Todd Bowles
Josh Grizzard Call-It Periods:
Continuity will remain within the Buccaneers' offensive system in 2025 with the promotion of Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator; however, he will be adding his own wrinkles to enhance the scheme. Grizzard entered his first year with the Bucs in 2024, joining Todd Bowles' staff as a pass game coordinator. He helped the offense reach several statistical milestones, working with various aspects of the passing game including assisting with quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. The Bucs' offense was the only team in the NFL to rank in the top five in both passing yards (third, 250.4) and rushing yards (fourth, 149.2) per game in 2024. Grizzard was tasked with strategizing for third-down situations during the week of game prep and Tampa Bay led the NFL with a team-record 50.9% third-down conversion rate in 2024. Similar to what the Bucs did with Dave Canales two years ago, Grizzard will have situational "call-it" periods throughout the offseason workout program to create comfortability in making calls and adjustments before the regular season begins.
"We'll have a lot of call-it periods in practice," noted Head Coach Todd Bowles. "We'll have a lot of situational things. We want to put him in every position possible before he actually has to call it in a game. Before the preseason starts, he'll see so many different situations and so many types of things and call-it periods that I'll make them go in situations. It helps the defense as well, to say, 'Oh, I should have done this or I should have done that.' We come back to those situations, but you've got to help coach the coaches and bring them along. We've done a good job at that the past few years, bringing those guys along. Josh will be no different."
Chris Godwin Progress:
Chris Godwin's prolific 2024 campaign was cut short when he suffered a dislocated ankle in the Bucs' Week Seven loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The injury occurred in the final minute of regulation following a 21-yard catch. Subsequently, Godwin was carted off the field for the first time in his NFL tenure (he managed to walk off after tearing his ACL/MCL in 2021). At the time of the significant injury, Godwin led the NFL in receptions (50), receiving first downs (30) and yards after catch (324), while tying for first in receiving touchdowns (five). He ranked second in catch percentage (81.1% - min. 25 targets) and third in receiving yards (511). Godwin was having the best output of his career in a revamped full-time slot role, and he re-signed with the Buccaneers on a three-year contract in early March. Godwin has taken the rehabilitation process day-by-day, rejoicing in the small victories. Todd Bowles provided a hopeful timeline for a Godwin return to the gridiron at the NFL owners meetings.
"I'm hoping he's on the field, Week 1," described Bowles. "I'll have more to know about that as the month goes on, see how he's healing and getting running and practicing and everything else, but my hope is for him to be on the field Week 1."
Evaluation of the 40-Yard Dash:
Each year at the NFL Scouting Combine like clockwork, 40 times are dissected. A great or disappointing 40-time can drastically boost or hinder a player's draft positioning. Draft hopefuls spend months training, and the marquee event inside Lucas Oil Stadium in front of league executives and scouts, measures a player's speed and acceleration. It assesses a player's ability to hit top speed (notably 10-yard split) and maintain it for the duration of the sprint. The 40 is a beneficial tool in evaluations pre-draft and for certain positions, and it is more critical for others. It is imperative for cornerbacks to stay with vertical threats, linebackers to flow from sideline to sideline and edges/outside linebackers to explode off the line into first contact. Todd Bowles dished on his evaluation of the 40 in regard to certain position groups.
"They matter for corners," stated Bowles. "They matter for corners, and they matter to a degree for safeties and inside [linebackers]. Obviously, outside [linebacker] speed is always a good thing if you can get him on the d-line but not necessarily necessary. Corners, you have to be able to run, that's No. 1. If you can't run with somebody on the fade ball, then it's tough. Unless you have a zone type of team that plays a bunch of cover two, you can get away with the other guys. We look for certain things in the corners, not just speed, it's short-area quickness, obviously, ball skills are something else we look at, and a willing tackler. You're small, you're not going to be able to tackle everybody but you have to be willing to tackle those guys. So, a lot of those type of things go into it as well."
Jason Licht
Coaching Addition:
The Buccaneers made several coaching changes during the 2025 offseason cycle and hired Zach Beistline as their new director of football research. Beistline spent the previous 12 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he served as an analyst and more recently as the director of game management. The Bucs valued his contribution with the Jaguars and have brought in a fresh perspective in the Bay. Beistline will work with Bucs' Vice President of Football Research Jackie Davidson on a weekly basis to study league trends and analytics, providing a new lens for the coaching staff in game preparation. General Manager Jason Licht discussed Beistline's new addition to the staff and his 2025 responsibilities.
"It's something Todd stressed, that he wanted to have somebody to assist him in that role," said Jason Licht. "It's a full-time role. He's done it for a while. He's got a great reputation. He's also got a great background in analytics; he'll work with [Vice President of Football Research] Jackie [Davidson] on that end, but on game day, working for Todd. We're just excited. That process has already started. It's not as easy as some people think. It's a full-time job – putting scenarios together, talking through them. It's fun."
