“There’s Just No Time In The Day”
December 19th, 2024
The red-hot playcaller of the Bucs reacted today to a question about what it’s like to be a constantly kicked around name for eventual head coach openings next month.
Liam Coen is the architect of the Bucs’ top-5 offense.
And don’t think it’s just because he’s from the Sean McVay tree. So is the Falcons’ new playcaller, Zach Robinson, and Joe will bring word from a respected former quarterback later today who thinks Robinson has been horrible at his job this season.
Joe’s pal Rock Riley asked Coen to share the challenge of being a projected head coach candidate while still working a grueling gig trying to get the Bucs to the playoffs.
Rock Riley: How hard is it for you where your name now continually comes up as the hot offensive coordinator for these head coaching jobs. You know, how hard is that, man, to concentrate on this?
Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen: Not extremely difficult at the moment. I’ll be honest. There’s literally one goal and that’s the only one. I really hate to sound PC (politically correct) but that’s the truth. I mean, there’s just no time in the day. I got a kid sick throwing up at home last night. I mean there’s just no time to even truly think about these things. I mean, obviously, is that a goal? Is that a dream? Yeah, but that’s not at all what’s on my mind right now. The one thing is, ‘how are we going to try to go score points and stop Micah Parsons in this game on Sunday Night Football?’ That’s truly where the focus is, where it has to be. You really don’t have enough time to think otherwise right now.
Joe gets what Coen is saying, but Joe also finds it hard to believe Coen isn’t talking to his agent and investing a little time studying career angles and making a list of potential staff members.
Joe remembers when Dirk Koetter was the Bucs’ playcaller in 2015. Heck, Koetter’s agent was calling Joe in search of angles to help Koetter get a head coaching gig out of town. Seriously!
As Joe has written, hopefully a knock on Coen’s door comes soon from Team Glazer — with a brown envolope and a firm message.
And Joe also hopes Coen’s kid feels better.
December 19th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Don’t leave Coach. Please stay.
December 19th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Build something great in Tampa with Todd for however long he has left. He’s on record saying he won’t coach until 70 like Belichick or Carroll.. then take over. It’s a win-win.
December 19th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Get Liam a hotel room and get his wife a nanny to help with the sick child. Need to focus here…
December 19th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
what’s the vegas line on him leaving?
December 19th, 2024 at 1:53 pm
I’ve been worried about the Saints snagging him now, for the past month (and them getting Arch, too). Chicago could be interesting, with Caleb, a buncha picks, a decent roster, & in the Top-10 with the most cap space to burn. Hopefully, they are finally, willing to step-up for once, & show Ben Johnson THE MONEY!!!! Both NY Jobs (Jets & Giants) are TRASH… He’d be FIRED within 2-3 years at either! New England would be very appealing… He played at UMASS I think, and is a “New England” guy! Prob grew up rooting for the Pats as a kid. Maybe, Kraft decides to cut-bait with Mayo, & rights a wrong with Vrabel!? Hopefully. The Raiders would have to be a HAILLLLL NAWWWW… LOTS of Reasons. Reid/Mahomes/Chiefs. Harbaugh/Herbert. Paton, or Payton LoL. What a fricking meat grinder of a Division that would be (same with Da Bears). And, then what if they draft SANDERS… Do ya REALLY want to have DEION breathing down your NECK!? That’s another BIG Hail Noooo. JAX… Get Outta Here, with all that! But, here’s a wildcard… THE Cowboys. Jerry would just LOVE a ‘rookie’ HC that he could manipulate and control. You’d still have to say “YES” to that one. We better just hope that Cohen likes the comfortable laid back atmosphere of Tampa Bay, being on the fringes of The NFL, with great weather, a strong FO that is already built with a solid (familiar) foundation, QB, and no state income tax!!!! Ding Ding Ding… Now, that sounds like a winner.
December 19th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
The Bucs have the #3 offense in the NFL
and the #27 defense in the NFL.
It would be a horrible decision to let Liam Coen leave the Bucs organization to be a head coach of another NFL team.
December 19th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Tampa is a great town to raise a family, Coach Coen.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:13 pm
Love what Coen has done and love Bucky too but for gods sake can’t you guys find something else to write about?
The possibilities would seem to be endless BUT its Bucky and Liam, rinse and repeat, over and over and over again.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
ocala – right on the money. Hope Jason shows it to Liam, with a succession plan including how to bolster a subpar pass defense.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
I can’t remember who, but someone posting on this site had a great idea. Let the Glazers create an assistant head coaching position and a salary to match and guarantee Coen the HC position when Bowles retires (or is fired, whichever comes first). Probably not realistic, but need to be creative to keep him. He obviously has a HC gig as a life goal. We just need to postpone that for a year or two.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
Maybe someone needs to apply for a content advisory job with his favorite website.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:21 pm
It seems like he has been able to have leeway on doing his job without a lot of interference from above. Is he ready to be a HC…. I doubt it, but sometimes people do not know their limitations. Could he be a successful HC in the future, probably.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
And not you, PSL Bob. Good idea there.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:29 pm
Psl, H. Goodwin was asst. HC for years. The position is there.
I just can’t see Liam leaving for the headaches of head-coaching a lesser team when he may have just found a home for awhile as OC. If he has confidence in himself he will wait! His worth will just go up. AND we LOVE him so far.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Sign him to big OC contract with clause making him HC-in-waiting with more player input when Bowles contract ends in March ’27. Bowles can move up to Senior advisor like BA did.
December 19th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Geez.
It’s almost like The Joes want him gone. Multiple article articles a day, while we’re trying to get into the playoffs.
This talking it into reality is weird.
? Joe’s firmly written that Team Glazer should take steps to end the madness ASAP with a fat check. –Joe
December 19th, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Glad you’re ok Dave, physically alive and all. You are still an idiot but I’m glad you haven’t been sick or worse. 👍🏼
Last couple of weeks must have been hard on you… With Todd’s defense having a couple of decent games and all. 🤣
December 19th, 2024 at 2:58 pm
I believe that Jason and the Glazers are having lots of discussion on how to retain Liam. No way the owners or front office want him to leave.
December 19th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
wasnt it canales who interviewed during the week of the season last year? probably other coaches as well. this was a great response definitely head coach material it seems
December 19th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Back to the topic at hand… Coen would be foolish to leave NOW.
He has skill players out the wazoo… The offense is really just beginning to gel. Continuity matters and I think he’s well aware of that. He knows Todd is eyeing retirement and he’ll get next if he wants it.
Crushing it here for another year or 2 can only make his resume more attractive to general managers and give him more time to prepare for head coaching responsibilities.
I don’t know what the guy is making $ wise but I’m sure the Glazers and Jason are talking about incentives to get him to stay.
Multiple articles on JBF won’t change the realities or inspire the Glazers to do anything they weren’t already going to do.
December 19th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Joe remembers when Dirk Koetter was the Bucs’ playcaller in 2015. Heck, Koetter’s agent was calling Joe in search of angles to help Koetter get a head coaching gig out of town. Seriously!
Joe is laying it thick with this one! lol
Maybe the Glazers need to meet with you Joe to handle this
madness ASAP.
December 19th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
I wish the Glazers would meet with the Joes. Joes knows.
How about this Jets madness? Anyone watching?
December 19th, 2024 at 3:40 pm
#Liamnotleaving
December 19th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Like a job interview question when they ask your weakness? I take my job too seriously. 🤔😆
December 19th, 2024 at 4:27 pm
He gone.
Unless the Glazers can pull of an amazing feat (pay him big $$$ and ensure him that he’s next in line to be HC in another year or two). Would be way easier if Bowles said he was retiring after this season, but I don’t think that’s happening.
December 19th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Dirk Koetter was a terrible HC. Just saying.
December 19th, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Canales and Koetter are not in the same ballpark as Coen.
Liam Coen is an offensive genius at the NFL level. I would be shocked if he is not a head coach in the NFL next year.
December 19th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Being an offensive genius doesn’t mean you can run the whole enchilada..it means you can run the offense.
Gruden was purportedly an offensive genius too… terrible at personnel, and a career .500 coach.
December 19th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Ocala – are you basing the NFL genius thing on 14 regular season games?
If so, that’s not a lot of data to throw down the “genius” title
December 19th, 2024 at 7:17 pm
Coen….yawn. How about some QB option plays?
December 19th, 2024 at 7:44 pm
Too bad we didn’t have him last year. We’d probably be the best offense in the league and is we had a defense like the one that played against the Raiders we’d be 12-2 probably. He’s been the best thing for Baker
December 19th, 2024 at 10:03 pm
NFL history is littered with aggressively recruited genius DC’s and OC’s who really really were special as coordinators, but who did not fare well as HC’s.
Part of that is the teams that do the most aggressive recruiting often do not have organizations that can give a HC the support needed for success.
Coen is with a good organization with a recent Super Bowl win and an ongoing division championship streak. That is evidence that the organization will provide the support a HC needs for success.
Why go anywhere else when the odds are good that the 39 year old OC will be HC right here in Tampa by the time he is 45 or so – no snow, no state income tax, sandy beaches, warm water in the Gulf, cold water in the springs. As Jeb said, “Take your shoes off and sit a spell.”
December 19th, 2024 at 10:10 pm
to jmarcbuc thats true but look at joes article about him not wanting to rip baker during game he may have the goods when it comes to being a players coach like bowles
December 19th, 2024 at 10:59 pm
Coen is a smart guy who is probably pretty well grounded. If so he knows one of the most important things in life is to stay present!
As Van Halen sang, “Right Now” is your tomorrow! He should be savoring every moment of the excitement he and the guys are enjoying right now.
Individual awards are great but nothing beats the thrill at succeeding at something because of a team effort. Coen is getting that team effort right now and it has to be a major rush!!!
I’m not sure Coen is headed out the door. I am sure it’s one of the last things he’s thinking about RIGHT NOW! HIS TOMORROW!
December 20th, 2024 at 11:18 am
“toopanca” – Lmao. Yeah, rightttt… He’s waiting ‘till he’s 45-years old to become a Head Coach LoL. SIX more YEARS Hahahah. So, YOU think that is a ‘realistic’ possibility!? Or, is that just another ‘empty’ ramble without any real thought, being spewed from inside of your own head!? Just a laughable take there. The ONLY way he is not a Head Coach by THEN, is if he’s never offered to be one. Period. End of Story. HE’s definitely not afraid of ‘moving’ (across country), that’s for sure.