Heroic Effort From The Bucs’ Offensive Line
September 21st, 2025
Joe has to applaud the Bucs’ no-name, is-this-the-preseason offensive line.
Two first time starting guards today against the Jets would have been a rough scenario even if the guys were premium draft picks. The Bucs didn’t have that luxury.
At right guard was undrafted Luke Haggard. The Bucs have had him on the practice squad since 2023 when he left Indiana University. At left guard was Elijah Klein, the 2024 sixth-round pick out of the University of Texas El Paso.
The fact the Bucs found their way to 22 points from their offense is nearly worth a standing ovation.
It wasn’t pretty. There were penalties and struggles, but the unit got better as the game went on and Baker Mayfield didn’t take a bad beating despite stud Jets rushers Will McDonald and Quinnen Williams on the field.
Beleagured Charlie Heck at right tackle? He was better than he was in Houston.
Again, 22 points from the offense today (plus a pick-6 from Jamel Dean). The Bucs scored more than 22 points on three times in Tom Brady’s final season in 2022.
Joe also will applaud when Bucs All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs returns next week (most likely) and the offensive line takes a giant step back to normal. But Joe’s not going to urinate upon the debuts of Haggard and Klein. The offense still found points and 100-plus yards on the ground for the 11th consecutive game.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:39 pm
Well said Joe. And Griz called a game knowing their constraints. He’s still learning too.
The 4th quarter defensive collapse is becoming a tradition though. Don’t see that being corrected given everything.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:39 pm
Wonderful effort — wonderful culture.
I would not say that the line was good or even acceptable –but they were enough to get the job done.
Great job by Grizzard to use screens and run a lot to take pressure off the pass protect.
Great job by the whole coaching staff preparing them this week.
Great job by Baker to realize what he was dealing with.
And really great job to the guys that barely were able to get jobs in the NFL showing they at least belonged for a day.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:42 pm
How many of those penalties were legit?
September 21st, 2025 at 8:43 pm
3-0! Good coaching! The team battled! Nice to be on the W side of a game like this! Go Bowles!
September 21st, 2025 at 8:45 pm
The NFL is really, really sloppy so far this season. This is, IMO, the result of a shortened pre-season as well as the desire of teams to with hold starters in what is left of the pre-season. KC looks like garbage, the Saints could go 0-17, and everyone is sloppy.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:46 pm
ModHairKen: That PF for horse collar early in the game was awful. Taylor was pulled down outside of the nameplate and should have been picked up.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:47 pm
I hope ownership and the GM parked a cooler full of ice cold beer right in front of Carbury and Picucci today— along with hefty raises and extensions in the near future. Joes, 62 and 68 have been so damn gutsy. It’s not perfect. It’s not pretty. But it has been good enough to get to 3-0!
September 21st, 2025 at 8:51 pm
2 penalties in the 1st qtr were bs
September 21st, 2025 at 8:52 pm
The officiating was bad. Egbuca’s catch that was not ruled a catch but was a catch on a replay and the blocked kick was illegal with the Jets player using his hand on Bucs center’s back.
Is the NF trying to stop the Bucs. The Bucs should be sending replays of all the bad calls.
If they did the NFL would probably fine the Bucs.
Big game coming up and a real upward climb for the Bucs
September 21st, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Luke Haggard was absolutely awful in the preseason, it’s pretty remarkable that Baker made it through this game with him in there. I can’t believe the string of injuries, it’s truly unbelievable.
If Wirfs isn’t back for the Eagles, sit Baker, they’re going to get him killed. Go sign Trask, let him start the game and get destroyed, and live to fight another day. I’m not even kidding.
BUT, if Wirfs is back, and Jordan is back, this could look a lot better next week since Barton should go back to center, Ben slides back to guard, and if Jordan can flip to RG and play as well as he’s been playing, then they should be OK outside of RT, and in that case, keep White in as a blocker all day (White is better blocker than Otton, change my mind). Still, vs the Eagles, it will be asking a lot to have backups at RG and RT, but it should at least give them Bucs a chance to run left, unlike today when there was no chance to run anywhere.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Rusty Shackleford Says:
September 21st, 2025 at 8:45 pm
The NFL is really, really sloppy so far this season. This is, IMO, the result of a shortened pre-season as well as the desire of teams to with hold starters in what is left of the pre-season.
———-
It’s not just the preseason, an even bigger deal is how they limit practices – guys never really get into game shape the way they used to, and going to 100% in games without being in proper shape is getting guys injured, and leading to sloppy play.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:55 pm
Yes and that TD catch by the Jets was clearly dropped
September 21st, 2025 at 8:55 pm
Off topic but did anyone else think our punter stunk out loud today?
September 21st, 2025 at 8:56 pm
What good is instant replay if you don’t overturn any calls on the field. Total BS. Like we’ve got a call from the NFL Home office… in Las Vegas!
September 21st, 2025 at 8:57 pm
Back in 1976, there was….SIX preseason games. And the Bucs won one against Atlanta.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:03 pm
Our punter has been awful the last 2 games as well
As our entire special teams (except Chase was fantastic today). Every kickoff was returned to at least the 35 and the punter never hit one solid all day.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:04 pm
The league should allow more players instead of 53 maybe 70.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:06 pm
Allow up to half of the PS players to be called up on game day.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Cant come out flat next!!!!
GO BUCS
September 21st, 2025 at 9:12 pm
Absolutely incredible effort from the patchwork offensive line. I don’t care what mistakes were made, they did enough to win this game.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:12 pm
The offensive line would clap for themselves also but their hands are too busy holding the opposing jersey
September 21st, 2025 at 9:22 pm
74 Buc
Yep. Basically a 30 yard average.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:24 pm
Gman Says:
September 21st, 2025 at 9:12 pm
The offensive line would clap for themselves also but their hands are too busy holding the opposing jersey
lol!
September 21st, 2025 at 9:27 pm
is Baker’s hand ok? He appeared to be hurt at one point.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:40 pm
I’m sure there was some pregame coaching to the OL about holding vs allowing Bake to get hit. I sure don’t want Bake hurt. Haggard and Klein surely learned a lot.
Even with Wirfs back next week, this OL will likely be badly overmatched. We just need Baker to come out of the Eagles game healthy. I can see the Bucs winning with the defense making plays!
September 21st, 2025 at 9:50 pm
Watching this SNF game, and wow, Russell Wilson stinks. No idea why Chris Collinsworth is defending that garbage throw that got intercepted in the end zone, if you’re throwing a jump ball, it needs to actually be a jump ball, which means you put it high – not underthrow it.
September 21st, 2025 at 9:56 pm
Klein played well. Could have a future. Buccaneers on a short week, playing practice squad guys. Baker wills the team to victory. Joe, three straight come from behind wins in last two minutes, all games decided on last play of the game. Must be a record. Is Baker the new GOAT?
September 21st, 2025 at 10:02 pm
I wonder where Griz will head coach next year?
September 21st, 2025 at 10:13 pm
Todd and his prevent Defense too early in games has cost the Bucs W’s And almost cost us today Gotta stop
September 21st, 2025 at 10:18 pm
Maybe Wirfs comes back next week…
Maybe no Evans…but Godwin might be back!
September 21st, 2025 at 10:24 pm
We won.
If we can get Godwin back in weeks.
September 21st, 2025 at 10:49 pm
This is a participation trophy article. I’m looking forward to what we hear about Feeny & Chukwama at practice this week, because there’s no way we settle for todays’ lineup against Philly without mixing up the personnel.
September 21st, 2025 at 11:28 pm
Who’s the o line coach, that guy’s working miracles
September 21st, 2025 at 11:39 pm
I got disagree. It was brutal. Baker didn’t take a beating because they were holding every other drop back halfway decent on paper is because of
Baker’s 33 yard scramble.
Hopefully, they are desperately looking through practice squads and waiver wires to see what else is out there.
Most importantly, hopefully they can have Wirfs back at LT, Barton back at center, Brederson back at LG next week
September 21st, 2025 at 11:54 pm
We will still have the dual hatted half time head coach, half time soft shell turtle cover no one over the middle zone defensive schemer, complete with the quadriplegic SirSucksalot Dennis watching the receivers tail lights disappear over the horizon.
So we have that going for us.
September 22nd, 2025 at 12:21 am
Aquasuck … You are everything that is wrong with football fans. Go root for the Saints
pathetic fake fan.
September 22nd, 2025 at 12:41 am
So hilarious to see scrubs on a fan site *demanding* better play from scrubs instead of realizing the direness of the situation, thanking the men who stepped up to contribute to a W and hold the line (literally) until the All Pro anchor returns to provide continuity on the left side. The right side is potentially a mess, but MJ was good when healthy on the left and maybe we round into form when Goedeke is back and he fills that hole.
For the love—we are still in the Golden Age of Buccaneer Football; maybe we all paid for it during the Lost Decade or after Alstott and Jureviscius got hurt on the same play…but we are enjoying it. So stop sh*tting on it like you’re dealing with 3A high school kids than can be manipulated into temporary better play.
Here for 48 (of the 50); here for as many as our Lord and Savior Malcom Glazer permits.
September 22nd, 2025 at 12:44 am
It did look like they were great today. I didn’t take good looks at the holding calls but man there was a lot of yellow laundry out there. That horse collar call on hall I thought was weak to.
September 22nd, 2025 at 1:24 am
The Bucs did it.. Good job. A makeshift o-Line consisting of practice squad talent but NFL HEARTS beat a Jets team loaded with with low Draft pick talent. This is a TEAM SPORT & The Bucs showed that. A true TEAM . I think the officials overcalled the game knowing that their would be lots of low hanging fruit & in the process they missed several big time calls , the dropped Jets pass .not reviewing the Bucs pass on the last drive. The BUCS BEAT the Jets ,the Refs & the odds. PROUD OF THE BUCS.
September 22nd, 2025 at 2:55 am
Great job O line, keep it up! Yeah theres some ugly here and there but you’re making it work so far. Great experience too.
I’d still like to see Wirfs at RT some when he comes back since he knows the position. But if he’s back at LT and Barton is back at C, thats fine too. Maybe Bredeson at LG to help on that side.
September 22nd, 2025 at 2:56 am
RG i meant.