There has been a lot of movement within the Bucs’ offensive coaching staff this offseason. It started when Todd Bowles fired Byron Leftwich on Jan. 19. That move was soon followed by wide receivers coach Kevin Garver and running backs coach Todd McNair being let go, with quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen deciding to retire at the same time.

Those major moves, of course, led to a transformed offensive staff. Bowles hired former Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales to be his new offensive coordinator, and Canales brought wide receivers coach Brad Idzik and running backs coach Skip Peete in with him.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Matt Matera/PR

Elsewhere on the Bucs’ offensive staff, though, a few coaches were retained. Despite the offensive line and run game being a letdown for Tampa Bay in 2022, assistant head coach/run game coordinator Harold Goodwin and offensive line coach Joe Gilbert were kept on for 2023. While speaking with the media at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday, Todd Bowles explained why.

“It’s all about work ethic at the same time,” Bowles said. “You can be in the right place and not have a good year. At the same time, it takes everybody to have a run game. It’s not just put on the two offensive line coaches. They are two very good football coaches. I didn’t want to lose them right away if I didn’t have a megastar coming in trying to replace them, which [you] hardly do. They’re hard to come by out there. Those two guys work hard. They grind. I see them in the building all the time, they’re trying to get better [and] do things to get better. I thought they were worth salvaging.”

Bowles clearly believes in Goodwin and Gilbert, two coaches who should be better set up for success under a new offensive system. Time will tell if that’s a wise belief, but the Bucs’ run game should improve in 2023 given the new system and a revamped running backs room with the addition of Peete, the planned release of Leonard Fournette, the subsequent elevation of Rachaad White to the RB1 role and the expected additions the team will make in the offseason.

Todd Bowles Praises Promoted QBs Coach, Discusses Returning Staff

Bucs assistant WRs coach Thad Lewis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In the case of Thad Lewis, not only was he retained by Todd Bowles – he was promoted. Lewis’ time with the Bucs began as an intern in 2020 before the former quarterback served as the assistant wide receivers coach in 2021 and 2022. Now, with his promotion to quarterbacks coach, he’ll oversee the transition from Tom Brady to whoever replaces him, whether it’s Kyle Trask or a veteran free agent.

With the quarterback-friendly system that Canales is bringing to Tampa Bay, it’s easy to see why Lewis was the choice to replace Christensen. When asked Tuesday about his new quarterbacks coach, Bowles said he was excited to see what’s to come from the former Duke signal-caller.

“Well, he was a heck of a college quarterback,” Bowles said. “He understood the game coming in. When Bruce [Arians] hired him as an intern, he was a very bright guy in the office – in early, out late. He has a great understanding of quarterback play and he has a lot of modern-day technique and scheme that he can help fit to a quarterback. He is very quarterback friendly. I think the world of Thad. I think he will be an offensive coordinator in light [speed] from now. I think it’s a good move for him and I am excited to see it.”

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians and Tom Moore – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One final staff member who Bowles talked about in Indianapolis was senior offensive consultant Tom Moore. Early in February, the 84-year-old signed what was the 47th different contract of his coaching career to return to the Bucs for a fifth season.

“Ever since Tom has been here, we have been very close,” Bowles said. “He has been a great help to me in the red zone as far as understanding offenses and little things to do on the field, even helping me be a better coordinator and helping me be a better head coach. He is invaluable as far as I’m concerned. Having him back on the staff was a big plus.”

When he was promoted from Bucs defensive coordinator to head coach on March 30 of last year, Todd Bowles didn’t have a chance to build his own coaching staff. But now, with a mixture of additions and coaches he retained, he appears to have a staff in place that is fully his.