The Awful Third-Down Offense
November 9th, 2025
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard.
How quickly things change in a few months.
Last year, Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was the King of Third Downs. He was in charge of the Bucs’ third-down offense and then-Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen gave all the credit to Grizzard.
The Bucs led the NFL with a 51 percent third-down conversion percentage.
This year? Grizzard is no longer the king. And some Bucs fans think he is another four-letter object more likely to be found on the floor of a seedy New Orleans public restroom.
The Bucs’ third-down offense has collapsed since Chris Godwin got hurt in Seattle. The Bucs were 5-for-13 today against New England. This, after being 1 of 5 in the first half and earlier in the fourth quarter, the Bucs were 4 of 11.
“It’s what happens when you don’t execute,” Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka said after the game. “That’s the bottom line.”
You’re not going to win too many games with that pathetic of a third-down offense. Unless you’re playing CFL-like football and converting first downs on either first or second down.
Well, it might help if the Bucs would call plays that gain yards.
In the fourth quarter, Joe was beginning to wonder if someone could slip Grizzard a compass so he could locate which area of the field the end zone was on — that the end zone was not on the sidelines.
Calling plays on third down needing 8-12 yards with receivers running short routes on the wrong side of the sticks is not going to get the job done. Did Grizzard think a well-disciplined, good-tackling team like New England was going to start missing tackles and allowing Bucs receivers to move the chains by breaking tackles?
Was the offensive line that bad that Mayfield couldn’t wait for receivers to run routes past the sticks in order to throw for first downs?
Look, Joe knows Grizzard is learning on the job. We’re, what, nine games in? He should have a better handle by now.
Joe has to give Grizzard some slack. He’s missing Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving. Still, lesser teams are getting production with an offense with lesser players than the Bucs have.
The Bucs, entering today’s game, were No. 25 in third-down conversion percentage at 36 percent.
So while Grizzard may be handcuffed, at some point he’s got to learn how to produce with what he has.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
I biggining to that Grizzard is not the guy.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
What we need are more 3rd and long screen plays to Shepard and Otton.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
That screen to Sheppard was dumb on 3rd down
November 9th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Grizz has zero imagination. No Baker rollouts unless hes near the goalline. He doesn’t seem to have a slant play for short yardage situations. They need to pick up the tempo and get the ball out quicker since the OL isn’t playing well. Without the starting 3 WRs and starting RB it’s tough to watch.
And I don’t ever want to see that Philly special again.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Something is off with Tristan Wirfs. Another game where I saw him beaten off the edge in a way that used to be unthinkable.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Wirfs still looks hurt
November 9th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Gruden isn’t doing anything….. have him come help the Grizz. Or have Arians come help. Do something different because what we’ve been doing isn’t looking good at all the last 3 weeks.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Maybe Liam Cohen will get fired from Jaguars and we can get him back as Offensive Coordinator or Maybe Mike McDaniel gets fired from Miami and we can get him. Offense sucks but some of that could be injuries. 3 starting WR gone and a starting RB. More worried about this crappy defense
November 9th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Screen Pass. That’s this morons staple. RB screens, TE screens, WR screens. When most OCs run them at strategic points in the game this guy uses them every drive.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Miller5252 Says:
November 9th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Gruden isn’t doing anything….. have him come help the Grizz.
———–
Do people not remember the Gruden years? His offenses were complete trash. He only won anything because Kiffin was running the defense.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Almost as if we should have kept the best offensive coordinator in franchise history instead of letting him walk to retain Bowles.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
LOL.
Bowles no longer has Liam Coen’s offense to hide behind.. And he still can’t field a consistently good defense. He didn’t have his team ready to play again today. He is not a good HC. At some point people will have to face that reality. We go through this every single season. I’m convinced some of you wake up in a brand new world every single day.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Mcdaniels from Miami is great play caller Bucs should get him.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
BucsFan81 Says:
November 9th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Maybe Liam Cohen will get fired from Jaguars
———
He took what was supposed to be one of the worst teams in the NFL and has them with a winning record halfway through the season – and one less win than the Bucs have. I think he’s safe.
Instead, what the Bucs need to do is replace Wiz Kid with ChatGPT. Just ask it what Coen would do in each down and distance, and run that. Problem solved.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
So many 3rd & 3 tries where we can’t get just 3 yards for an 1st down. They run long plays instead..WTF
November 9th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
The Bucs always go the cheap route. That’s why Todd is here. That’s how Grizzard is OC. Jason concentrates all his energy on the draft because players play cheap for four or five years. It’s the Bucs methodology.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
Grizz did not use Tucker and White enough today. Of course you don’t plan to do that ahead of time, with New England’s past success at run stuffing. But for whatever reason, running was working today. He needed to see that earlier and adjust.
Also, for those (including the TV broadcast crew) who keep saying “just wait” until the Bucs get healthy…ain’t happening. I have no explanation for it, but the new reality for this team is that multiple key players will *always* be injured. In other words, what you see is what you get. If Grizz can’t make it happen with the way things are now, then it’s not happening. Ever.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Disgusting putrid offense
November 9th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
I think it’s just the offense overall, not just third down. We had 5 possessions where we gained less than 10 yards. The Pats had two possessions where they had less than 10 yards.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Hmmmm….Seems to me that the Bucs play some of their best games against strong opponents in away games. But home games seem to show less heart and effort. When the stadium is full of the enemy fans and even the LOCAL FOX13 media turns traitor…….and it’s only going to get worse when even more transplants surely arrive. Someone should pay for a large ad campaign making it clear that this is Bucs country and all others are unwelcome. Hint hint Glazer family !
November 9th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
I’m really surprised the Bucs haven’t reached out to ole Rod Munch. The way he talks and all the knowledge he has I’m sure he’s in Canton with a couple Super Bowl rings!! Dude is such a legend and knows everything!! If he’d just give his real name we would finally know which historic coach he is!
November 9th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
@Mr_Barf
Great point and to add to that Tucker averaged over 4 yds a carry. I would’ve thought they would have used him more in some of those situations.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
Just AWFUL, Period. Outside of the opening-drive, that was scripted. No Tempo = NO RYTHYM. It is soooo BORING and frustrating to watch. 2-full WEEKS off for THIS!? I mean, THIS was the very best you could put out there, & do… REALLY!?
November 9th, 2025 at 5:35 pm
Grizz is not the Wiz we were all hoping. as it turned out, more like a cheese whiz….. 🤦🏻♂️
November 9th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
This what happens when you have 3 starting WR out and you don’t make any trades
November 9th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
Buffalo will be out for blood after being embarrassed by Miami. Look out Bucs
November 9th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Until the Bucs make it crystal clear to visiting teams that they are going to get their a… kicked when they play here nothing will change. We have an 80% coaching staff and 10% supportive fan base. Perfection is 100% and that is an unlikely achievement. I don’t think we will ever get over the hump until the community comes together and helps push the cart.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:47 pm
@ Roscoe – they don’t give a damn. Trust me they are totally fine with away-teams fans paying these ‘high’ ticket prices. They’d MUCH RATHER have them paying $300+ than YOU paying $50-BUCKS. They’re not giving away any local “zip code’ discounts or ‘blacking-out’ others, here. That is not what they are in BUSINESS for.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:50 pm
I just wanted to repeat what I said TWICE (in order to emphasize), going into this game as part of my ‘winning’ game-plan for today… “MIDDLE-8. MIDDLE-8.”
November 9th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
Grizz is in over his head unfortunately
GO BUCS
November 9th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
I don’t know HOW the Jags ended up losing that game today! That ‘hands to the face’ by that kid during their final drive was SO HORRENDOUS. They were UP like 29-10 going into the 4TH-Quarter… Without both, Travis Hunter AND Brian Thomas Junior. Trevor Lawrence is an incompetent QB. Just straight trash. It’s a rhythm-offense, and he is NOT a rhythm-QB. They should be sitting pretty at 6-3, and in the driver’s seat for an AFC Playoffs Berth (bet KC and Baltimore sure are happy). This one’s gonna STING for awhile.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Gizzard is no Coen. The offense has to be more than EE and Otten. Realistically, the passing game should come out and involve the other guys early. This passing game is almost as predictable as the running game.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
Bc hes sn idiot this guy has no creativity. And no rhythm to what he does. Where’s the deep passes. Wheers the screen to the rb that we let the defense come in and we actually have ppl to block?????? Its pathetic. This offense cant be this bad
November 9th, 2025 at 6:44 pm
He’s way too zeroed-in on EE and he’s missing all the underneath stuff (YAC) that should for the most part be read pre-snap. Hit what the defense is GIVING YOU and then LETS GOOOO..L Get back up to the line, and LETS GOOOOO. Tempo = RHYTHM. Don’t allow the defense to substitute and get SET. Period. End of Story.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
November 9th, 2025 at 5:47 pm
@ Roscoe – they don’t give a damn. Trust me they are totally fine with away-teams fans paying these ‘high’ ticket prices. They’d MUCH RATHER have them paying $300+ than YOU paying $50-BUCKS. They’re not giving away any local “zip code’ discounts or ‘blacking-out’ others, here. That is not what they are in BUSINESS for.
^^^^^
You are absolutely spot on.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
Everyone seems to be blaming Grizzard when our Iline is failing and we have several injuries and that includes Mayfield….he hasn’t run one time in the last three games.
There goes some 3rd down conversations.
He is being forced to throw screens….he has zero time.
November 9th, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Where’s Liam? Oh, that’s right, Licht let him walk.
November 9th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I wanted Coen then, and I sure wish we had him now as head coach. However, it’s not all Bowles, but it is a lot him. How can anyone say the defense played well? The defense gave up 3 TD’s well over 50 yards on single plays! That is absolutely HORRIFIC!
November 9th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Grizz is pitiful- he is nothing close to Canales much less Coen
The season is OVER in round 1 of the playoffs with this stiff calling plays