Josh Grizzard Says He Feels Pressure
July 18th, 2025
Rookie Bucs playcaller Josh Grizzard.
Rookie Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has never called plays on any level other than the scout team with the Dolphins and a little bit in Tampa Bay’s June minicamp.
That fact about the 35-year-old playcaller taking over a standout NFL offense really seems to mesmerize Bucs cornerback icon Rondé Barber, as he explained this week on The Rondé Barber Show on WFLA-TV streaming platforms.
Barber asked Grizzard if he’s the feeling pressure tied to taking over a loaded offense and keeping its success going.
“Absolutely,” Grizzard replied. “And I think in the NFL every year there’s pressure. But at the end of the day, pressure’s a privilege and it’s something that if there’s not expectations, then why are we doing it? It’s not like we’re defending a Super Bowl championship here. So we have such room to grow. … There’s definitely pressure involved with it, but I think that’s the fun part about it, is seeing how myself is going to react to that pressure.”
Grizzard really is the ultimate X-factor for the Bucs offense. Is he ready?
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel says he is. A Grizzard mentor, McDaniel talked to Joe 1-on-1 about it at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Bucs fans are going to find out in a hurry in what almost is a must-win game at Atlanta to start the season.
July 18th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
Just dont fold under the pressure, especially these first 4. Its gonna get ugly…just have backup plan after backup plan after backup plan…and trust Baker.
July 18th, 2025 at 6:46 pm
Bold claim but he will be gone after this year because he does so good.
July 18th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
It’s a tough job with lots of pressure. He’ll be choosing two plays to call in to Bake and he has to do it quickly. The good news is that it’s nearly the same offensive staff and players as last year.
July 18th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Grizzard is ready and will get more ready in preseason. One of the Joes used to hate preseason games, wow we need it now. Grizzard should have a backup play caller and likely does. I am optimistic.
July 18th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
It’s gotten so bad with OC’s we should have somebody cross training with him starting now. Hell, we should always have an understudy to each coordinator!
July 18th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
“Josh Grizzard has never called plays on any level other than the scout team with the Dolphins and a little bit in Tampa Bay’s June minicamp“
Was he not our third down playcaller last year? an area where the Bucs excelled. No. He developed the third-down packages during the week with Liam Coen, but he didn’t pick the plays in real-time.–Joe
July 18th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
I’m sure there will be some small degree of growing pains involved with building this years offense into a Juggernaught- but Grizz is so smart that he will learn quickly from any mistakes that he winds up making along the way….
I’m nearly positive that there has never been a first time playcaller (at any level) who was handed the keys to run an NFL offense as supercharged as this Buccaneers offense is…..
Top 5 OL
Top 10 QB
Top 5 WRs
Top 5 RBs
Top 15 TEs
Grizz will do just fine I’m sure. Its a literal dream scenario for a young coach in his position….. that will almost certainly put him on the fast track to getting HC offers much sooner than later… Deep playoff runs tend to make coordinators popular – and I’m expecting exactly that from our Bucs this season.
Thad Lewis – please don’t jump ship – we may well need to give Thad that same amazing opportunity next year….
July 18th, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Grizz will be fine. He’s been doing “mental reps” with play calling for years. He’ll be as prepared as a 1st time live in a game playcaller can be.
July 18th, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Is there a betting line for the first play call of the regular season is they run up the middle? Wouldn’t that be hilarious? Go Bowles!
July 19th, 2025 at 6:30 am
We will see, If the panthers and Jags stink people realize that it’s the roset and any ok coach can look good. How many years did they hire away New England’s coordinators before they realized it was Brady.
July 19th, 2025 at 6:52 am
I would be extremely worried if he had said something like “Heck no…I got this!” That would be like Lovie and “Tennessee Ready” stuff. LOL
I do worry that he may try to re-invent the wheel though. We got a whole bunch of stuff that works well.
Go Bucs!
July 19th, 2025 at 8:00 am
BEAT ATLANTA!!!
July 19th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Expectations should be lowered a bit IMO on Grizz. Coen was a very good natural play caller. He had a little experience – experience is important in everything. Coen kept the opponent guessing. Yes, the offense is loaded, Coen had weapons everywhere, OL, WR, RB, QB. Grizz will inherit those same weapons, but I expect a learning curve. The offense can easily stay in the top 10, maybe even as high as #7.
The Bucs do not need to have the #3 offense in the NFL to improve and win. If Pat Mahomes is the measuring stick, KC’s offense ranked #17 in total yards and #15 in points scored in ’24. But KC’s D was #9 in yards allowed and #4 in points allowed.
The Bucs D has to get the other team off the field. That is the area the Bucs need to improve. Not be in the bottom third of the league. Get back up to top 10. The Bucs D was ranked in the middle with points allowed. But the problem, as we saw last year, with a “bend but don’t break” D, is we need to get a team like Washington OFF the field and they could NOT. The Bucs have the talent, and maybe the depth to do so, I believe.
July 19th, 2025 at 8:55 am
Pickgrin
Great point about Lewis. The team has its first and second choice for OC.
And of course the glue that binds it all is Baker who clearly is a GREAT OC who has now sent two rooks to HC jobs.
I’m not so worried about Griz success means it happens again. Between the huge age difference is the gap. Coen knew it was his one shot. IF the Bucs win big Griz will have time and rep to wait until Todd retires IF he feels certain he’s next in line.
July 19th, 2025 at 10:02 am
And oh by the way, Josh was right there listening to and analyzing every play called last year by then offensive coordinator. He has a lot of pressure, but he will succeed on his own merits and be all right. The first few series might be in question or maybe not, he has game day and behind the scenes experience. Kick a$$ gentlemen, kick a$$.
July 19th, 2025 at 11:40 am
Love the attitude. It would be nice if we had a real Buccaneers defense to rely on while our porn stache matador plays LT and Grizz gets his rhythm.
July 19th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
Aqua, dude, thats horrible…..you’re stupid sometimes. Root for our guys sometimes for a change. Smh