Gameplan Management, Growth of Young Players and More

For the second-straight year in 2023, Todd Bowles managed both head coaching duties and acted as the team’s defensive play-caller. The guru, known for his gap-penetrating attack-styled defense that incorporates exotic looks, continued his stellar trend last season in Tampa Bay. The Bucs’ defense tied for sixth in the league in points allowed (19.1 per game) and allowed the fifth fewest rushing yards (95.3 per game). When asked about Bowles’ dual role, General Manager Jason Licht gave a rave review, notably mentioning his Super Bowl LV work of art. Bowles devised a masterpiece, making Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offensive juggernaut look mortal in a 31-9 pounding. Against Kansas City, Bowles de-emphasized blitzes and sending additional rushers, not allowing the Chiefs to take advantage in the short-to-intermediate area of the field. The Bucs played a heavy dose of Cover Two and Two-Man to take away the explosive plays over the top and utilized Lavonte David and Devin White to patrol the underneath area of the field and the boundaries. The Bucs were able to get pressure with four, opening up the team’s pass defense. Bowles, the architect, deserved an MVP for that slaughter at Raymond James Stadium.

“He is one of the best I have been around going back to the Super Bowl – that was a Hall of Fame gameplan that he had there,” smiled Jason Licht. “I think we all get better as we get into our jobs, and I know looking back on my first few years, I want to kick my own butt for doing some of the things that I did. He is really good, and I think he has gotten really comfortable in a good way, not sitting on his hands.”

Excitement builds for the Bucs’ revamped offense in 2024 under the direction of Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen. Coen worked as the Rams’ offensive coordinator under Head Coach Sean McVay in 2022. During that year, Baker Mayfield was acquired off waivers and spent five games in L.A. under Coen and McVay’s tutelage, before signing a one-year deal with the Buccaneers in 2023. Previously, Coen spent the 2018-19 seasons as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach and the 2020 campaign as the assistant quarterbacks coach. Across his four seasons on the Rams’ staff, the team’s offense ranked seventh in yards per game, fifth in passing yards per game and ninth in points per game.

Last season in the college ranks for Kentucky, Coen directed an offense that scored 29.1…