Liam Coen Hints Choosing RB In Red Zone Is Not A Priority
December 6th, 2024
“Bake, who do you want at running back?”
Joe has been a big Liam Coen fan. “This Joe” thinks the Bucs’ first-year offensive coordinator has done such a good job that he won’t be here next year. Off to greener pastures.
That doesn’t mean Joe believes Coen is perfect. Who he had in the game to take a handoff at running back when the Bucs were deep in the 49ers red zone, Joe thought was a mistake (Rachaad White).
And Joe knows Bucs fans want Bucky Irving on the field in the red zone. Irving has exploded to be one of the best running backs in the league.
Yesterday, Coen was asked for his thought process for choosing whether to have Irving or White on the field in the red zone. It’s not a priority for him.
“I’m not really thinking about it that much, honestly,” Coen said. “It just depends on if we have something truly specific within the plan that we’re trying to get one of those guys specifically on.
“It’s more so just going with what’s working in the red zone. I was always kind of taught that if you can run the ball into the end zone, you would like to be able to do that.”
So that begs the question, then why isn’t Irving in the game? Surely Coen has specific plays for him in the red zone or at least in short-yardage situations.
Not feeding Irving inside the 49ers-10 backfired on Coen four weeks ago and having White run east-to-west in overtime inside the Stinking Panthers-10 damn near backfired on him last Sunday.
Get your best players the ball.
That philosophy worked for Nick Saban and it works in general for winning football teams. And right now there are few players currently playing better than Irving.
December 6th, 2024 at 12:17 am
You better start thinking about it much, honestly, Coen.
December 6th, 2024 at 12:33 am
I believe Bucky had been in pain and that is the main reason he was not used on that play.
December 6th, 2024 at 12:35 am
Am I nuts or shouldn’t Tucker be the short yardage guy? He’s the only guy that can through people.
December 6th, 2024 at 1:12 am
Coen is covering for his boss.
December 6th, 2024 at 1:37 am
B, we’re missing something on Sean. Maybe he can’t block, I dunno. Maybe he fumbles in practice. There’s got to be some reason that runaway truck isn’t playing.
December 6th, 2024 at 6:03 am
Coen isn’t going anywhere. Glaziers will not allow him to go somewhere else.. Bank on it!
December 6th, 2024 at 6:32 am
I love Coen but my biggest issue with him is throwing too much inside the 10 yard line. Last week they had first and goal from the 5. On first down Bucky runs for 3 and they had 2nd and goal from the 2 and proceeded to throw 2 incomplete passes and kick a FG. Has happened way too much this season. Don’t make things more complicated than they need to be.
December 6th, 2024 at 7:50 am
Hope he has figured it out by now.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:55 am
B…agreed. I’d love to see Tucker more. MORE Buck and Tuck please!
December 6th, 2024 at 9:01 am
Bucky and Tuck offer “more bang for the Bucs”.
December 6th, 2024 at 9:56 am
Bucs are I think 4th in red zone td conversation rate in the nfl. It’s not been an issue.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:01 am
Those of you who are being critical aren’t paying attention. White & Bucky are both total weapons and no one has any idea what we might do. By running with White in these situations you keep balance and remain unpredictable. Coen knows what he is doing and this might be one of the best buc offenses we have ever seen. Not just from production but from the mere fact that no one has any idea whats going to happen next. Will it be white up the middle? White out for a pass? Bucky on a jet sweep? Bucky up the middle? Bucky to out for a pass? Otten? Evans for a fade? It’s truly amazing to watch. I would suggest everyone just sit back and let Coen cook.
P.s the same people calling for bucky and bucky only are probably the same people that always call our former OC’s “predictable”.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:15 am
Jose, Coen is not going to say much useful to anyone so I wouldn’t try parsing his words too much here. Unless you just want to generate controversy and clicks. Hmmm.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:17 am
Crickett, I think you’re right. Irving was obviously in pain. I think the bigger screw up was a run to the outside. I haven’t rewatched the game, but I assume that was a designed play and not White’s attempt to be cute. Bad call!
December 6th, 2024 at 11:24 am
When it’s 3rd and 2, White will get you 1.
When it’s 2rd & Goal from the 1, White loses six. Then on 3rd, he gets 1.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:50 am
There’s a reason Coen is the coach.
December 6th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
Do you all forget about White’s td run against the Gmen? It was a sweep to the right ALL the way to the corner pylon. The biggest difference between that play and the one he lost 6 yards was that every person had and held their block and the sealed the edge. 3 people met him at the line and even the elusive #7 couldn’t have faked and juked his way out of that! Now Irving’s td against the Poohtie Tats was proof of what happens when the line blocks properly, it was a walk in td
December 6th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
“B” “OHBucFan”
I agree that Tucker is the modern inception of Natrone Means. It just may be that he is one dimensional and Bucky and RW are dual threats. IMHO he should be the go to guy inside the 10 unless he’s putting it on the ground in practice like you said. He would also be my go to choice for the 4th quarter back.
In the end, I guess we should all be grateful to have a run game again. Sure beats the last 2 or 3 seasons of the cloud of dust and 0 to 1 yard up the gut.
December 6th, 2024 at 3:23 pm
I agree with Joe. Irving is your best bet on a 3rd and goal but the Bucs are afraid to do quarterback sneaks for one yard. Watching the Lions last night, on 4th and ones they had Goff sneaking twice for first downs. I saw Pittsburgh do the same thing with Russell Wilson.
Bowles has to do things the hard way. When you have a very short distance (a yard) any QB just has to get low and squeeze the ball and fall forward. You can use a fullback to push the QB in.
Mayfield is strong enough to do QB sneaks and the Bucs have been unsuccessful in several games losing yardage by handling the ball to White. It is simple, a handoff gets to the back 2-3 yards behind the QB. A sneak gets the ball to the QB one foot behind the center. RB has to go several yards to Beal plane on handoff, QB just has to fall or be pushed one yard.
December 6th, 2024 at 4:48 pm
They need to hand it to their new fullback Vita at the goal line