The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have one of the more exciting offenses in the NFL in 2025, but that all depends on new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and the evolution of quarterback Baker Mayfield, which begins at training camp.
Veteran Pewter Report beat reporter Scott Reynolds posted a new “Pewter Pulse” video on July 6, and he highlighted five things that he can’t wait to see at Bucs training camp this summer. One involved Mayfield and an area of the offense that still has a lot of room to grow.
“The second thing I’m looking forward to seeing is Baker Mayfield taking more deep shots in 2025. And how he fares on his deep balls in training camp,” Reynolds noted.
Explaining: “Mayfield only attempted 52 passes beyond 20 yards last year, as [former offensive coordinator] Liam Coen’s new offense was imported from L.A., where Sean McVay’s scheme thrives on producing yards after catch on short and intermediate throws.”
“But Josh Grizzard wants to add more explosive plays down the field and a more vertical element to the passing game this year,” he continued. “That’s smart, because every offensive scheme has to evolve each year. The Bucs just can’t line up and run the same plays they did last year, because opposing defenses will get a beat on them.”
Reynolds went on to cite that Mayfield completed 71.4% of passes in 2024, overall, but only completed 38.4% of passes when attempting a 20-plus-yard target downfield. He even admitted that backup Kyle Trask “looked more accurate” on deep balls than Mayfield during OTAs and minicamp.
“Mayfield has plenty of arm strength,” Reynolds finally concluded. “He just needs to spend August calibrating his deep shots.”
Bucs Rookie WR Tez Johnson Could Turn Into Dangerous Deep Threat for Baker Mayfield in 2025
Reynolds also highlighted rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson while discussing this potential offensive area of improvement.
“Trask and rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson established some great downfield chemistry,” he noted.
Unfortunately, Trask is not the guy Johnson will be catching passes from during the regular season, barring injury. But Reynolds told viewers to “keep an eye” on the seventh-round draft pick in this regard anyway.
“The rookie made a habit of getting behind defenses out of the slot during the spring,” he said.
And as a potential WR5, Johnson could add another dangerous element for Baker Mayfield and this Buccaneers offense.
Bucs Fans Will Finally Get to See Josh Grizzard’s Offense in Action at Training Camp
It’s safe to say that Tampa Bay, Mayfield, and the entire Bucs fanbase are all starting to get a little too used to the process of new offensive coordinators taking over each offseason. This year, the new OC is Grizzard, and he’ll finally debut his offense at training camp and the preseason.
While most eyes will follow rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka, second-year rising star Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan’s continued development, veteran Chris Godwin working his way back from injury, or even Johnson as he bursts onto the scene, it could be more important to focus on the fluidity of Grizzard’s system and playbook.
And, of course, how Mayfield adapts to it all, pulling all the strings from under center.
With all the weapons that the Buccaneers have on offense, the assumption is that this unit will get even better in 2025. But that assumption could be discounting the latest OC departure last winter.
Baker Mayfield Urged to Spend Bucs Training Camp ‘Calibrating’ One Area