Josh Grizzard has been appointed as the new pass game coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a move that aims to sustain the high-octane offense the team enjoyed last season. Grizzard, who previously worked with notable names such as Mike McDaniel and Adam Gase at the Miami Dolphins, and David Cutcliffe at Duke, brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to his new role. As the Buccaneers look to maintain their offensive momentum following Liam Coen's departure, Grizzard stands ready to keep the wheels turning for quarterback Baker Mayfield and his teammates.
Grizzard served as Liam Coen's right-hand man in Tampa, where he was pivotal in managing the team's third-down packages and meetings. He also played a crucial role as the "eye in the sky" during game days, providing strategic oversight while Coen was on the field. The Buccaneers averaged an impressive 28.6 points per game last season with Mayfield at the helm, who threw 41 touchdowns in a breakthrough season. With Grizzard stepping up, there is a palpable sense of optimism about what he can bring to the table.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield has high praise for Grizzard, describing him as "unbelievably smart" and acknowledging his significant contribution to game planning.
"Cade — the weeks he stepped up when those guys were down — there's so much that goes into that game planning and informationally and Grizz was a huge part of that," – Baker Mayfield
Grizzard's dedication to his craft is evident in the long hours he dedicates to tape analysis—a task he chose over pursuing a "real job" with the goal of winning a Super Bowl. His commitment to excellence and deep understanding of the game have prepared him well for his new responsibilities.
"Over the last two years [I was] trying to think in that way to prepare myself for this day." – Josh Grizzard
His appointment comes as the team plans to implement periods in training camp and practices to help him acclimate seamlessly into his new role. Despite the change in leadership, Grizzard assures continuity with a touch of evolution.
"The continuity will remain essentially the same. What you want to do, like we did last year, is morph it to the players," – Josh Grizzard
He acknowledges the necessity of evolving every year, especially with a full season's worth of tape now available for opponents to study.
"With that said, I do think you have to evolve every year because now there is a full season of tape on what we did here and now people are studying that." – Josh Grizzard
Grizzard is keen on introducing elements from his past experiences to keep their strategies dynamic and effective.
"There are definitely things I've done in my past that I want to add to it to continue to apply pressure, but again, the last thing you want is to get stagnant." – Josh Grizzard
His focus is on enhancing the downfield passing attack this year, building on Mayfield's strengths and the team's existing capabilities.
"So now we can take it to the next level." – Josh Grizzard
Mayfield, who worked closely with Grizzard during their previous tenure together, expressed confidence in his abilities as a play-caller.
"I mean Dave hadn't called plays until Tampa, but you get used to it," – Baker Mayfield
"We were in every meeting together, so how involved he was in the game and whatnot, I know that he's going to be a good playcaller. You can just sense that already." – Baker Mayfield
As Grizzard steps into his new role, he continues to prepare meticulously for every eventuality on game day.
"What do I call next? What's this situation?' Whatever it might be." – Josh Grizzard
His methodical approach ensures that both he and the team are ready for any challenges they might face on the field.
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