Could ignite offense.

When Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson spoke Tuesday, he cautioned folks that rookies often have a long way to go before they naturally go with the flow and contribute.

If Bucs rookie receiver Ted Hurst grows into the player the Bucs think he can be, Robinson acknowledged, the Bucs offense could be explosive.

When Mike Evans was injured last year, the Bucs didn’t have a “true X-receiver,” simply defined as a receiver who stretches the field. But, as Robinson said, the Bucs do have a bunch of receivers who can take snaps like an X-receiver and function as one at times.

Evans was the Bucs’ X — until he mysteriously took a paycut and bolted to San Francisco.

Robinson said the Bucs have enough receiver talent to win and the Bucs proved that last year without Evans. But dang, Robinson said, if Hurst develops, he will be a serious weapon.

“Having a true X is a weapon,” Robinson told the Tampa Bay pen and mic club. “You know, knowing that guy is a real threat on the backside and you can dictate certain coverages, certain ways like that is an absolute threat.”

How so? When Robinson was with the Rams during the Super Bowl run of 2021, the Rams signed Odell Beckham in mid-November. Robinson said Beckham absolutely changed the offense.

What happened? The Rams won the Super Bowl.

“The closest guy we kind of had in LA [for an X-receiver] was Odell,” Robinson said. “He changed the math with the defense.

“There’s one-on-one opportunities [with a solid X-receiver]. So, yeah, having a true X is a luxury.”

Robinson made it clear he can have the Bucs offense humming if Hurst doesn’t develop.

“Really, all three receivers can play all three spots,” Robinson said of Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan. “Which is also tough on a defense, because guys can line up everywhere. And that’s where you see the flexibility of [Egbuka, Godwin and McMillan]. Those guys can line up everywhere, and there’s really no true X, no true F[-receiver], no true Z.

“But you got a bunch of different versatility from a pretty cool skill group. So, you know you could go both ways with it, but if you got a true X, it’s definitely a weapon.”

Joe doesn’t know about Godwin playing as an X-receiver, maybe as a decoy. He’s had bad wheels the last few years and those don’t get healthier at 30 years old.

Yeah, sure, Tez Johnson could be an X because of his speed. Joe was speaking with someone in Bucs’ personnel recently and when talking about Johnson, he dismissed Johnson’s 40 time, saying when Johnson is on the field he plays football fast and that’s what counts.

Clearly, the Bucs don’t want to rush Hurst. But if he can prove the NFL isn’t too big for him this fall, the sky is the limit with the Bucs offense.