Seen a number of highlights from the passing game today.
Don't remember seeing a single one from the Pistol.
Also seems that Walker is picking up where he left off (from last TC).
Would love for this guy to work out for us.
Can keep us from overpaying for Diaby (let him walk).
@donkey_hunter Z-Rob has not impressed me whatsoever. I just don't get why they went with this guy. He had superb talent in the ATL and didn't do much with it. Our offense will not see anywhere near its full potential IMO. I sure miss LC.
Seen a number of highlights from the passing game today.
Don't remember seeing a single one from the Pistol.
weird. Almost like it’s not the most important part of his plan?
Also seems that Walker is picking up where he left off (from last TC).
Would love for this guy to work out for us.
Can keep us from overpaying for Diaby (let him walk).
It was good to see this, but I hope he can offer more than that. Also, not sure he’s built for the edge setting side, maybe.
The roster is setup well this season. Hoping Zach Robinson picks up where Liam left off, Baker balls out, special teams is, special, and this defense surprises all of us this season.
Otton
"I am really excited about some of the stuff that he is calling and showing us with some stuff they did in Atlanta and then some new stuff he is bringing here but the vertical, play-action pass game, just how we are marrying the run and pass and how the tight ends are involved in that, I think we are going to be a big part of it," noted Otton. "You have to earn it during camp and you have to show you can do it and that is kind of what I am focused on…I think he has a great vision for how that [wide zone runs] will marry with the play action game and gap scheme and all those different things."
Gainwell’s role has been one of the more intriguing developments of training camp. While the full vision will not be revealed until the regular season, he did share that the pony package, which is a two-back set, is back. He has been the popular receiver from that personnel grouping, as noted above.
“There is a couple of packages where we will be on the field at the same time,” Gainwell said. “We have our pony package that people have been seeing for a couple days. There will be a bunch of packages.”
***
Robinson went back to mentioning Irving, and based on his words, he is the lead back in the room right now. Given how Arthur Smith utilized Gainwell in Pittsburgh, it will not be surprising to see him get a high volume of touches in different ways. Bijan Robinson became a lethal receiver in Atlanta under Zac Robinson’s watch, including in 2025 when he had 79 catches for 820 yards. Gainwell’s versatility gives Robinson another weapon to move around the formation as he finds ways to maximize his abilities.
Gainwell made another interesting statement discussing how the duo will play off each other.
Robinson and the rest of the offense have not been shy discussing the implementation of the wide zone running scheme entering this season. Given Irving’s elusiveness in space, it sounds like he will be the biggest beneficiary.
“I think I’m a big guy between the tackles, Bucky is a spread-out guy, and both of us do basically the same thing when we get ready to run routes and stuff,” Gainwell added. “So, I mean, it’s just different sizes [and] body types, but at the same time we both have to be ready for what is to come and go out there and attack it.”
I’m sure the 3rd times the charm regarding fitting a square peg into a round hole.
Hopefully, Robinson will take a page out of Coen’s book and scrap it when it shows to be ineffective due to personnel.
There has to be some lip service in Robinsons's comments.
Coen/Irving best runs in 2024 often came on (gap scheme) counters, so a guard and Otton pulling or sometime Godwin (as the H-back puller ).
https://www.buccaneers.com/video/bucky-irving-top-plays-2024-nfl-season
Those counters were often set up by pre-snap wide zone looks. That is sort of a McVay run staple. So, you have to run some wide zone so you can show it pre-snap and then run the counter
The exciting part is actually Gainwell (and Irving) in the pass game. in 2025, Bijan Robinson had a career high 80 receptions on 100 targets (also career high) and averaged 10.4 yds per rec, alsoa career high.
To that point above, this is Josh Q today
"Wide zone usage will be up, but not as much as you might think. Robinson called wide zone on roughly 60% of his run calls in Atlanta. Grizzard was at 20% in Tampa Bay. The expectation is that the Bucs will be close to 60% this year. But I think Robinson is setting up for closer to a 50/50 split this year. My reasoning is simple. As players have been asked about the run game during training camp, they consistently start by talking about WZ before pivoting to a note about the gap runs. And that pivot is unprompted."
There has to be some lip service in Robinsons's comments.
Coen/Irving best runs in 2024 often came on (gap scheme) counters, so a guard and Otton pulling or sometime Godwin (as the H-back puller ).
https://www.buccaneers.com/video/bucky-irving-top-plays-2024-nfl-season
Those counters were often set up by pre-snap wide zone looks. That is sort of a McVay run staple. So, you have to run some wide zone so you can show it pre-snap and then run the counter
The exciting part is actually Gainwell (and Irving) in the pass game. in 2025, Bijan Robinson had a career high 80 receptions on 100 targets (also career high) and averaged 10.4 yds per rec, alsoa career high.
Steelers and Falcons did not have much outside of Metcalf and London respectively at the WR position. Bucs have too much talent at WR and TE for the Bucs to rely on RB's to have that many targets.
You are not going to see an offense built around KG/Irving with 100 targets combined for both in the passing game as neither one is in the Charlie Garner/Ronnie Harmon realm of discussion yet.
There has to be some lip service in Robinsons's comments.
Coen/Irving best runs in 2024 often came on (gap scheme) counters, so a guard and Otton pulling or sometime Godwin (as the H-back puller ).
https://www.buccaneers.com/video/bucky-irving-top-plays-2024-nfl-season
Those counters were often set up by pre-snap wide zone looks. That is sort of a McVay run staple. So, you have to run some wide zone so you can show it pre-snap and then run the counter
The exciting part is actually Gainwell (and Irving) in the pass game. in 2025, Bijan Robinson had a career high 80 receptions on 100 targets (also career high) and averaged 10.4 yds per rec, alsoa career high.
Steelers and Falcons did not have much outside of Metcalf and London respectively at the WR position. Bucs have too much talent at WR and TE for the Bucs to rely on RB's to have that many targets.
You are not going to see an offense built around KG/Irving with 100 targets combined for both in the passing game as neither one is in the Charlie Garner/Ronnie Harmon realm of discussion yet.
Yes, agree we have a much wider group of WRs and that should bring those RB numbers down. I was focused on the use of the RB as opposed to their rank in the offense. Like Coen many RB yards in short passing.
The short passing game will be an extension of the running game for this offensive scheme. Baker can easily execute this as he showed with Coen. The issue is the OL opening up those holes.
Mayfield on the Robinson offense (and Grizz)
“He’s really enjoying the guys up front and all the things that they’re capable of doing,” Mayfield said of Robinson. “And so it’s not just gonna be [a] wide zone [rushing scheme]. He knows that [our offensive linemen] are really good at the gap schemes; you gotta mix it up. And so he’s having a blast and just the constant communication that he has about the system is great.”
“That was a big difference. In ’24, we were a mid-zone team — bread and butter, and the gap scheme was our mix up. And it wound up helping us get to a top-5 rushing team in the league in ’24. And last year we relied on the gap scheme too much. Teams were able to key in on that and bring some pressures and stunts that really screw with that.
“So Zac has a good understanding that you can’t rely on one of those. It’s gotta be a change up every once in a while.
“And just the play-action to be able to get our guys open, protect it, and have the defense guessing about what we’re doing based on the same formations and motions, whether it’s pass or run. It’s been fun.
“And I think just the staff that [the Bucs have] put together, TJ Yates, the pass game coordinator, unbelievable experience as a QB in this league. Just good insight being in our meetings. And then Chandler Whitmer, our QB coach, he’s been unbelievable for me. Just extremely detailed, really dials it in on what we’re trying to get done for the day. Just setting the goals and making sure I have my footwork down. He is the footwork king.”
Zach Robinson is not Coen, but he has at least one of Coen's skills, per Josh Q:
This was second-and-6 from Tampa Bay’s own 15-yard line. Robinson chose to go with 12 personnel in a situation that reasonably could have supported as condensed set run to set up third-and-short. In response the Jets trotted out their base personnel – three interior defensive linemen, two edge rushers, two inside linebackers and four defensive backs.
Robinson then put all five of his eligibles spread out as receivers forcing the Jets into an uncomfortable situation. Regardless of their initial intentions they were forced into Cover 1 with Brandon Stephens in the slot matched up against Ted Hurst. That’s Brandon Stephens who has all of 51 slot snaps in five seasons. That’s a man coverage matchup that allows for a straight-forward read and a leverage option. This plays right into the Bucs offense’s hands. It generated a first down on this play.
Classic McVay/Coen/Robinson
