It Starts And Ends Up Front
February 19th, 2026
Injury helped doom Bucs.
Joe is not sure the Bucs ever recovered from a hard-fought road win at Houston in Week 2 last year.
Two guys who worked in the trenches got injuries in that game and tanked their seasons. Joe thought each would have had a really good year.
The obvious one is Calijah Kancey. Like prickly Pete Prisco of CBS, Joe thought Kancey was going to blow up. Instead, a torn pec in Week 2 imploded him. He didn’t return until the final week of the season.
Joe is sure Kancey’s injury hurt the defense.
Then on offense, Cody Mauch blew out his knee. He was lost for the year. That really hurt. Joe thought Mauch had a chance to make a Pro Bowl. Joe has been that impressed with Mauch and his contact-searching mentality.
(Right tackle Luke Goedeke aggravated a foot injury in the same game and was lost for nearly two months.)
So Joe isn’t sure the Bucs ever got over those injuries. They treaded water for a few weeks but Baker Mayfield started feeling the impact, in a bad way.
Mayfield got beat up playing behind a makeshift line and it eventually doomed the Bucs, who missed the playoffs for the first time since this decade.
Joe brings this up because Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football Analysis had an interesting stat on Bucs pass blocking in 2025.
Allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 24.3% of dropbacks, ranked 26th.
No wonder Mayfield got beat up.
Please don’t misunderstand: Joe is not blaming Mauch for the Bucs imploding and Mayfield getting pummeled. Joe is just highlighting how the Week 2 game proved so costly. The domino effect began with Tristan Wirfs having offseason surgery and before fans knew it, every starting Bucs offensive lineman other than Graham Barton was hurt.
Not once did Mayfield take a snap behind his projected starting-five offensive line in 2025.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:02 am
One of many problems the Bucs had last season. The biggest problem though is still coaching the team.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:47 am
That is probably a major factor in team Glazer giving Bowles another chance.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:59 am
I have to agree with Joe and with hodad. All you have to do is look at tape from last year. O line moved like they were one entity. Running lanes opened up quicker. And Baker had more time in the pocket. Bur when all is said and done, it is the HC that defines the team. Is he responsible for the injuries? Not necessarily. But he is responsible for the people who are paid to keep these injuries to a minimum
February 19th, 2026 at 6:08 am
They suffered more than their share of injuries on offense and certainly was a contributor. But good teams like the 49ers had just as many AND played lots of games with a backup QB. Organization and Coaching is way better there than here. They understand they have to have a backup QB that can actually play nfl level football. Todd and Jason should study the 49ers and maybe learn a few things.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:24 am
Purplebeard, Bowles is also responsible for ensuring that backup players are able to hold down the fort until the starters return. We had zero serviceable depth on the o-line. Of course it might have helped had the defense been able to get opponents off the field, particularly in games played in the second half of the season.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:25 am
I would say we had one of if not the worst coaching staffs in the league . Looks like one buc place agreed with me as they fired darn near everyone except the main one . The injuries didn’t help but that was some of the worst special teams & defense i have ever seen ! I also thought it had to do with trash players . You want to blame it on vets & rookies not knowing what to do in a complex scheme? OK, that falls back on the terrible coaching staff . This team is a mess & I don’t see it changing any time soon . Good luck n go bucs
February 19th, 2026 at 6:41 am
Backups are backups for a reason. I doubt too many teams are two deep in starting caliber offensive linemen. How in the world would you fit them all under the salary cap?
Nothing different than what hurt the Chiefs and Chargers last year.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:46 am
I remember when people were calling Cody Mauch a bust and that he was too small.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:53 am
Does Wyatt Teller have anything left in the tank?
I bet Mayfield could use his help if he does?? And since they were former teammates!!!!
Browns OL Wyatt Teller Pens Heartfelt Goodbye to Cleveland Ahead of Free Agency
February 19th, 2026 at 7:00 am
The special teams were the giveaway for last season. A breakdown happens. A few are common. But a repeated, persistent record of failure is unacceptable. We saw blocked FG followed by blocked punts followed by ridiculous punt returns. By the end of the season it was so bad that the Bucs were conceding prime starting position on kickoffs — when they weren’t suffering returns for twice the yardage.
It speaks to the special teams coach. It speaks to the head coach who hired and kept that coach in place. And it speaks to the GM and player development — after all, the special teamers are supposed to be young guys in the wings eager to show their stuff and get their chance. Where were those players last season?
The projected starting 22 looked like a formidable team. The OL losses were certainly bad and affected play the whole year. But doing so little to fix a glaring problem, a problem even worse teams did not have and would not put up with was a mark of organizational failure. And that’s on Todd and Jason.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:03 am
“We as coaches have done all that we can.”
February 19th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Connor Lew, day 2.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:49 am
You can’t coach talent. Most of our backups came off other team’s practice squads and cut lists
February 19th, 2026 at 8:13 am
Agreed that it starts and ends up front ON BOTH SIDES of the ball. Hence the need for quality backups. Injuries are going to happen and how well a team prepares for those is all the difference in the world.
February 19th, 2026 at 9:03 am
I truly believe an under the radar move was firing the strength and conditioning head man. For years now the Bucs have grossly mismanaged injuries to big time players. Without listing them all I will just highlight a few:
-Jensen and his knee debacle.
-Evans hammy 2 seasons ago. No way he should have been allowed to play in the Ravens game
-Wirfs knee last year. Should have been fixed correctly after the season. Instead let it carry on until the summer and had surgery days before camp
-Godwin didn’t need to be rushed back
-Baker bring allowed to play when he was clearly hurt
Bowles is at fault as well because ultimately he should take charge if the player and trainer disagree and make the call on what’s best for the team longterm.
February 19th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Joe I do recall you guys voicing concerns on Ira’s podcast before last season that back up offensive lineman are very concerning. That was hoping everyone stays healthy last year and that was before the rash of injuries. Correct. Upfront on defense is very concerning as well. Vita is not the same dominant force as he was in his younger years and Kancy just can’t get on the field and this point you can’t expect him too until he can prove otherwise. There is also the fact that Bowles doesn’t believe in edge rushers rushing the QB. Man there seems to be a lot of holes on both sides of the ball upfront.
February 19th, 2026 at 9:34 am
and that is why BUCS need to draft an OG in the 1st round!!!!
Mauch will most likely start the season on the PUP List…and he wont be 100% in 2026 when he returns
Kick Barton to LG, Bredenson to C and have the 1st round OG play RG…
then we would finally have QUALITY depth:
swing tackle- Chews
back up Center- Barton
back up Guard- Mauch
michael jordan and haggard would return to their rightful place on the PS
GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Here’s the analysis I want to see: who was on the field during that awful stretch of NO, Atl and Miami? More specifically, what is the name of every player on the field for that third and 28 and fourth and 14 against Atlanta?
Get rid of them. All of them. They are cancerous.
They went too far the other way on this “character” crap. They got guys who you want to date sister until a guy pulls a gun out. Then they run away.
February 19th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Lou, excellent point!
February 19th, 2026 at 10:06 am
Im telling you, Ioane would be a great pick with our first, might even be able to trade down 2 or 3 spots. Styles wont be there, but Josiah trotter probably will in the 2nd….and i like that guy, reminds me of Schwesinger a little. Trigg in the 3rd with one of our trade down picks, or te Jack Endries 4th….im getting there, its starting to come together…oh, LB Lawson 3rd if Trigg is gone (probably will be). Unless we sign a TE….ug, so many ifs…gotta find a cb too, and i like that Bears FA if we’re gonna spend money, and draft a bu qb 5th rd, Robertson…then rb.
February 19th, 2026 at 10:24 am
“Organizational failure” the Bucs should put it on their hoodies instead of inspire change. Starts at the top with clueless owners willing to accept continual mediocrity. GM is hit and miss with almost all misses on defense and clueless coach who never takes blame for anything. Superbowls are a distant memory as we will be stuck in the middle for a while. Cowards.
February 19th, 2026 at 10:35 am
It was all Baker thought right lol let that bone go buddy
February 19th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Concur this doomed Bucs – along with special teams. Defense fell after these two dominos.
February 19th, 2026 at 11:05 am
We didn’t have “backup” guards on this team…
These guys were THIRD STRING talent off the scrap heap/practice squad…
Let’s actually get a backup guard this offseason and hopefully the interior protection and run lanes will improve….
February 19th, 2026 at 11:17 am
Knee injuries impact on performance:
Players often experience reduced strength and explosiveness.
Overcompensation for injuries can lead to further leg issues.
Modern medical procedures have helped many athletes recover, but Bucs would be foolishly “hopeful” to assume both starting Guards will recover substantially from their injuries and be as effective as before.
February 19th, 2026 at 11:49 am
Allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 24.3% of dropbacks, ranked 26th.
I have been saying all season that THIS is the reason for Baker’s decline. Yes, other teams had injuries, but only 6 teams were WORSE than TB in this stat, and I’m betting none of them had winning records…
TB was the WORST team at this that still had a winning record. Fix this, and the offense will fix itself.
February 19th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Go get Wyatt Teller during free agency
February 19th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Strength and Conditioning coaches are not the same as the team Doctors. Misdiagnosed knee injury on Wirfs and other medical treatments are not S&C issues. If Piroli was to blame for any of it then Why did they promote from with in? Was Piroli going rogue? He was Tristan’s favorite coach.
I just wish there was more information about why he was released. Did the Bucs brass feel like he was the cause or he wasn’t doing enough to prevent all of the soft tissue injuries? Great questions for the Indy pressers.
February 19th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
The 49ers had more injuries than anyone ever, and they finished 12-5 and won a playoff game with bartenders and waitresses all over the field. Let’s please park the injury excuse in the garage with the stupid creamsicle uniforms the Bucs ALWAYS lose in.
Using injuries as an excuse diminishes the greatness of Todd and his ability to coach the team to 8 wins in spite of injuries.
February 19th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Gee, had a feeling that Baker got beaten up a lot behind a swiss cheese OLine.
Says a lot about so called “Bucs fans” like the MunchBunch who constantly criticized a beaten up Mayfield. Through it all in 2025, Mayfield ended up with similar stats to Herbert, Darnold, Josh Allen to name a few. Rational people would say that a QB under constant pressure paricularly in the back half of the season who threw for 26TD’s versus 11INT’s had an OK year.
February 19th, 2026 at 1:16 pm
Draft OL get OL free agents … NO DEFENSE.
February 19th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Wyatt Teller at 31, too old and too expensive. Wisconsin is loaded with big farm kids who can be molded into NFL guards. Dump Elijah Klein and pick up a OG late in draft. If Klein couldn’t get on the field last year, doubtful he ever will.
February 19th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
all of these injuries are absolutely no excuse for the Bucs losing to saints, falcons, panthers and dolphins, when these people who got injured were playing we still played like sht, 1st game all were healthy and got lucky with a Koo missed kick so Bucs were bad all year except only 1 game.
February 21st, 2026 at 12:19 am
A very telling stat Joe. Thanks
Less of a mystery to me now when I think about how the offense and Baker looked like they were off. Remember Brady in very similar circumstances and the dirt balls? Brady couldn’t/wouldn’t pull it down and take off…dirt ball.
Go Bucs