Bucky Irving has said it for weeks and brought it up again recently on Good Morning Football – and the talented running back has a point. As much as the Bucs offense deserves to be in the playoffs, the offensive line across the board deserves more recognition for their work this season.

Left tackle Tristan Wirfs remains the anchor upfront, but the rest of the group has provided above-average play that has allowed the offense to pile up yards and score at will.

It is time they get their flowers.

Bucs’ Offensive Line Has Improved Across The Board

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Looking at just how good the Bucs offensive line has been, let’s put it in perspective relative to the rest of the NFL. Pro Football Focus has done the work for us, as in their offensive line rankings ahead of Week 18, they have ranked Tampa Bay’s as the fourth-best.

The Buccaneers offensive line put together another strong effort in Week 17 against the Panthers. The unit surrendered just four pressures — including one sack — on 36 pass plays against Carolina, leading to a fifth-ranked 93.1 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating.

Right guard Cody Mauch allowed pressure on 7.8% of pass plays as a rookie last season but has brought that clip down to 2.6% this season.

Leading the charge during the Bucs’ 48-14 win over the Panthers was to no one’s surprise, left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who was just named to his fourth Pro Bowl on Thursday.

Wirfs earned an 83.5 PFF pass-blocking grade against the Panthers, ranking seventh among left tackles this week.

Put him on an island, and quarterback Baker Mayfield’s blindside protector is not just surviving.

He is thriving.

Yet Wirfs is just one cog in this machine.

Across the board, the offensive line has improved year-over-year. In this case, PFF grades serve as a fitting parameter.

Left tackle Tristan Wirfs: 83.1 in 2023, 84 in 2024

Left guard Ben Bredeson: 42.5 (with Giants) in 2023, 56.2 in 2024

Center Graham Barton: 56.5 in 2024

Right guard Cody Mauch: 43.9 in 2023, 74.5 in 2024

Right tackle Luke Goedeke: 73.4 in 2023, 75 in 2024

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and RG Cody Mauch – Photo by: USA Today

Looking at this, Mauch’s emergence into a high-caliber right guard steals the show, but he is not the only player who has developed and played better under offensive coordinator Liam Coen and offensive line coach Kevin Carberry.

Wirfs has completed his seamless transition from right tackle to left tackle, increasing his value in the process. While Bredeson is not a world-beater by this grading system, he has played better than meets the eye and has been an upgrade over Aaron Stinnie and Matt Feiler.

Barton has graded out better than Mauch or Goedeke did as a rookie and has flashed enough to expect a similar year-two jump. He has the athleticism and traits to believe he can be a perennial Pro Bowler into the next decade.

Lastly, there is Goedeke. Not only is the gritty right tackle a joy to hear when he is Mic’d up, but he has grown into one of the better players in his position group and is positioning himself for a big contract.

Diving deeper, what have they done well?

It starts with the new offensive coaching staff implementing a run scheme they have embraced. It has evolved as the season has gone on from more zone runs to gap runs, but no matter how they choose to attack a defense week-to-week, they have pushed and pulled their way to many big days on the ground.

Head coach Todd Bowles shared on Wednesday that the offensive line’s success stems from the chemistry they have built and the work of Carberry and assistant offensive line coach Brian Picucci to get them ready.

Bucs OL coach Kevin Carberry – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“They’ve been great all year,” Bowles said. “They work hard – those guys are a very close-knit group on and off the field. On the field, that makes the chemistry a lot easier and they work at it. Carbs [Kevin Carberry] and [Brian] Picucci do a great job working those guys and how they’re going to block people. Who’s doubling, who’s coming off, and making them aware of everything. Those guys are really bought in and they’re doing a heck of a job.”

Mayfield was also quick to praise the work of the offensive line coaches for how they have been able to hammer home the details which has benefited the offense in the variety of ways they can attack and leave opposing defenses guessing.

“He’s done an incredible job,” Mayfield said of Carberry. “Not just Kevin, but Brian Picucci as well, our assistant offensive line coach. There’s a lot of guys in that room to coach up and get detailed and so they do an unbelievable job getting them on the same page and understanding and covering all the possible looks we can have. It’s tough when you have this many different run variations and things to get guys prepared but they do a heck of a job of it. The guys have to be locked in to understand all of it.”

Bucs’ Elite Offensive Line Play Has Made Life Easier For Everyone

Bucs WR Mike Evans, RB Bucky Irving and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

It is hard to quantify the impact each offensive lineman has on a game and one does not have to make sense of all the numbers to understand it. Rather, take Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving’s word for it that the Bucs’ offensive success starts with the offensive line setting the tone at the line of scrimmage.

“It starts with the guys up front,” Mayfield said about the Bucs’ offensive success following their 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday. “I thought they protected extremely well. Obviously, our pass schemes, we had some guys running pretty open so that goes to the staff and then guys making plays. Everybody was detailed.”

When asked further about it on Wednesday, the quarterback was quick to agree about how they made his life easier and shouted out two backup offensive linemen that filled in admirably when needed earlier in the season.

“Oh yeah,” Mayfield said smiling. “Those guys have played so well. Obviously, we’ve had – [Justin] Skule’s had to step in and play a few times. Last time we played the Saints, [Robert] Hainsey had to come in and play center when Graham was out. There’s a lot of communication that goes on in that room.

“A lot of guys putting the time in to get guys prepared but the progression throughout the year, of them being on the same page and getting this run game going, has been the biggest difference. Leaning on those guys, continuing to trust them to break these holes open for the backs. Yeah, they get it started.”

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Giving him time and the ability to make his reads allowed Mayfield to tie a career-high with five passing touchdowns and efficiently distribute the football. That has been a theme this year as he has built off his first year in Tampa Bay with one that perhaps should have him in more Most Valuable Player conversations.

In terms of running the football, Irving found plenty of green grass ahead of him on Sunday thanks to the lanes created. Simply put, it allows him to do what he does best.

“Like I always say, I always give credit to [the offensive line], they do a fantastic job every week of going out there and executing and making the holes for me,” Irving said. “I just do my job and trust my track and good things happen.”

Last week’s scoring outburst was about as good of a game offensively as one can expect, but the Bucs have done it consistently throughout the season averaging 29.7 points a game. There are layers and levels to understanding what has made it possible, but when analyzing the unit’s play, give the offensive line more credit for making life easier for Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, and the rest of the supporting cast.