With the Bucs set to face the Chiefs on Monday night, there’s no question that Tampa Bay is the David to Kansas City’s Goliath.
You’ll need more than just a slingshot to defeat this formidable and undefeated foe.
Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen spoke in a press conference this week about how the offense is adapting to personnel commitments, and how Baker Mayfield, despite missing some key pieces, is He said he wants to continue proving his worth.
The backs rely on the rest of the ensemble to perform.
Bucks OC Liam Cohen – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs have lived a “next man up” mentality all season, but while injuries have taken a toll on both offense and defense, the biggest blow has clearly been to star wide receiver Mike Evans We lost Chris Godwin. It’s a makeshift weapon that quarterback Baker Mayfield will have to work with until Evans returns from his hamstring injury in a few weeks.
Running backs Rashard White and Bucky Irving continue to provide the one-two punch, with Sean Tucker shave There is an increase in usage. Tight end Cade Otton Just in time To stake my right in the passing game.
The wide receiver corps, led by Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan, Rakim Jarrett and Trey Palmer, is not the quartet Liam Cohen envisioned leading his team at this point in the season.
But that’s exactly what Cohen is entrusted with creating and bringing harmony to.
“Oh, obviously, it’s really hard to replace those guys with production,” Cohen said of game planning without Evans and Godwin. “I thought everyone needed to step up in some way. [against the Falcons]from a protection point of view, [running] From the back and tight end. Everyone had to step up. Was it perfect? Was it as beautiful as you expected? Absolutely not. We had too many self-inflicted wounds, but I was proud of their efforts, absolutely proud of their efforts. We didn’t play very smart. We didn’t coach very smartly in some moments and we have to learn from those moments.
“But if there’s a positive for the guys that have had to step up and make plays, it’s, ‘Okay, they’re taking the next step.’ How do you take the next step from “That’s it” and how do you go out there and accurately, without miscommunication, and capitalize on missed coverage on third down. Since we are on the same page, there are no penalties for them and the problems do occur. That’s the next step we need to take. ”
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield and TE Cade Otton – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Cohen is not alone in making things work.
The team’s quarterback must set the tone and limit turnovers if the team has any chance of coming out of Arrowhead Stadium with a win. Mayfield has thrown seven interceptions in the past three games, and it goes without saying that he needs to value the football more. Don’t expect him to pitch 50 innings like he did last Sunday against the Falcons.
There will likely be more focus on establishing the ground game considering three of the offense’s remaining best weapons are in the backfield.
“You know, continually looking for the next best player and keep trying to get more touches and more chances,” Cohen said of how his players participated in the final game. He talked about what he did. “For the most part, I feel like we were able to do that. I think we could have done a better job with the other guys and got them involved and got a little bit more touches that have been productive for us the last few weeks. But at the end of the day, I think we have to keep trying because our players are in the best position to be successful, so we have to play.
“They’ve got to go out and play and let it rip. There’s going to be mistakes, but we have to minimize how significant those mistakes are. We’re going to drop passes. Will I miss a block? That’s going to happen, but I can’t afford to make a big mistake.”
Could Sean Tucker and Rakim Jarrett get more involved?
Bucks RB Sean Tucker – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Two players who could get more touches and opportunities Monday night are Sean Tucker and Rakim Jarrett.
Tucker only had two carries for 3 yards in his last game, but his offensive explosiveness against the Saints won’t take long for him to be named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week. Giving him more touches could be the balance the offense needs while dealing with the football.
“Yeah, I mean, I think in general just getting exposure to the things that brought the players to play,” Cohen said when asked about getting Tucker more involved. “The game got a little funky in some ways and we had to pitch, and we were in situations where maybe we could have let someone else score a little bit more or score a little bit more. I was frustrated with some of the decisions that forced me to run away, whether it was Sean or Bucky. [Irving]or Rashad [White] At that moment. ”
another big topic As the Bucs prepare to face the Chiefs, who should be the team’s leading wide receiver?
Sterling Shepard has the most NFL experience and has previously worked with Baker Mayfield. Jalen McMillan was the team’s most highly drafted wide receiver since Chris Godwin in 2017 and showed a lot of promise throughout the offseason. Trey Palmer has exciting traits that make him game-changing plays.
Bucks WR Rakim Jarrett – Photo courtesy of USA Today
But it was undrafted free agent Rakim Jarrett, signed last season, who made the biggest impact when called up.
Jarrett made his presence felt in the second half of the game against Atlanta, finishing the game with three receptions for 58 yards. He showed great ability to separate and make contested catches. he is ready to play more. Liam Cohen wants to see him make the most of his opportunity.
“Yeah, I mean, ‘The Rock’ has been working hard to get in shape and feel good,” Cohen said. “It was great to see him go out there and produce some plays and be in the right place at the right time. We’ve got to continue to get that from him – We have to continue to get the most out of all these guys because we can and will have to rely on them for the rest of the season.
