NFL Rumors: Shock name emerges as potential candidate to be Buccaneers' new OC

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense is far from what they were under offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich this season. Tampa Bay currently ranks 24th in points per game at 18.5 points per game. Quarterback Tom Brady is in the final year of his contract and might go elsewhere. However, should the team decide to move on from Leftwich, there's one potential candidate who could replace him. Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is a viable candidate to replace Leftwich.

O'Brien has plenty of NFL experience as the head coach of the Houston Texans for seven seasons (2014 - 2020). Before that, he was on the New England Patriots coaching staff for five seasons (2007 - 2011), including one season as their offensive coordinator. Last year, then-Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians was confident that Leftwich was going to be the next head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The team reached out to O’Brien, who would have taken over for Leftwich as offensive coordinator. Yet, it all came undone when the Jaguars hired Doug Pederson in February last year. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles succeeded Arians as the Buccaneers' head coach a month later. This meant Bowles had no time to hire another offensive coordinator.

There’s no doubt that Bowles has backed Leftwich, but the lessening results speak for themselves. Bill O’Brien has been connected to other job vacancies, and there's no quarrel between Brady and Leftwich. However, that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a change at offensive coordinator.

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Byron Leftwich as Buccaneers offensive coordinator this season has been a struggle

Byron Leftwich is currently in his fourth season as Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator. In his first three seasons, the offense under Leftwich has finished in the top 10 in the NFL in total yards, red zone scoring and points per game. This season, Tampa Bay's offense is currently 11th in total yards (354.5 yards), 24th in scoring (18.5 points per game), and 25th in red-zone scoring (51 percent).

Tampa Bay have scored just over 23 points in two games this season. Last season, they had 16 games scoring over 23 points. They have 29 offensive touchdowns this season, compared to 56 entering Week 18 of the regular season last season. The team is last in the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns this season.

Let's see if Leftwich will have a fifth season as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator or if there will be a change this offseason.