Zac Robinson And His Use Of Pre-Snap Motion
January 27th, 2026
Peek into offense.
There is a belief among the self-anointed football sophists trafficking on Twitter that pre-snap motion is a key to unlocking the power of offense.
Joe sort of understands this: Defenses don’t know where a player is going in motion, or his job responsibility. The more one moves on offense (sort of in a basketball sense), the more of a chance a defender makes a mistake, which leads to an explosive play.
And the numberscrunchers seem to suggest pre-snap motion can lead to a more creative offense.
Joe knows Liam Coen was (is?) a huge believer of pre-snap motion. In fact, when Coen came on board the Bucs’ pirate ship to coach the Bucs offense in 2024, Bucs trainers crafted an offseason workout regimen just for Bucs offensive skill position players so they would have more stamina late in games and later in the season because Coen planned to use so much motion.
Hard to complain about the results.
So if one believes pre-snap motion equals offensive success, Bucs fans ought to really like the evidence from last year. Only squirrely Mike McDaniel, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay ran more pre-snap motion than Zac Robinson with the Dixie Chicks.
And Robinson now brings that offense with him to Tampa Bay.
Another interesting tidbit from this TruMedia graphic breaking down pre-snap motion from last season: Josh Grizzard ran more motion with the Bucs in 2025 than Coen did with the Jags.
(Click on the graphic for a larger view.)
January 27th, 2026 at 7:09 am
Zac Robinson And His Use Of Pre-Snap Motion
This is exactly what I was thinking when I woke up this morning
The Ol’ Pre Snap Motion, it is right up there with the ‘Landry Shift’
But seriously, when are we going to have an article about the Todd Bowles led defense Sux and the Buccaneers are finally going to do something about it!!!
January 27th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Get rid of Dean.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:21 am
This guy should be a good hire coming from the same system. Now about that Putrid Pass Defense? We need Edge Rushers Now!!
January 27th, 2026 at 7:26 am
Yet, look where the 2 SB bound teams fall on the chart. Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.
Meanwhile, crickets from our sloth-like GM.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:30 am
Grizz used a LOT, but otoh, when Otton went in motion EVERYbody knew they were running behind Otton
January 27th, 2026 at 7:32 am
@Beeej – or like when CG goes in motion to the end of the OL and we run the same dive play on 1st down for the 6th series in a row
January 27th, 2026 at 7:34 am
like i said grizz was out of his league
January 27th, 2026 at 7:36 am
The more I think about how how Todd and Licht have benefited from the loyalty of higher ups, the more respect I lose for them for throwing a 1st time OC under the bus who had a decimated OL (all season), never fully intact WR room, injured #1 RB for a third of the yr who turned into a head case, and was given a pathetic backup QB. These men are shameless. And now Licht hides, just like he does during the annual Bowles swoon, only to pop up again like a ground hog to pimp (self promote) his draft picks in the spring. Joes, I have a hard time seeing how/why you give Licht a pass.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:37 am
It looks like Coen ran motion 50% an Grizz around 52% doesn’t seem like way more to me but what I do notice is Bakers Play action usage which should go up with Zac i don’t like not using Play action with Baker he is so good at it I think we will see our play action go up this year an also we will see Zac get our Playmakers the ball he says players over plays but I think it will be a mix of both he will use certain plays to get our players open an get them the ball I honestly like Zac with Baker I think we will have a great offense an if we do I pray we have Zac paired with Baker for more then 1 year
January 27th, 2026 at 7:38 am
That’s fantasy football. Next question. lol
January 27th, 2026 at 7:45 am
Points are coming for this offense. But for the defense….
2026 is RINSE AND REPEAT
January 27th, 2026 at 7:46 am
Pre snap motion is not so much about the offense as it is about getting the defense to reveal their play call.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:06 am
Why isn’t my comment working?
We need an upgrade over Gaines. He’s 5-11. À dwarf.
We need a 6-5 beast to replace Gaines.
We need to upgrade over Hall. We need a Gholston clone. Hall is soft.
We need to upgrade over Reddick. We need a 7-10 sack guy. Not 2.5.
We need to upgrade over SVD. He is a special team stud. Not a starter.
We need to upgrade over LVD. He’s the GOAT. But we need fresh legs at MLB.
We need to upgrade over Watts. He is useless on special teams
We need to upgrade over Deion Jones. He’s lazy on special teams.
We need to upgrade over Heck. Get a real RT.
We need to keep Izien on the field. He plays with FIRE.
Brederson and Mauch will not come back stronger.
We need to invest in two big, nasty guards.
No guards? No running game!
We need to sign Mark Andrews. Otton is Brate. À #2 TE.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:08 am
Why is my comment about upgrades being censored?
January 27th, 2026 at 8:18 am
Teacherman, I’ve found that Joe’s blue-light-special mod program often stomps comments with people’s proper names in them
January 27th, 2026 at 8:21 am
Introductory presser today
@Jack Burton Mercer
You’re absolutely right, and I hope with a healthier OL we go back to pulling Mauch a ton next season.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:22 am
“Only squirrely Mike McDaniel, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay ran more pre-snap motion than Zac Robinson with the Dixie Chicks.”
Nice – but as long as Bowles is in charge…I have no hope for this team.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:28 am
If going to be an offense player on this team next year, I would have my playbook Tablet now. I can play with the kids, get some sugar from the wifey but on my own time.
I’m diving in. I have some knowledge of the concepts by time we get the OTA’s hit the ground running.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:36 am
All the pre snap motion, play calling, shifting means nothing if you can’t execute the play. I remember Ali pulling for Lenny in the SB, the whole line worked in unison on a good call and the result was a great running TD.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:41 am
May want to use Joe’s (free) archives. There has been an article or two about this.
Maybe January 2027. If the Bucs don’t win.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:45 am
So true!
January 27th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Grizz did not run motion 52% of the plays. That would have the Bucs right behind McVey and Shanahan. Motion by Otton gave away the play instead of causing confusion. Every player on the field knew what the call was. The only one confused was Grizz.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:29 am
Motion usually (Otton exception) helps the offense but motion doesn’t guarantee success.
Will the Bucs re-sign Otton before he hits free agency? This past season, he was better with drops and his YAC numbers were up. However, Griz did not help the Bucs negotiating position by targeting Dev Culp only once and Payne Durham only 4 times. Kyle Pitts will be expensive – even though I think he’ll be good in Zac’s offense. I’d rather keep Otton and spend money on a FA edge and ilb.
January 27th, 2026 at 10:19 am
Starting right guard missed 13 games; starting left guard missed 6 games in which team was 1-5. Backup offensive line was a serious problem. This “injuries don’t matter” and “next guy up” BS is ridiculous. Injuries do matter and the salary cap makes it hard to compete with backups. Buccaneers may not have won the Super Bowl had not KC had been playing with backups across the offensive line.
January 27th, 2026 at 10:37 am
@Lefty R…Please, no! I think there’s been 2,000+ articles about the Bucs lousy defense and need for edge rushers. I can’t take it anymore!
January 27th, 2026 at 10:48 am
Buddha Says:
January 27th, 2026 at 10:19 am
Starting right guard missed 13 games; starting left guard missed 6 games in which team was 1-5. Backup offensive line was a serious problem. This “injuries don’t matter” and “next guy up” BS is ridiculous.
Someone forgot to tell the 9ers!!!!!!
B.AIYUK-WR- OUT
N.BOSA-DE- OUT
KITTLE-TE-OUT
F.WARNER-LB-OUT
GROSS-MATOS-DE-OUT
BETHUNE-LB-OUT
TONGES-TE-OUT
M.WILLIAMS-DL- OUT
9ers were missing impact starters on both sides of the ball and still managed to win 12games with a playoff win in the toughest division in football!!!
Quit the injury BS…..
Bucs wouldve still won the SB because our defense was playing lights out..not because KC had injured Tackles
GO BUCS!!!!
January 27th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Gizzard’s idea of running motion was having a tight end in a squat position slowly sliding laterally to the exact spot where the RB was going to run. Very effective.