New Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has a clear vision for Tampa Bay’s offense in 2026: keep the fireworks in the passing game, and finally light a spark in the run game. If he can pull it off, the Bucs could become one of the league’s most dangerous, well-rounded attacks.
Let’s start with what’s already working. Tampa Bay was one of the NFL’s most explosive passing teams last season.
Only two teams created more big plays through the air, with 10 percent of their pass attempts going for 15 yards or more. That’s the kind of vertical threat that keeps defensive coordinators up at night - and it’s a testament to quarterback Baker Mayfield and a talented receiving corps featuring Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans.
But as good as the passing game was at stretching the field, the run game lagged behind. Tampa’s rushing attack also posted a 10 percent explosive play rate - but that only ranked 22nd in the NFL. The Bucs simply weren’t getting chunk yardage on the ground, and that imbalance made the offense easier to predict, especially late in the season.
Enter Zac Robinson, who spent the last two years coordinating the Falcons’ offense. In Atlanta, Robinson’s system produced a more dynamic rushing attack - 11 percent of their run plays went for 10+ yards, good for 12th in the league.
That success was largely driven by Bijan Robinson, who’s quickly become one of the league’s premier backs. But Robinson’s scheme deserves credit, too - and that’s what Tampa is hoping to import.
If you could blend Atlanta’s ground game with Tampa’s passing attack, you’d have something special. And while that’s easier said than done, the Bucs have pieces in place to make it work.
Baker Mayfield may not be perfect - turnovers remain a concern - but he’s still a more dynamic option than what Atlanta rolled out last season with Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins. Mayfield’s ability to push the ball downfield is a big reason Tampa was so explosive early in the year, when they jumped out to a 6-3 start and averaged over 24 points per game.
But that early momentum faded. Defenses adjusted, particularly by focusing on Egbuka, who started drawing top coverage assignments.
Over the final eight games, Egbuka never topped 64 receiving yards, and the Bucs stumbled to a 1-6 finish. The offense became too reliant on one weapon, and it showed.
To avoid that same fate in 2026, Tampa needs to spread the wealth. Jalen McMillan and Chris Godwin will need to step up, and if the team brings back Mike Evans, that trio gives Mayfield plenty of options to keep defenses honest.
Then there’s the run game, which will be key to unlocking the full potential of Robinson’s system. While Rachaad Irving isn’t Bijan Robinson - few are - he’s a versatile back with upside.
He cracked 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2024, and though injuries slowed him last season (he missed seven games and saw his yards-per-carry dip from 5.4 to 3.4), he still brings value as a dual-threat. Irving racked up 392 receiving yards in 2024, and that kind of versatility fits perfectly in a modern, spread-out offense.
If Irving can stay healthy and regain his rookie-year form, he could be the key to balancing this offense. Robinson’s scheme thrives with backs who can run and catch, and Irving checks both boxes. That balance is what turns good offenses into great ones - and it’s what Tampa’s been missing.
One more thing to watch: overall efficiency. While the Bucs were explosive at times, they weren’t consistently efficient.
They ranked 20th in Expected Points Added (EPA), a key metric that measures how well an offense performs relative to expectations on each play. Atlanta wasn’t much better, finishing 24th.
That’s the challenge for Robinson - not just to create highlight-reel plays, but to build an offense that can sustain drives, control tempo, and produce points consistently.
The pieces are there. The passing game has already shown it can stretch the field.
The run game has a back with upside. And with a new coordinator who understands how to scheme for both, the Bucs have a real shot to become one of the more balanced and dangerous offenses in the NFC South.
If it all clicks, Tampa Bay won’t just be explosive - they’ll be a problem.