INTRO: The Bucs’ No. 5 scoring offense will sq. off towards the Chargers and the league’s top-ranked scoring protection in Los Angeles on Sunday. Tampa Bay’s sport towards the 8-5 Chargers would be the hardest check in a number of weeks. Fortunately the workforce has an superior play-caller in Liam Coen, whose offense appears to get higher every week and simply put up its seventh sport of 400 yards in Sunday’s win towards Las Vegas. This SR’s Fab 5 is completely offensive heading into the Chargers sport – get pleasure from!
FAB 1. Liam Coen’s Bucs Offense Simply Retains Getting Higher
Again in October, I wrote about how Liam Coen and his offense was tremendous spectacular for averaging 30 factors per sport, which primarily matched the purpose manufacturing of the Bucs’ Tremendous Bowl workforce in 2020 and the 13-win squad from 2021.
At the moment, Tampa Bay had the best quarterback in NFL historical past in Tom Brady underneath heart, a Corridor of Fame tight finish in Rob Gronkowski, a Corridor of Fame-caliber receiver in Antonio Brown and three Professional Bowl offensive linemen in heart Ryan Jensen, left guard Ali Marpet and proper sort out Tristan Wirfs. Along with a youthful Professional Bowl extensive receiver in Mike Evans, who was 27-28 on the time, and a youthful 1,000-yard receiver in Chris Godwin, who was 24-25 throughout these seasons.
This 12 months’s Bucs squad options an older, 31-year outdated Evans, who missed three video games with a hamstring harm, and a 28-year outdated Godwin earlier than he was misplaced for the 12 months with a dislocated ankle in Week 7 towards Baltimore. Coen’s offense has Baker Mayfield because the sign caller as a substitute of Brady, and whereas Cade Otton has stepped up as a receiver this 12 months, particularly in Godwin’s absence, he’s no Gronkowski.
Not solely is the extensive receiver room down Godwin proper now, there isn’t anybody near having Brown’s skillset. In reality, Coen’s offense has continued to place up touchdowns with the likes of Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett taking part in – and beginning – at extensive receiver.
Let’s be actual – none of these 5 would begin anyplace else within the league.
None.
So the truth that Coen’s offense has nonetheless averaged 27.9 factors per sport with out Godwin for half the season and with Evans lacking three video games is simply merely improbable and remarkably spectacular.
It speaks to Coen’s creativity and the fixed evolution of his passing ideas and the workforce’s resurgent speeding assault. Coen did the surprising and didn’t simply make the bottom sport credible. He made it dominant. Tampa Bay has rushed for 150 yards or extra in every of the final three video games because the bye week and ranks seventh within the NFL with 138.3 yards per sport.
The operating sport has propelled the Bucs’ three-game profitable streak and the workforce is averaging 181.7 yards throughout that span. Solely the Eagles (221 avg.) have averaged extra speeding yards per sport during the last three weeks.
To have Tampa Bay’s operating sport go from useless final a 12 months in the past to contained in the Prime 10 this season is simply astonishing. No one noticed that sort of turnaround coming.
Coen’s creativity has been on show together with his expanded utilization of the workforce’s “Pony” package deal, which is a two-back set out of 21 personnel (two backs, one tight finish) that he integrated on the College of Kentucky when he was the Wildcats offensive coordinator.
“I did a superb quantity of it in Kentucky in 2021, my first time there,” Coen stated. “You’ll be able to sort of see the place it may well evolve a little bit bit to…However, yeah, I’m in all probability a little bit bit extra shocked at how a lot we’ve been ready to make use of it and been in it this season to this point, yeah.”
The Bucs have gotten some loopy good manufacturing out of Pony this 12 months, as Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo has documented a number of instances this season.
The Bucs operating sport has been electrical this 12 months thanks to higher blocking up entrance alongside the offensive line, but in addition on the perimeter from the tight ends and extensive receivers, which have helped flip 13-yard runs into 30-yard dashes with downfield blocks. Not solely has Coen’s offensive scheme and play-calling been extremely efficient, but in addition his addition of place coaches like Kevin Carberry and Bryan Picucci (O-line), Bryan McClendon (receivers) and Justin Peelle (tight ends) – all of whom have been upgrades from final 12 months.
“In all probability simply the mentality, the vitality round operating the soccer,” Coen stated. “Similar to after we discuss concerning the run sport, and the fellows up entrance and simply the cohesiveness… I learn one thing that Todd [Bowles] talked about that I do suppose goes unnoticed is the tight ends, the receivers, a few of these issues that do go into it…I’ll say from a mentality standpoint upfront – these guys and their coaches – I feel it’s been actually cool to look at that transformation when it comes to seeing guys actually purchased in to what we’re making an attempt to get performed. The coaches are doing a improbable job of getting these items detailed. There’s a whole lot of element that goes into operating the soccer, after which there’s in the end instances while you don’t block a security that’s within the field and your [running] again makes them miss, and issues are good for you. We’ve these sort of gamers, and so they’re doing it at a excessive stage proper now.”
As spectacular because the workforce’s meteoric rise in operating sport rankings is, Coen’s skill to generate first downs on first down performs this 12 months represents a fair larger enchancment for Tampa Bay’s offense. As Fox Sports activities’ Greg Auman notes, the Bucs ranked useless final in first downs generated on first down final 12 months underneath Dave Canales however now rank second within the NFL in that class this 12 months.
One other mini-thread right here, increasing on Bucs’ offensive success on first down. The secret is getting first downs on first down — Bucs had been final within the NFL final 12 months, getting them simply 15.1 % of the time. This 12 months? Second-best within the league at 26.0 % (behind Ravens).
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 11, 2024
“We’ve emphasised that quite a bit right here – each side of the soccer – profitable first downs,” Coen stated. “Once we get one, how can we win that one once more? That’s been an emphasis of Coach Bowles since we acquired right here: speaking about these early downs, that early-down success, emphasizing it and placing it in conditions in observe so that you simply’re not simply aimlessly operating performs. You get a primary down, now it’s not time to breathe [and say], ‘Oh man, we acquired a primary down.’ Let’s attempt to go get one other one. That’s the mentality and the usual to attempt to go press the envelope. Stability, I feel, generally helps with that, too. When you possibly can create stability and hold the protection off their toes in a manner and attempt to be one step forward, that may assist as nicely.”
Right here’s the loopy factor about Coen’s offense. It’s fairly doable that the Bucs end the 12 months as a Prime 10 – doubtlessly a Prime 5 – offense and not using a 1,000-yard receiver or runner this season.
Regardless of lacking Godwin, who was having a monster begin to the 2024 season, and Evans being slowed by a hamstring and solely having one 100-yard sport to this point, the Bucs passing sport hasn’t actually missed a beat on account of Coen’s uncanny play-calling, good blocking upfront and a few heroics from Mayfield, who’s finishing a career-high 70% of his passes, at instances. Coen’s utilization of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker within the passing sport on swing passes and screens has made up for the lackluster receiving corps behind Evans on the depth chart.
What’s much more spectacular about Coen’s offense isn’t just the 4 touchdowns per sport that the unit is averaging. It’s the wonderful consistency.
Tampa Bay’s offense hasn’t had a 42-point outburst and a recession to 14 factors the subsequent week to comprise a 28-point common. No, Coen’s offense has solely scored lower than 20 factors per sport simply as soon as this 12 months – again in Week 3 in a 26-7 loss to Denver.
Even when it doesn’t look fairly like final week in a win over the Raiders, which was marred by three Mayfield turnovers, Coen’s offense nonetheless put up 425 yards, together with 152 on the bottom and scored 4 touchdowns.
In reality, Coen’s offense has put up 400 yards or extra seven instances this season, which is tied for probably the most by any workforce.
But factors win video games – not yards. And Coen and his unit should reduce down on the errors – penalties and turnovers – which have stalled some drives during the last two weeks to be able to get a win in Los Angeles towards the league’s No. 1 scoring protection. The Chargers protection has solely allowed two groups to attain greater than 20 factors all season and can face a Bucs offense that has scored 30 factors or extra on six events this 12 months.
Sunday’s sport at Los Angeles in a stadium the place Coen coached for years with the Rams will probably be an enormous problem for the Bucs’ younger play-caller. The guess right here is that he’ll be up for it with some new, modern twists for the Chargers.
FAB 2. Liam Coen’s Offense Ought to Be Even Extra Potent Subsequent 12 months
There are nonetheless 4 video games left on this Bucs season, however generally it’s enjoyable to peek forward to what lies forward for this workforce.
Simply think about what might occur subsequent 12 months in Liam Coen’s offense with the return of a wholesome Chris Godwin (the Bucs will probably be engaged on re-signing him this offseason), the continued progress of Jalen McMillan as a younger weapon within the passing sport, and the addition of higher expertise at extensive receiver by way of the draft. Tampa Bay might definitely use an improve at receiver over the likes of Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer, Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett on the depth chart subsequent season, which can even be Mike Evans’ contract 12 months.
When Bucs followers hear the phrases “subsequent 12 months” and “Liam Coen” in the identical sentence, they naturally cringe. Followers are fearful that Coen, who has been far more spectacular and efficient than fomer offensive coordinator Dave Canales was final 12 months, can even be employed away as a head coach come January.
I’ve already gone on report saying I critically doubt Coen leaves Tampa Bay. A method or one other, I consider this franchise will discover a solution to hold its gifted offensive play-caller, and I’ll go away it at that for now.
And right here’s one last item on Coen to consider. His play-calling is creative and much from stale – but he’s solely in his first 12 months as an NFL offensive coordinator.
Simply think about how good Coen will probably be in 2025 with a full offseason to pour over each sport tape and be taught from his successes, develop from his errors, enhance his scheme, and tinker together with his playbook for the approaching season.
FAB 3. Credit score Bryan McClendon, Extensive Receivers For Bucs’ Massive Runs This 12 months
Tampa Bay operating backs have ripped off 10 runs of 20 yards or extra this season heading into Sunday’s sport at Los Angeles towards a stingy Chargers protection. Eight of the workforce’s large runs have gone for at the very least 30 yards, together with a pair of 56-yard jaunts – one every from Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.
And there’s 4 video games left within the season.
That’s a far cry from final 12 months when the Bucs solely had 5 runs of 20 yards or extra, together with simply two of over 30 yards and none longer than 38 yards.
The large motive for the massive runs into the second and third ranges of the protection isn’t just the blocking on the level of assault from the offensive line and within the in-line tight ends. It’s additionally the downfield blocks by Tampa Bay’s extensive receivers.
New Bucs receivers coach Bryan McClendon got here from Georgia, the place the Bulldogs are identified for efficiently operating the ball. McClendon, who coaches each operating backs and receivers in Athens, has put an enormous emphasis on blocking since his arrival in Tampa Bay as certainly one of Liam Coen’s hires this offseason.
“That was enormous. That’s an excellent level,” Coen stated of the addition of McClendon to the Bucs teaching employees. “That was what we had been searching for, when it comes to understanding what this offense and system does ask of our ability gamers. It does take any person particular that may get that out of everyone.
“I’ve heard some wideouts say, ‘I don’t receives a commission to dam.’ There’s an argument available, but when we wish to stink within the run sport, then go forward. His mentality, the way in which he operates day by day, his calls for and requirements in that room has elevated issues to have a mentality like the remainder of the group and generally actually combine it up in there.”
Bucs extensive receiver Rakim Jarrett stated that McClendon made it identified to his receivers that if they need they rock, they should block.
“All of us have a job to do,” Jarrett stated. “If my job is to dam for Bucky or Rachaad or Sean [Tucker], then that’s my job and I’m going to exit and do it. It’s enjoyable. What’s the saying, ‘No blocky, no rocky?’”
“[McClendon] leaves no stone unturned on the subject of teaching. Whether or not it’s operating the best routes or blocking the best individual. He paints the image so nicely within the assembly room that it’s simple to go on the market and play onerous and play quick. It’s our job to go on the market and get the blocks, produce and make it occur.”
Bucs extensive receiver Ryan Miller was a former tight finish at Furman, so he’s used to blocking. However he notes that blocking is one thing that McClendon prioritizes in workforce conferences.
“It’s enormous and Liam comes from that Rams offense with Cooper Kupp and so they pleasure themselves on blocking over there and that’s what we pleasure ourselves on, too,” Miller stated. “You’ll be able to’t throw the ball with out operating it first. So, us as a receivers, not solely do we have now to catch the ball however we have now to run and block and have the ability to spring our receivers to the subsequent stage.
“[McClendon] got here in and instilled [run blocking] in us from the beginning. We begin all of our receiver conferences with the run first. We go over the run set up as a result of that’s the place all the pieces begins. We’ve to have the ability to run block and he’s been adamant about that from the beginning.”
Bucs rookie nickelback Tykee Smith noticed McClendon work with the Georgia receivers each day at observe for the previous few years and marveled at his consideration to element.
“That was the primary factor at Georgia – in the event you had been a receiver and also you needed the ball, you higher block first,” Smith stated. “He instilled toughness into our receivers, and so they had been an enormous a part of our operating sport as blockers. Coach BMac’s receivers take pleasure in blocking and so they do a superb job and have the mindset to be powerful blockers.”
Even the Bucs offensive line takes notice of the downfield blocks by the receivers and appreciates their effort.
“It feels superior,” Wirfs stated. “One which sort of stands out in my thoughts is Bucky’s future towards the Giants the place Baker was downfield, too. However Trey [Palmer] was down there and JMac (Jalen McMillan) was down there and so they had been overrated about it. It takes all 11 of us. That’s actually cool to see these guys flying down the sector and making stuff occur.”
Miller wound up catching his first NFL move on a 39-yard catch-and-run reception at New Orleans in Week 6 and hauled in his first NFL landing a couple of weeks later at Kansas Metropolis on Monday Night time Soccer. Throwing a fantastic downfield block to assist Tampa Bay’s operating again offers him simply as a lot satisfaction.
“To me that’s a superb feeling, and at instances I feel the coaches admire us extra as blockers than after we catch the ball,” Miller stated. “It’s a superb feeling to make the block that springs the massive run. You don’t wish to be the man that misses the block that will have resulted in an enormous run. Working the ball is a workforce effort – it’s a collective effort.”
FAB 4. Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke Will Have Their Fingers Full On Sunday
It’s one factor for a protection to have a game-wrecking move rusher. It’s one other factor when a workforce has a pair of bookend edge rushers who can get to the quarterback.
Nevertheless it’s one thing utterly totally different when a workforce has 4 extremely succesful move rushers just like the Chargers do. Los Angeles is fifth within the league with 39 sacks, led by second-year outdoors linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu’s 7.5 sacks. Fellow starter Khalil Mack, a future Corridor of Famer, has 5 sacks, as does reserve Bud Dupree. Joey Bosa, a former starter who has battled accidents this 12 months, has 4 sacks.
Mack, an eight-time Professional Bowler, has 106.5 sacks in his 11-year NFL profession. Bosa, a four-time Professional Bowler, has 71 profession sacks over 9 years. Dupree, who’s on his fourth workforce within the final 5 seasons, has 58 profession sacks in 10 seasons. All three had been former first-round picks. Tuipulotu is just 22 years outdated and was a second-round decide final 12 months. He has 12 sacks by way of practically two seasons.
That’s practically 250 collective sacks between L.A.’s quartet of edge rushers. Evidently that Bucs offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, who’ve solely surrendered one sack between them this season, may have their fingers full on Sunday.
“They’ve acquired Bud, they’ve acquired Bosa, they’ve acquired Mack – they’ve all types of fellows,” Wirfs stated. “Tuipulotu – he’s having a very good 12 months. They’ve an enormous rotation. You don’t know what facet guys are going to be on. They’re in every single place.”
Goedeke is aware of that there gained’t be any performs off for both he or Wirfs in Los Angeles.
“Clearly we’ll need to be locked in down and down out – it doesn’t matter what,” Goedeke stated. “Being first-round picks and being stable starters at defensive finish, clearly in the event you make a mistake they’ll exploit that whereas perhaps a daily fill-in man might not have the ability to exploit that mistake as simply. It’s positively going to be a problem.”
Wirfs agrees.
“They’re in all probability going to run some video games,” Wirfs stated. “You see Bosa and Mack line up in in an 11 method rattling close to. It’s nothing we haven’t seen earlier than, however we all know it’s going to be a battle.”
Despite the fact that Wirfs is just in his fifth season within the league, he’s performed towards three out of the 4 Chargers edge rushers and at the very least has a psychological Rolodex of data on the challenges and strikes each presents.
“I’ve performed most of those guys earlier than,” Wirfs stated. “I performed Bud twice when he was with the Falcons. I performed Bosa earlier than after we performed the Chargers. I went and watched that outdated sport from my rookie 12 months. I watched each of the Chicago video games the place I’ve performed Mack. I like watching myself go up towards the fellows so I can see what labored and what didn’t and what strikes did a get. A variety of these video games had been from once I performed on the best facet, however nonetheless, it’s good to see that.
“Luke and I research all 4 move rushers each week anyhow – the starter on the left and the backup, and the starter on the best and the backup. So we’re finding out 4 guys each week – however these guys are actually, actually good.”
In fact Wirfs remembers going towards Mack on Thursday evening in a 20-19 loss at Chicago. He surrendered his first NFL sack to Mack, who then vaulted Wirfs on the finish of the play in embarrassing vogue.
“I do not forget that – I’ll all the time do not forget that,” Wirfs stated. “It’s so loopy as a result of I watched that sport final evening and it was 5 years in the past. I bear in mind on the time I believed it was the tip of the world after that play. However now it’s like, ‘Shit occurs. You’re going to win some and also you’re going to lose some.’
“I bear in mind my buddy texted me after the sport and stated, ‘Hey it wasn’t that unhealthy.’ And I texted him again and stated, ‘Okay, you texting me that it wasn’t that unhealthy is telling me it was unhealthy!’ (Laughs). I like seeing that now as a result of I don’t care anymore. Tremendous Bowls make all the pieces go away!”
Wirfs performed a lot better towards Mack the next 12 months in 38-3 beatdown of the Bears and can search for a repeat of that efficiency on Sunday because the Bucs look to win their fourth straight sport because the bye week.
FAB 5. Baker Mayfield’s Resiliency Is On Show
There’s little question that Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has had some scorching begins this 12 months. Tampa Bay has scored a landing on the opening drive six instances this 12 months, snapping a 23-game streak with out a gap drive TD in Week 4 towards Philadelphia.
However Mayfield has shortly cooled off a couple of instances and had some unhealthy second quarters, equivalent to at New Orleans, at Carolina and final week versus Las Vegas which were crammed with errors and turnovers for some motive. But the Bucs QB has proven some exceptional resiliency to shake off some tough patches in-game and rally for a greater end on the finish.
The Bucs outscored the Saints 26-0 within the second half after trailing 27-24 at halftime. Tampa Bay trailed at Carolina at halftime, 13-10, however outscored the Panthers 16-7 within the second half and additional time to win. The Bucs led the Raiders 14-10 at halftime, however pulled away within the second half, 14-3, with Mayfield throwing a landing late within the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
In my three many years of overlaying the Bucs, I’ve seen loads of Tampa Bay quarterbacks go into an in-game downward spiral that they’re not capable of come out of. Former Bucs QBs like Trent Dilfer, Josh Freeman, Josh McCown and Jameis Winston have seen their days go from unhealthy to worse on a number of events.
However Mayfield has proven an uncanny knack of snapping out of an in-game funk.
“To me, it’s the mentality of ‘subsequent play is a very powerful’ after which when it comes all the way down to in-the-game conditions, issues that you simply actually wish to go over mentally all through the week,” Mayfield stated. “Clearly, that helps with expertise and time, however you cowl these conditions, you perceive the place you wish to get the ball, the place you wish to do it and generally it’s a chaotic scenario, however you don’t wish to… It’s simply heightened consciousness – you don’t wish to let the scenario dictate the way you’re feeling however simply actually [pay] consideration to particulars and get again to fundamentals in these moments.”
Mayfield admitted that he does get down on himself when his play is taking a flip for the more severe with incompletions or interceptions.
“I’m not precisely a fantastic instance of optimistic self-talk,” Mayfield stated. “I simply hit the reset button, undergo it, take a look at the images on the sideline and simply transfer on. We want everyone to do their job every play, so I’ve to be the tone setter on the subject of that. If I’m making a foul play, it’s the subsequent one. Let’s transfer on, let’s make it occur.”
The Bucs will want Mayfield to snap out of a two-game streak with a pair of interceptions versus the Panthers and Raiders because the workforce travels to Los Angeles to face a Chargers protection that leads the league in scoring protection, permitting simply 15.9 factors per sport and ranks tied for fifth within the NFL with 13 interceptions.
The Chargers rank third within the league in turnover margin at plus-13. The Bucs are at the moment minus-2, which ranks within the backside half of the league.
Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback himself, has taken notice of Mayfield’s skill to flip the change on the finish of video games and play his finest soccer.
“He’s a winner,” he stated. “I feel the factor that strikes me about him – you see a ton of quarterbacks attempt to emulate him, copy him. You understand he’s that man. He’s that man that he performs his finest when his finest is required most.”