Preparing For The Unknown
September 12th, 2026
Preparing for new players on a team Week 1 is always a challenge, Cody Mauch said.
Joe remembers once cornering ol’ Bobby Bowden for an interview from a golf cart on a range at the Belleview Inn in Belleair. Bowden was still coaching Florida State.
Florida State was facing a new head coach to start the following season and Joe asked Bowden how he could prepare for an opponent when the coach is pretty much an unknown at the new school.
In that Alabama-barbeque/Foghorn Leghorn voice of Bowden’s, he told Joe, “You can’t!”
Bowden said you can only go by the coach’s past tendencies combined with the knowledge of facing several of the same starters the year prior, sort of grappling in the dark towards crafting a gameplan.
This same subject got Joe thinking of the newcomers on the defensive line of the Bengals, who the Bucs open the season with tomorrow.
Cincinnati fully rebuilt its defensive line, specifically at tackle; they brought in Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen
So Joe asked Bucs right guard Cody Mauch how he can prepare facing such a rebuilt defensive line of an opponent. He told Joe it’s difficult, but there is always a consistency.
“Yeah, there is a fine line to it,” Mauch said. “Scheme-wise they might play a little bit different [with new players]. But then, guys are going to have their pass rush moves [which rarely change].
“You go back — and that’s when I think it is beneficial — you go back [studying their past tape].”
Mauch noted it’s not often a defensive lineman abandons what has worked for him in the past just because he is on a new team.
“I think there is merit in going back to watching what they do with other teams and seeing late in the game, what are they are going to get to [use] pass rush-wise,” Mauch said.
What Bowden told Joe years ago about coaching tendencies, Mauch said the same thing with position coaches.
“You can have an idea [what they will do],” Mauch said. “You look at the defensive coordinator and d-line coach, and see what they are preaching with their guys.
“But [ultimately], are the players going to [stick] with what they are comfortable with? … It is always tough Week 1, not having a lot of film on them.”
Mauch said at the end of the day it’s not so much what the opponent across the line does; it’s what he does.
September 12th, 2026 at 1:50 am
The O-Line will be whipped on like a little red-headed stepchild.
……Baker will be injured by Week 3!!!!
September 12th, 2026 at 1:55 am
Who let that fool in?
September 12th, 2026 at 3:01 am
Mannnn if this team can stay healthy – we can compete with anyone in the NFL – GO BUCS
September 12th, 2026 at 3:15 am
If the bengles D slaps our offensive lineman around like it got slapped around all last year, Sunday will be a very long day indeed. Here’s to manning up, and putting up the good fight. Don’t be skeered:(Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2026 at 6:00 am
There is one thing you can bank on-at some point in the game all rookies will play like rookies.
September 12th, 2026 at 6:06 am
For a time I thought Bobby Bowden was a little too much on the hillbilly side for my idea of a good coach. But I was wrong. Not only was he a great coach, he was a better man.
During his early years, Bowden spent time as the HC at West Virginia. In 1970, after the horrific plane crash that killed the entire Marshall University football team and staff, Bowden bent over backward to help new coach Jack Lengyel find his way building a new football team, from scratch. Not only did he provide Lengyel with words of encouragement, he did the unheard-of thing of providing a future opponent with playbooks and game film.
Many saw the movie, We Are Marshall, which was an ok flick featuring Matthew McConaughey playing a weirdo version of Lengyel, but a far cry from the book I had read several years prior. The book gave Bowden his just due.
There was a time when I thought Bobby Bowden was an overhyped hick, but he was a far cry from just another southern stereotype. He was a damn good human being.
September 12th, 2026 at 6:16 am
Time for one of the best O lines in football to go out, and prove it. Tomorrow the rubber meets the road. Tomorrow we see our new look Bucs, for better, or worse.
September 12th, 2026 at 6:37 am
Kudos Joe; ‘Preparing for the Unknown’ is a fantastic title for a game like this … from multiple perspectives. In this coming game against the Bengals, there are ‘unknowns’ all over the place, for the Bengals as much as for us.
Can you imagine their OC trying to gameplan against our defense? Several new faces in both the DLine & the OLB group that he’ll have to contend with. A whole new ILB group that he’ll have to gameplan against. Familiar faces in the Secondary, but how Bowles will use them is open to debate.
And yes, their DC has his hands full too. Baker is now healthy, and a healthy Baker has shown both last year & in 2024 that he can do some damage. Our OLine is finally healthy too, the same 5 who were vital for creating the #4 Rushing Attack in 2024. The biggest ‘unknowns’ IMO that we have right now on offense are our receivers & our new OC.
I’m really hoping that the Bucs (and Baker especially) can find that CONSISTENCY that’s so important to winning. The Rams losing 27-7 Thursday night to San Fran clearly showed me how vital CONSISTENCY is. Both teams were fairly solid, but San Fran won the Consistency Battle in several key aspects, particularly 3rd & 4th down conversions (7-of-12 versus 3-of-12 for the Rams). 49ers won the TOP Battle (33:50 to 26:10) as well as the Turnover Battle (2-to-1). Neither team allowed a sack, and they both had relatively few penalties. Interestingly, Brock Purdy only went deep 2 times (completed 1), neither of those went to Mike Evans (who was 6-of-7 on the night for 49 yds with 1 TD).
September 12th, 2026 at 6:38 am
It sure seems like the Bucs will Show a new attitude, skills and ability to win. It’s almost like the Bengals don’t have much of a chance. I hope
it turns out that way. It’s sooo great to have NFL football back!!
September 12th, 2026 at 7:14 am
If we win, and the Stupid Saints get slapped, it will be a great day! Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2026 at 7:14 am
JA nice segment on Bowden, never heard he did that for Marshall. I always thought he was a decent man and a damn good football coach.
September 12th, 2026 at 7:24 am
Expect a lot of screen passes. Personally, I like to go deep early and often.
September 12th, 2026 at 7:41 am
🙂
September 12th, 2026 at 7:41 am
DR
Discipline is the word, that came to me watching the 49ers. If Zac schemed up the same plays as the 49ers, could the Bucs execute the plays? The Bucs have the talent, but are the players disciplined enough to be consistent?
September 12th, 2026 at 7:44 am
JA:
Martin Fennelly always thought Bowden’s Aw Shucks demeanor was a bit of an act — he wanted people to underestimate him. He wanted people to think he was the silly uncle you hide in the attic only to let out on holidays. That the front hid a very savvy man.
From Joe’s experience dealing with him, Bowden was very genuine.
September 12th, 2026 at 8:29 am
BucaneroJim … ‘Discipline is the word’.
Yea verily; agree 100%. Discipline has to be at the heart of everything a professional team does (well, any sports team for that matter).
Unfortunately Bucs’ defense especially seemed to be missing that all too often last season, especially when we gave up so many explosive plays. And yes, also in the Red Zone when we gave up an astronomical 69.8% Red Zone TDs. No excuse for giving up such a ridiculous percentage in such a compressed defensive zone like that. Poor discipline.
September 12th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Well said JA.
September 12th, 2026 at 8:56 am
No way this O Line gets slapped around you knuckleheads. And pay close attention to special teams, they just might be special again. Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2026 at 9:00 am
Joe, throw a little respect for the old girl, it was called the Belview Biltmore Hotel….built in 1895, opened the doors in 97-…and was the largest occupied wooden structure in the world, Henry Plant’s son Morton, built the hospital just down from the entrance, for the guests that lived there all winter. Sorry my old concierge position came roaring back to me! And yes it was haunted
September 12th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Kidfloflo:
Well done. Joe couldn’t remember the name of the place — Joe’s not a golfer and avoids those places like the Ebola virus. So Joe googled “classic golf courses, Clearwater” and it came up “Belleview Inn.” Joe knew it was “bell” something, wasn’t sure if it was “Bellaire” or not.
Who said Artificial Intelligence is intelligent? 🙂
September 12th, 2026 at 9:39 am
Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bowden at his granddaughter’s wedding. My wife is best friends with his granddaughter and was in her wedding. Joe that foghorn leghorn voice description is spot on. He took the time to introduce himself to me saying “How ya doin ole boy?” 🤣
Anyway, the reality is the Bucs will face a good dline every week. The Bucs have the talent on oline to be effective against any dline in football. It comes down to staying healthy and the Bucs OC coming up with game plans. Look at what Kyle Shannahan did to that new look Rams defense. Masterful play calling.
People question why Evans left. It’s pretty simple. He could stay with an unknown at OC or go finish his career with the best offensive mind in football.
I wasn’t as excited as most about hiring Robinson, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
September 12th, 2026 at 10:03 am
Great story Ja
September 12th, 2026 at 10:24 am
JA thanks for the knowledge. Ima have to watch the movie since idk how to read
September 12th, 2026 at 10:26 am
That Kenny Gainwell interview was cool.
Seeing how excited he is tells me Robinson has a good plan.
Bucky is gonna go off. He has to be chomping at the bit.
September 12th, 2026 at 10:43 am
@BucsAnthem…are you even a fan? I’ve been counting down to see us take the field again since January. It’s finally here and you word vomit on the team like a Philly fan. Come on bro…tighten up. #Bucswin #Firethecannons
September 12th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Really hoping O line holds up and Baker starts the season on a high note resulting in a W.
If he does it often enough in the early season, hoping that Rod Munch disappears from these pages.