Josh Grizzard Really Is Backing Up His Words
September 14th, 2025
Data shows it’s working.
When Josh Grizzard was hired as the new Bucs offensive coordinator to take over for Liam Coen, Grizzard all but promised there would be more downfield throws.
Joe typed last week that there was evidence of just that from Baker Mayfield. Now, Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis has more data to back that up.
And — surprise! — Baker Mayfield did very well with those same throws.
Mayfield averaged 10.4 air yards per pass attempt in Week 1, third in the league.
In 2024, it was 7.0 yards downfield (28th).
46.9% of his throws were 10 or more yards downfield (third).
Last year, that was 32.1% (16th).
Joe doesn’t expect Grizzard to turn the Bucs into an Air Coryell offense. And while Joe consistently applauded Coen for crafting an excellent offense, it was a dink-and-dunk offense, despite his protests to Joe. But it worked!
Grizzard kept saying he wanted to diversify the offense. It’s early in the season. Very early. Too early to get a read. But at least for Week 1, Grizzard’s diversity campaign passed with flying colors.
September 14th, 2025 at 8:21 am
I just think it’s going to be difficult to get a handle on what this offense is and can produce until TW comes back. Until then it’s a game of survivor.
September 14th, 2025 at 8:22 am
Well, 2 of the 3 tuddys were certainly more than 7 yards downfield
September 14th, 2025 at 8:24 am
Not sure deep shots are all that Joe. Yards passing last year were pretty danged good. I learned some thing from my Father. One was…If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
We had a very good offense last year. Tweaks are for kids.
Go Bucs!
September 14th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Coen is an offensive genius. He knows that if Baker throws deep there will be excessive interceptions. Baker had 4 passes that could/should have been intercepted against Atlanta. Grizzard doesn’t get it, and clueless Todd will be of no help, as usual.
September 14th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Jeff you can go into to any game in the NFL and say the same thing about any QB. For example, how many picks should Bucs had on Penix. I can think of 2 obvious and I bet there were more. You don’t count should’ves.
September 14th, 2025 at 8:54 am
Unfortunately, I predict Mike Evans will pull the goose egg in receiving yards today.
Monday night? Different story HOLMES!
Evans for 113 yards receiving and two tuddies!
September 14th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Sorry about my low iq grandsons their mother was a street walker
September 14th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Survive this week we get Wirfs, and Godwin back for our September home stand.
September 14th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Since Goedeke is questionable, a real genius HC would randomly shuffle the OL again, and have 5 dudes who don’t regularly play their position and don’t play together. Surely that will help the Bymoron Leftwurstian run game.
September 14th, 2025 at 11:53 am
A good secondary is going to be a threat for Mayfield. The amount of game changing ints dropped but the Falcons last week was eye watering. Hopefully Bake was rusty. But if he isn’t careful with the ball we are going to understand why Coen kept those passes short.
September 14th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Aqualung must have gotten some of that harsh weed.
September 14th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
@garro
I respectfully disagree, sir.
You are correct that we had a good offense last year. I fully agree with that point. But remember, there are 17 games worth of film from last years offense. Tweaks and wrinkles are necessary. Even if it’s as simple as moving Egbuka outside and ME13 inside, motions or runningback/tightend sets.
Without tweaks to an offense, or for that matter a defense, the other team will know exactly the play is by the way players are lined up.
September 14th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Baker lead the nfl in down field accuracy 2020
September 14th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
@ModHair
Please don’t disrespect weed by associated it with @aqualung.
He’s obviously a drunk, not a weed smoker
September 14th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
We may have to put that on hold a bit this week.
With Tristan out, and as stout as the Houston D-Line and edges are, Baker may have to get the ball out much more quickly than we’d like.
I hope that doesn’t happen, but it’s been on my mind all week.
Longer throws/plays may not have time to develop if Baker’s getting hurried.
September 14th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Ooh the extinct lizard lilly tries to be snarky about weed and alcohol. LOL.
A dimmer bulb than her, there isn’t.
September 14th, 2025 at 10:01 pm
Not for passes > 15 yards, Mr Mark. Baker also lead the league in pics last year and I counted about 4 or 5 bullets he dodged in week one. He mad some great throws…but overall you can’t say that was a high level display of downfield accuracy. I maintain Cohen made this a short passing game out of necessity.
September 14th, 2025 at 10:32 pm
Deep passes are over 20, not 15.
Also, all those deep balls ended up getting the Bucs 167 yards passing for the game. But, with that said, Baker missed a bunch of open guys, and I expect him to be much more accurate now that he’s had a game to knock off the rust.