What’s Gone Wrong For Liam Coen?
November 20th, 2024
Tough to find a negative.
If you are going to find something wrong with the Bucs’ hire of offensive coordinator Liam Coen and the job he has done, you may have to set aside some time to discover a fault.
Coen has done an outstanding job. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has improved upon a career year in 2023. The revamped offensive line is solid if not strong and seemingly improving by the week. The Bucs rank No. 3 in explosive plays.
What’s there to quibble about?
In an ESPN feature focused on the performance of offensive coordinators this year, reporter Jenna Laine had to do some stretching to find a Coen negative. And it really has nothing to do with Coen at all.
… … The Bucs lost 50% of their scoring offense when wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down because of injuries, with Godwin out for the season. Mayfield is still performing at a high level but not having the threat of a downfield passing attack has hurt their chances.
Yet even after Evans and Godwin went down, for the first two games after their injuries, Coen still got production. It only seemed in the last game, the loss to the 49ers, the loss of Evans and Godwin finally caught up with Coen.
Joe can think of two potential negatives for Coen, and one is nitpicking.
First, what has happened to Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer? McMillan is nowhere close to the same receiver who was balling out in practice and training camp. Palmer? His numbers are way down.
The second potential drawback for Coen is the final drive in the loss to the 49ers where the Bucs had to kick a field goal to tie the game (which the defense naturally shat the bed and couldn’t hold), Coen didn’t have arguably his best available offensive player on the field, Bucky Irving.
It’s players, not plays. So Joe gets why the Bucs wanted Rachaad White on the field. He’s a better blocker and receiver. But he stinks running between the tackles, which is exactly what Coen called for — with all-too-predictable results.
Other than those items, Coen has done such a solid job with the offense, “this Joe” believes Coen will be a head coach somewhere in 2025.
November 20th, 2024 at 8:07 am
Yes head coach right here in Tampa no way the bucs keep Bowles after the season. His defense has cost us every loss this hear besides the broncos game which both sides of the ball sucked
November 20th, 2024 at 8:14 am
Liam Coen will be the next head coach of the Bucs. If not next season, 2026.
November 20th, 2024 at 8:16 am
Hopefully Tampa
November 20th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Agreed. Liam is doing a great job even with the injuries of our starters. Reading one of Joe’s other posts, he is on the list to becoming a HC. He is young too.
However, Canales didn’t do that well after only a year of OC to HC, and other teams possibly will look at that too. It would be great if he stayed with the Bucs, but if he gets the opportunity elsewhere, he may take it. Either way, I would be happy for him.
November 20th, 2024 at 8:45 am
What happened to Palmer & McMillan? Both are deer in the headlights. Right now the game is too big and too fast for both. Hopefully McMillan during the off season will hit the weight room hard and find his inner dog. Could go the opposite direction though.
Was a little disappointed after that Mayfield sick pass to White. Thought we’d be much more aggressive trying to get in the end zone.
November 20th, 2024 at 8:52 am
Coen has been let down by Bowles and Management after bringing him here.He’s done what they wanted from him they haven’t kept up their side of the game. It’s a shame because he’ll be somewhere else next season.
November 20th, 2024 at 9:03 am
There are some many moving parts to the question will Coen be a HC in the league next year. It is difficult to say with any degree of certainty one way or another. He’s obviously done a terrific job here in Tampa. If you use Dave Canal(water) as a measuring stick you would almost have to think why wouldn’t he be. What I can say w/ certainty is if Bowles is still here and Coen has gone elsewhere then the Glazer family is going to have to do some serious explaining to their fanbase. And that won’t be enough to block the backlash. The fans are going to revolt like a mediocre offense through a Todd Bowles defense.
November 20th, 2024 at 9:04 am
Barton totally whiffed his block on that goal line play, it was doomed right off the snap. That being said I fully acknowledge Bucky might have made that guy miss whereas White has zero chance of doing so. GO BUCS
November 20th, 2024 at 9:09 am
Nothing bad to say about Coen. He has adapted with some really bad receivers. Palmer can’t run routes and McMillian doesn’t have the hands. Jarrett could have caught the winning TD against the 49ers and dropped the ball. Miller has sure hands but is slow. The only consistent targets are Otton and the RBs. Mayfield is battling with what he has and like Jameis is being put in bad situation by a totally pathetic defense. Hard to watch games with this defense and made even worse by a HC that continues to make boneheaded mistakes.
Hope Coen becomes HC next season and the Bucs find a real DC.
November 20th, 2024 at 9:13 am
guys like palmer and mcmillian only look good when all the attention is on #13 and #14
November 20th, 2024 at 9:15 am
The Bucs will finish 9 and 8, and out of the playoffs because of a defense that couldn’t contain Florida State. The Bucs best teams have always been known for great Defense. Bowles is a defensive coach, and our defense has been an embarrassment four years in a row. The offense has been gutted by injuries, and still remains competitive. We need a continuation on offense, and a drastic change on defense, and that starts with the HC. Too many wtf moments with Bowles. He’s a great guy. Everybody loves him. He can’t scheme a decent defense. The Bucs desperately need another Tony Dungy/Monty Kiffen situation for the defense.
November 20th, 2024 at 9:17 am
On that first run up the middle, it would not have mattered who was in there because Barton blew his block
November 20th, 2024 at 9:42 am
Great point Joe!!!! I thought the same thing 1st and goal give it to Bucky at least twice!!! Why does Rashaad stay #1?????
November 20th, 2024 at 9:52 am
Beeej, it was the second run up the middle that Barton got blown up and we lost 3 yards. And I’m not blaming anyone else but that play call didn’t look like a Liam play call. I thought that when that play was run.
November 20th, 2024 at 10:05 am
According to Schatz DVOA the Buccaneers have played the NFL’s toughest schedule bar none. They have not lost to a team with a losing record.at the time they played them. They also have been the most injured team in the NFL These things matter.
November 20th, 2024 at 10:14 am
I liked the Coen hire and he’s exponentially better than Canalas, but it’s not hard to see where Coen struggles:
Playcalling and Playsequencing.
His gameplans seem to target the opponents strengths. He attacked Baltimore’s run defense when they’re the worst pass defense in the league.
His playcalling has been overly conservative.
He forces the run in early downs.
He wastes downs on predictable plays.
He relies on QB and Slot/TE on third down to bail out wasted 1st and 2nd downs.
I track all plays and color-code runs, passes, success, etc.
You can easily see Coen’s faults this way if you don’t get dazzled by the points being put up by playmaking by Mayfield, White, Otten, and Irving.
He is a first time playcalling OC with an injury riddled team, so I give him some leeway, but if people are struggling to find fault they’re not looking at what the OC is responsible for.
November 20th, 2024 at 10:43 am
He gives up on the run and forgets he has Sean Tucker
November 20th, 2024 at 10:58 am
What’s gone wrong?
Hmm. Evans – out!
Godwin – out!
Wirfs – out!
Defense allows other team to score more points than we can. That give you a clue?
November 20th, 2024 at 11:04 am
I’m a big fan of power backs if you want to have a running game. Tucker is the power back of the Bucs. Irving is the breakaway back and White is the receiving/pass protection back. White’s carries need to be decreased and Tucker and Irving should be in the backfield when they want to run the ball. White should only be on the field when they are going to pass the ball.
Dual back formation is a key for the Bucs to be successful. I don’t like the single back unless its Tucker because he is the most physical of these backs, then Irving is next. White is only successful on runs when he gets behind a blocker and plows with his head down for 5-7 yards. Very little vision. Tucker and Irving are looking forward and see where the lanes are. White is slow at reading running lanes.
November 20th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Coen has been great this year. When this offense hasn’t worked it’s been due to Baker. His inconsistencies have been causing some issues.
November 20th, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Liam was told by you know who to play Rachaad at the end against the Niners. He was also told to run the ball there to eat clock.
That’s Liam’s biggest negative. He works for a self-defined “genius” who might be great codebreaking North Korean secrets, but sucks as a football coach, redefining the standards for vacuum in the process.
November 20th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Durango – excellent posts above. You’ll probably never see this because star site defender Algo Rhythm is covering me like a blanket.
November 20th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Caleb. Do you feel better? Come on man.
November 20th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
YES, “All-22.” WASTING plays/downs on 1st AND (sometimes) 2nd Down… Makes Me. Want To. Just. SCREAMMMM. I watched it over and over & again and again, all while at Kentucky! But, I ‘thought’ it was a lot more because of Coach “STOOPID”) Stoops. It’s like, WHY!? WHY put yourself in a hole where you are forced to have to dig yourself out of right off the bat… Especially, when it is already friggin’ hard enough as it is!? It makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever. It just takes away immediately, so much that you can do.
November 20th, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Coen is the SECOND offensive head coach in 2 years. I’m listening to the final 7 games cos Gene D is announcing them. He’s already semi-retired. The team has had to adjust to 2 head coaches in 2 years. That sure ain’t Bowles’ fault. The Ravens-Bucs game almost did me in. I’ve followed the team for years so know all about corruption. It’s widespread through this whole country. CG14 was put out for the rest of the season for no reason. Ravens were winning so why the cheap shot? Cos it may cause Chris Godwin to retire. This ain’t the first time this sh!t has gone done with this team. Bucs have to beat two teams Sunday. Hopefully, they will.
November 20th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
2 offensive head coaches
November 20th, 2024 at 4:48 pm
We MUST keep this guy. Whatever that means, whatever it takes.
Keep him together with Licht, hire a great DC, and I think we continue to have winning football in Tampa for the a long, long time.
November 20th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Trey and ME should be 1 and 2 with Sheperd #3
November 20th, 2024 at 6:43 pm
Dave Pear Says:
November 20th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Durango – excellent posts above. You’ll probably never see this because star site defender Algo Rhythm is covering me like a blanket.
———-
Yesterday I had one disappear into the ether, as well.
November 20th, 2024 at 9:56 pm
Coen is awesome! Where were the Bucs in scoring the last 2 tears compared to this year? Everyone was complaining we couldn’t score enough points before. I don’t hear anyone complaining about that now.
After the Glazers fire Bowles, Licht needs to find the “Coen equivalent” for the Defense under the new head coach Liam Coen.
November 20th, 2024 at 11:34 pm
I would rather Belicheck become head coach and Liam stay OC.
Get a few years of chemistry and eventually Bill retires and Liam takes over.
Just because Liam is a good OC doesn’t mean he can do that AND be HC.
Let’s see what he can do with a real defense?
And guys who aren’t consistently injured.
What irritates me is that we have seen success, but then we go a game where Tucker doesn’t get a single run or Bucky disappears when it matters. Sorry but that is just Dumb. You can’t call it ingenuity when it doesn’t continue.
There are plenty of faults with Coen in his first year as OC.
We go 8-9 or 9-8 again regardless of who is OC and that is the most telling stat for me. Bowles is consistently mediocre.
November 20th, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Those who fear Belichick and point to his non-Brady record or his failures as GM — RELAX. Jason has this and Jason knows. The Glazers know. Bill knows. Bill knows that Jason knows, and Jason knows that the Glazers know that he knows that Bill knows that he knows.
Bill will be head coach and have a DC with strong input from Jason — full vetting. And the assistant head coach / offensive coordinator will be Liam Coen, who will enjoy a big raise, and privately be told he will be heir apparent to Bill after three years or so.
And the Bucs already have their franchise QB, and everyone except the midgetry of football fandumb knows it to be true.