The Bucks will use the 2024 offseason program to work on getting players bigger, stronger and faster in the weight room, as well as improving in specific areas. While head coach Todd Bowles introduces new wrinkles to the defense and new offensive coordinator Liam Cohen and his new assistants implement a new playbook, each Bucs player continues to hone their skills and work on individual weaknesses. It is necessary to make efforts.
With input from Bucks coaches and front office members, as well as my own analysis and observations, I have come up with one specific area for each player to work on heading into training camp and the 2024 season. I’m only evaluating players who actually saw playing time in Tampa Bay last year, and I’m not considering rookies or newly acquired free agents who played elsewhere.
This is the third part of a seven-part series examining one or two position groups on the Bucks’ roster. Today it’s Tampa Bay’s offensive line. Next up is the Bucks’ defensive line.
Where each Bucs player can improve: QB, RB
What each Bucks player can improve on: WR, TE.
Where each Bucs player can improve: Offensive line.
LT Tristan Wirfs – Limit the Sack
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Wirfs successfully transitioned from right tackle to left tackle last year to replace Donovan Smith, an All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Wirfs showed he had the skill to protect Baker Mayfield’s blindside, but the move wasn’t completely seamless. The former first-round pick missed the Pro Bowl last year until San Francisco’s Trent Williams was sidelined for the 49ers’ Super Bowl appearance.
Wirfs’ athleticism and massive size allow him to dominate on the left side as well as the right side. At 6-foot-5 and 345 pounds, Wirfs is a big man who takes pride in being the best in the league. But he wasn’t his best last year. That’s natural. Because everything about him was backwards, from his step to his punching in pass protection.
According to Pro Football Focus, Wirfs recorded a career-high five sacks last year, along with six quarterback hits and 13 head hits. He allowed just one sack as a rookie and only three sacks in each of his next two seasons. For him to become a better left tackle and get back to a true Pro Bowl or All-Pro level, he’ll need to reduce his sack numbers a bit more this season. Wirfs was battling some injuries late last year, which certainly didn’t help. Another year of his experience and a healthier 2024 campaign should help him.
C Robert Hainsey – Be Bigger and Stronger
Bucks C Robert Hainsey and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Mr. Hainzu is on the verge of being replaced. tampa bay start center, He has held this role for the past two seasons, filling in for injured Ryan Jensen. Hainzuh has been praised for his intelligence when it comes to calling protections and making line calls in the running game, but he has struggled at times with his physicality as a center. Hainzu is listed at 6-foot-4 and 306 pounds, but lacks ideal size, especially in his lower body. That limits the effectiveness of pushing in the running game and anchoring in pass protection.
That led the Bucs to draft Graham Burton, a bigger, more athletic lineman, in the first round. Barton played left tackle for three years at Duke, but also played center for the Blue Devils as a true freshman, starting in five games. Barton will be named the team’s starting center in place of Hainzu unless the fourth-year lineman performs well in training camp and wins the job. If that happens, Barton could fill his left guard vacancy as a rookie.
Hainzuo clearly made strides in the weight room this offseason, gaining much-needed size and strength. Mr. Hainsey’s calves are petite, so he needed them too. That will be key to making a good first impression on new offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and offensive coordinator Liam Cohen. Hainzuh, who is in a key contract year, is better suited to play center than guard. So his best chance of staying in the starting lineup would be to stay at center and have Barton play guard.
RG Cody Mauch – Transform your body
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
There’s no question that Mauch has a lot of potential to develop into a very good guard in Tampa Bay. His rookie season was full of ups and downs, but every game featured several high-level players starting from second-round picks. Entering his second year with the Bucs and working with new offensive line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci, Mauch will work to eliminate bad reps and become more consistent snap-ins and snap-outs in 2024. There will be a need.
Mauch had a tough transition from playing left tackle at North Dakota State to playing right guard in the NFL, but his rookie season was better than Luke Goedeke’s in 2022. He has the length, athleticism and tenacity to be one of the better guards in the league. He’ll be there in time, but he’ll have to transform his body this offseason. At 6-foot-6 and 303 pounds, Mauch has an angular build and looked like an offensive tackle playing guard last year. His lack of core strength didn’t do him any favors, as he had to rush too often in pass protection. As a result, Mauch recorded a team-high eight sacks, seven QB hits and a whopping 42 hurries.
The key to Mauch becoming a full-fledged guard will be increasing size and strength in his lower body, increasing his calf, thigh and gluteal muscles, and strengthening his lower back and core. That’s the same thing former Bucs lineman Alex Cappa had to do a few years ago when he went from left tackle at Humboldt State to right guard in Tampa Bay. By strengthening his lower body strength, Mauch will be able to push more in his running game, endure passes better in his protection, and ultimately be able to get more reps in each game. Masu.
RT Luke Goedeke – Reduce penalty
Bucks RT Luke Godeke and RB Rathard White – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Tristan Wirfs and Cody Mauch weren’t the only players to move on to new positions in Tampa Bay last year. Goedeke, the team’s second-round pick in 2022, has certainly found a home at right tackle, which is where he played his final two seasons at Central Michigan. At 6-foot-5 and 312 pounds, he did well last year against some of the league’s best pass rushers, including Aidan Hutchinson, Cameron Jordan, Daniel Hunter and Haason Reddick. However, a lack of proper technique led to Goedeke allowing six sacks, five QB hits, and 33 pressures, sometimes leading to rushes.
His lack of technique wasn’t just reflected in his sacks and pressures. According to NFLPenalties.com, Goedeke was the Buccaneer player with the most penalties last year. He received 13 cautions, of which three penalties were denied. Goedeke drew eight offensive holding penalties and committed five false starts. The improved focus will be helpful in 2024 and should have the goal of cutting penalties in half since offensive linemen can’t go through a decent season without penalties.
New offensive line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci could help Goedeke hone his technique and work on his pass sets and hand placement this offseason. That should help reduce his penal hold count going forward. The good news is that Goedeke started all 19 games last year at right tackle, so he has plenty of his own film to critique and learn from. If Goedeke can improve in this area with better technique, he will allow fewer sacks and pressures, which could improve his standing in the league among right tackles.
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