Healthy Offensive Line, Sad Running Game

September 27th, 2026

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

The Bucs’ heralded offensive line was supposed to be healthy and enforcing its will with a playcaller who knew how to scheme things up.

If your scoring at home, the Bucs have two first-round draft picks on their starting O-line. They also have two second-round picks and a solid veteran in Ben Bredeson. Everyone is 28 or younger and the whole crew has played a bunch of games together.

These guys are supposed to be a glass-eating, nail-spitting bunch of angry workers defending the home turf. They’re not.

Today against a smothering Vikings pass defense, the Bucs needed to move the chains on the ground. Or they at least needed a quality day on the ground.

Instead, Bucs running backs took 18 carries and netted just 42 yards, not even 2 1/2 yards per carry. The longest scamper was an eight-yarder from Bucky Irving.

Yeah, Minnesota has a good defense, but it’s not that good to hold the Bucs to that rough of a day. The loss to the Vikings today was a back-and-forth game. The Bucs didn’t have to stray from the run game as much as they did, but perhaps Robinson felt he didn’t have much choice.

86 Responses to “Healthy Offensive Line, Sad Running Game”

  1. Eric in Denver Says:

    Coaching matters. Fire Bowles!

  2. Boltsfan17 Says:

    Licht is the master of wasting 1st and 2rd picks. His handy work was all over that debacle today.

  3. Eric in Denver Says:

    Embarrassing!🙈

  4. Rod Munch Says:

    I need to see the ALL22…

    To me, it looked like 90% of the issues were TE’s and RB’s getting ran over, or missing blocks. I could be wrong, however, as always that’s just live observations watching the game, and it can be hard at times to tell based on TV views what was happening. But I don’t think the line itself was as bad as people seem to be claiming.

    Also, plenty of times, Baker had plenty of time, and did his normal routine where he starts patting the ball, bouncing up and down, then runs in a circle. Again, the ALL22 will show if there really wasn’t anyone open, or if it’s just Baker being Baker. Last week when everyone complained about the line, it was, in fact, mostly Baker that was the issue.

  5. HeartyDickerson Says:

    Aside from 2014, this o-line has ranked in the bottom 6 in running over the last 5 years. Twice ranked dead last. Acting as if this is an elite group of maulers is silly.

  6. Bucs East Coast Says:

    The backup QB, whoever that is, was almost sacked on a 2 man rush at the end of the game. Bananas.

    2.

    man.

    rush.

    2 versus 5…. And the nearly sacked hm immediately. Immediately.

  7. gotbbucs Says:

    Spotting them 10 points in two game possessions doesnt help, especially when the offense is struggling to begin with.

  8. Oxycondomns Says:

    vikings might have best defense in league, it may get better from here

  9. HeartyDickerson Says:

    *2024

  10. Heath Hunt Says:

    Bowles tells them not to block???

  11. Joe Bob Pigskin Says:

    What a mess.

  12. LoveMyBucs Says:

    The offense looks like dog sh1t. Let’s be real.

  13. LoveMyBucs Says:

    The defense did above average
    The offense was atrocious

  14. Lakeland Says:

    The Bucs deserves everything they get

    They let Alex Cappa walk
    They let Robert Hainsey walk
    They let Rachaad White walk

    These 3 players were higher draft picks
    They played their hearts out in Tampa

    And all three of them were replaced by an inferior player

  15. LoveMyBucs Says:

    How much does Baler miss Mike Evans?

  16. LoveMyBucs Says:

    Lakeland, I agree especially about White

  17. Obvious One Says:

    Soon The goomba glazers WILL BE reminded that there ARE other options than BLINDLY giving over our loyalty to those whom AREN’T LOYAL TO US! There ARE 31 other options if it MUST BE football… The Jags ARE moving to O town and after watching them play today with TOTAL HEART and WANT TO/ NEED TO for they’re head coach who’s playing Master Class chess as this bozo is trying to figure out how to play tic tac toe and FAILING MISERABLY AT IT…… Hmmmmmmmmmm!

  18. gotbbucs Says:

    We also have a 195 lb lead back and a free agent castoff backing him up. Not a recipe for a sustainable running game in the NFL.

  19. Tony1775 Says:

    Can only get better from here right.

  20. Unknownoutlire Says:

    Baker Mayfield is the problem.

  21. WiscoJoe Says:

    LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST. VILMA SAID HE COULD TELL WHEN THE BUCS WERE RUNNING AND THAT THE VIKINGS WERE CALLING IT OUT

  22. Lakeland Says:

    Karma is real

    Todd Bowles and Jason Licht has treated good players like trash
    They deserves everything they get

    Not only players, but also coaches were treated like trash

    I hope they go 0-17

    They deserves it

  23. Popcornmike67 Says:

    Bucs are a MESS

  24. Bucs4Ever Says:

    Sean McDermott.

  25. Bucs4Ever Says:

    Don’t worry, Bucs fans. The calls are being made now. It will happen

  26. Obvious One Says:

    With that said…. the Heart wants what the “Heart Wants”.. The love I have for my Bucs has been no little thing.

    This truly is turning into a struggle to find a reason why to stay because a betrayed and broken heart NEEDS TO heal. And the pathetic owners of my love are REALLY PUSHING MY BUTTONS to blow up my loyalty to and of…. the betrayer glazers and there dim views of what “True Romance” requires for the “football fan”

    They are THIS CLOSE to me throwing AWAY an OVER 30 year love affair through thick and thin…. THIS CLOSE!

  27. adam from ny Says:

    the OL is simply not up to snuff…

    #RealTalk

    yes i know they can kick my azz too 🙂

  28. 3rd and 28 Says:

    That display of refereeing today was the worst I’ve seen in 60+ years of watching nfl football, and I’ve seen some doozies over the years. 2 baker face mask, in the open and not called, a chop block that wasn’t, and countless holding penalties that were called; all on the same team, that weren’t, a holding on 87 that was returned for a td and not called. No recognition. None. Wtf Over. I mean it was disgusting. Call it sour grapes or review the tape. Don’t be afraid.

  29. adam from ny Says:

    backs were def getting dozered today…big time too…

    treated like real time ragamuffins for sure

  30. Beeej Says:

    HOW many holding penalties have we had in the last 2 games?

  31. Dubcity6 Says:

    Who said Barton projects as a center? Was that Licht?

  32. adam from ny Says:

    the new word of the day is:

    “DOZERED”

  33. Brian Says:

    Burn it all down this organization is going nowhere and it starts with our clueless owners. Im never paying for an overpriced ticket to watch this bullspit week in and week out. Gonna lambeau field 2.0 next weekend. This team sucks

  34. Josh Says:

    **Kahlil Benson**—a 6-foot-6, 320-pound tackle out of Indiana—went from an unsigned draft snub to starting Week 1 at left tackle for the KC Chiefs.

    * **The Long Shot:** Left unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Benson earned a contract strictly as a rookie minicamp tryout player.
    * **History Made:** When injuries hit, Andy Reid shifted Benson to left tackle—a position he’d never played in college. Week 1 vs. Denver, he became the first undrafted rookie to start Week 1 in Reid’s 13 years with Kansas City.
    * **Dominant Debut:** Protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blindside, Benson didn’t allow a single sack against Denver’s pass rush and went viral for physically dragging Isiah Pacheco over the line to gain for a first down.In Week 2 against the Colts and Week 3 at Miami, Kahlil Benson made his second and third straight starts at left tackle. The undrafted rookie anchored Kansas City’s offensive line through back-to-back wins, continuing to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.

    Draft is honestly irrelevant and it’s all about coaching at an NFL level there’s so many talented guys that are “SCHEME” Fits not elite talent but ELITE IN THE RIGHT SYSTEM..

  35. Popcornmike67 Says:

    For Joe and any Bucs fan who might read this, how do you fix this mess called the Buccaneers

  36. adam from ny Says:

    the oline guys used to be more hungry, nasty and frothy…

    they don’t exude that anymore…

    they’re like a more chill group now…times change, people change

  37. Tony1775 Says:

    I’m lost for words about the O-line. Please figure it out before Jalon gets hurt. Penalties sucked any momentum from the offense.

  38. Lakeland Says:

    Rachaad White played his heart out for this crappy franchise
    For 4 years, he played his butt off, and only missed 1 game

    And they didn’t even offer the man a new contract

    But they resigned Sean Tucker and gave Kenneth Gainwell $14 million
    And they set Kyle Trask for years, never gave him the opportunity to compete
    He always played with the backups

    This is nothing but Low Life, bottom of the barrel scum
    Yaya has never missed a game, he’s still playing on his rookie contract
    They haven’t even discussed an extension with him

    They scapegoated Josh Grizzard last season, the same with Leftwich

    0-17 is what they deserves

  39. Rod Munch is Wyndham Clark Says:

    Liam Cohen just tied Matt LaFluer for fastest new head coach to 15 wins. Won 15/20. That could have been us!

  40. LakelandSteve Says:

    It’s disturbing that all of a sudden this offensive line can’t run block. If you can’t run block and rack up big runs during a game odds are you won’t be real successful passing the ball. Never was it on display more than today. What was even more disturbing was the announcers saying the Viking defense knew when we were going to run the ball, shouting it out before the snap. The announcers said anytime they send the tight end in motion it’s a run. If a good defense knows when you are going to run or pass they have a leg up on the offense. Not a good look for Zac Robinson.

  41. Cardiac kidz Says:

    Its coaching.

    Liam Cohen had this line working in unison with the play calls. Our OC play calls are easily read on the fly by the defense. The defenseive players can be heard just before snapping the ball “IT’S A RUN”. We made no adjustments.

    Meka and Baker need to figure it out. Perhaps the OC can watch the Rams or 49erz games and get a clue how to use such talent.

    This getting so bad; i give my West Club tickets away almost every game. Yes, i give them away. This week i had a hard time finding someone who would take them.

    Past time for a change.

  42. Bosch Says:

    Underachievement is the trademark of a Bowels coached team.

  43. Fanofdabucs Says:

    When a defense has zero fear of your QB, they zero in on stopping the run.

    Baker sucks and Zac Robinson sucks. Bad combo platter right there.

  44. Oxycondomns Says:

    bucs should try and make trades see if they can unload godwins contract

  45. McBucky Says:

    The Bucs are BAAAD!

  46. David Says:

    As much as we want a new coach, this is not on Bowles. The defense performed. It is not on Baker. It is the O-Line. They have been below average and they got worse today. That was horrible.

  47. 813bucboi Says:

    Walker played great and then he didn’t see the field

    Bucky?….how long is he out for

    Gotta clean house ASAP

    GO BUCS

  48. BigZ Says:

    No one is trading for godwin’s contract. And he’ll be cut at the end of this year. And be a free agent. Some gms are smart, just not ours

  49. Hydra Says:

    How bout that David Walker!!! Great coaching decisions to limit his snaps ‘sarcasm

  50. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    I told you all Atlanta fired him for a reason now look at you. He needs a real qb and Mighty Midget ain’t it

  51. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    Rod Munch got mad at me because I called Chris Godwin just another guy after his 2nd injury. Now look at Godwin everybody quiting on him now

  52. aBUCStruth Says:

    This offensive line, Tackle to Tackle is trash 💯. They couldn’t block anything.

  53. 76dug Says:

    Carville had the OL humming with Coen in 2024. He just didn’t forget how to coach. Do the line blocking assignments come in with the play? If so that would also be a Robinson problem. As someone mentioned in another post, Cousins is having a good year and not running for his life with LV this year. Just thinking out loud as a pissed off buc fan.

  54. Delson Says:

    I think Kyler Murray was being Kyler Murray as well missing throws. So I wouldn’t give a lot of credit 2 our defense.the whole team was ass

  55. Rastaferian-Jenkins Says:

    Mauch and Bredeson have to be the worst guard combo in the game. Unacceptable, and one needs to be benched. Might as well put in the rookie from Notre Dame. I’d also trade Goedeke. Send that muffin head loser to whatever team wants him. Ill take a 4th to clear that cap mistake and get rid of him. That glass eater needs to go, because he’s trash. Put Chukwuma at RT

  56. Buc4L Says:

    Garbage o line not sure why their hands were grabbing like little ptangs! They suck, havre regressed due to lack of coaching and accountability which leads me a simple as that decision. Your fired!

  57. CottlevilleBuc Says:

    @76Dug

    Exactly what I was thinking, Robinson is asking this Ol to run a a scheme (there’s that word again) that is not their strength. Coen I believed ran a different scheme running the ball. Also Mauch may not be 100% from the knee last year, surely he is struggling. Barton should be a guard????

  58. Cantankeris Says:

    How many touches does Tuck have?

  59. Itzok Says:

    Hey look another holding penalty against the softest o line I’ve ever seen in my life. Holding on everyplay and I’ve never seen an nfl team just get their asswhipped and out physically as I just witnessed.

  60. Popcornmike67 Says:

    It can’t just be the offensive lineman alone, got to be some else included. This is this is same OL who played well 2 years ago and was also decent last year with at least 3 of the starters out for the years

  61. Delson Says:

    Also I didn’t watch the game but kept an eye on the play by play on ESPN. The pbp was saying Kyler short medium deep eg.. incomplete to so n so. If it was a pass breakup it say the defensive players name like vea pass breakup

  62. BucsFan81 Says:

    I just watched some of Bowles press conference. The fact that this guy is defending this garbage says it all. He literally said we’re only one game out of first place. Bro you’re 0-3 in the worst division in football. You won’t 2 games out if like 12. We wonder why the players play they do cause they got losing mentality of thinking because of Bowles. Fire this guy already.

  63. Oxycondomns Says:

    how sad was that when vilma knew every single time the bucs would run the ball

  64. OurYear Says:

    Munch, blaming the RBs or TEs in pass pro is nothing short of your ignorance. The fact we need to have a TE to even help with the OL on no blitz’s is ridiculous

  65. Optimistic Says:

    WiscoJoe Says:
    September 27th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
    LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST. VILMA SAID HE COULD TELL WHEN THE BUCS WERE RUNNING AND THAT THE VIKINGS WERE CALLING IT OUT.

    When the Bucs have a running play called, Wirfs is on the line of scrimmage.
    When a passing call is played, Wirfs lines up off the line of scrimmage. Actually got called once for lining up in the backfield.

  66. MonsVenusVIP Says:

    Let’s not hate on the offensive line Joe, they’re preparing Baker for his inevitable debut on dancing with the stars.

  67. Simeon4HOF Says:

    So are we going HC in Rd 1

  68. Winny Testaverde Says:

    The offensive line is chock full of high draft picks with large salaries. All
    of them have digressed in the last couple seasons regardless of age. Bright Licht Magic continues until morale improves.

  69. Winny Testaverde Says:

    Deleon:

    VV batted at least two passes that I saw
possibly explaining the pass breakup(s).

  70. 80sBucsfan Says:

    Zac is awful…there is zero…zero creativity on offense. Last week we ran like 7 or 8 screens….this week? Maybe 1…2? Zac Robinson stinks out loud.

    Jason Licht is now 93-107

    46%

    Jason Licht stinks. Time to go bye bye J dog. You done here. Joe’s, time to get on the clean house train. Sorry but Licht is trash.

  71. rjscheapseats Says:

    Unpopular opinion: at some point the QB actually has to throw the football.

    Baker held the ball forever at times.

    Maybe he was looking for Mike Evans because it sure as heck wasn’t one of our current receivers.

  72. Rod Munch Says:

    The way this chick on SNF is throwing herself at Tomlin is very uncomfortable. He’s a married man.

  73. Rod Munch Says:

    rjscheapseats Says:
    September 27th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
    Unpopular opinion: at some point the QB actually has to throw the football.

    Baker held the ball forever at times.

    Maybe he was looking for Mike Evans because it sure as heck wasn’t one of our current receivers.

    ———-

    You know I had not considered that… that he’s just scanning the field forever looking for Mike, going, dang, I know here’s out there somewhere, where he is, and then just runs out of time and gets sacked.

    That could be the issue, someone should let Baker know he left town, to, as he said, play on a team “with a good quarterback.”

  74. Rod Munch Says:

    OurYear Says:
    September 27th, 2026 at 9:44 pm
    Munch, blaming the RBs or TEs in pass pro is nothing short of your ignorance. The fact we need to have a TE to even help with the OL on no blitz’s is ridiculous

    ———–

    Stupid, the Vikings blitz more than any team in the NFL. It’s literally their entire gimmick.

    Moron.

  75. Les Says:

    Zac got fired for a reason from falcons, bowles got fired from jets for a reason .there both losers ! And you expected improvement? They came cheap ! I smell culverhouse 2.0 with the glazers ! If you remember those years .

  76. ‘74 Bucs Fan Says:

    Times for Daniels! Wishing no ill will to Baker, but I’d like to see Daniels start at least the next few games if not all of the remaining games. Why not? Can get worse and will be entertaining at least.

    Can wait to see our offensive stats for this game. I saw 3rd down and 30 twice, so it’s not gonna be pretty. Our offense is trash. I thought our D played fairly well, but Kyler Murray isn’t great with his arm.

  77. JustVisiting Says:

    Rod Munch: The oline was a sieve most of the day. When Baker was running around, it was because there was almost instant pressure. If you honestly believe this mess was on Baker, then no doubt his sub will rack up the points next Sunday. Personally, I just hope he doesnt get broken.

  78. Conte Piscatelli Says:

    They have all regressed, who would have thought gamelan and scheme matter. Can’t run block, certainly can’t pass block. None of them, including Wirfs deserve a check this week

  79. #1bucsfan Says:

    Something’s wrong. I see some saying it’s the players on the oline that licht drafted come on that’s a load of đŸ’©. These guys killed 2 years ago. Last year they all got injured now there healthy. It’s the OC. under coen we had a dangerous offense. Zac’s got to get this thing figured out and fast to save the season.

  80. JustVisiting Says:

    Baker took 12 hits, and that’s +after+ the the oline repeatedly holding because they were getting torched.

  81. Delson Says:

    Winny Testaverde Says:
    September 27th, 2026 at 9:56 pm

    Deleon:

    VV batted at least two passes that I saw
possibly explaining the pass breakup(s).

    In the same way vita was getting credit for those breakups, so we’re the defensive backs I believe I seen a couple 4 anzalone as well. McCollum Parrish tykee it shows who made the tackle n all that. Can look up the box score so u can their totals of their stats as well

  82. Rod Munch Says:

    JustVisiting Says:
    September 27th, 2026 at 10:16 pm
    Rod Munch: The oline was a sieve most of the day. When Baker was running around, it was because there was almost instant pressure. If you honestly believe this mess was on Baker, then no doubt his sub will rack up the points next Sunday. Personally, I just hope he doesnt get broken.

    ———–

    Some of the time, yes.

    Other times, no.

    Many times Baker pulled down and run when there wasn’t any danger.

    What we need the ALL22 to see is what was really happening. Multiple ways to counter a very heavy blitz team, generally it’s by getting the ball out quickly or in the screen game. Today, unlike weeks 1 and 2, the Bucs didn’t use the screen game, which seems dumb. But it also sure looked like a lot of times Baker was supposed to get out the ball quickly, and instead of throwing it, he held it. What the ALL22 will tell us is if – like last week – Baker had guys open and just refused to throw the ball, or if guys were not open.

  83. Rod Munch Says:

    #1bucsfan Says:
    September 27th, 2026 at 10:24 pm
    Something’s wrong. I see some saying it’s the players on the oline that licht drafted come on that’s a load of đŸ’©. These guys killed 2 years ago.

    ————

    Week 3, in 2024, was a home loss to the Broncos where the line (and offense in general) looked worse than it looked today. Rashaad White saved Baker’s life about 20 times that day after Sucke let free blockers rush him.

    The following week, vs the Eagles, Coen completely changed up the offense to get the ball out quick – and the offense took off.

    So there is always that hope if you want to be an optimist.

  84. JustVisiting Says:

    Rod Munch: Maybe so. I was watching without distraction this week, and it really seemed like the Vs were bringing fast pressure. Those plays might have made a stronger impression, though, and I wasn’t keeping a tally. Winning and losing are just part of the game, but I hate to see people underperform. If a team I played on failed to cover the spread 12 times in a row, I would lose my damn mind.

  85. Beeej Says:

    NINE holdings last 2 games. Negated some positive plays, including an 85 yard tuddie

  86. Tony1775 Says:

    The Back it up 10 yard boys. The “O-line” has problems…wow. 10 yard plank crew, the “Bust Brothers “Mauch & Barton.” The Yellow flaganeers. “Hold On Loosely” by .38 Special should be the O-lines walkout song.

 

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