Backflipping Josh Grizzard
April 25th, 2025
Celebrating.
One big Bucs question mark about the 2025 season is what is offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard’s offense is supposed to look like.
He may have dropped a hint when he was hired to fill the void of Liam Coen bolting to Jacksonville. Grizzard noted he wants to throw more downfield. “More” could only be once or twice a game.
With Coen, the Bucs rarely threw deep. Hey, how could you quibble? The Bucs had one of the best offensive seasons in franchise history. And we all know Todd Bowles wants to run the ball.
So, with Bowles’ influence and likely not wanting to change much from an offense that hummed, and also Grizzard working with a run-based scheme in Miami, it’s easy to connect the dots.
Or is it?
Today, Bowles told the assembled local pen and mic club at One Buc Palace that Grizzard is “doing backflips” over the selection of Ohio Stte receiver Emeka Egbuka at No. 19 last night.
So, let’s say Chris Godwin makes it back on the field for Week 1. Joe doesn’t think the Bucs drafted Egbuka at No. 19 just to be targeted two times a game.
And the Bucs didn’t re-sign Godwin just to mimic Michael Clayton and be primarily a blocking receiver.
Joe is beginning to feel the Bucs are going to air it out more than what they have done since Bowles took over as head coach.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:06 pm
Amen to that.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Of course with this defense, no lead is safe. 🤣
April 25th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
The offense looks very solid…now let’s patch up some defensive holes!! 💪💪💪
April 25th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Yeah they’ll need to put up 31+ per game for this defense to hold a lead.
I still have zero faith that Bowles can turn the pass defense around.
No matter the talent you give him to use.
His scheme is out of date and fools no one in the NFL.
Just biding my time until the Glazers have seen enough.
Perhaps another huge embarrassing failure in prime time during the first round of the playoffs would do the trick.
I fear it may take a complete tank job and missing the playoffs.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Anybody else have a bad feeling about a focus on the deep ball? I have been very satisfied with Baker’s tenure so far in Tampa, but if there’s one quibble I’ve had with his play it’s that his deep ball accuracy is not very good.
Not sure you can just attribute that to a lack of opportunity. One could argue Coen and his predecessor focused on the short and intermediate areas of the field precisely because they saw the same thing in training camp.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Remember these comments when we win our 5th straight division title! #TeamPositive
We drafted a great WR talent and perfect to add to the stables. Go Bucs.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
I thought we really needed to take at least at shot or two downfield last season. I’m not sure Evans was truly 💯 all year, honestly!? I think the pick was made also, to take a little bit more of the pressure off of him, & to help keep him (and Godwin) ‘fresher’ all the way throughout, until the end of next season. And, maybe they can bring Chris along much slower. Just hopefully, it doesn’t lead to Baker having to ‘force it’ & ends up throwing more picks. He’s REALLY going to have to do a much better job protecting the ball this year, & not putting our Defense in bad situations (keep them off the field as much as possible). Because, unless JL has some more trades or ‘moves’ up his sleeve, for that side of the ball, it could be another loooong year, with THIS Defense.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Even Byron Leftwich could be successful with all this offensive talent. Unless this team addresses the defense. Tampa will win a lot of regular season games. Then go one and done in the playoffs. Because when the playoffs come around the offense will have to put up 40plus points a game to be competitive. Which isn’t likely. Teams in the playoffs generally have good defenses.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
PeskyOne Says:
Yeah they’ll need to put up 31+ per game for this defense to hold a lead.
I still have zero faith that Bowles can turn the pass defense around.
No matter the talent you give him to use.
———————————————————————–
@PeskyOne,
With the right talent, Bowles will get the job done.
If you doubt that, watch Super Bowl LV.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Points come airmail these days still.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:59 pm
You throw to win a game. You run to keep a lead or protect a quarterback that was getting beat up.
The NFL is a passing game 1st.
The ability to run or defend is clearly secondary to the ability to throw the ball.
April 25th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
Who’s gonna trade for the Browns second pick in round 2?
April 25th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
With all the naysayers truth is if tonight they draft safety or corner and a linebacker Edge or defensive tackle with their next two pics in the fair players of quality of which there are many still on the board, then the pick of the receiver will look like a genius pit as this is a fantastic player amazing character guy movie on this team for a long time and we’ll definitely contribute this year..
If Jalen McMillan contributed as much as he did last year and this guy is significantly better I can see a scenario where Mike and Chris play approximately 80% of the snaps, and then out of 300 percentage points for a free wide receiver set that would leave 70% each for McMillan and for Egbuca plus we now have injury depth. No more do we have to count on Sterling Shepard being our wide receiver to or going with undrafted free agent players as our starting wide receivers.
So in addition to probably getting a 65 to 70% snap share even without injury this year we also have somebody who will step into the void that will be filled when one of our top receivers over the past many years eventually hangs it up.
April 25th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
our WR scheme could be like a hoop team running out to starting fives with basically equal court time so they can run a full-court press or whatever.
April 25th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
I’m good with taking more shots but don’t force to much different stuff. Short game slash run game worked. Great pick last night
April 25th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I thought Grizz would want a speed WR so Joe could get his deep incompletions. Double E is a great receiver with great success on intermediate balls. More of Joe’s hated dink and dunk scoring 28 (or 30?) ppg. Sorry Joe!
April 25th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
It’s the only way. Added to the O with a weapon… Bowles must trust the O as our number 1 unit and keep the ball in their hands.
Top OL and a mobile QB … air it out early and often.
April 25th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
Todd Bowles is a believer in run-game/passing-game ‘balance’. Not an artificial (and ridiculous) 50-50 balance, but a ‘balance’ in terms of CAPABILITIES. IOW a Bucs’ team that can score equally well by running OR passing the ball, dependent upon what the game situation calls for. That keeps our offense unpredictable, and increases the chances of each play’s success.
Yes some games we’ll pass a lot more (especially if our opponent’s defense sucks at pass defense). Some games it’ll be the other way around, and we’ll run more. And some games, it’ll be ‘balanced’ in that BOTH the run game AND the passing game are clicking, and BOTH get used quite a bit.
Last year’s 2nd game against Carolina was the perfect example of the latter. Baker threw 32 passes and connected on 27 of them (84.4%) for 349 yards passing & 5 TDs. We also ran the ball 40 times for 202 yards rushing & 0 TDs. Bucs held the ball for 41:11 … and dominated. Would dearly love it if every game was like that.
April 25th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
I think it’s a great pick. I’m not sure how many snaps that Mike Evans played last year but it seemed like there was quite a few plays where he was on the sideline getting a breather. He is getting older and he played hurt a lot last year. So, we need another quality receiver than can step in and play those plays when Mike is out and maybe we can have some 4 or 5 wide on a few occasions.
April 25th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
It’s a conspiracy and the other teams are all snatching the defenders we had pegged!
April 25th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
PLAY CALL:** *Plundering Pass*
### **Formation:**
**Gun Doubles (2×2 Spread)**
– **Bucky** (RB) – Offset left
– **McMillan** (WR) – Go route
– **Egbuka** (WR) – Jet motion (motion man)
– **Evans** (Slot) – Slant route (Go option)
– **Godwin** (Slot) – Crack block, delayed reverse option
1. **Pre-Snap:**
– **Egbuka** motions across.
– **Baker** reads defense:
– **Follows Egbuka** = Man coverage.
– **Doesn’t follow** = Zone coverage.
### **Option Reads:**
– **Zone (No Follow):**
– **Baker gives** to **Egbuka** for the **jet sweep option**.
– If **Baker keeps**, he reads the **DE**:
– **DE crashes** = Keep & pitch to **Godwin** for delayed reverse.
– **DE stays** = Hands off to **Bucky**.
– **Man (Follows Egbuka):**
– **Baker fakes** to **Bucky** and reads the **DE**:
– **DE crashes** = Keep & hit **Evans** on the **slant**, or **McMillan** on the **go route**.
– **DE stays** = Hands off to **Bucky** for inside run.
– **Pitch to Godwin** for reverse if nothing’s open.
### **Key Concepts:**
– **Dynamic QB Reads** – Baker reads the DE, making decisions based on crash or contain.
– **Misdirection & Motion** – Jet sweep + delayed reverse keep defenses on edge.
– **Versatile Threats** – **Evans’ slant**, **McMillan’s go route**, and **Godwin’s reverse** stretch the defense.
### **Why It Works:**
This play thrives on **misdirection, timing, and options**. The defense is forced to read multiple options, leaving them guessing on every snap. **Baker** has choices at every level, while **Godwin’s reverse** adds a surprise element to out-maneuver defenders.
### **Quick Call:**
**”Plundering Pass – Jet Slugo Crack Flip Delay”**
April 25th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
This is a key play I envision in Josh Grizz’s offense.
April 25th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
The season that Godwin was on track for last year along with the drafting of Egbuka are probably combine to make the biggest threat to a thousand yard season that Evans has ever faced.
I am going to go with Evans ad say that Baker throws for 5,000 yards, the Bucs have three WR with over 1,000 yards (E, G & E), and the Bucs lead the NFL in points per game, passing yards and rushing yards!
And, why is the rum bottle empty?
April 25th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
Yo, no!
April 25th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
Yo, ho!
April 25th, 2025 at 11:39 pm
The head coach knows his DC sucks but is stuck with him. Score more points! At least that’s something.
April 26th, 2025 at 12:02 am
Rumor has it that Baker can’t throw the deep ball. However, upon closer inspection, you realize this is just another false narrative like all the other false narratives he has proven to be just that, false. In 2020 his 3rd year in the league, he had the best completion percentage for the deep pass out of all 32 quarterbacks with a completion percentage of 51.9%. Second was Deshaun Watson with 50%, third Derek Carr with 47.3 and fourth Josh Allen 44.8. Last year he was considered in the top 5. In 2023 he was 8th. I can imagine where this rumor started, RM. Regardless, Baker has proven overtime he doesn’t have too many terrible weaknesses when you take a close look at what he has actually done versus what a few haters “says” he has done. His main weakness is his interceptions. If he could clean those up we would have a top 2 or 3 rated quarterback.
As it is, we have a top 5 quarterback. Life is tough