Bucs WRs Coach Bryan McClendon Believes Receivers Deserve All The Credit
October 16th, 2025
Receivers coach Bryan McClendon.
Joe has typed about this, but man, Joe has to give a lot of credit to Bucs offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon for having backups ready to play and ready to make plays.
The Bucs have been hammered on the offensive line with injuries and were down to their No. 4 guard playing Sunday against the 49ers.
At receiver, the Bucs are down their top four receivers.
For a wide receivers coach, you’d think his agent might be getting calls from other teams’ general managers looking for an assistant offensive coordinator next year or a quarterback coach.
That’s how it worked for the past three Bucs offensive coordinators: Josh Grizzard, Liam Coen and Dave Canales. All three served as a wide receivers coach before working their way up the coaching ladder before landing a job as offensive coordinator.
Is McClendon looking?
“Not at all, not one bit,” McClendon laughed when asked if he may use his success this fall with the Bucs as a stepping stone to a better job. “You kind of just so wrapped up in making sure that you’re helping these guys be as successful as they can be, and then that’s something that we do every single day.
“I say, I tell the guys all the time, ‘Man, there’s nothing like an everyday guy. There’s nothing like a person that you know and expect every single day.”
An “everyday guy” is a player you can always trust, McLendon said, adding his job is to help all his receivers be everyday guys.
“I just want to be that guy that can help those guys, in every single way, reach their full potential,” McClendon said. “So that’s what I’m completely wrapped up in.”
In fact, McClendon seemed a bit embarrassed that he’s getting any credit. He noted he’s not on the field catching footballs and scoring touchdowns.
“I probably am getting way too much credit, you know?” McClendon said. “I mean, I’m not the one out there playing, you know? Those guys are the ones that are out there doing their thing, just applying the things right now, man, that we put in place and putting good days together, which I which, I’m a firm believer.”
Well, somebody had to get a rookie like Tez Johnson and a punt returner and part-time receiver like Kameron Johnson ready to play.
Joe is a big coaches guy and that’s both a good and bad thing. Joe knows from experience what a good coach can do for a player.
And as Joe’s good friend NFL columnist/humorist Mike Tanier once typed about lousy Lovie Smith, never underestimate how bad coaching can drag a team down.
Carberry and McClendon sure appear to be damn good coaches.
October 16th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Kudos
October 16th, 2025 at 7:33 am
Excellent story!🫡
October 16th, 2025 at 7:40 am
Great article Joe. So many good points
“…Joe has to give a lot of credit …. for having backups ready to play and ready to make plays.”
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And some credit for who hired them. Another example of Todd’s abilities as a HC
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“I just want to be that guy that can help those guys, in every single way, reach their full potential,”
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What a good coach does.
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Joe knows from personal experience what a good coach can do for a player.
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Amen brother.
October 16th, 2025 at 7:56 am
I was down on B-Mac when he was hired because I wanted a coach with NFL experience. I was very wrong – this guy is humble and he delivers young guys that can play. A great example is when Tez changed his route to get wide open on his TD. I hope B-Mac keeps the young guys away from the rat poison.
October 16th, 2025 at 8:23 am
Rapoport said Egbuka will play this week
October 16th, 2025 at 8:44 am
Tez had that amazing catching and was fantastic in Seattle, but Kam should get more love. Excellent punt returner, and he’s the one that had 4 catches for 64. The Bucs were high on him last year, and made the 53 – but got injured. Came back, made the roster AGAIN on a team that drafted 2 wideouts – as an undrafted player out of a D2 school. That is extremely impressive
October 16th, 2025 at 9:00 am
He probably should get some credit for Egbuka, too. Most polished rookie receiver in the league.
I sure underestimated all of them, especially Tez. He gets open and has great hands. Antonio Brown-like!
October 16th, 2025 at 9:14 am
He can be modest about it, but the man is doing a fantastic job! Most teams, if they lose their HOF WR for a couple of games don’t fare so well. Head coaches and coordinators get all the press, but the position coaches are with these guys all the time. Seeing Johnson & Johnson tearing it up was awesome!
October 16th, 2025 at 9:19 am
I love the phrase “everyday guy”.
October 16th, 2025 at 9:55 am
The Bucs coaching has remarkably been outstanding this year. Much of their efforts has been the difference from past Bucs teams.
October 16th, 2025 at 10:21 am
For McClendon to be able to get bright lights performances out of the Bucs’ Johnsons, he’s obviously doing a heroic job. Way to go, coach Mac.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:19 am
The good assistant coaches are the quiet ones. Take a look at Mike Tomlin and Raheem Morris. They trained under Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin. Carberry and McClendon are excellent, no doubt about it. You can bet both Licht and Bowles seek and value their opinions come Draft time. More articles like this, Joe, please? And c’mon, Tampa Bay. You snuck up on the Lions last year. You can do it again. Defang them!!
October 16th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
AQUA
STFU!!!!!
you’ll be picking feathers out your mouth again!!!!!!!
6-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 16th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Who hired him Ironlung ?Your favorite coach Todd.
October 16th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Excited that ME seems to be trending in the right direction for the Lions game. I have not seen any reports where Ian Rapoport has predicted that Egbuka would play Monday night, only reports from him that he is expected to miss time. Might have missed it though?
October 16th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Man, love all our coaches. Guys are working very hard to put guys in position to succeed.
Prove is in the pudding….WR room is killing it. Best in the league @ this point.
My god. I’m starting to feel sorry for @aqua but not really 🤣.
October 16th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
“Good” coaches are rare. They are easily known because their guys regularly win more than the others. After a while it becomes apparent that they are different. They are worth their weight in gold.
October 16th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
WONDERFUL job you’re doing there….keep it up!