Memo To Zac Robinson: Don’t Be Predictable
July 10th, 2026
Tipped pitches?
The worst thing an offense can be is predictable.
It drives Joe nuts when NFL offenses are basically telegraphing to defenses what’s coming. Damn, it is hard enough to score in this league as it is. Broadcasting what’s coming only makes it harder.
And it seems from the data unearthed by Alex Blickle in Aaron Schatz’s FTN Football Almanac 2026, former Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard all but hollered across the field what was coming.
Not only did the Bucs, per Blickle, target tight ends fewer than any team in the league, but when the Bucs used 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) a run was a comin.’
The Buccaneers ran the ball 68% of the time when they were in 12 personnel, more than any other offense.
So let’s see, the Bucs almost never threw to the tight end and when the Bucs had 12 personnel on the field, no one ran the ball more out of that formation.
Not only does it appear Grizzard didn’t help himself out, it seems it may have hurt the Bucs offense.
July 10th, 2026 at 12:49 am
I’d bet that Josh is a great guy. He just wasn’t up to the task of putting together a winning formula as the season went on.
July 10th, 2026 at 1:51 am
Golly gee…I sure do hope he takes that precious advice. Otherwise he wouldn’t know not to be predictable. Season saved!
July 10th, 2026 at 2:19 am
I remember Bowles mentioning that he had to jump in and give Mr Grizzard a hand after the bye and that it took up some of his time. That just tells me that Todd might have handicapped Grizz and helped contribute to the 2-7 slide. For example, I am pretty sure that Grizz did not think that running the ball 35 times was a formula to win in Carolina but Bowles probably forced that game plan down his throat to try and chew up the clock because he knew his defense was weak and vulnerable and likely to be exposed. Hence Todd was wearing too many hats last year and to be honest as a head coach he would better serve his team if someone else dialed up the plays on defense. Todd’s predictability and stubborness led losses to inferior opponents like we saw in the 2-7 stretch after the bye last season as it did in his previous 3 seasons at the helm.
July 10th, 2026 at 5:50 am
Grizz was statistically better as an OC in almost every category compared to Dave Canales, just sayin. Unfortunately for Grizz he had to follow one of the best in the NFL. With that he definitely seemed in over his head though, good experience for Grizz, he’ll probably get another shot
July 10th, 2026 at 7:05 am
I also read that opponents figured out that the Bucs ran behind Otten when he went in motion. Where’s the self-scouting during the bye? We all know that the Bucs go downhill after the bye, so we know they aren’t self-scouting like every other team. It seems the players are just going on vacation and coming back to lose the rest of the season.