Josh Grizzard Addresses Goal Line Failures
November 6th, 2025
Tristan Wirfs
Life has many great mysteries, such as global temperatures, UFOs and why Pollo Tropical grilled chicken tastes so good.
But perhaps there is no greater mystery than the Bucs being unable to consistently run successfully behind left tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Everyone one at One Buc Palace would be quick to tell you Wirfs is a superstar, nearly a living legend on a Pro Football Hall of Fame path.
Still, when the Bucs absolutely need a yard or two on the ground, they can’t find ways to get them consistently behind Wirfs.
Scheme it up!
Against the slimy Saints 11 days ago, Bucs fans watched the Tampa Bay offense at or inside the Saints’ 1 yard line eight times. On attempt No. 8, the Bucs round the end zone with a Sean Tucker run behind fill-in right guard Dan Feeney.
Rookie playcaller Josh Grizzard addressed the stunning impotence today.
“When it comes to that, when you get the ball at the half-yard line, you need to be able to score,” Grizzard said. “And generally running it in. The good teams run it in; they’re able to pound people. And so when it comes to that, it comes down to the fundamentals and techniques and pad level and how we’re hitting blocks. But then also opening it up a little bit, where if it’s not working, you might need to throw it. That way you can keep these guys honest. It comes down to pad level and the want-to when it comes to that — because if you get it down there that low, you gotta be able to punch that thing in.”
Joe was wondering whether Grizzard would fall on his sword and take blame for the Bucs’ goal line failures. Joe can’t say Grizzard did, and that’s ok.
Still, the question remains why Wirfs isn’t having more of an impact in the running game. Yes, Joe realizes Wirfs was playing when the Bucs offense ranked last in rushing in 2022 and 2023.
In the short video below, center Graham Barton addressed local media yesterday on those 1-yard-line blues. Barton says the Bucs are good down there and just had a crappy day.
What was up with the Bucs goal line offense vs the Saints Graham Barton? pic.twitter.com/zE5bcOpgCh
— rock riley (@realrockriley) November 6, 2025
November 6th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Baker admitted the Lions’ scheme was a factor in the Offense’s struggles against the Lions.
Likely the same issue on goal line failures- Saints Defenders were better prepared for that situation.
November 6th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
For a 1st round Center Barton gets pushed around a lot
2025 is basically a wasted year, too many injuries to key players to more than just winning the division
6-2 gave them a nice head start, just 4 or 5 more wins in the last 9 and they should have the division in hand
November 6th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
You don’t get extra points for running the ball in for a TD. Damn! If you try twice up the gut and it doesn’t work, switch it up. Four straight times running the ball up the middle and being unable to score is absolutely, unequivocally on the OC! It’s just dumb!
November 6th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
I agree that was on Grizzard Point Blank.
Good thing we won.
The opposite of that is the Philly Tush Push where they EXPECT to score.
It honestly looked like we expected NOT to score.
That was the most Hard Headed play calling I’ve seen since Koetter.
November 6th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
agree with grizz…
yea the play calling couldve/shouldve been better down there but at the end of the day players have to beat the man in front of them….
we’ll get back on track…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 6th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Microscope on Grizz in the coming weeks, lets see if he is a poser or the real thing.
November 6th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
“In the short video below, center Graham Barton addressed local media yesterday on those 1-yard-line blues. Barton says the Bucs are good down there and just had a crappy day”
We’ve been struggling in the redzone all season. I don’t expect Barton to echo that, but he was part of the problem punching the ball in NOLA and at this point I’d rather get Bredeson back to C and shift Graham to either guard spot.
11TDs-22 attempts in the redzone, ranks 26th league wide and 3rd in our own division
3rd Down is even worse, 37 out of 102 attempts 25th best in the league , but 4th best in our division. Yes, even the Saints convert on 3rd down more than our offense. That is terrible, no other way to spin it
November 6th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
QB sneak for Christ’s sake!
Run a freaking QB sneak!
Baker is 220 and strong!
Run a freaking QB sneak!!!
We used to have Josh Freeman, and we didn’t run QB sneaks!
Run a freaking QB sneak!!!
November 6th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
Wirfs acknowledged a couple weeks ago that he hadn’t been able to do a lot of his weight training due to his injury
November 6th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
The problem is the Bucs almost always tip their hand. The “we do what we do” but have to execute better than the other team thing is old.
Half yard line, we should be able to run it in up the middle, line up heavy so the D knows that’s coming. Bam stopped, bam stopped, bam stopped. Insane.
How about we line up in 11 or 12, try to spread them out and then run or let one of the TEs leak out and the other stays to block.
I like Grizz but we have not seen the same creativity as we did with Coen and imo there is no excuse for an OC these days to not be creative. Copy cat winning plays! The coaches say they watch everything, use some of it.
November 6th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Tampa is the only team that has not run a QB sneak in goal line in 2025.
November 6th, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Call me a fair weather fan but I’m looking forward to next year already. The goal line stop is just indicative of deeper issues with this team. I would say unless people start miraculously healing then we would lose the superbowl if we made it in today. If by some miracle we even make it that far and assuming we do not take on more injuries by that time, then it will truly be a miracle. Otherwise, we may just be an early exit. Would be nice to get a BYE if luck goes our way, then we may have a better shot. Though I highly doubt it and I’m just happy to watch the games this season with absolutely no expectation. I don’t even want them to get my hopes up because our offense is whatever we were last year on defense.
November 6th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
I say give it to Vita Vea!
November 6th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
I think on 3rd down I’d have brought Vea in at Fullback, then faked up the middle and Baker around the outside. EVERYONE would have been tackling Vita…
But hey, what do I know?
November 6th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
Never makes sense to me handing the ball off to a RB who’s lined up 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage when you need 1 yard. Like teachman said QB sneak! If your QB is too weak, or injured to run it, have a RB do it. R. White can’t take a snap from center, and fall forward? Of course it’s something that should be installed, and practiced in training camp, but come on how hard could it be to get this down? Josh Allen does it, Hurts does it, and even Coen has Lawerence doing it now. Handing off to a back, with guards pulling is a disaster waiting to happen when you only need less than a yard. Keep it simple, don’t over think it, it’s not that complicated!
November 6th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
Go PATRIOTS !!!
November 6th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
They got zero push a QB sneak ain’t making it when the oline is getting beat at the snap of the ball when the box is stacked maybe kick it to the outside or throw a pass 🤷 move is definitely not running the same play 4 times in a row.
November 6th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
@Tucker
Exactly, QB sneak isn’t doing much if your center is getting pushed into the QBs lap. We’ve scored on a GL toss play with Chaad twice. One in Seattle and I think another against SF, and haven’t seen that call since.
November 6th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Pollo Tropical chicken tastes so good due to its preparation method: it’s made with fresh, bone-in chicken that is marinated for 24 hours in a citrus and spice blend, and then flame-grilled. This process results in moist, flavorful, and tender chicken