Former Browns OC Alex Van Pelt and head coach Kevin Stefanski – Photo by: USA Today Even though Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales has departed for Carolina, head coach Todd Bowles will still want his new play-caller to have a similar style that involves Tampa Bay remaining committed to running the ball and using play-action in the passing game, as it suits quarterback Baker Mayfield’s strengths. Both Alex Van Pelt and Brian Johnson come from teams that have had success running the ball. Van Pelt was the offensive coordinator in Buffalo in 2009, and although that team struggled and was forced to play three different quarterbacks, the Bills ran the ball effectively. The 2009 Bills team featured Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards at quarterback, Fred Jackson (237-1,062-2) and Marshawn Lynch (120-450-2) at running back, and Terrell Owens (55-829-5) and Lee Evans (44-612-7) at wide receiver. The Bills ranked 28th in scoring and 30th offensively in terms of yards. While Buffalo ranked 30th in passing, the team did rank 16th in rushing. Van Pelt was hired as the Browns offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2020 under head coach Kevin Stefanski, but he did not have play-calling duties. Mayfield enjoyed his best season in Cleveland under Van Pelt’s tutelage that year, as the team ranked 14th in scoring and 16th in total offense. The Browns had the league’s 24th-ranked passing attack and was third in the NFL in rushing with Nick Chubb running the ball. The next year, which would be Mayfield’s last in Cleveland, the offense was 20th in scoring, 18th in total yards, 27th in passing yards and fourth in rushing. After Mayfield moved on, the Browns offense continued to chug along with Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson at the helm, ranking 18th in scoring and 14th in total yards. Cleveland ranked 22nd in passing and sixth in rushing yards. 
Former Eagles OC Brian Johnson and QB Jalen Hurts – Photo by: USA Today Last year with five different quarterbacks starting for the Browns, including Joe Flacco, the team ranked 10th in scoring and 16th in yardage. Cleveland had the 19th-ranked passing attack and the 12th-ranked running game despite Chubb’s season-ending knee injury. Johnson, 36, also comes from a team with a strong running game in Philadelphia. The Eagles offense tailed off at the end of the season during a 1-5 slump after a 10-1 start, which led to his dismissal, but still finished seventh in the league in scoring (24.6 avg.), ninth in yardage (350 avg.), ninth in rushing (124 avg.) and 17th in passing (226 avg.) Johnson also helped develop quarterback Jalen Hurts as the Eagles quarterback for three seasons from 2021-23. Van Pelt may have the edge due to his two-year working relationship with Mayfield in Cleveland from 2020-21, but there are some other connections worth noting for some of the other remaining candidates. Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El was on the Bucs staff with Bowles from 2020-21, and quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis and tight ends coach John Van Dam have been on the staff since 2020 and have a deeper knowledge of the players on Tampa Bay’s current roster. The Bucs are expected to interview Van Dam later this week, which could signal that Tampa Bay may not a hire for several more days until that interview takes place. The post Are Front-Runners Emerging For Bucs OC Job? appeared first on Pewter Report. https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-oc-jo ... -emerging/
