Zac Robinson's introductory press conference should excite Buccaneers fans

Zac Robinson gave his introductory press conference on Tuesday, giving him his first opportunity to make a strong impression on the Buccaneers’ fan base and local media.

Safe to say, Robinson knocked it out of the park.

Highlighted by his familiarity with quarterback Baker Mayfield from their time with the Rams and his intent to carry over parts of Liam Coen’s offense that was so successful in 2024, Robinson’s first presser gave Bucs fans a lot to be excited about.

Robinson offered some subtle insights into how he plans to call the offense, including a heavy emphasis on getting Mayfield out of the pocket on bootlegs — one of the quarterback’s greatest strengths.

“He’s probably the best in the league throwing on the run,” Robinson said. “He’s great in the keeper game, great in the boot game, so I’m looking to evolve that part and make sure we’re playing to Baker’s strengths and the rest of those guys’ strengths.”

Robinson also made it clear that the foundation of the offense will look familiar to Coen’s 2024 scheme.

“Liam [Coen] and I worked together in L.A. The foundation and beliefs that we have, coming from Sean [McVay] and that system, is definitely what we’re going to be all about.”

His plan to pivot back toward a Coen-inspired scheme, one heavily influenced by McVay and the Rams, is music to the Buccaneers’ ears.

In Coen’s lone season in 2024, Tampa Bay had one of the best offensive units in franchise history. The Bucs ranked third in the NFL in total offense, averaging 400 yards per game. Their 29.5 points per game ranked fourth in the league, and they finished top five in both passing and rushing offense.

Those numbers declined significantly after Coen’s departure, as the team landed in the middle of the pack offensively in 2025. A major reason for hiring Robinson was the belief that his familiarity with a Coen-style system could help Mayfield and the offense return to elite status.

In addition to Mayfield who was the main attraction for the job, Robinson expressed his excitement to work with Tampa Bay’s offensive line, which he calls one of the best in the league, and their talented skill position players. 

Robinson emphasized his philosophy of utilizing players over plays, meaning rather than stubbornly sticking to his script or his scheme, Robinson will adapt based on his players and their strengths.

“We all have a foundational belief in what we want to do scheme wise,” said Robinson. “Offense is ever-evolving. You’re adapting to your players…”

“There will be some great carryover. They’re will be some new things that we did in Atlanta. There will be some things that I’ve never done, they’ve never done that might fit us. The great thing about offensive football is there’s more than one way to do it.”

Robinson’s philosophy is strikingly similar to that of Coen, who also heavily emphasized “players over plays” during his stint in Tampa Bay. It’s refreshing and encouraging to hear that ideology make a return to the Bucs offense. 

Robinson made a strong first impression and, for all intents and purposes, won the opening press conference.

Now comes the hard part. Expectations will be sky-high for him to elevate the offense and help to unlock the potential in a roster that has the talent to be one of the best units in the NFL.