Stacked Boxes Doomed Bucs Run Game
July 5th, 2026
Struggled.
This just screams “injuries to offensive line and top running back.”
The Bucs got so beat up on offense last year it wasn’t funny. In fact, Joe can’t remember seeing an offense so beat up. The only two guys who didn’t miss a start in the starting lineup was center Graham Barton and quarterback Baker Mayfield.
And as we later found out, Mayfield likely should have missed a start or two. (Good thing the Bucs threw money at a high school coach they trusted as a backup quarterback.)
The following numbers seen in Warren Sharp’s 2026 Football Preview tell the story. If your offensive line is torn up by injuries and your best running back misses a large chunk of the season with a bum shoulder, defenses will take advantage.
The Bucs averaged as the 29th rushing offense last year when facing stacked boxes (seven-or-more defenders). On first downs the Bucs were ranked No. 26 running the ball against stacked boxes, on second down the Bucs were ranked No. 30 and on third downs the Bucs were ranked No. 31.
That’s what usually happens when injuries destroy an offensive line. The backup guards the Bucs had last season were pathetic.
Joe thinks the No. 1 objective for anyone on the offense this season should be to stay healthy.
July 5th, 2026 at 11:16 am
It was a problem when Cody went down, it became a NIGHTMARE when Bredeson went down too. We won like ONE game after he went on I.R.
July 5th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Here’s a January article that alludes to it, (hope it let’s me post one of Joe’s links)
July 5th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Beej … I personally think that Ben Bredeson is the glue that holds our OLine together. Not the overall best player on our OLine (Tristan still gets that honor IMO), but I keep getting the feeling that Bredeson is the defacto ‘field leader’. He played in 10 games last year, and we went 7-3 in those. He missed almost all of Game 9 (hurt in 1st qtr of Pats’ game), then Games 10 & 11, and then Games 14-17. We went 1-6 in those 7 games.
July 5th, 2026 at 11:28 am
The backup Guards were terrible, that was the reason the offense went to crap after the bye week. I still maintain Defense, Special Teams and the head coach are the most responsible for the collapse. Bowles is not terrible but his ceiling has been reached and it ain’t good enough.
July 5th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Even with healthy guards teams are still going to stack boxes when they see Bucky on the field, because he’s not going to be able to use his ability to cut & go with 7-8 guys swarming the tackle box. Big reason why I think Z-Rob brings wide zone in and probably works in some duo to help win leverage more often and start moving our run gaps.
Gainwell much like Rachaad White last year, thrived against stacked boxes in part because both have a history of gashing defenses in the pass game. So instead of that safety or nickel creeping into the box teams had to keep the extra man back just in case guys like White/Gainwell release and turn target off pass pro.
White had the best yards after contact of any of our RBs and what helped was he sold the hesitation less and hit the hole with more authority than any 3 seasons he played prior to 2025. So getting a guy like Gainwell that’s almost a mirror imagine of Whites games while, in my opinion being a little more explosive where Rachaad is more patient.
What I’m most interested to see, is how well Robinson can get the OL studied up and how long those guys take to make w/e blocking scheme he leans on to be effective on the field. Just being healthy isn’t going to make our boat float, guys on the front are going to have to play well enough to make it go. What’ll be equally important, is the preparation of our depth pieces. That’ll be something to key on during joint practices and preseason. Football is football, a clean bill of health isn’t guaranteed, so you better have your guys ready.
July 5th, 2026 at 11:31 am
We have to keep that word out of this season , every player completes every game please God,. The only way to get there so no more bad word please. Healthy is not a bad word 👌
July 5th, 2026 at 11:50 am
If the entire starting offensive line play the whole season we will go very far. They are powerful and elite in both the run game and pass protection. If they don’t, we won’t. It’s really as simple as that. Once both starting guards were out long term, the season was over. Baker lost the ability to operate on time, to step into his passes, and to execute the playbook. Most of the plays in the playbook became impossible to use. They changed everything to short yardage and quick release and defenses adjusted to far more press man and that was it. Took away a lot of the quick passing game.
July 5th, 2026 at 11:54 am
It also gassed the defensive side ,when you can’t control the clock
July 5th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Coaching matters. Good coaching is missing.
Bad coaching should’ve been replaced. But wasn’t.
July 5th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
they knew the gameplan…run….i watched it, many of us watched and knew it was coming and it would fail….theres times and places for it….figure it out Todd! Its your last year dude (or maybe not). I hope youve learned from your mistakes. Im pulling for you bro, just get it done.
July 5th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Floormatt demonstrates why you shouldn’t mix hallucinogens and head injuries.
July 5th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
After all the recent posts by “Joe” on this site detailing the breakdown, loafing and “quit” by the defense and the numerous impactful injuries on the offense coupled with a first time OC that was in over his head I ask the following question ;
Why are some people suggesting that the Bucs franchise QB who very successfully followed TB12 and performed at a high level, showed great leadership and desire, played through injuries when no options for a relief QB were viable, endured an inexperienced OC and a marginal HC (possibly the cause of underlying team morale issues) need to further prove himself ?
Good cop bad cop.
July 5th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
“Defense Rules Says:
July 5th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Beej … I personally think that Ben Bredeson is the glue that holds our OLine together. Not the overall best player on our OLine (Tristan still gets that honor IMO), but I keep getting the feeling that Bredeson is the defacto ‘field leader’. He played in 10 games last year, and we went 7-3 in those. He missed almost all of Game 9 (hurt in 1st qtr of Pats’ game), then Games 10 & 11, and then Games 14-17. We went 1-6 in those 7 games.”
…………………………………………………
Not sure how far you go back, when the Big Red Machine shoved Tony Perez aside to make room for new kid Dan Dreissen, the team was never the same. It revolved around Perez, and the front office could/wouldn’t see that
July 5th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Beej … Never followed Cincy Reds baseball, but I do remember how good Tony Perez was. Closer similarity on the Bucs was Logan Mankins IMO. Traded here in 2014, but was absolutely vital in 2015 when we drafted both Donovan Smith & Ali Marpet (and oh ya, Jameis Winston). I remember reading multiple articles about how vital Mankins was in that OLine’s development.