Week 12 saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drop another tough one.
The Bucs have now lost six of their last seven games, and nothing seems to be changing whatsoever. Todd Bowles is the same guy after each loss, giving us all the same scripted coach speak in his postgame pressers.
In those six losses, the Bucs have scored 20 or more points just twice, proving that they have a problem. It's not just offensive coordinator Dave Canales, either. It's on Bowles. Both of them will likely be gone after this season, with the Bucs bringing in an offensive-minded candidate to replace Bowles and run the show.
With that in mind, let's try and narrow down four of the very best, most capable candidates the Bucs should be looking at.
1. Frank Smith, Offensive Coordinator, Miami Dolphins
If you want offense, look no further than the Miami Dolphins. The no. 1 offense in the NFL resides in Miami, where the Dolphins rank first in yards per game, passing, and yards per rush. They're also second in scoring, just behind Dallas.
What Mike McDaniel and Frank Smith have done in Miami has football fans everywhere watching with amazement. They're one of the most exciting teams to watch across the league, as Tua Tagovailoa has really taken off under their leadership.
Bringing a similar system to Tampa would be a breath of fresh air. The Bucs obviously have to figure out their quarterback position, which Smith would want a hand in as well. But, once that's done, this Bucs offense could look a whole lot different in 2024.
In the meantime, you can score an INSTANT $200 bonus from BetMGM with any $10 bet right now! New users who bet $10 or more on the Bucs vs. Panthers today will immediately get $200 in bonus bets. Sign up for BetMGM now!
2. Ben Johnson, Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
One of the other top candidates, and surely to get a head coaching job in 2024, is Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The Lions' offense has taken a huge step forward over the past two seasons, and Johnson is a big reason why.
People will point to Jared Goff's last couple of games as a worrying point, but I don't think his errant interceptions have anything to do with Johnson. So, let's look at the body of work as a whole. Last year, the Lions ended the regular season with the league's no. 8 passing offense and were fifth in scoring.
This year, Detroit is the no. 2 offense in yards per game, no. 3 in passing and no.7 in scoring. Since the beginning of the 2022 season, Goff has thrown for over 7,500 yards, 47 touchchdowns and 15 interceptions. He had been playing some of the best football of his career before the past two weeks gave him some trouble.
Johnson has done a great job utilizing his running backs, wide receivers and tight end Sam LaPorta, getting them all involved on a regular basis. The Bucs could have a well-balanced offense under Johnson, and the first-time head coach might even have a shiny, new franchise quarterback to work with, depending on the Bucs' draft position.
3. Brian Johnson, Offensive Coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles
What a week for the Philadelphia Eagles and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. The Eagles escaped with a win over the Buffalo Bills in what ended up being the game of the week. Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen became the first quarterbacks ever to pass and rush for multiple touchdowns in the same game, so the offense was aplenty in this one.
Johnson can take a large portion of the credit for the development of Hurts, and is a big reason why the former Oklahoma and Alabama standout became one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league over this past offseason.
If the Bucs want a true offensive mine who has proven it, they should look at Johnson. The Eagles have two very good wideouts in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and the Bucs have a pair of strong wideouts themselves in Mike Evans (pending a re-signing) and Chris Godwin.
One of the biggest detriments to the Bucs' offense has been the inability to get the ball into the hands of their best players on a consistent basis, and you better believe Johnson could make that happen.
4. Ken Dorsey, Former Offensive Coordinator, Buffalo Bills
Looking at that Bills and Eagles game again, one has to be feeling a little bad for Ken Dorsey, who was fired recently after having served as the team's offensive coordinator since the start of the 2022 campaign. Head coach Sean McDermott needed a scapegoat, and Dorsey was exactly that.
Prior to being fired, the Bills offense had still been a top unit across the league, and top-five or top-six in most major areas. Josh Allen hasn't been able to get out of his own way, which wasn't Dorsey's fault by any means. There is no reason why Dorsey shouldn't get another job soon, and he could even be considered for some head coaching opportunities.
Come the 2024 offseason, there will be a ton of teams looking for new head coaches and offensive coordinators. Dorsey will get plenty of attention for the latter, but should the Bucs just skip that step and hire him on as the head coach? Anybody watching the Bills knew that Dorsey wasn't the man who needed walking papers. He deserves another shot, and might even deserve a shot as a head coach.