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We are very early into the stages of Josh Grizzard being the offensive play caller for the Bucs. Nonetheless, these recent weeks have really been the first opportunity for him to establish himself as the top guy for the Bucs’ offense, getting his message across to coaches and players.
It’s a unique spot for Grizzard. He’s one of the youngest coaches on staff; he’s only two years into Tampa and yet has a huge responsibility getting this group to higher levels in his first year of play calling. At the same time, it’s the most continuity that Baker Mayfield has had with an offensive coach, and more stability that Tampa Bay has had with a play caller in four years.
The early phases of the offseason have begun. We’ve seen the likes of Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans working in the facility recently along the likes of other starters like Bucky Irving at running back. We’ve also seen the rookies come in and get to learn plays directly from Grizzard.
What’s It Been Like For Josh Grizzard As Bucs’ OC?
Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator spoke about what these past couple of months have been like as he sets up shop and looks at the new season.
“I feel really good about it from the start,” Gizzard said. “Making sure the staff was in place and got in order. Then going through NFL free agency, attacking that, moving on to the college draft and being able to come away with Emek (Emeka Egbuka) and Tez (Johnson). I thought that was great. Then having the guys here, being able to get them into the installs and actually get them out on the field. Not that we’re going against the defense quite yet, but just getting the conditioning down, we’ve harped on these guys running as much as possible and grinding it out.
Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and RBs coach Skip Peete – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“They’ve done an unbelievable job so far. Everything’s been good, looking forward to OTAs and being able to go against the defense a little bit. It’s been great up to this point.”
With everyone coming and going in the building, it appears everyone has taken to the information really well.
“It’s been great from the time when we starting this thing off, it wasn’t like last year with how we wanted to end it,” Grizzard said. “Everybody’s hungry. We started off talking about what it was to end the season and losing a home playoff game and how that’s not why we do what we’re doing right now.
“You can see the hunger in guys to be able to push on into the playoffs and make a run. You can tell through the meeting rooms, the questions they’re asking, the stuff we’re getting done on the field has been…I wouldn’t want to compare it exactly to this point last year but you feel like you’re even a step further because we didn’t change a lot in the system.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving and offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Nobody is taking anything for granted either.
“Now it can get into the nuances of route running and how we’re hitting blocks and getting into the shape we need to get into,” Grizzard added. “They’ve been hungry. Nobody’s resting on any of the statistical success we had last year because ultimately, team-wise and in the playoffs, it’s far from what we’re trying to do.
Bucs Assistants Taking To Josh Grizzard’s Approach
Josh Grizzard has experience working with most of the coaches as they were here last season. Even a new coach is a person that Grizzard has history with in passing game coordinator Kefense Hynson.
Back at Yale, Grizzard went from playing while Hynson coached, then they worked together and now Hynson is coaching on Grizzard’s staff. No one has been as close to Grizzard as Hynson, and he believes Grizzard is more than ready.
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Matt Matera P/R
“It’s been fun for me to see his development up close and personal,” Hynson said. “I think he’s absolutely ready for this opportunity. I was just talking to a buddy of mine yesterday, a guy that was with us at Yale, just about him [Grizzard]. I think [he’s] awesome, I think the dude is ready. I think he knows what he doesn’t know, there’s no ego to him. He’ll lean on all the support he’s got around here. We got a really good offensive coaches, it’s been awesome working with these guys.
“His ego won’t get in the way of asking a question, which I think is the most powerful thing a leader can do. For me, it’s just a mixture of just excitement, pride, I love the dude, I’m really working to try to help this dude go as far as he wants to go in this couching thinking. I’m learning from him. It’s been really fun.”
It’s important to get the message to your players, but it’s just as important to be on the same page with your coaches. Offensive line coach and run game coordinator Kevin Carberry enjoys how Grizzard gets everybody involved.
Bucs TEs coach Justin Peelle, OC Josh Grizzard and OL coach Kevin Carberry – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“It’s been very collaborative,” Carberry said. “It was last year, too in his role as passing game coordinator as it relates to the protections, screens, third down, all those things. It’s been great so far, it was great last year in terms of the collaboration. It’s always great when it’s easy to work with somebody (that) you’ve got questions, you just go down to their office and talk about something. It’s nice having an easy conversation like we were able to last year with the whole staff, really everybody on the staff.”
