Gameplans Have Been A Constant Challenge
October 15th, 2025
“Graham, sure am glad you are back at center.”
Video games have warped all of our minds when it comes to football.
Many think it’s as easy as calling any simple play and it will be executed perfectly. Not so in real football. Often, all 11 guys on offense have to do everything right in order for a play to work.
Often that starts with who’s blocking.
And each week, with all the Bucs injuries on their offensive line, offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard have had to do more than juggle bodies to come up with an effective gameplan.
Grizzard would like to throw deep. But not everyone on the line is talented enough to hold their blocks in order for receivers to get open deep and for Baker Mayfield to have the time to recognize and throw.
So what Carberry has to do weekly is figure out who is starting. Then, he and Grizzard have to figure out what each guy can and cannot do. For example, if a right guard isn’t great at run blocking, you sure as hell aren’t going to try to pound the ball behind the right guard (unless you are Byron Leftwich).
Likewise, if an offensive lineman is quick getting off the ball but not great at holding his block, Grizzard is likely to craft a gameplan with short passes.
Today at One Buc Palace, Carberry spoke about the constant juggling.
“Throughout the course of the day, throughout the course of the week, and certainly when we’re putting a plan together, [he and Grizzard study what players can and cannot do] at the run game, protection game, the screen game,” Carberry said. “We want to put the guys in the best positions to be successful and give them stuff they can handle.
“At times, we haven’t always done that. There have been times that, yeah, we’d like, as coaches, to have a play or two back. But like I said, we move on and learn from it. Move on and apply it to the rest of the game or the next gameplan.
“But the whole staff is in constant communication with one another in terms of putting the plan together, getting everybody on the same page, and getting the guys ready to play the best we can.”
And those injuries might be stunting the growth of the offense as a whole.
Joe thinks the offense improved once the left side of the line was stabilized. The Bucs have since run quite a bit to the left side, not just because Tristan Wirfs is over there, but again, the entire left side is stabilized.
Carberry and Grizzard have sure earned their keep this season.
If the Bucs offense can ring up 30 points on a good defense like the 49ers’ with all these injuries, imagine what it would be like if the offense could be healthy for three weeks in a row?
October 15th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Yeah
If the Oline is heathy for the playoffs, we are heading to San Francisco in a few months.
Go Bucs!!!
October 15th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
I can’t wait for the day when we can all watch this team fully healthy on the field together. Maybe at some point we will actually have Bucky, Evans, Godwin, Mcmillian and Ebuka all on the field at the same time.
October 15th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
This team will never be fully healthy, it’s just not in the cards
October 15th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Niners defense is kind of a morgue, though. Especially after Warner went down. That’s not to diminish what Bater, Griz and the boys did Sunday though.
October 15th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
😂😂😂😂😂 “unless you are Byron Leftwich😂😂😂😂
Now I have to go back and read the rest
😆😆😆😆😆😆
October 15th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
the offense and defense will only get better!!!!!!!
6-1!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 15th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
“And those injuries might be stunting the growth of the offense as a whole.“
And the understatement of the year award goes to….
Joe.
October 15th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
This is my worry. Grizz leaves and takes cardberry(a free agent) any others from our staff. Grizz is awesome but our offensive line coaches are spectacular. They only signed 2 year contracts if I’m not mistaken so are free to go wherever they choose next year. We need to lock all these guys up ASAP!
October 15th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Joe thinks the offense improved once the left side of the line was stabilized.
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I agree with that completely. Since getting Wirfs back, and getting Barton back at center, it really stablized things. Then they can have Otton and/or White helping on the right side of the line.
Also, for what it’s worth, Heck wasn’t awful on Sunday – first time all season that was the case. That also makes a huge difference (although it is fair to point out all the injuries that the 49ers have on defense, and it’s possible it’s a one week mirage, but hope not).
Anyways, having time for Baker to throw the ball, and him not having to constantly run for his life on every play, has let Wiz Kid actually setup and run a gameplan, instead of just running individual plays.
If/when the Bucs ever have Luke back, and then get the WRs back, and Bucky back, it’s going to be yuge.
October 15th, 2025 at 4:34 pm
@Mac,
That’s the risk in retaining a Defensive Head Coach who is not good at coordinating a defense. He is over reliant on the offense to carry the team as the unit he is responsible for is the worst unit on the team
Bucs should’ve promoted Coen and paid Todd to go away. They will always be chasing and filling OC’s as long as Todd and his bottom 10 pass defense is here tormenting fans
October 15th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Rod, good analysis but you didn’t quite emphasize the importance of maybe the best left tackle in the game. Wirfs has played 12 quarters. The last 10 of those quarters our offense has totally changed. 87 points in 10 quarters against solid teams. Our offense has looked like a different animal since he got back. All the injuries hurt. His hurt the most.
October 15th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
@smarter than Joe proving he’s dumber than dirt again.
You’ll be singing a different tune in a year or 2 when Coen flops and Todd becomes the most winning HC in the Bucs history.
Firing Todd and giving Coen the HC position may have been literally the dumbest move our front office could have made. I doubt they ever considered it.
And Please go learn something about defense… You’re harping repeatedly on one stat that has very little to do with w/l results.
October 15th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
At this rate Kevin Carberry will be our new Offensive Coordinator next year once Grizzard gets plucked. Keeping it in house is the only way to maintain any continuity.
October 15th, 2025 at 6:34 pm
TW78 is All-World for a reason: He’s a great football player. Detroit will be his 3rd game, and he’s got himself back into playing shape. You bet he is a major return to the OLine. The left side plus center have their players back playing in their natural positions. Our 1sr string WRs have been crippled, but the TEs and RBs (White), plus the backup receivers are playing smart ball. The pressure to protect Bake will be lessened on them. The right side of the Oline is contributing, too. They already know what they’re up against with the Lions’ D. With the Lions’ secondary a weak spot, the Bucs’ chances of winning have increased a little. Our D is slowly getting people back in the secondary. I am feeling optimistic somewhat about this one. Go Bucs!! 6-1!! (Why not?)
October 15th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
TW78 is All-World for a reason: He’s a great football player. Detroit will be his 3rd game, and he’s got himself back into playing shape. You bet he is a major return to the OLine. The left side plus center have their players back playing in their natural positions. Our 1sr string WRs have been crippled, but the TEs and RBs (White), plus the backup receivers are playing smart ball. The pressure to protect Bake will be lessened on them. The right side of the Oline is contributing, too. They already know what they’re up against with the Lions’ D. With the Lions’ secondary a weak spot, the Bucs’ chances of winning have increased a little. Our D is slowly getting people back in the secondary. I am feeling optimistic somewhat about this one. Go Bucs!! 6-1!! (Why not?)
October 15th, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Smarter than joe is a dumb a## So anti Buc and Todd. So tired of his comments. Always neg garbage . Just go away bro. As a life long… born in 65 bucs fan and reading Joes and Ira for a long long time through good and bad I know he/they are much smarter than you. Sorry for the pronouns lol
October 15th, 2025 at 7:21 pm
“If a right guard isn’t great at run blocking, you sure as hell aren’t going to try to pound the ball behind the right guard (unless you are Byron Leftwich)”. HAHAHA – Lefty was terrible.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Leftwich – like trying to run through the Steelers solid D line when they were down ALL of their corners. Brilliant!
October 15th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
Carbs needs Plan A to help Heck with Hutch or else it will be a long day. I certainly hope Heck is good against Hutch, but it’s better to be prepared to help Heck and Klein out the a TE or RB. I would love for the Bucs to run over Hutch and plant him. LFG!!!
October 15th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
‘74 Bucs Fan Says:
October 15th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Leftwich – like trying to run through the Steelers solid D line when they were down ALL of their corners. Brilliant!
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Yeah, but you don’t understand… you do that because they’d NEVER SEE IT COMING! That’s why it’s so impactful and creative!
But while that was bad, the worst thing Leftwich ever did, and what should have seen him fired on the spot, was actually in a win. In that game in German vs Seattle, he runs the same trick play only a few plays apart. He’s so dumb, he though the Seahawks would have no idea what to do when they saw the same trick play just a few plays after first seeing it. Instead he almost got Brady killed and the Seahawks got a turnover. I’m not kidding in the least, he should have been fired on the spot, and you know Todd Bowles probably wanted to fire him on the spot. While I have issues with Bowles playing soft, he’s not an idiot, and I can only imagine what he was thinking watching Leftwich do that.
October 16th, 2025 at 12:20 am
If Grizz can destroy the Lions? I am buying my ticket for the Griz train. LFG
Go Bucs!