"Tampa Bay has converted 27% (10 of 37) of third downs over its past three games (30th in the league), down from a 41.5% rate prior (11th)."
The third down specialist from last year.
"Tampa Bay has converted 27% (10 of 37) of third downs over its past three games (30th in the league), down from a 41.5% rate prior (11th)."
The third down specialist from last year.
Exactly. And why would they struggle then THIS year? Mayfield actually mentioned it in his post-game. INEFFICIENT EARLY DOWNS. Why is that? One reason a shuffled offensive line and no Bucky Irving. Another . . no Godwin. More third and longs.
Thats how football works.
I at least agree with one part of the Coen v Grizz argument, but its short versus long throws. Yesterday, Mayfield said in his postgame that in this game that was on HIM. That wasn't player speak, good teammate stuff because he said that HE adjusted and he did. You can see it in the game. He started to take what they were giving him.
they scored a TD on the last drive of the half and then scored another TD on play 2 of the first drive of the 3rd quarter. Thats on the defense.
"Tampa Bay has converted 27% (10 of 37) of third downs over its past three games (30th in the league), down from a 41.5% rate prior (11th)."
The third down specialist from last year.
Mayfield post game yesterday
"“We’ve obviously had a lot of third-and-long situations, which means that we have been in some behind-the-sticks situations, so we have to be better on early downs and then execute on third downs."
Yup. So grizz can covert what Coen set up but not what he sets up.
This is how Josh Q described the game:
https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-loss-patriots-should-not-move-needle/
Here's part that might interest you, Fire:
On offense, the Bucs had a solid running game for the first time in several weeks. They averaged 5.4 yards per carry against the league’s top-ranked rushing defense, as New England was allowing just 75.3 yards per game on the ground.
Second-year center Graham Barton had his best game of the year and took his first real step forward in his assigned position. Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard had several drives where his play-calling was layered and married, and where he featured multiple players in the offense.
Designed touches to Sterling Shepard worked early. Cade Otton feasted working underneath. Emeka Egbuka continued to exploit the intermediate-to-deep area of the field. Tez Johnson is proving to be a reliable secondary target and a red zone weapon.
Right tackle Luke Goedeke returned and immediately the Bucs pass protection improved."
Can we get back on track. This offense is bland....no rhythm, no consistency, no spark. Even with the injuries, this is a major step back.
I don't see it the way, but I know I am in the minority. I think the coaching staff probably sees the current offense as limited by injuries. The improved run game with Goedeke back is one example.
can they improve? Sure but I doubt they have the sort of fatalistic view many here seem to have. They didn't execute at key times against a disciplined Pats defense but they moved the ball other times, in part Tez and Tucker... depth players to this point
If the offense had 2024 Irving - a challenge because of the line injuries, no doubt - it would be putting up 30 plus every game.
if the offense had healthy Godwin it woukd be putting up 30 plus every game
Evans. Hell, Mauch and Kieft. Until the Pats game the offense was almost completely one dimensional. Notice how production dropped when Baker couldn't run?
against the Pats we ran a couple great trap plays and some jet sweeps. Goedeke being back is part of that
These next two games are going to be struggle sessions, as we still don’t match up, athletically. Really big that we got Goedeke back, getting at least Haggard back will help too. Losing Bredesen is a bit of a setback, but can be overcome.
It’s going to be that way until we get starting-level talent back. O-line having a legit RT improved our rushing production. Maybe SR is right and we’ll see more of Tucker as the feature back? Goedeke allows Otton & White to become options in the passing attack and contribute.
Grizz is trying to find some new options for new challenges, but it’s still makeshift. It’s going to look clunky.
I heard that this is the first offensive line in NFL history that all positions have not yet had starters that have played together through 10 weeks, yet still have a winning record. Thats kind of a crazy statement? We have had several weeks where both tackles were on the sidelines, the starting RG has been out for weeks, and we took a center and made him play LT for weeks…
Add in the loss of all 3 starting WR’s from last season have missed the entire season (except for cameo’s by Mike & Chris), and losing Bucky for 5 weeks.
Even with these problems, the offensive line has been the biggest issue. Now they’re slowly starting to get key pieces back - and that can help stabilize the entire offense. We are starting to see Grizz begin to get some play-calling continuity.
The problem that we still have is the lack of skill players, and relying on rookie WR’s in starting positions - one of which is still figuring things out - and you don’t yet know if he knows what to do in every situation. Now, that’s starting to get worked out. The dreaded “rookie wall” is looming, will they be impacted? So far so good.
We can beat our divisional opponents, but some of them can still get hot, so getting some of our star talent has to get back to the active roster - and that’s the plan.
I think Grizz is doing a great job with what he’s had to deal with - but again - let’s not pretend this level of injury losses did not have consequences. It did, it’s resulted in 3 losses to very good teams - that we had the solution to on our roster (but also sat on the sidelines in those games).
We’re making do, we’re still competitive, but we don’t still don’t have the talent to compete. You can’t always scheme around being devoid of elite talent, when you’re playing defenses with elite talent, for weeks at a time.
That adversity, while being competitive, can only help us, when we get some of our elite talent, back (I’m primarily thinking of Bucky & JMac).
Like the man said, the sky is not falling.
Here is another way to look at it.
With the exception of the Denver game last year, the Coen offense was putting up 37, 33, 30, 51 (Saints). Part of that was his incredible run play calling and the benefit of NO FILM. . . and a lot of talent. Godwin was set to break record, Irving was coming on.
But, Evan and Godwin go down and the offense goes to 26 . . then 24 . . then 20
and that was with Irving and MUCH of the line intact, I think?
Why discounts injuries so much, especially when in 2025 they are substantial and at all levels?
Give it a chance. Grizz's offense was never going to be Coen's. A ton of film out on the offense now and Coen was a truly exceptional run game caller.
The offensive play calling is NOT the reason for offensive struggled EXCEPT to the extent that the play calling is LIMITED by the injuries (no pony package, no counters), something we saw inch back the other direction with Goedeke's return.
Last season our screen game was ON POINT. This season its a bit blah . . Irving > White, Goedeke > Heck, healthy Wirfs > one leg Wirfs. Mauch > all our current Gs combined lol
Improve? sure.
Reason for Bucs issues? Maybe that has a bit more to do with having Feeney and the other guy at G? We even saw our C have a pretty good game . . he was our LT earlier
One positive comparison between Grizz and Coen is BOTH managed to develop a later-round rookie receiver into a real contributor. After a slow start, Jmac came around and became a real threat under Cown. After a slow start, Tez Johnson has become a real threat under Grizz. Both out of necessity.
Reportedly, among rookie receiver this year,
"Johnson is tied for third in touchdown catches with four."
"Johnson is also tied for third for rookie receivers in average yards per catch at 13.4 yards."
"With YAC, Johnson is fifth for rookie receivers, averaging 4.6 yards a catch."
One of the goofiest stances in all of football land is, “Next man up”. If you are a player, I get the sentiment. If you are a fan and consumer of the data from the games, it’s about as dumb as any other one thing. Injuries fucking matter. Like they matter an ass ton. I realize many of the board clowns need something to talk about but, this topic is asinine. If Tampa were healthy in any capacity on offense at any point during the season, some comps could be made but that hasn’t been the case.
if you watched only the 2nd quarter drive for a TD by Mayfield you'd see a completely different run game than we have had all year. We ran the pony package with White as lead blocker, a pitch out to Tucker, an RPO with Mayfield keeping it. A beautiful flip screen to White that takes it down to the goal line. An I formation run with Otton as the FB. And if you watch the Mayfield TD, the entire Bills D-line tackles Tucker up the gut.
