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Bucs new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is being thrown right into the fire as a first time playcaller. While Grizzard was here last season in Tampa, this is a completely different scenario for him. Head coach Todd Bowles is not treating him with kid gloves by any means as he has seen a heap of defensive looks, blitzes, and schemes on a daily basis.
It would be fair to see early on during training camp that the defense of Tampa Bay has been getting the win over the offense more. That is not to say that the offense has not had their moments, though. But in these live “call-it” sessions, Josh Grizzard is certainly getting a wealth of experience in a crash course of calling plays.
Josh Grizzard Recaps Calling Plays Against Todd Bowles
“It’s a lot of fun,” Grizzard said on Tuesday evening. “It’s definitely a challenge. I knew that coming into it, but, every day, trying to figure out where the blitzers are coming from and trying to get to a good play has been a great test for the offense as well as myself…To try to take our system and see how it’s fitting into the scheme, going against him. Everybody is working hard. It’s good to get into pads and see how that shows up real versus being in underwear. We’re off to a good start.”
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Grizzard doesn’t have all of the personnel at his disposal for the time being with left tackle Tristan Wirfs out as well as wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. Tampa Bay has also missed tight end Cade Otton for the last few practices, while receiver Mike Evans has purposely been scheduled to have some days off to keep him ready and healthy for the season.
While balancing all of that, Grizzard and Bowles go into some of these 11-on-11s completely dark without knowing what the other is doing or thinking. There’s no better way to learn than by this.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Grizzard said. “We have our install, they have their install, and it doesn’t necessarily match. They could run something where whatever we’re going to run isn’t going to work, and vice versa. We have an idea on what’s happening, but, especially during the call-it periods – which we’ve had a ton of so far – you don’t necessarily know what you’re getting. It feels good just to go out there and call a play and have everybody – especially the quarterback – react to what we’re seeing on defense and trying to get into an optimal play.”
Todd Bowles weighed in as well with his assessment of Grizzard’s efforts.
“He’s executing [well],” Bowles said. “It’s call-it period, but at the same time, it’s install period as well. He’s not completely calling the game but he’s calling what he has in, and he’s executing those very well.”
Everything Will Get Easier For Bucs OC Josh Grizzard
The Bucs’ offense has looked sluggish at times but there is a long way to go this summer and for the whole season. Each practice is its own battle, and the group is still figuring out what can work and what won’t once the regular season hits. Because the pads have come on, we also have yet to see the stellar run game that might be leaned on even more with Bucky Irving starting from day one and the rest of the offensive line playing together again.
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
With each hurdle, Josh Grizzard becomes more accustomed to what he needs to do. He has progressed to the point where every day gets a bit easier.
“I do. Absolutely,” Grizzard said about growing more into his role. “Even back to the spring up to this point, there’s definitely much more comfortability with it. The nature of some of the periods being 20 minutes or 25 minutes, where you’re calling plays back-to-back-to-back-to-back whether it’s the ones, twos, or threes. It’s just 25-30 plays in a row, versus in the season – not that it’s easy – but you’re looking at a seven, eight, or 12-play drive that could last five or six minutes, whereas this one is 25 minutes and it’s nonstop thinking. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Pushing The Ball Vertically
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
And do not worry about the interceptions from Baker Mayfield so far during camp. There has been an emphasis on going vertical with the ball, so there’s a period of trial and error that they’re putting together.
“It’s something we’ve stressed in the offseason,” Grizzard said. “From the time they got here in April through the plays we were running in the spring to try to push the ball down the field a little bit more. We did a bunch of it in the spring and have done a good amount of it so far here. It is a great challenge with all the blitzes, trying to hold up in protection and be in the right protection to be able to get that off – to be able to get the throw down the field. It’s something we’re stressing and will continue to stress.”
