For the first time since 2022 the Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator left unwillingly. Rather than become an HC like the previous two, Josh Grizzard has been fired.
Not saying he didn’t deserve it, he did, but Baker didn’t help him look good down the stretch. This of course means the Buccaneers yet again have to find another OC. There are already a number of fan favorite names (most notably Todd Monken and Nate Scheelhaase) and other intriguing options. However, some have wondered with Bowles’ retention if the opening is all that attractive.
Most OCs don’t want to join a team with a lame duck HC. And if you look at that term in the dictionary, it now shows a picture of Todd Bowles. OCs don’t want to go down with the ship after one year if the next HC decides to overturn the staff to fit their vision. Most offensive coordinators are smart enough to see the writing on the wall. And if they aren’t, well then they don’t deserve to be an offensive coordinator in the UFL.
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However, there have been instances of HCs retaining old OCs or prominent offensive staff. Bowles kept Leftwich after Arians retired, Dan Campbell kept and promoted Ben Johnson, and I think we will see it with some of these recent openings. So being hired to a dead weight at HC isn’t the worst.
What’s worse is having an erratic signal-caller. I know everyone wants to blame Grizzard for the offense stagnating, but Baker down the stretch was not playing good football. He was making bad throws and even worse decisions. Baker wasn’t the worst QB in the NFL after the bye, but he was up there. With that said, an OC may see it as a challenge to get the best out of him. Baker can obviously play good football, so an OC worth their salt can make him look good again.
This roster is also loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball. You have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan at wideout, Bucky Irving is still good even if he had a less than stellar year, and the offensive line is loaded with talent when they’re not all injured. And TE… is a position that has players. Granted, the RB room is looking a little bit thin with the impending departure of Rachaad White.
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At the end of the day, I don’t think having Bowles will make this job so unattractive that it is avoided like the plague. He doesn’t help make this job look better either though. The most attractive thing about this job is that they will have complete control over that side of the ball. So, for a guy like Scheelhaase who is under Sean McVay, is a big benefit. And besides which, this job is a proven money maker. 50% of candidates end up becoming a head coach. Those are pretty good odds. We will see what candidates the Bucs bring in, but I hope whoever it is gets the offense righted.
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