I’m settling into a state of relaxed euphoria after yesterday afternoon’s electrifying win by the Buccaneers over the Seahawks, 38-31. These last-minute victories are thrilling, but they’re not great for our long-term health! Instead of ranting about that, I want to focus on a subject I’ve been critical of so far this season.
Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard earned my full support with yesterday’s performance by the Bucs' offense. Injuries or no injuries, I’ve voiced concerns about play calling and predictability... not meeting the bar set by last year’s OC, Liam Coen. But yesterday, all of those concerns vanished.
Baker Mayfield played arguably his best game as an NFL quarterback, while Emeka Egbuka had a standout performance in his short but impressive rookie season. Cade Otton re-emerged in the offense, Rashaad White was huge in critical moments, and the offensive line was nearly impenetrable during passing plays. Even though we didn’t have much success running the ball, Grizzard didn’t stubbornly try to force a running game. He exploited Seattle’s weaknesses and took what the defense gave us. However, he still called key run plays when the opportunity arose. As I’ve said before, and as retired coach Bill Cowher reiterated during one of yesterday's halftime shows, “You throw the ball early, so you can run the ball late.”
All these impressive individual performances stemmed from Grizzard’s play calls and scheme. In my "Bucs Win If/Seahawks Win If" article from last week, I called for more screen passes, and he delivered. He utilized running backs, receivers, and even Cade Otton in quick and delayed screens. They didn't all work, but they kept the defense honest and forced them to consider all options the Bucs' offense could present.
Grizzard designed intermediate routes targeting the middle of the field to Otton and Tez Johnson, and he took shots to Egbuka that turned into two of the game’s biggest plays.
This was a masterclass by Grizzard. Players execute the plays, but coaches make those plays executable. Egbuka doesn’t just blow by defensive backs; he’s set up by smart calls, like the big 3rd down bomb from Baker to Egbuka, where he sold a comeback route at the first down marker before executing a double move to get behind the corner and safety. That play likely wouldn’t have worked on a first and ten or a 3rd and short, but on a 3rd and long—when we’ve often thrown short and run for the first down—it was beautifully timed.
Grizzard has dealt with injuries just like many coordinators this year. The 49ers and Vikings continue to find offensive success despite multiple key players being out, and Grizzard has done well too. But yesterday, he trusted his players to execute and threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Seahawks’ defense.
One of his best calls of the day? On 3rd and 7, just after Lavonte David and the defense made their first stop of the second half, we found ourselves in field goal position. With over a minute left, failing to convert and kicking a field goal would likely keep the Seahawks in the game.
Remember the mantra again, “You throw the ball early so you can run late?” Well, in almost every 3rd and 7 situation, we ended up throwing—and doing so successfully. The Seahawks, having contained our run game and seen our success on 3rd down conversions, expected us to pass. But Grizzard dialed up a backside counter, possibly the first of the game. He lined up strong right with two TEs and Godwin on the right side, then motioned Otton back to the left for an even look. The counter was executed with Charlie Heck and Haggart blocking down, pulling left guard Ben Bredenson to block out the contain defender, and pulling Otton into the hole to block the first defender crossing his face to the inside. This created a crease for White, who bounced outside for the first down and smartly slid down to keep the clock running.
It was a perfect call executed flawlessly. We didn’t leave it in the hands of the defense and allowed our kicker, Chase McLaughlin, to seal the victory as time expired.
Baker, Egbuka, Tristan Wirfs, Lavonte David, White, and many others made big plays throughout the day, but this win wouldn’t have happened without Josh Grizzard’s superb game plan. Great job coach!
these are great to read, especially because of the before/after aspect. Thanks for posting
@ehinote, those plays you detailed were plays that revealed what some of us were thinking would happen once Grizz got a semblance of an offensive line! Otten was definitely impressive in run-blocking (especially on the 1st TD run by White, sure Tristan leveled two defenders - but Otten took out the third defender to spring that run), but Otten was equally dependable/productive in his receiving opportunities!
I think Grizz has been awesome in scheming up different personnel groups to attack each opponent this season - and he’s even done it by coordinating with Carberry to shift the entire o-line early in the season.
He certainly has us in every game. And had a different answer for each one. Baker, too, has been lights-out, especially in two-minute.
I re-watched the game highlights and it struck me, that with the o-line injuries, his concept of taking a few intermediate/long shots, perfectly offset the o-lines injuries. Last season’s success was predicated on a great run game, because o-line was healthy and equalky good in both run/pass blocking. Grizz was handicapped a bit - so leaned on those pass plays that took well-times end-zone shots from outside the red zone, often on 3rd down.
It has been glorious to watch. Did we get lucky? Probably, but we’ve been too consistent at winning 4 out of 5 straight games to assign it all to luck. Mostly, it’s a good game plan and some really good situational playcalling. Seems like a lot of setting up of the opposing defenses, then several series, then later breaking with what looks like a developing tendency, out of the same formations.
It gives me enough hope that we could just steal another of the next two games (maybe both?)!
