Bucs OC Zac Robinson Sees a Ready-Made Offense in Tampa Bay
New Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson isn’t walking into a rebuild - he’s stepping into a room that already has the pieces to compete. And he knows exactly where the foundation starts: up front.
“You’ve got to start with the offensive line,” Robinson said, and he’s right to do so. That group is built the right way - big, physical, and cohesive.
When they’re rolling, there aren’t many units around the league you’d prefer protecting your quarterback. For an incoming OC trying to install a system, having a line that can set the tone makes everything easier.
But it doesn’t stop there. Robinson sees a versatile, well-rounded skill group that gives him plenty to work with.
The wide receiver room? Deep and diverse.
Whether it’s route technicians, vertical threats, or guys who can create after the catch, Tampa Bay has a mix of weapons that complement each other well. It’s the kind of group that lets you get creative with formations and matchups.
Then there’s the backfield. Robinson admitted he didn’t study Bucky Irving much coming out of college - the Bucs weren’t in the market for a back at the time.
But after Irving’s breakout 2024 season, that changed in a hurry. Now, Robinson’s eager to tap into what Irving can do, both as a runner and a pass-catcher.
That dual-threat ability gives the offense another layer of unpredictability.
Tight end? Steady and reliable. Cade Otton’s future may still be up in the air as a pending free agent, but Robinson’s confident that group brings stability - and that’s a big deal in an offense that could ask tight ends to block, stretch the seam, or serve as safety valves underneath.
Bottom line: Robinson’s not starting from scratch. He’s inheriting a unit with talent, depth, and balance - and he’s ready to build something sustainable with it.
Falcons Leaning into Physical Identity Under Stefanski and Ryan
In Atlanta, the message is clear: the Falcons want to be the kind of team that punches first - and keeps punching. President of football operations Matt Ryan laid it out plainly: the Falcons are going to run the football, stop the run, and bring a physical edge on both sides of the ball.
“We wanted a detailed, tough, physical football team,” Ryan said. That starts with a ground game that can impose its will and a passing game that feeds off that physicality. Think play-action, chunk plays, and a downhill mentality.
Defensively, it’s about setting the tone early. Atlanta wants to stop the run and make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks - not just with pressure, but with disguise and confusion. It’s not just about hitting the quarterback; it’s about making him think twice before the snap and hesitate after it.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski echoed that mindset. For him, toughness isn’t something you talk about - it’s something you earn.
“We will be about that work,” Stefanski said. “Physicality is earned.”
That kind of culture doesn’t happen overnight, but Stefanski’s making it clear: the Falcons are going to grind for it. Smart, physical football is the goal, and the process to get there starts now.
One of Stefanski’s first moves was keeping defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on staff - and it wasn’t a tough call.
“Watching the tape of what he did with our young guys this season, it was really exciting,” Stefanski said. “We hit it off quickly.
Same football mindset. Same standards.”
That continuity on defense could pay off in a big way, especially with a young core that showed promise last season.
QB Decision Still Looming in Atlanta, But Stefanski Likes What He Sees in Penix
While the Falcons are shaping their identity in the trenches, the quarterback situation remains up in the air. Stefanski made it clear that any decision on the position will come after a general manager is in place.
“We have to hire a general manager first,” he said. “Then we’ll sit down - me, the GM, and Matt Ryan - and go through all the roster decisions.”
That said, Stefanski did offer some optimism about one young passer already in the building: Michael Penix Jr.
“Michael is a young player I think very highly of,” Stefanski said. Penix is currently rehabbing from injury, but he’s doing all the right things, and that’s the first box that needs to be checked. The Falcons aren’t rushing the process - health comes first.
Penix has shown flashes in his first two seasons, and Stefanski sounds eager to help him take the next step. “I’m excited to have the ability to develop him,” he said.
While the GM hire will shape the future of the quarterback room, Stefanski’s comments suggest Penix will be part of that conversation - and possibly a bigger part of the Falcons’ long-term plans than some might expect.