Fans have heard from various Bucs players since the promotion of Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator.
Mike Evans has spoken about it, obviously. Baker Mayfield has, too, along with Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, and Rachaad White.
Starting tight end Cade Otton hadn’t been from until this week.
Otton is a laid-back guy. He’s very friendly and cooperative with the fourth estate. But until he’s approached, he doesn’t really put himself out there. Maybe he feels that’s more appropriate for the stars of the Bucs offense?
Joe suspects Otton, who is in a contract year, would be very affected by the change in coordinator. Last year, when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missed the same four games, then-Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen trusted Otton enough to lean on him for the bulk of the passing game.
And sure enough, Otton had the best four-game stretch of his career and Joe thinks Otton carried the passing offense.
Otton said Grizzard demonstrated last season he was worthy of succeeding Coen.
“Last year, a big part of what he did was [Grizzard] in charge of our third downs,” Otton said. “I just felt like every single week, we were really prepared for all the looks that we would get and just felt confident in our role and what we were going to do and obviously, it showed up in our third-down percentage.
“I think that’s going to show up in the rest of our offense too. We were a really good offense last year but we still have room to improve and I think he’s going to do whatever it takes to get us there.”
Room to improve? That makes Joe want to start chugging beers. How much more can the Bucs improve? The Bucs were the No. 3 offense in the league last year. Not much room to grow, but damn, it’s sure cool to think about.
If Grizzard turns the Bucs’ offense into the league’s No. 1 offense, Joe can’t see the Bucs sputtering in the playoffs. And, sadly, Joe can’t see how the Bucs would be able to keep their offensive coordinator.
Again.
