Enhanced Challenge For Josh Grizzard
July 10th, 2025
Rookie Bucs playcaller Josh Grizzard got a lot more dumped on his plate yesterday.
Using a dinner analogy, it’s the cold Lima beans he doesn’t want to eat.
Joe’s referring to Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs having unexpected knee surgery Tuesday and the report of him missing multiple September games.
Grizzard now has to worry about covering up a weakness on his line. Veteran backup Charlie Heck might do just fine, and the Bucs will get a long look at him through training camp and preseason, but Heck is no Wirfs. Hiccups and bad matchups must now be expected when they weren’t before.
That’s a challenge for an offensive coordinator to tackle. Longtime NFL offensive coordinator and former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley talked about this on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday. He noted how the Bucs will have to slide protection to help Heck.
“So [Heck] can overset, he knows he’s got help from a guard,” Haley said. “You can use a back to chip. You can motion a tight end over and he’s involved in the protection when you’re not sliding to [the left tackle]. There are things you can do and it’s been done. It’s not the end of the world. … There’s ways to cover it up and help as much as you can. … I mean, you do some things that you maybe normally would never do from a protection standpoint in order to kinda cover up a potential weakness.”
Yes, Grizzard will have to alter his offense and approach before ever calling a play. That’s not smooth start for a guy who has never called plays.
At least Grizzard saw first-hand how his predecessor handled a similar situation in Weeks 2 through 5 last season, when right tackle Luke Goedeke was lost for four games with a concussion. The Bucs averaged 23 points during those games — 6 1/2 below their season average.
Haley noted that first, Grizzard and other Bucs coaches must get over the agonizing news of Wirfs’ injury.
Haley said Bucs coaches were likely moaning yesterday, “Why didn’t we have this information in the offseason?” regarding the Wirfs injury. “I’m sure there’s a lot of frustrated people, including Tristan in this situation,” he said.
July 10th, 2025 at 8:54 am
Too many variables, no forthcoming info from the coaches and management, too many unknowns.
At least this is happening at the start of season instead of end of the season.
In the end the Bucs just to deal with it. Take a proactive approach and plan for it.
Good news is it hasn’t happened at the start of the season and not tanking the 2025 season
July 10th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Tough spot for the newbie O.C. for sure, hopefully Licht can snag a solid backup to stave off the bleeding for games he’s out
July 10th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Josh Grizzard will do great job. I have full confidence in him!
July 10th, 2025 at 9:06 am
When Skule played in the Detroit fiasco, it was apparent that the Bucs had too much confidence in him, giving him little help. That can’t happen with Heck – be prepared for the worst, give him lots of help. Also, have Bake throw quick passes and roll him right.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:25 am
If Heck gets the start again the Falcons. The good thing is he will be going against two rookie Edge Rushers, playing in their first NFL game. It’s a whole lot better going up against Hutchinson, or a Myles Garrett
July 10th, 2025 at 9:27 am
He has training camp to come up with a plan. Now is the time for the Bucs to show how much good of a coaching staff they have.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Donovan Smith is still a 32 year old free agent who started at KC in 2023. I would definitely look into him and what it might take to sign him.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:34 am
Before we all lose it I’ll remind everyone Wirfs has 9 weeks before the start of the season. He’ll be back in September. His injury was so minor they didn’t think it needed surgery. We’re not talking about a bad injury. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s back for the Jet game.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:39 am
i think more dink and dunk will become a reality and not some attempt at glorious long ball offense which has been hinted at by grizzard. which is fine by me.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:43 am
“I mean, you do some things that you maybe normally would never do from a protection standpoint in order to kinda cover up a potential weakness.”
This part to me isn’t a problem, but what it may take away from the other things we’d want from a Cade Otton or any of our RBs is. Yes, you can mask the obvious difference between Wirfs and whomever we use to play in his place, but masking that is going to effect our capability/personnel usage as a whole unit. We’ll see
July 10th, 2025 at 9:44 am
I might want to get on the phone with the Vikings about a trade for Skule, if Wirfs doesnt show any improvements
July 10th, 2025 at 10:27 am
sizzle to the grizzle baby !
July 10th, 2025 at 10:41 am
At least Heck will get all the 1st team reps in training camp and preseason
July 10th, 2025 at 10:59 am
@BucsNoles Skule will be starting the season as a starter in Minnesota. They won’t be letting him go now.
July 10th, 2025 at 11:15 am
I’m not doctor, but I’ve always thought recovery from arthroscopic surgery was 6-8 weeks. I double checked Hodad and it is indeed 9 weeks till opening day. Hopefully pundits are just fishing for clicks. I saw here that he might miss game one, but others said he would miss the first 4 games. By my figuring he shouldn’t miss any. I just say that because from my recollection many players only miss 6 games after that particular surgery. In fact I just looked it up. It’s mutkey, but generally sites say 4-6 weeks before you can play sports. Football, I guess, may take a tad more, but 13 weeks?
July 10th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Grizzard will do a better job protecting Mayfield than alleged “mastermind” Liam Coen did in the Lions game….
The Bucs are lucky to have a good pass pro RB in Rashad White to help out what appears to be a weak left tackle.
Wonder what the “trade Rashad White” brigade is thinking now?
July 10th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Unless the relationship soured with Donovan Smith at the end of his tenure (pure speculation)…. I don’t see any reason why the Bucs wouldn’t at least bring him into compete in training camp.
July 10th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Tbbucs3
Agree with both of your posts especially Donovan. He’s at least worth kicking the tires to see if he has anything left…IF he’s interested and they can work out a deal.
But I’m not freaking because as you suggest Griz has got this. And I agree with “alleged mastermind” Liam Coen. I though Cohen did an excellent job but he didn’t mastermind anything.
Coen didn’t create that OL, or Bucky, and in fact an argument could be make that JBF fans were ahead of Coen on that one. Coen’s magic seemed to fade at the end when the Bucs had to complete a desperation toss to salvage the season.
Final game of the year…win an in..an crappy N.O. team AT HOME.
“With 10:49 left in regulation, facing a 4th and 8 at the New Orleans 42-yard line, Mayfield found Jalen McMillan deep downfield for a 33-yard gain.”
Of course Aqualung was the first one here to give Bowles credit for giving Coen the Green light there instead of punting.
July 10th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
We also have, by all accounts, 2 very good OL coaches.
I’d think they will be of great assistance to Grizz.
Sucks to lose Wirfs for any time but we’ll be alright. Better now than mid or late season.
July 10th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
This just makes it more challenging for Griz to compensate for the woeful Swiss cheese pass defense and the increasing points allowed trend.
July 10th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
Donovan has two rings and has made no mention of playing again.
The last thing he wants to do is come to training camp in Tampa, in July/August.
If it were a December playoff run, maybe.
July 10th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
I’d say not as challenging as trying to keep you on topic…🙄
July 10th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
Carberry and Picucci are top-tier NFL OL coaches and were able to elevate Justin Skule’s game when he had only 11 career starts coming into 2024. They can surely coach up Heck who is bigger, stronger, and more athletic and has 23 career starts.
July 10th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
JMark
Great point!