Thad Lewis, Bruce Arians And The Next Bucs Offensive Coordinator
January 23rd, 2025
So with heralded Bucs playcaller Liam Coen’s departure feeling imminent (that rat bast&^%), who will be handed the job of offensive coordinator?
Joe thinks the Bucs are yearning to stay in house, though that doesn’t mean they will.
And in house is quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, the former NFL backup and Duke graduate who was hired to be a Bucs offensive assistant in 2021.
Lewis was handpicked by Bucco Bruce Arians after serving the Bucs as a coaching intern. Arians talked the guy up publicly and privately as a future offensive coordinator.
Lewis was promoted to quarterbacks coach for the 2023 season.
Joe has seen plenty of QB coaches get a lot of credit for their quarterbacks’ performance over the years (see Dave Canales in Seattle), so how much love does Lewis deserve for Mayfield’s two-season resurrection and surge?
Joe can’t answer that, but Joe can say that Lewis certainly understands the current Bucs playbook and how it evolved this season, and how it was transitioned from the Canales Bucs playbook in 2023. Lewis also got a second year as QB coach. If Mayfield didn’t respect him, that wouldn’t have happened.
It’s unclear whether Lewis can call plays, but would Arians be willing to come back to the coaching staff to mentor Lewis during the offseason on playcalling? Working alongside legendary playcaller Tom Moore?
Arians is insanely loyal and Lewis is “his guy.” It’s very important to Arians to have his guys get opportunities and advance their careers.
Lewis interviewed for the job Coen got a year ago. He’s well liked, Joe has heard, and that includes among many of his former teammates.
If Mayfield doesn’t want to learn a brand new playbook from scratch, and he wants great input into the offense, then Lewis might have a leg up on replacing Coen.
Especially if Mr. Arians is willing to step up.
January 23rd, 2025 at 10:54 pm
This sucks. You keep saying coen is #2 OC to arians, which is true to an extent, but arians was heavy on the pass and the run game mostly stunk. I’m of the belief that coen’s scheme was a big part of our significantly improved run offense.
January 23rd, 2025 at 10:54 pm
Yeah was thinking about him too. Think he made the short list last time. We definitely need to do our due diligence like last couple times and leave no stone unturned, but I’d love to reward the guy who stuck around with another oc. Would be a bit of a culture statement and continuity after what Coen pulled. Goodness knows baker needs some continuity and would mean some other offensive assistants might stick around
January 23rd, 2025 at 10:55 pm
No, no, and no!
January 23rd, 2025 at 10:58 pm
Promote Josh Grizzard to keep the same system in place.
January 23rd, 2025 at 10:59 pm
Bucs fall in the NFCS may be epic if they don’t get an equal quality OC…..
House cleaning in Bucs Place coming 2026!
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:07 pm
Arians also talked up Leftwhich
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Poor Baker
Has he ever had the same OC two years in a row?
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:08 pm
You don’t learn on the job as an NFL OC. Whoever gets the job has to have playcalling experience.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:14 pm
Hey Bruce this is Jason ..
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:14 pm
Scheme and play calling is most important.
The play calling this year was exceptional, as was the scheme.
Baker went from very middling in 2023, to being very good this year (well, until it mattered when he fumbled the game away).
The Bucs MUST get someone to run the same scheme we had this year, and who is creative, and willing to change their offense to match the personnel. What Coen did great this year was see that Baker stunk at throwing the deep ball, and how bad Sucke was at RT, and changed the offense going into that Eagles game, to a short passing game offense, and that’s when things took off.
Just getting someone who has been here is not nearly good enough in my opinion.
With that said, Bowles has proven himself to be tremendous with his last two OC picks, so I’ll certainly give him the benefit of the doubt this time.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:16 pm
Frank Reich
Doug Pedersen
Alex Van Pelt
They need to go experienced. No need to wing it with Lewis or someone else with no real experience calling plays.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:16 pm
Chip Kelly!!! Won’t get any head coaching offers for years to come if ever again.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:17 pm
He does look like a rat b@#$%^&
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:17 pm
And as far as Arians opinion on coaches? Meh. As someone said, he also talked up that buffoon, Leftwich.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:18 pm
Lets see if Coen tries to poach any of the coaches like the OL and RB coaches. He could if he promotes one to OC. Lewis is well liked but this job is desireable now, lets see who the Bucs can interview outside the organization.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:19 pm
There is only one way to find out if Thad Lewis would be a decent O.C. And that is to promote him and let him call plays. I bet Licht and Bowles are fit to be tied. Now they have to find and hire a competent O.C. For the third straight year.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:19 pm
If Todd wants to go to the unemployment line in 2026, promote Lewis who has never called plays. Now’s not the time of OJT.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:28 pm
Cedrick Says:
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:08 pm
You don’t learn on the job as an NFL OC. Whoever gets the job has to have playcalling experience.
‐————————-
Umm Canales 1st yr calling plays was Bucs oc
Liam first year calling plays in NFL was Bucs…
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:32 pm
StormyInFl Says:
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:16 pm
Frank Reich
Doug Pedersen
Alex Van Pelt
They need to go experienced. No need to wing it with Lewis or someone else with no real experience calling plays.
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Wasn’t Baker there with Reich in Carolina? No thanks
Peterson needs a break maybe he can take a tv job
Van Pelt was with Pats right? No thanks
Bucs are 2 for 2 with newbies rather they get another over a retreat. Yes a retreat won’t leave but they likely suck.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:33 pm
Hire Gruden. McVay came up under Gruden. Gruden and Bowles like each other. And Gruden needs to get his foot in the door if he ever wants to be a HC again.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:36 pm
McCarthy please
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:38 pm
Thad Lewis would be an acceptable option, but if you want more experience, there is Thomas Brown. He with McVay and the Rams for years, on the rise to potential OC there, if he hadn’t left for the Panthers.
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:43 pm
Easy answers.
Thad is in house
Alex Van Pelt was with Baker in Cleveland in the playoffs
Tom Moore can mentor anyone
January 23rd, 2025 at 11:58 pm
Liam turn coat Cohen showed his true colors. Players make the plays. Hes not ready to be a head coach. But he can’t turn it down either. If jags want to give him millions and free practice to be a real boy one day so be it. Bit the N.F.L. will not forget his turn coat behavior. I guarantee it
January 24th, 2025 at 12:05 am
What about chucky?
January 24th, 2025 at 12:08 am
From buccaneers.com, Bucs’ Quarterback Coach Thad Lewis will join Eli Manning’s NFC Staff as the Offensive Coordinator, while Inside Linebackers Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Larry Foote will serve as the Defensive Coordinator.
January 24th, 2025 at 12:34 am
This aged poorly for some of y’all. Liam aint leaving. And we’re going to the SB next year. Keep all your negativity elsewhere.
January 24th, 2025 at 12:37 am
Gruden lies to his players. He can’t be trusted, plus he has character issues and needs a HOF defense to actually win anything. Our defense ain’t there just yet. Gruden’s time in Tampa is strictly as a resident. Upgrade our QB coach for the smoothest adjustment. He’s been here awhile, maybe long enough to grow some roots. He knows the system and the players. The players don’t want to have to learn another new playbook.
January 24th, 2025 at 1:26 am
No thanks Bruce you’re not a very good consultant. Byron leftwich was your guy too. We have a couple other guys in house in house what about that van damme guy or a coach Coen brought over. Keep the offense here and get a new play caller
January 24th, 2025 at 1:28 am
The only way to keep the same offense from year to year is to hire a play calling head coach!!
January 24th, 2025 at 2:19 am
Turns out I just thought I was pissed when Kumbaya Canales gave us the one finger salute last year. “Expletive censored” Coen! Same to you Khan and I hope Jackoffville falls in that cesspool river.
Go Bucs!
January 24th, 2025 at 2:23 am
Zak Robinson or Zakinthos Kubiack please
January 24th, 2025 at 2:24 am
Whew!!! I feel better now…
Go Bucs!
January 24th, 2025 at 4:12 am
I love that you people blame Mayfield for that fumble when it was more than likely it was McMIllan who had made more of the mistakes this season than most players. Mayfield took the blame because he views that as his responsibility but I think the odds are high that McMillan screwed up. Dude didn’t even try to get the fumble.
I also blame the Glazers for retaining Bowles instead of making Coen Head Coach. When you keep running into the same wall and think results will be different the next time this is the definition of insanity and what Tampa Bay has done. Bowles was responsible for the defense. The Bucs only made the playoffs because of Coen. Yet the Glazers kept Bowles instead of Coen.
January 24th, 2025 at 5:33 am
I’m on board with Thad…thought he would be it last year. He helped Canales call a few plays I believe and was big part of game planning this year.
January 24th, 2025 at 6:16 am
I don’t see why you would want to leave a potential super bowl caliber team for the dysfunctional family with a pretty boy quarterback that hasn’t proven himself in 5 seasons. I like the idea of bringing in Thad he knows the players he knows the coaching staff you notice the playbook and vice versa. And five keeping it in house maybe we’ll get a little bit of loyalty.
January 24th, 2025 at 6:56 am
Thad has the feel of Byron. Sorry but can’t do that again.
January 24th, 2025 at 7:01 am
If coen is gone we still have his playbook. I think thats what matters most. basic bring in a playcaller to scheme and call plays
The players re the most important piece. we have that. Love the running game under coen keep it going
January 24th, 2025 at 8:05 am
It’s laughable that people think the Glazers would actually hire Gruden after his anti senetic remarks about them. Hell they took him off the ring of honor. Gruden is never coming back here and he is a has been. He sucked as Raiders coach. Get over him snd let’s move into the future.
January 24th, 2025 at 8:09 am
1sparkybuc Says:
January 24th, 2025 at 12:37 am
Gruden lies to his players. He can’t be trusted, plus he has character issues and needs a HOF defense to actually win anything. Our defense ain’t there just yet. Gruden’s time in Tampa is strictly as a resident. Upgrade our QB coach for the smoothest adjustment. He’s been here awhile, maybe long enough to grow some roots. He knows the system and the players. The players don’t want to have to learn another new playbook.
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Good points especially about Gruden.
January 24th, 2025 at 8:37 am
Glazers need to make a splash with this next OC hire to try to save face with the fans. I myself am disgusted with chasing OCs every year. Glazers don’t realize it’s an offensive league now and dinasaurs like Bowles are a thing of the past. Every team wants a hot shot OC, which is what we just let walk away, scumbag or not. Who was our coaches that won us Super Bowls, offensive minded coaches. Look at the last several Super Bowl winning teams, all coached my offensive guys. The last defensive coach to win a Super Bowl was Bellicheck and he had Tom Brady.
January 24th, 2025 at 8:40 am
Give him a shot. If he fails, it just means both our offense and defense will suck and we’ll be rid of Bowles’ ineptitude.
January 24th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Jon Gruden for OC. He was always better on offense anyway. And he does have a way with quarterbacks. He knows how to get in their head and fire them up
January 24th, 2025 at 10:04 am
PrimeTimeChuck can you name a good qb that Chucky coached other than Gannon?
January 24th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Do you all realize the amount of talent this offense has? Coen’s scheme worked well in matching scheme with personnel. He obviously had more to work with than Canales because I believe Bucky is a generational back. You honestly believe it was Coen on an island recognizing the need for this ideological shift? It took the line coach, the rbs coach, the wr’s, te coach to all work together. He may have come up with a game plan but there was notable input from all involved including his qb. There are more than a few capable candidates that can do what he did. It’s the defensive personnel and current scheme I’m concerned about. This offense will put up 27-30 ppg next year and if we can work to keep opposing offenses in the low 20s
January 24th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Joe could you please make editing possible for posters.
January 24th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Arians also was pushing Leftwich as an NFL head coach. Not sure how much I trust his evaluations of coaches.
January 24th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Sorry, but Bruce was the glue that made his staff successful. All of his staff have proven to be average without him. Bowles is good with the guys, but he doesn’t have the smarts like BA. There is a reason they call Bowles “meathead”.
January 24th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Bruce opinion does not matter .he gave us leftwitch who can’t even find a job !! Go get somebody else !
January 24th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Go with experience
January 24th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
No tears for Baker from me. During his brief career he has turned three first-time playcallers –Kitchens, Canales, and Coen– into overnight geniuses. I’m sure he could do the same for Thad Lewis, if he’s of a mind to. Besides Lewis is from Duke and so is our new star center, who handles the ball on every offensive play. I would not be unhappy to see Thad get a shot, given his familiarity with the offensive team and scheme.
January 24th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Makes sense Joe. Keep the same playbook and the offense not have to learn a new language , basically. Give the man a shot
January 24th, 2025 at 2:30 pm
No. We have Todd because of Bruce. No thanks.
January 24th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
As long as we try to get Cooper cup, it doesn’t matter who coaches us
Evans, Godwin, cupp, McMillan AND Bucky!? I’ll take it