INTRO: I do know that is the third straight SR’s Fab 5 that leads off with offensive coordinator Liam Coen, however proper now his future in Tampa Bay is high of thoughts amongst Bucs followers. I’m simply giving the Pewter Individuals what they need. I’ve additionally acquired some perception on outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby’s lack of sacks, security Antoine Winfield Jr.’s disappointing 12 months, the necessity for huge receiver Jalen McMillan to hit the load room and huge receiver Trey Palmer’s future in Tampa Bay within the final SR’s Fab 5 of 2024. Get pleasure from!
FAB 1. The two Groups That Are Bucs’ Greatest Menace For Liam Coen
Because the Bucs’ 2024 season attracts to an in depth, followers are more and more on edge about two important points.
First is Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes, which took a giant hit with an premature loss at Dallas. Second is whether or not the Bucs will be capable of hold offensive coordinator Liam Coen – a method or one other.
Bucs GM Jason Licht, HC Todd Bowles and OC Liam Coen – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
A method could be growing Coen’s wage and hoping that making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator (or near it) could be sufficient to maintain him from pursuing a head teaching alternative elsewhere. Take into consideration how Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has eschewed these alternatives over the previous two seasons and stayed in Detroit, ready for the absolute best match.
The opposite approach could be if the crew wished to maneuver on from Todd Bowles as head coach as a result of the crew did not make the division or make the playoffs as a Wild Card crew or underachieved and had a first-round exit from the postseason. We gained’t know Bowles’ destiny till the subsequent two weeks now that the Bucs not management their very own destiny.
However right here’s one potential state of affairs to ponder concerning Coen’s future. If Bowles is let go along with the intention of selling Coen it might not be an automated choice the place he desires to remain in Tampa Bay.
There might be two potential locations that pop up that might have some enchantment for Coen – if he’s even excited about being a head coach subsequent 12 months – that might function actual competitors for the Bucs.
The primary is New England, the place 38-year-old Jerod Mayo is likely to be in over his head in his preliminary season as Invoice Belichick’s alternative. The Patriots have regressed from 8-9 in 2022 to 4-13 final 12 months in Belichick’s last season to 3-12 in Mayo’s first season as head coach.
Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer has mentioned that Mayo might be on the new seat after a nasty loss to the Cardinals lately, and Bleacher Report has Mayo as one of many Prime 10 coaches on the “heat seat,” as of December 20.
Right here’s what Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon needed to say.
8. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots: There’s additionally been chatter right here, and also you by no means know the place the endurance stage is contemplating how lengthy they had been spoiled in Foxborough. However that is an terrible crew on paper, although it’s nonetheless managed to win just a few video games whereas retaining younger quarterback Drake Maye heading in the right direction.
Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Three groups have already fired their head coaches this 12 months – New Orleans, Chicago and the New York Jets. All three had defensive-minded head coaches like Mayo is in New England. He served because the Patriots inside linebackers coach from 2019-23.
Coen was born and raised in Rhode Island and went on to play quarterback at UMass. He was a giant Patriots fan having grown up within the New England area. And was a good greater fan of Tom Brady. Having the possibility to educate the crew he adopted in his childhood could also be a giant dream come true.
The truth that the Patriots have already got a extremely rated quarterback within the fold with first-round choose Drake Maye may additionally add to the enchantment. Maye is a cellular passer with a 67.6% completion proportion with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the course of the 11 video games he’s performed in as a rookie.
Whereas New England actually lacks expertise and is within the working for the No. 1 total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft, the Patriots are set to have $132.5 million in wage cap room subsequent 12 months, which would be the most within the league. Proprietor Robert Kraft might wish to bounce on a league-wide pattern of hiring offensive-minded head coaches and make a run at pairing Coen with Maye.
The opposite crew that might emerge as a risk to the Bucs is the Las Vegas Raiders. Coen’s favourite participant within the NFL was Tom Brady, who’s now a minority proprietor of the Raiders franchise. Las Vegas made a mistake in hiring interim head coach Antonio Pierce because the full-time head coach this 12 months and the outcomes have been disastrous.
After changing Josh McDaniels and going 5-4, Pierce’s Raiders have slumped to a 3-12 document in his first full season as a head coach. A part of the issue has been below middle the place neither Gardner Minshew nor Aidan O’Connell seems just like the QB of the long run. The Raiders are twenty ninth in scoring, averaging simply 17.6 factors per sport, and are anticipated to draft a quarterback within the Prime 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The attract of drafting a quarterback plus having the second-most accessible cap house at $108.2 million might be tempting for Coen. And it might include barely much less stress than returning dwelling to the New England space to take over the Patriots.
Pierce, who can be a defensive-minded head coach, is No. 5 on the Bleacher Report sizzling seat listing. That is what David Gagnon needed to say in regards to the scenario in Las Vegas.
5. Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders: He was nonetheless working in an interim function when he lit a hearth below the Raiders late in 2023, however that’s all gone in 2024. Pierce deserves yet another shot merely due to the unhealthy quarterback hand he’s been dealt in addition to the accidents which have hit the protection, however the Raiders entrance workplace would possibly really feel compelled to start out afresh.
The actual lure right here might be a possible gross sales pitch by Brady to Coen. The 2 have met earlier than a pair of Bucs video games that Brady has referred to as for Fox this 12 months. After all Tampa Bay is considered one of two groups Brady has a rooting curiosity in as a result of he performed in crimson and pewter from 2020-22 and helped the Bucs win Tremendous Bowl LV.
The prospect to work with Brady and be in his orbit, particularly within the offseason when Brady isn’t calling video games, might be an enormous enchantment. Brady referred to as the Bucs’ 33-16 win over the Eagles in Week 4 in addition to the crew’s 23-20 Week 10 loss to the 49ers when Coen didn’t have high weapons Mike Evans or Chris Godwin at his disposal.
“I assumed he did an superior job immediately, actually eliminating the influence of that defensive entrance,” Brady mentioned to Baker Mayfield in a post-game interview again in Week 4.
On Thursday I requested Coen about assembly Brady twice previous to kickoff this season.
Bucs OC Liam Coen and Tom Brady – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“[Buccaneers chief communications officer] Nelson [Luis] gave me the most effective items I’ve ever had, which was a signed image of [Brady] and I collectively,” Coen mentioned. “Meaning extra to me than he in all probability is aware of. Simply listening to any individual’s experiences and studying from him – even in these quick conversations, you’ll be able to study a lot simply from the way in which he assaults issues, the way in which he approaches the sport, how he sees issues…You possibly can study from anyone.
“It’s like speaking to a different coach, primarily. Yeah, I like having these conversations from a fan [perspective] but in addition from a coach [perspective] and making an attempt to assemble data as a lot as potential. [He has been] tremendous supportive to this point and actually desires to see us do in addition to potential.”
Whether or not it’s as a fan of the crew attributable to his three years in Tampa Bay or his potential curiosity in Coen as a possible Raiders head teaching candidate, Brady has positively saved tabs on the Bucs’ play-caller this 12 months.
“Yeah, that’s fairly cool,” Coen mentioned. “You at all times wish to put one of the best product out on the sphere, for certain. To have any individual that, clearly, you seemed as much as as a child, acknowledge that work, I suppose you could possibly say, and admire type of what we’re doing…That’s fairly cool.”
After all, Coen has an incredible factor getting in Tampa Bay with Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, a proficient offensive line and a working again secure that’s the envy of the league. There are many nice causes to stick with the Bucs given the success the crew has had in Coen’s first season as a play-caller, averaging 28.5 factors per sport.
However the Raiders and Patriots might show to be tempting choices in the event that they hearth their head coaches and pursue Coen, too.
FAB 2. Yaya Diaby Not Pleased About Lack Of Sacks
It’s been a season of progress and enchancment for second-year outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby. Nevertheless it’s additionally been a season of disappointment for final 12 months’s main sacker.
Diaby has improved in just about each space of his sport apart from one class that issues most to go rushers.
Sacks.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photograph by: USA In the present day
“Earlier within the 12 months I did let that get to me as a result of I’m like, ‘Dang, I’m type of doing every little thing proper however it’s simply not including up,’” Diaby mentioned. “I imply, I nonetheless acquired guys like Calijah [Kancey] and Vita [Vea] making performs off the stress that I’m getting so it’s not a complete loss. However on the finish of the day, such as you mentioned, [sacks] are what get you paid. That’s simply one thing you’ll be able to look and develop from in order that’s all it’s.”
After posting 7.5 sacks final 12 months – all of which got here within the second half of his rookie marketing campaign – Diaby has simply 2.5 sacks heading into the ultimate two video games of the season, together with half a sack in final week’s loss at Dallas. Diaby, final 12 months’s third-round choose, solely began the ultimate 9 video games final 12 months, together with each playoff video games, however he’s began all 15 video games this season.
Final 12 months Diaby had a 60.8 Professional Soccer Focus total grade with a 66.5 run protection grade and a forty five.5 tackling grade. Regardless of main the crew in sacks, Diaby had a 56 go rush grade and notched 18 hurries and three QB hits, in keeping with PFF.
This 12 months, Diaby is without doubt one of the highest-graded Bucs defenders with a 77.1 total grade, a 73.9 run protection grade and a 67.3 tackling grade. His go rush grade has leaped to 76.6, which is one of the best among the many Bucs’ entrance seven defenders. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Hulk has a team-leading 42 pressures and 11 QB hits.
Diaby’s 42 hurries are tied for fifth amongst all NFL edge rushers and he has an 18.1% go rush win price, which is a far cry from final 12 months’s 6.7%.
Panthers QB Bryce Younger and Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers sees Diaby’s across-the-board enchancment although his sack numbers have dipped.
“Such as you mentioned, the numbers are up throughout the board and he’s the final word crew participant,” Rodgers mentioned. “Something you ask of him, he’s prepared to do. In our system, at that place isn’t straightforward to study.
“Sack numbers – I believe I spoke towards this – sacks are available in bunches. You possibly can have this proper right here… You possibly can have a four-sack sport and everyone thinks you’re the best rusher on the planet. Simply hold working at it, simply hold working at it. The factor you don’t see with him is his method is bettering. If he retains working, retains working, they’ll come.”
Diaby has made an influence together with his pressures. He was proper within the face of Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins as he threw the ball on fourth-and-15 again in Week 5 and compelled an interception by linebacker Lavonte David. Then in Week 15, he had one other stress, which additionally led to a choose.
“[Against the Raiders] with the Tykee [Smith] interception,” Diaby mentioned. “I got here free and virtually acquired to the quarterback. He threw it off his again foot and – interception. It’s little stuff like that I take a look at, ‘Rattling, I’m excellent there,’ however it’s nonetheless serving to the crew out.”
Bucs OLB YaYa Diaby and 49ers QB Brock Purdy – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Regardless of not getting the sacks that everybody anticipated him to have this season, Diaby’s continued enchancment has resulted in higher play by the sting rusher dubbed Sub Zero.
“For certain, man,” Diaby mentioned. “Particularly these previous few video games, even with checking the analytics, my get-off has been tremendous, tremendous quick off the ball. I’ve been harping on that and understanding extra of getting off and simply having [offensive] tackles have to actually come and get me. It’s simply little stuff like that that I simply acquired to maintain watching movie and continue learning.
“I really feel nice. Even these final three video games I’ve been enjoying principally the entire sport simply because I’m making an attempt to assist the crew out one of the simplest ways I can. I do know me being on the sphere helps the crew out.”
After all, just a few extra sacks would assist out much more.
And so they’re coming – both on the finish of this 12 months or subsequent 12 months attributable to Diaby’s enchancment.
FAB 3. Antoine Winfield Jr. Mired In The Worst 12 months Of His Bucs Profession
A part of the rationale why Todd Bowles’ protection has struggled at instances has been the dearth of availability of – and the dearth of performs made by – Bucs security Antoine Winfield Jr. It’s not essentially Winfield’s fault for the protection’s shortcomings this 12 months. He’s handled foot and knee accidents which have restricted him to simply 9 video games this season.
Bucs security Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: USA In the present day
However trying again to final 12 months when Winfield donned the superhero cape in a Week 1 win at Minnesota and didn’t take it off all season as he turned a first-team All-Professional, it’s clear that the protection has missed its superhero this 12 months and the entire heroic performs he made.
Nobody anticipated Winfield to recapture final 12 months’s glory – at the same time as he signed a four-year contract extension that made him the league’s highest-paid defensive again. Posting profession highs in tackles (122), sacks (six), compelled fumbles (six), fumble recoveries (4), interceptions (three) and passes defensed (12) in 2023 was not going to be duplicated or topped in 2024.
However what Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht and Bowles hoped for, and maybe anticipated, was for Winfield to at the very least ship his profession averages of 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three compelled fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, six go breakups and several other touchdown-saving tackles.
Sadly, he hasn’t even come near producing these numbers.
As a substitute via 9 video games, Winfield has 60 tackles, two sacks, no compelled fumbles, a fumble restoration for a landing, no interceptions and simply three go breakups. Winfield is anticipated to overlook Sunday’s sport versus Carolina and might not be accessible for the season finale in opposition to New Orleans both.
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall and Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: USA In the present day
“You’re in all probability speaking about if we had been sitting right here this time final 12 months, Winfield Jr. [was] in all probability the No. 1 participant on our protection final 12 months,” Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers mentioned. “The playmaking capacity – what did he have? 5, six sacks, precipitated fumbles, two game-saving landing performs I keep in mind – so that you lose that, after which if you get him again, he’s making an attempt to get again up to the mark after which we lose him once more.
“[It’s] simply robust since you’re proper – the subsequent man is up, however the subsequent man isn’t essentially Antoine Winfield Jr., in order that’s the battle it’s a must to [face]. Now you might have an harm right here, it’s a must to rob Peter to pay Paul in so some ways and that’s type of the juggling match we’re going through proper now.”
Professional Soccer Focus’ participant evaluations are subjective and never flawless. However in Winfield’s case, their grades do inform the story of his five-year profession in Tampa Bay.
2020: 67.2 total grade / 85.4 run protection / 57.2 go coverage2021: 89.5 total grade / 88.3 run protection / 87.6 go coverage2022: 78.7 total grade / 89.4 run protection / 67.0 go coverage2023: 90.7 total grade / 91.5 run protection / 84.0 go coverage2024: 56.8 total grade / 73.2 run protection / 50.3 go protection
Winfield’s missed sort out price of 9.5% isn’t unhealthy comparatively, however it’s the very best it’s been in three years. He had a 3.5% missed sort out price in 2022 and a 7.9% missed sort out price final 12 months, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.
“Typically, type of like baseball, you go right into a droop,” Bucs co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote mentioned final month. “Winfield – he hasn’t missed a variety of tackles, and it looks as if he’s missed a majority of his tackles in a single season than he did via all of his profession. It’s robust. We’ve acquired to pay attention.”
For the primary time in his NFL profession, Winfield might not document a single interception this season.
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: USA In the present day
“Taking part in the security place, if the quarterback doesn’t throw you the ball, you won’t get that many alternatives,” Foote mentioned. “He doesn’t must press. All people has [gone] via slumps on this league lacking tackles, however Winfield can be simply tremendous.
“I do know you guys are used to the splash performs, so after they [are not] there, we sound the alarm. He’s doing a variety of good things for us. My obvious factor is he’s in all probability missed extra tackles. He’ll repair that happening the street.”
These fixes might have to return in 2025 if Winfield’s knee doesn’t cooperate and he’s unable to return for the season finale or maybe the playoffs.
Final season might have been an anomaly with an avalanche of splash performs to fill the stats sheet. However this season has been an anomaly too together with his lack of massive performs.
Anticipate a bounce-back 12 months from Winfield subsequent season.
FAB 4. Jalen McMillan Wants To Hit The Weight Room In The Offseason
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photograph by: USA In the present day
The fourth-quarter interception by Dallas nickelback Jourdan Lewis wasn’t essentially huge reciever Jalen McMillan’s fault. The Bucs rookie huge receiver almost had his sixth landing catch of the season and almost put the crew again in entrance of the Cowboys.
However Lewis, an eight-year professional, simply made a veteran play and ripped the ball out of McMillan’s palms for an enormous end-zone interception.
The hope is that as McMillan grows into changing into an NFL veteran he may have the power and expertise to maintain his grip on the ball and are available away with a key landing there as an alternative of being a part of a key turnover. McMillan is listed at 6-foot-1, 192 kilos and has performed at 195-196 kilos this season. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen want to see the crew’s third-round choose add about 10 kilos of muscle this offseason, and McMillan informed Pewter Report he goals to rise up to 198-200 kilos.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s type of been a dialogue since we drafted him – saying, ‘Hey, how will we get you to be as bodily robust going into this factor?’” Coen mentioned. “Figuring out how lengthy this season is, what it does, particularly to rookies at a younger age coming in [with] how lengthy it’s and the way grueling these items are on these guys. [It will be a] massive offseason venture, for certain. He understands that – he’s echoed that. Not simply due to that one play, simply basically, I believe it should assist him shifting ahead, for certain.”
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Profitable receivers within the Rams-based assault that Coen has imported to Tampa Bay from Los Angeles are throughout 200 kilos. Rams Professional Bowlers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are 6-foot-2, 212 kilos and 6-foot-2, 207 kilos, respectively.
Bucs Professional Bowlers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are 6-foot-5, 225 kilos and 6-foot-1, 209 kilos, respectively.
The hope is that McMillan, who has a wiry however muscular body, can fill out extra over the offseason and get nearer to Godwin by way of weight, muscle mass and power. That ought to solely make McMillan a greater receiver and result in extra damaged tackles and contested catches in 2025.
FAB 5. Bucs WR Trey Palmer In Hazard Of Being Changed In 2025
Typically it’s not what coaches say or don’t say in press conferences, however it’s the order of issues that matter. When requested which receiver must step up alongside Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan with Sterling Shepard out with a hamstring harm, Bucs offensive coordinator instantly named Ryan Miller, who had a fourth-quarter landing in final week’s loss at Dallas.
Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photograph by: USA In the present day
“I believe Ryan Miller will step up into a kind of roles there,” Coen mentioned. “Clearly, each time he’s referred to as upon, has made some performs and performs laborious and does what we ask him to do…He’s made some performs.”
The participant he didn’t point out till later within the dialog was second-year wideout Trey Palmer, who was the Bucs’ third receiver on the depth chart final 12 months as a rookie. Coen talked about undrafted free agent rookie Kameron Johnson, who has been on injured reserve and has but to actually play a lot, and Rakim Jarrett earlier than he acquired round to Palmer in Thursday’s press convention.
“You hope Kam Johnson continues to progress, hopefully,” Coen mentioned. “Then, these different guys: ‘Rock’ (Rakim Jarrett) and Trey – Trey made a giant catch on the over route later within the sport. Actually, the core must proceed to step up and assist Mike out in some methods, and so they’ve finished that. They’ve performed higher. We had a few balls hit our palms final week and didn’t make these performs, which we have to make.”
Lions CB Terrion Arnold and Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photograph by: USA In the present day
After catching 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, Palmer has been an afterthought on offense this season, hauling in simply 12 catches for 172 yards and a landing. There have been video games the place he’s been out-snapped by Jarrett and Miller, a pair of undrafted free brokers from a 12 months in the past.
And he’s nearly been out-performed by each. Jarrett has eight catches for 113 yards in simply eight video games, which is 5 fewer than Palmer, who additionally serves as Tampa Bay’s punt returner. Miller has 10 catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns in 9 video games.
Palmer doesn’t have the best downfield chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield. And with the Bucs anticipated to re-sign huge receiver Chris Godwin and draft one other receiver for depth subsequent 12 months, Palmer might be the odd man out on Tampa Bay’s depth chart subsequent season, particularly if manufacturing continues to say no.
