INTRO: This is a big week – Week 3. A week that the Bucs have yet to taste victory in during Todd Bowles’ reign as head coach. I loved Bowles’ dead serious demeanor this week – all business. Didn’t even wear creamsicle gear to the press conference this week, wearing red and pewter garb instead. He doesn’t care about the pomp and circumstance about the 1976 throwback jerseys. All Bowles cares about is getting to 3-0 and beating the Jets this week.

Here are some things that were on my mind this week as Tampa Bay tries to break the Week 3 curse – and maybe (finally) get a win in the winless 1976 jerseys.

FAB 1. Bucs OC Josh Grizzard’s Impressive Start

After three preseason games to get his feet wet as a first-time play-caller at any level, Josh Grizzard’s play calls now count for real. The regular season is here and the games matter.

Through two games, I’ve been incredibly impressed with how Grizzard has called plays, managed games and made necessary, critical, in-game adjustments.

Of course we have yet to see the full potential of Tampa Bay’s offense. What would you expect from starting three offensive linemen out of position due to the absence of the team’s best player, All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs – not to mention the absence of 1,000-yard receiver Chris Godwin?

Despite starting center Graham Barton at left tackle, left guard Ben Bredeson at center and practice squader Michael Jordan at left guard, Grizzard has artfully navigated that O-line shuffle and still produced 101 and 169 yards on the ground in two games.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Oh, and the 169 yards rushing against a stout Texans defense on Monday night came mostly with Charlie Heck at right tackle subbing for an injured Luke Goedeke, who only played 12 snaps due to re-aggravating a foot injury. And the fact that right guard Cody Mauch was playing the final quarter on one good knee.

Both Goedeke and Mauch went on injured reserve this week. Goedeke is out at least four weeks and Mauch is done for the year and will need knee surgery.

Throw in the fact that the Bucs rank seventh in the league on third down conversions at 46.4% despite all the calamity and injuries to the offensive line through two games and I’m even more impressed.

If you’re waiting for a 30-point outburst from the Bucs offense like we were accustomed to seeing last year, you might have to wait a little longer until Wirfs returns, Barton goes back to center, Bredeson goes back to left guard and offensive line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci figure out what to do with the right side of the offensive line.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard and OL coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Piccuci – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The offense even took a dip under 30 points per game when the Bucs took a big injury hit at wide receiver last year under Liam Coen.

In the meantime, this offense is winning close games with Grizzard at the helm. And to me, that’s even more impressive than some of Coen’s 30-plus-point scoring affairs in some Bucs blowouts last year.

The fact that Grizzard is being forced to make some early in-game adjustments – and seemingly making all the right moves – is awfully impressive just two games in. Grizzard and his staff have been able to produce answers for all the questions they’ve faced against Atlanta and Houston.

Falcons safety Jessie Bates III continues to crash down on Mike Evans on his underneath crosser? Throw the ball behind Bates to Emeka Egbuka on a post pattern for the game-winner.

No Goedeke for the rest of the game? Adjust the game plan accordingly with Heck in the game with a wide receiver screen to Ebuka for a touchdown and more quick throws to Bucky Irving and runs by Irving and Rachaad White to counter the Texans pass rush.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That’s what good coordinators do,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “They’re able to adjust on the fly and adapt. Obviously, when you lose guys midgame, it’s not ideal, but for him to do that, keep his cool, and call a great game is good for us. We just have to execute better.”

What I loved about Grizzard’s play-calling on the final drive is that he knew that the Texans defense was gassed in the fourth quarter. After rushing for 68 yards in the first half, Tampa Bay pounded Houston for 101 yards rushing in the second half. While Mayfield’s scrambling produced 31 of those yards, Irving and White accounted for 70 of those yards with both backs averaging over four yards a carry.

Those body blows to the Texans defense in addition to the unit to furious scramble to try to tackle Irving on his 22-yard and 5-yard catch on the final drive left Houston gassed. So when the Bucs offense had the ball at the Houston 2-yard line with nine seconds left and two timeouts, Grizzard opted to pound the Texans one more time with another run by White, which proved to be the game-winner.

“It’s absolutely mentality,” Grizzard said about trusting his makeshift offensive line to get the job done on White’s run. “It was from the spring – win the game in the trenches. We ran the ball effectively up to that point, and then we looked at it like, ‘Hopefully these guys are gassed and let’s go pound them one more time.’”

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Tampa Bay’s offense hasn’t always been pretty.

Instead, it’s been gritty through two games.

But I have a feeling that the confidence gained from close wins like they’ve had at Atlanta and Houston will pay off for the Bucs later this season. And the lessons learned by Grizzard in these pressure cooker situations have already been invaluable.

“He did a heck of a job coming out aggressive,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “When they scored, he came right back and got down the field and we scored, as well. He was very aggressive in his play calling this week, a little different than last week when he went out for his first game. He was comfortable.

“I think he was great with the tackles, understanding what he had to do and knowing what kind of passing game he had to have. He had a plan for quite a few things. I thought the coaching staff on the offensive side did a heck of a job getting prepared, and they executed very well.”

Great job, Josh.

FAB 2. Bucs Start The Season Perfect In 2-Minute Drills

The old saying “practice makes perfect” has rang true about the Bucs’ success in the two-minute drill this year. Both of Tampa Bay’s wins have come in the final minute of the game after a go-ahead touchdown by the offense.

Head coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard have practiced the heck out of the two-minute drill dating back to the OTAs and mini-camp, as well as a healthy dose of that part of situational football in training camp.

And if you’ve ever been to Bucs training camp in Tampa in August, you know that some of the early morning heat and humidity can be quite brutal, especially when the breeze isn’t blowing.

It’s sweat city and fatigue is no stranger to the Buccaneers.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

But when the game is on the line, Baker Mayfield and Co. aren’t tired. Instead the Bucs are energized – enough for Mayfield, who had been battered during four sacks earlier in Houston, to have the energy to scramble for 15 yards on a critical fourth-and-10 to keep the final Tampa Bay scoring drive alive.

“I was trying to get a matchup for Mike [Evans], get him an opportunity,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, on fourth down, trying to feed your guys and give them a chance. They brought a little pressure and the guy in man coverage on the back is an add-on to the pressure. We didn’t have that picked up – they brought one more than we had. Going through my read, stepping up in the pocket, he was there. I just tried to break a tackle, and then obviously the green grass was there, so, taking advantage of it.”

Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard called some great plays in Houston on that final drive, as well as the one in Atlanta. But he also credits the toughness and the attitude of his players in those situations for the necessary late-game touchdowns that have led to a 2-0 start.

“Yeah, it’s the resiliency. It’s the same belief we had in Atlanta to be able to go do that. To get fourth-and-10 and Baker is able to do that – not only does it energize our sideline, but the guys on the field, it makes them…They’re thinking the game’s over and then now they’ve got to scramble and catch up with them, and hopefully they’re gassed and we can stay on the ball and keep those guys on the field so that they can’t [substitute].”

The Houston crowd was at a fever pitch, cheering on the Texans defense on fourth-and-10 at the Tampa Bay 32 with 1:24 left. When Mayfield picked up the crucial first down, it absolutely sucked the life out of NRG Stadium and put the Texans defense on its heels the rest of the drive.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

“Once you get that spark – we talk about in two-minute – once you get that first first down, then you put the pressure on them to try to communicate, try to make a call, try to stop you,” Grizzard said. “Then, [with] these guys, you kind of forget about being tired as that thing gets a little bit closer to the end zone, because now we know we’re in a spot to be able to go score.

“Now you can feel it from the sideline, you can feel it from the O-line trying to hold up, get the ball out. It’s the conditioning part of it, too – playing out here in practice every day as hot as it is, going back to training camp as well as the spring – that hopefully you can step up in those circumstances to go win the game late.”

Mayfield has become a master of the moment when it comes to game-winning drives. He had two last year in Tampa Bay and has already matched that total this year. Monday night was Mayfield’s 14th game-winning drive in his eight-year NFL career.

“[It’s a] mentally tough group,” Mayfield said. “Guys being on the same page in chaotic moments, doing the little details right in the two-minute drill. It’s good to see from the practice field to the game field – guys being able to execute. Sometimes it’s simple plays and guys going above and beyond like Bucky [Irving] did on some of those checkdowns and putting us in position to score.”

FAB 3. Bucs Reshuffled Offensive Line Has To Reshuffle – Again

The hits keep on coming to Tampa Bay’s offensive line after what has proven to be a costly 20-19 victory at Houston in Week 2. Not only did the Bucs lose right tackle Luke Goedeke for at least a month due to a re-aggravated foot injury, but the team also lost right guard Cody Mauch for the year after he suffered a knee injury in the third quarter.

Somehow, someway Mauch gutted it out and finished the game on one leg.

Now offensive line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci have to gut it out another week and reshuffle the deck along the offensive line once again.

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke and OT Charlie Heck – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

The Bucs surprised us – and the Falcons – by not starting Charlie Heck at left tackle for the season opener at Atlanta. Instead, Tampa Bay went into stealth mode and rolled out a lineup that featured center Graham Barton at left tackle for the injured Tristan Wirfs, left guard Ben Bredeson at center for Barton, and practice squader Michael Jordan at left guard for Bredeson.

Thankfully for Carberry and Picucci, their right side of the line was intact with Mauch and Goedeke. But that only lasted one game.

Now entering Week 3, the Bucs could very well not have any of its starting offensive linemen from a year playing in their original spots. The only starting offensive linemen left this week will be Barton and Bredeson – and they could still be out of position manning left tackle and center, respectively.

Complicating matters is the fact that Jordan missed some practice time too this week and his status for Sunday’s game against New York is also in question.

The Bucs have signed practice squad guard Luke Haggard to the active roster, where he joins Elijah Klein as an option to replace Mauch – or Jordan – in addition to Sua Opeta, who was re-signed to the practice squad this week with Haggard’s elevation.

Bucs G Dan Feeney – Photo by: USA Today

But the team also signed 31-year old veteran Dan Feeney and he will certainly be in the mix once he gets up to speed on the playbook. Klein, Haggard and Opeta have the advantage of already knowing Josh Grizzard’s playbook from having been in Tampa Bay for the past two seasons in some capacity.

As for replacing Goedeke at right tackle, Heck could fill that role again, or the Bucs could surprise us once more by rolling out rookie Ben Chukwuma, who is raw, but also looked impressive in the preseason due to his above average athleticism.

Here is a look at the puzzle that Carberry, Picucci, Grizzard and head coach Todd Bowles are trying to put together this week:

LT Graham Barton
LG Michael Jordan/Elijah Klein/Sua Opeta/Dan Feeney
C Ben Bredeson
RG Luke Haggard/Elijah Klein/Sua Opeta/Dan Feeney
RT Charlie Heck/Ben Chukwuma

If Wirfs is able to return next week vs. the Eagles, the Bucs’ lineup could look like this.

LT Graham Barton
LG Michael Jordan/Elijah Klein/Sua Opeta/Dan Feeney
C Ben Bredeson
RG Luke Haggard/Elijah Klein/Sua Opeta/Dan Feeney
RT Tristan Wirfs

This would keep Barton at left tackle, which is what he played in college and has some familiarity with after the last two games. Forcing Barton to play right tackle would be yet another tough position switch for him, whereas Wirfs has three years of experience playing right tackle for the Bucs to draw from in his return.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

However, the team may want to put its best lineman, Wirfs, back at his best position, which is at left tackle. Also, with Wirfs recovering from knee surgery, putting him at left tackle would involve less stress and wear and tear on his surgically repaired right knee. The outside leg gets more work in the kick slide in pass protection than the inside.

If that’s the case and the team wants Wirfs back at left tackle for either – or both – of those reasons, then Tampa Bay’s lineup could look like this:

LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Ben Bredeson
C Graham Barton
RG Michael Jordan/ Elijah Klein/Sua Opeta/Dan Feeney
RT Charlie Heck/Ben Chukwuma

This lineup would restore order to the left side of the line and make that the strongest side of the blocking unit up front.

It will be interesting to see what lineup Carberry and Picucci trot out this week against the Jets and next week against the Eagles. Be prepared for anything.

FAB 4. Bucs Bring In “Dirty Dan” Feeney

The Bucs signed veteran guard Dan Feeney off the Bills practice squad this week for a more experienced option to replace Cody Mauch. The 31-year old Feeney has played in 120 games in his eight-year NFL career, including 65 starts. He’s mostly played guard, but also played center for the Chargers (2020) and Bears (2024).

I probed some of my sources for intel on Feeney and this is what I got. His nickname is “Dirty Dan” because he’s a tough, hard-nosed player. The three “can’t go wrong” traits that the Bucs look for in offensive linemen are big, smart and tough. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Feeney checks those boxes.

He’s an Irishman from Soutside Chicago and plays with a brawlers’ mentality.

And Feeney has a mullet.

Bucs G Dan Feeney – Photo by: USA Today

If you don’t think that hair matters when it comes to the Bucs scouting department looking at interior offensive lineman traits, then you haven’t noticed the likes of Alex Cappa, Ryan Jensen and Mauch over the years.

I’m not saying it’s a prerequisite to play for the Bucs or that “fabulously wild hair” is a trait at the top of the Bucs’ list for guards and centers. But having long hair or a mullet doesn’t hurt in Tampa Bay.

Filling in for Mauch this week might be a stretch for Feeney, who just arrived on Wednesday. The Bucs have a trio of options who have more experience in the playbook with Elijah Klein, Luke Haggard and Sua Opeta, who was signed to the practice squad this week. But perhaps against the Eagles we might see “Dirty Dan” for the first time in the lineup.

FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• The “revenge tour” begins this week for outside linebacker Haason Reddick, who plays every team he’s ever suited up for this season on Tampa Bay’s schedule. Reddick played with the Jets last year and struggled mightily – as did New York, which finished 5-12 in 2024. He also played two years with the Eagles (2022-23), who play the Bucs next week. Reddick also played one season in Carolina (2021) and began his career in Arizona (2017-2020).

• Fox Sports’ Greg Auman told me that the Bucs have not had an interception in six straight games dating back to last year. That’s the longest stretch without a pick since Todd Bowles began calling plays on defense in Tampa Bay in 2019. Also, the Bucs are one of six teams that have yet to record a takeaway on defense this year through two games. The Jets are also one of those six.

• Bucs rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is off to a hot start with three touchdowns in his first two NFL games. Tampa Bay’s first-round pick is actually on pace to average 25 touchdowns this season, which is an absurd number and one he likely won’t hit. Yet even if he produces half of that total, it would be either 12 or 13 touchdowns this season. Mike Evans set the franchise rookie receiving touchdowns record with 12 scores in 2014, so Egbuka could possibly tie or beat that record.

• With the Bucs possibly going with more of a quick passing game against the Jets to put less pressure on the makeshift offensive line in pass protection, don’t be surprised if rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson is active this week after being inactive last week. Johnson excelled in the preseason in getting yards after catch on screens and dump-off passes. Also with Emeka Egbuka dealing with a quad and groin injury, having Johnson active this week as another healthy receiver makes sense.

• Speaking of screens, if that Emeka Egbuka touchdown in Houston on the 15-yard screen pass looked familiar, it was virtually the same play call that Jalen McMillan scored on a 29-yard screen pass in the fourth quarter versus the Raiders last year.

• If I’m Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and I’m starting Charlie Heck at right tackle in place of the injured Luke Goedeke, I’m thinking about getting rookie Ben Chukwuma some snaps as an extra tight end in a 12 or 13 personnel Jumbo package. Bruce Arians used a reserve tackle in that capacity when he was the head coach, but that’s not something Liam Coen did last year. Getting Chukwuma some limited reps in a low-stress role as a blocking tight end might help him get his feet wet in NFL action so he’ll be better prepared if called upon to play offensive tackle at some point.