Todd Bowles: Coaching Beginning To Figure Out How To Use The Offensive Line
November 2nd, 2026
Right tackle Luke Goedeke.
Back when almost everyone was stomping their feet about the Bucs’ offensive line, Joe had a hunch that Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson either wasn’t using them right or had them in a wrong scheme.
Joe couldn’t see how five guys, who previously had been a top-three offensive line, suddenly forgot how to block all at the same time.
Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences in football.
A week ago in Carolina, the Bucs’ offensive line had a breakout party. Yesterday, it was a mosh pit.
The Bucs simply owned the Dixie Chicks defense. It was maybe the most dominating performance Joe has ever seen a Bucs offensive line have. Some 56 carries and 324 yards later, Atlanta was crying for their mothers and praying for the game to end. It was beautiful.
After the game, it seemed KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles sort of confirmed Joe’s belief that the Bucs’ offensive line wasn’t being used right.
“I think we’re figuring it out,” Bowles said of the front line of the Bucs. “You know, the coaches are figuring out the players and what they can and can’t do, what runs they like and don’t like, things like that.
“They’re really starting to gel.”
Joe doesn’t know why this would be a surprise to coaches. Don’t they watch tape? Or, were theyt convinced they had it all figured out when they first walked into One Buc Palace last winter?
Joe has learned long ago never to underestimate egos in the NFL.
And why did it take five games to figure it out? The season was damn near lost!
Welcome back, Bucs offensive line!
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:07 am
It has been obvious since the Dallas game in 2024 that this was the winning formula for the Bucs.
Hopefully, the Bucs stick with it.
Plays like the designed run for Baker on 2nd and 6 that went for a first down and the toss to Bucky that should have been a TD as well as the precision blocking planning and execution on Bucky’s TD run are all key elements to make the run game effective.
And, making the run game effective sets up opportunities for knock out shots like the back shoulder pass that Hurst did not hold on to.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:10 am
Better late than never. Just curious though, Carberry has been with this O line for years. How does our tenured O line coach not know this already?
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:11 am
And throw the TE’s in there too. Not sure why people criticize Cade for his blocking. Watch the last 2 weeks, he has dominated . Payne is like another offensive tackle but who can climb to the second level and pick off LBs. Watch his backside seal blocking. And Bauer was crushing people in motion blocks the way Payne and Cade did last week. When we run 12 and 13 we can be hard to stop.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:18 am
“Joe has learned long ago never to underestimate egos in the NFL.”
Especially on the coaching side
“Watch the last 2 weeks, he has dominated . Payne is like another offensive tackle but who can climb to the second level and pick off LBs. Watch his backside seal blocking.”
yup, yup agreed with all of this and them some.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:20 am
Joe … ‘And why did it take five games to figure it out? The season was damn near lost! Welcome back, Bucs offensive line!’
There have been several articles written about how rushing THIS MUCH simply isn’t sustainable anymore over a full NFL season. The primary reason we’ve gotten away with it in our 3 wins is because of OUR DEFENSE. Against the Cowboys we pulled ahead 14-10 early in the 3rd qtr & never relinquished the lead after that. Against the Panthers we were up 33-6 at the half, and against the Falcons we were up 9-0 at the half.
Point being: We didn’t have to ‘play from behind’ which almost always means resorting to the pass to score points quicker. We haven’t had to rely on our QBs’ passing to get us back in the games. And that’s HUGE when your QB has a broken thumb and the other is an undrafted rookie.
We’ve found a formula that wins pretty much with a QB just ‘handing off’. And that just might work UNTIL we have to play from behind and resort to our QB’s arm to get us back in the ballgame. Our Passing Game currently ranks #32 in the NFL, having only scored 6 TDs in 8 games. With 9 games left, we’ll probably have to go 6-3 to win the division. Not much room for error, and we’ll almost surely need that Passing Game to improve considerably to make it.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:21 am
Bowles has proven that he is slow to adapt. That explains why it took five games to get it done. And honestly I’m surprised that it was corrected that quickly.
And yes, Bowles does go into camp thinking he has it all figured out. Think of Bucky and Zyom being named the starters before camp even started last year Then as the year rolls by it’s clear too anyone paying attention that there are players performing better but we stick with status quo.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:26 am
The Bucs have figured out their running game. Now that they won a game running in a Monson rain event, Robinson needs to figure out a scheme for their passing game. If he can figure a great passing scheme, this team can be a legitimate playoff contender. If he can figure it out, look out NFL because you haven’t seen anything yet.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:26 am
Bowles opens his mouth and removes all doubt of his low IQ.
I can’t be excited about 3-5. That’s beyond pathetic. We should be looking to trade players. Instead we’re playing in the toilet bowl.
Beating division opponents is always good, don’t get me wrong.
But until we are .500 and better I’ll continue to point out the glaring shortcomings of this regime.
Good teams don’t start 0-4 and go 1-4 at home.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:29 am
This is what happens when you get a new OC and system EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. I’m hoping Zac works out, and if Todd IS canned, we force the new HC to keep him
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:31 am
Let’s not let nostalgia bias make us ignore that Liam Coen took a month or so before the same OL started clicking. New scheme, it takes a bit. Same thing happens all over the league every year.
The biggest reason for the negativity right now is we didn’t figure out some way, any way to win one of those first four games. How different would we be thinking about life right now if Hurst had caught that TD against Cleveland (or any woulda could the first month)
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:34 am
DR is correct. Nobody is happier than me to see the defense stepping up the way many of us hoped it would this season. Yes Joe, I said hope. Hope like wishing for a bicycle on your birthday not hope like finding a pirate chest in the back yard of a subdivision. However, as thrilled as I am with the defense, the special teams, and the OL, the Bucs simply have to get the passing game on board. There will be a day that it’s needed. Simply too much receiving talent to let it go to waste. The Steelers of the 70’s were simply awesome to watch. Franco and the defense. Amazing! But they don’t win four rings without Swann and Stallworth. In fact, I even think that Baker compares favorably to Bradshaw. Neither of them were ever considered the top tier of their peer group but did they help their teams win? Baker has time left to create this narrative.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:39 am
Lets see them pass pro when Baker starts throwing the ball.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:45 am
It’s not about the first four games or the last two.
It’s about the Bears.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:55 am
It’s not as if the Bucs can’t pass the ball. Look at the previous years. Hurst has dropped several TD passes. Otton has dropped easy passes. So have others. Baker has a dislocated thumb.
Just as they found their running game, they can find their passing game.
But they cannot start acting like Billy Badass because of 3 wins.
November 2nd, 2026 at 10:27 am
Moronic coaching.
Why did it take 5 weeks? Isn’t Carberry there? Dont they have tape from 2024 with Coen to self scout?
Let’s see the pass pro in the next couple weeks.
Robinson better be working on some good play action for explosives cause Bucs will need them to keep winning.
November 2nd, 2026 at 11:01 am
If you win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, you usually win.
Sometimes football is really simple. Not easy, but simple. Just saying.
November 2nd, 2026 at 11:01 am
If the coaches are just now starting to figure out how to best use their players, then that just goes to show that practice is meaningless. If practice was actually more challenging, rather than simply going through the motions, then you would think the coaches would have a good idea at the start of the season how to best use their players. The Bucs shouldn’t be using the “build the plane while flying it approach” to development.
November 2nd, 2026 at 11:40 am
Run in the rain each week? Gotta be able to pass block too.
November 2nd, 2026 at 11:44 am
The Bears are a good and well coached team.
This is a real test!
Unlike the dumpster diving we have been doing within division.
We are the prettiest turd in bowl right now.
I like the style and the win. But the sample size is so small how can you make a judgement. These coaches scare me and I still think change is needed unless you make it to the NFC Championship game. If TB and staff do that then I believe the bought another season.
Begrudgingly!
November 2nd, 2026 at 12:10 pm
@ DR
Yes, the proof is out there.
But …
The one thing that stays the same about the NFL is that it always changes.
What wouldn’t work does work. What did work doesn’t work anymore.
In the first six games, the Bucs racked up a 1-5 record passing 252 times and running 161 times – 61% passes and 39% runs; the 2025 NFL average was 55% passes and 45% runs.
In wins the last two weeks, the Bucs won passing 14 times and running 105 times – 13% passes and 87% runs.
For 2026, per Sumer Sports, the Bucs are tied at 27th in EPA/play at -0.14; they are 31st in EPA per pass at -.28; they have the 2nd highest scramble rate at 10.12%; and they have the 4th highest interception rate at 3.37%. When the Bucs pass, they literally have been going backwards on average in terms of winning games.
Is it probable that the Bucs can keep winning running on 95% of plays on offense as they did against the Falcons. I doubt it, and I am sure that it is not the most efficient way to run the offense.
But, can the Bucs continue to win and be efficient with something approaching an 82% run rate as they did against the Panthers?
Against the Panthers, the Bucs had their third best game for yards per pass attempt at 7.6; the Bucs best yards per pass game came against the Cowboys when they ran on 61% of plays.
And, against the Panthers, the Bucs had their second best passer rating at 109.7 vs the 110.2 passer rating they had against the Cowboys when they ran on 61% of plays.
Last season, the team with the highest run rate was the Ravens with 54.7%
The Bucs need to Boldly Go where they have demonstrated that This Bucs Team can Win! That place is a run rate of 61% and points north.
No other team is doing that?
It’s the NFL. If the Bucs continue to lead the way, the imitators will be thick as flies.
But, that doesn’t mean that the imitators have the personnel to make it work.
The Bucs have found what their personnel can do well. Pray that everybody gets the Hell out of their way and lets them do it! 🙂
November 2nd, 2026 at 12:52 pm
Nice, toopanca.
November 2nd, 2026 at 12:56 pm
toopanca … ‘Is it probable that the Bucs can keep winning running on 95% of plays on offense as they did against the Falcons. I doubt it, and I am sure that it is not the most efficient way to run the offense. But, can the Bucs continue to win and be efficient with something approaching an 82% run rate as they did against the Panthers?’
Fascinating question toopanca, but I always favor the answer ‘It depends’. In yesterday’s conditions against yesterday’s opponent with yesterday’s Bucs offense, we got away with running the ball 56-out-of-60 plays . Had yesterday been a bright sunny day and say Goedeke & Gainwell hadn’t made it back (they both were injured earlier), would the result have been the same? Would Atlanta’s passing game have been more effective? Too many What Ifs to really come to any reasonable conclusions.
Going forward though, I’m convinced that our best chance of winning the division & thus making the playoffs lie with (1) our defense; and (2) our running game. However, JUST THOSE TWO (like yesterday) won’t get us into the playoffs IMO. We HAVE TO develop some semblance of a Passing Game, just to keep opposing defenses honest. There’ll be games when we’ll need it, because few teams go thru the whole season ALWAYS ‘PLAYING FROM AHEAD’.
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:01 pm
@toopanca
That was well said. I’m curious if you can put together our pass vs drop win/loss rate.
I’m emphasizing and investigating our serious lack of receiver talent that “I believe” we are severely lacking talent in and working on predictions of whom we might target in the draft. I just don’t have the time or means and was hoping someone could check it out. It will likely make clear why we’re leaning so heavily on the run game (besides the fact that it’s Bowles ultimate game plan coming to fruition) . I’ve never seen so many dropped balls in modern times. I’m mostly curios about the win/loss rate of completions vs drops. And any other tidbits would be appreciated from anybody that notices this post..
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:06 pm
@toopanca
Btw, I only meant for the Bucs. I can see where it might seem I was looking for more..
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:08 pm
I did point out earlier this year that it took Coen a few games to get the line playing well.
Also I pointed out that most of the issues that people claimed were the line, were not the line, it was the RB’s and TE’s completely blowing blocks. Not saying there weren’t any issues on the line, but it wasn’t them getting beat, it was them not being in the correct place. When teams didn’t blitz, the line wasn’t having a hard time blocking – but when they did blitz, RBs and TEs were getting ran over, and the blocking handoffs in the line were not being communicated correctly. It’s almost like maybe you should play guys in the preseason when there is a new scheme so they get a chance to learn the system and play together.
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
@DR
Of course you’re right. There’s “almost” no way (likely not) that we can win by that high of a run/pass percentage. HIGHLY unlikely.
Eventually “someone Will” shut us down in that department and the passing game Will Be critical to win at least some of the games we’d have to win in order to go far this year.
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Didn’t this same exact situation occur when Coen was OC? Did know one remember?
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:48 pm
Run,pass,pass run!..Who cares,when the D is lights out its all good!!
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Going have to start passing real soon here. Emeka needs to get back. Hurst dam it catch the frickin ball man!!!!! These wideouts aren’t being used right! Evans helped a lot but there is still talent out there. Hurst been a big disappointment know he’s a rookie but catching the ball is not part of being a rookie.
November 2nd, 2026 at 2:15 pm
“I’m emphasizing and investigating our serious lack of receiver talent that “I believe” we are severely lacking talent in and working on predictions of whom we might target in the draft.”
Our problems in the pass game have been scheme and QB play, anybody thinking we are or have been anything close to squeezing the potential out of the available talent in the WR room is sorely mistaken.
As of right now, having thrown 90% of his non-screen routes and is currently ranked 8th in avg separation when running those non-screen routes. Chris has 2 drops, Egbuka has 1, Hurst is credited with 1 drop and Tez has 1. That’s all 5 drops from the WR room. RBs & TEs have the other 4