How Bad Has Charlie Heck Been?
November 7th, 2025
When a reasoned and seasoned Bucs-friendly former NFL player says a Bucs player isn’t “functional,” Joe feels summoned to explore.
Joe is referring to retired defensive end Chris Long, who earned two Super Bowl rings in his day. Long has studied hundreds of right tackles and thinks Charlie Heck has a done a sad job filling in for injured starter Luke Goedeke (foot), who officially is questionable for Sunday against the Patriots after practicing for the first time since Week 2.
Long lectured on his Green Light podcast this week about how while a quarterback needs to feel comfortable that someone is blocking his blind side, bad blocking on a quarterback’s “vision side” should not be discounted.
Steady vision-side pressure can make a quarterback form bad habits, Long said, and he thinks that’s been affecting Baker Mayfield.
“I don’t think he’s played his best football yet, and I also don’t blame him because he’s been under duress,” Long said.
“I’m interested to see what this group looks like with a right tackle that’s functional out there.”
Those who follow famous stats nerds online know those guys think Heck has performed poorly, though he was better in his last game.
Joe can’t say Heck has dragged the offense down as far as Long seems to think. He’s had solid stretches, but Joe also wouldn’t wager a nickel the Bucs try to re-sign Heck after the season.