Dave Canales spent one season as the Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator, and clearly did a good job of it as it vaulted him directly to the head coaching chair with the Carolina Panthers. Most notably, quarterback Baker Mayfield had a resurgent season, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead the Bucs to the playoffs.
As impressive as the Buccaneers' offense was for big stretches of the 2023 season, it's impossible to ignore the ground game numbers, where the team finished last in the NFL in both yards per game and yards per carry. Liam Coen, Canales' successor in the coordinator post, certainly isn't ignoring them. From his introductory press conference on, Coen has made it clear that creating a more productive run game is his number one objective.
Training camp practices are not a particularly effective way to judge how well a rushing attack is working, at least to the untrained eye, given that there is no live tackling and almost every run looks like a breakaway. However, the people on the field actively involved in making that attack go have a feel for how it's developing, and veteran guard Ben Bredeson very much likes what he's seen so far.
"I'm a big fan of it, and that's not just the company line," Bredeson insisted. "That's a personal statement. The way that you can attack the defense in multiple different ways with moving guys around, creating different running angles and being able to stretch the defense, then cut it back inside or get around the edge. There's so many different things you can do from a running-the-ball perspective. It's very intriguing. There's different variations we're installing all the time to try to make it as good as we can. It's genuinely an exciting offense to run."
Indeed, one of the ways Coen is trying to revive the Bucs' rushing attack is by making it much more varied. It will have aspects of wide and mid-zone blocking, duo blocking and pulling linemen, and it will attack the edges and the middle with equal frequency. Coen also plans to give Mayfield multiple play calls in the huddle so the quarterback can get the offense out of running into unfavorable defensive looks and into more favorable ones. The Bucs drafted Oregon running back Bucky Irving to complement their 2023 backfield workhorse, Rachaad White, but the ground game will go only as far as the offensive line can take it.
View photos of Tampa Bay Buccaneers players practicing at 2024 Training Camp on Thursday, August 1st, 2024 at AdventHealth Training Center.
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 and Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 and Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Senior Offensive Assistant Tom Moore and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Robert Hainsey #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - General Manager Jason Licht during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - General Manager Jason Licht and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - General Manager Jason Licht and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - General Manager Jason Licht and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - General Manager Jason Licht and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - General Manager Jason Licht and Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Cornerback Andrew Hayes #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Lorenz Metz #71 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Lwal Uguak #75, Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50, Defensive Lineman William Gholston #92, Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94, and Defensive Lineman Judge Culpepper #59 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Logan Hall #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Judge Culpepper #59 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Daniel Grzesiak #57 of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Jose Ramirez #33 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Defensive Lineman C.J. Brewer #95 and Guard Avery Jones #66 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Inside Linebacker J.J. Russell #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 and Linebacker Vi Jones #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Safety Kaevon Merriweather #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Linebacker Antonio Grier Jr. #48 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Inside Linebacker K.J. Britt #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Chris Braswell #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Cornerback Bryce Hall #34 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Team Reporter Casey Phillips during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Signage during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Team Reporter Casey Phillips during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Team Reporter Casey Phillips and Chief Impact Officer Kourtney Sanchez during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Chief Impact Officer Kourtney Sanchez during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Flag Football activation during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Employee spotlight signage during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Employee spotlight signage during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Employee spotlight signage during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Employee spotlight signage during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Employee spotlight signage during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67 and Guard Avery Jones #66 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Robert Hainsey #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Robert Hainsey #70 and Center Graham Barton #62 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Taneka Bowles during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Taneka Bowles during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Fans during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 01, 2024 - Vice President of Football Research Jacqueline Davidson during Women of Red Day at 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"I'm very excited for this line this year," said Bredeson. "I think there's certainly a lot of athleticism on it, and like we talked about earlier, the cohesion that everyone's kind of getting at, that only helps you on the field as well. It's going to be an exciting year and I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can do as a group.
"I think it's been going very well [in camp]. We're getting some cohesion in the line, getting reps together. To be honest, playing next to Tristan [Wirfs] is really nice. Things have been going well and it's nice to settle in a little bit."
It looks likely that Bredeson will be a part of that starting line. An unrestricted free agency addition from the New York Giants, has 25 career starts at guard and has been taking the majority of the first-team snaps at left guard in camp. That's the one open spot on a line in which the Bucs have invested heavily in terms of both salary and draft capital. Bredeson has been drawing strong review from the coaching staff for his work in camp.
"Ben's been a great surprise coming into training camp," said Head Coach Todd Bowles. "He's a vet, he knows how to prepare, he knows how to play. He came in in shape, he looks good at the position and he's been doing a good job."
Bredeson's primary competitor for that job had been another veteran offseason addition in former Eagle Sua Opeta. However, Opeta suffered a torn ACL during Tuesday night's practice and was placed on injured reserve on Friday, ending his 2024 season. That is certainly not an outcome Bredeson was hoping for in the battle for a starting job.
"It's terrible losing a teammate to injury, and especially during training camp," he said. "We've been working with Sua since OTAs. We've been spending hundreds of hours together and to see him go down like that is terrible. You don't want that for anybody, especially for the season and for our room. We just want him to get healthy and it's tough for our room.
"The sad reality of the league is that injuries happen all the time and you have to be able to adjust. Somebody's going to have to step up, and we have to take care of each other. You lose a guy like Sua and we all have to rally together and pick the room back up a little bit. We'll get it done."
