Tampa Bay Buccaneers Need To Make A Move Amid Offensive Line’s Struggles

Despite a favorable matchup, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense continued to look sluggish in the team’s 20-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Buccaneers entered their Week 6 game with a rather healthy receiving corps — only Julio Jones was missing due to injury — and the offensive unit struggled drastically versus a Steelers defense that entered ranking 26th in the league in points allowed per game (25.6 points allowed).

And the biggest culprit for that is none other than the offensive line.

We’re well aware the Buccaneers have a makeshift offensive line, being forced to replace three of their five starters from last season. Starting center Ryan Jensen remains sidelined due to a severe knee injury suffered in training camp, while the starting guards from 2021, Alex Cappa and and Pro Bowler Ali Marpet, departed.

But the situation doesn’t appear to be getting any better.

The Steelers — who were missing reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt — constantly pressured Tom Brady all day, sacking him twice and forcing Tampa Bay to go just 4-for-14 on third down conversions. The Buccaneers also went just 1-for-4 in the red zone. In particular, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was in Brady’s face throughout the game.

“We gotta find a way to score in the red zone,” head coach Todd Bowles said after the game. “We have to find a way to be better in short yardage, 3rd-and-1, 4th-and-inches, we gotta find a way to be better.”

For perspective, the Steelers’ defense entered the game with a 65.2 pass-rushing grade, ranking 23rd in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Their run defense is maybe just as bad, ranking 22nd in the league in rushing yards allowed.

That’s not even adding in the fact that the Steelers were missing their top three defensive backs, including Pro Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Despite all signs pointing towards the Buccaneers’ offense dominating this matchup prior to the game, Tampa Bay struggled in all facets. Not only did Brady post just an 87.8 quarterback rating for 6.1 yards per attempt — his lowest numbers across the board since Week 2 — Tampa Bay failed to get the run game going, running for just 2.9 yards per attempt on 26 rushing attempts.

It was the team’s fifth straight game rushing for 75 yards or less.

Brady was seen chewing out his offensive line prior to the end of the first half.

Simply put, the Buccaneers need to change something up on the offensive line. Whether that’s signing the recently retired J.C. Tretter to replace plug-in center Robert Hainsey or acquiring an upgrade via trade to shore up the offensive line by the deadline, something has to change.

Tretter not only would represent an immediate upgrade over Hainsey, he’s an experienced center who previously led an offensive line that protected Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Furthermore, Tretter posted a 78.7 offensive grade and an astounding 83.7 pass-blocking grade last season, ranking seventh in offensive grade and second in pass-blocking grade among all centers.

As Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated noted upon Tretter’s retirement in August — he retired due to receiving no interest on the market — his salary demands are “modest.”

“In Tretter’s estimation, finding the reason for this radio silence isn’t difficult. He describes his salary requests as modest, ‘not at a vet minimum’ but ‘well below the value I bring,’” said Prewitt.

While Tretter most recently played at an average annual salary of a shade under $10.9 million over the past three seasons, he also previously played at an average annual salary of $5.6 million between 2017 and 2019. Considering Tretter’s desire to play and the lack of interest generated in free agency, the Buccaneers — who have roughly $3.6 million in cap space available — could likely sign him at a rate closer to $5.6 million this season.

This is an offense that shouldn’t be lacking in firepower with Brady, Leonard Fournette, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage in the equation. Yet, they entered this game averaging just 20.6 points per game, an average that will now dip after their 18-point scoring outpoint. The 2022 Buccaneers rank 19th in the league after averaging over 30 points per game last season, which was the second-best mark in the league.

When asked following the game if the offensive line is the issue for the unit’s struggles, Brady predictably took the high road.

“It’s all of us,” said Brady after the loss. “It’s the whole offense. We all have to do a better job. The run game, the pass game. Everyone has to do a better job. Obviously there’s no position that’s performing at an elite level right now.”

Brady may not want to say it out loud, but it’s pretty obvious — the offensive line is holding the team back.

Unless the Buccaneers address their weakest part of the team, Tampa Bay’s offense will continue to perform well below what they’re capable of.