It Starts And Ends Up Front
February 19th, 2026
Injury helped doom Bucs.
Joe is not sure the Bucs ever recovered from a hard-fought road win at Houston in Week 2 last year.
Two guys who worked in the trenches got injuries in that game and tanked their seasons. Joe thought each would have had a really good year.
The obvious one is Calijah Kancey. Like prickly Pete Prisco of CBS, Joe thought Kancey was going to blow up. Instead, a torn pec in Week 2 imploded him. He didn’t return until the final week of the season.
Joe is sure Kancey’s injury hurt the defense.
Then on offense, Cody Mauch blew out his knee. He was lost for the year. That really hurt. Joe thought Mauch had a chance to make a Pro Bowl. Joe has been that impressed with Mauch and his contact-searching mentality.
(Right tackle Luke Goedeke aggravated a foot injury in the same game and was lost for nearly two months.)
So Joe isn’t sure the Bucs ever got over those injuries. They treaded water for a few weeks but Baker Mayfield started feeling the impact, in a bad way.
Mayfield got beat up playing behind a makeshift line and it eventually doomed the Bucs, who missed the playoffs for the first time since this decade.
Joe brings this up because Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football Analysis had an interesting stat on Bucs pass blocking in 2025.
Allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 24.3% of dropbacks, ranked 26th.
No wonder Mayfield got beat up.
Please don’t misunderstand: Joe is not blaming Mauch for the Bucs imploding and Mayfield getting pummeled. Joe is just highlighting how the Week 2 game proved so costly. The domino effect began with Tristan Wirfs having offseason surgery and before fans knew it, every starting Bucs offensive lineman other than Graham Barton was hurt.
Not once did Mayfield take a snap behind his projected starting-five offensive line in 2025.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:02 am
One of many problems the Bucs had last season. The biggest problem though is still coaching the team.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:47 am
That is probably a major factor in team Glazer giving Bowles another chance.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:59 am
I have to agree with Joe and with hodad. All you have to do is look at tape from last year. O line moved like they were one entity. Running lanes opened up quicker. And Baker had more time in the pocket. Bur when all is said and done, it is the HC that defines the team. Is he responsible for the injuries? Not necessarily. But he is responsible for the people who are paid to keep these injuries to a minimum
February 19th, 2026 at 6:08 am
They suffered more than their share of injuries on offense and certainly was a contributor. But good teams like the 49ers had just as many AND played lots of games with a backup QB. Organization and Coaching is way better there than here. They understand they have to have a backup QB that can actually play nfl level football. Todd and Jason should study the 49ers and maybe learn a few things.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:24 am
Purplebeard, Bowles is also responsible for ensuring that backup players are able to hold down the fort until the starters return. We had zero serviceable depth on the o-line. Of course it might have helped had the defense been able to get opponents off the field, particularly in games played in the second half of the season.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:25 am
I would say we had one of if not the worst coaching staffs in the league . Looks like one buc place agreed with me as they fired darn near everyone except the main one . The injuries didn’t help but that was some of the worst special teams & defense i have ever seen ! I also thought it had to do with trash players . You want to blame it on vets & rookies not knowing what to do in a complex scheme? OK, that falls back on the terrible coaching staff . This team is a mess & I don’t see it changing any time soon . Good luck n go bucs
February 19th, 2026 at 6:41 am
Backups are backups for a reason. I doubt too many teams are two deep in starting caliber offensive linemen. How in the world would you fit them all under the salary cap?
Nothing different than what hurt the Chiefs and Chargers last year.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:46 am
I remember when people were calling Cody Mauch a bust and that he was too small.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:53 am
Does Wyatt Teller have anything left in the tank?
I bet Mayfield could use his help if he does?? And since they were former teammates!!!!
Browns OL Wyatt Teller Pens Heartfelt Goodbye to Cleveland Ahead of Free Agency
February 19th, 2026 at 7:00 am
The special teams were the giveaway for last season. A breakdown happens. A few are common. But a repeated, persistent record of failure is unacceptable. We saw blocked FG followed by blocked punts followed by ridiculous punt returns. By the end of the season it was so bad that the Bucs were conceding prime starting position on kickoffs — when they weren’t suffering returns for twice the yardage.
It speaks to the special teams coach. It speaks to the head coach who hired and kept that coach in place. And it speaks to the GM and player development — after all, the special teamers are supposed to be young guys in the wings eager to show their stuff and get their chance. Where were those players last season?
The projected starting 22 looked like a formidable team. The OL losses were certainly bad and affected play the whole year. But doing so little to fix a glaring problem, a problem even worse teams did not have and would not put up with was a mark of organizational failure. And that’s on Todd and Jason.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:03 am
“We as coaches have done all that we can.”
February 19th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Connor Lew, day 2.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:49 am
You can’t coach talent. Most of our backups came off other team’s practice squads and cut lists
February 19th, 2026 at 8:13 am
Agreed that it starts and ends up front ON BOTH SIDES of the ball. Hence the need for quality backups. Injuries are going to happen and how well a team prepares for those is all the difference in the world.