“Who Knows What He’s Learned?”
February 18th, 2014
One of Jeff Tedford’s ex-players says his guru ways should not be underestimated
Earlier today, Joe referenced Jeff Garcia confidently stating that Jeff Tedford’s system is significantly better than anything Mike Glennon experienced under the New Schiano Order.
That raised an eyebrow for Joe because the Bucs’ offensive coordinator’s NFL offense is a complete mystery, and he was a coach who often adapted in college.
At Super Bowl Media Day, Joe talked at length about Tedford to one of his students/players at “Cal,” Broncos running back C.J. Anderson. The eloquent Denver rookie was hardly a popular guy at Media Day, so Joe had plenty of time to dive into all things Tedford.
Joe won’t bore his readers with all the technical offensive chatter Anderson shared, primarily because Anderson was adamant that Tedford is such an intelligent, hungry “guru,” the look of Tedford’s NFL offense likely will be unique.
“Coach Tedford had a full year off. Man, he’s been studying and preparing. Who knows what he’s learned over his time off?” Anderson said. “Who knows what he’s learned and will apply? I’m anxious to see it.”
Anderson is one of many former “Cal” players in touch with Tedford regularly. “He’s certainly a father figure for so many of us,” Anderson said.
Joe previously advised readers that Tedford spent private time with Bill Belicheat and Josh McDaniels prior to the 2012 season and came back to “Cal” with changes to his approach to the tight end position.
Joe’s not a big fan of unnamed sources, but a well known former NFL player, requesting anonymity, told Joe at Super Bowl Media Day that Tedford’s success with so many quarterbacks in college — at multiple schools — is the best proof Tedford knows how to not only develop a quarterback, but adjust, adapt and craft an offense to his talent (or lack thereof). The source went on to say that could be great or bad for Mike Glennon — bad because Tedford likely would prefer a quarterback with more diverse skills he can maximize.
Regardless, Joe just wants to reinforce the point that Tedford’s offense is a mystery, as opposed to Mike Sullivan, who came to Tampa Bay with a well defined approach.
That offensive unknown is a big part of what makes this offseason so intriguing. There are no known rules to how the Bucs will approach improving the NFL’s worst-ranked offense.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
I’m hoping lovie can get another piece or 2 for the D in Free agencies then we can draft mostly offense in the draft. We already have solid starters on D we just really need depth and an edg rush(which may already be on the team).
February 18th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
I read the whole article. not one MG jab.
congrats!
I did not realize he had focused on how NE used TE’s that is interesting. at least if we need some wet work done we’ll know who to ask. (ok that was low)
seriously it be interesting to see how this plays out.
more diverse skills?
MG will be Eli Manning. Looks like a teenager, not a loud mouth, but given the right direction could be a leader by example or yeas to come. Hope that goes farther than him running a 4.3 and can do a 3 beer funnel.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Joe, I have just one question for you. You stated the bad because of skills, but did they say anything good? I only ask because you seem to only like to tell the negative stuff and not the positive stuff. It’s not a shot at you at all. Just a question
Jiminy Christmas, Joe delivers all kinds of positive takes on Glennon from around the country. Joe knows fans focus in more on Joe’s unflattering assessments, but Joe shares plenty of good on Glennon, as well.–Joe
February 18th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Does Tedford know how to be winnin’ with Glennon?
Hopefully Glennon is the guy.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:34 pm
You’re right Joe! It’s a conundrum. If we had just an inkling of insight we could do a better job understanding which way they could possibly go with the draft. As it is, who knows what players they may covet and in what order. Are they even geared toward further developing the offense or are they thinking defense first. I have no clue. And I’m sure the Bucs won’t tip their hand until draft day.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:37 pm
Lets hope Tedford’s offense remains a mystery except to his players…..Sullivan’s offense wasn’t a mystery to opponents.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:43 pm
@ Robert6
There were Mike Glennon jabs within each line of this article.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Wasn’t the man head coach at Cal? There’s your offense. Lovie liked it so I’d imagine its what he plans on running here.
That’s sort of the point. Tedford changes and adapts his offense. So we don’t know. –Joe
February 18th, 2014 at 2:49 pm
I’m not sure Sullivan got to run his offense.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
sully’s offense was horrible. zero variation or things another team would not expect.
It worked the year before because it was an unknown, we had a pro bowl RB, had WR’s and a TE. not to mention the fact our D was so bad 1/2 the time jfro was throwing hail Mary’s.
hopefully this guy can get more creative. we need someone who can do what the saints and pats do. a scheme catering to out opponents weakness.
February 18th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Sullivan came here with a proven NFL offense.
He was immediately informed that he would be running the Rutgers offense.
Thus- no Slot WR, No TE involvement
= no wins.
How could Tedford be worse? We were running an offense that failed in the college ranks. Pretty easy pickings for the NFL DCs
February 18th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
How long until some madden hero get’s a shot at calling plays.
seems crazy, but if I owned the team I would give it a shot.
you got simulation car drivers getting rides, why not simulation madden guys.
could not be any worse than what we have seen in the last ….well since the teams inception!!!!!
February 18th, 2014 at 3:28 pm
Had a thought that loosely applies. The anti glennon people often reference that Freeman was able to set records the previous season in a similar offense. Following that season schiano drafts a qb and Freeman starts the year in the doghouse. You’d think that the coach would be ecstatic to have a qb that performed that well unless Freeman did what he did despite the plays that were called. If Freeman pulled a Willie Beeman and told the team different plays than were passed in from the coaches then that would make a control freak coach pretty heated but he couldn’t say anything if record numbers are being posted. Speculation obviously but seems like it has a chance of at least being kinda true
February 18th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
@Robert – I forget what team it was but there was a guy that applied for a coaching gig with a powerpoint presentation about his Madden prowess
February 18th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
I say we draft the kid from Georgia(led sec in total yards and completions), I know he tore his ACL, but if we let him sit out 2014 and completely heal and learn the offense and nfl ways he could be a steal in the 4th round.
February 18th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
@ensch – lot of people that would be fine with that. There are a few that we’d like to see picked up in later rounds and developed.
February 18th, 2014 at 3:43 pm
Robert, I have thought the same thing myself.
But not literally 1 for 1… just based on the simple fact that they may have a high aptitude to see trends in play calling that works.
Here is what you do… you take several of the best Madden play callers. Then, you teach them over several years the other real nuances of the human factors of the game. THEN, you turn them lose. Who is to say that these OC’s can even handle the quick game time decison skills that the proven, younger Madden generation seems so good at… it is taking the best chess players and putting them into position to play chess as OC.
February 18th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
@buc fan 237 – it would be pioneering to see it played out. Have one of the prodigies come be an intern for a team for a couple years on an established team where the coach knows he’ll be there a while (pats, steelers) and turn over a coordinator job to them when they’ve been acclimated to the real game. Clearly they’ve shown the aptitude to understand the schemes in the game, it’s just a matter of learning to apply it to real situations.
Where you’ll run into a problem it’s with assistants who won’t listen to him and who are upset that they’ve been at it for 15 years just to see some punk who’s good at video games come and take the spot they feel like they should have
February 18th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
First, Madden guys as OC, then World of Warcraft folks as Secretary of Defense.
Brilliant! 🙂
February 18th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
Pioneering = interesting
February 18th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
@st Aug buc – of we’re going to have a generation raised by video games we can’t marginalize them when those skills have a chance to translate to actual jobs
February 18th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
C’mon Patrick. For real? OC is about more than picking plays. They draw up plays and schemes, study defenses and devise game plans specific to opposing defenses. You give a video game too much credit as a substitute for being in, around and playing the game.
February 18th, 2014 at 4:04 pm
I’m pretty damn good at madden, even though I play the bucs and 97% of the rest play the 49r’s and Seahawks (punks)….
that being said once in while I’ll go. “damn it must be hard to be an NFL qb and make a decision in .001 milliseconds”-that thought is usually just following an interception I threw!
but even on madden it’s about seeing what the other guy is doing and adjust. and you have to be able to spot it quick because you have never played them before and don’t have any film coming in.
these OC’s, some of them, are so lame its laughable.
it aint all about the QB
February 18th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
You’re absolutely right. There is a lot more to the game than that. But if they’ve shown the ability to master the play calling aspect then wouldn’t it stand to reason that they understand why those plays should be called and might even have ideas about what could work better? I’m not saying that it would play put that way but I think it should be explored at least.
February 18th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
“They draw up plays and schemes, study defenses and devise game plans specific to opposing defenses. You give a video game too much credit as a substitute for being in, around and playing the game.”
have you watched the bucs the last 2 years? LOL
seriously from what others have posted the assistants give them a lot of the stuff you are mentioning. who the hell cares if they draw up 40 plays when we are off the field in 3?
I think they overcomplicate it.
February 18th, 2014 at 4:08 pm
furthermore……basing a gameplan on last weeks info is useless when playing a team that is any good and will switch from week to week.
February 18th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
ROBERT6 Says:
February 18th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
How long until some madden hero get’s a shot at calling plays.
seems crazy, but if I owned the team I would give it a shot.
you got simulation car drivers getting rides, why not simulation madden guys.
could not be any worse than what we have seen in the last ….well since the teams inception!!!!!
Except anyone who knows gaming and madden, knows that madden is not a simulation. It’s more arcade than anything else and a lot of the best madden players take advantage of glitches that have existed in the game for many years. Would be interesting if Madden were an actual simulation
February 18th, 2014 at 5:23 pm
Heh…A week ago I suggested the Bucs get Greg Hardy when he is released.
I was told the Panthers would never release him.
Seems Florio thinks it is a good possibility now.
February 18th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
You’re right joe, everybody who keeps pointing out your excessively negative tone on glennon is either and idiot or must have an axe to grind against the site. It couldn’t possibly be that they’re just pointing out something that seems fairly obvious to the rest of us. Listen its fine, maybe even admirable, that you take your time to respond to our comments, but dont use the responses in a manner that insults our intelligence. Btw im not stating that your on a “crusade” or whatever u think others are accusing u of when they point out your constant glennon harping. I would merely like u to be honest about the fact that u clearly are of the belief that glennon stinks, and stop trying to play the “objective media” card in a situation where, thru your own words on this issue, it no longer applies. Btw interesting article/post, very interested to hear more on tedford and his rep around the league.
February 18th, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Stephen Says:
I would merely like u to be honest about the fact that u clearly are of the belief that glennon stinks
___________________________________________________________________
I think he’s been fairly clear about his feelings on this matter
February 18th, 2014 at 6:05 pm
@ Eric, I know it sure looked a lot like Schiano offense. He was calling the plays every fourth quarter every game play card in hand headset on. I think Tedford will be light years better than Sullivan either way but Sulivan got screwed…everyone got screwed working/playing under schiano it seems like. Hopefully Lovie let’s Tedford just do his thing and trust the guys he’s hired to do they’re jobs.
February 18th, 2014 at 6:16 pm
It’s a Cal type offense focused on speed in space, not a huge mystery.
Anything is better than Run, Run, Pass, Punt
February 18th, 2014 at 6:17 pm
I would never give a Madden guy that is used to playing a video game with a limit of about 40 to 50 plays and only being able to use those plays, out of about 5 or 6 sets, with limited audible ability the reins to the team’s offense. This is NOT a video game, people. Just because you have quick thumbs and can juke the heck out of a guy to make a bad play look genius on a video game does NOT mean you can coordinate the offense of an NFL team.
Wow, I can’t believe I actually had to say that…
February 18th, 2014 at 6:18 pm
If Greg Hardy gets released I think it’s almost certain Lovie would snatch him up.
February 18th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
PRB: I think you meant Run, Penalty, Sacked, Draw on 3rd and 23 for 3 yard gain, then Punt. But close enough.
February 18th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
One or the other lol 😛
February 18th, 2014 at 7:17 pm
That’s what great coaches do, they innovate and adapt. I excited to see what he does.
February 18th, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Interesting comments about the TE and QB skill sets.
I am much looking forward to seeing this offense in action.
February 18th, 2014 at 9:57 pm
@ROBERT6 Says:
“…MG will be Eli Manning…”
Really? Am I misunderstanding this, or do you really think this?
February 18th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
@Glennon Mob Says:
“…There were Mike Glennon jabs within each line of this article…”
This is the kind of stuff that gives MGM a bad rap. But, keeping an open mind, I want to see what you see Mr Glennon Mob. Can you please point out to me ANY negativity in say the first 7 paragraphs; I know you said “…within each line…” but I want to make it easier for you, you have 7 paragraphs to work with…
Tell me where it is negative sir?
February 19th, 2014 at 9:44 am
Madden? A frickin video game??? Jeez guys.
February 19th, 2014 at 9:10 pm
I was a Tecmo Bowl pro sign me up for OC.