Liam Coen Defends Justin Skule, Explains Philosophy Against Aidan Hutchinson
September 19th, 2024
Aidan Hutchinson opened eyes Sunday in Detroit.
Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson went wilding Sunday on the Bucs offensive line racking up 4.5 sacks. Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said today don’t you even think of calling out Justin Skule.
The Bucs backup tackle was playing in place of right tackle Luke Goedeke because Goedeke was out with a concussion. And let’s just say Skule isn’t quite ready for prime time. He was simply overwhelmed by Hutchinson.
Coen tried chipping on Hutchinson with Cade Otton, not known as a ferocious blocker, and Rachaad White. That, as we all saw, was pretty much a waste of time.
Coen sure wanted to get the point across it is unfair to target Skule for Hutchinson’s huge day.
“Really tough matchup for any tackle in the NFL,” Coen began. “At the end of the day [Hutchinson] is going to be productive. We would have liked for him to be a little less productive.
“It doesn’t rest solely on the right tackle at all. … Two of them (sacks) were at the right tackle. One was my fault.
“We have to learn from it.”
So did Coen learn perhaps he should have gone max-protect? Coen said that option is on the table, but not all the time.
“First and second down I would,” Coen said. “The problem is on third down you bring [an extra tackle] in, you’re writing a memo to the defense that you don’t have an eligible [tackle].”
Coen said when you have a tight end or a running back chip, you are limiting that player’s option, which hurts an offense.
“You are not getting into the defense,” Coen said of players called on to chip edge rushers. “You are not threatening the defense.
“I would definitely use a jumbo-type player on first and second down if I thought it would truly give us an advantage in play-pass protection specifically, and in the run game as well.”
Of course, the true answer is for Goedeke to get back on the field. Todd Bowles might have an update Friday, his last news conference update on injuries prior to kickoff.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:00 pm
I like Coen’s attitude and approach. Take responsibility and don’t throw players under the bus.
Skule struggled but fixing our O-line is on Coen. Hopefully we see some progress/improvement against Denver. If we don’t get better O-line play against Denver I’ll be surprised and disappointed.
Was a blessing in disguise to get our O-line exposed as a whole against Detroit. Better to get a wake up call now, very early in the season, and identify issues that need to be addressed. Hopefully, we won’t face many defensive lines better than Detroit’s and we’ll get better and better as the season goes on.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:00 pm
Luke is out again. Skule back in.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:07 pm
No Luke again, according to reports.
So, why not screen at the premier pass rusher? Hope we have better schemes on Sunday…
September 19th, 2024 at 4:10 pm
Liam Coen is saying exactly what I been saying all week. Justin Skule is a good Left Tackle, and a good Right Tackle. He’s been unfairly treated by the fans, and media all week.
He played 800 snaps with the 49ers, his rookie and soph year
He gave up 8 sacks, 8 penalties, which is not bad for a young OT
The Bucs staff know what they have in Skule, they’re not dumb
He haven’t started a game since 2020
He just had a bad game
We all have bad days
September 19th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Kind of a weird statement from Coen, considering we’ve all seen plenty of tight ends chip a D-lineman at the start of a play and then go out into the flat or short towards the sideline and catch a pass.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
Just defending Skule. Should have double teamed Hutchinson out of the locker room until final whistle. Teams use two tight end sets all the time. Hard to complete anything when QB is on his back. With two tight ends, White, Godwin, and Evans, somebody is bound to be open. Coen should just admit the obvious and remember for this week.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Ahh yes the NFL, Fans and their intense hypocrisy when it comes to concussions. We all watch MMA guys get their shit kicked in until their eyes are rolling to the back of their head while blood is coming out of their ears while the whole POINT is to KNOCK SOMEONE OUT and surely give them concussions much more intense. We all cheer, dudes that have ever fought in their lives all become fight experts 5 beers and a 5th round TKO in. MEANWHILE, Luke Goedeke shows mere signs of a concussion and it’s…”omg he should miss the next 10 games! Health comes first, so brave, don’t mess up that brain man.” Pick a freaking lane, people never cease to amaze me with their selective concern. Congrats to the lawyers and insurance companies as well, they sure know how to get everyone in line.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Surprised me, I thought Ko Kieft might have gone in. Better blocker… not the fastest, but he can catch a ball. Neither Otton or White are known for blocking.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:30 pm
On Hutchinson’s first 3 rapid-fire sacks, it looked like he was using pretty much the same technique to get around Skule. Isn’t there an old saying ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 47 times, my QB’s gonna get carted off the field’?
September 19th, 2024 at 4:34 pm
They need to do better than Skule. IMO.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
This is exactly Joe’s contention. People moan and cry about football concussions but when it comes to boxing or human cockfighting (or even rasslin,’) you don’t hear a peep.
Joe isn’t suggesting he wants concussions, but how come it is awful for one sport and others, no big deal?
Yeah, Joe has a hunch he knows why. NFL owners can get sued. Joe guesses maybe Dana White could get sued. In boxing, who gets hit with a lawsuit?
September 19th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
When the Bucs an elite edge rusher again, I’d be okay with them putting in an O-Lineman as a “Jumbo” Tight End at times. Otton is below average at blocking, IMHO.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
*Face an elite rusher
September 19th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
I seriously doubt Liam Coen will use a 2 TE set. He’s gonna stick with the Sean McVay 3 WR set.
It’s really a good set
And the Bucs have the WRs to use it to perfection
September 19th, 2024 at 4:46 pm
The one Hutchinson sack, it looked like Otton was playing patty cakes instead of blocking.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:50 pm
Bucs should elevate Luke Haggard from the practice squad and give him a chance at RT if Goedeke can’t go…..
Haggard looked to me like our best backup Oline player in preseason.
September 19th, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Lakeland … ‘He (Skule) played 800 snaps with the 49ers, his rookie and soph year. He gave up 8 sacks, 8 penalties, which is not bad for a young OT’.
If everyone on the OLine gave up 1 sack every 100 offensive snaps, the QB would be taking roughly 50 – 55 sacks per year just tagged to the OLine. That’s in the territory of what the Panthers’ OLine did to Bryce Young last season (62 sacks). Got a hunch Bryce didn’t think that was a fun rookie-year introduction.
No question IMO that Skule should’ve had help on Hutchinson from the beginning, but 3 sacks in rapid succession? Can’t help but think that Hutchinson saw something in Skule’s technique early-on that sparked the light bulb to go on.
Those first 3 sacks (in the 1st qtr) were each very costly.
o 1st sack (Bucs 1st drive at the Lions 3-yard line with 3rd-and-3) resulted in a Baker fumble. Thankfully Justin Skule fell on the fumble & we were able to still kick a FG.
o 2nd sack (Bucs 2nd drive at the Lions 44-yard line with 2nd-and-10) resulted in a 12 yard loss. We got back 19 yards on the following play but were still 3 yards short & settled for another FG.
o 3rd sack (Bucs 3rd drive at the Bucs 44-yard-line with 3rd-and-8) resulted in a 7 yard loss and caused us to punt.
September 19th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
Figger something out FAST. Otten can not block.
September 19th, 2024 at 5:38 pm
Defense Rules,
I was saying it wasn’t bad for a young inexperienced OT.
Especially one that’s coming off the bench and have never played in the NFL before .
September 19th, 2024 at 5:55 pm
There was a back and TE plus a RT over him numerous times and ( back and TE ) didn’t touch him . Like maybe pull an old school and put three people on him early and just batter him or put Keif in motion and have him come down and crush him. Used to be very effective but now forgotten . Coen just reinforced what I saw and I would say he s half right but at least pound his ass 8 to 10 times . Trust me the staff will move him , they don’t want him out for the year . Love what Coens doing but he has to get a lil sharper with this and NO it’s not tipping your hand if you make / add 5 plays plus a few that you have and incorporate the gorilla package over the chosen victim .
September 19th, 2024 at 6:24 pm
Lakeland … Obviously rookie inexperience takes a toll when guys are forced to start too quickly. For Justin to get 800 snaps in 2 years, he must’ve been filling in a bunch (coming off the bench). That’s hard on any player I’m sure because they don’t get the reps the week before more than likely. HOPEFULLY he’s gotten a lot of attention this week (and our coaching staff learned the value of lending support out there when it’s called for).
September 19th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
At least Coen takes some of the blame. Time for the head coach to do some head coaching and do an intervention to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
It’s nice his coach isn’t throwing him under the bus. Thing is, Skule threw himself under the bus. What a disgrace.
September 19th, 2024 at 8:41 pm
MY ANSWER …
Full throttle, high scoring offense against Denver. Run the score up. Be up 21 at half, Run the ball in the 3rd, play Trask in the 4th. Don’t get Baker killed against Denver.
September 19th, 2024 at 8:50 pm
Gronks face on last Fox NFL Sunday when they were getting Skuled and they were clowning our not blockin that beast. We miss Gronk and Gronk misses us. And Otton ain’t no Him nor Brock Bowers. Imagine our Offense next year with a stud TE in Round 1 after we win the SB. And I wish the best for Justin Skule but he better off as a fan no offense. Coen should stuck up for him bcuz it took him bout 4 series too long to adjust make a dent in the problem. Hope Goedeke heals up. Love for skule but no more substitute learning on our line anymore plz lol
September 19th, 2024 at 9:26 pm
I’m not buying that excuse or response. That was piss poor game planning and execution by the coaches and players.
Bucs aren’t the only team to play against elite pass rushers with a backup tackle.
September 19th, 2024 at 9:47 pm
First, we did win the game!
All else is about the future. When favong a great player, I like the had boys
Detroit pistons “Jordan rules” approach. Let him have aggod game but don’t let him beat you and really attack him.
Attack their strength, we have tge horses. Sometimes you gotta change what you do.
Coen gets a pass because we won, but next time attack Hutchinson with ko kieft
September 20th, 2024 at 1:17 am
I get what Coen is saying but thinking Skule did not suck out loud is delusional.
Failing to send Skule real help or to at least scheme some stuff to slow Hutchinson down is on Coen.
He is playing a bit fast and loose with Bakers well being me thinks. Even if it “hurts the offense”, we gotta do better keeping Baker healthy.
Go Bucs!
September 20th, 2024 at 8:37 am
3 sacks in the first quarter. 1 1/2 the rest of the game. Sounds like they made a nice adjustment. And they won. Quit crying.