Luke Goedeke Needs To Stay Healthy
June 19th, 2026
Vital.
Yes, The 33rd Team is still alive.
The publication, about a year or so ago, stopped publishing written content. Now, it just does podcasts and some stats, and one nugge was from a study of all offensive tackles to find who allowed the fewest sacks in 2025. And even though Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke missed a good chunk of the season with a bum wheel, he remained a rock as a pass blocker.
Only one player with more snaps — many more snaps — than Goedeke didn’t allow a sack.
In the past couple of seasons, Goedeke has become a little injury-prone. And since, the Bucs offense is going to have to carry this Bucs team to greatness, Goedeke’s health is critical just as it will be important for Calijah Kancey to remain healthy for the defense to play halfway decent. Godeke is critical to keeping Baker Mayfield health.
We all saw how this Bucs offense circled the drain when Mayfield got beat to hell. It wasn’t pretty.
June 19th, 2026 at 4:30 am
Joe … ‘The way Joe looks at it, the Bucs offense is going to have to carry this Bucs team.’
OK Joe, counter-prediction: I think the Bucs’ DEFENSE will end up being the higher-rated unit in terms of points in 2026. I fully expect this defense to end up being a Top-10 defense. Our offense certainly has that capability, but I’m still not convinced that our depth at QB or OLine especially is adequate to see us through a full season.
June 19th, 2026 at 4:30 am
Joe … ‘The way Joe looks at it, the Bucs offense is going to have to carry this Bucs team.’
Counter-prediction: I think the Bucs’ DEFENSE will end up being the higher-rated unit in terms of points in 2026. I fully expect this defense to end up being a Top-10 defense. Our offense certainly has that capability, but I’m still not convinced that our depth at QB or OLine especially is adequate to see us through a full season.
June 19th, 2026 at 5:14 am
Yes – our starters up front need to stay healthy for this offense to be great.
But I do feel very good about the depth the Bucs currently have at OT.
Not so much inside. Sure – there’s high hopes for the rookie Guard from Notre Dame – but he was a 5th rd pick for a reason (limited athleticism) – and you certainly don’t want a rookie lineman out there starting unless he’s really good or its an emergency…
So other than Schrouth who will be on the team as a promising draft pick – the prospects for back up Guard are Feeney, Haggard, Klein, Nash Hutmacher, Henry Lutovsky and Ben Scott.
Yikes!
Feeney is terrible…. Klein in year 2 wasn’t even good enough to be put on the field in an emergency…. Haggard is probably the best of the bunch – which isn’t saying much…
Licht needs to be working overtime scouting potential veteran back up Guards to sign. One good one is mandatory – and we really need 2 new faces in that room this year that are upgrades and could play if necessary.
The Bucs offense basically fell apart last year because of crappy backup Guard play….. drafting 1 guy in the 5th round is not enough…..
June 19th, 2026 at 6:03 am
@DR, I agree with you that the defense will be much improved this coming season. But, I think the offense will be solid as well. The question is, does the O-line have a season like 2024 or 2025?
I don’t expect as many injuries as last year when we had 4 out of 5 starters out for long periods. And if the O-line stays reasonably healthy, Baker will be fine.
As far as the D goes, I expect us to start off slow. As Joe points out, relying on 3 rookies to contribute is dicey. They will have a learning curve. But by the end of the season they will be veterans and the D should be much improved. And maybe this will be a catalyst for making a playoff run.
@PickGrin, we don’t have a lot of depth on the O-line, but what NFL team does? Having a good year and doing a little damage in the playoffs involves a bit of luck in not having too many injuries. Yes?
June 19th, 2026 at 6:04 am
Hmm. Wirfs, Goedecke, Mauch and Bredeson all missed a ton of games. Evans, Godwin, and JMac missed a ton of games. Bucky missed a ton of games. Stinking Mayfield, I’m telling you, was a major disappointment and we need to find us another QB. Simple.
June 19th, 2026 at 6:10 am
Draft Sorsby and trade Baker and Vea
June 19th, 2026 at 6:29 am
Yeah, man! Sorsby is a good bet. I’d take a gamble on him anyway.
June 19th, 2026 at 6:42 am
Every year a unit gets hit hard by injury recently, injuries are going to happen but the unit that scares me is the CBs, the top 3 aren’t proven to be difference makers and we have zero depth, especially if Jacob wins outside spot
June 19th, 2026 at 6:57 am
Agreed, Pickgrin.
June 19th, 2026 at 7:08 am
Bucsmooth and Kent smith…YOUR ideas-brainfarts SUCK !
Real Bucsfans WANT Baker AND Vea,….AND, would Never want gambling Sorbsey…You 2 are nuttylike 2day 4 real,…Yikes
June 19th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Stinking Mayfield, I’m telling you, was a major disappointment
now you’re catching on!!!..lol…Theres always a little truth in every joke
his DEC performance was absolutely horrible once Evans, Godwin, JMac, Wirfs, & Goedecke returned to the lineup
GO BUCS!!!!
June 19th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Injury free, might be a better term.
June 19th, 2026 at 8:48 am
Imo, the most important component to this offenses success is Zack Robinson. Our RB and TE rooms are mostly unproven and they both need to be productive for Baker to have a sustainable good yr. Baker needs outlet, especially when his diminutive self gets off script out of pocket so he can see. Id like to see TEs play a bigger role as outlets. Also, for Baker to stay healthy and shed the injury excuse, a more consistent run game is essential. Having just said that out load, a healthy OL should free up TEs from blocking duty & and significantly help the run game. Wtf do I know other than I would feel better about this team if we, as fans, are chanting “Zack Attack, Zack Attack!!” rather than “MVP, MVP!” if we hope to have a full good season instead of just the 1st 8 games.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Senor Harry … ‘As far as the D goes, I expect us to start off slow. As Joe points out, relying on 3 rookies to contribute is dicey.’
The good thing about the start of the season Harry is that everybody is in the same boat. Almost all have several rookies that they’re trying to integrate into the game plan so that they can build experience.
I tend to believe that not all rookies are created equal though. Example: Bain sounds like the type of rookie who’ll adapt very quickly. Trotter too based on his ‘pedigree’. I’m sure they’ll make their share of mistakes, but even veterans screw up. They both sound like fast learners. So does Keionte Scott BTW.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:21 am
I think Joe is absolutely correct this offense will need to carry this defense. Hopefully the defense is improved, it couldn’t be much worse than last year. Anything would be an improvement. However, this defense top 10, nice thought , but not likely. Right now the Bucs know better but telling us three new rookies are going to play like probowlers, not likely. They need time. They are desperately needing another CB that can cover and depth is a serious issue in a few places. I see this defense starting slow and getting better as the year goes on as rookies get their legs. The defense will improve a lot if they trade for an actual CB that can cover.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Better offense, and STs should help the defense. The truth is out now, we had a bunch of soft loafers on defense last season. Bowles who denied it last season has admitted as much. Licht brought in new players. It’s on Bowles to turn it around. We will see, who carries who.
June 19th, 2026 at 10:03 am
@Pickgrin
Nice post. Agree 100%. Need the same at corner and ILB while they’re at it. Get to work JL.
June 19th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Last couple years? Didn’t Luke play all 17 games in 2024?
I might be remembering wrong, but I think 2024 was his only full season.
June 19th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
This defense is going to be top 10 this year.