After two days of joint practices that left Baker Mayfield publicly admitting the Jaguars out-physicaled his team, Friday night's preseason finale was supposed to be a chance to respond. To show some fight. To close out the preseason with at least a shred of competitive dignity before the real thing begins in 16 days.
Instead? Nineteen to nothing. Eighty-seven total yards. A 61-yard field goal. A 63-yard punt return for a touchdown. A Buccaneers offense that looked completely lost from the opening drive to the final whistle.
Yes, this is preseason. Yes, the starters didn't play. I know all of that. But preseason isn't supposed to look like that. Even with backups. Even with bubble players. You should still see a team playing with some fight, some execution, some competitive pride. You should see a coaching staff that has installed something their depth players can run with confidence. You should see, at minimum, some hope.
Here's what makes it particularly unsettling. Think back to the 2024 preseason under Liam Coen as offensive coordinator. The space being created in both the run and passing game was visible to the naked eye. Routes were designed to get receivers open. Running backs were hitting lanes the scheme was generating. And it didn't matter who was playing — first team, second team, third team — everyone understood what they were running. That's the hallmark of a truly well-installed system.
I don't have that feeling right now. Not even close.
Through a full month of training camp and three preseason games, I genuinely do not know what to expect from this offense in Week 1. I don't know what Zac Robinson's scheme looks like at its best against a prepared NFL defense. I don't know if the run game has a clear vision or if the passing scheme has structure that holds up when games get tight. And if the Bucs fall behind early in Cincinnati against Joe Burrow? That is not a comfortable scenario to imagine right now.
To be fair… Baker didn't throw a pass in Jacksonville. Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Tez Johnson were all out. Tristan Wirfs was being managed. When that starting unit is healthy and together, this offense has real weapons and a proven quarterback. That matters.
But after four weeks of looking for clarity, I'm leaving the preseason with more questions than answers.
The one silver lining? We're done with Jacksonville. The bus has left. The plane has landed back in Tampa. And in 15 days, the games count. Here's hoping that once the lights come on for real, this offense remembers how to play football.
Because right now, I'm not sure it does.
Thanks to Bucs for the picture.
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As for the offense I agree we do not know what it will look like when it will be fully rolled out. Maybe Robinson has surprises and the Bucs offense is a juggernaut game 1?
Defensively the Bucs have players they can rely on for depth which is a positive. But too many green 2nd year and rookie players on that backend without Dean now. Have to rely on the pressures from the front seven to protect the green DB players. Need Winfield Jr to really take command as the leading vet. Garnes, Scott, Morrison, Smith and Parrish are promising but they will make mistakes as well as plays. Veteran defensive front with newcomers need to help and show up to work. Need rookies Trotter Jr and Bain to ball out too along with Walker's debut.
Special teams...bottom line is the Bucs need more ST aces. I know SR brought up that many of the Bucs special team aces did not suit up but the point is that you can't become complacent. Last season the Bucs lost a few special team aces to injury and ST was in in shambles. Can't let a repeat happen so Licht has to find better players to augment the current ST aces core.
