Every Wednesday morning I’ll cowl 4 areas as they apply to Tampa Bay: 1. a brief movie breakdown, 2. a finance angle, 3. a glance ahead at what’s to come back, and 4. a little bit of enjoyable.
Movie: Zac Robinson Staple Idea – Vast Zone
One of the fascinating components of the Bucs’ hiring new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson follows the way forward for Tampa Bay’s run recreation. In 2023, the Bucs employed mid-zone aficionado Dave Canales. After spending a number of years working a duo-based scheme underneath Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay unsuccessfully turned a mid-zone working workforce. They have been at or close to the underside of the NFL in each main speeding space (thirty second in speeding yards per recreation, thirty second in yards per carry, twenty sixth in EPA/rush).
The next yr the Bucs wanted to exchange Canales after he acquired a head teaching gig with the Panthers they usually as soon as once more turned to a mid-zone believer in Liam Coen. Coen additionally discovered shortly that for some cause Tampa Bay struggles to execute mid-zone ideas, and their run recreation struggled by means of the primary quarter of the season. However in contrast to Canales, Coen was adaptable. He leaned right into a gap-run system centered on pull-lead and counter runs mid-season. The development was each stark and speedy. From Week 5 on, they ranked third in rush EPA/play behind two groups with elite working quarterbacks within the Payments and Eagles.
Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
Quick ahead to this yr and the Bucs have one other zone-believer heading up their offense. Zac Robinson, in contrast to Coen and Canales, is a unique type of zone connoisseur. He pushes his zone runs additional to the skin with a large zone idea that units the working again’s aiming level within the C hole simply outdoors the sort out, vs. mid-zone that goals on the B hole between the guard and the sort out.
That brings up a number of questions.
Can Robinson efficiently implement a zone blocking scheme the place his predecessors failed?
Will he be adherent to the huge zone system even when the outcomes don’t match his imaginative and prescient or will he, like Coen, adapt to personnel groupings which were elite when working the counter/pull-heavy runs?
I took a take a look at the 2025 Falcons’ most profitable runs to see how they created success and the way the Bucs can replicate in 2026.
Two issues stand out on this play from a blocking standpoint. The nimble actions of heart Ryan Neuzil are incredible on this rep. Off the snap he provides the nostril sort out a fast shove to assist proper guard Chris Lindstrom higher positioning earlier than twisting again to the bottom of the run to chop off the crashing linebacker. Vast zone has historically been executed greatest by offensive strains with elite movers at heart.
The second is Lindstrom’s play itself, after getting the early help from Neuzil, he locks his inside arm and drives the nostril each huge and vertically creating the two-way crease working again Bijan Robinson makes use of to arrange this explosive run.
Can Graham Barton transfer like Ryan Neuzil? Sure. What makes his potential at heart so attractive is that he can transfer just like the smaller, agile facilities which have come to outline huge zone offenses. He can simply do it with 10-20 additional kilos of mass.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson – Photograph by: USA At the moment
The place Neuzil has been higher than Barton thus far of their careers is the snap to motion piece. That has been Barton’s Achilles heel by means of his first two seasons within the NFL. And it’s a important piece of being profitable in huge zone. That must change for this idea to take off within the NFL.
As for Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson executing the guard tasks, they each have the power to maneuver laterally. Mauch has gotten greater and stronger since coming into the NFL however didn’t sacrifice any of his elite agility earlier than happening with a knee harm final yr. In concept, they’ll execute this scheme. In observe the larger difficulty has been working collectively as a unit.
Zone requires a five-as-one mechanism greater than hole schemes do. And the place the Bucs have struggled beforehand has been getting everybody on the identical web page. Footwork is the important thing for the group, timing and spacing steps to the man subsequent to you, so everybody is working on the similar velocity and tempo.
All of this can come right down to offensive line coach Kevin Carberry. His previous stints in zone-heavy schemes confirmed modest success at greatest. He was the offensive line coach for the Rams in 2021 and 2022 after they ranked twenty second and twentieth in EPA/rush, respectively. And he was Coen’s offensive line coach in 2023 when he tried to get the zone run recreation moving into Tampa Bay.
Thus far he has proven extra success teaching up gap-schemes. Robinson has publicly said he’s keen to adapt his scheme to his gamers. How about his coaches?
Robinson isn’t only a one trick pony although. He can scheme up a great gap-run when he desires to.
This counter staple was a bread-and-butter winner for the Bucs in 2024 and 2025. Every lineman with a particular man to match up with and a particular project to execute. Even with the defensive sort out getting a tremendous break off the road, Lindstrom was capable of pin him simply sufficient for Bijan Robinson to deftly navigate the morphing lane. Substitute Mauch and Bucky Irving or Kenneth Gainwell in and this play nonetheless hits given their skillsets.
It’s additionally one thing in Robinson’s software belt. How typically he makes use of it is going to be the X-factor for the 2026 model of the Bucs offense.
Some extra examples of Robinson leaning away from his most well-liked run recreation. It’s all there.
A pair extra examples of Robinson attending to some gap-staples together with a pull-lead from Pony with a again motioning into the handoff. These are all issues the Bucs did very well underneath Liam Coen. pic.twitter.com/GnrAsQKw3j
My intestine feeling is that Robinson will push to make huge zone work. It’s his wheelhouse and I believe he believes it is going to put the passing recreation in its greatest place to succeed with play-action boots and shot performs driving the majority of the offensive success. These marry nicely to a large zone system.
If he does go that route the workforce must “major” in it. Meaning rising pains early within the season as they gel and be taught to maneuver collectively earlier than hitting their groove someday round Week 6 or 7 (in the event that they ever hit their groove in any respect – see Dave Canales circa 2023). However hopefully till that occurs, Robinson has sufficient really feel for play-calling that he can decide his spots nicely sufficient for these shot performs and occasional change-up hole runs to assist the offense alongside within the early days.
Finance: Graham Barton Valuation
Now two seasons into his profession, heart Graham Barton might be extension eligible after the 2026 season. It could be onerous to imagine, however groups and participant illustration alike already begin to create tough valuations of how a lot a participant may cost on a second contract at this level.
Barton’s valuation is an fascinating train. He has been part of a particularly profitable offensive line. By the top of 2024 Tampa Bay’s line was taking part in on the highest stage within the NFL.
In 2025, Barton was requested to do one thing few facilities within the NFL may dream of. He kicked out to left sort out for a handful of video games whereas the Bucs waited for Tristan Wirfs to heal up from offseason surgical procedure. He understandably struggled on the sting, however held up nicely sufficient to get Tampa Bay by means of that first quarter of the season.
Bucs WR Sterling Shepard and C Graham Barton – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
His re-acclimation to heart was a turbulent one, marked by rotating lineups of backup-level expertise who Barton hadn’t constructed rapport with, straining communication on the inside of the Bucs O-line.
By the top of the season, although, Barton was bettering and had put himself again on the promising trajectory he was on on the finish of his rookie season.
Since coming into the NFL, Barton has performed simply over 2,000 common season snaps, permitting strain on 4.65% of his cross blocking reps, and 6 sacks. On true cross units that strain fee rose to eight.00% whereas incomes a 57.9 run block grade from Professional Soccer Focus.
My projection fashions put his valuation at about $8.33 million when accounting for an anticipated rise within the wage cap to $325 million subsequent yr. His comps are huge ranging in value however settle in at a mean that’s nearly equivalent to my projection.
That’s a modest value in right now’s market and would match what the Lions simply gave Cade Mays in free company because the ninth-highest paid heart within the NFL.
A modest enchancment in his play, which ought to be anticipated given his age and studying curve, would push that quantity to a $12.5 million APY. And a powerful efficiency, as I’ve forecasted for him would push him into the $15 million vary.
However for now, Barton occupies the valuation for a middle-tier heart.
Forecast: My Method Too Early Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction – Offense
As we get to coaching camp we at Pewter Report will put collectively our 53-man roster projections. However I wished to get a “Way too early…” projection collectively. It may present as an incredible marker of who does and doesn’t present out in OTAs, coaching camp and the preseason.
QB (2) – Baker Mayfield, Jake BrowningRB (4) – Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, Sean Tucker, Josh WilliamsWR (5) – Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, Ted HurstTE (4) – Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Bauer SharpOT (4) – Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Ben Chukwuma, Justin SkuleOG (4) – Cody Mauch, Ben Bredeson, Dan Feeney, Billy SchrauthC (1) – Graham BartonK (1) – Chase McLaughlin
Jalon Daniels could also be an thrilling undrafted free agent, however he’s nonetheless a challenge. And for a workforce that should make the playoffs this yr, Jake Browning is the extra measured choice for Baker Mayfield’s backup. Then once more if Mayfield goes down, former Bucs offensive assistant Tom Moore would say the workforce is…nicely, you realize.
Bucs management was excessive on Josh Williams final yr. A PED suspension might have knocked a few of that shine off, however there aren’t any higher choices that ought to problem him for the ultimate working again place.
I attempted to discover a approach to embody Kam Johnson because the returner after he had a powerful 2025 in that position, however I couldn’t sq. it. Now, I may see a world the place the Bucs attempt to stash one among Ko Kieft or Bauer Sharp on the observe squad to get Johnson one of many final roster spots.
Bucs TE Ko Kieft – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
With Ben Bredeson’s potential to play heart at a excessive stage, I don’t suppose the Bucs carry a backup heart, particularly. Ben Chukwuma’s promising play final yr has put him near a lock this yr and Bucs management loves Dan Feeney as a veteran backup presence. Justin Skule is the one participant I’m least assured about on this record.
Test again in subsequent week after I add the protection (which has tougher selections forward).
Enjoyable Fourth Down: All-Time Bucs 53-Man Roster – Offense
When considering of all-time Bucs gamers or groups the train normally facilities on making a beginning lineup. We at Pewter Report put collectively an all-time Bucs fantasy draft a while again the place we every tried to fill out a beginning offense and protection. However I can’t for the lifetime of me recall a time the place somebody went by means of the method of making an attempt to place collectively a full 53-man roster. So permit me to be the primary.
For a workforce that has traditionally been recognized for its protection, the Bucs put collectively a powerful all-time offensive roster.
QB (3) – Tom Brady, Brad Johnson, Doug WilliamsRB (4) – Mike Alstott, Warrick Dunn, Doug Martin, James WilderWR (5) – Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Keyshawn Johnson, Mark Provider, Joey GallowayTE (3) – Jimmie Giles, Rob Gronkowski, Cameron BrateOT (4) – Tristan Wirfs, Paul Gruber, Donald Penn, Demar DotsonOG (3) – Ali Marpet, Davin Joseph, Sean FarrellC (2) – Ryan Jensen, Tony MayberryST (2) – Chase McLaughlin (Okay), Karl Williams (PR-KR)
I went with three quarterbacks as a result of each outlined a successful period in Tampa Bay’s historical past. Tom Brady’s inclusion regardless of taking part in simply three seasons is comprehensible contemplating he delivered the workforce its second Tremendous Bowl. The identical goes for Rob Gronkowski.
Talking of Gronkowski, his inclusion exhibits the Bucs haven’t had a ton of elite tight finish play over the historical past of the franchise. Cam Brate and Dave Moore have been a detailed battle for the ultimate spot. I went with Brate due to the touchdowns. And don’t look now, however Cade Otton may cross Brate in catches and receiving yards as quickly as subsequent yr. However he might want to get away as a crimson zone risk to shut the present hole of twenty-two touchdowns that separate the 2 proper now.
Clearly, Mike Evans leads the receivers. Who the highest 3 are in 11 personnel is a enjoyable debate. For me it will be Chris Godwin Jr. within the slot and Joey Galloway because the Z. Keyshawn Johnson and Mark Provider would come off the bench for me.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: IMAGN Photographs – Bob Donnan
I like the working again group. Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn reunite for WD-40 “Thunder and Lightning” duo with Doug Martin and James Wilder offering robust depth.
The sort out group is spectacular. I’d kick Tristan Wirfs again to proper sort out to be able to get Paul Gruber on the sector over Demar Dotson. Ali Marpet and Davin Joseph make a powerful guard duo flanking Ryan Jensen. That’s a top-flight offensive line.
Like with the present roster projection, test again in subsequent week after I add the protection to this formidable group.
