Josh Grizzard: Bucs Can Have A Better Offense
May 22nd, 2025
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard.
Last year the Bucs had the No. 4 scoring offense in the league, averaging 29.5 points a game. Pretty good, huh?
Well, new Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard thinks that can be improved.
When Dave Canales took over the offense in 2023, it had been truly awful under ill-suited Byron Leftwich. The Bucs scored but 18.4 points a game, 25th-best in the NFL.
Then Liam Coen took over from Canales and inherited a slightly better yet disappointing offense that averaged 20.5 points a game, 20th in the NFL. So improving on a No. 4 offense (under Coen) seems to be a bit of a task.
One reason Grizzard thinks the Bucs can do it is because players are not learning a new offense.
“What we’ve been harping on is that — even though in different categories, it was a good statistical year — at the end of the day, points per game can always go up,” Grizzard said. “Essentially, everything can go up. And through our fundamentals and techniques and asking the right questions and pushing the guy beside you,” the offense can improve.
And since Grizzard is just fine-tuning, he can focus on individual improvement that will lead to team growth.
“What can we do individually this time of the year, to improve fundamentals?” Grizzard said. “Because then that will allow for us to make a deeper run in the playoffs and score points.”
If Grizzard can improve the Bucs’ scoring offense, buckle up, folks. A top-two Bucs offense and a Super Bowl push would have Joe thinking the Bucs will be seeking their fifth offensive coordinator in as many years come February.
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:26 am
Lets go undefeated in Division this year baby
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:27 am
Improving an offense that scored over 500 points on the season is a tall order. Bucs’ offense had 395 first downs last year, 2nd-most in Bucs’ history (our 2021 team had 404 first downs, and scored 511 total points, most for any Bucs’ team). We consistently moved the ball IOW, and that led to points.
There was certainly a LOT of dink-and-dunk in there, but Baker also threw a reasonable number of deep passes AND most importantly, our running game was outstanding (and kept the ball moving forward). Hopefully fans don’t ASSUME that’ll all happen automatically once again this season. Our offense stayed reasonably healthy last season, and actually has much better depth than our defense has. A lot of things have to come together for us to equal last year’s performance, much less surpass it.
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:28 am
Yeah sounds nice, but gives me pause since this guy never called a game before. If you think about it, it’s quite a risk to hire a guy as OC that has never called a play before.
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:32 am
This is not going to end well. He is in over his head
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:45 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Always so much negativity from people ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:47 am
Last season, the Lions averaged 33.2 points per game. It would be nice to beat that! 😉
If our defense increases the number of interceptions and force fumbles, getting the ball back for our offense, that will help achieve that goal. A couple of special teams TDs would be nice too!
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:51 am
“Can,” “if,” ” hope.” …semantics
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:52 am
I in agreement with DR, no surprise there as his takes are always solid.
Improving from the 4th best scoring offense in the NFL will be a tall order.
IMO, Coen was a very good play caller, a big improvement over the Canales’ approach running the ball 2 or 3 yards on the first two downs. No telling what Grizz will do. But I have to also give credit to Baker. I think Baker gave Coen and Canales a BIG assist in getting HC jobs.
The real difference for the 2025 Bucs is going to be the D. If the Bucs just keep the same scoring proficiency, and the D improves to even a top 10 to 12, the Bucs are going to the SB.
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:53 am
Before everybody covers their azzes with negative comments, how bout we wait a few games into the season first??
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:58 am
Unfortunately the defense will again be the wet blanket that puts out the fire.
We’re not trying to out score the other team as much as we’re trying to out score our putrid pass defense.
This is on Bowles and his lousy scheme.
Just two more years of futility left until we send him packing.
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:06 am
Love the confidence and knowledge of what needs to be done to make better. Love that the attitude is not happy with number 4 but to want to do better.
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:12 am
I don’t care how many points were average in a year just as long as we have 1 more point than everyone we play this season.
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:23 am
Areas the Bucs need to improve on offense:
The entire Denver game – seven points in the entire game before the injuries came to the offense!
Breakdowns like the Dallas game – failures to convert on fourth down and giving the Cowboys a short field for a quick TD, first and ten at the Dallas 25 that became 4th and 40 and a punt, a touchdown pass to McMillan wrestled away for an interception, the White fumble.
First and 10 at the SF 14 that became a FG on 4th and 8. Six punts against SF and only 20 points.
Going for the tie instead of the win at KC.
The fumble in the playoffs against Washington. Second and 1 at the Washington 12 with 6:09 left in the fourth quarter that became a tying FG instead of a TD to take the lead.
The Evans TD called back for holding on 1st down followed by sacks that resulted in a punt instead of a TD.
The offense left plenty of points on the field last year. They did not use two RB sets enough. The dropped Mayfield back in the shotgun too often with no motion or play action – specially when the Bucs were trailing.
Clean up a few small things on offense and the Bucs won three more regular season games and the first playoff game.
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:26 am
I think we will score less points per game this year. Not necessarily because the offense will be worse, but rather the defense will be better. We will not need to score as many points.
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:30 am
hopefully time of possession is something that goes up….
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:48 am
Toopanca … ‘Clean up a few small things on offense and the Bucs won three more regular season games and the first playoff game.’
Probably true in the regular season, but not too sure about the playoff game. Bucs played FIVE night games last season (4 in the regular season at 8 PM … Falcons, Ravens, Chiefs, Cowboys … plus the Washington playoff game). WE LOST ALL 5. Only played 2 night games in the regular season in 2023 … WE LOST BOTH OF THEM TOO (but we won the 1 night playoff game against the Eagles). Bucs won 3 lost 2 at night in 2022 regular season, but lost the playoff game against the Cowboys at night.
Kinda leads me to believe that Todd Bowles’ teams have an issue playing at night … we’ve won 3 lost 9 regular season night games in 2022-2024, plus won 1 lost 2 playoff games in that same period. So we’ve won 4 lost 12 night games total in the past 3 years. Bummer. Tells me though that that’s something this year’s team needs to focus on, since we have 4 night games this season (maybe 5 depending on what they do with our last game against the Panthers).
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:53 am
A new OC every year? Not to worry Boys and girls. We have the universal successful content factor. Its called an elite franchise QB. We have Baker and he is used to changing OCs like other guys change sox.
Baker made the OCs. He got them their promotions. Like said before the players make the coaches not the other way around.
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:05 am
The pressure is on Grizzard after seeing what his two predecessors were given after one season at the helm. Both OC’s were one and done… one was totally deserving (Coen) and the other was the worst offensive coordinator the Bucs have employed since Marcus Arroyo. Luckily, we get to face Canales twice a year for at least one more year. He owes Baker Mayfield a lot.
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:29 am
Gotta love off-season coach speak. Let’s see this man call plays in games that count and take it from there. This team under Bowles takes about 8 weeks to find its stride so we’ll see if that changes this season.
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:54 am
I know nothing about Grizzard but really wasn’t impressed with that press conference. Frankly he sounded like a good ole boy that everyone liked so he got the job more than any kind of genius. However the job is not giving press conferences so that is probably way off . Just didn’t give a press conference that nudged the needle if you are on the fence with him as the OC
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:54 am
if Griz has it clicking you’d think they’d lock him up long term somehow. Lesson learned?
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:57 am
Grizzard will be better than Cohen .For the doubters that think we can’t score more than last year , we would of scored most points all time in Franchise history if we would of just been a little healthier
May 22nd, 2025 at 10:38 am
Offense needs to carry this team until Todd can prove he can scheme up a competent pass defense.
Pass defense and schemes in a passing league is important, until clueless Todd realizes that this team is going no where
May 22nd, 2025 at 11:07 am
more turn overs would help from the defense and if baker can throw less ints and not fumble a jet sweep they can be better