When the Jacksonville Jaguars brought Liam Coen on board as their new head coach, they were tapping into the star-power that had turned Baker Mayfield’s season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into a resounding success. Coen, who previously orchestrated Mayfield’s breakout season as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, brings his strategic acumen to a Jaguars team in need of a fresh perspective.
NFL analyst Warren Sharp sheds light on Coen’s innovative approach during his tenure with the Buccaneers in his “Sharp Football Analysis 2025 Preview” book. Coen’s decision to pivot towards a pass-first strategy on early downs was a significant departure from the methods of his predecessors, Dave Canales and Byron Leftwich. This offensive recalibration saw dramatic improvements: improving from 31st to 10th in first-down pass rates and leaping to 5th from 25th in early down pass rates in the first half.
These strategic shifts translated into impressive early down efficiency, propelling the Bucs to the upper echelons of the league. From 30th to 6th in success rate with a 53% completion, and achieving a notable jump in expected points added and yards per play, Tampa Bay’s offense was firing on all cylinders. This rejuvenated offensive unit powered the Buccaneers to a top-five offensive ranking and clinched the NFC South with a 10-7 record.
To put the icing on the cake, Mayfield shattered his personal records, delivering career-high numbers across the board—4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, a 71.4% completion rate, and a passer rating of 106.8. It wasn’t just about the air game either; rookie running back Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving burst onto the scene with 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, showcasing the balanced attack Coen managed to create.
As Coen departs for Jacksonville, the Buccaneers’ new offensive coordinator, Josh Grizzard, stands ready to inherit a well-oiled machine. Having served as the pass game coordinator under Coen, Grizzard knows the ins and outs of the system and now has the opportunity to put his own spin on things. With rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson waiting in the wings, Grizzard has the pieces in place to keep the Tampa Bay offensive juggernaut rolling.
Jaguars fans will be keen to see if Coen can replicate his Tampa Bay magic in Jacksonville, while Bucs supporters watch with bated breath to see how Grizzard carries the torch. All in all, the stage is set for another thrilling NFL season.
