Secrecy Of Tedford Offense Remains
August 19th, 2014
In some ways, Joe leans back in his comfy high-back leather chair in his home office and roars out loud. It’s almost like a cheesy 1960s James Bond knockoff where a sixtysomething evildoer holds a hottie spy hostage in an underwater Caribbean lair in some diabolical plot to break out stolen nukes and rule the world.
Only this is the NFL and Jeff Tedford is the sixtysomething guy. But to the best of Joe’s knowledge, Tedford doesn’t have Rachel Watson lassoed in Lovie Smith’s notorious basement, mainly because Floridians don’t have basements.
That is not to say Tedford doesn’t possess what some would have you believe is the NFL version of a secret weapon, his offense. Since Tedford was hired, his offense has been guarded with the secrecy and stealth of the Manhattan Project. Perhaps, someone forgot to tell folks at One Buc Palace when Tedford coached in college, most of his games were televised and sports networks often keep copies of their broadcasts.
Regardless, Tedford is an NFL rookie and that provides enough suspense to go all Mossad and brag how the offense won’t be fully displayed until maybe late September. Apparently, per Bucs center Evan Dietrich-Smith, the Bucs are doing a good job of keeping Tedford’s offense under a shroud.
“I’d say maybe 20 [percent],” EDS said of how much of Tedford’s offense has been exposed. “We still have more things. Like I said, I think we did a good job. We moved the ball obviously a lot better. There was a few things we left out … the game plan probably went down a little bit for the second crew. But we’re really not giving you everything we’ve got. There’s a ton of stuff we’ve still got out there. I think a lot of teams have it that way. But Lovie’s approach really isn’t to go out there and show your hand right off the bat. He kind of wants to give you a taste here and there. But for the most part, we’re in that 20-25 percent range.”
Joe can’t recall the last time a coach or a coaching staff openly bragged this much about how no one would see the offense until perhaps, three games into a season. Woody Hayes comes to mind, but to show how crazy the guy was, it wasn’t as if anyone doubted Hayes would run the ball. What, Hayes might attempt nine passes in a game?
Just what can Bucs fans expect Tedford to unleash that the NFL hasn’t already seen? The wishbone? Bud Wilkinson tried that stunt in the 1970s. Blew up in his face so bad he scrapped it halfway through his first NFL season.
One reason Joe laughs at the KGB-like secrecy is that, well, like a cheesy James Bond knockoff, this is sort of fun trying to guess. Joe can’t imagine what Tedford can spring on the NFL that hasn’t already been tried in some form before.
To hear more from Dietrich-Smith, click the red button below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
August 19th, 2014 at 12:24 pm
When the fans finally get to see Tedford’s mystery offense they probably won’t even be able to realize they noticed.
August 19th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
I am more worried that the secret is more like the “Lets make a Deal” type , of whats behind curtain number two. Awwwww its a shoe box, you lose!!!!
August 19th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
wishbone lol
August 19th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
“Just what can Bucs fans expect Tedford to unleash that the NFL hasn’t already seen?”
I don’t think its about surprising the NFL with a new offense. Its about hoping that the Bucs opponents won’t be able to adequately prepare.
August 19th, 2014 at 12:59 pm
It’s not really about it being something the NFL has never seen. It’s more about keeping opponents from knowing the Bucs’ offensive tendencies for as many games into their initial season as possible. Just trying to maximize the advantage they have, knowing it will only last so long until the NFL gets a “book” on them just like everyone else. Not sure why you can’t see this for what it is, Joe.
August 19th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Well I prefer this to the total certainty of failure since 98……
I am a little miffed we don’t have the OC from Rutgers Schiano was sure to hire to strike fear into the opposition.
Or the time the rock hired and then fired an OC during preseason.
Just hope we can measure up to those lofty standards.
August 19th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Personally, I think Tedford is going to bring back a modified version of Mouse Davis’s or Wayne Fontes’s Run and Shoot offense, but, instead of just using the standard 4 WR sets we’ll see more 2 WR, 2 TE sets, or 2 WR, slot WR, TE sets with the RB in space, and all from the spread. From this offense is where having the Dunkaneers will be almost impossible to defend. But like anything, our O-line has to give our pass routes time to develop. The best QB’s today have always benefitted from playing behind the best offensive lines. If Peyton Manning had played behind o-lines like ours last year during his career he would be either retired or a career backup. Just saying and JMO.
August 19th, 2014 at 2:07 pm
If a secret is a secret, then nobody knows about it. If somebody knows about it, but doesn’t understand it, then it’s a mystery!
August 19th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
Since we’re talking secrets, wizardry, and so on and so forth, the only really cool thing is if Tedford came up with some Harry Potter type of spell that turned McCown into Tom Brady for the opener.
Otherwise, there ain’t no secrets with this bunch, why else does Lovie want his defense on the field when he wins the coin toss?
August 19th, 2014 at 2:16 pm
what offense?
that was my 1st thought.
even when their on the field it looks like their on defense
August 19th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
SAMCRO and FloridaBoyInDallas are both “Spot On”. I think what we’re going to see is some modified version of the West Coast Offense with what SAMCRO laid out, a 2 TE/2 WR (one in the slot) formations…At any rate, I am most anxious to see the big big, really really big Mystery “O”!
August 19th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
we’re obviously all worried about the lack of efficiency on offense with both guards and qb play. The Bucs have only had a top 10 offense once in franchise history (as far as pts at least… in 2000 we were ranked 6th). This offense just has to perform at a usual mediocre level to make the playoffs. It cant be hard to improve on those last yr 30 and 32nd ranks in pts and yds.
We have enough talent on defense to be top 5 on that side. Mccown should take advantage of the refs being flag happy with defensive holding calls. he just needs to get the ball out faster… especially when the refs seem to throw a flag every other play (24.5 flags a gm is ridiculous). The Bucs are trying to sugar coat this incredibly sub par play by saying it’s only 20% of the playbook. An oline shouldnt be bullied as much as the Bucs are even with a vanilla playbook. Just aim to be at least mediocre on offense. In Gerald Mccoy and Lavonte David we trust
August 19th, 2014 at 4:50 pm
I’m less concerned about what offense they will run, than if after the game we ask, what offense did they have….?
August 19th, 2014 at 4:53 pm
the mystery of the offense is where is it?
August 19th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
The offense is supposed to be on the offensive, but not be offensive.
August 19th, 2014 at 10:31 pm
I think the big surprise will be if we have any offense at all. So far I haven’t seen much in the pre-season games yo give me hope. Are we to believe that a sophisticated NFL offense can be instituted during underwear practice and not practiced heavily during pre-season games? Especially from a group of guys that haven’t ever played in real games together. They ain’t going to look like the Denver Broncos. We will be lucky if they run like an old Ford Bronco.