The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quite a few things to figure out during training camp. After finishing 9-8 and a third straight division title last season. The Bucs have some new additions and changes to the team. Todd Bowles is still head coach, but he has a new offensive coordinator, Liam Coen. Coen has a background of being with the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff. Recently, he was OC of the University of Kentucky. So, Coen’s scheme clearly has to be put into place. How will he set up the offense, and can he raise the numbers for the Tampa Bay Bucs offense?
Last season, the Bucs finished 23rd in scoring, 32nd in rushing, and 17th in passing. Yes, it was good enough to win the division and make the playoffs. But like every other team in the NFL, the Bucs want to improve the team and make it deeper into the playoffs. Coach Coen plans to implement some of the schemes from when he was at the Los Angeles Rams and give a little more shine to some of the Bucs’ offensive stars. So what are the Tampa Bay Bucs’ have planned to hash out during camp?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11 Personnel Change
One of the changes to the offense is going from 12 personnel to 11 personnel. Last season, according to the Bucs’ webpage, the offense ran a 12 personnel offense 35.7% of their offensive plays. Changing to 11 personnel gives Tampa Bay more options to utilize preferable match-ups and establish more of a rushing presence this season. Coach Coen wants more pre-snap motions and adjustments to throw off defenses. Coach Coen intends to have schemes similar to those of the Rams. Last season, the Bucs’ used motion 48% of their plays compared to the Rams, who used it 71% of the time. But what other changes will Coen make to improve the Buc’s offense?
One of the weapons Coach Coen wants to utilize is Bucs’ WR Chris Godwin. Godwin will be put back in the slot position where he is more deadly to the defense. Last season, Godwin only lined up in the slot 32% of the snaps compared to 2022, when it was 60%. Godwin YAC in 2022 was 527 yds. Last season, that total was 385. The idea Coach Coen has for Godwin is to use him similar to how the Rams’ used Copper Kupp.
Repairing The Run Game
One of Coach Coen’s ways to open up the run is by giving QB Baker Mayfield two or three plays in the huddle and giving him options to counteract the defense. If the defense is in a vulnerable position, Mayfield can switch to a play that could expose the run. If not, Coen will have a beater pass play as one of the plays given to the Bucs QB, according to an article by Scott Smith on the Bucs homepage. Also, more snaps under center for the run game. Last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers only lined up under center 41% of the time. 43% of run plays were run out of shotguns.
There will be a new one-two punch coming from the backfield. RB Rachaad White will be the starting back for Tampa Bay. Rookie Bucky Irving from Oregon has performed impressively well in OTAs and has been placed ahead of RB Chase Edmond. With the new duo, White and Irving, Coach Coen will be putting in various packages to exhibit the defense. These run packages will give running backs the ability to stretch the defense to provide more runs to the inside, outside, or cutback lanes. Coach Coen will be using a lot of what he learned in Los Angeles but will have his own mark of the offense.
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