Getting Bucs intel from Liam Coen?

Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen, now Jags head coach, became best friends when they found themselves on Sean McVay’s staff in Los Angeles.

And they have remained tight and even vacation together. But as Robinson has joked, the two couldn’t talk football in their weekly, sometimes daily phone calls in 2024 because Coen was running the Bucs’ offense and Robinson was running the Dixie Chicks’ offense.

Now the two have football conversations with each other. And yes, they include the Bucs.

Two years ago, Coen had one of the best offenses in Bucs history. The Bucs finished ranked top-five in passing and top-five in running.

This week, Robinson was asked if he’s getting intel from Coen on what worked and what didn’t work in Tampa.

“Absolutely,” Robinson said of his chats with Coen. “Liam and I talk almost every single day. Obviously, we were in the division together, so [in 2024]  I was like, ‘We’re not talking ball.’ So we didn’t get a chance to talk much X’s and O’s [for a time]. And [the phone calls], they’re personal. Obviously, I was watching the tape and could see [what Coen did with the Bucs] from afar.

“But yeah, it’s been natural dialogue, in terms of how he saw guys and the run game. [Coen] took it kind of to a new level. … [The Bucs] had some gap schemes going that they kind of fell into as the season progressed and ended up being really successful.”

Robinson laregely kept the nature of his Coen chats confidential. But some Bucs offensive assistants are holdovers from Coen’s regime and Robinson said he’s having a lot of fun working with guys who also worked with his good friend.

Joe hopes Coen doesn’t have any bitter feelings over the ugly end to his Tampa Bay days, and that he’s giving Robinson quality intel.