The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on the wrong end of a bizarre separation with now-former offensive coordinator Liam Coen in the last 24 hours.  After Coen ghosted the Bucs and snuck off to Jacksonville to interview for and eventually secure a deal to become the Jaguars' new head coach, Tampa Bay will now be looking for their fourth offensive coordinator in the last four years. 

Coen won't be an easy person to replace from a scheme perspective.  There's no denying he managed to get the most out of his talent and come up with terrific game plans. 

However, that's not to say the Bucs won't still succeed in 2025 on offense, and there's plenty of reasons for that to happen.  Here are five reasons why Bucs fans should still be optimistic for success: 

5) Todd Bowles has been pretty good at finding offensive coordinators

This one is kind of bootstrapping my piece, but it's true.  Dave Canales and Coen have been home run hires, as evidenced by the Bucs' success on both sides of the ball the last two years.  For all of the bellyaching about the defense during the last two years, Bowles has been able to do quite well in identifying and hiring people who've led the offense well.  There's no reason to doubt him with this new hire. 

4) Mike Evans and company

It goes without saying, but the 11-year veteran showed no signs of slowing down in 2024, reaching 1000 yards again in just 14 games while looking like his usual explosive self.  It would be a surprise – at least to me – if they don't find a way to bring Chris Godwin back this offseason.  If not, Jalen McMillan looked every bit the part of a strong WR2 this year.  That's a great duo (or trio) to work with. 

3) Bucky Irving is a (very fast and twitchy) ball of clay

I don't think it matters as much the scheme when you can move as well as Bucky Irving did in 2024.  Between the tackles, outside zone, whatever.  Irving's vision, speed, and agility are advanced for a rookie, and he should have no problems being able to excel in the game plan of Coen's successor. 

2) The Bucs' offensive line is as close to a complete unit as they've had since winning the Super Bowl.

Coen has gotten a lot of credit for the Bucs' incredible turnaround in the running game – from the worst in the NFL in 2023 to a top five group in 2024 – but a big reason for that success is the Tampa Bay offensive line.  Rookie center Graham Barton provided a tough, physical presence in the middle, and right guard Cody Mauch took a massive step forward last season in year two, arguably the biggest improvement of anyone on the roster.  Add in an All-Pro left tackle in Tristan Wirfs and a strong starter on the right side in Luke Goedeke, and the Bucs are in great shape to continue their success on the ground. 

1) Baker Mayfield is a very adaptable player.

If there's anything that Mayfield knows, it's how to adapt to new coaching.  With the exception of Alex Van Pelt in Cleveland, Mayfield has had a new offensive coordinator each season.  It's almost a regular thing he should expect at this point. 

But how he handled Dave Canales' offense in their first and only season together was awesome.  He earned a Pro Bowl trip because of it.  And he should have earned one this year with Coen, if he hadn't been so badly snubbed.  

The Bucs will surely find someone not too dissimilar philosophically from who he's worked with the last two years, and things should continue to go well for #6 in Tampa. 

Bucs RB Bucky Irving’s circumstances compared to his peers exacerbated his rookie of the year snub

The Bucs’ 2024 fourth round pick fought his way to stardom