The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping for an offensive renaissance in 2026.
The Bucs put together one of the best seasons in franchise history in 2024 under offensive coordinator Liam Coen, scoring 30 points per game and recording 400 yards per game, finishing among the NFL’s top four in both categories.
But after Coen departed to become the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, the offense took a significant step backward under Josh Grizzard. The Buccaneers averaged just 22 points per game and 320 yards per game, falling back to the middle of the pack offensively.
Now, Zac Robinson is taking over as the new offensive coordinator with the goal of getting the most out of one of the NFL’s most talented offensive rosters. Robinson overlapped with Coen during their time on the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff, and he’s expected to bring back some of the concepts that made Tampa Bay’s offense so explosive in 2024.
Early in training camp, Robinson has already revived one of the Buccaneers’ most effective offensive wrinkles from that prolific season.
Zac Robinson is bringing the Pony package back to the Buccaneers
The “Pony package”, also known as 21 personnel, is a formation that sees two running backs line up in the backfield.
The Buccaneers had tremendous success with the package in 2024, so much so that it became a fan favorite in Tampa Bay.
After a Week 14 showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders in which the Bucs were particularly effective out of the Pony package, Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo broke down just how dominant the offense was in 21 personnel.
"Liam Coen called for the Pony package six times on Sunday. The Bucs offense put up 83 yards on those plays. That’s 13.8 yards per play. They had a 100% success rate and a 17% explosive rate in 21 personnel while generating a new first down half the time."Josh Queipo, Pewter Report
The wrinkle all but disappeared from Tampa Bay’s playbook last season under Josh Grizzard, but Robinson seems to be bringing it back this season.
Pewter Report’s Adam Slivon was on site for Friday’s training camp practice, where Bucky Irving ripped off the biggest run of the day out of the Pony package.
"The biggest run of the day was out of the pony package, when Irving took the carry on a delayed handoff, accelerated through the middle of the field, and was able to speed down the field. Not only would it have been a game-changing run, but the “Bucky, Bucky, Bucky” chants made it feel like a regular-season moment."Adam Slivon, Pewter Report
It’s encouraging to see Robinson leaning back into what worked so well for the Buccaneers in 2024.
With a deep backfield featuring Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, and Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay has the personnel to maximize the Pony package. It gives Robinson plenty of opportunities to deploy his talented running back stable in creative ways while keeping opposing defenses on their toes.
It’s still early, but Robinson is showing signs of being a home run hire for the Buccaneers. Reviving one of the team’s most successful offensive wrinkles from 2024 shows he understands what made that offense so dangerous. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Robinson appears willing to cater to the strengths of his personnel and rely on concepts that have already proven successful in Tampa Bay. If that trend continues, the Buccaneers could once again boast one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses.
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