On Thursday, Pewter Report had the possibility to speak with Bucs vast receivers coach Brad Idzik on a latest episode of the Pewter Report Podcast. Apart from diving into every vast receiver, we additionally had the possibility to debate with Idzik what it means to be again in Tampa.

Idzik’s father, John, labored for the Bucs from 1993-2004, serving as a professional personnel assistant (1993-96), director of soccer administration (1996-2001), and assistant basic supervisor (2001-04). He helped Wealthy McKay negotiate participant contracts and handle the wage cap in the course of the Bucs’ rise to prominence below Tony Dungy within the late Nineteen Nineties and successful a Tremendous Bowl below Jon Gruden in 2002.

However Brad Idzik is not a child hanging out within the Bucs locker room with the group anymore. As an alternative, he determined to come back again to affix forces with offensive coordinator Dave Canales as his right-hand man on the offensive aspect of the ball.

Brad Idzik And Dave Canales Are “Two Peas In A Pod”

It didn’t take lengthy after the Bucs employed Dave Canales that names began to pop up about who may be part of him down in Tampa Bay. With a brand new receivers coach wanted after the group let go of Kevin Garver after final season, Brad Idzik proved to Canales in Seattle that he was the proper man for the job. It has been 4 years within the making as Idzik had been the Seahawks assistant receivers coach.

“You already know, it’s humorous – Dave and I the final 4 years, we’ve been like two peas in a pod,” Idzik stated. “We’re at all times in one another’s workplace; we’re by no means sort of alone. Anytime there was downtime for movie examine, I simply pop in and be like, ‘Hey, what are you watching?’ ‘Hey, I’m watching this offense or this recreation, like, come on, sit down.’ The dialogue for us has been the final 4 years football-wise.”

Extra than simply breaking down recreation movie, the 2 have additionally gotten to know one another by way of varied conversations. Beneath the tutelage of Pete Carroll and what has change into a constant successful setting in Seattle, they’ve a deep understanding of one another’s strengths in addition to figuring out the right way to put collectively their collective imaginative and prescient for what ought to appear like a vastly totally different Bucs’ offense this season.

Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, QB Baker Mayfield and OC Dave Canales – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

“We’ve gotten to know one another; I do know what he likes as a coach,” Idzik added. “I do know what he needs to run as an offense. I helped him by way of this interview course of to attempt to assist him as a lot as I may.

“He had a few interview processes prior to now the place we’d sit down, and we’d bounce concepts off one another. The conversations that got here up after we transitioned right here to Tampa, we’ve already had all of them one-on-one, and now we’re simply together with the remainder of the employees.”

Idzik is greater than grateful for the chance. He has patiently waited for his flip after spending the previous 4 seasons constructing his resume with the Seahawks. He spent three seasons with them as an assistant vast receivers coach (2019-2020, 2022) and one as an offensive high quality management and assistant quarterbacks coach (2021).

Whereas he spent his time grinding behind the scenes to make his personal title for himself within the NFL ranks, he’s grateful that Canales has given him the chance to take the following step, collectively.

“For [Dave] to offer me the chance to run my very own room, he put motion behind phrases with what he’s informed me the final couple of years,” Idzik stated. “He’s like, ‘Brad, I imagine in you.’ And he’s had my again after I was doing a few of the grunt work and making an attempt to earn my stripes within the NFL. Now he’s repaid me with an superior alternative to educate some actually good guys.”

It Took “No Convincing” For Brad Idzik To Be a part of Dave Canales With The Bucs

Through the Pewter Report Podcast, Brad Idzik revealed the way through which he heard his pal Dave Canales received the job with the Bucs. It absolutely wasn’t typical, and Seattle took proactive measures in case Idzik was subsequent, which he was.

“It’s humorous. I used to be getting a midday exercise in when Dave received the job; he despatched the textual content to the employees,” Idzik stated. “They have been like, ‘Hey, everyone come upstairs; we received some information.’ I didn’t have my cellphone on me so I used to be final within the room. On my means up, I had like 5 or 10 folks passing by. They’re like, ‘Hey, congrats.’ I used to be like, ‘Congrats? What are you speaking about?’ It wasn’t that good of a elevate [laughs]! ‘No, Dave received the job.’ I used to be like, ‘Oh, that’s superior.’

“I swear, I child you not; Pete satisfied me. He’s like, ‘We’re locking down your laptop’ and the whole lot earlier than Dave informed me something.’ So I suppose it was assumed that I used to be going with him.”

Whereas absolutely Idzik was bummed that folks didn’t congratulate him on his exercise, there absolutely have been congratulatory remarks made when he took Tampa Bay’s vast receiver coach job. The change of surroundings took no convincing – due to his familiarity with Canales and the group.

Bucs WR Trey Palmer and WRs coach Brad Idzik – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It took no convincing in any respect – not just for Tampa, it’s actually cool to be again – however solely simply to work with him,” Idzik stated. “Simply to work with somebody you think about an in depth pal, anyone you actually belief, and anyone who actually is aware of his soccer. He’s been across the block with plenty of totally different OCs.

“He’s been across the block with Pete being his right-hand man by way of the ups and downs of their time in Seattle. I’m very lucky to have crossed paths with him the instances that I’ve and to get an opportunity to indicate what I’m all about behind closed doorways with him.”

There may be loads about for Brad Idzik that has come full circle. This contains being the man folks now search steering from.

“When younger guys attain out to me, I simply keep in mind being of their footwear,” Idzik stated. “They’re like, ‘What’s the very best factor I can do to sort of get my title on the market, present what I’m all about? I’d [say], ‘Your present job is your finest interview; simply do good work.’ That for me paid off with Dave as a result of he noticed what I used to be about, he noticed what I stood for, and he believed in me. I actually admire that, and it’s nice to be again in Tampa. It’s not the identical constructing, I’ll say that.”

Now he will probably be seeking to take his personal recommendation, as his work this season is his interview for extra distinguished roles down the street.

Idzik Displays On Rising Up With The Bucs

Proper now, Brad Idzik is again the place his love of soccer began. Being born in 1991, he grew up with the group all through his childhood as his father, John Idzik, held varied positions with the Bucs. Throughout that point, Brad was sufficiently old to recollect the times (and gamers) of the Bucs’ Corridor of Fame protection and Tremendous Bowl-winning group. However he additionally remembered what the setting was like inside the constructing.

“I keep in mind it being a household environment,” Idzik stated. “That’s not at all times the case – it sort of goes from group to group of how issues are structured. However I used to be truly at slightly fishing retreat with coach Tony Dungy and plenty of guys by way of FCA a few weekends in the past. We have been speaking about – me and Eric Dungy, his son – roaming the halls every day.

Former Bucs SS John Lynch – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That’s what I keep in mind. I keep in mind throwing tape balls within the locker room and John Lynch coming in and hanging out with us. That’s what it was. It was a small-town really feel. Although they have been enjoying so nicely, we had so many Corridor of Famers on this group. All people knew one another by title, they knew one another’s children. We have been all – it was all one huge household, and perhaps that was as a result of they have been understanding of double-wides.”

As Idzik alluded to, it’s not the identical constructing. The Bucs have gone from the previous, unique “woodshed” model of One Buc Place to the One Buc Palace that’s now the AdventHealth Coaching Heart. These years have lengthy handed by, and now the Bucs will probably be seeking to maintain a successful environment after one other profitable period that led to a Tremendous Bowl victory. Idzik has seen firsthand what that’s like and what it means. 

“I felt that once more after I was in Seattle,” Idzik stated. “Coach Carroll does an exceptional job of incorporating everybody too, and I do know Dave stands for that too, Coach Bowles as nicely – household guys. It’s actually cool to come back again into an environment like that, and I do know it’s not at all times the case; some [teams] have extra inflexible buildings.

“The constructing for me and the emblem – the Bucs brand – for me means lots as a result of that’s what stirred my love for the sport. Simply hanging across the guys, seeing the camaraderie. Once I was completed enjoying [at Wake Forest], I knew I didn’t wish to get away from that.”

After a journey that has seen him develop up with the Bucs and develop as a coach, maybe it’s future that Brad Idzik can’t get away from Tampa Bay.

Watch Brad Idzik On The Pewter Report Podcast

Try the latest episode of the Pewter Report Podcast with Particular Visitor: Bucs WR Brad Idzik by clicking the hyperlink beneath.