The Cardinals’ “Lost Cause” Offensive Line
November 28th, 2025
Can the Bucs take advantage?
The schedule gives the Bucs an early holiday gift Sunday when the Cardinals come to town.
They’ve lost eight of their last nine games and, apparently, have an offensive line that’s comparitively as bad or worse than the Bucs’ edge rush.
Joe listened to 98.7 FM sports radio in Phoenix and was intrigued by a segment exploring whether the Cardinals’ offensive line is a “lost cause.”
These weren’t a couple of slappies taking on the subject. Former Cardinals fullback Ron Wolfley, the four-time Pro Bowler, was in on the subject. Joe learned a lot about the all-encompassign misery in Arizona when it comes to run blocking and pass blocking.
Then there was another show featuring former Bucs center and assistant coach A.Q. Shipley, who lives in Arizona and is seen often on The Pat McAfee Show. He’s got a weekly spot on the station and said of the Cardinals’ O-line, “It’s tough to watch.”
And Shipley doesn’t want to hear things were better before top running backs James Conner and Trey Benson were lost to injury. Shipley said that’s not really an accurate assertion.
“Every time I turn on the film, it’s literally every single guy [on the offensive line] has some mistake or two during the game, whether it’s getting caught on an edge or maybe going to the wrong [defender]. It’s a multitude of things,” Shipley said. “And I’m not sure where to even start. … It’s communication. It’s fundamentals. It’s technique. It’s all of the above when you watch it. And, let’s also not forget when you can’t run it, it only makes your job pass protecting that much harder.”
Yes, the Cardinals have shown a lot of fight — their last three losses (games) have been of the walk-off variety — but they’re also a team with more holes than the Buccaneers.
Man, if the Bucs lose this game … It can’t happen.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Bucs generate one sack. That’s it. The Bucs D has no closers on it. Zero.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
.5 sacks is good enough to win this game jeff
November 28th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
A.Q. saw some playing time on the O-line during our recent SuperBowl season, as I recall.
I also distinctly remember Bruce Arians speaking highly of him during press conference after the games he played in.
fter A.Q.’s neck injury, Arians specifically said he thought Shipley would make a very good coach.
Translation: Excellent reporting and background work, Joe!
Monitoring the local media that covers the competion in their home market is time consuming extra work. And it wasn’t know-nothing national media bloated talking heads.
Wolfley and Shipley both speak from experience and know what they’re talking about.
If our defense does a halfway credible job on Sunday, we should have no trouble chalking up a “W”.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
I remember BA all but crying when it happened
November 28th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
Well, that clinches it. The Bucs’ will lose the battle in the trenches. Whenever, Joe identifies a weakness in our opponent, that’s where I immediately focus my attention. We either won’t exploit their weakness or their weakness magically becomes their strength in the game. Zero sacks!
November 28th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
And despite this with no running game, Harrison Jr has been hurt/not playing/not meeting expectations, journeyman Brissett is STILL balling. They scoring 20 plus, moving the ball, throwing for 250-300 a game and completing 65-70% of his passes. See how worthless stats can be? Any experienced veteran will get some stats if they throw the ball 30-40 times a game. Brady last year here the thrw for 4700 yards,26td/9int and he was WASHED. “
November 28th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
The bucs have scored 259 points this year and given up 284 points. The cards have scored 248 points and given up 283 points. Either the cards are a really good bad team or we are a really bad good team.
November 28th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
I have no faith that this defense will be able to exploit the offensive line weakness at all, mainly because of the choaches schemes.
November 28th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
If their OL is truly screwing up assignments vs. just being out-talented I can see Todd throwing a lot of DB blitzes at them to see if they can manage it
November 28th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
Don’t discount the Cardinals as if they are a garbage team. They played a tough schedule and held some of the better teams in the league to within a field goal. 6 possibly 7 of their games have been against playoff teams.
November 28th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
the cards don’t even try to run it so the defense can just rush the qb every time, which bucs team is going to show up? the one that beat the texans or lost to the rams?
November 28th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
This pass rush is non existent again. Defense is not good. Defense play caller guru is garbage. Special teams is garbage. Getting the offense healthy by the end of the season is only hoping they can score 40 a week to offset the 35 given up. Bowles only has a job yet thanks to a bottom dwelling division that the bucs eek by and win.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Hopefully the defense gets better this week? Even the Eagles defense looks bad at times. Like today against the Bears. They are getting chewed up on the run by Da Bears so far today. Think the Bucs will end up with 4 sacks on Sunday. I am trying to be optimistic. lol.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
Bucs can easily lose this game. What if they put Blooper in at QB?
November 28th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Oh yes the way the Bucs are playing they could easily lose this game. Say want you want about Ariz, but they have played much better in recent weeks and have played a pretty tough schedule. They are better with Brisett. I see this game as pretty close and Ariz has a decent chance of winning. It is sad to say but true, I just don’t think the Bucs have any heart and still to many players missing. All the pressure is on the Bucs. Needless to say the Bucs lose this week and they will pack it in. Yes I guess you could say they did that last week. Well if they lose this game the fans surely will.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
jealous of bears having ben johnson
November 28th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
unfortunately the film is out on this defense, all you have to do is double team Vita and no one else can hurt you. Watch the Rams game film and you will understand what I am talking about
November 28th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
Having that sinking feeling Brissett is going to have a career day.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Meaning we can expect to see our edge rushers celebrating as if they dominate the league. They need that mediocre talent on the other side of the ball to look good
November 28th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Hate to tell you this Joe, But our Bucs can lose this game if we do not get pressure on Brissett. He is a savvy vet who completes passes given time. They have lost 4 games this season by 3 or less. This will be no cake walk. I hope our Bucs are truly ready. Cardinals play hard.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Eagles offense looks just like Bucs, AJ td aside
November 28th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
I’m sure at the end of this game Arizona will be talking about how their offensive line has turned it around and how dominate they were against the Bucs. I’m sure the media in Arizona will say that the Cardinals o line was so good that the Bucs gave up rushing the QB and dropped their line into pass coverage. They’ll also say1 or 2 of the Arizona lineman looked like all pros!
November 28th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Ask the Ravens how to deal with a 4-8 team? Any team in the NFL can win on any given Sunday. The Bucs are not going to make the same mistake. If they do, heads will roll. (Just my opinion) I still say the Bucs are going to make the playoffs and then advance to the Super Bowl. Keeping it real in Ireland.
November 28th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Cardinals took the Jaguars to OT. They lost by 3 points. Totally believe they can rip our defense a new one.
November 28th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Lol we are the worst coached team in the league and you say cardinals OL. Lol
November 28th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
If this team loses to Arizona, we’re looking at a potential Raheem/Schiano style collapse down the line. That would give the Glazers no choice but to make a change. The only question then is how much infection they cut out.
November 28th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Eagles fans booing there team at home an 8-3 team defending superbowl champs atm number 2 seed in the nfc ? And i thought our fans were a bunch of negative nancys on here
November 28th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Seems like most posters here haven’t figured it out. If Dean is playing, we’re about to shut down the Cards and look like a 5-1 football team again. Tykee Smith, Lavonte, and some of these guys will run some creative stunts and get after Brissett. They’ll look great. If Dean isn’t playing, Brissett will probably throw for 375/3td and we’ll lose if Baker isn’t playing. Might still lose if he plays and Grizzard has his thumb up his a$$. So, really, the Bucs are a playoff team this year (and a damn good one) depending on two guys; & it all comes down to Jamel Dean & Josh Grizzard.
….Why aren’t we paying Dean again?
November 28th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Bucs ar home are a meager 2.5 point favorite. The money suggests these two teams are evenly matched.
November 28th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Bucs 95
There is nothing wrong with fans being negative when the team is bad. You’re just focusing on the Eagles and not the Bears. The Bears improvement after a coaching change is obvious.
November 28th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
wonder of anyone in bucs organization even considered ben johnson or even coen last season
November 28th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
Some of you act like the Cardinals are an easy win.
They lost to Jacksonville by 4 last week and lost to the Packers by the same margin. Oh, and by the way, they beat the Cowboys.
Think we could beat the Cowboys the way we’ve been playing these past few weeks? Take away those three early season miracle wins and we are in the same boat as Arizona.
Unless you play against the Bucs defense as of late, there are few easy wins in the NFL.
I want Bowles outta here and want the Bucs to win every game.
Is it possible for both those things to happen? I think not.
Seem to be in a quagmire with no exits.
November 28th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Who is saying they’re an easy win? All I see are a bunch of crying postings about how terrifying a backup journeyman is and how this team is so bad the Raiders would mop the floor with us.
Sorry, yes I know the last game was horrendous and about every aspect of it was poor. But it would be nice to know if the people posting apoplectic things aren’t hoping it comes true just so they can say they’re right.
November 28th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
Bucs need to play serious and focus on every play. Nothing should be taken for granted. We really need a win here.
November 28th, 2025 at 6:50 pm
Don’t want to hear it.
Show me the Dline can get there.
Harrison n McBride bout to go off on radios defense
November 28th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Translation
Absent a few calls from the refs the cards probably right there with the Colts and Patriots. No reason to think our defensive front 6 will look any better than the last few weeks.
Jason has done very well but the reddick gamble was were some overdue bad luck and his one weakness hit.
Hard to expect better days, demolition will only make other areas worse while this weakness stays the same no matter what we do
November 28th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
I am born an raised in Tampa 1948. This accent is really not local. More like New Yawk or Joisey.
November 28th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Some people have been doing nothing but talking about how much easier our schedule gets after the Rams. I myself see nothing easy about anything the way this defense is coughing up points and playing like a JV unit. Along with ST.
November 28th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
JUST the defense and ST??? The 21st ranked offense is FiNE?
November 28th, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Bucs will not take advantage, loss coming up.
November 28th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Those mid season trades really working out for the Eagles hahahah
November 28th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
this is a real opportunity to have a “get right” game…
not a squeak out a win game, but a game to get back on track with a sold performance leading to a win…and then maybe a thrashing of the next 2 opponents at home…
a reset game…
a get right game…
it’s so needed if they’re going to re-establish a playoff bound mindset
November 28th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
In the Cardinals locker room the talk this week has been. The Bucs are down for us it’s a statement game. It’s our best chance to right the ship. I fear Todd will under prepared his team as usual to not lose instead of going out and stomping them. So the Bucs come out flat, the cardinals make it a game. The game decided late with Bridgewater throwing interception.
November 28th, 2025 at 10:27 pm
What is our greatest weakness, and has been for years? the D line. That should be the #1 focus in the off-season. Something we didn’t address until round 4 in the draft and brought in only Reddick. That can’t happen again.
November 28th, 2025 at 10:48 pm
Bosch, I have just noticed an interesting trend; yesterday the Bucs were a 2.5 point fave and the moneyline was -140/-145 Tampa. However I just checked the Vegas odds and the line is now Bucs -3.5 or 4.0 depending on the sportsbook and the moneyline has swollen to -190. This could mean money is going on Tampa and the books are trying to get coin on AZ or they could be setting up a trap bet of some sort. Of course, this does not mean a thing, just that national betters look to be putting coin on the Bucs for whatever reason. Usually the wise guys in Vegas do not go through a number like -3 without a reason and now they have done it twice, last Monday when everyone thought Baaker was out and now today. The winner on Sunday will be the sportsbooks, Bucs win and Bowles gets a reprieve, Bucs lose and we just begin to read blogs about who the Bucs will draft next April and praying that Bowles gets launched.
November 29th, 2025 at 5:20 am
Having Reddick back will be huge. Our pressure rate has gone down since he was out. And Dean back will help too.