Cody Mauch & The Beer Test
May 18th, 2025
Much has been said about the uniquely elite level of camaraderie within the Bucs’ locker room.
Joe cannot verify much of it, but the locker room certainly is a closer more united group of men than Joe has seen in past eras of Bucs football — from the Gruden years to end of the Bucco Bruce Arians reign.
So what does that really mean?
Well, one would think it translates to better performance, guys playing smarter and harder for each other with improved communication.
Starting right guard Cody Mauch tried to put a finger on it recently during a chat with Rondé Barber for WFLA-TV (Joe saw it in a YouTube short).
“You just look at what our locker room is, like the people that we have in there, you can definitely tell that they’re drafting a certain type of person,” Mauch said. “We have a great locker room. There’s anyone in that locker room you can sit down with and really just hang out with and drink beers for a couple of hours. Like, that’s the kind of locker room you want. Just great people.”
Ahhhh, the beer test; it has its place in life. Could I kill three Red Stripe bottles with this dude for 2 hours?
Now the Bucs must take all of that love and harmony and turn it into the “killer instinct” Todd Bowles says the team collectively lacks.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:12 am
Remember when George W Bush kept winning those elections and people were attributing to the fact, he’s the kind of guy you’d like to have a beer with.
Can’t say that I voted for him but I definitely wouldn’t mind having a beer with W.
Whatever you might think of his politics he seems like a pretty cool guy.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Yup, bunch of GRRREAT guys. But folks shouyldn’t overlook the fact that their TALENT LEVEL is incredibly high too.
o Wirfs: Rnd 1 pick for a reason … 6’5″ & 320 lbs (at least)
o Barton: Rnd 1 pick for a reason … 6’5″ & 314 lbs
o Goedeke: Rnd 2 pick for a reason … 6’5″ & 312 lbs
o Mauch: Rnd 2 pick for a reason … 6’6″ & 303 lbs (at least)
o Bredeson: Rnd 4 pick but solid … 6’5″ & 315 lbs.
All of them are not just tall & big, but also fast & strong like bull. Smart move on Baker’s part to keep them well fed.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:33 am
Cody could probably knock down 6 Red Stripes in an hour and still pass a sobriety test lol
May 18th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
I hope Brederson comes back stronger and bigger.
If he can improve his game, our entire offense will improve.
He was the matador way too many times last year.
Mauch also.
Bucky juked a lot of tacklers IN THE BACKFIELD
and
Baker avoided a lot of sacks with his own jukes.
Our interior offensive line needs to step up.
May 18th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Attitude reflects leadership. Bowles has no killer instinct.
His instinct is to turtle in big moments then make excuses for his decisions.
That’s part of the “epiphany” about the need to score more points.
What he “found” watching the tape of the defense was that he sucks and needs an offense to outscore his Swiss Cheese pass defense.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Fire Bowles now!!!
May 18th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
“Stupid is as stupid does.”
Nothing like being self aware!
May 18th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
if the group stays relatively healthy, and the defensive patchwork is effective, we just might be looking at a special season
May 18th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Teacherman, of course the interior was weaker last year. We had a rookie at center who was pretty new to the position. He’s going to improve a bunch this year.
May 18th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
Well said at the end there Joe. Let’s be a team of tight knit killers.
I think we can look to the C position as a huge reason we will have a leg up on ATL. Barton should be much improved and I don’t even know who the Falcons replaced Dalman with.
May 18th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
Remember the other team gets paid too
May 18th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Ban trolls now!!!
May 18th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
When y’all can run a team better than Bowles, then I’ll accept your fire him now platitudes. Until then, put up or shut up. He is our head coach. Has a better record than your old time favorites. Obviously not a Bucs fan from way back in 1976. Y’all tend to forget how much we stunk in the early days. I don’t. We have a great team capable of going to the Bowl if we can keep the injuries to a minimum this year. Nuff said.
May 18th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Joe! Something says, if you give these boys two hours there gonna kill a lot more than two Red Stripes each! LOL.
May 18th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
*three each
May 18th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Um…
Todd Bowles has a losing record as a HC/DC 50/50 hybrid with two NFL franchises. Other teams are devoting 180 hours a week to the two positions. If our dual hatter is Superman, he’s doing 100 a week on the two positions.
This is a fatal flaw and explains most deficiencies we’ve grown tired of seeing, melting snowflakes excepted.
May 18th, 2025 at 4:12 pm
Cody is a fine young man and a great example of the kind of player the Bucs look to draft.
On the field, he’s steadily improved each year.
Off the field, he spends time in his home town organizing and sponsoring youth sports camps.
It’s easy to respect a guy who comes from a small town in the middle of nowhere, makes good but hasn’t forgotten his roots.
May 18th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
I can attest to them swiggling down beers together as Cody, Luke , Graham and their girlfriends were on the Bucs Cruise. A bunch of good guys !!!
May 18th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
And don’t forget Opeta is back this year. From what I remember he was ahead of Bredeson before getting hurt.
I know he’s recovering, but it makes the depth that much better.
May 18th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
What a luxury to have a solid as hell unit @ O-Line.
One of many things to grateful for as Bucs fan.
Jason and Todd have done a helluva job.
Bringing Carberry over was another great move.
May 18th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
I forgot about Opera. He will have had almost a full year to recover but the time training camp rolls around. I’d bet he could be ready for OTAs as well. There’s no hitting after all..
May 18th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
WeakSecondary Says:
Stupid is as stupid does.
Fire Bowles now!!!
——————————————————————
The Bucs gave up an average of 22.6 points per game last season. Had they given up one less point per game they’d of been in the Top 10 in the NFL.
The season before – if the Bucs defense gave up 1 point less per game on the average they’d be tied for 10th place in the NFL.
In 2022, they were in 8th place in the NFL, just 2 points per game on the average more than the 1st Place Bronco’s.
May 18th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
@BucsFanSince1996
Interesting stats 👍🏼
May 18th, 2025 at 9:30 pm
Aqualung
“Todd Bowles has a losing record as a HC/DC 50/50 hybrid with two NFL franchises.”
THIS is why people view you as a pain in the arse TROLL! You can’t even get your information right and your errors and lack of context are always BIASED against.
Coach Bowles!!!
Which TWO teams are you talkng about? According to Pro Football Reference Todd’s record with the Bucs is 27-24 a .529 WINNING %. He also has a winning % in his short cup of coffee as the Dolphins head coach.
Meanwhile in a blatant display of your prejudice to go along with your ignorance the OTHER franchise you’re talking about is the Jets. You NEVER mention Todd was the ONLY NFL coach since Rex Ryan to win TEN games…that includes THREE NFL coaches since Todd.
You NEVER mention that Todds .375 % is exactly the same as Pete Carroll had with Nepo Baby Woody Johnsons horrid franchise. Or is it your contention Carroll also sucks?
Why is that Jethro? Why can’t you EVER offer a balanced opinion?
May 18th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
Everybody keeps talking about the leaky pass defense, but I guess all of those people were blind to the fact that we were playing third and fourth stingers in the secondary for about a quarter or more of the season. Who the heck is Tyrek Funderbunk? A combine hero? Josh freaking Hayes??? Washed up Jordan Whitehead? Come on people. Give us a healthy secondary last season and competent pass rush and we easily make the championship game. Remember, we were 3 points and a 4th and 2 stop away from beating Washington. Lets talk facts. Not emotion or hatred for Bowels.
May 18th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
Not to mention….3 points away from beating Washing in a game won 23-20. Pretty freaking competitive and well played. Oh, and by the way, we lost due to a crazy arse jet freaking sweep. Defense stood the heck up for most of that game!
May 18th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Joe will type once again:
“Bucs defense is HORRIBLE!”
Commandos 23, Bucs 20
“Eagles defense is AWESOME!”
Eagles 55, Commandos 23
May 18th, 2025 at 11:05 pm
@Joe…Eagles defense surrendered 23 to Washington, as did we. Horrible?
May 18th, 2025 at 11:13 pm
spbf proves pom poms for brains is a real condition.
The recent post is so ignorant of fact it can’t be responded to. Here’s a hint, simple addition, Jets + Bucs. Look it up. Or don’t, and prolong cupcake fantasies.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
Missing the point/punchline.
Some Bucs fans holler about the Bucs defense as being ghastly yet think the Eagles have a strong defense.
Which is it?
(This is *not* to excuse the Bucs for never forcing a punt against Washington, or allowing Kirk Cousins to slice the defense apart twice.)
May 19th, 2025 at 1:44 am
LOL I would love to sit down with the dudes and have a few beers! Maybe Jensen could come too? I would buy the Hooters Wings for all! Well maybe not Vea’s…
Go Bucs!