Robert Hainsey: Liam Coen Has Been Good For Offensive Line
August 13th, 2024
Center Robert Hainsey explains.
Joe knows in recent months after former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales bolted to the Stinking Panthers, a lot of folks have taken the opportunity to shat upon Canales.
Joe can’t go there. Joe thought Canales, overall, was good for the Bucs. (OK, OK, OK, anyone would have looked good compared to Canales’ predecessor, who to the best of Joe’s knowledge has yet to coach in college or the NFL since the Bucs ran him).
But Joe did have issues with Canales, specifically his playcalling. He tried to turn Rachaad White into Marshawn Lynch and that was a joke.
(The last couple of days in practice, including the worthless preseason game in Cincinnati and hearing Todd Bowles’ words about the run game, Joe almost gets the sense the Bucs are trying to phase out White as the primary running back.)
So Joe found it very interesting that Robert Hainsey, last year’s starting center, took to the podium in the Bucs’ media studio yesterday and said new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been good for the team and in particular, the offensive line.
“It felt really good,” Hainsey said of Saturday, finally playing something like a game with Coen calling the shots on offense. “Honestly, the way that we’ve been getting coached [and] the way this scheme has, I think, fit our strengths, has been a lot of fun to work through and to put on tape what we’ve been doing in practice.”
Hainsey then added Saturday night was no fluke the way the offensive line, almost all backups, played so well.
“We’re athletic, can move, and can get guys moving,” Hainsey said. “We’re a heady group. We’re smart. We can get ourselves in the right position.
“I think it just works out because the coaches have to go with what they know as well, but I think it’s been a good marriage so far.
“This offseason, this [training] camp, and this preseason – one game – where you’ve seen how the scheme that Liam [Coen] has brought, the coaching we’ve got with Coach [Kevin] Carberry, how everything has come together, and you can see us moving in the right direction.”
So go ahead and read between the lines. Haisey thinks the coaching the Bucs’ offensive line is getting this summer has been a big help.
Again, Joe’s not trying to start a shat-on-Dave Canales post here. But it is interesting to Joe that Hainsey went out of his way to laud how he and the rest of the linemen have responded to their new offensive coaches.
August 13th, 2024 at 12:06 am
Well, it DID look like a different OL scheme Saturday night.
A very pleasant, if not early, surprise.
Fingers crossed for more, and that Saturday was not smoke and mirrors…
August 13th, 2024 at 12:12 am
Bucs over Falcons under. Easy Money.
August 13th, 2024 at 12:13 am
I think the other thing that says a lot here is that it’s Hainsey saying this. I’m not a fan of Hainsey’s play at Center last year, but I respect him stepping up and speaking well of a coaching staff that is putting him behind a rookie, and a new guy in Bredeson over at LG, Hainsey’s more natural position. I think it says a lot that the coaching staff can come in and have a guy like that being a believer.
August 13th, 2024 at 12:26 am
I still think Canales may have been fired if he wasn’t hired by Carolina.
21st ranked offense
32nd ranked rush
9-0 vs Carolina in a must win
He was terrible.
His new team managed 3 points in a preseason game vs a vanilla defense. He’ll be fired after this year.
August 13th, 2024 at 12:32 am
Interesting.
August 13th, 2024 at 12:56 am
Tony Robbins the 2cnd a.k.a. Dave Canales is a self help guru not a football coach. Baker got him paid not the other way around. His press conferences consisted of mentioning Seattle at least 10 times and Pete Carroll just as much. He drove me nuts.
August 13th, 2024 at 1:20 am
So glad Canales took Goody and his partner with him. Our run game was suspect before Canales. It was the OL coaching.
August 13th, 2024 at 1:51 am
Somehow turned it into a shat-on-Rachaad post tho.
Again… smh
August 13th, 2024 at 2:08 am
A good running game is the result of skillful scheming. Shanna ham is a great run schemer. The last run schemer we’ve had was BA. Leftwich and Canales knew only three running plays; left, right and their favorite, up the middle!
August 13th, 2024 at 3:36 am
Joe tends to have a habit of going after the source of problems. 🤷♂️
August 13th, 2024 at 3:55 am
I will take this oppotunity to take a shot at Harlold Goodwin. One of the one time heirs apparent to BA. His title of “Running game coordinator” ?
I will pin more than a little blame on him. Under his coaching we have had a ridulously bad running game. By association our former O line coach has caught some blame but remember he also coached up some pretty darn good players for us. Marpet, Jensen, Goedeke, Cappa and even Smith when he felt like playing.
Go Bucs!
August 13th, 2024 at 4:19 am
Carolina’s first preseason game under Canalas they scored a whopping 3 points!
August 13th, 2024 at 4:27 am
We definitely saw a change with Coen as the OC. Loving the quick no huddle more too. Hainsey is correct, they are heady, smart, can move, and get in the right position. What I am hearing is a great rapport too. Reading another article on here is Coen yelling to hurry up. That is much needed too. He is in the game and not just reciting motivation quotes.
August 13th, 2024 at 5:27 am
Joe … ‘So, go ahead and read between the lines. Hainsey thinks the coaching the Bucs’ offensive line is getting this summer has been a big help.’
Nothing to read between the lines THERE Joe; that’s pretty much what Hainsey said. However, you may not have designed this piece to ‘shat on Dave Canales’ but when your line that follows starts with the word ‘BUT’ it kinda seems you’re chumming the water …
‘BUT … it is interesting to Joe that Hainsey went out of his way to laud how he and the rest of the guys on the offensive line have responded to the new offensive coaches on the Bucs’ staff.’
August 13th, 2024 at 5:37 am
As an aside, Canales doesn’t have a chance up in Carolina. Tepper fired Frank Reich, an experienced OFFENSIVE-MINDED coach with a 40-33-1 record in his prior stint in Indy, after 11 games (Reich was 1-10 at the time). Not to mention that the Panthers are still in CAP-he11 (currently ranked #31, ahead of only New Orleans at #32).
August 13th, 2024 at 6:15 am
I’ve said it before, in years past once the first team played a series or 2 in the 2nd and/or 3rd preseason game, second/third/fourth teams were dreadful to watch, didn’t matter if they were playing the same counterparts on defense. I was excited and entertained to watch the Bucs depth play into to the fourth quarter.
It was just 1 game but knowing the upgrades we made at O-Coordinator, the Oline and @ RB, team feels different. I’m still worried about our D-Line. JTS is not the answer, and after him we have a slew of rotational guys that won’t consistently get to the QB. Licht has to make a splash before Week 1.
August 13th, 2024 at 6:30 am
Canales is going to if he hasn’t already regret taking the Panthers job. I’m thrilled he’s gone. Now we have a real OC.
August 13th, 2024 at 7:12 am
In the Bengals game, Rakim received a pass and Coen ran a quick play and Rakim got another pass. Bowles was laughing and gave Coen a quick hug! Any news about why Bowles was so happy with Coen?
August 13th, 2024 at 7:14 am
We only got 17 points.
I’m not bashing the guy, just not gonna ride the hype train just yet.
August 13th, 2024 at 7:19 am
Oh. Poor Canalas doesn’t have a chance in Carolina. Well if he wins he does. Nobody thought the Bucs could make the playoffs last season either. Nor come close to beating the Lions. So don’t put the cart before the horse this year. Anything can happen in this South Division as bad as it is. And yes that includes Us.
August 13th, 2024 at 7:38 am
Anyone else getting a “too soon” vibe with Canales getting the HC job, similar to us with Raheem?
Hey, congratulations you’re a coordinator….wait a minute, Head Coach!
August 13th, 2024 at 7:47 am
Well, Dave Caneles took our previous 5 seasons Oline coaches with him to the Panthers. The same run game Oline coaches who “coached” us to last or bottom of the league in rushing for how many seasons?
Now our Oline is looking better along with our running game…
Hmmm. Thanks, Dave.
Go!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
August 13th, 2024 at 8:18 am
It appears that Canales was good at the pass game and not so good with scheming the offensive line to get the running game going.
The OL will improve during the season which will make Baker and company a more challenging opponent late into the season.
August 13th, 2024 at 8:23 am
Canales drove me nuts last year. I sure don’t miss him. So far, Coen looks like a good OC. Yeah, I know it’s preseason. I sure like those QB rollouts. Did Canales ever call that one? Not that I can recall. Hainsey is right. Coen is a breath of OC fresh air.
August 13th, 2024 at 8:35 am
Carolina is going to regret hiring Canales, big time. He wasn’t even ready to be a coordinator yet, let alone HC. He’s in over his head. Must be a damn good interview though haha
August 13th, 2024 at 8:52 am
Canalwater will be Tony Robbins’ clipboard holder and have a TV gig, soon. Maybe Tepper will give him two seasons to suck but that’s it.
He even said, Todd interviewed like 17 dudes for the job or something. Exhaustion set in so Canalwater got the job. Canalwater’s theory, not mine.
This is the exciting part of the evolution of Todd – wanting to score more points, not just have more runs up the middle to nowhere.
LFG
August 13th, 2024 at 9:28 am
I only want Canales help with workout tips and how to cheat on my Wife. Dude is not a good play caller.
August 13th, 2024 at 10:36 am
I think it’s pretty revealing that a change Hainsey referenced was having a scheme this year that plays to the offensive line’s strengths.
…
…
Yeah. I’m pretty sure we traded up with Coen.
August 13th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Canales could be our MVP for leaving and taking under performing coaches with him.
August 13th, 2024 at 10:56 am
Pretty fair if not accurate assessment.
Could also say Canales didn’t even play to his strengths: Passing game.
August 13th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Everyday is a good day to shat on Canales. Guy was anathema.
August 13th, 2024 at 11:43 am
Glad Canales took the Friends of Bruce with him as they only had a job due to their friendship with Arians versus actually being good coaches
August 13th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Canales took his guy Gilbert with him that there was history at Seattle.
Coen brought his guy Carberry in which he had history at the Rams.
Carberry Experience is 2 years w/Cowboys as an Assistant. 2 years w/ Washington as an assistant. Back down to the college level for 3 years as a run game coordinator. Then to the Rams as on O Line Coach.
Coen surely will have major input into the O Line to make sure his guy does not lay an egg and have it get all over the OC’s face.
Doubt Hainsey would say one negative word about the new staff and risk being in the pool of almost 1200 men that are going to be scrabbling to get on a roster when the teams trim down to start the season.
August 13th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
I really thought he’d say he liked his coaches better last year.
August 13th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
Zoocomics,
There are other ways to pressure the quarterback other than just d linemen.
Also,I think you will find the bucs current roster of d linemen are going to be more than adequate and probably close to leading g the NFL south in sacks this year.
August 13th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
SI article from yesterday titled ‘How Panthers coach Dave Canales punished offense after a poor training camp practice’. The sub-title reads …
‘Carolina offense was so bad during their latest training camp practice that Panthers head coach Dave Canales resorted to collective punishment.’
I’m guessing this is part of his new ‘Winning their hearts & minds campaign’. Kinda makes me wonder if Dave is taking a page from Bear Bryant’s 1954 Texas A&M training camp with ‘The Junction Boys’.
August 13th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
“Somehow turned it into a shat-on-Rachaad post tho.
Again… smh
Joe tends to have a habit of going after the source of problems. 🤷♂️”
But the article is about the offensive line improving and Coen isn’t it?
Do you really need to diss Rachaad White every chance you get?
I’m rooting for the guy (even more now) to prove you wrong. Joe’s rooting for him, too. Would be a true rarity to see a guy with 400-plus NFL carries change his stripes. –Joe
He was a HUGE part of our offense last year… He’ll be better this year with Coen scheming the run game.
The difference in Coen vs Canales was obvious in this 1st preseason game. Carberry is looking like a great hire too.
August 13th, 2024 at 10:23 pm
To put it mildly, I agree with Walter. It is tough to put it mildly.