More Picking On Charlie Heck
September 20th, 2025
Interim Bucs starting tackle Charlie Heck.
Sorry, Charlie.
As Joe documented here, former Jets linebackers coach and personnel chief Pat Kirwan roasted Bucs backup tackle Charlie Heck throughout the summer. He issued dire warnings and gave Bucs backup offensive linemen a zero grade at one point on his SiriusXM NFL Radio show. Keep in mind Kirwan totally loves Todd Bowles and often praises Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
It didn’t stop there for Heck.
Bucs icon Rondé Barber, a guy who collects a check from Team Glazer, ripped Heck publicly last week. And that was before Heck showcased some brutal pass blocking on Monday Night Football.
Joe thinks Heck can improve and likely will tomorrow. Still, Monday’s film was painful.
NFL Network analyst and former offensive lineman Brian Baldinger watched Heck and said in an official Jets media video this week that the Jets should be targeting Heck.
Baldinger called Heck the prime weakness of the Bucs offense and said New York should put edge rusher Will McDonald across from Heck consistently.
McDonald, the 2023 Jets first-round pick, had 10 1/2 sacks last year and has 2 this season. (It seems he’s not suffering without playing across from Haason Reddick.)
Joe expects the Jets to target Heck (assuming he plays) with blitzes and with McDonald. It’s ok. Heck doesn’t have to be perfect. He just has to be as good as backup tackle Justin Skule was last year after his rocky Bucs debut game.
September 20th, 2025 at 6:16 pm
Time for Chuk.
September 20th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Time for a short, quick passing game and run the ball straight at Ronald.
September 20th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
This game against NY Jets has beware written all over it. The Bucs need to treat the Jets as put on your best effort otherwise you won’t be 3 and 0.
Getting tired of hearing how bad Heck is. Are our backups this bad?
September 20th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
I don’t think Heck will be the “Weak Link” tomorrow against the Jets. There will be some new faces on the O-Line. At least Heck had all of the off-season to work with the Bucs starters. Now the Bucs has to find replacements for Mauch, Cooper at Guard.
September 20th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
“”I meant Jordan and Mauch will have to be replaced at Guard. Quinnen Williams will have to be contained in the middle. If not, then look for a big game from McDonald .
September 20th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
I’m expecting them to rush the o-line hard
September 20th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
dbbuc711 … ‘I’m expecting them to rush the o-line hard’.
So am I. And that’s precisely why the Bucs need to favor the run tomorrow, big-time. And when they start stacking the box, then let Baker play with the short passes to spread them out again. Grizz will earn his money tomorrow because play-calling will be critical.
September 20th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
I say, give the guy a minute. They play him all summer at LT, get in his head opening day by making a last minute wholesale line shuffle, then finally throw him in a game at RT. I recall Joe going on and on how difficult it is for a player to switch sides when Wirfs switched sides. And Wirfs is an all world super human! Not to mention, Heck was fresh meat in the game, against stout competition, and likely a target from jump. Give porn-stache a minute to settle before heaping on the negative vibes. There’s a reason “Chuk” has yet to debut
September 20th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
If you order a Miller Light, don’t expect Dom Perignon.
They’re career backups for a reason.
September 20th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
I just Baker can survive long enough for Wirfs and Geodke can get back
September 20th, 2025 at 7:06 pm
Put your best foot forward Charlie!
Just don’t get flagged for tripping.
September 20th, 2025 at 7:13 pm
Jeez Joe, which team are you rooting for here?
September 20th, 2025 at 7:18 pm
You want a cobbled together OL to look their best? Run the ball, don’t have to worry about Heck gettin beat if you limit how many times he’s got to get in his pass pro shell and use all two of his left feet under him while trying to not get beat.
We allow ourselves to get behind schedule or in a hole on the board against the Jets, that’ll put this pieced together OL group to get exploited and violated.
September 20th, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Excuses already?
September 20th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Hey Lakeland, I haven’t seen anything about Jordan being out. What is your source?
September 20th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Bosch:
Lakeland may be right. Since Jordan is a practice squad guy, the Bucs do not have to (publicly) report on his injuries. That is why he was not on the injury report this week.
Jordan did not practice Thursday as he went in for tests on a knee. Per current NFL/NFLPA rules, a guy can remain on the practice squad, get elevated for gameday and then placed back on the practice squad after the game. The Bucs have done this with Jordan. (Teams are limited with how many times they can do this.)
**So far** the Bucs have not elevated Jordan for Sunday’s game against the Jets. If he’s not elevated, he is not eligible to dress.
September 20th, 2025 at 7:45 pm
I believe Heck was playing RT win we drove down the field for the game winner. He had a key trip on one of our TDs also. Nice job Charlie, keep up the good work!
September 20th, 2025 at 7:48 pm
Again, Heck leads the NFL in run blocking win rate. Run the football. A lot.
September 20th, 2025 at 8:24 pm
Hodad – yes, totally fair. Baker helped by being decisive and unloading almost immediately. Drive and play calling was pure perfection. If you rewatch the drive however, Heck was still caught flat footed and Will Anderson was abusing him. It’s still very concerning. Baker has become EVERYTHING to this team and he needs to absolutely be better. Frankly Barton does too, because he was merely serviceable against Houston
September 20th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
leave chuck the heck alone!!
September 20th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
I expect whoever we put out there to battle.
Coach has emphasized this and prepared the O-line in the pre-season and for the 1st 2 games… They’ll be as ready as they can be considering the circumstances 👍🏼
Give em hell heck 🤜🏼
September 20th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
What was Cody’s knee injury? There was no mention of a ligament such as ACL, MCL, or PCL. Leads me to believe it was medial meniscus or fractured tibial plateau.
September 20th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
Bucs gotta run the ball 40 times to win.
September 20th, 2025 at 8:58 pm
I will support Heck’s tenure here if he loses the hipster mustache.
September 20th, 2025 at 8:59 pm
Bucky left ,, Bucky right ,, White up the middle ,,, Riley
punt ,,, keep it simple ,,, and Baker ,, my wonderful QB baker ,, don’t be a hero
September 20th, 2025 at 9:24 pm
Heck did not appoint himself.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:17 pm
Heck sprung bake for the 4th down conversion that won the game last week.
September 20th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
Heck is a decent run blocker. We are wearing the 1976 uniforms, time for Student Body Right
September 20th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Media coverage underestimates the loss of Mauch. He gave the key blocks for both Meka and Rashad TDs. He had numerous big blocks for the big runs btw the tackles. Heck assisted in some of these plays but I think Mauchs replacement will decide how this game goes down the right side. Let’s see.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:25 pm
They couldn’t find anyone better than this guy? In the whole country? This is on the entire coaching staff. No back up plan for the most important poison on the offensive line. Huge mistake.
September 20th, 2025 at 11:28 pm
We can’t seriously be putting him out there again, can we?
September 20th, 2025 at 11:46 pm
His Pornstache is endearing. Probably elicits laughter from the pass rushers, who most teams actually use to rush the passer. Gotta cheer for the Pornstache.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:02 am
Sorry Charlie…Gotta agree with Baldy. Hope you prove us wrong dude.
Go Bucs!
September 21st, 2025 at 9:27 am
Quit trashing the original team colors and logo. I have plenty of gear in both, plus the pewter and red. They’re not a curse. In fact, they’re more Floridian than pewter and red. Yeah, I get why the Glazers went for the change. Never had a problem with it. Grizzard has a makeshift OLine, a feisty (sometimes too feisty), gutsy, smart QB, and 3 very versatile, young RBs. So, get with it, Grizz. Use that RB versatility!! He also has a healthy ME13, and TEs. All these guys can catch. I do not underestimate any team playing the Bucs!!! These are all pro teams with proud, highly competitive human players. It will not be a cakewalk! Go Bucs, 3-0!!