Shelf Life Of Up-Tempo Offense
July 23rd, 2014
Jeff Tedford’s up-tempo offense may soon be the NFL norm
One of the great mysteries of the 2014 Bucs, aside from whether guard Carl Nicks can practice or suit up for games, is the Jeff Tedford offense. The Bucs are treating his offense as if it is the Manhattan Project.
Tedford, who has never stepped on an NFL field as an NFL employee of any sort, was a college football guru whose only experience in professional football was the CFL variety. What his offense may look like is akin to wondering about the whereabouts of D.B. Cooper.
Just about the only real hint provided is players repeatedly parroting the claim that the offense will be “up-tempo,” and quarterback Josh McCown’s inference that it has shades of Chip Kelly’s offense.
More and more teams are going no-huddle, up-tempo or quick-paced. The Bucs are just joining in on the fad. Obviously, the Eagles do this and, to a lesser extent, so do the Patriots and Packers. Others also dabble in this quick-strike offense.
However, analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout who does solid work for NFL Network, believes there may soon be a tipping point to when up-tempo offenses are no longer cutting edge.
Interesting point on up-tempo offense…as more offenses run it, more defenses see it every day in practice. Better equipped to handle it
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) July 23, 2014
That’s a helluva point. It doesn’t seem outrageous to believe that the more teams run an up-tempo offense, the more defenses will be comfortable stopping it. It is getting to the point where this type of offense is the norm, not the exception.
For example, take Alabama. Not a whole lot of SEC teams run a spread offense. Texas A&M and Auburn are two exceptions, but look how those two offenses have taken years off Nick Saban’s life? Then, look at what a spread offense like Oklahoma used throttled the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl.
Same as how Georgia Tech, which runs a triple-option, gives defenses fits because it is such a strange, obscure offense. It often takes much longer than a handful of days to prepare for something so unusual.
The more defenses get used to playing up-tempo offenses in the NFL, the better they will get at defending it. Practice makes perfect. So Joe wonders how long Tedford’s offense can be, for lack of a better word, revolutionary?
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:10 pm
Tedford has indicated that he did NOT think what they were doing was revolutionary.
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:24 pm
I’m more concerned with effectiveness and not so much with whether it is “revolutionary”. I don’t need Tedford to come in and create something that’s never been seen. If the up-tempo offense is effective and throws the defense off its game a little bit, whether we’re the only team in the league doing it or not, I’ll take it.
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:29 pm
Probably is’nt revolutionary in this NFL day and age, but it would be for the Bucs. A quick scoring, high powered offense will be totally new to our team. If it works, might have to add some wings to the flag emblem of the Bucs. If it fails, Tedford will need more than D.B. Cooper’s parachute to cushion the hard landing.
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Based on College tape, Tedford runs more of a traditional offense compared to Kelly. Kelly’s offense is truly revolutionary in the NFL. I think Tedford just wants his QB to get to the line quickly in order to make the proper reads and checks. His offense is more read and react to the defense whereas Schiano just thought he could call a play and force his will on opposing defenses.
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Hasn’t this been going on since the NFL merger? Is this why I remember my father calling it a copy-cat league. Yes, so when all the defenses finally catch up, teams that evolve or metamorphosis quicker into a new offensive scheme, will always be ahead of the pack. These are the teams who have historically owned the NFL.
Unlike teams like Tampa Bay who have been stuck in neutral for years as they still try to forge ahead with the same mental offensive philosophy of “Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust”. It looks like Tedford and Smith are finally getting us out of that mentality and will force other teams to adapt to us defensively. But until they do, maybe we can enjoy some offensive fire works for a welcomed change.
July 23rd, 2014 at 12:45 pm
A lot of teams what a Kiko Alonso, David, and Keuchly style LBs to help with these type of offenses. Instead of heavy hitting players, they want a sideline to sideline player and a tackling machine. Makes sense to me, the NFL adapts it takes time, but it is an ever changing environment year to year.
July 23rd, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Can’t this be said about any offense? You give defenses enough time they will find a way to slow it down and then offenses will be forced to do something new.
July 23rd, 2014 at 1:53 pm
Let me just state the obvious but in order to be an up-tempo offense you have to be able to move the chains consistently, something I haven’t seen the Bucs do in years. You can’t stay at a high tempo when it’s 4th and 10 when the punt unit is coming on the field.
July 23rd, 2014 at 2:25 pm
How can we be asking the question of how long something can last if we really don’t know the specific details of it?
July 23rd, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Tedford will be the biggest mistake of the Lovie Smith era.
July 23rd, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Tedford obviously isn’t doing anything NEW. I think the up-tempo version of an offense just add’s another element to it, but doesn’t really change it. The offense has to be creative and hard to anticipate. If you take a boring offense and just run the plays faster it won’t be any better. Hell it might even be worse. But if you take a good, creative offense and then speed it up, it can cause nightmares. Run it as fast as you want but if I know what your doing it doesn’t matter. If I don’t know what your doing it makes it worse.
July 23rd, 2014 at 5:57 pm
It’s all about having a strong running game. Nothing is better than running it down their throats play after play, 6 yds, 5 yds, 15 yds, 8 yds, 19 yds boom TD!
July 23rd, 2014 at 6:14 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
July 23rd, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Or… maybe this will be the dumbest statement made by a fan during the Lovie Smith era. Seems like an unnecessary assertion to make at this point, unless you just kinda enjoy being a dick. We’ll find out.