“You Gotta Have A Feel For The Game”
September 2nd, 2014
Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford isn’t working at the office yet, and the artist might not be available for the home opener on Sunday.
That would be a significant problem explains one former Buccaneer.
Buccaneers Radio Network analyst Anthony Becht said he isn’t concerned about Tedford’s health-related absence during the week of preparation for the Panthers but it is a problem for game day.
Becht, speaking on WDAE-AM 620 this morning, talked about how having a feel your players and what plays are working perfectly are critical to success talked. Tedford can’t learn everything he needs to know from practice film.
“It’s not as simple as just putting a play down for 3rd-and-5. You gotta have a feel for the game,” Becht said. “Lovie’s gotta feel a little uneasy about how it’s going to be gameday.
Becht is skeptical if playcalling duties Sunday fall into the lap of 34-year-old quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, a longtime Tedford man who was offensive coordinator at Wyoming and Southern Mississippi.
Joe agrees, especially as it relates to being in sync with Josh McCown.
As general manager Jason Licht said weeks ago, Tedford is an “artist” whose strength is adapting.
“He’s very innovative. He’s incredibly smart, and he’s got an artists type of mind,” Licht said of Tedford. “And when I mean artist, I mean NFL as a creative playcaller. And I think what separates him, or what makes him a great coach, is he’s got a great system, but he’s able to adapt his system to fit his personnel. And if you can’t do that, then you’re going to fail. The great coaches are able to change their system to fit their personnel. He’s one of those guys.”
Can Tedford be himself on Sunday against the mighty Panthers defense? If he’s even there?
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:01 am
If JT can’t go…set Arroyo free…let it all hang out !
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:02 am
he should not be calling plays this week…hand it to marcus or even lovie?
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:05 am
It’s still 1000% better than Sullivan and schiano combo
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:19 am
If that’s the case what about Lovie/Leslie? Seems to me they are going to play there Defense period. That’s why a lot our defenders have to drop some weight.
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:22 am
@Robert9: Lovie calling plays? To quote the great John McEnroe:
“YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!”
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:27 am
thats why i put the question mark….wasn’t sure if lovie had ever called plays on offense
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:38 am
Becht’s point is spot on. This is the reason I always hated more than a handful of scripted plays.
I’m an optimist though. Arroyo, while not an ideal scenario, has been an OC and called plays.
It’s incumbent upon the players to rally around their coach… man up to the kitty kat’s.
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:41 am
Lovie calling plays is about as likely as Rosie O’Donnell fitting into a swashbuckler’s outfit.
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:44 am
Tedford could be another one of Lovie’s “keep it secret” gameday surprises….let’s face it, if he doesn’t want to reveal his starting LG, then keeping Tedford’s status confidential is much greater…..
September 2nd, 2014 at 9:54 am
Obviously, it would be better for Tedford to be there. If for nothing more than the psychological value derived from his presence. But since he calls plays from the booth and not the sideline, this may not be such a big deal.
With the video telecommunications technology available today he can virtually be anywhere (virtual booth) and be just as effective. He may find out that he gets more views of game action on TV than the eye can see in the stadium. Anyway, If they aren’t too concerned about it, neither am I.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:04 am
Smoke. Tedford will call the game on Sunday.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:10 am
I hope they let the kid call the game and feel his way and LOVIE doesnt interfere or panic. Lovies offense has never done good when he is involved.
Throw the kid in the water and see if he can swim because we may need him more than just one game.
Lovie lookin over his shoulder isnt going to help anything
Turn him loose and sink or swim
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:11 am
Given that Mike Shula calls the plays for Carolina, I give the Buccaneers the + for this week’s game regardless of who is calling the plays. heck, why not recommend Joe!!!
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:20 am
After Jagodzinski, Olson and Sullivan this offense will be a breath of fresh air. Whether or not Tedford calls plays vs the Panthers. Five more days.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:47 am
Those suggesting defensive guys call the offensive plays? That’s just…offensive.
Listen, the truth is, if anyone other than Tedford calls those plays, we will lose that game. That’s the truth of it.
The good news is this. If the surgery was what I heard it was, then there is no reason Tedford cannot call the plays. He does it from the booth anyway. He’ll be in air conditioning, comfortable and they can assign someone to help him so far as using the radio to call the plays.
My brother in law had the same surgery and was back driving his truck in a week and a half.
So long as Tedford stays off the field, is made comfortable, and has an aid to help him out, he will be more than fine.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:49 am
Btw, Arroyo sucked as an OC. You do NOT want him calling plays. At all.
September 2nd, 2014 at 10:55 am
I agree with Ur mom.
He should be able to call plays from some remote location.
____________
@ biff barker
“……Rosie O’Donnell fitting into a swashbuckler’s outfit.”
That’s disgusting to even think about. Curse you for
putting that image in my mind
September 2nd, 2014 at 12:27 pm
I know that this is not going to be a popular opinion, but with the instability on the offensive line, facing a VERY good Carolina front 7 and JT’s status being questionable, I think the Bucs have to come out and be ultra-conservative on offense and let their defense win this game.
Carolina’s OLine is not that much different than Tampa Bay’s… teams have had problems running the ball against the Bucs, Cam is not 100% with limited weapons at his disposal. With that in mind, a punt is not the end of the world. Play field position, force Carolina into 3rd & longs on a long field.
If the Bucs can get some points, created or set up by their defense or special teams, then play action to 83 and 13 getting man looks from a below average secondary will work in the Bucs favor. I’m afraid McCown facing repeated 3rd and +7 will be this team’s undoing Sunday.
September 2nd, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Joe
What is going on, the QB coach is not in tune with the QB? The people saying this are out to lunch maybe even breakfast. One of the things I learned being an air traffic controller was the older you got the slower you got in thinking. The difference was that being older you knew what not to do so you didn’t think of it.
The difference between Tedford and Arroyo is at least 20 years and if any of the Joes have kids or grandkids they know they can’t keep up them in video games because they are faster. If Arroyo know and has been groom like he should have been this is not a problem
September 3rd, 2014 at 1:18 am
Joe, why do we care what AB cares or thinks? He bounced around as a player who couldn’t stay with a team, only a buc a few years. A real Freeman supporter, He really is a great annalist,Right! Tedford just might phone in the plays as he watches on TV. Play calling will not be our problem. That will be our Oline, specifically right guard.