Bucs Offense Can Achieve Continuity In 2024 After All
Bailey Adams has been with Pewter Report for two years. He was up in Tampa and has watched the Bucs all of his life. Since 2016, he has worked as a reporter for the team. Apart from his duties as a beat reporter, he also serves as an editor on the website. 2019 saw him graduate from the University of Central Florida, and he is now co-host of the UCF football-focused podcast The Pegasus Podcast.
Following a season-ending loss to the Lions in the NFC Divisional Round, there was cause for hope for the Bucs offence in 2024. Dave Canales, the offensive coordinator, was undoubtedly staying put even if he interviewed for the head coaching position in Carolina.
Canales would stick around, the Bucs would ink quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans to new, multi-year contracts and the offense was going to be able to soar to new heights in its second year together.
It was an exciting thought.
After all, the Bucs started slow on offense in 2023 and a lot of that was due to all of the new pieces and the fact that Canales was a first-time play-caller. But as the year went on, everything began to come together.
The offense scored 27,, points at Atlanta, 34 at Green Bay, and 30 at home against Jacksonville. Then, after a couple of down performances to close the regular season, the Bucs offense scored 30 points against the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs and 23 in the season-ending loss to the Lions.
With two 300-yard touchdown passes and three more touchdowns in the playoffs, Mayfield thrilled everyone with his performance and raised expectations for 2024.
Canales then departed. What appeared to be continuity for the Bucs’ offense suddenly became dubious as he was named the Panthers’ new head coach.
However, general manager Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles, and the rest of the Bucs’ hierarchy might have been able to save it just when it appeared like consistency was lost. After a week of rough sailing, the Bucs’ offence may be able to continue its upward trajectory in 2024 under new offensive coach Liam Coen.
