The Buccaneers’ offseason makeover has reached the quarterback room, and one of the new faces on staff is already leaving a mark.
Tampa Bay overhauled much of its offensive coaching setup this spring, pairing new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson with a staff of his own. Among the additions, quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer has quickly become a name to watch behind the scenes.
Whitmer arrived after spending last season at Indiana as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. He helped develop Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and was part of the program’s National Championship run.
Baker Mayfield has already spoken highly of Whitmer’s approach, especially the way he pushes certain parts of the quarterback craft. Now another Buccaneers quarterback has echoed that sentiment.
"We didn’t have a ton of that last year. Even in the meeting rooms, he’s super nitpicky on footwork and little tiny details.
But that’s kind of what the NFL comes down to - one to two plays a game could determine the game. And if your fundamentals are off, maybe on one play and you miss a throw high, leave a throw a little behind, the receiver gets 15 yards instead of 25... maybe that’s the difference in a game."
That focus on footwork has been a clear theme this offseason. For a quarterback room trying to sharpen every edge, it’s the kind of detail work that can matter when games get tight.
Whitmer replaced Thad Lewis, who held the job from 2023-25. The fact that both Mayfield and Bazelak have pointed to Whitmer’s attention to footwork suggests his style may be more demanding in that area than what Tampa Bay had before.
For now, the message in the quarterback room is simple: keep tightening the fundamentals. The Buccaneers open training camp on July 28th and will play their final preseason game on August 28.
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