Big responsibility for Charlie Heck.
This is why good national NFL reporters go to different cities, especially during underwear football season. There are a lot of nuggets to stash away.
Take CBS NFL insider prickly Pete Prisco. While most of the national guys are out golfing or covering tennis or generally on a siesta until training camps open up, not Prisco.
Every year Prisco shows up at One Buc Palace. Sometimes the Fort Lauderdale-based journalist shows up a couple of times a year. And this gumshoe journalism pays off.
One reason the Bucs think the transition from old offensive coordinator Liam Coen to new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is Mayfield’s experience.
Specifically, Coen gave Mayfield a lot of responsibilities both calling plays and barking offensive line assignments at the line. This knowledge, Prisco told his CBS colleague, the pride of Palm Harbor, Jordan Giorgio, will be a key to helping Coen learn the ropes as a first-time playcaller.
“Two years ago, when Dave Canales was the offensive coordinator, Baker Mayfield didn’t do a lot at the line of scrimmage,” Prisco began. “That’s not what they asked him to do last year with Liam Coen.
“They asked him to do a lot more at the line of scrimmage. He will continue to do that under Josh Grizzard. So look, they feel comfortable with each other. They’re allowing [Mayfield] to call plays in certain drills and certain time slots during practice to get used to it.”
Prisco said eventually, he is confident Grizzard gets it all figured out. However, since this video was published, there’s a fly in the ointment.
Mayfield told Prisco that one reason he’s bullish on the Bucs offense with Grizzard is that no matter what line call Mayfield barks, with all starters returning, Mayfield knows those offensive linemen will carry out their tasks.
Whoops. Now with Tristan Wirfs on the shelf, perhaps for a few games, that confidence may be rattled. Charlie Heck is new to the Bucs and he will be the Bucs’ starting left tackle until Wirfs returns.
Joe isn’t too freaked by Heck. He’s a veteran and son of a coach, an offensive line coach in fact. So he, too, will figure things out.
Joe hopes that transition with Grizzard and Heck, respectively, doesn’t take too long.