Restoring Control
March 5th, 2026
Click through to BillCurrieFord.com to see their extraordinary March offers. Family-owned in Tampa since 1960! Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the famous Ira Kaufman discount. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!
BY IRA KAUFMAN
In football, familiarity doesn’t breed contempt. It breeds success.
That’s never more true than up front, where offensive linemen develop a sense of kinship when there’s continuity. Such was the case for the 2024 Buccaneers, who ranked fourth in scoring average and third in total yards while winning 10 games.
Cody Mauch (left) and Luke Goedeke.
Liam Coen played his part superbly as offensive coordinator, but the biggest factor was the health of an offensive line anchored by Tristan Wirfs. Guards Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch played all 17 games that season while Wirfs and center Graham Barton missed only one game apiece. Even with right tackle Like Goedeke out four weeks, the starting wall in front of Baker Mayfield combined for 79 of a possible 85 starts.
That’s rare continuity, but few teams were hit harder up front than the 2025 Bucs.
Although Barton didn’t miss a start, Wirfs (12 games), Bredeson (11), Goedeke (11) and Mauch (2) were each out for significant stretches. The impact was undeniable as Tampa Bay averaged 7.1 fewer points per game.
That’s why you shouldn’t quibble when Jason Licht singles out a healthy offensive line as the strength of the team.
Baker Mayfield didn’t have the same season last fall and the ground game suffered dramatically, in large part because the dropoff was so telling when starters went down up front. Dirty Harry once told us, “Man’s got to know his limitations.” The opposite is also true — football teams have to know what they do well.
While it’s clear this roster needs some better reserves along the line, we’re talking about backups. That’s why it would make no sense for Licht to pull the trigger on an offensive lineman with the 15th overall pick in the draft.
Yes, Dan Feeney, Charlie Heck and Michael Jordan are free agents. And yes, former sixth-round pick Elijah Klein has done nothing to inspire confidence he can fill in at guard. Depth is a concern, but you can find a cheap veteran backup in free agency. Given the other holes on this roster, it’s not a top priority.
One mock draft from CBS Sports has the Bucs selecting an offensive lineman from Utah in the opening round. If that happens, I’ll wear a clown outfit on my next visit to One Buc Place.
The biggest offensive falloff came in the running game, where Tampa Bay’s average yards per carry plunged from 5.3 to 4.1. Bucky Irving looked like a shell of himself, both before and after his injuries.
The transition from Coen to Josh Grizzard was a factor in the dropoff. Coen is particularly adept at scheming for the ground game and only three teams scored more rushing touchdowns than Coen’s Jaguars in 2025.But the Bucs have every reason to believe Zac Robinson can revitalize this ground game if a young and skilled offensive line stays relatively healthy.
A powerful line is the key to a powerful offense. Wirfs, hobbled much of the season, should rebound to his All-Pro level. Bredeson is so versatile, the Bucs should consider sliding him to center and moving Barton to left guard.
The Bucs sorely missed Mauch’s nasty demeanor for the final 15 games. He’s a tone-setter up front for physicality. Like Wirfs, Goedeke needs a return to form.
Few teams can match Tampa Bay’s starting five, when healthy. Only two years ago, they proved they can expose the limitations of their opponents.
Give Licht his due.
He drafted four of these studs and signed Bredeson as a free agent in 2024 before granting him a contract extension last March. And while no team can control injuries, this group is eager to once again control the line of scrimmage and light up the scoreboard.
Ira Kaufman Dives Deep Into The Mike Evans Debate, Talks Coach/GM Accountability, Trey Hendrickson & Much More
March 5th, 2026 at 10:21 am
Build from the front and die from the front. Not only did the Bucs lose their starting guards but also the 2nd team guards. There wasn’t any continuity in addition to losing the starters. Griz didn’t have the experience to adapt and it showed as the season went on as defenses adapted to Griz. The Falcons players gave Zac Robinson a C-, so I have my doubts about him.
Just as the OL leads the offense, so does the front 7 on defense. Draft picks won’t impact the front seven for a couple years, leading to another year of mediocrity. The Bucs need a couple free agent starters, but Licht won’t change his team building style. Guys like Howie Roseman will trade for players, but Licht won’t even trade a late round draft pick for a starter. I expect another season around .500 if no FA starters are brought in. ME13 may be watching for Licht to show aggressive winning deals in free agency, Mike wants to win.
March 5th, 2026 at 10:58 am
I think there’s a huge drop-off from the starters from the backups. Youre only as good as your weakest link. One guy goes down and its a big problem. I wouldn’t be mad if they pick o-line early.
March 5th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Jason is a oline wizard. I mean look at his resume. Everyone hates durable Donnie but hey he was good enough for tom Brady lol marpet cappa Wirfs who is a future hall of famer luke mauch and Barton. He traded for mankin brought in jesen and bredison. The most impressive obviously outside of Wirfs is marpet and cappa coming from smaller schools. I know it’s big if but if Winfield gets back to his all pro self Jason will have drafted 3 hall of fame players. Mike Evans we all know he is going to be a 1st ballot. Same with wirfs. He could hang his cleats up right now. He’s bin the best at both right and left guard. Winfield could if he gets his act together. Some of yall have the trash knowledge that we need a new GM hahaha 🤡 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 straight 🤡 🤡🤡🤡 😂😂😂
March 5th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Great point on the O-line last year vs. this year. And the simple fact that Grizz was over his head as an OC/Play-Caller-there is reason to believe the Offense will be strong this year. We are loaded on Offense. Now about that Putrid Pass Defense. Let’s spend the $$ and get a STUD Edge Rusher or Two-and this Team can contend. Go BUCS!!
March 5th, 2026 at 11:35 am
JimBobBuc … ‘I expect another season around .500 if no FA starters are brought in.’
Agree 100%, but this season we have no choice, Bucs must find some quality starting FAs or both Licht & Bowles will be gone.
Rnds 5-7 in the draft should be reserved for backups, punters and long-snappers. Our starting 2025 offense (the healthy one) had 5 Rnd 1 picks. All the others were Rnd 2-4 picks.
Our starting 2025 defense (the healthy one) had only 2 Rnd 1 picks (Vea & Reddick). Of the other 9 starters, 6 were drafted in Rnds 2-4. The other 3 (SVD, McCollum & Roberts) were 5th Rnd picks. And Rnd 5 picks rarely get 2nd contracts (McCollum is the exception … I rest my case).
If we’re truly gonna fix our defense, we need to spend all 4 of our Rnd 1-4 picks on DEFENSE this year (DT/NT, Edge, 2 ILB OR 1 ILB & 1 CB). PLUS add at least 1 veteran ILB, 1 veteran DT/NT, 1 veteran CB, 1 veteran Edge as a minimum.
March 5th, 2026 at 11:44 am
One mock draft from CBS Sports has the Bucs selecting an offensive lineman from Utah in the opening round. If that happens, I’ll wear a clown outfit on my next visit to One Buc Place.
************************************************************
so quality depth was an issue with the cheap veteran FAs we signed last year along the oline and your solution is to do the same thing we did last year lol….
selecting an OG in the 1st round would be a brilliant move!!!!!!…not only are you adding depth but you’re adding QUALITY depth…..
Mauch wont be 100% at the start of TC…..when he doesnt get health, he can be the back up OG…his contract is up at the end of the season anyways….why wait until next to fill an important need….fill it now!!!!
draft OG 1st round!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 5th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
If the best player available at 15 is a Guard and you don’t take him – big mistake
“Hoping” this OLine is and stays healthy after several injuries last year will guarantee a banged up Mayfield and an inconsistent offense once again.