In 2023, after the bumpy road the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had been through trying to find their offensive play-caller, it seemed the team found their guy in offensive coordinator Dave Canales. He revived the career of Baker Mayfield and built hope up in many Bucs’ fans across the Bay. In his first year as an OC, Canales led the Bucs to the 23rd most efficient offense and LAST in rushing offense, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
It was then that Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper liked what he saw from Canales and gave him the call to fill their head coaching vacancy. A move many Bucs’ fans said was a move made too early for the young offensive guru. Canales accepted the position in Carolina and left Tampa Bay searching for a new play-caller for a second-straight season.
On February 2nd, it was reported that the Bucs would hire Kentucky’s offensive coordinator Liam Coen. After six seasons of bouncing between the Los Angeles Rams and the University of Kentucky, Coen comes to Tampa with a big opportunity for improvement to this Bucs’ offense. A team who wins their division AND a playoff game usually isn’t stuck searching for a new head of their offense. But the Bucs took their vacancy and made the most of it.
Coming directly from the Sean McVay coaching-tree, Coen has a deep understanding of dissecting each opposing defense and comes into each week with a new approach, specific to the opponent they match-up with that game. He’s been called “quarterback-friendly” for giving his QB’s room to make their own play-call changes at the line of scrimmage and putting them in the best position to succeed.
Coen had a small stint with Bucs’ quarterback Baker Mayfield at the end of 2022 in Los Angeles. It was after Mayfield’s time in Carolina, and although it was a short stint, the chemistry between the two flared quickly.
Area For Improvement
With the deficiencies of this Buccaneer offense big and bold, Coen’s mission was laid out for him: fix the running game. This team ranking last in rushing makes it a surprise that they saw late-season success, most teams who can’t run don’t make the playoffs. With Todd Bowles at the helm, it’s a wonder what this Bucs’ team could do with an offense that has firepower running the ball.
The forward-push of this offensive line was absent in 2023. Tristan Wirfs played great and rookie Luke Goedeke got significantly better as the season progressed. It was the interior push from this offensive line that had Rachaad White and company being met at the line of scrimmage for the majority of last season. The team spent a first-round pick in the 2024 draft to directly impact that push, drafting Graham Barton 26th overall. His great size and strength have proven to be an immediate benefit to this o-line. It will be up to guards Ben Bredeson and second-year Cody Mauch that will ultimately determine where this Bucs’ offense will rank in rushing yards per carry this season.
While pre-snap motion doesn’t directly affect rushing efficiency, the Bucs’ ranked lower than league average in pre-snap motion percentages. At one point in the season, it was alarmingly low, but the team ended the season with a 42.6% pre-snap usage rate. Lower than the average 50%-60% of most NFL offenses, but potent offenses such as Kansas City and Miami reached up to 70% of plays with legal motion before the snap. You could see the pre-snap movement of the Bucs’ offense early and often during their week one match-up against the Washington Commanders. It’s already an area of focus, we should expect to see Rachaad White and Chris Godwin move around all over this offense and Baker Mayfield directing traffic.
Week One Review
Liam Coen’s first rodeo in Tampa Bay flowed smoothly. Only punting once, the Bucs’ offense had a great mix of run, pass and screens all game. They kept the new Commanders defense guessing and took advantage when they left guys open (or in single coverage vs Mike Evans).
The team scored 37 points in their week one game after scoring over 30 only once last season. Four passing touchdowns from Mayfield now has him in sole lead of passing touchdowns so far this 2024 season, with two of those going to Mike Evans. Who now is tied 36th all-time in total touchdowns scored in NFL history. Chris Godwin also returned to normal form with a touchdown and rookie Jalen McMillan even got involved with a 32-yard touchdown, a perfect ball thrown by Baker Mayfield set up the University of Washington alumni with his first-career score.
The rushing attack wasn’t hitting on all cylinders like Coen would’ve liked. When starting RB Rachaad White took a handoff, he was often met by a stuffed line of scrimmage immediately. He averaged 2.1 yards per carry on Sunday, a terrible outlook after one of the main focuses being “improve the rushing attack this season.” It wasn’t all ugly for White though, he also had six catches for 75 yards. A super-efficient day for a running back who has truly turned into a swiss-army knife on the football field.
Rushing yards eventually came for the Bucs’ new OC, as rookie running back Bucky Irving made the most of his debut. Carrying the ball nine times for 62 yards, 6.9 yards per carry definitely boosted the Buccaneers’ yards per carry averages, and Irving just looked great overall. A natural runner of the ball, the shiftiness and speed of Tampa Bay’s rookie running back were on full display. Surely, Bucky isn’t the pass-catcher Rachaad White is, plus he has to gain trust from coaches as far as protecting the quarterback, but this Buccaneer team seems to have a solid 1-2 punch that could be featured for a couple seasons.
Overall, the excitement throughout the Tampa Bay area is very real regarding new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Week one was a super success, but it was against a defense who is still finding their identity. I don’t believe this is how the Bucs will go about winning most of their games, Mayfield will have to continue to play a big role, but the team will rely more on offensive lineman and RB Rachaad White to continue to improve. It was one week, the team they played wasn’t on the same level, but it was a breath of fresh air to see a Bucs’ offense play so well and not turn the ball over.
In 2023, after the bumpy road the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had been through trying to find their offensive play-caller, it seemed the team found their guy in offensive coordinator Dave Canales. He revived the career of Baker Mayfield and built hope up in many Bucs’ fans across the Bay. In his first year as an OC, Canales led the Bucs to the 23rd most efficient offense and LAST in rushing offense, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
It was then that Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper liked what he saw from Canales and gave him the call to fill their head coaching vacancy. A move many Bucs’ fans said was a move made too early for the young offensive guru. Canales accepted the position in Carolina and left Tampa Bay searching for a new play-caller for a second-straight season.
On February 2nd, it was reported that the Bucs would hire Kentucky’s offensive coordinator Liam Coen. After six seasons of bouncing between the Los Angeles Rams and the University of Kentucky, Coen comes to Tampa with a big opportunity for improvement to this Bucs’ offense. A team who wins their division AND a playoff game usually isn’t stuck searching for a new head of their offense. But the Bucs took their vacancy and made the most of it.
Coming directly from the Sean McVay coaching-tree, Coen has a deep understanding of dissecting each opposing defense and comes into each week with a new approach, specific to the opponent they match-up with that game. He’s been called “quarterback-friendly” for giving his QB’s room to make their own play-call changes at the line of scrimmage and putting them in the best position to succeed.
Coen had a small stint with Bucs’ quarterback Baker Mayfield at the end of 2022 in Los Angeles. It was after Mayfield’s time in Carolina, and although it was a short stint, the chemistry between the two flared quickly.
Area For Improvement
With the deficiencies of this Buccaneer offense big and bold, Coen’s mission was laid out for him: fix the running game. This team ranking last in rushing makes it a surprise that they saw late-season success, most teams who can’t run don’t make the playoffs. With Todd Bowles at the helm, it’s a wonder what this Bucs’ team could do with an offense that has firepower running the ball.
The forward-push of this offensive line was absent in 2023. Tristan Wirfs played great and rookie Luke Goedeke got significantly better as the season progressed. It was the interior push from this offensive line that had Rachaad White and company being met at the line of scrimmage for the majority of last season. The team spent a first-round pick in the 2024 draft to directly impact that push, drafting Graham Barton 26th overall. His great size and strength have proven to be an immediate benefit to this o-line. It will be up to guards Ben Bredeson and second-year Cody Mauch that will ultimately determine where this Bucs’ offense will rank in rushing yards per carry this season.
While pre-snap motion doesn’t directly affect rushing efficiency, the Bucs’ ranked lower than league average in pre-snap motion percentages. At one point in the season, it was alarmingly low, but the team ended the season with a 42.6% pre-snap usage rate. Lower than the average 50%-60% of most NFL offenses, but potent offenses such as Kansas City and Miami reached up to 70% of plays with legal motion before the snap. You could see the pre-snap movement of the Bucs’ offense early and often during their week one match-up against the Washington Commanders. It’s already an area of focus, we should expect to see Rachaad White and Chris Godwin move around all over this offense and Baker Mayfield directing traffic.
Week One Review
Liam Coen’s first rodeo in Tampa Bay flowed smoothly. Only punting once, the Bucs’ offense had a great mix of run, pass and screens all game. They kept the new Commanders defense guessing and took advantage when they left guys open (or in single coverage vs Mike Evans).
The team scored 37 points in their week one game after scoring over 30 only once last season. Four passing touchdowns from Mayfield now has him in sole lead of passing touchdowns so far this 2024 season, with two of those going to Mike Evans. Who now is tied 36th all-time in total touchdowns scored in NFL history. Chris Godwin also returned to normal form with a touchdown and rookie Jalen McMillan even got involved with a 32-yard touchdown, a perfect ball thrown by Baker Mayfield set up the University of Washington alumni with his first-career score.
The rushing attack wasn’t hitting on all cylinders like Coen would’ve liked. When starting RB Rachaad White took a handoff, he was often met by a stuffed line of scrimmage immediately. He averaged 2.1 yards per carry on Sunday, a terrible outlook after one of the main focuses being “improve the rushing attack this season.” It wasn’t all ugly for White though, he also had six catches for 75 yards. A super-efficient day for a running back who has truly turned into a swiss-army knife on the football field.
Rushing yards eventually came for the Bucs’ new OC, as rookie running back Bucky Irving made the most of his debut. Carrying the ball nine times for 62 yards, 6.9 yards per carry definitely boosted the Buccaneers’ yards per carry averages, and Irving just looked great overall. A natural runner of the ball, the shiftiness and speed of Tampa Bay’s rookie running back were on full display. Surely, Bucky isn’t the pass-catcher Rachaad White is, plus he has to gain trust from coaches as far as protecting the quarterback, but this Buccaneer team seems to have a solid 1-2 punch that could be featured for a couple seasons.
Overall, the excitement throughout the Tampa Bay area is very real regarding new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Week one was a super success, but it was against a defense who is still finding their identity. I don’t believe this is how the Bucs will go about winning most of their games, Mayfield will have to continue to play a big role, but the team will rely more on offensive lineman and RB Rachaad White to continue to improve. It was one week, the team they played wasn’t on the same level, but it was a breath of fresh air to see a Bucs’ offense play so well and not turn the ball over.
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
