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 return, and 4. a little bit of enjoyable.
Movie: Appreciating Ben Bredeson
Ben Bredeson doesn’t include the identical title attraction that the remainder of the Bucs offensive line does. He isn’t a former Day 1 choose like Tristan Wirfs or Graham Barton. He isn’t a former Day 2 choose like Cody Mauch or Luke Goedeke. He didn’t get a top-of the market deal like Wirfs and Goedeke. He isn’t homegrown like the opposite 4. He was introduced in as an afterthought and positioned right into a journeyman competitors with Sua Opeta.
However Bredeson’s play was maximized in his first yr with the Bucs in 2024. A lot so, that he earned a second contract in Tampa Bay on a strong, however unspectacular, mid-level deal. His deal matches his play. Nondescript. You gained’t discover clips of Bredeson on social media rag-dolling a linebacker or driving a defensive sort out into tomorrow. However he not often loses ugly and as a rule will get the job carried out. It’s not horny. However it’s a dwelling.
Bucs C Ben Bredeson – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Soccer IQ
Re-watching a number of of his video games final yr, the primary factor that stood out to me was Bredeson’s processing and simply total soccer IQ. He doesn’t fall for video games. He not often misses a blitz pickup.
Bredeson’s recognition in opposition to strain is genuinely superior. He feels stunts and twists creating earlier than they totally declare, and he’s routinely in place for the looping rusher moderately than chasing him after the actual fact. You see it within the run sport as effectively when Bredeson has to climb to the second degree and account for a transferring goal. That sort of pre-snap and early-rep processing is what separates a guard who survives difficult fronts from one who will get caught by them, and Bredeson lands on the suitable facet of that line far as a rule.
These traits translated effectively when Bredeson moved to heart early final season because the Bucs juggled their offensive line. These heart video games have been a few of his greatest in pewter and pink and highlighted each his smarts and his communication expertise.
Restoration
A part of the rationale you don’t see Bredeson spotlight cutups is as a result of a few of his greatest play comes after an early loss. However the purpose for an offensive lineman in move safety is to maintain the quarterback clear. Fairly or ugly, it’s a pass-fail system. And Bredeson passes at a strong clip, it simply typically occurs late within the rep after taking an early loss. However his closing anchor and strong footwork assist him get to the outcome he desires late within the rep.
He’s not an immovable object, and Bredeson will concede floor when a rusher will get into his body. What he does effectively is settle the rep earlier than it turns into an issue. He provides slightly, resets his base, and retains the pocket intact, which is why his strain numbers keep cleaner than the occasional misplaced first step would counsel. Bend with out break is an actual ability, and it is among the causes his quarterback not often pays for the reps the place Bredeson is momentarily on his heels.
Athleticism in House
Bredeson is snug in area, whether or not which means main on a display screen, climbing to occupy a linebacker on the second degree, or getting out in entrance of a play and becoming onto a defender with room to work. For a guard, that mobility is a differentiator. It lets an offense ask him to do issues a heavy-footed lineman merely can not, and he solutions these asks cleanly.
Bucs LG Ben Bredeson – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
All of this make him a practical piece of an excellent line. The adage goes, “offensive line is a weak link system.” If Bredeson is the weak hyperlink, many groups do a lot worse.
Limitations
Bredeson isn’t with out limitations although. They usually cluster round a single concept. He’s susceptible to elite athletes, and particularly to those who can beat him with the primary transfer. When a defender wins the preliminary step, detaches, and forces him to redirect after the actual fact, the rep can get away from him. Sudden lateral quickness, a tough counter, a swim excessive, these are the instruments that put Bredeson on the again foot, and as soon as he’s reacting moderately than dictating, the very best inside gamers within the league can end him.
Superior measurement and power may give him hassle as effectively, although that exhibits up extra as an incapability to create motion than as a collapse in safety. The sample beneath all of it’s constant. Bredeson is sweet on the entrance foot and uncovered on the again foot. When he initiates or anticipates, he wins. When he’s compelled to react to a greater athlete who moved first, he doesn’t.
That very same concept explains the place he’s at his greatest within the run sport, and it’s a scheme-fit level. Bredeson is at his handiest utilizing angles, walling defenders out of gaps in a downhill, gap-based run scheme. Give him a person to seal and as a rule he finds the suitable angle to do it. He’s dependable, as a result of the job rewards leverage and timing moderately than uncooked displacement.
Ask him as an alternative to achieve and maintain in a lateral zone scheme, the place he has to run a defender to a spot after which drive him as soon as he arrives, and the reps get dicier. He can place, however he doesn’t at all times end, and defenders with any pop can discard him as soon as the preliminary seal is made.
Schematically in hole there are some actual limitations as effectively. Bredeson struggles to be the displacement level on solo blocks. His pure power is average at greatest so he isn’t the participant you need to depend on to drive a defensive lineman again on his personal. He’s practical as a part of a double on duo or inside zone, however he simply doesn’t have the knock again energy to be the tip of the spear.
The underside line is a that he’s a great, scheme-sensitive starter. Bredeson wins along with his thoughts, his restoration, and his ft, and he’s at his greatest when the play lets him dictate. Level him downhill, let him use angles, and defend him from having to chase elite movers in area, and he’s a real asset up entrance. That could be a beneficial participant. It’s simply not a flawless one.
Finance: Emeka Egbuka’s Early Valuation
Emeka Egbuka’s up-and-down rookie season has been well-documented. However what does that do for his early prospects for a second contract? With three years left on his rookie deal, plus a possible fifth-year choice, which will appear to be an eternity from now.
However groups begin placing collectively valuations after gamers rookie campaigns. It raises the query, what’s Egbuka’s present valuation?
With 63 catches, 938 yards, 6 touchdowns and 1.76 yards per/route run, his closest manufacturing comps are JuJu Smith-Schuster (2022), Jameson Williams (2024) and DeVonta Smith (2023).
*All stats pulled from Professional Soccer Focus and graphic was made utilizing generative AI Claude
The encouraging learn on this comp set is that the cap-adjusted common of Schuster, Williams and Smith’s APY’s matches my algorithm’s prediction at simply over $23 million per yr. However wanting nearer, there’s a massive hole between the excessive and the low of that unfold, with the median ($28.75 million) resting a lot increased than the common ($23.24 million).
Smith-Schuster’s contract is the one dragging the common down. And the place Williams and Smith’s offers have been each early extensions off rookie contracts, JuJu’s deal was a fourth contract following a four-year season-by-season oscillation of manufacturing dictated by his well being in any given marketing campaign. The match is a tougher one to match.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
This truly creates a powerful framing for his profession so far. The early season success and scoring frequency exhibits a ceiling of a near $30 million per yr receiver. However the late season stoop exhibits the potential for a complementary piece who rounds out a room, moderately than acts as a focus of 1. I’m extra inclined to see the upside as a more true outlook on his future than the draw back.
Forecast: Which Bucs Assistant Coach Is Doubtless To Develop into A Future Head Coach?
There are at present 25 coaches listed as part of Todd Bowles’ teaching workers. Now of those 25, there are a number of we will remove as robust candidates for a future head teaching function based mostly on the place they’re of their careers right now.
Energy and conditioning coaches don’t get a lot development into positions that may springboard them to move teaching spots. So we will shortly remove that group (Chad Wade, Corey Bichey and Deandre Ward Sr.). Likewise, senior supervisor of teaching operations Sarah Evans doesn’t have a transparent path to the highest spot. This reduces the listing to 21.
Whereas there may be precedent for particular groups coordinators to make a profitable bounce to move coach within the archetype of a CEO (see Harbaugh, John), Danny Smith might be previous the purpose in his profession the place he could be thought-about for that transition. Equally, it has been nearly 10 years since move sport specialist and senior offensive assistant Ken Zampese was an offensive coordinator. With over 25 years of NFL teaching expertise it’s probably he’s a profession assistant at this level.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and OLBs coach Larry Foote – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
On the opposite finish of that spectrum, Todd Bowles Jr. is making his first foray into teaching, placing any inventory in his development past the usual nepotism that runs rampant in NFL teaching circles. The listing of potentials now falls to 18.
I’m additionally going to remove the assistant place group coaches in addition to high quality management staffers. Which means we bid goodbye to Joey Fitzgerald, Jeff Kastl, Andrew Mitchell, Blaine Stewart and Luke Smith. We are actually all the way down to 13 candidates.
From right here let’s have a look at the probably candidate from a number of bucketed teams.
Coordinators and Main Schematic Specialists
There’s an apparent candidate from this group that features offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, offensive run sport coordinator and offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, offensive move sport coordinator T.J. Yates, defensive move sport coordinator George Edwards, defensive run sport coordinator and out of doors linebackers coach Larry Foote.
Robinson has the title recognition and the teaching tree pedigree to springboard from Bucs offensive coordinator to NFL head coach in comparatively quick order. There’s the apparent precedent of Dave Canales and Liam Coen.
Robinson has proven an adherence to the Rams scheme model 1.0 – a heavy reliance on mid/vast zone as the muse for the whole offense. There’s a path for a profitable model of that to result in a head teaching gig.
Final yr, Klint Kubiak helped the Seahawks to a Tremendous Bowl by operating a tried and true, however not very radical model of his father, former head coach Gary Kubiak’s, offense. The offense relied on staples which have confirmed profitable for years and excessive finish execution to land a head teaching gig.
However Robinson has proven a capability to regulate his offense to his personnel. Throughout his time in Atlanta, he ran extra pistol than every other offense as a result of his quarterbacks, Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., struggled to show their backs to the protection. Pistol helped him get to the vast zone run sport and play motion ideas that he knew would work effectively along with his roster whereas nonetheless working inside the constraints of his quarterbacks.
That capacity to adapt his offense is strictly what made Liam Coen such a sizzling commodity in 2024 and ultimately earned him his head teaching gig with the Jaguars.
Bucs OC Zac Robinson – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Robinson has the quickest and clearest path to a head teaching spot amongst all of Bowles’ assistants.
Foote and Edwards will discover issue gaining any head teaching traction as a result of they don’t name performs on the protection. Yates might want to get an opportunity to name performs as an offensive coordinator.
I doubt Carberry ever will get run as a head teaching candidate, however I may see him changing into a powerful candidate for offensive coordinator for a play-calling head coach within the close to future. Carberry’s success creating offensive linemen and making a diverse and explosive run sport is an identical trajectory to Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who’s effectively considered across the NFL.
Offensive Place Coaches
One offensive place coach ought to be tapped for ascension within the subsequent few years. Vast receivers coach Bryan McClendon. McClendon has gotten essentially the most out of younger and veteran receivers alike. He has a background as a passing sport coordinator and an offensive coordinator, with a small stretch as interim head coach at Oregon in 2021. All of these roles have been on the collegiate degree.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. and WRs coach Bryan McClendon – Picture by: Cliff Welch P/R
The final piece of the puzzle for McClendon to lift his head teaching profile is transferring into these coordinator positions on the NFL degree. That may come quickly for the proficient receivers coach.
Past McClendon, the recent title on that facet of the ball is new quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer. He was fairly the get for the Bucs this offseason to switch former quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis. Whitmer is coming off of a school nationwide championship with Indiana the place he was co-offensive coordinator. If the Bucs’ offense blows up in 2026, search for Robinson to get a head teaching gig and Whitmer to be the most well liked inner title to switch him if he doesn’t get buzz for a similar function on different groups.
Defensive Place Coaches
Inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell has essentially the most title recognition. He’s a former defensive coordinator for the Jaguars, however that stint wasn’t essentially the most profitable. If the Bucs protection blows up in 2026 he may see a renewed curiosity in him transferring again into that function.
From there, the high-pressure and adverse play nature of the Bowles/Caldwell system is the precise sort that may catch hearth for a season and vault him to a head teaching gig. I don;t see this as a probable path, nevertheless it has a non-zero probability.
The 2 less-known names that I’ve my eye on are cornerbacks coach Rashad Johnson and line of defense coach Marcus West. Johnson is taking on the complete cornerbacks coach function in 2026 after primarily working with the nickel backs over the previous a number of seasons. Which means his resume contains Jacob Parrish in 2025, Tykee Smith in 2024 and Christian Izien in 2023. Every of these gamers had their greatest season working with him.
Bucs CBs coach Rashad Johnson and CB Zyon McCollum – Picture courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Johnson is effectively considered in Tampa Bay, and if he can convey related success to the cornerbacks coach function the longer term is vibrant for the previous Invoice Walsh Teaching Fellow.
West has discovered success because the line of defense coach in Buffalo getting essentially the most out of a restricted place group. West was part of Sean McDermott’s workers that was always evolving to match the ever-changing offenses of the NFL. Previous to that he had some spectacular outcomes on the College of Charlotte, the place he helped develop Alex Highsmith.
West has proven a capability to maximise expertise. If he retains it up in Tampa Bay, a defensive coordinator function could also be in his future. From there the trail to move coach is clearly outlined if he can make the most of it.
Enjoyable Fourth Down: The Bucs Offensive Line As A Rock Band
Think about, if you’ll, the Bucs offensive entrance as a rock band. What well-known musicians come to thoughts whenever you consider Tampa Bay’s offensive trenches? I’ll inform you who involves thoughts for me.
Tristan Wirfs – Lead Vocals – Bruce Springsteen
Anybody who watches Wirfs is aware of he’s “The Boss.” That’s much more obvious in the event you have been current for him difficult the Titans from the sidelines throughout a coaching camp struggle in 2025. Him yelling “What are you crying about?!” was actually a boss transfer if I’ve ever seen one.
And simply as Springsteen will be counted on to offer an unbelievable efficiency time after time, so can Wirfs be counted on to anchor the road with elite and constant play.
Plus, getting Wirfs in open area out in entrance of Bucky Irving helps a Bucs’ offense that was Born to Run.
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: USA At the moment
Ben Bredeson – Bassist – Invoice Wyman
Wyman was the bassist for the Rolling Stones from 1962 to 1993. He was a gentle pressure inside the band, typically offering backup vocals, however he by no means actually stood out. Likewise, Bredeson has supplied regular, constant play for the Bucs for the final two seasons.
And very similar to Wyman impressed the Stones at a tryout, Bredeson gained a camp battle after Sua Opeta went down with a knee harm in 2024.
Bredeson isn’t a star. However his play provides to the general line play. Wyman did the identical for the Stones. His play made the sound higher total. And whereas each fan would love for his or her roster to be filled with All-Professionals, You may’t at all times get what you need. However in the event you attempt generally, you simply would possibly discover you get what you want.
Graham Barton – Lead Guitar – Jimmy Web page circa Yardbirds
Web page is greatest identified for his contributions to Led Zeppelin, the place his play made him probably the greatest guitarists in human historical past. That’s the upside that Barton has. His motion expertise and power imply he might be the very best heart within the NFL sooner or later.
However earlier than Web page struck it huge with Robert Plant, he was in one other band referred to as the Yardbirds, which not solely launched his profession, however that of Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck as effectively. The Yardbirds by no means amassed industrial attraction however have been your favourite musician’s favourite band.
That’s one of the simplest ways I can describe Barton. Ask any offensive lineman analyst about Barton and watch them gush about his expertise, high-end reps and future outlook. However he hasn’t discovered the industrial attraction due to an absence of consistency. Proper now, Barton is a bag filled with Good Instances, Dangerous Instances.
Bucs WR Sterling Shepard and C Graham Barton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Cody Mauch – Drummer – Dave Grohl
Grungy. Retains the beat. Infinite vitality. On the precipice of stardom. Grohl was the beat of one of many extra well-liked bands of a complete technology, Nirvana. Whereas Kurt Cobain was the frontman who everybody targeted on, Grohl was simply as a lot of a rockstar because the world would later discover out when he based and fronted The Foo Fighters.
Grohl is multi-talented, discovering success as a guitarist in addition to on drums. Alongside the identical vein, Mauch has change into one of many higher run blockers within the NFL whereas regularly bettering his strain fee allowed as a move protector.
Mauch is ascending very similar to Grohl did. One would possibly even say he’s Studying to Fly.
Luke Goedeke – Rhythm Guitar – Joe Perry
Perry left Aerosmith in 1979. The band spent the early Nineteen Eighties removed from the lofty heights they reached within the ’70s. However after Perry returned to the band in 1984 and collaborated with Run-D.M.C. in 1986 they returned to prominence, the place they’d keep via their thirteenth studio album in 2001.
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke and Patriots OLB Harold Landry III – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Perry’s return sparked a resurgence, or comeback, that mirrors Goedeke’s return to proper sort out in 2023. After misappropriating Goedeke as a left guard, the Bucs made a small positional adjustment and Simply Pushed Play. That sparked a Perry return-like profession resurgence.
