A concern continues to rear its ugly head regarding a key part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been a revelation this year. Coen, in his first year with the team, has done yeoman's work in turning one of the worst running teams in the NFL for years into one of the best in the league in 2024. How well has he done? He's managed […]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been a revelation this year. Coen, in his first year with the team, has done yeoman's work in turning one of the worst running teams in the NFL for years into one of the best in the league in 2024.
How well has he done? He's managed to get the Bucs into the top 10 in the league in both rushing and passing offense. That's never been done before in Tampa Bay since the stats became trackable, per FOX Sports' Greg Auman.
Naturally – and unfortunately for Tampa Bay fans – that's meant Coen has gotten some rumblings throughout the year about being a potential head coaching candidate in the offseason. That didn't stop in the Wednesday column from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, who included Coen among his list of coaches who could be getting head coaching looks soon.
Pelissero had the following to say about Coen:
A former UMass quarterback who still holds school passing records, Coen spent a season in the arena league before going into coaching, where his résumé in recent years has been unique. He had two stints each with the Rams (2018-20, 2022) and the University of Kentucky (2021, 2023) before replacing Panthers head coach Dave Canales as Tampa Bay's OC this past offseason. The Buccaneers' offense has improved statistically, ranking fifth in scoring (27.9 points per game) despite Tampa's ongoing four-game losing streak amidst injuries to its top receivers. Coen has the demeanor and personality for a head job. He may get a look.
It's not just the fact that the team has been productive on the field – and they obviously have been. It's been how he's managed to keep dialing up plays and concepts despite losing both of his top wide receivers. Some coordinators might have been satisfied to jam his offense down the throats of whatever reserve players might be stepping in, and that approach sometimes doesn't work. Simply put, some guys can't do what others can, and that's especially the case with stars like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
However, the Bucs have strong talent elsewhere, particularly with budding star tight end Cade Otton and a room full of talented running backs. The calls made to get them involved in the passing game the last few weeks have been nothing short of genius. They've been effective to keep the offense going and scoring enough points to win some games that the Bucs have lost because of issues on the other side of the ball.
Depending on how the 2024 season plays out, the Bucs could have a whale of a decision on their hands. Todd Bowles now has a losing record as a head coach with the Bucs despite the team winning the division the last two years. Coen will likely attract significant interest around the league.
The Glazer family and general manager Jason Licht will have to decide if they have had enough of the status quo, or if they're ready to try to hand the reins to their franchise over to an innovative coach on the rise and keep him from leaving the building.
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