What Did The Lions Expose On The Bucs’ Offensive Line?
November 1st, 2025
Ugly data on Bucs’ front line.
Man, the way the Bucs blocked at Seattle and against San Francisco in back-to-back weeks, Joe thought the offensive line had settled down.
Tristan Wirfs looked like Tristan Wirfs. Ben Bredeson and Graham Barton were back at their old positions, left guard and center, respectively, and it seemed the offensive line had settled down after a terrible rash of injuries.
Even Charlie Heck was playing solid ball at right tackle.
Then came Detroit. Eh, it happens. The Monday night hex continued. On the road against a strong defense. Sometimes, you’ve got to doff your cap to the other team. They get paid, too.
But New Orleans? The slimy Saints? Maybe the worst team in the league? And the Bucs got owned up front? WTH?
Well, maybe the Bucs haven’t had all that much solid play on the offensive line this year? That stands to reason with all the injuries.
NFL data scientist for BSPN Bet, Sam Hoppen, did a composite ranking of five separate offensive line categories through Week 8. His sources are nflfastR, which Joe is unfamiliar with, TruMedia, which Joe is very familiar with, and BSPN stats.
(Thankfully, Hodden didn’t ruin his credibility or research citing any offensive line data from the PFF tribe.)
The Bucs data Hodden has is ugly. Of the five categories, the Bucs are only in the top half of the league in one — barely. That’s stuffed run percentage, where the Bucs rank 15th.
In run block win-rate, the Bucs are damn near the worst (29th).
Joe really thought the line, specifically the left side, was playing so well in Seattle and at home against San Francisco. In Seattle, Wirfs was like a bowling ball, blowing up dudes on each level of the Seattle defense on Rachaad White runs.
What happened?
Key offensive line stats: pic.twitter.com/hLln4WqTAx
— Sam Hoppen (@SamHoppen) October 29, 2025
November 1st, 2025 at 12:10 pm
This is a finesse offensive line. They aren’t relatively strong or powerful or gritty. Coen masked a lot of that with a creative run scheme and lots of movement. Let’s not forget how they rated before Coen was here. Dead last in running 2 years in a row.
November 1st, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Recall that before Bucky got hurt, he wasn’t having much success. And Rachaad White is looking more like 2023 White than last year’s version.
I’m pretty sure the line play has been poor. The eyeball test agrees.
November 1st, 2025 at 12:14 pm
@ Joe squared – Not for nothing, but…thanks for continuing to bring us fans outstanding content during this lull in the action. Much appreciated.
November 1st, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Coach incompetence?
November 1st, 2025 at 12:19 pm
That is had too replacements
November 1st, 2025 at 12:45 pm
I’m hoping for a more creative line in the second half of the season.
Being stubborn in the goal line attempts against the Saints was plain lazyness not to come up with an alternative. And throwing a “Mike Evans” pass to Sheppard was a complete disaster. We were lucky it wasn’t a Pick6.
I hope Grizz is chopping some wood while Baker recovers.
November 1st, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Doesn’t get any easier the next 3 weeks, Pats n Rams are wayyy better than anyone we’ve faced, and Bills may be mid defensively, but they might not even punt against our defense
November 1st, 2025 at 1:19 pm
If we play the way we have been last 2 games, 0-3 in the next 3 is very possible, plus don’t forget about the mid-season malaise Bowles teams always go through. It’s only because the Saints are so bad that we won last Sunday.
November 1st, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Joe … ‘The Bucs data Hodden has is ugly. Of the five categories, the Bucs are only in the top half of the league in one — barely. That’s stuffed run percentage, where the Bucs rank 15th. In run block win-rate, the Bucs are damn near the worst (29th).’
Fascinating analysis that Sam Hoppen’s compiled. Reading your interpretation though Joe, I was convinced for a moment that our Bucs had fallen off the ends of the earth. But then I remembered that the earth is round and doesn’t have any ‘ends’, so I took a look at Holden’s chart to see just how bad things were.
After looking, I’d say that ‘ugly’ is a rather strong word. Bucs’ offense right now is ranked #14 in the NFL in Points Scored, pretty much middle-of-the-pack. Our Run Offense is ranked #23 in Rushing Yards (204 runs for 785 yards (3.8 YPC), 6 TDs & 45 first downs). Our Passing Offense is ranked #11 in Passing Yards (269 attempts for 1799 yards (6.3 YPA), 13 TDs & 86 first downs). The part of that that’s truly been ‘ugly’ is the injuries that we’ve faced as a team, particularly on offense.
Hoppen’s numbers pretty much support our NFL rankings. Our running isn’t as good as our passing, and we’re a middle-of-the-pack offense. Thankfully we’ve been able to win a number of VERY close games and parlay that into a 6-2 record to this point. And folks need to keep in mind that we’ve played 4 teams with a winning record (and beaten 2 of them), plus beaten 4 other teams that currently have losing records. That’s pretty much what it takes to come up with about a 12-5 record nowadays, and maybe even a 13-4. Yup, downright ugly.
November 1st, 2025 at 1:52 pm
No Cody. No Luke. Pretty easy to see….
November 1st, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Talent and strength cannot be fixed in season. But technical details and awareness can.
Combine the latter with getting Luke back and we can figure it out.
November 1st, 2025 at 2:45 pm
As previous commenters have said…Thank you Joes for continuing to crank out content during the bye week. The consistency you display is far more difficult than you make it look.
And yes…two starters on the right side replaced by practice squad fodder both internally and from other teams. The fast track in Detroit…a fired up Hutchinson and crew…it’s not surprising. The Taints were playing hard…they’re version of a playoff game. Chase Young has talent ( not as much as Karen, Hooks & Wynch bellyaches about…but still )…I fully expect a better unit after the bye…but not counting on Goedeke. Those injuries re-aggravate at the drop of Ira’s slacks.
November 1st, 2025 at 3:05 pm
1. Player injuries
2. Rookie OC copying Leftwich’s blocking schemes
3. Lack of effective coaching intervention until now. Hopefully.
November 1st, 2025 at 3:07 pm
It’s got to get better. The offense needs better blocking both run and pass. If the O gets that and BM6 recovers from whatever he’s going through, they can put up 30 points against almost
every team they have to play. Recover, regroup, adjust in game!! Half the season+ to go!! One game a time!!! Get it done!!!
November 1st, 2025 at 3:08 pm
And I haven’t even started drinking yet. lol
November 1st, 2025 at 3:15 pm
A lot of factors go into it, not least is the mental grind of working with a patched up line and those guys wondering “whos next” with an injury, I can see where it can be a bit deflating. Consistency on the o-line, we hear it all the time. It’s like a ballet with bulls, the same guys need to be there, in their natural positions. Carberry and the crew have done a fantastic job so far with all the shuffling they’ve had to do, and so have the players. This time off will put the fire back in everyone, time to make the adjustments and get the minds right. Skill guys coming back, plays working and the offense getting going again and it will have a carry over effect. At least I hope so.
November 1st, 2025 at 3:19 pm
did griz or bowles not take notes on coen last season ? its like coen has a patent on calling those run plays. still would have had to score over 24 pts that game possibly more since lions werent really desperate to score any more points . lets stop pretending defense played good that game. gibbs over 200 yds and 2 tds after the defense shifted focus to st. brown after first drive.
November 1st, 2025 at 3:48 pm
Ice is cold
November 1st, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Why isn’t the OL as good as it was last year?
It’s not the same OL. It really isn’t that hard.
November 1st, 2025 at 4:12 pm
Lt. Dan, Winny:
You are more than welcome! 👍
November 1st, 2025 at 4:28 pm
LIcht built the line to be a physical offensive line.
There’s no denying that. He’s happy to tell you himself. He’s been quoted saying it many times. It’s common knowledge. As it stands today. Here’s what were looking at on the OL (RT/ RG) both drafted in the 2nd round..Out… One LT 1st pick is playing like a shadow of his former self. Injured all off season and missing games to start of the season. You have another C /LT also a 1st round pick going into his second year lost somewhere in between LT and Center.
They brought in a swing tackle that can’t swing. He is exclusively RT. They knew that before the start of the season and did nothing. They started the season playing Chinese fire drill on OL. Because Licht did nothing to remedy the situation. Which I have pointed out since the start of the season. Now they are paying the price for that jumbled mess that they themselves created and has been aggravated by injuries. Saw this coming from the jump and pointed it out, But some didn’t want to hear it. Thought that because the line started out well that they dodged a bullet. Well guess what? They didn’t. It is now a reality.
For those that refuse to see beyond stats. Here’s a stat for you. 1-8. 8 shots at the goal line with 1 score. On the heels of an absolute pummeling in Detroit. Not to mention a first year OC. Those numbers are ugly.
November 1st, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Durango – excellent points. Rational fans might expect the head coach to work with his rookie offensive coordinator to improve the obvious. Watch film. Evaluate performance. Compare to last year. Look at play calls and sequencing. Impact of personnel and injuries
What’s working better? Not as well? Take note, create performance improvement plan.
We should expect such action. Should have been done after Lions game.
We might or might not, but there are syrup swillers who would t expect a head coach to do anything at all. I guess it’s an honorary position.
November 1st, 2025 at 5:20 pm
And the universe is big.
November 1st, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Aqualung I never agree with you until now, You are 100% correct
November 1st, 2025 at 5:58 pm
This week is kind of big,,, we want ATL to beat up NE but still want NE to win,,,
Oh and what was exposed ,, Bucs not at Full Strength and Lions are very very good at home (watch this week)
November 1st, 2025 at 6:08 pm
Seeing as how we’re getting out from under the LAST of our Brady-era dead cap money, $37 million for Shaq and Jensen, maybe we bribe Skule with an extra few million to come back next year
November 1st, 2025 at 9:04 pm
Hey Joe, guess what? Hutchinson broke a limb yet again, and according to the Lions’ rap, probably out for the season. Shame it didn’t happen before our game. The injuries on the offense and questionable calls, plus greenhorn Grizzard lost the game. Sh1t happens. I’ve been just kicking back and enjoying the Bye break. Cos the final 9 games are gonna be Cardiac Bucs.
November 1st, 2025 at 9:17 pm
Been on Twitter all day and haven’t seen one word about this. If this is true, it would take over Twitter. Unless it happened three or four minutes ago.
Not saying you are wrong but just did a Twitter search and can’t find anything about this. Also did a Google search, nada. Nothing.
November 1st, 2025 at 9:23 pm
I scanned it in a NFL article. I stay away from Twitters. You probably are right, Joe. Still worth keeping an eye on especially with Buc Luck (groan).
November 2nd, 2025 at 7:41 am
No Liam. That’s what’s missing.
November 2nd, 2025 at 7:44 am
Poorly coached lot. Licht’s O-line draft prowess is vastly overrated.
November 2nd, 2025 at 12:08 pm
The two who mentioned Coen are the real geniuses. Too many people reduced the importance of his leaving and too many fans made it out that Baker is the reason not his scheming that made our line so good last year because they were but hurt the way he left. It’s just not the injuries, we miss Coen