'More Responsibility on Baker's Shoulders' in Liam Coen's Buccaneers' Offense
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense will look different in 2024 with Liam Coen taking over from Dave Canales as coordinator. With a big emphasis on the offense throwing different things at the defense, the offseason has been one of learning.
Several players have stated that Coen's offense is difficult to learn and complex, but the team has made good progress in learning what will be asked of them.
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For NFL insider Sarah Walsh, Mayfield is going to have more on his plate as the team's quarterback.
“Coen is expected to place a lot more responsibility on Baker’s shoulders, he is now very secure in Tampa as a starter now with the big new contract,” Walsh said in The Insiders. “He said [Coen] some of that means for Baker when you talk about the next step, its flipping protections, it's putting his guys in the right position and so much of that, what they're trying to implement is made easier by the fact that the defense that this Buccaneers team goes against in practice.”
With the Buccaneers trying to replicate their 2023 efforts that saw them claim the division and grab a playoff win, all eyes will be on Mayfield to see how he adapts.
By all accounts, things have gone well so far, but the true measure of how far the offense has come in Coen's scheme will be in training camp.
Mayfield has a solid group of weapons, highlighted by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, while also having rookie Jalen McMillan, who has shown flashes of his talent at OTAs and minicamp.
The 2024 season will be one where many doubt the Buccaneers' ability to amount to anything substantial; the potential success of the franchise lies with Baker acclimating to Coen's scheme quickly and allowing the team to be in good form straight out of the gate.