Early Points Will Be Critical
October 4th, 2025
Need quicker starts.
Don’t think Liam Coen makes a difference?
While it is still early, at least when it comes to first-quarter points, Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is more Dave Canales than Coen, his two predecessors.
So far this year, the Bucs have been poor in scoring first-quarter points ranking 24th in the league at 3.3 points. Last year the Bucs were first with 6.7 points a game in the opening quarter.
In 2023, under Canales when the Bucs never had an opening drive touchdown, the Bucs were 26th with 2.9 points to open the game. Ira Kaufman wrote a fine column all about this yesterday and noted Seattle has outscored opponents 35-16 to start games.
Joe brings this up because Seattle’s offense is nothing to sneeze at in the first month of the season. Unlike the Bucs, the Seahawks don’t screw around beginning the game.
So how have the Bucs jumped out to a 3-1 record by being so sluggish early in games? Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense has flipped the switch once they break a good sweat.
In the final three quarters of games, the Bucs have a 21-point edge on foes, outscoring the opponents 84-63 (+21 points) after the first quarter.
Joe sees a stingy defense in Seattle, so not sure getting behind early would be as easy to overcome tomorrow.
October 4th, 2025 at 10:05 am
USE the pass to set up the run. Also need to use TEs to keep the drives from stalling & setteling of FGs.
October 4th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Talk about an apples and oranges comparison, Coen sure didn’t have the massive injuries to the offensive line that Grizzard has had to deal with. Our tight ends are almost exclusively blocking or at least starting every pass play that way.
Oh, and when did Evans get hurt last season? That’s right, week eight. Not even close to the same situation at all.
And remind me, what powerhouse offenses have the Seahawks faced this year? The most “potent” offense they have faced so far has scored less points than the Bucs.
October 4th, 2025 at 10:19 am
Not gifting the opponent a TD on their opening drives by busting coverages and leaving dudes 15 yards wide open on such drives, especially when telegraphing a blitz, is equally if not more important. SirWhiffsAlot, please watch the tape of yourself and volunteer for full time ST duty. On Magoo’s short bus, you can be the most gifted spectard. Tell Bowles that you know like the rest of the world, that Deion Jones is far better suited to play next to Lavonte.
October 4th, 2025 at 10:22 am
“Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense has flipped the switch once they break a good sweat.“
Our defense forced 6 straight punts last week and this offense with its switch couldn’t do anything with it outside of 2 broken plays, that kind of didn’t matter if you factor in the 2 turnovers that kept points on the field.
Outside of being bottom 3rd of the league in almost every offensive metric, to say this offense has a “switch” is you peeing on someone’s head and telling them it’s raining lol
October 4th, 2025 at 10:25 am
WBL,
Yep. Grizz is in over his head at this point.
October 4th, 2025 at 10:30 am
Darnold absolutely killed it all season, then floundered in the playoffs against the Rams. Let’s do whatever the Rams did
October 4th, 2025 at 10:41 am
Seattle is down their starting DE, CB, and S I believe so hopefully that will help! Go Bucs!!!
October 4th, 2025 at 10:54 am
I dont think this guy is good. Hopefully we get new coaches next year while we still have some talented players.
October 4th, 2025 at 10:56 am
Honestly, I think Coen seems to be a great coach so far. I give Grizzard a slight pass with the offensive line issues, but it doesn’t excuse the overuse of Bucky Irving. Rachaad White’s lack of usage so far has been criminal — especially considering how good he’s looked in the games where he has gotten carries.
That said, with all the injuries on the offensive line — and now at wide receiver, running back, etc. — I’ll give Grizzard a break until we get Evans and Godeke back, personally.
October 4th, 2025 at 10:58 am
The Bucs are 30-16 against all NFC opponents over the last 4 years. Bucs will be ready.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:04 am
All this love for Coen. Let’s just wait and see.
Wirfs. Mauch. Goedeke. Evans. Godwin. Irving. Baker. All hurt.
Did Coen have to deal with that? No. And they were 4-6 after ten games.
After 4 games last year, they were 3-1 and scored 97 points.
This year? 3-1 and 97 points. With all of these injuries.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:06 am
I agree 100% with Bucman.
Using the pass ti setup the run is the key to our entire offense working or not working this year, I believe.
And so far, it has NOT been working.
We are a bottom-tier offense currently.
So long Top-5 Offense. Hopefully we see you again someday. 🖐
October 4th, 2025 at 11:09 am
“Two broken plays?”
Arrogant but ignorant mouthbreathers say the darnedest things. They were made plays, which is how most big plays in this era are made. We have a guy who makes them on offense. Furthermore, the wheel route to Bucky was the design, but let’s the micro-organism feel good about knowitallism and pretend.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Liam Coen is elite, but Grizzard has been working with one hand tied behind his back with all the injuries.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Agreed with all of you stating the obvious apple to oranges comparison.
I do think is really the battle of the coordinators. Let’s see who comes up with the best game plan.
Hopefully we come out even on this month.
Go Bucs!!!!
October 4th, 2025 at 11:20 am
The BUCS offensive line has been in obvious turmoil this year. Starting from that last-second offensive line shuffle in week 1. It’s like they have to grow around to find their way in a dark room till they find their way every game. A victory in Seattle would be a huge shot in the arm. I’d say the key will be rattling Darnold right off the bat. And like the article says: fast start on offense. The Seahawks are pretty damn good.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:28 am
We can’t truly judge this offense until everyone is healthy.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:29 am
It’s the o-line and everyone knows it. El Serpiente didn’t lose his LOT, have to reposition 3 o-linemen to get an average line – just to be competitive – 4 games into the season.
And we all know it.
Grizz has called great games in this period, sure some of our opponents have had not been playing winning football, but we very nearly upset the undefeated Super Bowl champions.
We are getting healthier – next stage has begun, and we’re getting better from this point. We have some room to get the depth some game experience, and still win late when these starters all get back into the lineup.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:46 am
This team reminds me of those teams in past years, like Phillly. Their decimated by injuries, but have a great team, but the every day fan doesnt see it, they see a team that just gets by and they don’t know why. Next thing you know, that team is deep in the playoffs and the analysts start pointing out and showing everyone how gritty that team has been ALL year, and now that they’re healthy, they’re knocking the cover off the ball. My hope is we can get the health back to our players see we actually can resemble such a discussion.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:46 am
*They’re decimated…
October 4th, 2025 at 11:48 am
Geez… *SO we actually resemble such a discussion.
October 4th, 2025 at 11:56 am
“This year? 3-1 and 97 points.“
Not so fast
9 offensive TDs
8 passing and 1 rushing for 54 points
Chase himself has scored 35 points between FG & XPs made
6 off Deans score
And another 2 on a safety to milk the rest of the clock and end our last game
That’s the 97 points you’re crediting to the OC.
Context matters, that’d be like me saying the defense has given up 97, when we all know at least 14 came off 2 offensive special teams blocks and another 7 was the direct result of a turnover.
October 4th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Hey look, it made a comment without mentioning Bowles. Good job 813, wherever you are your impact has obviously resonated with the Shelia Broflovski of Buc fans.
October 4th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Grizz is better than the stats show he is. The O line injuries have limited his play calling selections. As well as diverting his time & attention to more of a survival mode type situation.
Is he as good as his predecessor? Not yet. Last years OC was the best the Bucs have ever seen.
Grizz will get better with more experience as the season flows and the overall health of the team improves.
GO BUCS
October 4th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Watch the games. Then, read the drive summaries to better understand the games.
The Bucs are built to run first. That is more true than ever with the injuries to the offensive line. And, yes, Bucky has been overused.
Against the Eagles, on the first drive, the Bucs gained 28 yards mostly running the ball. The drive ended when the Bucs had two incomplete passes in the last series.
After the Eagles blocked the punt and scored, Grizzard panicked a bit, called three straight pass plays, and the Bucs went three and out. So much for establishing the run by passing the ball.
After that, the Bucs established the run, wore down the Eagles DL in the heat and humidity, and that let Baker dance around long enough to hit on some big plays.
October 4th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Does this guy has a mullet haircut?
October 4th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
At least we know we shouldn’t lose this guy after this year.
October 4th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
This is not a Liam Coen vs Josh Grizzard issue. This is a healthy vs injured issue. For as much as you guys have praised the makeshift offensive line, they have been pretty terrible overall. They have been inconsistent getting push and creating holes in the run game, and they give up a ton of pressure, which is why Baker has to throw so fast or scramble like hell.
Need more proof? Look at Liam Coen’s Jaguars this year. They have not scored any points on opening drives through 4 games, and they are averaging 4.0 points per game in the first quarter, 17th in the NFL and not that much better than the Bucs.
Grizzard and Baker are doing what they can with this offensive line. Hopefully this week will look better with the left side finally getting reps together last week, but our right side still sucks and will be an issue until Goedeke gets back, and the RG spot will remain a question mark even then.
October 4th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Too many factors at play in this game for it ever to be one thing, good or bad lol
October 4th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Our offense has been hampered due to the Oline injuries, it is pretty clear. Can’t even open up the entire playbook because they can’t provide the proper time and clean pocket for those down-field plays to develop. It’ll get better!!
October 4th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch … Great breakdown on where our 97 points scored to date have come from. And absolutely ‘context matters’.
Our offense has struggled much of the time, and it’s largely reflected in our 3rd down conversion rate (only 37.0% ranked #22 in the NFL). Of course our Red Zone TD percentage is even worse (only 36.4% ranking #29 in the NFL). It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why: our OLine is in shambles & half of our receiving corps is injured.
What we do know though is that our OLine’s run blocking has been better than their pass blocking. We did reasonably well in the Eagles’ game running the ball … 26 rushes for 104 yds (4.0 YPC) against the Super Bowl champs.
The Seahawks have a good run defense (ranked #6 currently), BUT … in their only loss (to the 49ers) it looks like the 49ers running took a toll on the Seahawks. San Fran ran it 36 times for 119 yds (3.3 YPC) but put up 277 yds passing (26-of-35 for 74.3% completions). Using that balanced attack, the 49ers controlled the TOP … 38 to 22 minutes.
Bucs should do the same IMO, especially since our current OLine run-blocks better than it pass blocks. Looks like the Bucs have Rachaad White, Sean Tucker & Josh Williams on our current roster to work with, and I’d let all 3 of them run the ball early in the game to see who seems to do better against the Seahawks run defense. I’d also use a balanced attack of short & intermediate passes to keep Seattle’s defense off-guard (Purdy threw deep 7 times … completed 4 of them but had 2 of them intercepted). We lack the deep speed right now so dink-and-dunk it is.
BTW, San Fran jumped out on them early in the 1st qtr with a 14-play first drive for a TD. A thing of beauty that marched 95 yds down the field … 7 rushes for 19 yds & 7 passes (6 complete) for 66 yds. A Roughing-the-Passer 15-yd penalty on Seattle midway in the drive on a 3rd-and-9 (after an Incomplete pass) helped for sure, but sometimes you gotta get lucky. Oh and Purdy scrambled twice on that drive (for 12 yds) and connected on a 26-yd deep pass. Overall a balanced attack that seems to have kept the Seahawks off-balance.
October 4th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Same old song and dance from the same old people.
If it gets harder to put down the HC then let’s blame another coach (ST) for all our troubles and call him some names we’d never say IRL.
The Bucky catch was improvised. Do you think Grizz is calling wheel routes that take 6 seconds to throw? Bucky ran a short route to the flats and Baker motioned him take off. Great play but NOT executed as planned – scramble drill.
Im really hoping to see better starts from the offense and they start to “click”. I think it’s very possible. 👍🏼
What I don’t wish for is that Jacksonville will have a great season cause y’all’s chinless man crush coaches them now. 👎🏼
October 4th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
Even though for our team to reach its full potential we have to be a pass first offense there may be exceptions to that. And with our injury situation this year may be one of those exceptions. Good point DR.
October 4th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
I’d still prefer we fling it all over the yard and soften them up a little bit and then run it down their throat. But you can’t always get what you want. Cue The Rolling Stones.
October 4th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
getting any points will be critical. all grizzard has to do is look at last years tape, put his ego aside, and get things moving.
October 4th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
“What we do know though is that our OLine’s run blocking has been better than their pass blocking. We did reasonably well in the Eagles’ game running the ball … 26 rushes for 104 yds (4.0 YPC) against the Super Bowl champs.“
ESPN posted sometime yesterday of the 74 rushing snaps Heck has been in on he’s won 65 of those reps. I personally believe the run game with a dinged up OL is the way to go, not just for the sake of running it but it’s a sure fire way to mentally and physically tire out an opposing front 7. Great way to get the 2 players on the right to get some confidence with live reps, while also not leaving yourself open to passing against one of the better secondary units in the NFC in terms of takeaways.
That would be the smart thing to do and get us out of the 3 & out or drive that lasts <3 minute funk, because that’s a problem. I don’t think opposing defense fear the prospect of being “carved” up by our pass game or us consistently sustaining long scoring drives. As an observer, I wouldn’t blame them because we’ve struggled mightily doing so in 4 games.
I’m all for being patient with Grizz, but I also know to discern from the talent making an OC look good and an OC using his talent to make the team look it’s best. Grizz is beneficiary of the former, and imo struggling to make sense of the later relative to the players he’s got to work with. OL injuries are just a blanket excuse or at least that’s how it’s being used to explain the lack or rhythm, timing, consistency, and productivity of our offense.
October 4th, 2025 at 8:27 pm
Even the almighty (/s) Coen didn’t open up the offense to its fullest potential last year. Bet he wasn’t dealing with a boatload of injuries either. Plus, didn’t the dude actually have offensive gameplan experience at the college level? In fairness to Grizzard, he’s a rookie OC. I keep running into folks who are fans of other teams, but they rave about Feisty Bake. If the Bucs can just get healthy! It takes an offensive line time to jell as a unit. Bucs sure haven’t had that luxury this year. An upset tomorrow in the Evergreen City would be a YUGE shot in the arm for the Bucs. C’mon Tampa Bay!!
October 5th, 2025 at 12:00 am
Scott Frost out on a masterclass at being a stubborn moron as a playcaller tonight.
Hopefully Grizz is smarter tomorrow.