Third-Down Warriors Again
September 16th, 2025
Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.
Last year the Bucs led the NFL in third-down conversion rate at 51 percent.
Keep in mind 40 percent or better is quite good by league standards.
Last week at Atlanta, led by rookie playcaller Josh Grizzard, the Bucs offense moved the chains at a 50 percent clip on third downs.
Grizzard, the Bucs’ third-down play designer-in-chief last season, was back at it again last night in Houston against a good defense.
The Bucs finished 6-of-14 on third downs. That’s 42.8 percent if you’re scoring at home. The Bucs also converted their lone fourth down, a Baker Mayfield 15-yard scramble, a play in which Mayfield wasn’t touched before he passed the sticks on the game-winning drive. And don’t think it was a coincidence that Mayfield had room to run with receivers running deep routes on that play.
Grizzard is impressing Joe. It’s not perfect, but he’s had a very smooth landing as an offensive coordinator with a battered offensive line.
READ NEXT
Smart, Successful Pivot To Rachaad White