The Robert Hainsey Files & The Bucs’ Record-Setting Performance
October 13th, 2024
Man.
So fan-punching-bag center Robert Hainsey returned to the starting lineup today for the first time since last season (without running back Rachaad White) and the Bucs’ offense turned in its biggest performance in history.
That’s right. The Bucs’ 594 yards are a team record.
Somebody call Mulder and Scully!
Joe issued a stern warning on the recent Ira Kaufman Podcast. The message was that Hainsey is a smart dude with fresh legs and the hunger of a contract year pulsating through his soul. Also, Hainsey is nowhere near as bad as many fans consider him to be. He’s a solid player.
Combined with right tackle Luke Goedeke returning after missing five games with a concussion, Joe warned, the Bucs’ offensive line was poised to deliver a punishing performance in all aspects of their play against the Saints today.
And that’s exactly what happened — to a degree never seen before.
Hainsey was mauling in the second half. In the run game (even up the middle!) and on screens, he was winning repeatedly.
Joe is happy for Hainsey, who has taken more abuse than he’s deserved. Joe’s not calling the guy a special player, but he’s a legitimate starter that took the fall for others’ failures.
Joe doesn’t know if rookie first-round-pick center Graham Barton will return from his hamstring injury next week against the Ravens. But at least for another game, Joe isn’t concerned about Hainsey getting the start in place of Barton.
October 13th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
I toooooooold you.
Keep White on the bench.
October 13th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
Todd will start Skule at center next week. To slow the game down. He will hate this edge output.
October 13th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
I think Joe trashed talked him the most
That’s ridiculous. Joe wrote over and over and over that Hainsey was a scapegoat. You want to upgrade, fine with Joe, but the guy was not the Ebola virus many fans considered him to be. Bucs never could have racked up the passing yardage they did in past years if Hainsey was a turnstile. –Joe
October 13th, 2024 at 5:30 pm
I’ll eat crow. A whole plate of it. Good job, Bob!
October 13th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
Adam Joe has been saying that all last season summer and beginning of season. Amazing he is out and team has best rushing performance in what feels like decades! Going to need that next week if they want to beat the Ravens. Great Jon Hainsey. Welcome to the Buck and Tuck show!!!!!
October 13th, 2024 at 5:36 pm
White doesn’t have natural vision and speed like these guys
October 13th, 2024 at 5:36 pm
Even with a great win ,we still have negative Nancy’s
October 13th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
White is the obvious common denominator whenever the run game is mediocre. Essentially two rookies diced up the opposing defense with the same o-line White sputters behind.
October 13th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
Bucs’ 594 yards
October 13th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
I wouldn’t expect an immediate drastic reduction in carries that White SHOULD have. Todd seems to be slow to recognize a more talented non-starter, even when it is abundantly obvious. It’s like he’s admitting a mistake. Ego is a powerful drug.
October 13th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
It still doesn’t seem like Bake gets a ton of time to throw. Not a lot of deep shots as a result. Mike Evans production suffers from this.
October 13th, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Good on Hainsey, BTW!
October 13th, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Nice to have quality backups. I would like to see Barton back in there asap though. He’s needs the reps to improve and his size and athleticism just can’t be replaced. That boy can move.
October 13th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
A Bucs Fan Says:
October 13th, 2024 at 5:30 pm
I’ll eat crow. A whole plate of it. Good job, Bob!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think a nice bottle of Mogen David wine will pair nicely with that crow!
October 13th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Question; If Hainsey and Barton are both healthy and Hainsey stayed at Center, would Barton be better than either of our two starting guards?
October 13th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Better scheme = better line = better running game. I still think Hainsey is weaker than Barton, but he’s hungry and has the experience for sure. Goedeke being back was huge as well. And I think Coens scheme benefits them all.
As for White – did everyone forget he had 7.2 ypc on 10 carries just last week?
October 13th, 2024 at 6:01 pm
hainsey has always been a solid player and he came in fresh af today – so that can’t hurt…
does he have those tree trunk legs and lower body that you wish every lineman has?……..no…
but it sure is good we have him on the team…
remember what happened with skule when we played detroit ???
sheesh, i don’t think there was any kind of drop off today…big robert jumped in the mix and came to ball
October 13th, 2024 at 6:05 pm
Whatever it was…I like it…Buck & Tuck…..WTF
October 13th, 2024 at 6:12 pm
As long as Hainey is not being driven backwards on every snap like has put on display in is Bucs history he is a good player, as a back up.
To me. His hips and waist is just not as wide as those he goes up against, they can and do move him way easier then the reverse of him moving them. Not a consistent way to win.
Hainey is good in movement, not always good at the point of attack.
Hope he stays, after his contract is up.
October 13th, 2024 at 6:18 pm
Retribution for JBF. Bring the fire guys!… Irving is the second coming of Barry Sanders and Licht should be fired for the bone head decision to draft a center in the first round when we already had a stud center…stupid GM. Stupid…Stupid. Smh. Love this site man.
October 13th, 2024 at 6:24 pm
Lol. Sean Tucker is nasty. He may be the starter soon.
IMO we should keep Barton at LG for now when he comes back.
Let’s keep Hainsey at C for now.
Wirfs- Barton- Hainsey – Mauch – Goedeke
I also think to be safer about our pass game we should keep Baker Mayfield farther away from the LOS as possible at all times. He’s too short and those DL are getting smart about deflecting his passes. He’s a shorter QB and he need a tad bit more room to play with to get it to his WR.
I would like to see Dennis come back from IR and replace Britt. Fingers crossed.
We should be looking to get some of these younger guys starter reps to learn more of the NFL game. Chris Braswell more reps at OLB is only gonna help him grow. If we’re faster then the offense or as fast as possible then we should be competitive in every game. Tykee Smith with (2) FFs today. Like his ability and you know what Winfield and Bowels surely is only making him better.
We need to resign Zyon and Godwin asap.
October 13th, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Forreal Joe fans have made him the punching bag when all he has done has started just about every dam game and was thrown into the line up when Jensen went down. Hes no Jensen but he dam sure isn’t as bad as these fans were saying he was
October 13th, 2024 at 6:38 pm
Hainsey was moving people backwards today. I think he’s better than both mauch and bredeson. Somehow he should be one of our starters.
October 13th, 2024 at 6:39 pm
I never understood why Hainsey, a college RT, wasn’t put out in place of Sucke, who is a piece of garbage player.
Anywho, to all the idiots and morons in the comments who demanded Hainsey be cut, this shows how stupid you people are, and how little you know about football.
October 13th, 2024 at 6:45 pm
Man, I’ll tell ya what, this article’s got me a little twisted up. I mean, is Joe really tryin’ to say that two years of Hainsey startin’—and our O-line constantly blowin’ it on 3rd and 1—had nothin’ to do with him? C’mon, man!
Or maybe Joe’s sayin’ that today, every single hole was right over center, and our backs had easy access to yars right through the 1-gap, because that’s where all the magic was happenin’. Like, seriously?
Ah yeah, that must be it. Our eyes have been foolin’ us, huh? For two years, we’ve been watchin’ an All-Pro center in Hainsey, just blastin’ open massive holes.
Thanks for settin’ us straight, Joe. Appreciate that, buddy.
October 13th, 2024 at 6:50 pm
The coaches thinking Brederson is better than Hainsey or Barton at LG and Tucker deserved no playing time over White is a major, major problem (as is having Funderburke as your third corner)
October 13th, 2024 at 6:53 pm
I said that Irving was going to a stud and that felt that Hainsey should stay at center this year and let Barton play guard. I guess I’m a football clairvoyant I
October 13th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
I’m so impressed by Tucker. He reminds me of Alfred Morris
October 13th, 2024 at 7:32 pm
Hainsey’s past is on tape. He deserved the criticism. He also is better than two of the starters. Get him on the field.
The bigger issue is why no edge rushing?
October 13th, 2024 at 7:59 pm
Bucky and Tucker are very hard to find behind our big Oline. White on the other hand is easy to find. I’d line him up some at receiver.
October 13th, 2024 at 8:30 pm
@UNBELIEVABLE,
MOST OF WHITES YARDAGE CAME ON ONE PLAY!
I LIKE RACHASD JUST THAT HES BETTER IN THE PASSING GAME THAN AS A PURE RUNNER.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:39 pm
Todd will figure out how to get us back to pounding White up the middle for -1, 2 yards. He loves that.
October 14th, 2024 at 7:04 am
I would like to see Barton at LG, Hainsey at C, and Klein at RG eventually. I’m liking White as #3 RB and less penalties from our #3 WR.
October 14th, 2024 at 8:11 am
Yup. Barton at LG and Hainsey at C this would be very dangerous
October 14th, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Bowles is such a terrible coach Coen is saving his ass, and how did the coaches not see the Bucky and tuck were better options the fans saw it the whole time
October 14th, 2024 at 10:53 pm
I’m with Bill Says, I’m all in for Hainsey @ center, he kicked ass on Sunday. Let’s keep this O-line momentum going! Wow that was SO exciting to watch…..
October 16th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
Hainsey wasn’t always the problem last year. He’s a solid play like Joe says. The LG and RG situations last year were awful with a capital A. Ben Bredeson is a very solid LG and Mauch is better this year than last year. I think Bredeson will earn himself a contract extension with the Bucs.