From Where Is The Pressure On Baker Mayfield Coming?
December 4th, 2025
Pressures!
Joe has been very disappointed in the Bucs’ offensive line. Then again, one could make an argument the Bucs have played well on the offensive line given all the injuries.
Toward the end of last season, Joe thought at worst the Bucs had a top-three offensive line. This year? Joe hasn’t seen enough of all other teams to guess a ranking.
But a top-three offensive line this year? No way.
In an interesting bit of research by football data analyst Anthony Reinhard, he charted pressures from every game this season.
Reinhard put this into a simple-to-read graphic to demonstrate where the pressure is coming from by offensive line position.
For example, Joe thinks All Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs is having his worst year in the NFL. That’s not to say he’s bad, but Wirfs had such a high bar; if he plays just average, he looks, by comparison, not so good.
Wirfs began the season on the sidelines recuperating from knee surgery. Since the New Orleans game, Wirfs, at times, has seemed (gasp!) mortal. The left tackle position for the Bucs has allowed pressure on some 11 percent of dropbacks. A cursory view of other teams suggests that 11 percent might be a little better than average.
Remember Graham Barton started for Wirfs at left tackle for the first three games of the season.
If the Bucs have a crack in the damn, it appears to be at left guard. That stands to reason. Between Ben Bredeson playing center in the first three games and then getting hurt after moving back to left guard, the Bucs have started backup left guards in five games.
The Bucs have played mostly with backups on the right side of the line between injuries to Cody Mauch at right guard and Luke Goedeke at right tackle. This data suggests Charlie Heck did a solid job pass blocking while filling in for Goedeke.
December 4th, 2025 at 12:31 am
Please be grateful to 6, you’d be in year 3 of a rebuild if not for him
December 4th, 2025 at 12:49 am
Pressure is comming from Todd Bowles defense being non existent.
December 4th, 2025 at 1:06 am
The guards have been a huge problem in pass pro. No doubt. I really can’t understand how Heck managed to get a second start. He looked awful. Baker has had little time to scan the field this year. If it’s not one of our dudes doing an Ole it is another. It just seems that it looks fine on one play a ridiculous on the next. Not really any one dude.
A less magically mobile QB would tell a whole different story I think. Baker is saving these dudes from some major sack numbers. “Pressures” is not a real stat to me anyway.
Go Bucs!
December 4th, 2025 at 1:36 am
The stats don’t square with Joe’s story. The LG has doing the one of the BEST statistical jobs (at least against the DT) at 8.5%.
Instead the crack in the dam looks so be blitz pickup. The backers and blitzes are getting through at a 20+% rate, nearly 1/4 of the time. And blitz pressure looks about even across the line.
Prove me wrong.
December 4th, 2025 at 3:27 am
The chart show opponents getting interior pressure with the Bucs starting RG out on IR and their starting LG just coming back from missing several games with an injury and having played other games at center. Not exactly surprising.
The thing a more complete display of factors would show is the number of pressures coming on two point tries and 3rd and 4th downs with 5 or less where the Bucs predominantly pick up the 1st down when they run the ball, predominantly fail to pick up the ball when they pass the ball, and yet overwhelmingly choose to pass the ball and fail.
A Joe reported that the Bucs recognized the Cardinals tendencies Sunday on two key stops?
Do you think that maybe other teams have recognized the Bucs tendency to pass on two point tries and 3rd and 4th downs needing 5 yards or less?
Do you think that other teams have been successful selling out to bring pressure in those highly predictable situations?
Do you think that may be a significant part of what the chart is showing?
I would like to think that there is some genius sandbagging going on here, and that the Bucs have a store of creative and deceptive run plays that they are trying to save for a playoff run.
Realistically, I fear that the OC and QB have a macho throw the ball mentality that continues to lead to poor decision making.
If the play on the field suggests that you can continue a drive with runs and short passes, specially when the defense is not getting three and outs, save the big strikes and keep burning clock time and denying the other teams offense chances to get on the field and score.
The exceptions to that are the last two minutes of a half, or when you are trailing. And, even then, keep running and dinking and dunking until you CREATE an opportunity by getting a 1st and five after a penalty or a 2nd and 5 or less.
When, you get those special opportunities, treasure them and use them with inspiration to try to create an opportunity for a shot down field. Use the “there and back again plus” motion, use play action and genuine RPO options, pull different tricks out of the bag every game.
Do not go big shot or bust. Every one of these plays should have genuine chances for a first down pickup. Only take the deep shot if it is open. If it is not open, take the yards.
A defender will eventually get emotionally tired of giving up the yards and first downs, and they will eventually get physically tired. Have the wisdom, patience and discipline on offense to only take the big shot down the field when a defender gets beat or makes an undisciplined play that leaves someone open for the big shot.
December 4th, 2025 at 5:36 am
Yep Too🤙🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I hate when it’s 3&5 teams try to take big shots down field
Get the first down.
December 4th, 2025 at 6:11 am
don’t forget all the games the smurfs could not get open
December 4th, 2025 at 6:16 am
Top 3 offensive line? Perhaps in run blocking given the stats don’t technically lie, but the pass blocking was an illusion.
I’ve been pounding on last season’s game against the Cowboys. Everyone is healthy, outside of Godwin, and Micah Parsons wasn’t going to let Coen’s gimmicky offense do its thing like we had been doing most of the season.
I just remember watching the game, and coming to the reality that this offensive line is not as good as people think. Coen had done an amazing job just keeping opposing defenses on their heels. With Bucky’s stud contributions combined that with execution of a solid screen game, and Baker’s ability to extend plays with his legs, made our Oline in pass protection look way better than it was. Dallas sniffed out everything we did well early in that game, which forced Baker to try and move the ball vertical, and he looked overwhelmed on every drop back pass.
Fast-forward to this season, it’s been all about injuries and the constant rotation at Oline, last Sunday 4 of the 5 starters back on the line against a Cardinals ok front-4, and it didn’t look good. I’m worried, Mauch is good, but not that good where he’ll fix everything when he returns.
December 4th, 2025 at 8:09 am
I can’t imagine why anyone would the the O line is good. They’ve not had any REAL time together, constantly having people on the field who shouldn’t be there. It’ll be good again next August
December 4th, 2025 at 9:15 am
bredenson is just like hainsey….
smart, intelligent, scrappy with great technique but no lower strength or power….
we need a true mauler and a true Guard….licht needs to be taking a look at Josh Braun OG 6’6 340…
GO BUCS!!!!
December 4th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Yeah, you can’t lose nearly everyone on your offensive line and just say ‘next man up’ as if it’s a real solution.
December 4th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Given the injuries, I’m fine with it. From this point forward, it should only get better. Given their health, I’m disappointed with the defensive line.
December 4th, 2025 at 5:47 pm
I agree with toopanca i,ve seen Baker to many times GO BIG SHOT OR BUST when the needed yards for first down is open get the the first down unless the big shot is open keep the sticks moving