What’s Behind The Uptick In Red Zone Offense?
October 18th, 2025
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard.
It’s getting better.
In the first three weeks of the season, the Bucs ranked No. 25 in scoring touchdowns once they got into the red zone, scoring TDs on 44 percent of their trips.
In the past three weeks, the Bucs have upped that number a little, now scoring touchdowns at a 52 percent clip for the season once they entered the opponent’s red zone.
Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard believes it’s the result of improved efficiency on first and second downs.
“A little bit of it was the execution of first and second down – being able to shorten some of the third downs,” Grizzard said. “But then even last week, being able to have that explosive play to Kam [Johnson] – it’s definitely nice if you don’t have to go to a third down [and] you can just score from there, which makes it much easier.
“But, really, the execution part of it, taking care of the little things on first and second down, continuing the drives, and then ultimately trying to throw it in from time to time from that distance out just to get the six points from there.”
Joe thought there may be something else at play, that perhaps has allowed the Bucs to move the ball better on first and second downs.
With the return of Tristan Wirfs in Week 3, the Bucs’ offensive line has stabilized. Ben Bredeson moved back to left guard and Graham Barton moved back to center.
Joe asked Grizzard about that and he didn’t disagree.
“It definitely helps once you get guys back in their spots that they’re used to playing, in terms of their techniques and the communication up front,” Grizzard said. “It definitely helps. But even when those guys weren’t in there, it still came down to the execution of the guys that were in there and putting them in a good position to go out there and make plays.”
Another element that likely assisted in the red zone offensive improvement. When the Bucs were juggling the offensive line, the Bucs held tight end Cade Otton back to help out and block. Once Wirfs came back and the Bucs trusted their offensive line more, Otton was used more in the passing game and that dded another Bucs weapon defenses had to worry about.
Two of Otton’s best three games receiving this year have come the past two weeks.
And while Joe loves injured Bucky Irving, Joe has to mention that Bucky has 7 red zone carries this season for zero total yards.
October 18th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Here we go again.
The Baker Mayfield coaching tree is alive and well.
October 18th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Love Cade Otton and he certainly has been able to get more involved in the passing game after the OL stabilized with Tristan’s return.
But sorry Cade, this week we are going to have you hooked to Heck with 10 rolls of duct tape every time Hutchinson is on that side.
October 18th, 2025 at 10:44 am
The return of Tristan and red zone improvement cannot be overestimated.
October 18th, 2025 at 10:58 am
If Grizzard blooms like his predecessors Glazers need to have a plan. One that works. No excuses.
October 18th, 2025 at 11:09 am
Agree with you Joe, getting the OL partially back is huge.
in 2024, the Bucs were #4 in red zone efficiency, scoring at a 66% clip. This year that 52% scoring efficiency puts them at #23, just behind the Browns, but ahead of the Rams! What a difference.
Getting ME back as a red zone target will help a lot, even if it is to just draw help D and get someone else open.
October 18th, 2025 at 11:10 am
Barton is a major road grader. He can certainly play LT in this league. He can actually play all five positions.
But putting him at C and Wirfs at LT, whoa. Those guys move beef.
That alone opens options in the Red Zone.
But something else. Maybe they needed more reps in preseason. Maybe they are hitting their stride after 6 games. Or maybe at 5-1, their preseason plan worked.
We are all just riding the Magic Bus.
This team is blowing up but there will be a few setbacks. An unexpected loss may happen. But the mentality reminds me of Sapp and Brooks and Lynch — the attitude.
October 18th, 2025 at 11:13 am
@Drunk, not sure about that. We need Cade as a target in the red zone when we get there. Maybe run some 12 personnel, double TE set so Heck has help on Hutch and Cade can take advantage of double coverage on ME. Two nice big targets.
October 18th, 2025 at 11:27 am
Keep improving week to week!! The MNF game will be tough! Both sides of the ball needs to execute!! Get it done!!
October 18th, 2025 at 11:34 am
Every game is Must Win!
October 18th, 2025 at 11:37 am
Once again I speculate. It seems possible that the Glazers and the organization, after having seen the rise and success of Canales and Coen, recognized the same qualities in Grizzard. Perhaps he “fell into their lap” after the serpent debacle. Perhaps Grizzard’s upside is even bigger. I surmise that the Glazers view Grizzard as a fortuitous event that (3 strikes and you’re out) that cannot be squandered. Grizz has shown enough to make it imperative that he be locked in and groomed to be Todd’s successor. The Athletic article confirms that belief to me.
October 18th, 2025 at 11:39 am
Wow, Tucker has better stats in the red zone than Bucky. Who would have gambled on that. Might be that defenses tighten up spaces that takes Bucke’s best weapon, give him a foot and he will take a mile.
Still think Grizzard misusing or over using Bucky caused his injury.
October 18th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Like Senor Harry’s idea. Run a lot of 2 TE sets. Rotate Evans, Shep, Tez and Kam for the 2WR positions and White and Tucker at RB. Payne Durham is the best blocking TE by far. Have him on the side with Hutch.
October 18th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Where is the article with Ebuka back at practice today.
October 18th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
“Where is the article with Ebuka back at practice today.”
can’t expect the Joes to be connected to the blog all the time. That news is very fresh
October 18th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
Even fresher is that Evans is ruled out for Monday.
October 18th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
No way is he really I thought Evans would play.
October 18th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Evans is NOT ruled out lol
October 18th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Correct Evans is NOT ruled out . Greg Auman has apologized for his earlier report. He meant Godwin.
October 18th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
The OL back to 100% on the left side, and the slow improvement on the right side helps. Carbs and Griz have a better feel for run plays, and Griz is just showing overall improvement in his play calling.
October 18th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
I would be VERY ‘cautious’ with Mike. Especially, against THIS Defense, in THAT building, on THAT playing surface. Only use him situationally, on 3rd-Down, inside the RedZone, and sparingly, as a Decoy.
October 18th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
It would be awesome to get both Mike and EE back to play against this depleted lions secondary – 2 back up DBs and a back up Safety. It would be nice if we finally get the break with injuries.
Mike and EE would tear up that Lions secondary, then sprinkle a little Tez on them and the Bucs WIN!!!
October 18th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
I just reread the Athletic article allegedly written by BA looking for nuggets. To me it seems astonishing that he could have that opinion of Bowles and yet lobbied for Leftwich to be the head coach.
It just reinforces my belief. I sure am glad that era is over.
October 18th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
I take back what I said in the previous post. BA may have felt that way about Bowles but was staunch in his belief that only offensive minded coaches could be head coaches. The list of defensive oriented head coaches is long with many big names. All of the illogical happenings when added to what was seen,said, and written about seem to add up to one very logical explanation. BA betrayed his friend Todd and now has to make it right.
October 18th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
Who cares? Bowles and Licht work together great as a team. BA is history like Brady. This Bucs team pulls off the upset Monday, which is becoming more and more possible, Bake will be up for MVP. Bucs will be 6-1, injuries and all, as they go to NOLA before the Bye. That will not be a cakewalk. So what? 7-2 works for me.
October 18th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
I think he’s playing coy when what he really did was realize we should score from far away because we’re not terrific in close it seems.
October 18th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
We should have all expected that the offense would be a work in progress. It’s looked better each week and once we get everyone back it will be even better.
October 18th, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Canales Cohen and Grizzard They are ok But I think its the players we have that make them look great
October 19th, 2025 at 10:25 am
6-1!!!!!!!
GO BUCS