Tampa Bay’s New OC Motto is, “Don’t Mess It Up?”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are yet another team in the NFC South that will have a new man calling offensive plays. Liam Coen is the new offensive coordinator in Tampa. The only fantasy-relevant question is, “Can he please not mess it up?”
Last season, both wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin finished with over 1,000 receiving yards. Quarterback Baker Mayfield had 4,044 passing yards with a 64.3% completion percentage. He averaged 7.1 yards per attempt and threw for 28 touchdowns. Mayfield was also a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year. And then there was running back Rachaad White, who excelled among running backs. White finished last season as RB4 in fantasy. He had 990 rushing yards and 46 red zone touches but earned our fantasy respect in the passing game. White was in the top 10 in most receiving metrics for running backs. He was ninth in targets (70), second in routes run (383), third in route participation (67.4%), and first in catch rate (91.4%). He finished with 549 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns.
Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator, “Just Don’t Mess It Up!”
History
In the last four years, Coen has ping-pong between the University of Kentucky and the Los Angeles Rams. Here is his history:
- 2018-2019, Los Angeles Rams Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
- 2020, Los Angeles Rams Assistant Quarterbacks Coach
- 2021, University of Kentucky, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach
- 2022, Los Angeles Rams, Offensive Coordinator
- 2023, University of Kentucky, Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach
What do we take from this? In his introductory conference, Coen said he received his “PhD in coaching” while in Los Angeles.
It’s a good start. When Mayfield had his short ‘successful’ stint with the Rams, Coen was the offensive coordinator. Remember the Thursday night game, Mayfield on one day of practice, on a Thursday night game orchestrated a one minute-45 second, 98-yard touchdown drive to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 17-16.
Mayfield was also under center when the Rams demolished the Denver Broncos in Week 16. In that game, Mayfield had 230 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. He averaged 8.2 yards per attempt and finished the game with an 85.7% completion percentage. So, the reunion of Coen with Mayfield should have some optimism.
Los Angeles Rams—2022
Coen was the offensive coordinator for the Rams for this one season. It was the first losing season in the Sean McVay era. It was also the Rams first losing season since 2016. The team finished with a 5-12 record.
The Rams also suffered multiple injuries during the 2022 season. After the 2022 season, Coen returned to the University of Kentucky as offensive coordinator. But back to the Rams and Coen’s 2022 season.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp only played nine games that season. Allen Robinson and Ben Skowronek were the other two receivers that season. Robinson played in 10 games and recorded 33 receptions on 52 targets. Skowronek played in games and had 61 targets and 39 receptions.
In the 2022 season, the Rams ran 411 rushing plays and 531 passing attempts. They played the season with four quarterbacks: Matthew Stafford, Mayfield, John Wolford, and Bryce Perkins. In addition to Kupp only playing nine games, 2023 running back stand-out Kyren Williams only played 10 games with 35 rushing attempts and nine receptions.
Mayfield’s two outstanding games were in a five-game stretch. He finished with a 2-3 record, losing to Green Bay, the Los Angeles Chargers, and Seattle. In Mayfield’s five games playing with Coen as offensive coordinator, Mayfield had four touchdowns and two interceptions.
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Mike Evans and Chris Godwin
Evans finished the 2023 season as WR7. He had 135 targets and 79 receptions for 1255 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Godwin had 1024 yards on 131 targets and 83 receptions. He finished as WR28 with only two touchdowns on a 97.9% route participation.
Last season, the Buccaneers were 16th in passing attempts per game (33.9). In his last stint in L.A., the Rams were 23rd in passing attempts per game (31.2). In Mayfield’s five games with Coen, he averaged 25.8 passing attempts per game.
The Buccaneers offense averaged 5.2 yards per play last season. Coen’s offense (under McVay) averaged 4.8 yards per play.
The real question is, how much control did Coen have over the injury-plagued 2022 offense in L.A.?
Rachaad White
And then there is White. He averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game and finished as RB4. Per fantasysp.com, White is currently being drafted in the fifth round. Fantasy Pros has him as #10 in standard and #12 in PPR leagues.
Will White be the sleeper for the Buccaneers this season?
It’s College, I Know
Last season, in his gig as the University of Kentucky offensive coordinator, the team averaged 26.1 rushing attempts and 28.8 passing attempts per game. Their leading rusher, Re’Mahn Davis, had 199 rushing attempts for 1129 yards and 14 touchdowns. Davis also had 33 receptions for 323 yards and seven touchdowns.
And even though it is college, it shows that Coen is at least familiar with utilizing his run game and allowing the running back to be involved in the passing game.
So, the question is, who are you trusting on your fantasy team from the Buccaneers?
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