Zac Robinson Was Who He Is
August 16th, 2026
Praise from head coach.
On Friday night, when the Bucs beat the Jets in their first worthless preseason game, it was the first time we all got a chance to watch some players under the lights, hitting another team.
First time we saw Ted Hurst, Josiah Trotter, Jalon Daniels and others.
But it was also the first time Zac Robinson was on the Bucs’ sidelines. And just by the winning score, you’d think the new Bucs offensive coordinator did OK. It’s not like he’s a rookie playcaller.
Yesterday, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked for his feedback on Robinson’s first game with Tampa Bay. In short, Bowles thought Robinson was just the same as he has shown in underwear football season and training camp.
“I don’t think I learned too much,” Bowles said. “I mean, it’s been pretty clean like that since practice, since we started in OTAs and mini camp.
“It carried over to training camp, and there was more of that on the sideline [Friday night]. Thought the communication was great. The understanding of the guys were great, so you know, I thought it went well.”
If nothing else, Robinson showed he can adjust in a tight spot when needed.
With just over three minutes left, following a timeout, Daniels ran right just to the right of his blockers on 2nd-and-1 from the Jets-1 for the winning touchdown.
Daniels said after the game the touchdown run was not on the game script; Robinson went off-script.
Joe gives Robinson kudos for this. With a free agent rookie quarterback, Robinson easily could have stuck with the scripted plays, not wanting to confuse Daniels. Instead, Robinson chose something, while unexpected, he and Daniels had a level of comfort in using.
That showed Joe Robinson isn’t chained to a callsheet. He’s willing to think outside the box, even in crunch time.
August 16th, 2026 at 12:36 am
It was a QB sneak ,but over the guard, for gods sake. Not like he drew up a triple reverse flea flicker pass.
August 16th, 2026 at 12:58 am
It’s preseason. Z-Rob’s not showing out the playbook. About what I expected.
August 16th, 2026 at 1:51 am
Yes he is a real OC with experience. This Offense is going to be just fine with a motivated Baker and the OLine healthy. It’s the Putrid Pass Defense of recent years past that keeps us all on track not getting too cared away with expectations. Go Bucs!!
August 16th, 2026 at 3:05 am
Nice job by our ’27 HC lol
August 16th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Yes let’s hope Zac and the offense are fine and take off because the cb position is going to give up a ton of points. I am not worried about Zac or the offense. I certainly hope more and more attention gets paid to the cb position. That way maybe Licht will get a real cb please.
August 16th, 2026 at 9:07 am
Zac is doing a great job. He and that Passing game coordinator and the young QB coach have us a backup! The rookie led 2! long td drives in the second half? One drive for the lead and the next to seal the win.
If our newly hired 3 offensive masterminds can get Daniels to his potential, we need that. The kid may not have been playing against first teamers, but he was playing with an offense that dang sure wasn’t playing their first teamers.
Finding a good backup QB was the offense’s first priority this offseason. I’m for giving Browning a chance, but I’m more for developing young talent- and we dang sure hired the right 3 coaches to do that.
Defenses priority was the front seven and we’re talking about losing Vea, but even if we lose him, we still should have an improved front seven.
Special teams priority was trying to keep from looking like idiots.
Good to go on 2 out of three of our priorities.
August 16th, 2026 at 9:16 am
I could easily see him as the new head coach of the Bucs next year.
August 16th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Just imagine what the score would have been if Hellen Keller hadn’t played QB for us in the first half. I expect JD to get to the number 2 spot before the season starts. I don’t want to hear about his lack of experience. Some NFL teams start rookie quarterbacks. Plus, he played college ball for six years!! AND!!! He’s coachable. He’s been coached up already and has improved his footwork. That in itself has made him more consistent.
Baker had better play well and stay healthy this season. Sean King II is creeping up on you!
August 16th, 2026 at 9:24 am
So far so good 👍.
August 16th, 2026 at 10:05 am
Grizzard looked very stressed and unsure of himself last year. Ànd Baker thé Intense could see it.
I remember one time they were talking in the sideline and Baker was lookimg into his eyes and Baker could see his fear and uncertainty.
I’m not saying any of us could do better than Grizzard.
It’s hard being an OC. But Licht Ànd Bowles made a HUGE mistake last hiring a guy without ANY OC experience at ANY level. Not high school. Not university. And not in the NFL.
I wish Grizzard well. And his people of Lizard Lick. But it was still a mistake to hire an OC with zero experience calling plays!
August 16th, 2026 at 10:27 am
ZR is gonna be great, guys were spread out everywhere on the field ,, you could see the Rams connection!
As far as Daniels , guys might be a little bit too hyped on this one . I seem to recall back in the day the next great Bucs QB who had about the best pre season the Bucs had ever seen by an up and coming young QB,,, Anyone remember Gradkowski,,, didn’t amount to much! Let the kid learn and grow as #3 ,, He will need to get 100x more accurate passing when the bullets are real.
August 16th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Vinny, sure caution for a first time QB in Daniels. However, what was a stiff like Blasack even doing on the field. Who evaluated him to start any game? JD in comparison looked like a star in the making.
August 16th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Zac Robinson’s job this year looks tougher than it was supposed to be even a month ago.
With the Bucs lacking an decent secondary it’s going to change the way they play on offense in order to limit possessions and play keep away with ball control.
I’m concerned that we’re going to see two styles of football this year: A predictable run based offense where the Bucs spend the game milking the clock between the 20’s – or an even more predictable pass heavy fallback when the defense faces QB’s who can tear the back end apart.
Robinson’s offense doesn’t work when dealing with scoreboard deficits. To be fair a lot of NFL offenses don’t, but Robinson’s more than most. Let’s hope Licht and Bowles find something better than warm bodies to play at CB or that McCollum, Morrison and others get their health back. A lot more than the defense depends on it.
August 16th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Todd Bowles, I didn’t learn to much. What else is new?
August 16th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
I was pleased to see that too. No one is trying to say that it was some genius play, just that he is willing to adapt. Thats good for the BUCS!
August 16th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
I thought the final, closeout drive was masterful. Controlled, but not risk averse. A healthy sense of the inevitable about it.
August 16th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
If Daniels is Sean King ll, then Baker, or anyone else for that matter, wouldn’t have much to worry about.
August 16th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
That showed Joe Robinson isn’t chained to a callsheet. He’s willing to think outside the box, even in crunch time.
________
So I guess preseason isn’t totally “worthless” is it Joe.
Why would you be writing about this if it was?
August 16th, 2026 at 9:54 pm
Man I wish Zac would ditch the creamsicle hat, he might as well have a big fat L for loser stamped on his dome. Those creamsicles are cursed, why do the Glazers keep pumping them out year after year? Do a 1997 throwback instead!
August 17th, 2026 at 12:46 am
FortMyersDave ….some of us still LOVE the creams…
August 17th, 2026 at 9:45 am
We can use that kid in short yardage situations on sneaks,and pitch out options,so baker does not get banged up.