Surging Cody Mauch
October 31st, 2024
Feeling upbeat and excited about the Buccaneers’ young and punishing offensive line today, Joe asked head coach Todd Bowles about the right guard position.
That’s where second-year man Cody Mauch plays. Last year’s second-round pick out of North Dakota State added weight this offseason by design as the Bucs hoped he’d blossom into a more physical presence while his on-field maturity grew.
Per Bowles, they got what they wanted.
“I think he’s a lot more mature as far as seeing games and stunts and everything, and he understands the game so much more.” Bowles said of Mauch. “He’s underrated because he just does his job and goes forward, but he holds the point very well. He he holds the zone very well. For the one or two plays he may give up every other week, he plays very good football for us. And you know, we like where he’s at.”
Joe likes where Mauch is at, too. His consistency has grown along with the offensive line’s as a whole. Yeah, as Bowles said, Mauch will blow a play here or there, but all linemen do unless they’re headed to a Pro Bowl.
Joe has been told Mauch is grading out extremely well and a fun thing about Mauch and the rest of the young line — the oldest is left guard Ben Bredeson at 26 years old — is the unit should only improve as the season wears on.
If the Bucs can find their way to the playoffs healthy, Joe suspects they’ll be sporting a top-5 or top-7 O-line.
October 31st, 2024 at 8:22 pm
We’re going to need the entire line to be at the top of their game to keep Baker upright against KC, and getting some push for the run game. Gotta score a LOT of points and grind up the clock to have any chance.
October 31st, 2024 at 8:48 pm
So offensive line is good how about the whole defense lol.
October 31st, 2024 at 8:57 pm
Early in the year, Cody was getting blasted in the comments because it looked like he was blowing blocks – but watching the ALL22 showed, generally, that it was the dreaded ‘communication issues’ as this is a brand new offense that asks a ton of its guards and center, with lots of movement.
Anywho, you’ve seen, steadily seen Cody and Barton both improve bigly over the weeks as they’ve learned the offense. The amount of movement from the guards and center is way more than anything I’ve ever watched, they are all over the place, so it had to be a big learning curve (and also might explain in the preseason when Barton was talking about how he was out of breath).
Anyways, great news – another win for Licht who can just flat out pick those offensive lineman. Also, just something to remember, you can’t always pluck someone from a small school and start them day one – a lot of guys need a year to develop. We saw that with Cappa, we’ve seen it with Luke and now Cody. Sometimes you get a Marpet, who is great from day 1, but that is by far the exception.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:08 pm
Top 5 Oline I’m ready to argue
October 31st, 2024 at 9:40 pm
The O line has been the brightest spot consistently over the past 3-ish games. They’re starting to gel, hopefully they can stay healthy.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:57 pm
As much as we as fans like to focus on the negative, there have been plenty of positives as well. The OLine has generally played outstanding and is getting better. The run game has found life. The rookie class looks like another good one. McCollum is looking like an elite CB. Last but not least least, baker is showing why he was a #1 overall.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:10 pm
I think there are certain people here that want ro label rookies as busts because they’re not playing at pro bowl levels in their first year. These are true fans but it doesnt always happen and I’m sure it’s frustrating. I’ve been a fan since 76 and I get frustrated a whole lot. But good years are so fine.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:50 pm
@Doughboy
The whole point about this post if you haven’t noticed, is to talk about Mauch and how he has developed into a sold olineman and how he has contributed to the oline as a whole. Defense is for another post.
October 31st, 2024 at 11:06 pm
“Playoffs? Your talking about playoffs?” Go BUCS
November 1st, 2024 at 2:31 am
like our rb’s being the 3 headed monster…
our line could be the 6 headed monster with hainsey waiting in the wings as basically a super-sub…
and even skule settled in a bit with more field time
November 1st, 2024 at 4:23 am
Some of you fake fans make give up on my boys.
But not me!
Not Baker! Not Bowles!
All you fake fans need to find a new hobby.
We need loyal fans in Tampa Bay!
LFG!!
November 1st, 2024 at 5:33 am
Mauch would probably be graded higher if he didn’t have to slide to help the RT when Geodeke was injured. I see Barton sliding to help out Bredeson a lot when I watch replays.
November 1st, 2024 at 8:54 am
Oline has been great, the Dline couldn’t stop the little giants
November 1st, 2024 at 9:11 am
Whatever Mauch has been doing–weightlifting, technique, scheme he needs to keep doing it. The key to being dominant in any endeavor is continuous improvement. Take a strength and make it stronger. Take a weakness and eliminate it.
November 1st, 2024 at 10:00 am
Good. Now about our defense…
November 1st, 2024 at 10:32 am
It looks like he has made major strides from the first few games. I didn’t think he was going to make it. Pleasantly surprised. Is Coen the reason or did we get an OLine coach with a clue for a change?
November 1st, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Saw him up in Deadwood this summer and I could tell how big he got. Glad to hear he’s representing the Dakota’s well. It’s been home watching him and the o-line growing together