How High Can Luke Goedeke Lift The Bucs Offense?

Reduced Pressure Rate

Since Luke Goedeke’s return, Baker Mayfield has been pressured on fewer dropbacks. Since Week 10, Mayfield has been pressured just 28.4% of the time. Prior to that he was seeing heat 36.3% of the time. An 8% decrease is a significant change. Goedeke has become one of the best pass-protecting right tackles in the NFL. It’s what led the Bucs to making him the third-highest paid player at his position. His 98.3 pass block efficiency since Week 10 is 12th best among qualifying tackles according to Pro Football Focus.

Goedeke has allowed just five total pressures in the past three weeks. Charlie Heck, who he put back on the bench, allowed more than that in three individual starts this season.

Goedeke’s foot work and quick jump off the line put him in position to wall off even the widest split of rushers.

He has the strength to hold up and anchor against bull rushes and quick feet to hold the edge and arc against thigh-side rushes. But even more importantly, Goedeke has been a welcome re-acclimation to the line in how he picks up stunts/loops and games.

These issues have plagued the Bucs throughout the season, but Goedeke has helped stabilize much of that on the right side. It’s no coincidence to me that his arrival has coincided with Graham Barton’s improved play of late.

Luke Goedeke’s Impact On The Bucs Run Game

As good as Luke Goedeke is as a pass protector, he has helped elevate the Bucs run game even more. From Weeks 3-8 Tampa Bay had one of the worst run games in the NFL, averaging 85.8 yards per game and -.207 EPA/play. Since his return those numbers have spiked to 146.0 yards per game and +.101, respectively. The team has averaged 5.0 yards per carry when running to the right. Goedeke’s violent impact and strong drive help form and maintain lanes and gaps – even without Cody Mauch by his side at right guard.

Goedeke can rock the strongest of defensive linemen with his crash on doubles. This “deuce” block is a great example of him getting leverage from an advantageous angle and uses his considerable strength to drive the defensive tackle over a gap-and-a-half by the end of the play.

Unlocking The Rest

The kicker is that Luke Goedeke and the run game still have not reached their lofty heights. We can point to the addition of Bucky Irving, who is expected back this week as the Bucs face the Cardinals. Irving combines Rachaad White’s consistency with Sean Tucker’s explosiveness. Having Ben Bredeson rejoin the line over Mike Jordan at left guard should also lead to improvement.

But the other unlock will come when they start releasing Goedeke in space. These past three weeks he has been the one offensive lineman who has not been asked to pull on lead or counters much. Whether that is a limitation stemming from his foot injury or not remains to be seen. But when he is used in space, he can be a violent weapon.

Bredeson and Irving look like they are on course to return against Arizona. Could Luke Goedeke join them in space? If so, the Bucs could take a substantial load off of the passing attack and control the clock leading to their first victory in over a month.