Zac Robinson Identifies The Strength Of His Offense
September 10th, 2026
So the Bucs just signed their quarterback to a monstrous new contract.
However, he’s not the strength of the Tampa Bay offense, per the words of new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Asked to state that strength today in advance of Sunday’s season-opener at Cincinnati, Robinson went a different direction.
“The versatility of the offensive line,” Robinson replied. “Everything starts with those guys up front. They’ve done a great job, great having Tristan [Wirfs] back out there and seeing the full collection of everybody working together. But those guys get the thing going from a physicality standpoint and their versatility. And then just the mix of the skill guys has been really cool.”
Joe agrees that the offensive line drive the Tampa Bay bus. So does Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
That starting line is all 28 years old and younger with excellent size. Four of five are premium draft picks and one is a future Hall of Famer (barring injury) in his prime.
If the line stays healthy, it will be downright hard for the Bucs to have a losing season.
September 10th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Well Baker, you’re at least rated higher than the TE’s
I’m only kidding (but Zac did pretty much list the whole offense sans the TE’s & the QB)
I do agree about the O-Line sentiment tho. Bake even said it himself yesterday at his PC!
September 10th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Hopefully he lets them bulldoze and pass protect for downfield shots. I’m real scared of witnessing too much horizontal crap that gets blown up or goes for 3 yards.
September 10th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
I also hope to see a healthy dose of pony package with Bucky and Kenny G out there. Seems like there is a lot you can do from that look with our OL athleticism and their pass catching ability.
September 10th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
More thoughts… I only watched the first half last night, but man was it tough to watch McDaniels sending Stevenson and Kiner up the gut for nothing, time after time.
I think the league has gone to… pass sets up the run more than the other way around. Wasting downs and drives by calling too many runs vs a good D like Seattle. Especially when you have a QB who can wheel and pick up yards with his legs.
September 10th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
Football is simple in concept
It is always about the Oline for an offense.
Its impossible to run or throw very well if the oline is not controlling the line of scrimmage consistently.
If the RB are getting hit behind the line, and the QB is eating turf, you aren’t winning much of anything.
Football is actually simple.
If your Oline is knocking people back consistently you win, if the Oline are getting knocked back, your going to lose.
The only variable is turnovers.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 10th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
What about poor quarterback play? There are quarterbacks out there that will throw pics behind a good line. If Baker is protected and he has healthy weapons, he will thrive. He just needs to learn to slide into third base. Getting the first down is not worth the loss of a quarterback for a bunch of games… or the season.
September 10th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
I curious how the stretchy zone-gap hybrid approach is going to work out. Licht built a power gap OL. I’m confident Barton and Wirfs have the mobility but beyond that I’m not so confident in the rest of the unit especially after all the recent past injuries.
Canales had some success going wide and mid zone heavy and Coen started out that way but then abandoned it for power, trap and counter plays with a puller that had the Bucs piling up points like we’d never seen. I’m not saying this OL can’t do anything but it was built the way it is, road graders who can pull like runaway dump trucks. It a great OL and it’s a joy watching them do what they do best. It’d be a shame to fritter that away too much with cutesy wide zone games. Unless they immediately work as designed and turn into TDs of course or the Bucs are playing speedy demon defenses like those of the Texans and Seahawks.
Robinson has a full arsenal. What OC has as few personnel holes as he does? His problem is how to distribute touches to play with all of his cool toys and manage flaring egoes better than he did in ATL. If he fails it’s because of injuries and/or how he misuses the tools at hand. I’m expecting wonderful things. I like Robinson as a fit I just don’t have much more than Bijan and Allegier’s shared 2025 success to get hyped about. If he can figure out how to keep all these mouths fed with touches he might be the next OC Mayfield runs-off to a head coaching gig.
September 10th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Ok…
My view I suppose is a bit different. I believe it’s the other way around BUT it’s a spilt of 51 to 49%… Let’s face it though, ones no good without the other. A true symbiotic relationship..
September 10th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Offensive line is good, but not great. Barton is a liability in the middle and needs a BIG year.
With that said an offensive line cannot win you enough games to save you from an inept coach who’s side of the ball consistently craps down it’s leg and blows games or a QB who chokes away games in the 4th quarter with turnovers
September 10th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
It’s kinda like asking which is more important? The king or the pawn in chess.. The bottom line is if you lose the king.. IT’S GAME OVER! If you lose the pawn, you’re Still in the match.. “It’s in The Game”
September 10th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Personnel strength being the OL is the easiest thing, but we’ll have to see this team play a game or two to know what it’s functional strengths are as a unit.
20.1 ppg isn’t going to cut it this season, so whatever they find to be a strength they better spam it till it can be stopped.
September 10th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
“Joe agrees that the offensive line drive the Tampa Bay bus. So does Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.”
And so do I!!! Last season four of the five Tampa Bay Buccaneers opening-day starting offensive linemen missed five or more games during the 2025 season.
And that’s was the beginning of the end for the Bucs. Baker plays much of the season nursing injuries from that lack of protection and of course the timing and rhythm of the offense was totally out of whack!
If 4 of the 5 starters go down again this year I foresee a repeat of last season.
It’s more fun to blame Bowles and Baker and of course Grizzard but really? It’s one thing to lose a star like Wirfs and that is bad but FOUR OUT OF FIVE starters is a joke and NFL DC’s must have gotten stiffies lookng at the film of the Bucs OL last year!
September 10th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Obvious One Says:
September 10th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
It’s kinda like asking which is more important? The king or the pawn in chess.. The bottom line is if you lose the king.. IT’S GAME OVER! If you lose the pawn, you’re Still in the match.. “It’s in The Game”
——————–
It depends on which pawn.
September 10th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Tristan Wirfs is a first ballot Hall of Famer even if he never played another game!
September 10th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
i want to see Zacs offense put lots of points up, that’s all that matters, i don’t trust his dumb dink and dunk offense to score enough points
about the game last night, Seattle’s defense looked really good, those corner backs were jumping routes and destroying new englands chances to score, maye threw three interceptions, i hope baker saw that game, he throws zero picks we have a better chance of winning
September 10th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
August 1976 Buc … ‘Football is actually simple. If your Oline is knocking people back consistently you win, if the Oline are getting knocked back, your going to lose. The only variable is turnovers.’
And not a single mention of DEFENSE August. Tisk, tisk.
Actually last night’s Seahawks-Patriots game was a classic example of the impact of turnovers. Patriots’ defense had stifled Seattle UNTIL Maye offered up THREE INTs on 3 deep balls in the 4th qtr to let the Seahawks win it 13-10.
That last INT with 26 seconds left blew my mind. Pats were behind 13-10, and had the ball at the Seahawks 16-yard line with a 3rd-and-5. They’re in position to easily tie the game & send it into overtime. On the previous 2 drives, Maye had thrown 2 INTs on deep balls. So what’s the call? Yup, another deep throw, into the end zone this time, that gets intercepted. Game over. That loss IMO was on the OC & the QB. Of course, had it been the Bucs that happened to, everyone would’ve blamed Todd Bowles.
September 10th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Responsibility is always on Vrabel , because if he does not like the play he can change it , but maybe Russini had just texted him and he was distracted.
September 10th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
@hope…Way too much babble! All that crap your spewn. How bout ,let’s hope the oline stays intact
September 10th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Terrific article. This week will be a test. Dexter Lawrence has reportedly been on a tear through training camp.
Showtime!
September 10th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Still wish the Bucs had that power back. Nothing like watching a Lenny, Blount , Allstott type back punish a defense.
September 10th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
He wasn’t talking about individuals. He didn’t mention any individuals. He mentioned the offensive line as a group and the receivers as a group. As it should be. Because without those people doing their job collectively, the offense can’t work.
September 10th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
I expect our defense to lead the way. We have skilled and talented players on offense. I’m anxious to see how well prepared our offense is. I’m also can’t wait to see to the play calling. Zac has been put into a very good position. If he does his job well we will have a fun season. Bakers opinion now has a lot more leverage. He is now the leader of the offense on and off the field. Zac needs to get off to a good start.
September 10th, 2026 at 6:38 pm
Hello Defense….August 1976 Buc … ‘Football is actually simple. If your Oline is knocking people back consistently you win, if the Oline are getting knocked back, your going to lose. The only variable is turnovers.’
And not a single mention of DEFENSE August. Tisk, tisk.
?? Did you notice “If the oline gets knocked back” – a reference to a DEFENSE.
You either push them out of the way with your Oline and you run and throw, or the defense knocks the Oline back and stops the run and the pass, playing meet me at the QB The only variable is turnovers happening.
September 10th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
August 1976 Buc … ‘?? Did you notice “If the oline gets knocked back” – a reference to a DEFENSE.’
Ya but it was THE OTHER GUY’S DEFENSE. I’m confident that everyone (but Joe probably) will readily admit that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Well, and maybe the Baker Bois. That’d be counter-productive.
September 10th, 2026 at 8:21 pm
Stevie V Wonder:
Thanks for the kind guidance. I’m all in on every Buc staying healthy and yes, I could have been more concise. Forgive me I’m excited. I spared y’all the tangent on Leftwich and duo concepts.
Long story short version: OL is Bucs’ strength. What is the strength’s strongest suit? Coen got almost 30 ppg because he abided the GM’s blueprint and gave up trying to play Tokyo drift with the top-end excavators Licht handed him. I hope Robinson does the same except for when the Bucs face dynamic defenses that will eat that old school approach up.
I know where I am but I won’t comment ignorantly. If I could clarify for you I am happy to do so but I’ve had enough of the “‘round here we don’t use our brains cuz it hurts” BS
September 10th, 2026 at 8:36 pm
3 years on the contract is enough
September 10th, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Hodad … ‘Still wish the Bucs had that power back.’
Agree with that 100% Hodad. One player I really liked (and who was available) is AJ Dillon. Not the kind of player who’ll break tackles & go for 50 or 60 yds, but he is a bruiser at 6′ & 247 lbs, same as A-Train).
Unfortunately he’s now wearing Panther colors.
September 10th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
9ers rams ain’t shi+
September 10th, 2026 at 9:20 pm
Purdy ain’t shi+
September 10th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Baker got dis!….Garrett? Can I get a tackle??
September 10th, 2026 at 9:27 pm
Stafford ain’t shi+
September 10th, 2026 at 10:15 pm
Evens,with the 3rd down blueprint. HINT HINT Hurst !!
September 10th, 2026 at 10:34 pm
On the topic of beefy back the Bucs could use: I raise my goblet to Ernest Graham. That dude lived on the injury report but never missed a block let alone a game- the definition of a bruiser. He overcame the Gator curse and became a guy who belongs in this league in the midst of the Bucs darker years.
If he came along !0 years later than he did he’d be a little more known. He was Kenny Gainwell plus 25-30 lbs, His son is a Gator LB I wouldn’t mind giving a look as a UDFA.
September 10th, 2026 at 10:50 pm
Mike Washington went to the Raiders but he was my hope for that element the Bucs backfield is missing. Jaunty isn’t Kubiak’s guy so I expect big things from the dude who has a lot in common with a guy from the Raiders’ past named Darren McFadden. Check out McFadden and Washington’s combine numbers. Same height, weight, 40 and long jump- from Arkansas- I see what they did there.