Before offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard takes the Bucs’ offense “to the next level,” he must learn the ropes of NFL playcalling.

Doing so will mean being tested by head coach Todd Bowles extensively before the season during call-it periods where he will have the chance to scheme his players against Bowles’ blitz-heavy looks during practices before the season.

After it helped Dave Canales get adjusted to calling plays in 2023 as a first-time offensive coordinator, Grizzard is looking forward to the challenge of learning the ropes from facing whatever looks the veteran defensive mind throws his way.

Josh Grizzard Preparing For Facing Todd Bowles’ Defense In Call-It Periods

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Adam Slivon/PR

While the biggest piece of locking in Josh Grizzard as offensive coordinator is set, other pieces must come into place before he directs the Bucs’ offense. Grizzard will be spending the next couple of months adjusting and revamping the scheme to accommodate various offseason additions and players already on the roster. Then, he will have to determine whether or not to call plays down on the sideline or up from the box.

He has spent time watching the game from each perspective, and it’s something he will decide over the coming months.

“It’s a good question,” Grizzard said on Thursday afternoon. “As of right now, I’m not positive on that. We’re going to work through the spring and the training camp to determine what’s the best way to go about that. For now, I couldn’t say either one. I’ve been on the field coaching the receivers [with the Dolphins] and handling the substitutions. I’ve been in the box helping Liam [Coen] last year communicate coverages and things of that nature. We’ll just see how it goes, I’ve been talking to [head] coach [Todd] Bowles about having more opportunities in practice to call plays live in the spring as well as the fall to try and get as many reps as possible before we get into the season.”

Grizzard then went on to share more about how those call-it-periods will be invaluable. It was something that he talked with Bowles about during his interview.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Not one of the first things, but we did discuss it in terms of ways to allow practice to feel like a game,” Grizzard said. “We always talk about it with the players. For the first time, being in that position to call plays, the amount of reps like anything, any walk of life is invaluable so I look forward to that because I have a lot of friends who say that is the most fun thing in the world.”

While it will be a fun challenge, the veteran head coach will not make it easy for him. He should expect every exotic blitz imaginable as the kitchen sink is thrown at him.

In the end, it will prepare him for a long season.

“It’ll prepare myself as well as the coaching staff a lot like he did last year on – ‘What are the answers to picking up these blitzes?'” Grizzard said when talking with the media after his press conference. “‘What are the best things that we can do to try to handle that?’ Then, it really helps the players because now they’ve seen all these blitzes. We’ve gone through months and months of having these blitzes so when you play someone in Week 5, it might be, ‘Hey, here’s the blitz that our defense brought in training camp. This is how we picked it up, and this is how we plan to pick it up again.'”

Josh Grizzard: “I’m Confident In My Ability” After Being A Part Of Bucs’ Offensive Gameplan In 2024

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Josh Grizzard was not in charge of a specific position group in 2024, but he was a big part of the dialogue when it came to Liam Coen’s offense. It has been well-stated to this point that Grizzard was the third-down “Wizzard” last year which led to the Bucs having the best third-down offense in the NFL, but he did so much more behind the scenes.

He shared his involvement in play sequencing and evolving his mindset into someone who can take over playcalling duties.

“As a coach, when you first get into this thing, all you’re doing is breaking down tape, running the scout team,” Grizzard said. “Then when you’re coaching a position group, you’re running the room and you’re not thinking about any of that. Over the last I’d say two to three years, I’ve started to think about that – ‘What would I call here?’ Or if you’re designing a play, you better be confident in calling the play because you can’t just, ‘Hey, it was a good play to run and not call it in the game.’ That has evolved in my mind, and then this past season took that to another level.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving and OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Going from a receivers coach to a [quality control coach], to being in this game pass coordinator role. When we built the plays, it was something I had constant dialogue with Liam. ‘Here is the sequence of plays, here are probably the best plays to start the series with.’ That’s the entire coaching staff as well, it’s not just us two. It can be anybody.”

Grizzard then talked about what changes with the window of calling plays on third down and how he is confident the added playcalling reps will serve him well.

“To your point on the third downs, because you’re breaking it up in certain windows,” Grizzard went on to say. “The players have a good idea, at least Baker has a good idea when you’re getting into that third down window, ‘This is what we’re expecting out of this.’ Now they hit us with this coverage, “How are we going to combat that next time?’

“I was able to do that last year and I’m confident in my ability to prepare that way. That way, it gives me as many reps as possible to be able to score some points for these guys.”

Josh Grizzard has plenty on his plate, but what will allow him to grow into becoming a successful offensive coordinator will start with how he learns and adjusts on the fly to the way Todd Bowles will scheme up ways to stop him. It will only be then that he can understand what he is up against in 2025.

Watch Pewter Report’s Reaction To Josh Grizzard’s Press Conference On The PewterReportTV YouTube Channel

There was so much to get into after listening to Josh Grizzard’s first press conference as the Bucs offensive coordinator. Be sure to check out Pewter Report’s thoughts on our latest Pewter Report Podcast.