A young Tampa Bay offense looks ahead to Week 1

By Lily Belcher

With the 2023 football season underway, the Buccaneers are set to make their third consecutive race for the NFC South division title. The Bucs, led by second-year head coach Todd Bowles, will travel to Minnesota, where they will take on the NFC North division champion Vikings at 1 p.m.

The Bucs made an early playoff exit in 2022, but, with a new quarterback to lead the charge, they come into this season with something to prove. Former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield will take the opening snap for Tampa Bay’s starting offense. He looks to fill the shoes of Tom Brady, who retired in the offseason.

After a preseason game, Mayfield said he is looking forward to seeing his offense come to life while putting their practice to the test in the first regular season game.

"I think our group truly understands the system that we've put in [and] what we're trying to get accomplished,” Mayfield said.

Alongside Mayfield, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans and Chris Godwin reclaimed their role on the starter’s roster and welcomed rookie Trey Palmer. The Nebraska Cornhuskers receiver was drafted by the Bucs in 2023 in the sixth round as the 191st overall pick. Palmer is one of 13 rookies on the 53-man roster, transforming the Bucs’ post-Brady team to a much younger lineup.

“[Palmer] is playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Godwin said in the preseason. “He’s a fast guy, man. I don’t [know if] people notice it or not, but he’s flying out there.”

Cade Otton and Ko Kieft are both only in their second season, but are the most experienced tight ends on the Bucs’ roster. Otton posted an average of six yards per target and Kieft posted eight yards per target in 2022, compared to the league average of 7.23 yards.

With Bucs center Ryan Jensen likely out for the 2023 season after his knee injury failed to heal properly, second-year Robert Hainsey will be Tampa Bay’s center this season. Hainsey was already stepping into the leadership role in the preseason, according to the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator Dave Canales.

“He’s sharp. He just gets them all on the same page, going to the right game. Whether it’s the run game or the protection, those are the guys that make this offense go,” Canales said. “We try to take as much off the quarterback as possible. So, Hainsey allows us to do that.”

Prior to being tasked with raising the young Tampa Bay offense, Canales was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. He led the Seahawks to the 2022 playoffs after improving Geno Smith, who was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year last year.

“I’m really excited about just the variety of the stuff we can [do]. Going into the preseason, [we were] just putting thoughts into execution, how can we get our system going,” Canales said. “Putting something out there that the guys could grab onto [and] play fast.”

The Bucs will play the Vikings on Sunday, September 10 with kick off at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS and NFL+.