Confident in o-line.
Joe knows for most NFL fans, it is a habitual reflex to throw rocks at a team’s offensive line.
Joe is convinced if a lineman doesn’t pancake a dude, a ton of fans believe he failed. Joe is nearly the opposite. Joe just wants an offensive lineman to get in the way. That’s all.
For an offensive line to be right, it must work as one, almost like one big human with five heads. And the longer linement play together, the better they get.
Yesterday, Joe asked guard Cody Mauch if since it’s been since January 2025 when the five starters were all healthy and played together, if they are almost relearning how to play next to each other.
Mauch wouldn’t go there. But he said, with each snap, the Bucs’ line will get better.
> “Not necessarily,” Mauch answered Joe’s question about relearning everything. “I think it’s early in the season. I think it just takes time of those in-game reps, probably, to get back on the same page with each other and whatnot.
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> “Practice reps are great and whatnot, but it’s a little different when the bullets are actually flying \[in the regular season\]. So, no, we’ll be just fine. It’s just we’ll pick it up this week.”
Two years ago, when the Bucs had one of the NFL’s best offenses, early in the season Joe talked to most of the guys on the offensive line for a long while. Joe wanted to know why offensive lines need so long to gel when other positions can improve in a week or two.
Basically, Mauch detailed it in his answer above. The more the five linemen play together, the more they meld together.
Two years ago you could see the offensive line improve as the season wore on. Joe maintained then, and maintains now, that unit was a top-three line when the Bucs were bounced from the playoffs.
All is not dark for those who think the front line is having a grim season. Tristan Wirfs absolutely owned Jared Verse last week so Wirfs is back to his old self. And, there’s a reason why Bucky Irving is averaging five yards a crack.
Follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN notes that the Bucs’ front line generates 3.2 yards before first contact for running backs. That’s the second-best in the NFL behind only Buffalo.
Joe tends to agree with Mauch, barring injuries. The line will be fine, given time. But by then, will it be too late?