Left Tackle Issue Alters Bucs’ Offensive Work
August 22nd, 2026
Neutered.
Very strange night for the Buccaneers offense.
Starting at left tackle was undrafted rookie Paul Rubelt, the 6-10 hulk from Germany via the University of Central Florida. He’s the fourth-string tackle behind banged up Ben Chukwuma and Justin Skule, and hamstring-healing Tristan Wirfs. Obviously, that meant the Bucs were not going to have Baker Mayfield drop back to pass.
The Bucs handed off and ran aaway from Rubelt on their first three plays.
Mayfield played two series and threw for 10 yards on 2 receptions from 4 attempts. There were no throws downfield. Ted Hurst blowing up the first drive with a moronic personal foul didn’t help.
Rubelt stayed in the game and was part of the second-team line that got backup Jake Browning running for his life, and beat up. (More on that later.)
Bucky Irving looked good on a few runs, but beyond that, the Bucs’ first-team offense didn’t accomplish much beyond Mayfield learning how new playcaller Zac Robinson sounds on a gameday headset.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:17 pm
That big German dude was rotten. Him and the RT 74 were unacceptable tonight. 74 was so bad they kicked Klein out to RT for crying out loud.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:37 pm
I really hope they find a way to keep Daniels. He really looks like he could turn into something with enough time. Hopefully they make the right decisions on some of these guys when it’s time to cut players.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:39 pm
The real story is Daniels is making a push to be the backup QB. Browning looks like the Browning last year that got pushed to the side for Flacco.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:39 pm
Rather find out now what you got, instead of getting the worst type of surprise week 8
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:41 pm
If they were that scared which it seems they were with those screen calls they shouldn’t have put the ones out what a waste and browning needs to find his way off the roster he sucks.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:41 pm
The injuries are why I think they should expand the rosters and have a whole developmental team. Some of these guys just need more coaching and they might develop.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:43 pm
I’m sure we’ll win every game 3-0 this season.
Bowles is a better DC than Monte Kiffin in his prime.
Better HC than Reid.
🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:45 pm
Daniels is QB 2. That battle is over. That kid can play.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:46 pm
We need a Daniels article. Bake dirted an easy short throw and had a ball batted at the line, which is what he does. Oh well, well see how it all works out in 3 weeks.
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:54 pm
You guys are rediculous,,, Daniels is playing really well against guys who will soon be working at UPS or Publix,, he hasn’t played against an NFL player yet ,,, I’m not saying Browning is great but slow your roll on Daniels
August 22nd, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Quarterback controversy?
The OC didn’t show much faith in Baker, running the ball 4 times in a row to open the game. Then when he finally put the ball in Baker’s hands, he threw 4 passes, and ALL FOUR were behind the line of scrimmage, and even with that, he still missed two of them. Baker was on pace to score 0 points, with 78 yards passing, 0 yards rushing, 0 TDs.
Meanwhile Daniels was on pace to put up 38.4 points for the game, while throwing for 170 yards, rushing for 46 yards, with 2.4 TDs.
Plus Daniels would be about $54M cheaper to keep next year.
August 22nd, 2026 at 11:04 pm
Not a doubt Daniels is our backup. We’ve been behind at halftime 2 straight weeks. This rookie has put together 5 scoring drives, 4 of them touchdowns. To win both games. Bazelak and Browning are a toss up.
August 22nd, 2026 at 11:13 pm
Munch your a legend in you own mind…
August 22nd, 2026 at 11:16 pm
I thought Rubelt held his own on most plays, Marshall Foerner #74 was beaten like a drum.
August 22nd, 2026 at 11:19 pm
I expected that Mayfield would move this team down the field, didn’t happen.
August 22nd, 2026 at 11:28 pm
Rod Munchesandmunchesandmunchessomemore. “Baker was on pace to score 0 points…”. Hahahaha. That’s funny.
August 22nd, 2026 at 11:33 pm
Might be time for Joe to modernize and moderate these comments, it’s getting bad out here. It’s not even like people are trying to debate or discuss, it’s pure trolling in topic after topic.
August 22nd, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Daniels for #2. Someday……maybe more
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:15 am
You won’t have to wait too much longer before the Baker Bois start turning on Daniels. They’re just like Baker. You could really tell that Baker did NOT want to stand there and talk about DANIELS… He was clearly bothered. I didn’t notice him working with the kid and trying to help him along, either… Just one more Baker ‘narrative’ entirely DESTROYED and up in all the smoke. All these CLOWNS constantly, saying stupid things about Baker “grooming another QB, & etc.” Just as I said then, at the time… LAUGHABLE. Then, YOU don’t know BAKER. It’s just a very weird (“adult”) Baker Fantasyland. But, just wait for it… They’re already getting nervous AF. When they really start ‘feeling’ the pressure… They’re going to turn on him SO QUICK. It’s going to get extremely VILE. I’m just here, and along for the ride Lmao.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:23 am
It’s the COEN “Kentucky Offense,” that I warned everyone about. I call ‘em BLIND-screens. HORRIBLE. It doesn’t work anymore. Especially, early right outta the gate, or to open a drive with, or after a negative play – those have to be rhythm-plays, or ‘inside’ against an ‘aggressive’ blitzing defense. It’s HIGH SCHOOL SH!T. These guys are too good and way too disciplined, at THIS level… They’ve been seeing-it SINCE HS, and they’re READY FOR IT. They can sniff-it out and see-it coming from a mile-away.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:35 am
Baker got REAL LUCKY, too… A split second away from that being a fumble and 6-points. A total lack of focus. He’s been a STARTER in the league for what, 6-7 SEASONS… And, HE DOES THAT (totally “BLIND” without looking). He should know better than that, BY NOW. It’s Crucial.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:38 am
MelvinJunior Says:
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:15 am
You won’t have to wait too much longer before the Baker Bois start turning on Daniels.
———
Oh that’s a great point, if they think Daniels really might be a good player and could be a threat, they’ll go into full meltdown mode. I’ll need to kick myself into overdrive to make it happen.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:07 am
Dont worry, Its just preseason. Our magnificient coach will figure it out.
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:50 am
I agree 100% that Daniels ought to be the #2 QB. Truth be told I don’t actually care if we win in preseason or not…but I enjoy the wins anyway.
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:54 am
KC and the Bucs have reserve Tackle problems. 74 played himself onto the Cut List.
August 23rd, 2026 at 5:48 am
Why bother bringing Baker out if you’re afraid he’ll get killed? Does he really need bad reps? Get rid of Browning. Rather have the talented kid play then the guy with experience, but no talent. Some players have that it factor. Daniels has that, Browning does not. Baker goes down, you’re not winning with Browning so why bother keeping him? I was happy to see Trotter start, but where was Dennis? He didn’t even play. Joe there’s a story there?
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:09 am
@ Rod Munch Says: “they’ll go into full meltdown mode.”
Ohhhhh, yeahhhhh. 💯 You already know they are. It’ll be Trask on Steroids. And, you know that Baker just LOVED seeing all of his teammates going nuts on the sidelines, totally behind the kid, and rooting him on… He looked SICK having to answer those questions about him during the Gruden interview LoL. His wife was probably telling him to go back in there first thing, and accept that deal the Bucs offered. The FO better NOT cave.
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:32 am
And there it is, Joe sowing the excuse seed
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:16 am
Missing your LT, your top four wide receivers and your top tight end. Doesn’t really sound like we had much of a first team offense in the game at any point.
Not sure why they put Baker out there at all other than to test his in game communication with Robinson.
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:33 am
Did you ever drink too much and eat a pizza you thought was the best pizza you had ever tasted!! You invite everyone out with you to eat it , you brag and rave about how good it is and when it comes out and you’re relatively sober , the pizza really isn’t good at all! Daniels is our drunk pizza! The best QB we have seen ever!!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:36 am
So now people on this site want a undrafted green QB to be our starter because they called a bunch of running plays in a row for Baker last night, and he didn’t sit back there and throw 60 yd TDs right off the rip, and we can replace him with Daniels to save his salary!!??? I’d say its beyond idiotic, but there is too many recidivists on this page to hope it was a joke. I suggest if that is your asinine take, before u hit the send button, count to three, then throw your phone in the ocean…or start watching pickle ball tournaments, because football is not your thing
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:44 am
ITHINK DANIELS IS THE REAL DEAL. I KNOW ITS AGAINST 2ND, 3RD & 4TH STRINGERS BUT SHOWN WHAT HE CAN DO. AS OF RIGHT NOW I WOULD CONSIDER HIM THE BACKUP.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:10 am
Joe you can’t lump in LT tall Paul Rubelt with the rest of the disastrous OL, especially the RT. Rubelt was pass blocking very well. They didn’t run behind him, so clearly they don’t like his run blocking, but he was fine on passing plays. We’re keeping him because he gets a roster exemption. So I actually took his play last night as a positive development.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Liked the Rubelt behemoth, was fun to watch him pushing the KC 3rd stringers. He will stay thru international pathway. Maybe gets more time than that German guy Lorenz Metz before him.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Baker will be great (but so would most QBs) if the starting 5 OL stay healthy like they did in 2024. This is why paying for OL is more important than overpaying for Baker.
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:08 pm
I am all for Daniels being 2nd string quarterback. He is amazing! In addition, I believe Rubelt played the full game with power blocks. The issues had to do with communication from Browning. He was horrible with communication and sat in the pocket too long. Note that with Mayfield and Daniels the communication was there and play was better because they communicate to the o-line. Browning was the problem and he set the pace for when he was at the helm.
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Daniels looks great, but can he actually replace Baker against a first string NFL defense ? That is the question, hopefully so, it sure looks like he may be the backup.
On the other hand, Baker will be fine playing behind the starting OL and with Bucs starting RBs and wide receivers in the game. I’m sure everyone knows the Bucs true offensive scheme is being hidden until the Bengals game.
Go Bucs !!