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 work in the trenches that Joe thought would have really good seasons last year. Yet injuries tanked their seasons.
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 his knee. He was lost for the year. That really hurt. Joe thought Mauch was going to possibly 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 pass blocking for the Bucs in 2025.
Allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 24.3% of dropbacks, ranked 26th.
No wonder Mayfield got beat up.
And 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 and that the domino effect began with Tristan Wirfs having offseason surgery and before you know 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. That surely did not help.
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 6:24 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