New coordinator Zac Robinson faces his mentor in a high-stakes showdown, leveraging intimate knowledge of Sean McVay’s system to neutralize Matthew Stafford’s explosive Rams offense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could end up owing a lot to Sean McVay.
No, McVay hasn’t directly contributed to much of Tampa’s success, although it is where he got his start as a 22-year-old coaching assistant in 2008.
But he played a central role in Zac Robinson’s development as a coach.
Robinson worked on McVay’s staff for five seasons, the last two as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He did well enough there to become the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator.
Robinson worked on Raheem Morris’ staff for two seasons, helping Bijan Robinson become arguably the game’s best running back.
But at the end of last season, the Falcons fired Morris, and, as usual, new coach Kevin Stefanski got his own staff.
So when the Buccaneers needed a new offensive coordinator, Robinson was available, and they hired him. We’ll know a lot more about Robinson’s fit in Tampa come January, when the Bucs take on the Los Angeles Rams.
Maybe he’ll flourish like Liam Coen did in his lone season as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator.
Maybe he’ll flounder like Coen’s successor, Josh Grizzard, did.
Grizzard was fired after just one season last year, and Robinson replaced him.
If Robinson can help Bucs’ QB Baker Mayfield be consistent for an entire season, Tampa will be in good shape come Week 17, and fans could be treated to an epic QB duel.
At 38, Matthew Stafford is still as good as anyone. He ended last season as the NFL’s leading passer with 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, winning the NFL MVP. Robinson coached Stafford for three seasons, helping him become a Super Bowl winning QB in the 2021 season.
Although Robinson is coming the offense, his knowledge of Stafford and McVay could be invaluable to Buccaneers’ coach Todd Bowles, who doubles as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Of course, Stafford won’t be the only weapon the Bucs have to stop.
The Rams still have Puka Nacua, who was the second-leading receiver in the league with 1,715 yards last season (the league leader, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, only had 78 more yards and played in one extra game).
LA’s running game is led by the two-headed monster of Karen Williams (1,252 yards, 10 touchdowns, 4.8 yards per carry last season), and Blake Corum (746 yards, six TD, 5.1 YPC).
So, yeah, the Bucs will have their hands full.
The time and date for this matchup haven’t been set yet.
