Josh Grizzard: Still Installing Offense, Challenging Players
August 17th, 2025
Josh Grizzard talks to Joe.
The rookie Bucs offensive coordinator seems to know exactly what he’s doing.
Joe’s been impressed.
Saturday only added to the growing mystique of 35-year-old Josh Grizzard. Yeah, the first-team run game was abysmal, but the Bucs offense posted 14 points in the first 11 minutes and 40 seconds against a solid Steelers defense on the road.
Lots to nitpick on the offense, and Joe will get to more of that later. But it’s a results league and Grizzard and his first-teamers delivered.
In a private chat with Joe in Pittsburgh last week, Grizzard explained he’s just getting rolling and there’s plenty more to do.
“We still have so much that we can correct, and even things that we can add to it,” Grizzard said of the offense.
“We’re not done with the installs. So we’re going to keep putting the pressure on the guys to stay in their [playbooks], take care of their bodies … and put their best stuff on tape.”
Joe acutely remembers saying repeatedly that the greatest X-factor for the Bucs this season is Grizzard. He’s got a high standard to uphold and nobody knows if he’s up to the challenge.
As of today, Joe would say Grizzard has shown he is capable. The Bucs offense has practiced well and its confidence is high, and Joe hasn’t seen or heard of any glitches attributed to the first-time playcaller.
August 17th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Bowles will keep it close. We should win the division again in the last few weeks. Football season is almost here.
August 17th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
The vanilla 1st down runs up the middle won’t work against a good Dline
August 17th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
we will rise or fall on injuries. That simple. Bowles is good enough, Grizzard is good enough, the team is stocked. We already lost good players . Frustrating that it comes down to the unexpected. Can’t plan for that other than hope your depth players are up to the task.
August 17th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
The passing game is on point
I’m not so sure about the run game
August 17th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
Run game these guys aren’t running the same zone scheme at all. I haven’t seen it
August 17th, 2025 at 6:00 pm
The Bowles Bridgewater set up is a turn off.
August 17th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
The honest way would be cut Trask and install Bridgewater. The odor is emanating from the scheme. JMO. Too sneaky. Almost political. Oh well. Almost football season. Let the games begin!!!
August 17th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Hey, Grizzard the Wizard, stop calling 1st down runs bro! Stats from last day that was one of the keys to our success; on the ground and thru the air.
Everyone on D is looking for a handoff on 1st down. Don’t play into their hands.
Wize up, homey
August 17th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Joe, for the record.
I am not impressed with the playcalling thus far.
Seems more predictable than Coen.
August 17th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Last *year not day
August 17th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
Trask might be happy to just make the practice squad. More good pay for doing nothing. Whole thing stinks.
August 17th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
I rather have Bridgewater than Kyle.
I don’t understand how his fan club is crying because he is not the playing with our starting offense. Yes he did well against a 3-14 Titans defense but couldn’t do much against Pittsburgh’s backups. I saw late throws. Passes thrown behind the receiver. He seems to need 4 seconds to make a decision and then he is late on the throw. This is his 5th year. Sorry but this is the NFL not college.
I rather have Jameis back as a backup. And no I don’t follow college football.
August 17th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
There’s jack sh*t to discern from preseason play calling. Even that play to Bucky, wasn’t all that intricate doesn’t take much creativity to line an RB up wide with a LB on him in man, that’s a mismatch and you take advantage of it. The execution of the play is what made us all go “wow” cause the ball was on the money and Bucky held on to it
August 17th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Standard scripted plays in preseason. Grizz isn’t showing anything and don’t expect anything more against the Bills next weekend. So far I’m impressed by the second level offensive players.
August 17th, 2025 at 6:52 pm
Griz will do his job. Now the players have to stay on the field and do their job!
August 17th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Please please please stop nitpicking play calling in the preseason. Why on Earth would you expect any coach to be showing the playbook in the preseason?
August 17th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
After getting a vote of confidence from the Glazers I’d say Bowles is the one with something to prove. He needs to prove he can lead a team to more than just winning the division, and losing at home in the first round. If this team can’t at least get to the NFC championship, that new deal won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on.
August 17th, 2025 at 10:02 pm
Big deal about Arians, The only reason he came out of retirement is the quality of the Bucs team he would be coaching. The one weakness was at QB with Famous Jameis. So Licht helped woo Methuselah12. He had to ransom a ton of cap money to get this overaged clown. Second SB. Afterwards, Methuselah showed his age and sucked. We are finally freed from it. If Buc Luck doesn’t show up, this team will be scary good,
August 17th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
I said it in 1 of my earlier posts, he learned quick and went from runs to short passes and when it opened it up, back to the runs and it worked. He may have even set it up that way depending on how the week went. I think this guy is as sharp as anyone and we’ll see this offense keep going skyward during the season. If this keeps going the way it is it could be scary good for us down here and just plain scary for the rest of the league. Don’t forget, he has no tendencies that anyone knows of and counteract yet either.
August 17th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
A real full time head coach could help with these things. Sadly we don’t have one of these.
August 17th, 2025 at 10:53 pm
I was impressed with Grizzard last night. After the first series when Heck threw a no hitter during the first series, Grizzard went to a spread offense in the 2’nd series and threw some quick passes. Heck seemed to settle down a little after that as well.
August 18th, 2025 at 1:43 am
I truly question the supposed football IQ of anyone complaining about the play calling of a pre-season game. Play calling in preseason has a completely different set of objectives than it does in games that matter.
August 18th, 2025 at 6:52 am
Sparky… hear, hear.
About to type something similar.
Not being impressed with the Griz’s play calling and running up the middle on first down, WHEN IT’S PRE-SEASON, is beyond moronic. You actually think he’s going to show his best installs and any zone blocking running plays on Saturday night?
August 18th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
“Hey, Grizzard the Wizard, stop calling 1st down runs bro!”
Things could be quite different with the real first team playing – not a just signed QB who hasn’t played at all in a year and a half and missing your team’s top two receivers.
We’re going to have to wait for the regular season to see Baker and the real offense take the field and then judge Grizzard by the plays he calls in real games with the real starting lineup. Don’t make too many judgements about what happens in the vanilla world pf preseason football and player experiments.