The Bucs, along with like 90% of the NFL have a new offensive play-caller in 2024. Gone is Dave Canales. In is Liam Coen. And while both coordinators derive much of their systems from the same coaching “tree” there are certain to be some differences. Today I want to take you through four plays that you are likely to see next year and how they can be effective. Some are staple concepts of many offenses around the NFL while others are a bit more unique.

Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Beating Man Coverage

One defense the Bucs routinely face is the Saints. Under head coach Dennis Allen the Saints like to play a lot of man heavy schemes, relying on their players to win one-on-one matchups. There are certain principles that an offense can run to make that job more difficult. Here are two that the Rams were able to use against New Orleans week 16 last year.

Condensed Splits

A condensed split is where the offense brings most or all of their playmakers closer to the offensive line in the middle of the field.

1st, condensed splits paired w/motion. Keeps defense off balance and creates more traffic 4 defenders 2 sift thru.

Saints RDE was to try and slow the outside release, but with LAR running curl flat the TE is able 2 release freely 2 the flat and the NCB gets sucked in2 the curl. pic.twitter.com/asFsGoUYi2

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) July 30, 2024

You can see that every player on the field starts the play within the painted numbers on the field. Because of this and the Saints running cover-1 (man coverage) it is important for #96 on the defense to try and slow the release of the outside receiver to help the cover defender behind him to maintain outside leverage.

Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Unfortunately for the Saints, the Rams run a curl flat concept where the “Z” receiver is staying in towards the middle of the field on his curl route while the tight end is the one trying to get to the outside as quickly as possible. He is able to release unencumbered giving him immediate space to get the ball and work after the catch.

Because of the reduced splits Puka Nacua (Rams #17) is able to occupy not one (the defensive end), not two (the slot corner – #1), but three defenders (the perimeter corner – #27), giving his tight end room to work.

Applying This To The Bucs

In this arrangement for the Bucs you would most likely see Chris Godwin playing Cooper Kupp’s role motioning to the opposite side of the field before running a dig. Cade Otton would obviously work as the tight end, while Jalen McMillan or Trey Palmer would be the “Z” receiver occupying most of the defenders. I could also see Godwin invert his role to the “Z” with Palmer or McMillan taking the motion route.

Mesh

Mesh is a classic man-beater in that it asks receivers to cross paths with each other on shallow routes while running away from their primary defender. This creates congested traffic points that defenders have to navigate on the fly without losing space from their assignment.

2nd, mesh. The crossing of routes creates natural picks for defenders. In this clip MLB Demario Davis sees TE Davis trying to tie him up to free up Demarcus Robinson’s shallow cross. Demario avoids the screen but in doing so picks Paulson Adebo.

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) July 30, 2024

Applying This To The Bucs

Were this the Bucs it would be Mike Evans getting the ball on this play as the traditional “X” receiver. Godwin would be running the clearing route that the X receiver gets underneath. The cool thing about this offense though is that there should be a decent amount of interchangeability to it. So, picture Trey Palmer and his deep speed working the clearing route and Jalen McMillan’s creation after the catch as the “X”. There shouldn’t be any reason why they can’t make those subtle flips to allow each player’s skillset match up with their assignment.

Smash-Spot-Dig

One play the Rams ran against the Saints looks like it could become a bread-and-butter staple of the 2024 Bucs offense. It is called Smash-Spot-Dig referring for the different routes that combine for the entire concept.

Great example of Smash-Spot-Dig.

Progression:

1. Corner
2. Speed Out (Actual throw in clip)
3. DIg (Backside TE)
4. Backside shallow cross
5. RB check

Great play for Baker to Godwin underneath Palmer/McMillan as 6->14 had great chemistry on speed outs ly. pic.twitter.com/yYbx8bHrIo

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) July 30, 2024

The Rams invert the smash concept here with the pre-snap motion having Cooper Kupp (#10) running the underneath speed out, while Demarcus Robinson (#15) pushes the defense vertical with his corner route. On the backside of the play the dig route is run by the tight end. It works here because the flat defender has inside leverage on Kupp, giving Kupp all the room in the world for a front-side pass at the sidelines.

Bucs OC Liam Coen and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Applying This To The Bucs

I am really excited about this concept within the Bucs offense because of the chemistry Baker Mayfield had with Chris Godwin on speed outs last year. Coen has already announced that Godwin will be moving back to the slot working in the same role Kupp employs with the Rams. Evans would be in the Robinson role, running the corner route while Coen could use Otton on the dig as the Rams designed it, or invert the backside routes to have either McMillan or Palmer working that responsibility. This is where I could see McMillan thriving.

Beating Cover-2 Through Motion And Creativity

Last year Rams quarterback Matt Stafford ranked 24th in percentage of throws of 20+ air yards. He was tied for 18th in average depth of target at 8.2. The Rams offense is known for explosive plays aided by yards after catch rather than big throws down field. But there still should be a vertical element to Coen’s offense that he will break out in specific spots. Much like this cover-2 beater the Rams ran on first down last year.

C2? Yeah we got something for that. Motion to 3×1 puts initial stress on the coverage. Clear from 3 gets the pole runner occupied and the corner forces the safety to get deep and wide. Dig is open over the top of the hook. pic.twitter.com/0RQqv1pyFf

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) July 30, 2024

Running the pre-snap motion to create a 3×1 formation immediately puts the Saints C-2 look at a disadvantage as it creates a 4-over-3 look to the field. Kupp running the seam route forces middle linebacker Demario Davis into a full sprint to keep up and occupies the backside safety to maintain top-down leverage.

The corner route from the X takes the play-side safety wide and deep and removes any vertical check on the motioning Z receivers dig route. With the curl flat defenders lacking depth Stafford is able to find Nacua wide open in the middle of the field on the over route for a big catch AND RUN.

Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Applying This To The Bucs

The roles are pretty defined on this one where Godwin would be asked to clear with Evans on the corner and McMillan or Palmer as the motion man. As I wrote earlier, I think this would create the best-case scenario for McMillan allowing him to break into his route off of motion and eliminating any possibility for him to encounter a jam.

On series where Godwin needs a rest Palmer would be an excellent option to move into his role (a role he played last year) as his 4.33 speed would be a true danger to the top-end of the defense on the seam route.

The McVay/Shanahan offense is now being run in some variant by well over half the NFL (and 100% of the NFC South). The reasons for this are numerous. But chief among them is the versatility of getting to good plays from multiple alignments and creating schematic mismatches for defenses. With the Bucs personnel it should make for an above average offense in 2024.