Starting Fast Isn’t Just About Offense
October 5th, 2025
Slow starts.
An ugly thing has taken place as the Bucs break in a new offensive coordinator. Again.
Back when Dave Canales was running the offense, starting fast was a rallying cry because the Bucs never did start fast. At all. The Bucs went through the 2023 season without scoring a touchdown on their opening drives.
Then came Liam Coen. He was the opposite. He was always about starting fast and the Bucs offense thrived.
Through four games, current offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard seems more Canales than Coen. But it’s really not fair to bang on Grizzard. He’s dealing with major injuries that neither Canales nor Coen had to work around.
But it is not just the offense starting games playing like they just had a late night out in Ybor City. The defense has been gashed, too, as noted by ESPN’s Jenna Laine.
The Bucs have surrendered touchdowns on the first defensive possession in three of their four games, but have only scored on the first offensive possession once. That is a big reason why they’ve had to come from behind in the final two minutes of their games, which have all been decided by one score or less.
The Bucs have otherwise played strong defense. So Joe thinks that if Todd Bowles just tweaks some things here, tightens some things there, the defense will right itself.
Now today ought to be interesting. The Bucs won’t have Jamel Dean or Benjamin Morrison. So whoever is playing outside corner opposite of Zyon McCollum, Joe doesn’t think it is a stretch to expect him to get targeted early and often.
Whomever that is, Joe hopes he’s at least ready early.
October 5th, 2025 at 12:59 am
I’ll feel confident if it’s Parrish. He is a future star. Be ok with Vildor or Bryce Hall. I’ve seen enough of Josh Hayes. May be good on special teams but was a liability last year and during the preseason in coverage. Would hate to see Tykee go to nickel. He needs to be on the field for every snap. Hope Izien can play NB.
October 5th, 2025 at 1:08 am
It’s really hard to take much away from what Wiz Kid has done so far because he’s had to make so many changes on the fly due to injuries – and then we get to this week and we have even more.
But perhaps, with the left side of the offensive line solid, maybe they start getting into more of a flow instead of just constant non-stop adjustments to try to cover up weaknesses. Then again, if the right side of the offensive line is a disaster, that will derail everything you’re trying to do.
October 5th, 2025 at 1:21 am
Give Ben Chukawuma some snaps at tackle. Maybe for obvious passing downs to start. Has much more potential than Heck especially in pass protection. Klein should get some snaps at right guard. Hard to believe he wouldn’t do as well as Haggard has. May need to address OT/OG in the top 5 rounds of next draft or in FA.
October 5th, 2025 at 1:35 am
Cometowin2 Says:
October 5th, 2025 at 1:21 am
Give Ben Chukawuma some snaps at tackle.
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Yeah, I’m kind of surprised he hasn’t gotten a look in games. In preseason, he was very solid. I know he’s a developmental guy, but considering how Heck has played so far, you’d think they’d maybe try him out.
Also, I still wondering if they bring back Jake Majors at center. I don’t know what the injury settlement with him was, but I thought he looked way better than Klein in the preseason. He’s on the Eagles PS currently so he’d be in football shape if the Bucs did bring him back.
October 5th, 2025 at 6:07 am
Was kinda wondering how well Seahawks offense handles the blitz, so looked thru their 4 games. Some interesting differences in how opposing defenses have attacked …
o Game 1: 49ers (Loss) … San Fran blitzed 9 times, generated 6 total pressures, of which 1 was a sack. Seahawks went somewhat heavy run (26 rushes in 50 plays), generating only 84 yds rushing (3.2 YPC) & only 22:02 TOP.
o Game 2: Steelers (win) … Pittsburg blitzed 36 times, generated 10 total pressures, of which 2 were sacks. Seahawks ran a relatively balanced attack (29 rushes in 64 plays) and got 117 yds rushing out of it (4.0 YPC) and 31:17 TOP.
o Game 3: Saints (win) … New Orleans blitzed only 5 times, generated 3 total pressures, of which 0 were sacks. Seahawks went heavy run against them (33 rushes in 54 plays) but got only 87 yds rushing (2.7 YPC) with 27:45 TOP.
o Game 4: Cardinals (win) … Arizona blitzed 15 times, generated 3 pressures, of which 3 were sacks. Seahawks went heavy run against them (35 rushes in 64 plays) & got 155 yds rushing (4.4 YPC) and 32:24 TOP.
Still think our best bet for a win is go somewhat run-heavy so as to (hopefully) own the TOP, mixed in with a lot of short & intermediate passes, but relatively few deep passes. Even though they’ve got a highly-ranked Run Defense, 2 teams have done reasonably well running on them (San Fran & Arizona) & I think we can too.
October 5th, 2025 at 6:19 am
LOL late night at YBOR
October 5th, 2025 at 9:09 am
DR, that was one of your best breakdowns. Kudos.
I completely agree with your strategy of: “…best bet for a win is go somewhat run-heavy so as to (hopefully) own the TOP, mixed in with a lot of short & intermediate passes…”
I think with White and Tucker we can get enough to accomplish what we need, but it will be a grind. In the short passing game, I expect to see a few more balls go to Otton and White (a great receiver), and for Godwin and EE to have better games especially with the Hawks DBs are beat up. If the Bucs D can play like they did in the 2nd half vs the Eglets….
Bucs win this nail biter in a close TOP battle.
October 5th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Rod:
“…considering how Heck has played so far, you’d think they’d maybe try him out.”
I get you. But IMO, one of the many things Todd excels at in player development (along with assisting in personnel selection, coaches and players). Like with JL finding exceptional O-linemen. Even the late switch up with taking Heck out as the LT and shuffling everyone else.
So I trust in Todd for that. The only exception to his player development is OLBs. But I think he sucks at OLB development bc of his myopic focus on an interior pass rush. So when the OLB are not dropped into coverage, their focus is to contain the QB so the interior DL has time to get to the QB. Sorry for my rambling…
October 5th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Ideally BM6 moves the team down the field for an early score. Then the D gets off the field with 3 and out or pick 6! It could happen this week!
October 5th, 2025 at 9:57 am
Mabey if Grizz keeps up with the slow starts we’ll get to keep him for more than a season. No…….never mind,…..it didn’t work with Canales.
October 5th, 2025 at 10:31 am
this has been the story of the defense under the bowles era. bucs need a win today cause shanahan is going to work circles around bowles
October 5th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
As much as I’d like to see us shut out teams on their opening drives it won’t matter if the offense continues to be out of synch and play like they have. Injuries and penalties have been a factor but the Todd/defense sucks crew say that’s no excuse, right?
I know it’s hard for some to admit that our defense has been our best unit through 4 games but it has. I have faith we can play complimentary football and be dominant but we haven’t really shown it yet this year. Maybe today’s the day 🤞🏼
Let’s go Bucs 💪🏼 🏈
October 5th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
DR needs to be on Joe’s payroll. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I just hope the Bus pull this upset. It would be a huge morale builder for the team with all the friggin’ injuries. C’mon, Tampa Bay!!
October 5th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
*Bucs
October 5th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
Absolutely 💯 the Defense has been our best unit so far this year. Was not aware that was even a question?
Last year Bucs had horrible success even forcing teams to punt.
The improvement of our defense is encouraging to say the least.
No one could have predicted the huge amount of injuries our offense has suffered through.
Many thought our offense would even improve over last year’s performance.
IMO thinking the offense would be as good or better was wildly optimistic and that was before the O line issues.
Yet even if we were a top 10 offense with an improved defense just forcing 1-2 more punts a game we would be a better team/win more games.
The Defense has played even better than I had expected.
Yes it will be better when we start faster but TBs in game adjustments are as good or better than anyone in the NFL.
October 5th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
Look at the rest of the league…it’s just a completely different game than the era of our 1st SB.
Very rarely do you stop these amazing athletes now. You just hope to contain them.
Bucs are getting better.
GO BUCS