Rookie Wall Is Different In Tampa
July 6th, 2025
The Bucs are not like other teams.
Not only does Tampa Bay give rookies significant playing time under Todd Bowles, the team steadily has quality rookies, guys relied upon heavily.
And that means a relatively high percentage of key players slamming into the heralded “rookie wall.”
Look at last year, Graham Barton, Tykee Smith, Jalen McMillan and Bucky Irving all got a lot of playing time and Joe would argue all but Irving hit the rookie wall.
Five rookies were relied on heavily in 2023, including starting right guard Cody Mauch, who recently told the Beyond The Spolight podcast that he hit a rookie wall that season.
Could this phenomenon be a significant part of why the Bucs’ have endured midseason nosedives the past two years?
Joe’s not sure, but with the Bucs playing so many rookies, the rookie wall sure seems like something Bucs leadership must account for in a serious manner.
Perhaps the good news is the Bucs, as of today, are not built to rely on rookies this season as much as in past years.
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July 6th, 2025 at 9:02 am
I think it’s a combination of things that causes the mid season slumps. It could be the rookies adjusting to the NFL, and the team injuries.
July 6th, 2025 at 9:20 am
Coaching matters.
July 6th, 2025 at 9:47 am
Injuries were also an issue mid season last year
July 6th, 2025 at 9:51 am
I think it is more like speed bumps…because they always manage to push through it and reach a new level.
July 6th, 2025 at 9:56 am
They constantly play in ultra-high temperatures which causes dehydration followed by pulled hamstrings and muscles. They should bring in an expert to try to figure out how to handle it better.
July 6th, 2025 at 9:56 am
Many of the ‘good’ rookies who have contributed for the Bucs over the last few years seem to have improved by the end of their first season – which is kind of opposite to the idea of a “rookie wall”.
I think of the “rookie wall” phenomenon as that of a first year guy playing reasonably well the first 10-12 games and then seeming to run out of steam in December – because their bodies aren’t used to playing 17+ games without a significant break…..
Jalen McMillan for instance was just getting going about that time last year (after finally getting fully healthy from a hamstring injury he had mid-season) – and reeled off 7 TDs in 5 games to finish the season…. no rookie wall there…
July 6th, 2025 at 9:57 am
At least the bye week is at a good spot this year…
July 6th, 2025 at 11:33 am
Didn’t the slumps the last two years occur in the second quarter of the season?
Seems to me we got off to a fast start, 3-2, 4-1 and then got the big head ….
July 6th, 2025 at 11:38 am
Mid season slump was due to strength of schedule and injuries. We were playing out toughest competition during those stretches and ran into major injuries at the same time. Hooe to hell we can avoid the injury bug this year.
July 6th, 2025 at 11:43 am
Be two rookies starting in the secondary, Morrison, and Parrish. Egbuka most likely starts for Godwin also. That’s our first 3 picks contributing right away.
July 6th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Dean still hits the rookie wall every year.
July 6th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
Bucky had a bad hip, back, foot/toe and some other things down the stretch. May not have hit the wall and stopped, but he def had some of the dings and dents of going through a wall. Can’t remember which week, but I remember one game at the end of the season where he was ruled out. Might’ve been the Raider game
July 6th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Careful factoring injuries into the equation guys. There are those among us who think a good enough coach is unaffected by injuries to his players or somehow coaches around that issue.
And that if we say injuries is part of the reason we’re making excuses.
July 6th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
McMillian was playing his best ball of the season at the end of the year last year, not sure why he’d be considered hitting the wall. Barton was also playing excellent at the end of the year as he was getting much more comfortable with the system and knowing what he should be doing. I’m not sure I agree with this analysis at all.
Cody was also playing his best ball of the year at the end of 2023, but it was really really evident that he had to get stronger. For Barton, I don’t really see his playing strength as being an issue and I didn’t think he wore down a ton – I’m sure he did but that happens to everyone over a long NFL season.
One guy who does need to get a lot stronger is McMillan – and I have a feeling he’s going to put on a little muscle this offseason, in particular after being in a locker room with Godwin and Evans.
July 6th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Braswell? A lot of defensive injuries yet this guy rarely played. Need to find out about him soon.
July 6th, 2025 at 10:00 pm
I think it just has to do with the individual and their process from end of college season through NFL training camp. Some of those guys push hard all offseason and simply run outta gas… as much mentally as physically.
Guys, like Egbuka I assume, who seem to be pros already and maybe didn’t grind hard to be a day 2 pick or grind all summer to try and make the team are prolly gonna be fine and not hit a wall.
Guys going hard and showing work ethic is obviously great but there’s a lot of ball and a lot of pressure… some guys handle it and some don’t. Again, I think it’s a mental thing mostly. Gotta really love football.
Theoretically, our top 3 picks should be fine because of their position. WR and CB don’t have to be in battles/taking constant contact and if we stay healthy they shouldn’t need 95-100% of the reps week in and week out.
July 6th, 2025 at 10:47 pm
It’s pretty funny that Simple Jack drools incognito on JBF.
July 7th, 2025 at 1:38 am
Jmarkbuc Says:
“Seems to me we got off to a fast start, 3-2, 4-1”
I wouldn’t say 3-2 is a fast start at all.
July 7th, 2025 at 10:21 am
Bonzai. Just rechecked
It was 4-1, 3-1.
July 7th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
excellent article. good comments also. jbf at near best.
no matter what, its a risk factor, and some mitigation has to be a goal