Gnarly Stats On Charlie Heck
October 2nd, 2025
Not great numbers.
This isn’t to bang on Bucs right tackle Charlie Heck. But if you trust NextGen Stats, then it’s a good thing Baker Mayfield is mobile.
Joe remembers how Justin Skule filled in at right tackle at Detroit last year for the concussed Luke Goedeke. Skule was abused so badly by Lions’ star edge rusher (what are those?) Aidan Hutchinson, Florida DCF officials offered Skule free counseling upon the Bucs’ return to Tampa Bay.
Somehow, the Bucs still won that game.
Interestingly, after that first game at right tackle, Skule steadily grew better to the point that when he took over for an injured Tristan Wirfs at left tackle against the 49ers, Nick Bosa really had to work to get after Baker Mayfield.
Skule improved so much Bucs fans were sad to see him go. The Bucs sure could have used him this year. (Joe doesn’t blame Skule for going to Minnesota. He had a chance to start, which he earned.)
Joe brings this up because there is always room for a player to improve. That’s what Joe hopes for Charlie Heck because the numbers Kevin Patra published on NFL.com paint an ugly picture of a guy struggling at pass blocking.
The hope is that Luke Goedeke can return. In the meantime, the line has struggled to find traction in run blocking and left Baker Mayfield scrambling for his life at times. If Tampa had a more statuesque or less gritty QB, the offense would be DOA. Charlie Heck has allowed 18 QB pressures in three games (two starts), per Next Gen Stats. That’s … bad.
No, that’s not good.
When will Luke Goedeke return? Good question. Goedeke left the game against the Steers in Week 2 and went on the injured reserve list. That means he must sit out a minimum of four games, per league rules.
So the earliest Goedeke can return is the Monday night game Oct. 20 at Detroit. That doesn’t mean Goedeke will be available.
Like Joe noticed before the game with the Steers, Joe saw Goedeke walking into the Bucs’ locker room moments after the loss to the Eagles wearing sandals. Goedeke wore no wrap of any sort or apparatus on his injured foot. Unlike when Joe saw him the week of the Houston game, Joe noticed an ever-so-faint limp.
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:22 am
“…it’s a good thing Baker Mayfield is mobile.”
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Yep…We will all be happy when this off the cuff, ill advised, OL fire drill finally ends. Bowles and (Licht) knew what they had in this guy weeks in advance of the start of the season and did nothing.
October 2nd, 2025 at 6:09 am
Heck blocks like Rachaad runs.
Extremely upright.
October 2nd, 2025 at 6:36 am
Yes, Durango — the logic is flawless!
If an O-lineman misses a block? Obviously, Bowles and Licht personally messed up.
If he pancakes a defender? That’s 100% Carberry’s genius at work.
We bow to your galaxy-brained analysis. Truly, the nuance is staggering.
October 2nd, 2025 at 6:52 am
Without coughing up a premium draft pick in the coming days Heck is the best they can do. The time for second guessing is over until the offseason. If you believe in a higher power, don’t forget to send a request that Heck plays a little better. Or that Mayfield turns into Superman.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:30 am
Im guessing Joe hasnt kept up with the great Skule since he left for the Vikings. When he did play, he was horrible.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:36 am
Weirdly- up until last week at least since I haven’t checked this week- Heck leads the league in run blocking. So it’s probably a technique thing more than anything else.
October 2nd, 2025 at 7:37 am
Though I guess it could be a lack of athletic feet.
October 2nd, 2025 at 8:37 am
Now the question is what are we going to do about our right guard position. Mauch isn’t coming back and the guy that played the last 2 games there is hot garbage.
October 2nd, 2025 at 8:43 am
I’m team Ben Chukwama, he’s a way better athelte than Heck. Downside being he’s green as pond scum. Great contact balance tho, played a crap load of snaps in the preseason and I personally didn’t see him hit the ground once. Didn’t see him get beat 1 on 1 either. Hopefully coach Carberry is whipping him into shape mentally, but no doubt in my mind he can serve us some type of purpose down the road or at least until we get Luke back.
I’m good on Heck, his feet are terrible and he’s slow as idk what
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:23 am
Durango backup lineman are exactly what they are BACKUPS. They had a plan, leave charlie as a backup, move barton to LT. Unfortunately no one thought luke was gonna get hurt too. There is only a handful of great right tackles in the league. And another handful of good ones
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:42 am
Jason Licht has been incredible at drafting over the last few years, but the Bucs may need to make a trade to get some depth on the offensive line. When everyone is healthy it’s one of the top five lines in the league, but the depth is bad.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:43 am
I would rather see Klein or Jordan (if his knee isn’t blown out for the season) and Chuckwama out there on the right side until Goedeke gets back.
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:04 am
You may want to check the stats and see who’s given up more pressures and SACKS this year, last year’s back up T Skule or this year’s Heck. The results will make you feel better.
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:56 am
Skule has actually sucked with Minnesota. And now he’s injured. Don’t miss him at all, Heck plays just like Skule did in the Lions game.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:40 am
Yeah Skule has been rough in Minny.
You could see in the clips after we signed Heck that he would be fine as a run blocker with his size, but pass blocking was awful because of his feet and hand placement.
If you have a foot injury, are sandals the best thing to be wearing around? I know they can be very comfy and I am sure he is wearing the best support/comfy sandal around but that seems odd and encouraging that Luke will be back in 2.5 weeks for the Lions.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:42 am
somebody crushed the top of his foot, he’ll be back after ir
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:43 am
skule was getting schooled in minnesota, getting his qb killed, glad he’s gone
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:44 am
gotta agree with other that say they want to see Ben Chukwama…klein looked decent…
Heck isnt bad but he can be a liability with his lack of athleticism…
i trust whatever combo bowles and Carberry come up with
GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:39 pm
We need Goedeke and Jordan back. When they comeback all will fall in place offensively. Until then keep chopping that wood. 3-1 is a grand accomplishment by the team that doesn’t complain and does their job.
Keep going after the WIN!!!!
In Baker We Trust!!!
October 2nd, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Yep, LB, DT, CB, OT….and I think we’ll have to sign a DT instead of drafting….im not impressed with the current crop coming out next draft (still looking though, Sooners might have one)
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:45 pm
For now I was thinking what if we played Heck on running downs and Chuk on passing ones? Could be a win/win until Goedeke gets back…?
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Next draft, looks like Linebacker and offensive tackle will be high priorities
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:51 pm
18 QB pressures in three games!!!!!
OMG! That’s nearly 1 every drive. How does he even have a job?
October 2nd, 2025 at 3:39 pm
After that first game at right tackle, Skule steadily grew better to the point that when he took over for an injured Tristan Wirfs at left tackle against the 49ers, Nick Bosa really had to work to get after Baker Mayfield.
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I understand that take, but I strongly disagree. What I saw, not after that game, but after the Broncos game the following week, was why I’ve been so high on Coen. Rather than the stupid nonsense coach speak we always hear about ‘next man up’ and ‘we’re going to run our system’ – instead Coen, before that Eagles game last year, completely changed things up and that’s when they went to the quick strike short passing game, the entire point was that Sucke was so bad, Baker couldn’t hold the ball, he had to throw it immediately. Go back and watch the offense vs the Lions, then watch it vs the Eagles, and it looks like a different coordinator is calling plays. Sucke was terrible, there wasn’t any hiding it, so instead they changed things so he couldn’t single handedly tank the offense. Coen did an incredible job of hiding an incredible weakness. Just watch what Sucke has done to that Vikings offense this year.
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Thank you for pointing this out. Also, look at Baker’s interception. Heck couldn’t buy him half a second. Not sure any QB can think straight with that kind of protection. I’d like to see either Wirfs or Barton at Right Tackle, Bredeson at Center, and Klein at Guard.