“Lots Of Details” To Lure Liam Coen
February 2nd, 2024
Kentucky OC Liam Coen.
No one is more plugged in when it comes to the college football coaching carousel than Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. And while his sources confirm that the Bucs and Kentucky coach Liam Coen are talking turkey about Coen coming to the Bucs as offensive coordinator, it’s not yet a done deal.
Per Feldman, there are several bumps in the road that need to be cleared in order.
@BruceFeldmanCFB: SOURCE: The Buccaneers have targeted Kentucky OC Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator, but was just told lots of details still have to be sorted out before this is a go. NFL Network first reported the connection between the two.
So now Bucs fans wait nervously to see if Baker Mayfield’s former offensive coordinator with the Rams comes to Tampa Bay or not.
The fact the Bucs are targeting Coen is a very smart move in Joe’s eyes. Yes, why not bring in a guy who has a good track record with Mayfield and apparently can work with Mayfield? If the Bucs are going to invest $100 million+ plus in the guy, you want him to work with someone with whom he’s comfortable.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:52 am
Why not?…..just get it done and lets move on……we probably need to do it in this order….
OC, Mayfield, Evans, Winfield, LVD, McLaughlin
Evans may be more likely to sign if Mayfield is the QB…..Mayfield will sign no matter what if the money is right.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:53 am
If this falls through the feeding frenzy of blaming it on no one wanting to work with Bowles/Baker will be off the charts.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:56 am
Tony, apparently Dave Canales only left because he didn’t want to work with Bowles and not for the chance to run his own team and make a ton more money. Love and hate can make people say and believe some really stupid things.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:58 am
Get the deal done!
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:03 am
Brandon, and where exactly is your source for that? Because everything I’ve read has canales praising, the HC and gushing about him taking a chance on him.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:03 am
He’s got a three year contract at Kentucky so might need to buy it out before leaving. He did tell Kentucky last year he wasn’t going anywhere so this move was not foreseen by him.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:05 am
This guy seems fine, and I get that Bowles/Licht are trying hard to keep Mayfield, but statements like the one above are disengenuous, Joe. Mayfield was 1-3 as a starter for LAR. Let’s call it 2-3 because he played all but one series in the LVR game. He played well in that game despite only being on the team for 2 days, but his overall performace as a Ram wasn’t something people usually celebrate.
He averaged 170 passing yards in those 5 games (never more than 230), and threw for fewer than 150 three times. He only had 4 TDs in 5 games. His completion percentage was below 60% in 3 of those games.
The truth is, everybody thinks he did well with LAR because they only remember that LVR game. The rest of his time in LA was pretty meh.
Let’s hope Coen has some juice.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:07 am
The Rams offense was abysmal when Coen led it in 2022. They scored less than 20 points in 11 games and only cracked 30 twice. In the 9 games that Stafford played, he had 2 multiple TD games, 1 300 yard game, 3 games with less than 200 yards, and a 10:8 TD:INT ratio.
In 2021 Kentucky ranked 36th in the country in Pts/Game with 32.3 and averaged 225 Yds passing/game, 1.8 passing tds/game, 199 yds rushing/game, and 2 rush Tds/game.
In 2023 Kentucky ranked 58th in the country with 29 pts/game and averaged 211 passing yards/game 1.9 passing tds/game, 127 rushing yards/game, and 1.4 rushing tds/game.
I hope the details do not get sorted out.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:09 am
I did a little research on Coen at Kentucky. Before he became OC in 2021, the Wildcats averaged 21.6 ppg and 318 yards a game, in 2021 under Coen, they averaged 32.3 and 424 yards per game, then he left and in 2022, they fell to 20.4 and 324.7 (with Levis), and this past year they averaged 29.1 and 339.5… I’d say his impact was felt in Kentucky for sure. Based on that… I’d say he is more qualified than Canales was.
In 2022 as the OC of the Rams, they were dismal on O… one of the worst in the league… but they did lose Stafford and Cooper Kupp for the majority of the season. Still, he has experience and a relationship with Mayfield, and the team went 2-3 in games he played in.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:10 am
Rumor that the Steelers will offer $100 million for Baker. They feel as if they are a QB away from a championship.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:18 am
I hear Shawn Lutz (head coach at Slippery Rock) may be available for a fair price. He only lost 1 game last season!
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:21 am
yeah the rams offense really sucked in 2022…
but didn’t stafford get hurt or something and was out about half of the year…
yes upon further review the rams offense was something like 25th in the league that year…
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:21 am
This is a very interesting situation with Liam. I don’t really know how to read this one, my brother a ram’s fan was glad to see him leave when he was there. There wasn’t much going on with him when he was there, and he did not call the plays at all, and then he bolted for KY. As for KY my cousin is currently down there playing for UK, and Liam was supposed to “be there for a while” etc things he mentioned when he got there.
So ill reserve my enthusiasm for this hire but I do believe this looks like he Bucs really do not have any direction right now, and Bowles is leading all of this.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:21 am
Good stuff, Brandon!
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:22 am
I don’t know why we are bending over backwards to get someone who has worked with Mayfield before. Why not just trying to get the best offensive coordinator? I’d rather promote Thad Lewis than sign a guy who bounces between teams to operate subpar offenses.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:25 am
A Bucs Fan, that was my main question in the last article. He just signed a 3 year contract with Kentucky. Will the Bucs have to compensate Kentucky? The other question is he seems to have moved around the pass 4 years and he told the Kentucky fan base that he was not leaving no time soon, do Bucs fans look at him as being untrustworthy. I mean not that it mean a lot but, just a question I wanted to ask Other than that, I like his resume. He has called plays before and also has been a OC at both the college and NFL level
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:36 am
@Popcorn Mike Depends on the language of his contract. Buy outs are pretty common in college. I’m pretty sure either the Bucs or coach Liam will have to buy out his contract at Kentucky.
As far as loyalty, the NFL does mean “Not For Long” and Coach Bowles has never had an OC last more than a season so I wouldn’t get too attached to the OC as long as Todd remains the HC.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:44 am
@StickinUp4centers. If my memory serves me correctly, that was the year Stafford had a bum shoulder and was very reminiscent of Peyton Manning his last year in Denver in that he could barely throw it 20 yards, which may help explain Stafford’s and the LA offense as a whole having a down year. At least that’s my hope.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:47 am
adam from ny Says:
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:21 am
yeah the rams offense really sucked in 2022…
but didn’t stafford get hurt or something and was out about half of the year…
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The team was riddled with injuries across the board. Stafford was out yes and was so injured the speculation was he was going to retire, Oline was decimated and Kupp was out as well.
Part of the remarkable first game with the rams Baker’s played was that it was with bit players and backups forced to take starting positions.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:50 am
You do know that Mcvay called the plays so your statement that rams offense sucked in 2022 because of Coen says more about you
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:51 am
Popcorn. 500k buyout is what I read the other day.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:56 am
Just throwing this out there to the “Rams O stunk in 22” crowd. Read in a couple places that while Coen was OC for the Rams in 22, he didn’t call the plays. That’s why he returned to UK to be able to call plays again.
So, was ‘22 more on McVay’s playcalling or Coen’s game plan?
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:57 am
Coen has a $500K buyout in his UK contract & Bucs will need to offer ~$2M/yr to get him to leave UK.
Coen’s UK deal pays him $1.8M in 2024/$1.9M in 2025…Plus his wife & kids were extremely happy to return to LEX…He isn’t leaving UK for anything less than a significant pay raise & 4yr contract.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:58 am
Jeff beat me to to the point…
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:01 am
“realistic-optimistic Says:
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:05 am
Joe says:
“why not bring in a guy who has a good track record with Mayfield”
This guy seems fine, and I get that Bowles/Licht are trying hard to keep Mayfield, but statements like the one above are disengenuous, Joe. Mayfield was 1-3 as a starter for LAR. Let’s call it 2-3 because he played all but one series in the LVR game. He played well in that game despite only being on the team for 2 days, but his overall performace as a Ram wasn’t something people usually celebrate.
He averaged 170 passing yards in those 5 games (never more than 230), and threw for fewer than 150 three times. He only had 4 TDs in 5 games. His completion percentage was below 60% in 3 of those games.
The truth is, everybody thinks he did well with LAR because they only remember that LVR game. The rest of his time in LA was pretty meh.
Let’s hope Coen has some juice.”
……………………………………..
Rams won FIVE games that whole frikkin YEAR, and had lost 6 in a row when Mayfield showed up and won that Thursday night game
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:05 am
2022 Rams were starting their 4th and 5th WRs when Baker got there. And they only had a so-so running game. He did use their TEs well, but there were not a lot of weapons to work with.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:08 am
This dude looks like one of the classic Todd Bowles decisions that propagates the loser head coach’s losing track record. Way to go, Todd.
Hire a real DC and fix your soft cover no one defense.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:11 am
realistic-optimistic Says:
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:05 am
The truth is, everybody thinks he did well with LAR because they only remember that LVR game. The rest of his time in LA was pretty meh.
___
The truth is you seldom tell the truth. I think just about everyone knows by now if you write something Baker related its going to be nonsensically biased by hate.
Baker’s QBT nearly tripled moving to the rams and the Vegas ram game was not his only stellar game played. The ball almost never hit the ground against Denver (at the time considered a solid defense) and his Qb rating was 124
he did all of that with no Kupp and a team riddled with injuries having to play backups. Thats the entire reason why a super bowl winning team had only won 3 games before baker arrived.
Those are the real truths and why NFL experts considered the rams to have turned his career. Hardly meh.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:17 am
If this hire helps keep Mayfield and possibly Evans in the fold then I like it. I also like McVay’s offense and his tree. So in my eyes this looks like a good hire. Let’s get it done and keep chugging along through free agency
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:26 am
Oh realitistic o…. Point to the baker doll and tell us what here he hurt you.😊
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:27 am
Where he😊
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:28 am
One of the details if he don’t like it here he can go back to Kentucky.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:04 pm
I’m a little concerned with Coen being able to hire good assistants. His ability to pull in current assistants at the Rams seems pretty unlikely, and I don’t know if the Kentucky assistants have any NFL experience.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Baker harem doing a lot of squirming about how injured the LAR team was in 2022. I don’t disagree. But they actually put up more passing ypg before Mayfield arrived (195.8 ypg) than they did with him (151.8 ypg). They put up far fewer rushing ypg before he arrived (87.3 ypg) than they did with him (122.6). And, their defense allowed more ppg before he arrived (23.3 ppg) than they did with him in the lineup (20.8 ppg).
TLDR;
The LAR running game and defense gave Baker more support than they gave their other QBs, yet their other QBs still put up better numbers. Huh. Go figure.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:13 pm
keep trying
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:20 pm
That’s all you’ve got? What a waste of keystrokes. At least I did some research.
If the data doesn’t change your mind, oh well. At least somebody showed it to you. What you do or don’t do with that is your prerogative.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:29 pm
He’s gonna be a great hire when it’s done and settled you doubters can keep on doubting
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:31 pm
As others have said, the Rams offense was bad in 2022.
That team actually lost 175 games in 2022 to IR, and another 51 players to out status during the week.
Kupp had 8 IR games
Stafford had 5 IR games and 2 out games.
Their starting Center had 5 IR games.
Van Jefferson or Allen Robinson were to be their number 2 receiver and each of those guys missed 6 games.
Their starting left tackle Whitworth from the Super Bowl retired.
In fact, that year, they only had one of their offensive lineman play over 70% of the snaps.
The Rams offense scored 307 points for the season.
In comparison, the very healthy Bucs team in 2023 lost just 57 games to IR and another 35 games to out. Even in their doubtful designation, there were only 4 doubtful designations all year for the Bucs.
On Offense last year:
Baker played all games
White played all games
Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, and Robert Hainsey played 100 percent of snaps.
Wirfs played over 99 percent of snaps.
Otton, Evans, Godwin, and Palmer played every game.
Last year 348 points. 41 more than the Rams did in 2022.
If you do not see the difference health can make in the NFL, I can’t help you.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:38 pm
But they actually put up more passing ypg before Mayfield arrived (195.8 ypg) than they did with him (151.8 ypg). They put up far fewer rushing ypg before he arrived (87.3 ypg) than they did with him (122.6). And, their defense allowed more ppg before he arrived (23.3 ppg) than they did with him in the lineup (20.8 ppg).
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Let this be a lesson to the kids out there. When you can’t admit you are wrong you only make yourself look more like a fool
NO one claimed nor was the fact that the injuries started from preseason hence no they did not play injured the whole season. So would they tend to have better passing yards before their top receivers could not play at all? why yes
the rushing yards mention is just dumb for obvious reasons
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:51 pm
realistic-optimistic Says:
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:20 pm
That’s all you’ve got? What a waste of keystrokes. At least I did some research.
——
You didn’t do squat research. All you did was go look on a page for some numbers. Its quite obvious you don’t know either the players involved or the injury status of the team at the time.
Like a Du-fus you are even trying to make the assinine claim the passing offense was worse with baker and Mcvey just signed Him off waivers and made him the starter for kicks and giggles because Stafford’s back up was better.
LOl…the same team that wanted Wolford as a backup when Stafford went down this year again.
February 2nd, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Just remember, 2022 the Rams lost Stafford and kupp for almost the whole season(no nacua,atwell,or kyren Williams). And baker’s qb play was noticable because he had only been with the team for a couple days literally, before his first game snap. And woke up the Rams offense for a bit to late playoff push. Coen has successfully with team before 22 and done well since. At Kentucky he kept wildcats relevant in the SEC. And, coached will levy into an NFL draft prospect and starter. His philosophy on offense ,relationship with our quarterback, and coaching/playing against the best of the SEC players the last couple years (wich means he has first hand knowledge, scouting, interaction, etc… Will be valuable toward the draft) make him a great candidate for the job, and at least we shouldn’t have to wait half to three quarters of the season for him to figure out how to make gameplay calls since coens had years of calling under his belt. And final note it’s more possibly if my opinion this being the best overall talent team he may have ever got to play call for
February 2nd, 2024 at 1:33 pm
McVay also wanted Baker to be a backup. I too wouldn’t mind him as a backup (for backup pay).
I know you Baker nomads don’t care if him getting a big contract craters the Bucs. You’ll just follow him to the next team and leave the rubble in your rearview. Bucs fans care though.
February 2nd, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Baker is our best option right now to win the Superbowl next year. The only other move that would come close would be to sign Kirk Cousins. But Baker is younger, more familiar, tougher and loves Tampa. So while Cousins may be a more accurate passer the intangibles go in Baker’s favor
February 2nd, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Tony Marks Says:
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:53 am
Stupid narrative. Only bitter Bucs fans believe it.
February 2nd, 2024 at 2:48 pm
Realistic, you are definitely one of the most negative people on here..why are you such a get off my lawn guy?
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:08 pm
@99, you think I’m negative because I’m not singing Kumbaya about giving big money to a journeyman QB? I’m not negative, I’m realistic about the situation. And, I’m tired of watching my Bucs bury themselves with bad decisions for the past 40 years (I know some of you have watched for longer).
The only time in that span that this team has fielded a productive offense is when they lured the goat for his final couple seasons. Winston put up a lot of yards too, but he turned it over so much we were never a competitive team.
You’ll see me be a lot more chipper when the Bucs fire Bowles and hire a forward-thinking offensive coach (not an in-house promotion like Koetter). When they wave goodbye to Mayfield and make a real attempt at a franchise QB in the draft. If that fails, try again, and again until it hits. Stop running it back with retread QBs.
I’ll project more positivity when the arrow is pointed up, as Joe likes to say.
February 2nd, 2024 at 4:14 pm
#99 the big fella Says:
I think some people are just that get off my lawn type of guys.
Those that really do not give any credit to the success of this franchise since the Glazers took over. Or some guys if they took a stance on a guy, they never want to back down from it, even when the guy exceeds it.
For instance, pretty simple to say that the Bucs, Todd Bowles, and Baker Mayfield surpassed what the typical fan or media pundits thought we could do this year.
February 2nd, 2024 at 4:24 pm
“So now Bucs fans wait nervously…”
Who is nervous???
“If the Bucs are going to invest $100 million+ plus in the guy…”
If they invest that much in Mayfield, heads need to roll. That has mistake written all over it.
Mayfield proved he has some potential…but he hasn’t proven more than that yet.
February 2nd, 2024 at 4:40 pm
I’m willing to give Coen a shot if he is the guy. I have to say though, there are a lot on conflicting facts listed in these comments. I honestly don’t know what to think at this point.
On Mayfield, I think he was a rollercoaster QB last season, but he showed enough to keep him…at a reasonable price.
Just because some team is willing to give him $100m doesn’t mean we should. The Bucs need to be willibg to walk away in the negotiations, or his agent will rob them.
Fitzpatrick had a great year here, got a nice new contract, then was bad the fo year.
That may or may not happen with Mayfield, but the team needs to protect themselves because if he ends up bad, the cap will be messed up for a few more years…or if he goes down to injury.
Bowles?
A big part of me cannot stand having him as coach. But a small part of me wonders if I’m wrong.
His insistence on the run is a red flag. It’s a passing league. I get wanting to have a run game, but balanced is best.
February 2nd, 2024 at 6:10 pm
Buccos. We ain’t winning a superbowl with Baker Mayfield bro I hate to break it to you but he’s average at best! He’s a inconsistent quarterback and plus he threw a pick with 2 minutes left against the Lions on this 3rd throw on that drive. It’s time to move on from these mediocre players like Baker if the bucs is stupid enough to pay him franchise quarterback money than it’s superbowl or bust. No excuses Baker Mayfield is not worth 40 million I rather draft a quarterback and go with a rookie because I think we can get the production or better than Baker Mayfield at this point of his career. He will never be a franchise quarterback at this point of his career.
February 2nd, 2024 at 7:25 pm
You “fire the coach” guys are second only to “bench the starter for Tras(h)k…”fans.”
You also don’t have long memories.
Cohesiveness wins – Bowles got the most out of a mix of decent draft picks and veterans. There was no money in the cookie jar to add defensive talent – and it showed – as YaYa was the sack leader… but the sacks still came from multiple directions/schemes. Bowles was pretty masterful with a lot of decent players…there are exceptions (Lavonte David, Antione Winfield). And although it was spotty at times, they got better thru the season.
I was not a fan of Bowles, but he’s been consistent, added good depth, and won with a defense that was pretty average – dude coached his butt off.
The teams that are consistent, win. The Glazers and Licht could have dumped the season, but instead put together a winning season WHILE rebuilding.
Bowles isn’t flashy, he’s more like Tony Dungy, he’s rock steady, identifies and hires great teachers/position coaches, and just won ANOTHER NFC South Championship, with a team the NFL experts said would only win 6 games.
We’re lucky.
Some fans (I may/may not be one of them) have through John McKay’s 0-26 years, Leeman Bennet, and Ray Perkins. So I say this with as much respect as possible, but if your’re calling for THIS head coach to be fired – you need to dig into Buccaneers archives…not that it will cure you, but it will give you some perspective.
Let the good times roll baby!
February 3rd, 2024 at 2:57 pm
I think Lefty is unemployed and would make a good Gatorade bottle refilled.