Josh Grizzard Promised And Delivered… A Little
September 10th, 2025
Passing chart.
Ever since Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was hired to replace Liam Coen, Grizzard made it clear he did not want to change the Bucs offense.
Instead, Grizzard wanted to keep Coen’s base offense but expand and diversify a little with more deep passing. So Grizzard kept his word That is how things transpired in Atlanta on Sunday.
Grizzard promised and he delivered. A little bit. As you can see from Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield’s chart below, Mayfield had five passes farther than 20 yards. Two were completed, both to Emeka Egbuka. Interestingly enough, both were touchdowns.
While five passes over 20 yards may not seem like much, consider last year in Week 1 against the Commandos, Mayfield attempted one pass over 20 yards, which was incomplete.
September 10th, 2025 at 4:49 am
Overall Grizz didn’t impress. Coen was, is a snake, but helluva play caller. The scheme might be the same but it sure didn’t look that way.
September 10th, 2025 at 5:17 am
First game of the season, new play-caller, significantly modified OLine, aggressive Falcons defense. Baker definitely took awhile to find his groove … started the 1st qtr 0-for-4 and ended it 2-of-7 overall for 16 yards. But he improved to 5-of-8 for 61 yards in the 2nd qtr. So his 1st half passing (7-of-15 for 77 yards) left a bit to be desired.
But he settled down somewhat in the 2nd half, going 10-of-17 for 90 yds in the half (he was 4-of-7 in the 3rd qtr for 44 yds, and 6-of-10 for 46 yds in the 4th qtr). Although Baker only completed 17 of his 32 passes (53.1%), 3 of those 17 completions were for TDs and hey made all the difference in the ballgame.
September 10th, 2025 at 5:46 am
Frontfour , Really hard to say that Grizzard was unimpressive. Down 3 starters on offense , a last minute patchwork offensive line. Not sure Coen would have been much better in that situation.
September 10th, 2025 at 5:55 am
“Coen was, is a snake…”
Such a stupid comment. How is a man a snake for: 1) as the provider for his family, taking a higher paying job; 2) wanting to advance his career?
Yes, he was and is a hell of a OC. Personally, I wish him the best. In the end, Coen did what any of us would do. And I am of the opinion that if he succeeds with the Jags, it reflect well on the Bucs “coaching tree”.
I am also of the opinion that it was a little premature for Canales to take a HC job. I don’t think he was a great play caller. I think Baker made Canales.
September 10th, 2025 at 5:59 am
DR, thank for your always insightful posts. Yeah, I’ll take 3 TDs out of 17 completions with 0 INTs all day everyday. Those 2 TD passes to EE were incredible to see. Both in terms of Baker’s throw and EE’s catch.
September 10th, 2025 at 6:16 am
Can’t remember which of Egbuka’s catches it was Harry, but the ball was behind him and he reached back with both hands & brought it in. His body control on that particular catch was incredible. He’s a keeper for sure.
September 10th, 2025 at 6:32 am
EE is a vacuum cleaner!
September 10th, 2025 at 7:19 am
Wonder why Bowles did not say EE made Bake look good? Then he could start Teddy against Houston.
September 10th, 2025 at 7:36 am
I don’t know how many passes over 20 yards Mayfield attempted against the Commandos in the week one victory in 2024 but he had a 32 yard TD pass to McMillan which was released at the 40 and caught inside the 10 yard line.
September 10th, 2025 at 7:40 am
I care about points, turnovers, and finishing the game. I like Coen/Baker’s 28 points/game and 23 against ATL wasn’t great. However, Baker had no turnovers and finished the game strong. Beat HOU!
September 10th, 2025 at 8:03 am
First game. Lighten up Francis.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:19 am
First game of the season with no starters playing in pre season, patchwork line, these have been said already. Came out of a divisional road game with a W, that was end goal met. Offense will get better, smoother, more in sync, not the boy band, the whole team will.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:53 am
The number 1 ranked Buc for week 1 by PFF?
Zyon McCollum
September 10th, 2025 at 9:22 am
Well, Ballwash, gotta look at the kicker on that. Baker got the team in position. McLaughlin missed a field goal AND an extra point. Since 23+3+1=27, are you really down on a new coordinator for missing that 28th point?
September 10th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Baker was also off, missing Cam Brate and Mike on two other deep balls. Those two would have added at least 60 yards of passing offense and perhaps another TD.
The concern should be about the run game and the chaotic juggling, essentially having three new starters instead of just one. Good grief, what head coach would ever think that was a good idea?
Oh. Never mind. It’s genius.
September 10th, 2025 at 9:30 am
The offense should be alright. What we should all be hanging on to is that while the execution is improving over time the further we go into the season, we’ll be getting some of our best personnel back in the next month, month and a half.
Baker and the offense are far from playing their best football, but they’re going to need to kick it up a few notches to play well against a pretty talented Texans defense. Another turnover free game would help keep our chances of beating them as high as possible.
September 10th, 2025 at 9:37 am
“Overall Grizz didn’t impress. Coen was, is a snake, but helluva play caller.”
I must take exception with that observation. D.R. has already pointed out the fact that Grizz did a great job of overcoming a total OL rework, players out of position and the star of the OL unavailable. On the road against a pretty good team, time will tell us how good.
Meanwhile it’s the comparision that gets me. Why do posters here ignore reality.
They don’t ask how they ask how many. So we have whiners complaining about Todd despite the winning record and what the team has accomplished despite the post SB challenges.
Coen is overrated based on his Bucs record. So Grizzard is underwhelming for a victory on the road against the #1 rival. How did Coen perform? That’s right Coen failed to participate in a Bucs victory over Atlanta?
Play calling? WTF happened in that first playoff game?
Coen benefitted from the emergence of 3 things. A truly surprising OL, an even greater surprise in Bucky and the continuing emergence of Baker as the real deal. Those things all came together last year!
THIS YEAR we’ll see how Grizz and Todd do. But damn if we’re already criticizing them when they’re 1-0 atop their Division with a road win over their major rival, WTF is going to happen when they hit the inevitable tough times that happen to all NFL teams?
September 10th, 2025 at 9:58 am
Both Canales and Coen frustrated the h@ll out of this long-time fan. Neither one was willing to fully open up a very talented Offense. Why not? Most OCs in the league, especially in Cleveland, etc. would kill to have the talent the Bucs have. In fact, I have to rub my eyes to make sure it’s the Bucs. Yeah, I survived through the Dark Ages. So, I’ll be listening to how gutsy smart Grizzard will be. I’m just a fan, but there are a few basic football facts I get, and talent is one of them. I’m not surprised they’re 1-0, and I know they (minus injuries, please) are becoming one of the elite teams in the League!
September 10th, 2025 at 10:14 am
Missed 4 points because of the kicker. I’ll take 27 points every single time.
September 10th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Grizz’s playcalling grade for Week 1: D.
Especially in the run game.
1st downs need to be for playaction and passes a majority of the time (like last year) to keep the defense off-balance.
September 10th, 2025 at 10:37 am
It takes a game for starters to get on track.
It is rare for teams to go into Game 1 hitting in all cylinders.
We will see what happens in Houston.
September 10th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
Senor Harry in Costa Rica… You nailed it. Canales has Mayfield to thank for gifting him that job… Coen is actually pretty good. Having talent definitely didn’t hurt, but Baker has truly been the King-maker.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Lots of DIPSPIT comments from fat arm chair never played coaches. The moment you found out that there were gonna be 3 changes on the O line because of injury, you should have taken 14 points off the Buccaneers total. You can get away with 1 injury sometimes two, but 3 main blockers against a division rival who wants desperately to beat on their home field….hard to score points. Just be glad the defense you insufferable clowns are always jacking rose to the occasion.
Besides…who the eff were you gonna get better? Remember you clowns said that Canales leaving would hurt Mayfield and yet, here’s Baker with another OC(what’s that? 8 in 7 years? Doing pretty good with a hodge podge….Cohen didn’t look to hot against a terrible (Canales led team. Lawrence had terrible numbers and QBR of 69. Buccaneers fans are some of the worst
September 11th, 2025 at 3:46 am
Only one problem with the deep shots Joe.
Sacrilege I know, but Baker is having problems connecting on the deep ball.
Missed Otten by a mile. That was a walk in TD. Missed at least others as well. With our musical chair O line, I am not sure deep shots are wise anyway.
Go Bucs!