Almost Entire Offense Returns
March 12th, 2025
Licking his chops over free agency.
Four years ago the Bucs decided to run it back. And it nearly worked.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht pulled off the near impossible, keeping the 2020 Super Bowl champs intact, returning 22+1 starters. If not for injuries, both physical and mental, the Bucs probably run it back to repeat as champs.
Last year, the Bucs were only champs of the NFC South. But with all the drama involved with the Liam Coen fiasco, Licht again wanted to at least keep the offense, one of the league’s best, together.
Licht has done that with the exception of Coen. All 11 offensive starters return, including new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard as Coen’s replacement and offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, who did an excellent job last season, and other assistants.
Licht said yesterday at One Buc Palace this was his goal: To try to bring everyone back on offense, players and assistant coaches.
“It’s very exciting to have everybody back,” Licht said. “Even though we still have a lot of offseason to go – the draft – there’s a lot of time before the season starts to make some additions, too.
“That was very important to all of us, to have some continuity, starting with Todd [Bowles] hiring Josh [Grizzard] and us keeping our coaches – the offensive line coaches, everybody, [wide] receivers coach, I could name them all.
“We’re so lucky to have all of them. We’re very excited about that.”
If Grizzard can keep the core focus of Coen’s offense and philosophy the same (we all know there will be new wrinkles) this offense could actually be better than last year’s.
Think about it: Graham Barton will be a year smarter. Same with Bucky Irving, who was not a starter early last season. Jalen McMillan, too, has a full year in the NFL under his belt. And he ended the 2024 season on a hot streak.
Joe hates to put a ton of pressure on a first-year playcaller in Grizzard, but the talent is there to improve.
March 12th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Can’t wait to see the O line dominate!
March 12th, 2025 at 7:33 am
For an uneducated and uninformed fan, this offseason is going absolutely by the book, perfectly. I hope it’s as plain and simple as what it seems because I’m getting excited.
Also, I saw the new Manchester United stadium renderings, could this be why we are seemingly handcuffed against top tier edge rushers this season and last?
March 12th, 2025 at 7:37 am
I’m tempering my expectations, even though I’m excited as heck to see what our offense will do this year.
Ideally, Josh Grizzard won’t put too much pressure on himself.
Two things I really respect about the organization are the commitment to building the team through the draft, and getting our FAs resigned.
Jason Licht is a master at it.
He’s missed on a few. But an SB and consecutive division titles since then is a testament to the overall success of the effort.
I’d love to see a few more “splashes” in free agency, but Jason’s points about the money involved, the chance you’re taking on how well the FA will actually play, and the “expense” of filling in gaps and holes at other positions are all valid.
Go Bucs!
March 12th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Three years or less experience in the NFL on Bucs Offense with promise for the future
3 rookies from last year mentioned in the article
Goedeke
Launch
Otton
RBs White and Tucker
Klein
Culp
March 12th, 2025 at 8:13 am
There’s always risk when you change out the guy calling plays. The injury risk at receiver with Evans age, Godwin and Jmac’s history makes me hope that drafting a receiver in the top three rounds is on the docket. Irving’s size also makes me hope that we continue to distribute the ball to all three running backs and not increase his workload too much.
The veteran flavor of the offense makes me hopeful we can mitigate the new offensive coordinator concern.
March 12th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Excited to see who falls to us at 19. Excited to see if we trade up, stand pat, or trade back. I am also intrigued to see how Licht plays the draft this year with:
Canales, Coen, and Spytek all competing amongst him. Would love to see Licht throw massive curveball and screw with everyone lol.
I hope we don’t see a repeat of Jon Robinson in his 1st year as Titans GM. He traded up to leapfrog the Bucs and selected Jack Conklin, RT All-Pro. Hoping we can be the disrupters this time around.
March 12th, 2025 at 8:40 am
The thought of Evans and McMillan on the outside and Godwin lined up in the slot is fun to think about. We need a replacement for White next.
March 12th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Why would a new stadium for man utd affect the Bucs ability to get an edge rusher??? For a start the Glazers will be putting zero pounds towards it – Jim Radcliff is pushing for a new stadium and wants the government to fund it.
March 12th, 2025 at 8:46 am
I personally thought we under performed a little bit. We lost some games we should have one, and I personally largely blamed the defense. The pieces we let walk on D were ones we all basically wanted to replace anyways so I am hopeful we are able to get a couple more FA’s and a full draft that we should see an improved team.
March 12th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Offense wasn’t the problem and still need to see what it looks like with grizzard. Reddick is a wild card head case so he’s a wait and see. I don’t so any improvements made since last year yet. No linebacker, and no corners. Dean is still here and is trash. The back end of the defense needs a lot of help yet.
March 12th, 2025 at 8:52 am
@bakerbowl… good point. I’m not sure that manu has any negative effect on us this year, but man u is 1 billion in debt and a new stadium on the way. With the financial crisis of 2008 and the glazers buying man u a little before that, the bucs had a 5 year period or so where we spent less money than just about anyone else. I hope that history never repeats!
March 12th, 2025 at 8:53 am
If grizz can’t handle the pressure then he shouldn’t be coaching. Hopefully it makes him better. This is a dam good borderline great offense. Stats back it up. All the pressure is on grizz n rightfully so. Let’s go. If this defense improves to even average we will make some serious noise this year
March 12th, 2025 at 8:57 am
@Bucs Guy
Assuming “ Launch” is Mauch?
Also add Payne Durham and Trey Palmer( who I still think will be productive)
March 12th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Lt. Dan Says:
March 12th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Can’t wait to see the O line dominate!
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Lt. Dan,
Agree with you, but the O line is still very much a work in progress when it comes to pass protection. Hope the standard becomes like Detroit or Atlanta where Goff and Cousins had unlimited time to throw.
March 12th, 2025 at 10:01 am
Going all in with Brady was the smart thing to do….and it said off.
But, I wasn’t as personally invested as I was with the first superbowl team. That’s because we had been building through free agency for so long…or losing players to free agency…since after the first superbowl team.
It was hard to get invested in money grubbing players with no loyalty.
Jason Licht started off rough as a rookie GM, and I was pretty critical of him at first. But he has grown into the best GM I’ve ever seen. And he is worlds better than Rich McKay ever was.
McKay left when his moves resulted in cap issues. Licht knew the moves for going all-in around Brady would cause cap issues…and he’s stuck around to get us through it.
Even better, he’s building the best team we’ve ever had.
Building the offense so that Mayfield can excel meant neglecting the defense for a couple years, but now Licht is in position to focus completely on the defense.
I don’t know of many other teams that are going to be as solidly built.
One good defensive draft could have us playing like a dynasty by December…and with this offense in this division? That could well take us all of the way.
#Top 5 Offense 2025
#Top 10 Defese 2025
March 12th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Arians, Licht, and Brady.
They completely changed the culture of this team.
March 12th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Mckay was forced out by Gruden.
The loss of draft capitol paid to get Gruden is why the team eventually fell apart.
March 12th, 2025 at 10:38 am
The only wild card in this is of course Grizzard. I am sure he will be sorely tempted to change things. I hope he resists that urge.
I have yet to see new management come in and not change things. Most of the time for the worst in my experience. You have the experienced work force who know the job. Yet the new guys gotta change it to their way? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
Go Bucs!
March 12th, 2025 at 10:41 am
The old line being together for another year, the rookies having a year under their belt… I have no doubt, with the correct play calling, Be the best in the NFL.
If Reddick and Yaya produce on the edges, the entire defense improves.
Just need another DB and ILB although I am curious how Tykee Smith and SirV are going to do.
March 12th, 2025 at 10:44 am
I’m not impressed with this offseason.
Our corners are still not good enough. Weak at linebacker and safety
One injury to a key player tanks our Super Bowl chances
March 12th, 2025 at 11:55 am
Licht is the best in the business. Now sign back Bryce Hall and find upgrades for Darden clones Palmer and Jarrett. Oh and that Kenny Bell clone Kam Johnson.
March 12th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
We all know our D was quite bad last year. Thus far we’ve made one move on defense and it’s certainly a questionable one. Apparently we’re going to run back the same secondary except for moving smith to safety which we have no idea how that is gonna work out. Our solution to fixing our D was to add one questionable pass rusher and the rest through the draft? Extremely brash to say the least. Im lost as to where the direction of this defense is going. We made no attempt to sing a real safety to give Winfield the first real help at safety that he’s never had. We could have kept smith at nickel where he excels.
March 12th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Ha-Ha-Ha Says:
March 12th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Mckay was forced out by Gruden.
The loss of draft capitol paid to get Gruden is why the team eventually fell apart.
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Yep. However, I’ll say it as a very long-time Bucs fan: Licht is better than McKay. You can bet he and Bowles are already studying defensive players, draft and otherwise.
March 12th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
Aqualung or should I say Dave Pear time to change your name again..
March 12th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Aqualung,
(1) Palmer may re-emerge as a deep threat since the Grizz wants to take some shots downfield to mix into last year’s dink and dunk no-risk-it offense.
(2) Kam Johnson was a QB turned WR and is a long-term project with another year under his belt. It’s doesn’t look like a strong year for WR prospects (I am anxious to hear what Draft Guru Sean Sullivan thinks)
(3) Jarrett has looked good as a 4th or 5th WR when he has been able to stay healthy and we can see who emerges in training camp.
(4) I would like to see what Bryce Hall can do assuming he is healthy.
(5) Perhaps there will be some more veteran WR’s and CB’s available via cuts made after the draft