Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
There has been remarkable turnover when it comes to NFL offensive coordinators: 16, or half the league’s OCs, will be new next season. And since the 2021 season, every team in the NFL has changed coordinators.
So as the Bucs searched for a third offensive coordinator in as many years, two things worked in Liam Coen’s favor. First was the continuity in his offensive scheme and philosophies, not far from that of Dave Canales, who left to become Carolina’s head coach. Second was Coen’s personal experience and familiarity working with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who led the Bucs to a division title and a playoff win in his first year in Tampa.
Coen, 38, was introduced as the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator Tuesday, and he hopes to have the chance to work with Mayfield, who has expressed sincere interest in staying in Tampa but is also five weeks away from being an unrestricted free agent. So exactly how high is Coen’s confidence level he’ll be able to work with Mayfield this fall?
“I want him to be here,” said Coen, who worked with Mayfield for five weeks at the end of 2022 when Coen was the Rams’ offensive coordinator and Mayfield took over as the starting quarterback. “It’s probably more want than know. He’s obviously a reason that I’m here. … I think he wants to be here.”
It’s the second year in a row that head coach Todd Bowles, 60, is trusting his offense to a young coach. Coen is three years younger than Canales was a year ago, and the results were good enough that he landed a head coaching job after only one year. Coen doesn’t know if he’ll have Mayfield — or star receiver Mike Evans, another free agent — but he’s very grateful to have his new job.
“I’m extremely lucky to be here, honestly,” he said. “This is a dream opportunity that they’ve presented myself and my family. … You can tell that there’s a real desire for this organization to continue to be great.”
The Bucs…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/new-bucs-oc-liam-coen-hopeful-of-reunion-with-qb-baker-mayfield
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Publish date : 2024-02-06 22:19:04
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