3 massive questions for Buccaneers heading into the 2024 offseason

Can Liam Coen effectively replace Dave Canales?

When the Panthers announced that they were going to hire Dave Canales to be their next head coach, there were more than a few analysts who questioned the decision. Last year was Canales' first year in an offensive coordinator role, and hiring a 42-year-old with one year of coordinating experience is always a bit of a dice roll.

And it's not like the Bucs had an elite offense, either: league-wide, they ranked 17th in passing yards, eight in passing touchdowns, 23rd in rushing attempts, and dead last (32) in rushing yards. In Canales defense, he did get the most out of Baker Mayfield, who looked like his time in the NFL was running out before he signed with the Bucs.

With Canales gone, Tampa turned to Liam Coen, who was the University of Kentucky's offensive coordinator. There, Coen helped turn now-Titans QB Will Levis into one of the most prolific passers in recent SEC history. He also, notably enough, has a history with Mayfield: the two worked together under Sean McVay in Los Angeles. The continuity that Todd Bowles wanted to bring to the position gives a pretty decent hint about what the Bucs' offense will look like next season.