Is It Possible For The Offense To Improve?
February 24th, 2025
Bigger and better in 2025?
So what should Joe expect from the Bucs offense this fall and specifically new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard?
First, Joe would like to see the full roster. Who knows if the Bucs can keep Chris Godwin and Ben Bredeson? Who knows if the Bucs add another receiver?
If the 2025 offense remains intact, then Joe has every reason to think the Bucs offense will be good again.
Will it be as good as in 2024? That may be a tall task. The Bucs had a wildly successful offense, better than any could have imagined at this time last year. It’s awfully hard to improve on third-best.
But rookie star Bucky Irving will be a year smarter and will start the season as the Bucs’ true No. 1 running back, unlike last season.
Graham Barton, Joe believes, surely will be better. Remember, Barton started at center for the first time since he was a freshman at Duke.
Then there is receiver Jalen McMillan. He came on very strong in the final weeks of 2024. He ought to be better, so long as he can adjust to now having defenses keying on him.
The wild card is Grizzard. Joe is confident he will keep the core of Liam Coen’s offense. But will Grizzard’s fingerprints on the offense enhance it or pull it back?
Regression to the mean could be logical and so could an improvement. The Bucs, remember, didn’t have Godwin after Week 7 last season.
February 24th, 2025 at 10:37 am
It is possible for the offense to improve? Yes. More Tucker less White. Make Tucker Bucky’s number two and White a 3rd down back.
February 24th, 2025 at 10:45 am
I’d like to see this offense improve in winning one score games. Who cares if we’re averaging 30 points a games. I don’t think that statistic is as important as how many points the defense allows. Wouldnt be surprised if offense production goes down and defensive production goes up.
February 24th, 2025 at 10:45 am
The Bucs offense will never have more impressive than 2024. That’s the ceiling. Aging and often injured WR’s and lack of a defense that generates 3 and outs will neuter the Bucs O in 2025. Mark the tape, the Glazers will never pay for a top flight edge rusher. Never gonna happen.
February 24th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Consider Mauch was starting only his second season at RG, and although Wirfs is a vet it was only his second season at LT, couple that with a roolie first time center this year we should progress. I can only see this offense getting better, improving this year should be a given.
February 24th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Injuries and Grizzard’s play calling will be the key. Licht needs to find a wiz kid to produce an AI program to simulate play calling for Grizz so he can get 1000’s of reps before the season starts.
February 24th, 2025 at 11:13 am
The Bucs offense was elite last year. Realistically, we should be preparing for a fall-off in production; not just because we have a new OC (again) — see “Ominous Stat Tied To Bucs’ Coordinator Change” for more information down that road — but also because there’s only one way to go from where they were last year… down.
It takes a lot to attain “elite” status in the NFL, but it probably takes more to stay there than it did to get there in the first place.
February 24th, 2025 at 11:17 am
What has Sean Tucker shown other than that he can run in a straight line?
Tucker’s way over hype White is the better back.
Also, of course its possible for an offense that couldn’t execute two basic handoffs in the fourth quarter of a playoff game to improve.
February 24th, 2025 at 11:30 am
All about play calling. We have the personnel.
February 24th, 2025 at 11:36 am
Tbbucs, Tucker showed the best burst of speed of any of our backs hitting the corner. He also showed toughness and natural running ability. We absolutely need 3 good running backs. White is a stud that scored 9 tds last year and had 1000 total yards. You keep that production if you can. Irving and Tucker are our most gifted running backs out of the backfield. Might be a reason we haven’t seen more of Tucker. We don’t know everything but I know his ypc were the best in our running back room. I’m with Lt. Dan-let’s see a way bigger dose of Tucker.
February 24th, 2025 at 11:40 am
And of course we oughta be better offensively. 2nd year of the same offense for these young guys? More efficient and less turnovers I’ll bet.
February 24th, 2025 at 11:59 am
More tucker? He should not be getting more time until the kid can learn to pass block. Not sure if you guys watched the game s but he was getting KILLED trying to block
February 24th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
They were way too sloppy. Bucs beating Bucs. Pre- snap penalties. Fumbles. Spastic execution at critical moments. Interceptions. Need Disciplined practices with relentless repetition of the fundamentals. That probably requires a full time head coach which the Bucs don’t have, but maybe Baker can demand it of his coordinator and teammates.
February 24th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Bucky gonna EAT ( seriously would consider him at #1 overall in fantasy)
McMillan abd Barton will be even better
Tucker needs to get burn
Get Godwin back in the fold
Swap out Trey Palmer for Emeka Egbuka
That’s wayyyyy better
February 24th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
Joe … ‘The wild card is Grizzard.’
Agree that Griz is ‘A wildcard’, but he’s not ‘THE wildcard’. That’s Baker Mayfield.
Baker had a career year last season, by far.
o Completion percentage: 71.4% (Career average: 63.5%)
o Passing TDs: 41 (Career average: 24.4)
o Passing Yardage: 4500 (Career average: 3547)
o Rushing TDs: 3 (Career average: 1.4)
o Rushing Yardage: 378 (Career average: 171)
Now the question is: ‘Can Baker duplicate that career year?’ I think he can, but it’ll largely depend on the year that others have … Griz, the OLine, our WRs, RBs & TEs. A huge factor will also be how injury-free he can stay. He was the starter for all 17 games last season, as well as all 17 games in 2023. Right now we don’t even have a backup QB.
February 24th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
If you showed those stats to Buc’s fans prior to the start of the 2024 season, to a person, they would be ecstatic. An even better stat would be number of wins for the season. We’ve got to do better than 10. If we could have just closed out those close games, we’d be at 13 for sure (Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys) and possibly 2 more (Falcons, Chiefs). A ton of games in the NFL come down to the wire. We’ve got to win the bulk of those, particularly against weaker opponents.
February 24th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Yar
Play calling AND execution.
This offense can definitely be better. Cut down on turnovers should be the first priority.
February 24th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
So 400 yards per game with 10 of those games being without Godwin. Not exactly a love letter to the people wanting to pay Godwin 200 million over the next 3 years…
February 24th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
a love letter to the people wanting to pay Godwin 200 million over the next 3 years…
thats insane are those the real numbers …
February 24th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Turnovers. Defense doesn’t get many, therefore the offense can’t turn it over as much as it has been
February 24th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Whether the Bucs are better or not will depend on if the 3 teams and 6 games in NFCS will be against the 23rd, 30th, and 32nd worse defenses in the league again. Also have a relatively easy AFC East on the schedule too. Six games against NFC West, Lions, and Bills will tell just about everything you need to know.
Better make some noise in 2025 because by the looks of the 2026 slate NFCS could be back to an 8 win team taking the Division and at least 3 teams in the Hunt for it.
February 24th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
i think mcdaniels is a smart offensive coordinator mesh that with coens/mcvay system it has the potential to be better yes
February 24th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Baker was the key to that offense Last year. How can yall not see that. You take baker out the equation Caneles would not be a head coach neither would Coen. BAKER is the man! Yall will see watch.
February 24th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
An improved defense gets the ball back to the offense with greater frequency meaning more opportunities to score points. Absolutely have to stop giving opposing offenses long, clock eating drives. This has been a problem for the last two years. Very confident that Mayfield has an abundance of confidence in his receivers and that will translate into more TD passes. Expect 45TD, 5000yrds passing, 14 INT’s in 2025.
February 24th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
@Gipper an improved defence also means less need to throw the ball as much.
It comes down to the HC’s philosophy and we have seen time and time again that Bowles has a conservative approach to the offence and would rather rely on a piss poor defence to stop an opponent rather than an electric offence to bury them.
February 24th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Win in the trenches – I was being facetious. I love Godwin, but I am personally team first. Needs on defense are far more glaring. Competent receivers are far more robust. I do not envision a scenario where having your cake and eating it too is realistic. As in, paying Godwin what he surely wants – while also addressing ALL of our defensive needs
February 24th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Oh yes
we got Baker at the peak of his career
it’s going to be a fun season
February 24th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
🤔
February 24th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
It’s a good offense and shouldn’t drop off very much. The points came in bunches, 55 at NO, 49 vs Carolina, 40 at Chargers and 37 vs Washington. Could have used some of those points at the end of the games they gave away vs Atlanta and the Cowboy and Chiefs game.
Hopefully Godwin and an improved MacMillan help the passing game. They do need a better player than Palmer or Sheppard and another tight end.
The one way they can help their offense is by improving the short yardage 3rd and 4th down rushing plays with more hurry up to LOS and use Mayfield behind the left side to sneak it.
February 24th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Can the offense improve? Yes, learn to close out one score games, when we have possession of the ball. Baker’s stats were great last year, except the middle of the road wins. It was not all on subpar Bucs defense.
February 24th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
We’ve come such a long way. I remember when our only hope was a strong defense to keep the score close . We will be better… The Best Bucs Offense is on the horizon
February 24th, 2025 at 7:44 pm
We’re gonna regress sooooo much LVD is gonna wish he retired this offseason 🤦🏾♂️ it’s gon hurt to see him go out the way he he’s gonna go out. So LVD retire now please save ya name OG
February 25th, 2025 at 1:16 am
Yeah that’s a pretty tall bar if we’re being honest.
I think if offense remains top-8, we’d all be pretty happy.
Defense needs to be way better though.
February 25th, 2025 at 2:39 am
Otton has improved a lot. If used correctly he could be a huge receiver for Baker. With him and Evans we have 2 receivers that are 6′ 5″. That is rare and when in the end zone could be unstoppable.
2 receivers that are 6’5″
2 receivers that are 6’1″ who run a 4.4.
A back that no one can catch.
A quarterback that is in the top 5.
A OL that has made some very good improvements.
When they are cookin they have the ability to be on the 10 or 20 yard line in 5 & 6 plays, they are unstoppable. Our biggest goal in 2025 should be to minimize our mistakes. If we can keep from beating ourselves, no one can.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:47 am
Stop fumbling the ball and no trick plays in the shadow of your own goal line.
February 25th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Some of you are missing the point that Coen played his draft picks, however there was other talent untapped.
The offense will flow better with younger players who can stretch the field. Additionally, I am confident if Culp, Tucker and White is used to fill the slot we will not lose any productivity. It is more important to give the money to Bredeson to keep the line intact.
Finally, the draft lines up perfectly for us to trade back to pick 29 or so, grab 4 additionally picks and get a starting ILB, CB, or good Edge. With the additionally picks we can plug S, IOL, OT, QB, DL, and a second ILB. We can get even faster on defense, save money and use it for the superstar edge we need.