November 10, 2025 • 29 mins
Team Reporter Casey Phillips sits down with Buccaneers Offensive Line Coach Brian Picucci following the Week 10 matchup against the New England Patriots. They discuss T Luke Goedeke’s return, players stepping up across the offensive line, and the powerful impact T Tristan Wirfs has on the team.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by
Advan Health. First half of the show we had head
coach Todd Bowles. Now I am so excited to be
joined by offensive line coach Brian Pacucci. Coach, thanks for
being here if you have me, kissy, your group has
been an interesting one this year.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Very excited to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
I wish it was after a win, but I know
you guys were still able to definitely run the ball
better against the Patriots than a lot of people had
been able to. So what do you feel like worked
well in that area?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Well, I think you.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Know, we started off we wanted to be balanced with
our zone run, our gap run schemes. We wanted to
make sure we get the ball on the perimeter and
be as diverse as we can and show them a
lot of different looks yesterday. So I thought we did
a good job early in the game. Obviously we wanted
to play fast. I thought we ran the ball or
play action pass you know is connected to the run game,
and that was really good early and then great play
(00:50):
design at the end for that first touchdown. So running
the ball, being balanced, showing them different schemes with zone
and gap was really what we wanted to do. And
get the ball on the perimeter too.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I imagine getting Luke back was really nice for you guys,
and he brings such a unique role to the offensive line.
So how nice was that and just the impact it
had on the.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Whole Well, it was great.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
You know, went right into the game like, we didn't
miss a beat. We got to do some things on
the right side a little different than we did prior
to Luke being out, but really did a great job
and drop back pass especially, some of our dishes and
drop back pass were really good. And because of Luke
what he can offer.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, and how much of Luke's true self is. I know,
sometimes guys have been out for a while, it takes
a bit to maybe knock some rust off or get
the stamina back. Does he feel like he's how much
of one hundred percent Luke?
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Well, I think you can see that confidence last week
grow as the practice went on, and then during the game,
I thought, you know the big thing, I think he
wanted to test himself on whether he can anchor against
someone with a bullrush, which he did really really early
in the game. You know, Luke is a detailed oriented
guy as far as technique and fundamentals, always wants to
be right and you know, wants another repturn practice to
(01:58):
make sure you find tunes in And I think they
tested him early. He knew they were going to test
him early thought he did a great job, but like
like Luke has done in the past, you know, wants
to be better and perfect at every rep and I thought,
you know, especially coming from the meeting earlier, he wanted
to throw his hands a little bit more later in
the game, but did a great job all right, So.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I'm sure you love having a player like that that's
always seeking to get better and be perfect and absolutely
all the ways. Well, you know, as much as it
was amazing to have him back, I just feel like
we just aren't allowed to have nice things.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
So then we lose Ben Ben during the I just
feel at least we'll have for me.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
We knew weren't going to Cody the whole rest of
the scene, but at least we'd have the other four
original plan, which Ben's.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Been the most reliable guy. And he's a tough guy.
He's a blue collar guy. He's a very smart guy,
a guy who can play multiple positions and that was
the position I at least expected to go down yesterday,
and then obviously we had to transition with that with Mike.
Mike had some playtime this year, He's had some playtime
in the past, but Mike was right in a role
(02:55):
and step right into that role yesterday.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Yeah, and then how have you know, both Michael Jordan
and Dan Feeney now looks stepping in at those couple
different guard positions, and like you said, Mike Jordan at
both guard positions at different points.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
It's been great. You know, those two guys. I've experienced
both of them, been on multiple teams. And Dan likes
to tell me he has a lot of skins in
the game, which means he's had a lot of playtime
in the NFL, and being thirty one years old, really
does a great job of not only can step into
that role and be a lead in that role at
right guard, but he's a sounding piece like Hansey was
(03:27):
last year for Graham, where he can, you know, anticipate
a lot of things and let Graham know. So Graham
trusts Dan. You know, Dan was a great addition by
Jason and his staff. And then Mike obviously transitioned in
last year from his most recent place, which was the Patriots,
and Mike's got a lot of traits that can be
very very elite at guard.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
I know, the bye week is always welcome when it
comes that no matter when it is earlierly, it always
feels like.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Perfect timing in a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
How do you feel like it helped your group and
the way that they were able to get a little
rested up before it.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Well, just just health in general, and then getting some
other younger guys, you know, up to speed where we
you know, worked some younger guys out prior to the
break and getting those guys up to speed have to practice,
but really health every position, you know, not just offensive line,
but every position because you know this injuries that other
position aren't a team but really next man up mentality
and no one's going to wait for you in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
So yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
How about let's talk a little bit about Graham and
I think it's been so interesting, of course what he
had to do a little bit this year, but let's
go back to last season as a rookie coming in
at center when that hadn't been his primary position in college.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
How did you feel like he handled that.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I mean, the transition of the NFL is always hard
no matter who you are, even if you're playing the
same position you always have, and then center in particular
has so many elements to it. So how did he
handle that last year and what did he do really
well well?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
The two positions a quarterback and the center extensions of
the coaching staff. They have to communicate well. They obviously
have to play well. They have to know more of
the game plan than anybody else. Luckily, when we evailed
Carbs and myself and obviously the front office eveled Graham
early in his career at Duke he was a center,
so we went all the way back and watched his
(05:08):
center reps. They did a great job of evaluating him
and putting me in that role whether he could potentially
play guard or center in the NFL. And then having
the luxury of having Hainsey here last year, a guy
who's played in the NFL at center and really he
could lean on Hainsey last year has been awesome. And
then obviously Graham met to play and tackle this season.
(05:30):
He athletically phenomenal athlete, smart guy. The timing is a
little bit different outside, so he had to get used
to that a little bit earlier this year, but we
threw him at a tackle I remember last year during
OTAs and phenomenal athlete, has great skill set, but it's
a different transition from inside to outside, outside back to inside.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
But I think he's happy being back in at center.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, I can imagine and we do hear about that.
Of you guys, have you know, like backups on your
roster that will be the swing tackle or they'll be
the interior guy that traditionally you're one or the other.
Then you have guys that are prepared to step into
any of those interior or extra. Explain to everybody the
challenge of moving from outside to inside and what the
biggest things are, especially from center all the way out
(06:14):
to left tackle of all spots, what were the biggest
things that he was going to have to face, and
even maybe how Tristan kind of helped him with some
of those.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, so inside, you're in a little bit of a
phone booth inside and everything you know is tight and compact,
and you can't overset guys inside, and you usually get
helped by a guard or the senter is helping a guard,
and you're trying to handle more bull rushes and you
know you have an elite three technique inside, there's no
doubt about it in the NFL, but it's a faster paced,
physical game inside. On the edge, it's about timing, it's
(06:45):
about footwork, you know. And Tristan, Tristan was a guy
that he can lean on early in the air with that.
But with Graham being out on the edge, there's so
much space and there's such elite guys outside of the
NFL and we face them a very elite guy early.
So whether we have to have a chip to help
him out, or whether we have to get his timing
(07:05):
down at left tackle a little bit more in practice
or in the game, those things are so much different
having that much space out there on the edge, obviously
protecting the blindside of a right handed quarterback too.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Yeah, we're talking to offensive line coach Brian Pacucci. So Graham,
what are the biggest things that we maybe even don't
give enough credit for at the center position of what
he does well? But then specifically what all is asked
of a center that we don't know to appreciate.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Well. We can do a lot of things differently with
Graham because he's such a great athlete. But aside from that,
as far as his skill level, he's got to be
a great communicator in the room. He's got to handle
multiple personalities or different personalities, just like the quarterback. You know, Baker.
Thankfully we have Baker. Baker's great with the offensive line.
He's got great communication with the wide receivers. He's got
tight ends you know, every position. And Graham's going to
(07:51):
be the same way in the room. He's going to
have great communication with me and Carbs and with the
rest of the different personalities in the room. And I
think he handles it extremely well.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
And the chemistry with Baker, that's got to be such
an important part. How have you watched them grow in
that and then also the way that Brettison had to
gain that when he had to move in at center.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I think it was probably.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
Easier for Brettison when he moved in the center because
their relationship.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Has developed over the years.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
And like you said, there has to be a lot
of trust between the quarterback and the center, and that's
a big deal. And when we transition a guy out
of that position, obviously Baker comes into play. You know,
how how he sees it who he sees, you know,
transitioning that role, he has to have a trust in
that person. But I think, you know when Graham, Graham
had to prove himself early last year with Baker. But
(08:38):
I think their relationship is great, and Bredison didn't necessarily
have to, you know, slide in its center and prove
himself to Baker. But you know, Evel and going back
and Evil and Bread last year, Bread obviously had center
reps at the Giants too, so it was an easy transition. Hey, Bake,
do you feel comfortable with Bread? I feel extremely comfortable
(08:59):
with Bread and was probably it right there?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
That's nice.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Graham probably had to prove himself.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah, probably that rookie thing you had to prove a
little bit. I've heard they still call him rookie, which
I thought was kind of funny. So one of the
things that you feel like Graham still has to that
you guys are working on with him that could take
him to that next level.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Yeah, so we had a pretty good talk about this,
Graham myself, Carbs. I think the two games prior to
the Patriots and I don't think he played to the level
that he wanted to play out, especially in the drop
back pass game in the protection world. I think sometimes
he gets out, he's so athletic, gets out too fast,
and some of his slides or sets that gets himself
(09:36):
in trouble and over extend. So he did a great
job this week of really tightening down, anchoring down fast
with his hands playing long and I was really happy.
I was actually texting one of them last night and
just said, really happy where you took it. You know,
from two games ago where you weren't excited with your
play to where you were a last yesterday. And I
think he really did a good job of like stressing that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yesterday.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
We are here with offensive line coach Brian Pacucci, so
we talked about Graham and his having a kickout to
left tackle. He probably has even more appreciation for Tristan now,
which I think we all do.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
We all love Tristan.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So tell me for you getting to come in here
and coach Tristan, what did you already know about him?
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And then what did you learn.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
About him here to realize just why he is as
elite as he is.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Well, he was a lead as a right tackle prior
to me and getting here and Joe Gilbert, I know
a little bit from the Northeast Ties, and I know
Joe did a great job with him. Wasn't familiar with
Harold as much, so I knew I was coming to
a situation where he was one of the best of
the best in the NFL and understood that he transitioned
from right to left and that's not an easy situation either,
(10:40):
And obviously he's been All League at both right tackle
and left tackle, so I was excited.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Didn't know what to expect.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
But great young man, unbelievable guys sits right next to
me in the room in the back and can't be
happier with coaching Tristan.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So for all of us who don't understand the true
ins and out of v line.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
What separates him?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
What are the things that if you were to say
again the good to great to truly a lead of
I mean for him to be all pro right and
left is insane. Yeah, So what are the things that
we don't understand that you would notice on film that
would separate him?
Speaker 4 (11:13):
I don't know if it's understanding. As much as a
guy as big as him, as strong as him, can
be as athletic as he is. And there's a great
example a couple of weeks back. I think it was
Seattle where Baker Scramble who was running downfield and Tristan's
out in front of him thirty yards downfield, locked on
a linebacker with.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
One hand pressing him down the field.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
It's just impressive some of the things that he could
do athletically and Graham can do athletically or just really
special and allows you to do a lot of things
in this offense because of that.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
And then what's the level he's playing at now? Coming
off that injury and a missing time is always tough
for anybody. So how's he looked since he's come back
and the way you guys have been working to get
him back to full strength.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah great.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
You know, like I said, yesterday, we had a lot
of great dishes and drop back pass game, and like Luke,
you know, there's certain things that he wants back or
certain situations. There's certain you know, punches or sets or
whatever he wants back from yesterday.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
But those guys are you.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Know, they're excellent in there and their technique and fundamentals,
and they're just guys that really try to harp on
the they're honest with themselves. Is the biggest thing. So
he's coming along great since his injury, and I expected
even more from him as the season goes on.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And I know Cody malk So said, we've lost him
for the whole season. Great guy, great player prior to
the injury. What were the things that excited you about
him for this year and just where he's come since
you've been here.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Yeah, you know, when I look at Cody, I had
a great talk with him yesterday before the game. Has
great seeing him down in the locker room. And you know,
when I look at Cody, he's like the heart and
soul of our offensive line last year and he was
getting better and all the things that Carbs and Ie stress,
you know, technique fundamental wise, and Cody's.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Pretty hard in himself.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
But he's the guy that's running downfield, protecting the quarterback
thirty yards downfield, making the the big block. So we
miss a little bit of that, uh, trying to get
some of the other guys, the new guys, up to
speed with what Cody brought to us and the offense
and just a guy that, you know, if fans were
to watch the tape and watch, you know, the ending
(13:16):
of everything instead of fast forward and moving on. You
could see Cody downfield just making plays downfield that just
are unbelievable and part of, you know, the character that
we want of our offensive line.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I mean, you guys have had to start prior to
this game. You'd started five different right guards in the
first aid games.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
I didn't even realize that, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Yeah, not ideal, Yeah, exactly for the position group that
is most important to have continuity, and on the whole team,
you guys have had the least continuity pretty much of
any group. And so how about we start specifically with
the kind of guard position. What when you're having to
rotate a bunch of guys through that those spots either one,
(13:54):
what are the biggest challenges for that for the line
overall and the impact it can have.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Well just the position to them getting comfortable with them.
You know, if there's a certain twist pass off versus
a specific front family, whether passing off a nose and
a tackle or a tackle and guard of working together
to pass off a stunt over on that side, or
you know, how they communicate during the game.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I go, you know, that's that's huge. If they haven't worked.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Enough in practice with those guys, you got to get
it caught up to speed pretty.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Fast during the work week.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
How did Charlie handle a having a step into some
pretty big shoes to fill, but then having to do
it with this rotating cast next to him is asking
a lot.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Yeah, Charlie's a pretty quiet guy, but he's a confident guy,
and you know, nothing really fazes him. He's pretty much
the same guy every day. What Charlie brings to the
table is a lot like school brought to the table
last year. It's a little quieter than school, but he
has that luxury of having his father as an offensive
line coach. But yeah, you know, next man up mentality.
He understands that he's older, he's been around for a while,
(14:53):
so his one on one conversations in the room it's quiet,
but usually his conversations are great with whatever guard. He
really hasn't said much about that, but it's been great
having Charlie here.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Yeah, we're talking offensive line coach Brian Pacuchi, so I know. Also,
the tight end group got called into service a little
bit to help you guys. Tell us a little bit
about the ways you worked at that position group and
how they were able to help as you guys were
going through all of this.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Yeah, I did a little more with the tight ends
in the off season as far as Justin and I
Justin does a great job with those guys, and Carbs
actually worked with the tight ends when we split during
practice last week and some.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Of the run game. But yeah, we've had to use
them in protection. It's not ideal.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You know, Pain looks at themselves as an extension of
the offensive.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Line and seems like he has that mentality for it
as well.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Absolutely, and Cade, you know, is such an asset in
the past game and having to use him at times
to chip and check down, not because Charlie couldn't handle it,
but you know, like we said, to give Baker some
time to throw the ball. There's some elite players out there,
and you know, Charlie's playing a little bit banged up
and fighting his way through some things himself too, So.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
It's good to get back.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
We could change a little bit some of the schemes
and the chips on the edge, but if you don't
have that plan going to the game, it's going to.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Be a long game.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
We talked a little bit about a couple of your
right guards, but again, there's so many of them are
discards in general that have played. We haven't gotten to
talk about Luke Haggard or Elijah Klein yet, So tell
us about those two guys and when they've had to
step in there, how they've looked.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah, so Luke, you know, Carbs and I were talking
during that week when and when the injuries were happening,
back a few weeks back when Luke had to play,
and you know, Carbs had that man to man conversation
with him, Hey, we're taking you off the practice squad.
We're elevating you. And Luke's like, okay, you know what
am I going to play a backup guard? Or in
Cars said you're starting this week.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You're the thing, which.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
You know caught him off guard. But you know, he
went into practice and I think you could see, like
everybody else, the confidence building, like Luke last week, the
confidence building as the practice went on, and I think
you realized if you got into a football game that
you know what I can play in the NFL. And
you know, he's a guy that's a big, strong guy
that doesn't get bull rushed. We got to get him
(17:04):
to move his feet a little bit more at times,
but really happy with what he did and offered us
as an offense early in the season, you know. And
Elijah Kleins, you know, he's been on that active roster
last year. He worked on all the special teams for
us and then was in that swing role that you
were talking about earlier at guard that and then he
(17:25):
had to get in the game this year and really
did a great job. He wasn't active yesterday, but expecting
to be active this this point forward, and just expect
a lot from those two guys at this point.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Is this for you?
Speaker 1 (17:37):
I mean, you've been coaching football a long time. Sure
has this been the craziest thing you've ever had to
deal with as a coach?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
It is you expect the injuries, You expect guys to
you know, go down. You know, I think Grahama went
down once last week and Haines he jumped in there
for the New Orleans game and we didn't miss a beat.
But as many guys that have gone down at the position,
many guys that have rotated to different positions. No, I
don't think I've been through or anything like this. But
like I said, nobody really cares.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
And yeah, that funny. They don't give you, they don't
spotch it.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Yeah, they don't really care. So it's next man up mentality,
and you've got to figure out a way to win
a football game and to run the ball well and
protect the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Next man up mentality is just one of the most
commonly used phrases because of how many injuries there are
and that it is the reality of what you have
to do. But there's also a reason certain guys are starters.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
And so yeah, you're not going to find Luke and
Tristan world.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah, they're not growing on trees everywhere. So tell me
how you guys try to as coaches make the next
man up mentality actually successful. How much are you telling
the person they just have to do what Tristan does,
versus ways to try to make it helpful for them
and change things a bit of how much is it truly, Hey,
you just got to do that, or we're going to
adjust things now to help you.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
It's not necessarily what Tristan and Luke could do. It's
what their skill set allows them to do. And if
we have to help them out as coaches, like like
we said earlier about you know, chipping a guy or
helping a guy or like Graham, Hey maybe sit this
week to this jersey number on the other team, or hey,
lean to this side and protection if all things are equal,
meaning hey it's a four man rush, maybe we want
(19:08):
you to lean this way and call your protection slide
that way. So it's a little bit of you know,
you know, it's hard, like we said, you know, finding
a look and Tristan on the streets, and we can't
expect these guys to do what those two guys can do,
you know, as elite tackles. So we got to you know,
use their skill set, maybe help them a little bit
as coaches to develop that skill set and to help
(19:30):
them out in a football game so they can function and.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Feel confident as their play.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
The only person I have felt worse for in this
whole thing, besides you and Coach Cartberry, is coach Gizard
that here he gets thrown in first year as a
play caller and is dealing with just so many injuries
it's unbelievable. So what has it been like for you
guys working with him to try to help him deal
with all of that the way he's tried to work
with you guys to get the most out of your
group and that collaboration.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Yeah, I know he was going into the season excited
about the wide receiver group, the offen it's a lone
group getting everybody back working with Baker And you know,
Liam and I are pretty close and Liam had great
respect for what Gras brought to the past game last year.
And he's a young guy, but he's been in the
NFL for a long time. And he kept probably eighty
percent of the offense this year as far as terminology
and then added his little wrinkles and but really has
(20:18):
been you know, you couldn't tell that he's you know,
really down at all. You know, we had we had
a lot of great players that we lost this year.
But like everybody else, he stayed you know, status quo,
stayed the same and hey, how can we figure out
how to throw the ball on third down or protect
the quarterback or how do we run the ball. So
for a young guy, he stayed even keel and it's
(20:39):
really good, you know, a sign of his leadership too.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
At offense, we're talking to offensive line coach Brian Pacucci,
one guy we have not talked about yet that is
probably maybe the least known guy on the whole line,
but I'm very intrigued by is Benjamin Chuck Wooma.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I would love to hear the thoughts on a guy
like this.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
I love these stories about guys that don't have a
lot of football experience, but y'all see something in them.
So tell me a little bit of about what it
is about him with very little football in the background,
that you thought this guy could be an NFL player,
and just how his development has been coming.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
A chook is one of those guys that he didn't
play a lot of football, but when you put the
tape on, he had tremendous traits and trades, meaning, you know,
he could pass, block, He's long, he's athletic. He's a
guy that could develop, you know, if you give him
enough time. So Grizz and I popped that tape on.
Grizz was like, Wow, is this guy. So we gave
him the background, you know, the front office scout, Jason's
(21:28):
guys gave him the background. Carbs loved him on tape,
so luckily we got him on the phone. I gave
him an interview prior to the draft, and I thought
his interview was great. X and O wise and his
character comes from a great you know family and really
just works works his tail off, and his development has
been great. He's getting better every week. And he's a
guy that got close to being called into a football
(21:51):
game this year as far as you know, at offensive line,
and suddenly we were maybe not just exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
And you want a guy like that, you know, because
you don't want to ruin his confidence because.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
He hasn't played a lot of football, But he's getting
better every day in practice and he's out there on
field glas to point right now and gaining confidence as
the seasons going on, and Carps is really happy. I'm
happy with where he's at at this point in the season.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
You know, you brought up his character in general. I
love how the Bucks organization does value who guys are
on and off the field and all that. But then
offensive line, you're also maybe asked to occasionally be a
little bit of an enforcer. Tell me the mentality you
guys want and how to balance that if we bring
in really good guys, but then we also want them to,
you know, be that enforcer at times and what you
(22:36):
look for in the true mentality of them.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I think the room is developed to the point now
that you better bring in the right guys in the
room or our guys will weed you out pretty quickly.
But at the same time we got to you know,
and Coach Bowls stresses it. And when we went in
the off season free agency happened. You know, we can
go through our emails and sitting in the room, and
the bottom line is Coach Bowls probably most of the time,
(22:59):
always answers everything. Is he a tough guy? Is he reliable?
Is the guy that fits the program? Is he a
guy we want?
Speaker 3 (23:05):
You know?
Speaker 4 (23:06):
And if they fit all those traits. Sometimes there might
be someone who's a little better athlete or maybe a
little bit more talented, but maybe a pain in the
butt somewhere else he's been, but they pretty much weed
out those guys. In the front office. Jason's guys do
a great job, but Coach Bowles wants tough guys at
the offense. He wants reliable guys. He wants guys that
(23:27):
you know, are going to show up every week and
play the game the way it's.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Supposed to be played.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
And speaking of bulls, how is it going against his
defense in training camp, in practice and the ways that
that equips you guys a little bit better?
Speaker 2 (23:37):
On a Sunday.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
It's a challenge. It's a challenge.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
He's a great guy to work for, a great guy
to practice against, because he shows you so many multiple looks,
and he mismatches his looks meeting. He puts out base
defense versus eleven personnel, makes you work in that regard,
and then his third nut. So his early down pack
is challenging enough, and then you get to the third
down package. He gives you every front family, every blitz every
(24:03):
dB blitzes, every linebacker blitzes. I's got overload blitzes. So
he challenges you, challenges you as a staff, and we've
had to adjust some protections, play action protections in particular,
and pass protections. But he gives you everything you're going
to see in an NFL football season. Not everybody runs
all the packages that he runs, but he shows us
(24:23):
all those packages and we have to figure out a
way to block it up, which we do and he makes.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Us better for that.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
We're talking an offensive line coach, Brian Pacucci. How about
having Baker as the guy behind your line and the
way he plays the game, the way he carries himself
off the field, how have you seen that influence even
the way your offensive line carries himself in plays.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
Unbelievable confidence, unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
Guy didn't know him prior to comany.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
I knew he was very talented, elite talent, but he,
like I said, elite leadership skills. He's really tight with
the offensive line. He communicates well to the staff. He
pops in the offensive line room every day, says hello
to the guys. But I think it's the same with
every position. I think guys play hard for him. He's,
you know, the modern day Brett Farve. He's got elite skills,
loves the game of football, and you could see it
(25:10):
in the way he plays and how excited he gets
during a football game. But you know, he could throw
the ball, he can run the ball, and his leadership.
Guys don't want to disappoint him because he's such a
good guy and brings the team together and the staff
loves him, and you know, there's nothing bad you could
say about Baker.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
I enjoy being around Baker every day.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
I love that and blocking for Rashad, Bucky, Sean Tucker.
How fun is that knowing the different skill sets each
of those guys have and is it different depending on
who you're blocking for. Does it matter either way, just
kind of what your guys like about the run game,
knowing that they have those.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Three behind him.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yeah. Sure.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
You know, Shad did a great job yesterday making a
couple of runs out of nothing and getting some positive
yards yesterday. Bucky obviously tremendous year last year. Can't wait
to get him back. And Tucker a quiet guy, Syracuse
guy like myself, but really explosive guy. Each one of
them bring different different traits to the running back room
and you don't want all the same type of guy anyways.
(26:11):
But Shod may be, you know, a good zone runner
and you know a little more explosive on the perimeter
with talk, Bucky Kun does a little bit of everything.
Shots really good at blitz pick up. But those guys
are getting better at blitz pick up. You know, Skip
does a great job with those guys and getting ready
to play in a football game. And you know, we
get some younger guys that are coming up in the
running back room too that that we feel really good about.
(26:33):
So yeah, it's great blocking for those guys, and those
guys come to work every day.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
And so now looking to the Bills game this weekend,
tell me what stands out to you. I know it's
very early in the week, but they're defensive front and
just some of the things that you guys are gonna
have to be on the lookout for.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
Yeah, you know, you know, like coach Bowl said today,
we've got to pick it up a little bit more.
We got to be more physical. I thought, like I said,
our dishes are really good yesterday. This is a very
good football team. And and they're coming off of a loss,
and you know they want to get that taste out
of their mouth too. And we saw them early and
the preseason wasn't necessarily their starting group out there. But
(27:09):
you know they're not gonna you know, they'll disguise a
few coverages and try to fool you that, but they're
gonna line up and they're gonna play football, Northeast football,
and we get to mess the intensity and we're going
up to hostile environment. We got to be physical. We
got to come out right away and just like this
week's score, right away and play fast.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Yeah, not only is it a hostile environment, it's allowed one.
So how do you guys work on that? And especially
with again so many different people at different positions to
make sure that you're able to communicate even in a
lowed environment.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
Well, we work on a cadence all the time when
we have to go into a hostile environment like that.
So we have multiple uh no huttle kit or not
no huttle cadences, but multiple silent cadences, whether the guards
responsible for it, the centers responsible for it, the quarterbacks
responsible for it.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
So Baker's really good.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
That's probably something you know alluding to earlier where maybe
the normal fan doesn't notice all that stuff, but there's
all that pre snap game within a game with cadence
and trying to figure out what they're doing defensively and
uncovering things defensively with cadence and that stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
We Brett does a great.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
Job of bringing the music into practice or bringing the
sound into practice, but we're working on that all the time.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
You have to in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
For you, I know that you've coached a lot of
college prior to coming to the pros. What are the
similarities or differences for you in coaching college players versus
pro players and how it's kind of helped build you into.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Who you are.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Yeah, I did.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
I did college for a number of years in the Northeast,
especially then I got the Detroit Lions and that was
my first exposure Detroit Lions. But you're not making a
lot of mistakes. Where in college football you might make
some mistakes as a player during a game and have
you know, three missed assignments of four here or a
miss protection there. You know, you're not getting a lot
(28:49):
of those missed assignments in the NFL, and if you do,
you're not winning a lot of football games. And guys
take their craft and their job serious. I know they're
making a lot of money here in college and the
NFL right now, but really these guys take their craft
series and they care a lot about football, and they
come to work every day and want to get better
every day. But great human beings. Developmental side of it
(29:13):
in college is different than the NFL. You're still trying
to find tune and work on some things in the NFL,
but a lot of those guys come pretty developed, and
you're coaching the elite of the elite, and we have
some really good players here.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Well, coach, thank you so much for spending time with us.
I really appreciate it. And good luck this next week.
Thank you app all right, that's going to.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Do it for us.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
On Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by Avon Health.
This is Buccaneers Radio
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by
Advan Health. First half of the show we had head
coach Todd Bowles. Now I am so excited to be
joined by offensive line coach Brian Pacucci. Coach, thanks for
being here if you have me, kissy, your group has
been an interesting one this year.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Very excited to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
I wish it was after a win, but I know
you guys were still able to definitely run the ball
better against the Patriots than a lot of people had
been able to. So what do you feel like worked
well in that area?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Well, I think you.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Know, we started off we wanted to be balanced with
our zone run, our gap run schemes. We wanted to
make sure we get the ball on the perimeter and
be as diverse as we can and show them a
lot of different looks yesterday. So I thought we did
a good job early in the game. Obviously we wanted
to play fast. I thought we ran the ball or
play action pass you know is connected to the run game,
and that was really good early and then great play
(00:50):
design at the end for that first touchdown. So running
the ball, being balanced, showing them different schemes with zone
and gap was really what we wanted to do. And
get the ball on the perimeter too.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I imagine getting Luke back was really nice for you guys,
and he brings such a unique role to the offensive line.
So how nice was that and just the impact it
had on the.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Whole Well, it was great.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
You know, went right into the game like, we didn't
miss a beat. We got to do some things on
the right side a little different than we did prior
to Luke being out, but really did a great job
and drop back pass especially, some of our dishes and
drop back pass were really good. And because of Luke
what he can offer.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, and how much of Luke's true self is. I know,
sometimes guys have been out for a while, it takes
a bit to maybe knock some rust off or get
the stamina back. Does he feel like he's how much
of one hundred percent Luke?
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Well, I think you can see that confidence last week
grow as the practice went on, and then during the game,
I thought, you know the big thing, I think he
wanted to test himself on whether he can anchor against
someone with a bullrush, which he did really really early
in the game. You know, Luke is a detailed oriented
guy as far as technique and fundamentals, always wants to
be right and you know, wants another repturn practice to
(01:58):
make sure you find tunes in And I think they
tested him early. He knew they were going to test
him early thought he did a great job, but like
like Luke has done in the past, you know, wants
to be better and perfect at every rep and I thought,
you know, especially coming from the meeting earlier, he wanted
to throw his hands a little bit more later in
the game, but did a great job all right, So.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I'm sure you love having a player like that that's
always seeking to get better and be perfect and absolutely
all the ways. Well, you know, as much as it
was amazing to have him back, I just feel like
we just aren't allowed to have nice things.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
So then we lose Ben Ben during the I just
feel at least we'll have for me.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
We knew weren't going to Cody the whole rest of
the scene, but at least we'd have the other four
original plan, which Ben's.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Been the most reliable guy. And he's a tough guy.
He's a blue collar guy. He's a very smart guy,
a guy who can play multiple positions and that was
the position I at least expected to go down yesterday,
and then obviously we had to transition with that with Mike.
Mike had some playtime this year, He's had some playtime
in the past, but Mike was right in a role
(02:55):
and step right into that role yesterday.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Yeah, and then how have you know, both Michael Jordan
and Dan Feeney now looks stepping in at those couple
different guard positions, and like you said, Mike Jordan at
both guard positions at different points.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
It's been great. You know, those two guys. I've experienced
both of them, been on multiple teams. And Dan likes
to tell me he has a lot of skins in
the game, which means he's had a lot of playtime
in the NFL, and being thirty one years old, really
does a great job of not only can step into
that role and be a lead in that role at
right guard, but he's a sounding piece like Hansey was
(03:27):
last year for Graham, where he can, you know, anticipate
a lot of things and let Graham know. So Graham
trusts Dan. You know, Dan was a great addition by
Jason and his staff. And then Mike obviously transitioned in
last year from his most recent place, which was the Patriots,
and Mike's got a lot of traits that can be
very very elite at guard.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
I know, the bye week is always welcome when it
comes that no matter when it is earlierly, it always
feels like.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Perfect timing in a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
How do you feel like it helped your group and
the way that they were able to get a little
rested up before it.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Well, just just health in general, and then getting some
other younger guys, you know, up to speed where we
you know, worked some younger guys out prior to the
break and getting those guys up to speed have to practice,
but really health every position, you know, not just offensive line,
but every position because you know this injuries that other
position aren't a team but really next man up mentality
and no one's going to wait for you in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
So yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
How about let's talk a little bit about Graham and
I think it's been so interesting, of course what he
had to do a little bit this year, but let's
go back to last season as a rookie coming in
at center when that hadn't been his primary position in college.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
How did you feel like he handled that.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I mean, the transition of the NFL is always hard
no matter who you are, even if you're playing the
same position you always have, and then center in particular
has so many elements to it. So how did he
handle that last year and what did he do really
well well?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
The two positions a quarterback and the center extensions of
the coaching staff. They have to communicate well. They obviously
have to play well. They have to know more of
the game plan than anybody else. Luckily, when we evailed
Carbs and myself and obviously the front office eveled Graham
early in his career at Duke he was a center,
so we went all the way back and watched his
(05:08):
center reps. They did a great job of evaluating him
and putting me in that role whether he could potentially
play guard or center in the NFL. And then having
the luxury of having Hainsey here last year, a guy
who's played in the NFL at center and really he
could lean on Hainsey last year has been awesome. And
then obviously Graham met to play and tackle this season.
(05:30):
He athletically phenomenal athlete, smart guy. The timing is a
little bit different outside, so he had to get used
to that a little bit earlier this year, but we
threw him at a tackle I remember last year during
OTAs and phenomenal athlete, has great skill set, but it's
a different transition from inside to outside, outside back to inside.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
But I think he's happy being back in at center.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, I can imagine and we do hear about that.
Of you guys, have you know, like backups on your
roster that will be the swing tackle or they'll be
the interior guy that traditionally you're one or the other.
Then you have guys that are prepared to step into
any of those interior or extra. Explain to everybody the
challenge of moving from outside to inside and what the
biggest things are, especially from center all the way out
(06:14):
to left tackle of all spots, what were the biggest
things that he was going to have to face, and
even maybe how Tristan kind of helped him with some
of those.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, so inside, you're in a little bit of a
phone booth inside and everything you know is tight and compact,
and you can't overset guys inside, and you usually get
helped by a guard or the senter is helping a guard,
and you're trying to handle more bull rushes and you
know you have an elite three technique inside, there's no
doubt about it in the NFL, but it's a faster paced,
physical game inside. On the edge, it's about timing, it's
(06:45):
about footwork, you know. And Tristan, Tristan was a guy
that he can lean on early in the air with that.
But with Graham being out on the edge, there's so
much space and there's such elite guys outside of the
NFL and we face them a very elite guy early.
So whether we have to have a chip to help
him out, or whether we have to get his timing
(07:05):
down at left tackle a little bit more in practice
or in the game, those things are so much different
having that much space out there on the edge, obviously
protecting the blindside of a right handed quarterback too.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Yeah, we're talking to offensive line coach Brian Pacucci. So Graham,
what are the biggest things that we maybe even don't
give enough credit for at the center position of what
he does well? But then specifically what all is asked
of a center that we don't know to appreciate.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Well. We can do a lot of things differently with
Graham because he's such a great athlete. But aside from that,
as far as his skill level, he's got to be
a great communicator in the room. He's got to handle
multiple personalities or different personalities, just like the quarterback. You know, Baker.
Thankfully we have Baker. Baker's great with the offensive line.
He's got great communication with the wide receivers. He's got
tight ends you know, every position. And Graham's going to
(07:51):
be the same way in the room. He's going to
have great communication with me and Carbs and with the
rest of the different personalities in the room. And I
think he handles it extremely well.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
And the chemistry with Baker, that's got to be such
an important part. How have you watched them grow in
that and then also the way that Brettison had to
gain that when he had to move in at center.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I think it was probably.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
Easier for Brettison when he moved in the center because
their relationship.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Has developed over the years.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
And like you said, there has to be a lot
of trust between the quarterback and the center, and that's
a big deal. And when we transition a guy out
of that position, obviously Baker comes into play. You know,
how how he sees it who he sees, you know,
transitioning that role, he has to have a trust in
that person. But I think, you know when Graham, Graham
had to prove himself early last year with Baker. But
(08:38):
I think their relationship is great, and Bredison didn't necessarily
have to, you know, slide in its center and prove
himself to Baker. But you know, Evel and going back
and Evil and Bread last year, Bread obviously had center
reps at the Giants too, so it was an easy transition. Hey, Bake,
do you feel comfortable with Bread? I feel extremely comfortable
(08:59):
with Bread and was probably it right there?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
That's nice.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Graham probably had to prove himself.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah, probably that rookie thing you had to prove a
little bit. I've heard they still call him rookie, which
I thought was kind of funny. So one of the
things that you feel like Graham still has to that
you guys are working on with him that could take
him to that next level.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Yeah, so we had a pretty good talk about this,
Graham myself, Carbs. I think the two games prior to
the Patriots and I don't think he played to the level
that he wanted to play out, especially in the drop
back pass game in the protection world. I think sometimes
he gets out, he's so athletic, gets out too fast,
and some of his slides or sets that gets himself
(09:36):
in trouble and over extend. So he did a great
job this week of really tightening down, anchoring down fast
with his hands playing long and I was really happy.
I was actually texting one of them last night and
just said, really happy where you took it. You know,
from two games ago where you weren't excited with your
play to where you were a last yesterday. And I
think he really did a good job of like stressing that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yesterday.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
We are here with offensive line coach Brian Pacucci, so
we talked about Graham and his having a kickout to
left tackle. He probably has even more appreciation for Tristan now,
which I think we all do.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
We all love Tristan.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
So tell me for you getting to come in here
and coach Tristan, what did you already know about him?
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And then what did you learn.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
About him here to realize just why he is as
elite as he is.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Well, he was a lead as a right tackle prior
to me and getting here and Joe Gilbert, I know
a little bit from the Northeast Ties, and I know
Joe did a great job with him. Wasn't familiar with
Harold as much, so I knew I was coming to
a situation where he was one of the best of
the best in the NFL and understood that he transitioned
from right to left and that's not an easy situation either,
(10:40):
And obviously he's been All League at both right tackle
and left tackle, so I was excited.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Didn't know what to expect.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
But great young man, unbelievable guys sits right next to
me in the room in the back and can't be
happier with coaching Tristan.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So for all of us who don't understand the true
ins and out of v line.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
What separates him?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
What are the things that if you were to say
again the good to great to truly a lead of
I mean for him to be all pro right and
left is insane. Yeah, So what are the things that
we don't understand that you would notice on film that
would separate him?
Speaker 4 (11:13):
I don't know if it's understanding. As much as a
guy as big as him, as strong as him, can
be as athletic as he is. And there's a great
example a couple of weeks back. I think it was
Seattle where Baker Scramble who was running downfield and Tristan's
out in front of him thirty yards downfield, locked on
a linebacker with.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
One hand pressing him down the field.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
It's just impressive some of the things that he could
do athletically and Graham can do athletically or just really
special and allows you to do a lot of things
in this offense because of that.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
And then what's the level he's playing at now? Coming
off that injury and a missing time is always tough
for anybody. So how's he looked since he's come back
and the way you guys have been working to get
him back to full strength.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah great.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
You know, like I said, yesterday, we had a lot
of great dishes and drop back pass game, and like Luke,
you know, there's certain things that he wants back or
certain situations. There's certain you know, punches or sets or
whatever he wants back from yesterday.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
But those guys are you.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Know, they're excellent in there and their technique and fundamentals,
and they're just guys that really try to harp on
the they're honest with themselves. Is the biggest thing. So
he's coming along great since his injury, and I expected
even more from him as the season goes on.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And I know Cody malk So said, we've lost him
for the whole season. Great guy, great player prior to
the injury. What were the things that excited you about
him for this year and just where he's come since
you've been here.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Yeah, you know, when I look at Cody, I had
a great talk with him yesterday before the game. Has
great seeing him down in the locker room. And you know,
when I look at Cody, he's like the heart and
soul of our offensive line last year and he was
getting better and all the things that Carbs and Ie stress,
you know, technique fundamental wise, and Cody's.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Pretty hard in himself.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
But he's the guy that's running downfield, protecting the quarterback
thirty yards downfield, making the the big block. So we
miss a little bit of that, uh, trying to get
some of the other guys, the new guys, up to
speed with what Cody brought to us and the offense
and just a guy that, you know, if fans were
to watch the tape and watch, you know, the ending
(13:16):
of everything instead of fast forward and moving on. You
could see Cody downfield just making plays downfield that just
are unbelievable and part of, you know, the character that
we want of our offensive line.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I mean, you guys have had to start prior to
this game. You'd started five different right guards in the
first aid games.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
I didn't even realize that, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Yeah, not ideal, Yeah, exactly for the position group that
is most important to have continuity, and on the whole team,
you guys have had the least continuity pretty much of
any group. And so how about we start specifically with
the kind of guard position. What when you're having to
rotate a bunch of guys through that those spots either one,
(13:54):
what are the biggest challenges for that for the line
overall and the impact it can have.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Well just the position to them getting comfortable with them.
You know, if there's a certain twist pass off versus
a specific front family, whether passing off a nose and
a tackle or a tackle and guard of working together
to pass off a stunt over on that side, or
you know, how they communicate during the game.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
I go, you know, that's that's huge. If they haven't worked.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Enough in practice with those guys, you got to get
it caught up to speed pretty.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Fast during the work week.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
How did Charlie handle a having a step into some
pretty big shoes to fill, but then having to do
it with this rotating cast next to him is asking
a lot.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Yeah, Charlie's a pretty quiet guy, but he's a confident guy,
and you know, nothing really fazes him. He's pretty much
the same guy every day. What Charlie brings to the
table is a lot like school brought to the table
last year. It's a little quieter than school, but he
has that luxury of having his father as an offensive
line coach. But yeah, you know, next man up mentality.
He understands that he's older, he's been around for a while,
(14:53):
so his one on one conversations in the room it's quiet,
but usually his conversations are great with whatever guard. He
really hasn't said much about that, but it's been great
having Charlie here.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Yeah, we're talking offensive line coach Brian Pacuchi, so I know. Also,
the tight end group got called into service a little
bit to help you guys. Tell us a little bit
about the ways you worked at that position group and
how they were able to help as you guys were
going through all of this.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Yeah, I did a little more with the tight ends
in the off season as far as Justin and I
Justin does a great job with those guys, and Carbs
actually worked with the tight ends when we split during
practice last week and some.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Of the run game. But yeah, we've had to use
them in protection. It's not ideal.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You know, Pain looks at themselves as an extension of
the offensive.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Line and seems like he has that mentality for it
as well.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Absolutely, and Cade, you know, is such an asset in
the past game and having to use him at times
to chip and check down, not because Charlie couldn't handle it,
but you know, like we said, to give Baker some
time to throw the ball. There's some elite players out there,
and you know, Charlie's playing a little bit banged up
and fighting his way through some things himself too, So.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
It's good to get back.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
We could change a little bit some of the schemes
and the chips on the edge, but if you don't
have that plan going to the game, it's going to.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Be a long game.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
We talked a little bit about a couple of your
right guards, but again, there's so many of them are
discards in general that have played. We haven't gotten to
talk about Luke Haggard or Elijah Klein yet, So tell
us about those two guys and when they've had to
step in there, how they've looked.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah, so Luke, you know, Carbs and I were talking
during that week when and when the injuries were happening,
back a few weeks back when Luke had to play,
and you know, Carbs had that man to man conversation
with him, Hey, we're taking you off the practice squad.
We're elevating you. And Luke's like, okay, you know what
am I going to play a backup guard? Or in
Cars said you're starting this week.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You're the thing, which.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
You know caught him off guard. But you know, he
went into practice and I think you could see, like
everybody else, the confidence building, like Luke last week, the
confidence building as the practice went on, and I think
you realized if you got into a football game that
you know what I can play in the NFL. And
you know, he's a guy that's a big, strong guy
that doesn't get bull rushed. We got to get him
(17:04):
to move his feet a little bit more at times,
but really happy with what he did and offered us
as an offense early in the season, you know. And
Elijah Kleins, you know, he's been on that active roster
last year. He worked on all the special teams for
us and then was in that swing role that you
were talking about earlier at guard that and then he
(17:25):
had to get in the game this year and really
did a great job. He wasn't active yesterday, but expecting
to be active this this point forward, and just expect
a lot from those two guys at this point.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Is this for you?
Speaker 1 (17:37):
I mean, you've been coaching football a long time. Sure
has this been the craziest thing you've ever had to
deal with as a coach?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
It is you expect the injuries, You expect guys to
you know, go down. You know, I think Grahama went
down once last week and Haines he jumped in there
for the New Orleans game and we didn't miss a beat.
But as many guys that have gone down at the position,
many guys that have rotated to different positions. No, I
don't think I've been through or anything like this. But
like I said, nobody really cares.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
And yeah, that funny. They don't give you, they don't
spotch it.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Yeah, they don't really care. So it's next man up mentality,
and you've got to figure out a way to win
a football game and to run the ball well and
protect the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Next man up mentality is just one of the most
commonly used phrases because of how many injuries there are
and that it is the reality of what you have
to do. But there's also a reason certain guys are starters.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
And so yeah, you're not going to find Luke and
Tristan world.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah, they're not growing on trees everywhere. So tell me
how you guys try to as coaches make the next
man up mentality actually successful. How much are you telling
the person they just have to do what Tristan does,
versus ways to try to make it helpful for them
and change things a bit of how much is it truly, Hey,
you just got to do that, or we're going to
adjust things now to help you.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
It's not necessarily what Tristan and Luke could do. It's
what their skill set allows them to do. And if
we have to help them out as coaches, like like
we said earlier about you know, chipping a guy or
helping a guy or like Graham, Hey maybe sit this
week to this jersey number on the other team, or hey,
lean to this side and protection if all things are equal,
meaning hey it's a four man rush, maybe we want
(19:08):
you to lean this way and call your protection slide
that way. So it's a little bit of you know,
you know, it's hard, like we said, you know, finding
a look and Tristan on the streets, and we can't
expect these guys to do what those two guys can do,
you know, as elite tackles. So we got to you know,
use their skill set, maybe help them a little bit
as coaches to develop that skill set and to help
(19:30):
them out in a football game so they can function and.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Feel confident as their play.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
The only person I have felt worse for in this
whole thing, besides you and Coach Cartberry, is coach Gizard
that here he gets thrown in first year as a
play caller and is dealing with just so many injuries
it's unbelievable. So what has it been like for you
guys working with him to try to help him deal
with all of that the way he's tried to work
with you guys to get the most out of your
group and that collaboration.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Yeah, I know he was going into the season excited
about the wide receiver group, the offen it's a lone
group getting everybody back working with Baker And you know,
Liam and I are pretty close and Liam had great
respect for what Gras brought to the past game last year.
And he's a young guy, but he's been in the
NFL for a long time. And he kept probably eighty
percent of the offense this year as far as terminology
and then added his little wrinkles and but really has
(20:18):
been you know, you couldn't tell that he's you know,
really down at all. You know, we had we had
a lot of great players that we lost this year.
But like everybody else, he stayed you know, status quo,
stayed the same and hey, how can we figure out
how to throw the ball on third down or protect
the quarterback or how do we run the ball. So
for a young guy, he stayed even keel and it's
(20:39):
really good, you know, a sign of his leadership too.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
At offense, we're talking to offensive line coach Brian Pacucci,
one guy we have not talked about yet that is
probably maybe the least known guy on the whole line,
but I'm very intrigued by is Benjamin Chuck Wooma.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I would love to hear the thoughts on a guy
like this.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
I love these stories about guys that don't have a
lot of football experience, but y'all see something in them.
So tell me a little bit of about what it
is about him with very little football in the background,
that you thought this guy could be an NFL player,
and just how his development has been coming.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
A chook is one of those guys that he didn't
play a lot of football, but when you put the
tape on, he had tremendous traits and trades, meaning, you know,
he could pass, block, He's long, he's athletic. He's a
guy that could develop, you know, if you give him
enough time. So Grizz and I popped that tape on.
Grizz was like, Wow, is this guy. So we gave
him the background, you know, the front office scout, Jason's
(21:28):
guys gave him the background. Carbs loved him on tape,
so luckily we got him on the phone. I gave
him an interview prior to the draft, and I thought
his interview was great. X and O wise and his
character comes from a great you know family and really
just works works his tail off, and his development has
been great. He's getting better every week. And he's a
guy that got close to being called into a football
(21:51):
game this year as far as you know, at offensive line,
and suddenly we were maybe not just exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
And you want a guy like that, you know, because
you don't want to ruin his confidence because.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
He hasn't played a lot of football, But he's getting
better every day in practice and he's out there on
field glas to point right now and gaining confidence as
the seasons going on, and Carps is really happy. I'm
happy with where he's at at this point in the season.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
You know, you brought up his character in general. I
love how the Bucks organization does value who guys are
on and off the field and all that. But then
offensive line, you're also maybe asked to occasionally be a
little bit of an enforcer. Tell me the mentality you
guys want and how to balance that if we bring
in really good guys, but then we also want them to,
you know, be that enforcer at times and what you
(22:36):
look for in the true mentality of them.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I think the room is developed to the point now
that you better bring in the right guys in the
room or our guys will weed you out pretty quickly.
But at the same time we got to you know,
and Coach Bowls stresses it. And when we went in
the off season free agency happened. You know, we can
go through our emails and sitting in the room, and
the bottom line is Coach Bowls probably most of the time,
(22:59):
always answers everything. Is he a tough guy? Is he reliable?
Is the guy that fits the program? Is he a
guy we want?
Speaker 3 (23:05):
You know?
Speaker 4 (23:06):
And if they fit all those traits. Sometimes there might
be someone who's a little better athlete or maybe a
little bit more talented, but maybe a pain in the
butt somewhere else he's been, but they pretty much weed
out those guys. In the front office. Jason's guys do
a great job, but Coach Bowles wants tough guys at
the offense. He wants reliable guys. He wants guys that
(23:27):
you know, are going to show up every week and
play the game the way it's.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Supposed to be played.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
And speaking of bulls, how is it going against his
defense in training camp, in practice and the ways that
that equips you guys a little bit better?
Speaker 2 (23:37):
On a Sunday.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
It's a challenge. It's a challenge.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
He's a great guy to work for, a great guy
to practice against, because he shows you so many multiple looks,
and he mismatches his looks meeting. He puts out base
defense versus eleven personnel, makes you work in that regard,
and then his third nut. So his early down pack
is challenging enough, and then you get to the third
down package. He gives you every front family, every blitz every
(24:03):
dB blitzes, every linebacker blitzes. I's got overload blitzes. So
he challenges you, challenges you as a staff, and we've
had to adjust some protections, play action protections in particular,
and pass protections. But he gives you everything you're going
to see in an NFL football season. Not everybody runs
all the packages that he runs, but he shows us
(24:23):
all those packages and we have to figure out a
way to block it up, which we do and he makes.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Us better for that.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
We're talking an offensive line coach, Brian Pacucci. How about
having Baker as the guy behind your line and the
way he plays the game, the way he carries himself
off the field, how have you seen that influence even
the way your offensive line carries himself in plays.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
Unbelievable confidence, unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
Guy didn't know him prior to comany.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
I knew he was very talented, elite talent, but he,
like I said, elite leadership skills. He's really tight with
the offensive line. He communicates well to the staff. He
pops in the offensive line room every day, says hello
to the guys. But I think it's the same with
every position. I think guys play hard for him. He's,
you know, the modern day Brett Farve. He's got elite skills,
loves the game of football, and you could see it
(25:10):
in the way he plays and how excited he gets
during a football game. But you know, he could throw
the ball, he can run the ball, and his leadership.
Guys don't want to disappoint him because he's such a
good guy and brings the team together and the staff
loves him, and you know, there's nothing bad you could
say about Baker.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
I enjoy being around Baker every day.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
I love that and blocking for Rashad, Bucky, Sean Tucker.
How fun is that knowing the different skill sets each
of those guys have and is it different depending on
who you're blocking for. Does it matter either way, just
kind of what your guys like about the run game,
knowing that they have those.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Three behind him.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yeah. Sure.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
You know, Shad did a great job yesterday making a
couple of runs out of nothing and getting some positive
yards yesterday. Bucky obviously tremendous year last year. Can't wait
to get him back. And Tucker a quiet guy, Syracuse
guy like myself, but really explosive guy. Each one of
them bring different different traits to the running back room
and you don't want all the same type of guy anyways.
(26:11):
But Shod may be, you know, a good zone runner
and you know a little more explosive on the perimeter
with talk, Bucky Kun does a little bit of everything.
Shots really good at blitz pick up. But those guys
are getting better at blitz pick up. You know, Skip
does a great job with those guys and getting ready
to play in a football game. And you know, we
get some younger guys that are coming up in the
running back room too that that we feel really good about.
(26:33):
So yeah, it's great blocking for those guys, and those
guys come to work every day.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
And so now looking to the Bills game this weekend,
tell me what stands out to you. I know it's
very early in the week, but they're defensive front and
just some of the things that you guys are gonna
have to be on the lookout for.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
Yeah, you know, you know, like coach Bowl said today,
we've got to pick it up a little bit more.
We got to be more physical. I thought, like I said,
our dishes are really good yesterday. This is a very
good football team. And and they're coming off of a loss,
and you know they want to get that taste out
of their mouth too. And we saw them early and
the preseason wasn't necessarily their starting group out there. But
(27:09):
you know they're not gonna you know, they'll disguise a
few coverages and try to fool you that, but they're
gonna line up and they're gonna play football, Northeast football,
and we get to mess the intensity and we're going
up to hostile environment. We got to be physical. We
got to come out right away and just like this
week's score, right away and play fast.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Yeah, not only is it a hostile environment, it's allowed one.
So how do you guys work on that? And especially
with again so many different people at different positions to
make sure that you're able to communicate even in a
lowed environment.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
Well, we work on a cadence all the time when
we have to go into a hostile environment like that.
So we have multiple uh no huttle kit or not
no huttle cadences, but multiple silent cadences, whether the guards
responsible for it, the centers responsible for it, the quarterbacks
responsible for it.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
So Baker's really good.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
That's probably something you know alluding to earlier where maybe
the normal fan doesn't notice all that stuff, but there's
all that pre snap game within a game with cadence
and trying to figure out what they're doing defensively and
uncovering things defensively with cadence and that stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
We Brett does a great.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
Job of bringing the music into practice or bringing the
sound into practice, but we're working on that all the time.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
You have to in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
For you, I know that you've coached a lot of
college prior to coming to the pros. What are the
similarities or differences for you in coaching college players versus
pro players and how it's kind of helped build you into.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Who you are.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Yeah, I did.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
I did college for a number of years in the Northeast,
especially then I got the Detroit Lions and that was
my first exposure Detroit Lions. But you're not making a
lot of mistakes. Where in college football you might make
some mistakes as a player during a game and have
you know, three missed assignments of four here or a
miss protection there. You know, you're not getting a lot
(28:49):
of those missed assignments in the NFL, and if you do,
you're not winning a lot of football games. And guys
take their craft and their job serious. I know they're
making a lot of money here in college and the
NFL right now, but really these guys take their craft
series and they care a lot about football, and they
come to work every day and want to get better
every day. But great human beings. Developmental side of it
(29:13):
in college is different than the NFL. You're still trying
to find tune and work on some things in the NFL,
but a lot of those guys come pretty developed, and
you're coaching the elite of the elite, and we have
some really good players here.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Well, coach, thank you so much for spending time with us.
I really appreciate it. And good luck this next week.
Thank you app all right, that's going to.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Do it for us.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
On Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by Avon Health.
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