Liam Coen: No Real Need To Throw Deep

December 5th, 2024

Bucs OC Liam Coen.

Though NextGen Stats has yet to publish Baker Mayfield’s passing chart from the win over Carolina, throwing deep in that game wasn’t a thing.

And if anything has been consistent this season, it is that the Bucs run a dink-and-dunk offense. Seldom does Mayfield attempt a pass in a game over 20 yards downfield.

But so what, right? The Bucs offense is not the problem. The Bucs often score first — and on the first drive.

Today, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen was asked about throwing so few deep passes. Coen’s answer and his facial expression to the question suggested he’s not really losing sleep about fixing something that isn’t broken.

“Nah, it doesn’t bother me too much,” Coen said. “I think we have enough ways to get the ball where we want it.

“Yeah, I’d love to be able to throw it down the field a bunch. Just hasn’t really been quite our M.O.”

Now Coen didn’t elaborate on that but Joe has to believe no Chris Godwin and being careful with Mike Evans (after he missed three games) are big reasons.

For example, when Evans was still rehabbing his hamstring, Coen said sending Evans on go-routes may not be wise as the Bucs try to avoid having Evans pop another hamstring.

Coen didn’t dismiss the possibility of turning Mayfield loose sometime this season, but his body language sure looked like he’s disinterested.

“Whether that stays consistent the next four or five weeks, I’m not sure,” Coen said. “But yeah, I think we could definetly get the ball into some deeper spots. But it’s not really been a huge impact in the system so far.”

As Joe stated, the offense is not the problem. So no need to tinker with the plan of attack. It’s working, even with few downfield attempts.

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42 Responses to “Liam Coen: No Real Need To Throw Deep”

  1. JimBobBuc Says:

    Too bad our track star Palmer hasn’t developed last year or this year for long balls.

    Not really a strength of Baker to throw long moon balls like Russel Wilson. Bake is good at the Lakers.

    I like Coens’ west coast offense because we’re scoring points and that’s job one for any offense.

  2. GoneGator Says:

    Thinking the offense isn’t (or couldn’t be) “the problem” could be a problem. Yea, our defense statistically stinks in a lot of areas but our offense is fully capable of costing us games down the stretch too.

    I’ve seen A LOT of inconsistent play on that side of the ball also… Don’t care what the stats say.

  3. Caleb Says:

    Baker hasn’t been good on deep balls as rarely as they are thrown. There was a larger sample size last year and he wasn’t very accurate. And most teams defenses play to take the big shots away. Baker excels most in the intermediate passing game when he is on his game.

  4. Architek Says:

    Too bad the defense is a turnstile!!!

  5. Kenton Smith Says:

    Yeah GoneGator I’m thinking we may see the offense go off this week. We were lucky to win that game last week with all the mistakes. Penalties,picks, missed blocks, bad snaps. Didn’t see that coming. Cleaned up I believe this offense is lethal and Sunday we’d like to see some of that lethality! GO BUCS!!

  6. Kenton Smith Says:

    And 4 sacks!! Yeah, we’ll get this cleaned up.

  7. setherick Says:

    I get it, but I would love to see palmer’s speed utilized deep—if for nothing more as a diversion.

    work a deep route for him into plays, pull the coverage and safeties north, and make room underneath for the reliable vets. if baker has time, and he’s open, hit him long and burn the slower safeties for an explosive play.

  8. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    When you have a burner like Palmer, chuck him the rock occasionally on a go route, if for no other reason than to keep the defense honest. This isn’t splitting the atom!

  9. GoneGator Says:

    @Kenton
    I’m hoping so. My biggest worry, aside from penalties and mistakes, is that our short passing game (and that had been our offensive strength along with the emergence of the run game) has sputtered badly in several games. Timing off, Baker skittish, receivers not named Mike or cade getting open or not getting the ball.

    Like to see run game and pass game both clicking this coming week. Need to get our groove back on both sides 👍🏼

  10. Pewter Power Says:

    I am convinced gonegator is related to Todd Bowles. Where did all this criticism of the offense come from? You don’t care what the stats say about a top 5 offense? Liam Coen is literally the reason Tampa is talking playoffs. What offense in the nfl is so potent it hasn’t had a single off week?

  11. Beeej Says:

    He’s 6th in the NFL in total yards, tied for 15th in yards per attempt, no reason not to continues what we’re doing

  12. Kenton Smith Says:

    Pewter Power 3 weeks ago we threw for 130 yards. 2 weeks ago we were scoreless in the second half against the Giants. Last week we made more blunders than a winning team deserves to make. 3 weeks ago that game was at home against SanFrancisco. GoneGator and I know that the offense needs to step it up and so do you.

  13. Buddha Says:

    Betting with Buddha: YTD: 24-21-0

    Week 14:
    Detroit/Green Bay Under 52.5 (More to come)

  14. David Pear Says:

    Neither Kenny Bell II or Jalen Darden II can do much of anything so, I’m glad Liam has the offense where it is.

  15. Buc4evr Says:

    Palmer and McMillian seem to be a lot less than advertised. Neither one is a future Big Dog like Godwin or Evans. Not sure if they are afraid of contact, run poor routes and can’t get separation or are just have problems holding on to the ball?

  16. Pewter Power Says:

    @ Kenton Smith

    The offense needs to step up really? Even Kirk cousins would laugh at you. Ok our offense needs to step up but Todd Bowles had Dave Canales offense looking pretty good

  17. Buc4evr Says:

    Anyone see Jack Browning our new punter play? Seems like the guy has a big leg from what I’ve read.

  18. Kenton Smith Says:

    Pewter Power we all know Bowles and the defense have been taking a beating. We’re just pointing out that the offense has been better than what we’ve been accustomed to. Both sides and special teams need to be honed in this next few months. We all want the best for our team.

  19. Badbucs Says:

    Buc4evr you forgot can’t block and stupid penalties.

  20. Badbucs Says:

    Godwin is sorely missed. The D has massive injuries at early ever level, but the loss of Godwin limits Coen from expanding the play calling. Aside from McLaughlin, our special teams are brutal. Same coach for years as a Bowles butt buddy.

  21. David Says:

    With their running game and wide receiver quick screens, there are plenty of opportunities to take two shots down field to Evans per game. Ridiculous that they don’t

  22. Scotty Mack Says:

    This offense has been about getting the ball into the playmakers’ hands and letting them make plays.

    Not sure why the deep ball matters that much. The Patriots and Brady won plenty of Superbowls with “dink and dunk”.

  23. Bartow Buc Says:

    Joe, we all love to see the long rainbow passes but the truth is they are just not as effective as a wide receiver or running back with the ball in his hands after a 10 -15 -20 yard reception ! The west coast offense has evolved immensely since its inception back in the day, but the truth is, it works !! The quarterback has to get the ball out of his hands quickly to avoid the blitz and or edge pressure.

    Go Bucs Beat the Raiders !!!!

  24. Pewter Power Says:

    Kenton Smith not trying to be confrontational so 100% agree with you finally. Just some stupid comments on this post so I chimed in. This offense is in the top half of the league in terms of least penalized teams. Our center is a rookie so he might have a few bad snaps here or there. Evans had 118 yards, Bucky offensive player of the week. A lot went right. Other than that fumble from Nelson there’s nothing memorable from the defense other than Dean playing 10 yards off the receiver so I don’t get the complaints about the only thing going right with this football team it’s weird af.

  25. gp Says:

    Coen is coaching what Todd Bowles wants, a slow, methodical (time consuming) offense that puts points on the board and more importantly, gives the defense a chance to rest.
    Unfortunately, Todds defense has been unable to return the favor this year.
    Hopefully, he/they get their act together and produce the other half of this winning formula.

  26. toopanca Says:

    When your defense is banged up, when you are thin at linebacker, when an edge guy is out and you are not getting the sacks that you want or need, when you are starting backup cornerbacks, and when your safeties are guys you signed off of the street because of injuries, you want your offense on the field and your defense off the field.

    If you throw a seventy yard TD pass from your own thirty and score in a possession time of six seconds, hello, you are not keeping the offense on the field and the defense off of the field. If you can pass for seven yards on first down, and run it on second and third down and grind out enough yardage for the first down, you offense possesses the ball for a long time and the other team doesn’t get a shot at your defense. But, you need to score first and playing with a lead or no more than a one score deficit. That is actually the way they played the Panthers.

    If time is running out at the end of the first half, sure, air it out and try to add some points before the halftime break.

    Or, if you are behind by two scores in the middle of the fourth quarter, we’ll, okay, you have to catch up and hope that the defense gets a break.

    Or, if you are up two scores early and you have a chance to really demoralize the other team with by running up the score, go for it.

    And, of course, in overtime, if the high percentage opportunity is there, “Bombs away!”

    But, your offense shoes that it can possess the ball and keep the score close, situational football limits when you should be throwing deep passes.

  27. GoneGator Says:

    I tried to reply earlier @Pewter Power but it hasn’t been ok’ed. Suffice it to say I respectfully disagree with your opinion. And I am not related to Mr. Bowles 🙂

    And I respectfully request you keep my name out of your piehole unless you want to discuss something specific to what I’m talking about.

    If I post something different than Todd and our defense sucks and Bucky’s great don’t get your panties in a wad. I’m not sure why that bothers you.

    I see all the same holes in the defense as you do….and of course I’m very concerned. I’m just not calling for the coaches head repeatedly while we’re still trying to get in the playoffs – theres a big mob of yall doing that already….in every single post no matter what the original topic is.

  28. GoneGator Says:

    Preferred my other reply Joe’s – lol

  29. Faspro Says:

    Settling for a FG against the Panthers when your two yards from the endzone is mediocre at best…poor play call on Coens part.

  30. Rod Munch Says:

    Baker stinks throwing it downfield – but he is good at short passes and keeping plays alive, so like any good coach, you should use your players in a way that makes the best use of them. Until people shut the Bucs down on offense (which hasn’t happened when they’ve had at least one NFL caliber WR on the field) there’s no reason to do anything different.

    With that said, you still need to take a few shots downfield and who knows, perhaps Baker is on target and you get a big play, but even if you don’t it keeps the defense off balance.

  31. Pewter Power Says:

    Personally BA’s first year with Mr 30 for 30 and those 18 points per game Byron leftwich years aren’t that far behind us but it’s scary because even leftwich was interviewing for a head coaching job after his first year as a coordinator.

  32. David Pear Says:

    Missing Reptile is cute when it’s passive aggressive. And it has something different than a pie hole.

  33. Fred Says:

    Bring back Gruden.

  34. View from 132 Says:

    Palmer is Jacquez Green

  35. BradyGronk Fan Says:

    It’s quite telling when Evans longest play in the year is 27 yards. He had about half a dozen of 40 plus yards last year I believe.

  36. Marky Mark Says:

    Still time to nab a top 10 CFL receiver and give up nothing.

  37. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    After watching Baker struggle against good defenses since being here, not being able or willing to throw deep will hurt us with this dink and dunk offense matriculating the ball down the field. Watching the Broncos Browns game this past Monday is proof positive of how this is going to lose us games along with our defense. Denver’s ROOKIE qb threw a 97 yard bomb on a go route boo coo accurately on the run but then on the very next play Shameless Jamiss Mr. America’s Turnover Machine of all qbs threw a fairly accurate 70 yard bomb td to answer. I have absolutely no faith that Baker would be able to do that even if he had the receivers if we’re more than 10 points behind in the 4th quarter. I’d be more expecting him to throw a game sealing int.

  38. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    Bye Bye Bye Water Gecko you get yer panties in a wad behind bad talk about Rachaad White of all players so what are you talking about telling Pewter Power not to get his in a wad??? That’s like Putin accusing Trump of being a demagogue

  39. Bee Says:

    DBBF99

    Spot on. Look no further than when Bake had to throw a hail mary earlier this season and he threw it out the back of the endzone by 5 yards. Meanwhile Daniel’s in Washington threw a hail mary and actually gave his WRs a chance to catch it, and they did. Baker has bad accuracy really over 15 yds most times.

    So this team needs to dink and dunk, and since it’s “working” they’ll stick to it.

  40. GoneGator Says:

    David Pear Says:
    December 6th, 2024 at 1:11 am
    Missing Reptile is cute when it’s passive aggressive. And it has something different than a pie hole.

    Troll – wtf is wrong with you Dave? You just want to bicker?

    I told you before, and I’d stuck to it, that I wouldn’t address you unless you talked stupid to me again. And here you go. I’ll be fine not talking to you at all anymore BUT I’m also ok with pointing out your stupidity, immaturity, loser predictions etc etc etc on every thread you post on too if that’s your preference…. Your choice.

  41. GoneGator Says:

    @DavidBigBucsFan99

    So if I thought (like you apparently) that RW sucks and Todd should be fired pronto, and therefore I joined your little mob, and posted about nothing else, then would that be ok?

    I’m a fan of our entire team including RW and Todd…..and Bucky, Tucker, Baker, Mike, Skule etc etc etc
    I know saying anything positive about some players and staff is a sin for some of you, and saying anything that could be perceived as not overly positive towards others (Bucky, Coen ) is immediately attacked. I think it’s childish and illogical and mob mentality but I’m working on accepting it and being more understanding and sympathetic.

    I know some of y’all have been fans of TB longer than I and have suffered more heartaches thru the years than I have.

    I’d decided to let you and your buds post away and say NOTHING NEW and beat the same drum every post…. But if you say my name or address me (like pewter power did) then I feel obligated to reply if the Joe’s let me.

  42. GoneGator Says:

    Baker throws balls on a rope….thats his thing. He throws with high velocity. I think his accuracy is great but bullets have to be thrown more accurately. Moon ball type throws give receivers more opportunity to adjust to the ball. Thats not necessarily the best type of ball to throw for long passes but on the flip side the ball gets from point A to point B faster than most.

    I think deeper passes will come, when/if we get the right match ups and somebody besides Mike steps up to actually get open deep, on time, and Baker has time and is on his game.