Josh Grizzard Is Ready To Take Bucs’ Offense “To The Next Level”

Thursday afternoon was a big day within the walls of the AdventHealth Training Center as new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard grabbed the mic and laid out his vision for the Bucs’ offense in his opening press conference. Grizzard spoke for nearly half an hour on the podium, initially sharing his thoughts about how to take an already successful offense “to the next level.”

It was clear through his usage of that phrase it is something at the top of his mind, and he detailed how he will be looking to accomplish it with quarterback Baker Mayfield under center.

Josh Grizzard Thanks Bucs Organization In His Opening Statement As OC

Before opening the floor for questions, Josh Grizzard extended his thanks to the Bucs’ organization and his family for the opportunity to become offensive coordinator. There are only 32 offensive coordinator positions, and Grizzard now takes the play-calling duties in a role that has quickly become an NFL head coaching pipeline. He does not take the chance to lead a top-five scoring offense lightly.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the Glazer family, [general manager] Jason [Licht], [assistant general manager] Mike Greenberg, and of course, [head] coach [Todd] Bowles for giving me this opportunity,” Grizzard said in his opening statement. “It’s not something I take lightly and something I’ve been preparing for my entire life. With the group of gentlemen that are in the back and [senior manager of coaching operations] Sarah [Evans] as well, I’m looking forward to this season being able to take this thing to the next level.

“In addition to that, of course, I want to thank my family. My parents and my brother for their support from being a kid loving this game, being able to play in college, and then ultimately being able to coach. Without them, I couldn’t be here but once again, thank you to the organization. Looking forward to it, it’s a great opportunity with great people, let’s take this thing to the next level.”

Grizzard is only 34 years old but spent his whole life working up to his new job title. Fortunately, he could not have found any better offensive coordinator gig than leading a talented offensive group on the player and coaching side.

Bucs pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard and RBs coach Skip Peete – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s one thing when you have Baker Mayfield, running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Mike Evans, and an offensive line anchored by left tackle Tristan Wirfs.

It’s another to have a coaching staff with talented minds like quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, running backs coach Skip Peete, and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon. Then there’s run game coordinator and offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and offensive line coach Brian Picucci, who just received promotions, as well as new pass game coordinator Kefense Hynson, who has a history with Grizzard dating back to his college days at Yale.

Still, he cannot rest on his laurels and explained how the offense can build on its success from last season.

“The continuity of having the staff and the players together is the most important part because we can go from installing an offense to naming plays and route concepts and halfback footwork to just, you know, now once we hit the field, that’s the base level,” Grizzard said.

“What we did on the fundamentals, we can now evolve to the next level of the teaching of coverages, of the D-line technique. That way, we can now expand the scheme, continue to add from around the league, and add from college. That we continue to put pressure on the defense to try to score points.”

Expanding the scheme means evolving previous offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s vision and making it his own. Putting his touch and flavor to an already appetizing dish. It does not need to be thrown away, but Grizzard can add the missing ingredient to make it that much more enjoyable to watch.

“At the end of the day, as coaches, we need to be able to adjust the scheme,” Grizzard added. “It could be on a yearly basis, it could be on a weekly basis, to put the players in a position to score points. That’s what we’re tasked to do, and now having another offseason to be able to add to that, and add different pieces, we feel like last year was just the foundation to be able to take it to the next level.”

Josh Grizzard Is Looking For Baker Mayfield To Take The “Next Step” As A Leader

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WRs Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan – Photo by: USA Today

Taking things to the next level starts with Josh Grizzard as the man in charge, but he also will rely heavily on Baker Mayfield. Mayfield was one of the Bucs who were ecstatic to see Grizzard get the job after he was one of the biggest voices in his ear during his best statistical season.

With the young offensive coordinator being just five years older than his quarterback, he will rely on him as an extension of the coaching staff to get his message across and coach up some of the younger players following No. 6’s lead.

“It means the world to me,” Grizzard said about Mayfield’s endorsement. “Without knowing him going into this time last year when I was brought on, he was one of the first people to factime me when I got the job. I now have the support of him. I was in every meeting with him last year, whether it be gameplan meetings, on the field, going through individuals with Thad, Liam, and [assistant quarterbacks coach] Jordan [Somerville].

“To take our relationship to the next level and be able to lean on him, and him taking that next step as a leader being in the league this long. He can shoulder more of the burden of elevating the younger guys. Coach the younger guys, he’s another extension of the coaching staff on the field. He’s been fantastic, you know he’s a competitor, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Josh Grizzard has plenty to look forward to and his excitement was evident. Thursday is a day of celebrating the opportunity and a dream come true, but quickly after, the work to pick up where the offense left off and get even better sets in.