunk your heads together as if you’re the 3 stooges

  50. heyjude Says:

    We won. We knew Hutchinson would be tough. Everyone talked about Williams too. St. John tried to give it his all and then was hurt. In the end, we won with all kinds of injuries. We were the better team. Let’s see how Skule does in the next couple of weeks.

    Not worried about the Broncos and Eagles. We do well on the road. And next up after are the Falcons and Saints. If we are undefeated by the time we meet up with the Saints, we have it all. The Bucs momentum will carry through and we will be healthier.