Obviously Licht went through an extensive interview process with at least six candidates and chose Grizzard. They got it right the last two times. They know what they're doing. But I have concerns....
Age and experience- He's younger and less experienced than some of the other candidates and he's taking over a team that is theoretically making a deep playoff run.
Playcalling - He hasn't done it. The Bucs had the opportunity to get somebody who has done it. Scheelhaase did it at Iowa State. Some of the other guys who were interviewed had more experience. It reminds me of the movie Glory when the soldier was a good shot when he was squirrel hunting, but couldn't get the gun loaded with somebody firing behind his ear. How will Grizzard do when the pressure is on?
Coaching staff- He now is in charge of guys he's younger than and was pals with one day ago. There are some of them like Thad Lewis 37 and Carberry who 41 were are older, more experienced, and not even interviewed. They may have loyalty to Coen, but we need them here. It's tricky, because as OC he has to have his guys that he trusts, but on the other hand he was brought in to maintain continuity so he has to work with the guys who are here already. He's not just calling plays. He's running meetings, cutting players, holding people accountable. He's the boss of these coaches because Bowles is hands off the offense, and he'll have to act like a boss and not like a co-worker or pal.
By staying in house, Licht and Bowles are actually going out on a limb with Grizzard. He doesn't have the luxury of learning and growing ... and making mistakes... on a rebuilding team. He has to hit the ground running playcalling, leading, and winning. We expect big things from Grizzard and the 2025 Buccaneers offense.
Playcalling - He hasn't done it.
this one is probably the biggest open question. The others not so much, especially when you read SRs Fab5
It may also be worth considering how fine the line is in the NFL.
If the 2024 team gets a break or two or just plays scoring defense consistently through the year (injuries etc) the Bucs might have had 12 wins. So, even if the offense slides a bit next year (relative to 2024) its i possible that the defense also comes up with an infusion of talent.
The Canales Bucs went further, right? lesser offense but also less INJURIES, better scoring defense.
I'm not as concerned about the statisitics that get piled up. I think they'll do that with Baker and the veterans on the offense. But when the Bucs get down to the 4th quarter in a big game or in a playoff game and it's a tight one will he be able to keep cool and make the right calls at the right time?It may also be worth considering how fine the line is in the NFL.
If the 2024 team gets a break or two or just plays scoring defense consistently through the year (injuries etc) the Bucs might have had 12 wins. So, even if the offense slides a bit next year (relative to 2024) its i possible that the defense also comes up with an infusion of talent.
On the positive side, there's no way Grizzard get hired as a HC after one year. That may have been in the back of Bowles' mind. And sidenote to the Griz - please take the Baker run option play out of the play book ASAP. Leave that play to Jayden and Lamar. Thanks.
Not a fan of this move but also I don't really know anything about him so...
I expect he'll be head coach of the Browns in 2026
will he be able to keep cool and make the right calls at the right time?
yes agreed this is something to wonder about
Fitz says "yes"
“I was with Grizz in Miami for two years and knew he would get this chance at some point in the near future, ” Fitzpatrick shared on X today. “… Despite his questionable decision making when selecting a college, I am really happy and excited for him and the Bucs.”
Agree that this isn’t our preference (staying with Coen would have been mine), but to be honest, we don’t know much about any of them.
we can surmise from the candidates that scheme consistency was the most pressing factor - and we know that because most of the candidates had some association with McVay.
So, we’ll see. I don’t see in his bio that he’s ever called plays…so he’s more like Canales… 11 years of position coaching/play design - and familiarity with our scheme under Canales & Coen. The guys that picked Canales & Coen settled on him when they likely could have had any of the candidates they interviewed.
Scheelhaase had that, and playcalling - wonder what the determining factor was?
…back to draft prep…
You guys know Ben Johnson was just a quality control coach until Dan Campbell made him OC leaping all the position coaches. Sometimes the title isn't everything, there's a lot that goes on in installs, playsheet, meetings, gamedays. If the guy knows football he knows he knows football. Campbell strikes me as the guy that could see how much Johnson contributed as just a quality control guy.
Edit Whoops my bad he was tightends coach
I truly believe this is the right choice. I have read the stories behind him and researched him within this team. He has work with the receivers and also collaborated with Liam Coen when doing motion plays. This is a job well done by the Glazers and will help continue keeping us the Number one team in the NFC South!!
I like the continuity. Baker will finally get to run a similar offense.
I hope so. I will say this. As most employees can attest to, the best quality in a boss is competence. You can have all the positivity and motivation you want, but if you don't know what you are doing all that falls flat real quick. If you do know what you are doing, then I don't really care how good you are making speeches. Just make it easier for me to do my job. So with the veterans on this team, I'm pretty sure all they want out of Grizzard is to be able to call some plays that work.I truly believe this is the right choice. I have read the stories behind him and researched him within this team. He has work with the receivers and also collaborated with Liam Coen when doing motion plays. This is a job well done by the Glazers and will help continue keeping us the Number one team in the NFC South!!
I don’t buy age being a factor of leadership. As a vet, I’ve had young leaders above me that were amazing and I’d run through a wall for them. I’ve also had older leaders that were useless. The inverse is also true. Leadership is a personal trait that can be cultivated, but to a large extent, you either have it or you don’t. Age be damned.
I hope so. I will say this. As most employees can attest to, the best quality in a boss is competence. You can have all the positivity and motivation you want, but if you don't know what you are doing all that falls flat real quick. If you do know what you are doing, then I don't really care how good you are making speeches. Just make it easier for me to do my job. So with the veterans on this team, I'm pretty sure all they want out of Grizzard is to be able to call some plays that work.I truly believe this is the right choice. I have read the stories behind him and researched him within this team. He has work with the receivers and also collaborated with Liam Coen when doing motion plays. This is a job well done by the Glazers and will help continue keeping us the Number one team in the NFC South!!
I cut and copied this:
