It is fair to say that through the Bucs’ first three games, they have lacked a clear offensive identity.

What backs that claim up is seeing how inconsistently Tampa Bay’s best offensive playmakers have gotten the football. Whether that is at running back or wide receiver, something has to give, right? Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson discussed what that means for several players ahead of Sunday’s game against the Packers.

Zac Robinson Wants To Get Kenny Gainwell Rolling, Is Looking Forward To Utilizing Sean Tucker

As stubborn as former offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was committing to Bucky Irving as the workhorse running back, Zac Robinson has done the same in limiting Kenny Gainwell’s touches and has yet to play Sean Tucker.

For Gainwell, this is a disappointing development following the two-year, $14 million deal the Bucs gave him in free agency. Tampa Bay surely didn’t pay that kind of money for a return specialist, but that’s been his main impact this season.

Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The veteran running back has just 10 carries for 21 yards and six catches for 22 yards coming off a career year with the Steelers where he was prominently featured as a dynamic weapon. The hope has quickly soured on that being the case in 2026, but Robinson spoke about involving Gainwell more this past week.

“The flow of the game sometimes has dictated that,” Robinson said. “There have been some times when Bucky [Irving] has been rolling, so we wanted to kind of keep Bucky going with some of the limited possessions that we’ve gotten. So, we definitely want to get Kenny involved. He knows he’s got his responsibility as well to earn those opportunities and show us when he is in there that he deserves the right to play more. I think that’s the reality, and he knows that as well.

“So yeah, we’ve got to get him rolling. We know that. [We’ve] had good conversations with him the last couple of weeks. It’s so early in the season still, and I can’t wait to see him kind of knock out the next opportunity he gets to get some more touches.”

Robinson’s remarks are peculiar about Gainwell needing to earn “the right to play more” and that being “the reality” of the situation. At some point, it becomes a playcalling and gameplan issue over not playing someone who earned his contract and has shown capable of being a 1B to Irving’s 1A.

Then in the case of Tucker, he has yet to play at all after receiving a $2.52 million contract the team restructured to keep him. The fourth-year back has had a frustrating stint in Tampa Bay, all things considered. There have been moments he looks like he should be the featured guy, just for all his touches to be taken away. The flashes are there to unlock, but will he ever get an opportunity to showcase them?

Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“100%,” Robinson responded about using Tucker more. “[We’ve] got to get ‘Tuck’ going. He is special with the ball in his hands, as you guys have seen from his time here. So, that’s up to us as coaches – we’ve got to find spots to mix him in there. Again, some of the rhythm of some of those plays where we’re getting into second-and-longs, third-and-longs, knowing he’s a little bit more, especially, [of a] first- and second-down back. So, I’ve got to mix him in there. That’s our responsibility as coaches. But [I’m] looking forward to ‘Tuck,’ when he gets those opportunities, taking advantage of them for sure.”

While all of this sounds promising, the changes have to actually be made and be noticeable.

What About The Bucs’ Wide Receiver Room?

The notion of the Bucs having a deep wide receiver room has also yet to produce much early on this season.

Chris Godwin Jr. has caught 10 of 11 passes thrown his way, but even with his efficiency, he has not been given more of the target share. Emeka Egbuka has yet to fully climb out of his second-half slump from his rookie year, while Ted Hurst III caught a 40-yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Vikings only for him to be targeted three times all game. Zac Robinson has to dial up more ways to get them going, especially early on in games. When it comes to Godwin, he admitted more chances should be there.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I mean, there’s times when, shoot, maybe he is the primary in the route and, again… For football plays to work and for the execution to be at a high level, all things have to click at the right time. I think that’s been kind of the story with some of those where, shoot, could he have had two or three more catches in a game? You know, probably so, when you watch the tape and you take a look at how things are kind of playing out from an All-22 perspective…But ‘C.G.’ (Chris Godwin Jr.) is a stud. He’s going to continue to do his thing.

“If the ball finds him, which it will naturally, just with his savvy and all the things that he presents…The ball will find him eventually, and we’ve got to get him rolling for sure.”

Wrapping up his press conference last Thursday, I asked Robinson about the reason Hurst not getting more targets. With Jalen McMillan placed on injured reserve with a PCL sprain, the Georgia State product is the solidified No. 3 wide receiver moving forward.

Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Ted Hurst III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think similar to the rest of the skill guys, coverage can dictate where some things go at certain times,” Robinson said. “He definitely had some opportunities to possibly get a few more touches, and the ball didn’t find him last week for one reason or another. But yeah, we’ve got to keep Ted rolling. He’s done a great job, man. I can’t say enough good things about him. It was great to see his first touchdown on that – it was a big play. Obviously, we’re down 10-0 [and] we needed a spark. It was great protection, great job by ‘Bake’ (Baker Mayfield) spotting him, and he ran a great route to finish it off.

“So, I’ve got to find ways, really, for all these guys. We’ve got a unique skill group [where] the ball can [be] dished around. So, it might be a game where somebody gets hot [and] they get a [few] more touches, but Ted has been doing a great job. He’s separating, he’s open, and we’ve definitely got to find him when he is.”

Quarterback Jalon Daniels changes the equation for the Bucs’ offense over the next couple of weeks, but Zac Robinson must make the proper changes to put Daniels in position to succeed. That starts with properly scheming and building around the team’s collection of weapons.