“Going To The Next Level”
June 19th, 2017
Fun update.
When winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter arrived in Tampa Bay as offensive coordinator in 2015, he did a helluva job.
Armed with a rookie quarterback, two rookies on the offensive line, a wildly talented second-year receiver who had a terrible case of the dropsies, and an aging, bad-kneed receiver on the other side of the field, somehow Koetter had a top-five offense in terms of yards.
That fell off last year for a lot of reasons, mainly because the Bucs were pulling guys off the street to run and catch the ball.
So to hear tight end Cameron Brate speak, it seems Bucs fans will be in for a treat this year. Brate did a hit last week with Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller, co-hosts of “The Blitz,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, and Brate stoked the fires of Bucs fans who can’t wait for training camp to begin, much less the regular season.
Brate noted the offense in underwear football was working on passing concepts the players have never practiced before in Koetter’s three seasons with the Bucs.
“Kind of the first two years, we were trying to figure everything out and get everybody on the same page,” Brate said. “So, kind of, this year it feels like we are going to the next level. We are kind of working on throws that we didn’t work on the past two years but it is the next step of learning this offense.
“We don’t have to learn [the offense] for the first time and guys are focusing on not so much the fundamentals but the next step of the offense which will be huge for us this year.”
Well, the first thing Joe thought of was, “Sure, you didn’t have DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard before, so yeah, the offense will look different.” But it seems Brate is talking about new wrinkles for everyone, not just the new big-named additions.
With the weapons delivered to America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, Joe knows Bucs fans will be entertained this year, unless they are still diehard Woody Hayes disciples and like seeing running backs constantly jammed up the middle.
June 19th, 2017 at 6:26 am
Great article Joe, but your last sentence has me confused. My guess is that it’s just early in the morning and my mind can’t wrap itself around the idea of running backs getting “constantly jammed up the middle”. Just can’t envision that ever happening on a continuing basis.
June 19th, 2017 at 6:54 am
Bad A$$ Team =BAT = Stick Carriers
13-3
2002 Here we go again.
Expect different!
We get to experience winning it AGAIN. If you were too young for the 1st one, enjoy it from the beginning. Koetter will hold the Lombardi next to the Glazers at the Super Bowl this season.
This one is for Malcolm Glazer. The original Stick Carrier!
Malcolm got us out of laughingstock status and into the promise land to bring the trophy to Tampa!
June 19th, 2017 at 7:50 am
Koetter continually jammed running backs up the middle last year, to no avail. He was persistent into turning fragile Sims into a downhill hill runner. Idc what y’all say, his play calling game to game was suspect last year.
June 19th, 2017 at 8:29 am
@OJ^ How many times did it feel like we played with 2 downs (2nd,3rd) after rushing for no gain into a brick wall up the gut on 1st down? “Up the gut” Makes me miss the A-Train, ugh!!! Well… He’s not coming back so we need to be more creative, ya? Maybe Marpet in the middle will be a start to a better rushing attack. A healthy Sweazy too.
June 19th, 2017 at 8:39 am
I would like to see how any critic of Koetter’s play calling last year would do if they were in charge of the offense and had to try and figure out which plays might work with a shaky, inconsistent Oline, ineffective running game and one legit NFL starting receiver to throw to….
June 19th, 2017 at 8:39 am
OJ….with the beat up receiving corp, and the desire to protect Jameis by keeping D’s honest against the pass, there were few alternatives but to “run up the middle” with our weak running corp. I think Koetter was pretty much boxed in regarding his play calling. This year, the gloves are off, god forbid some disaster. Glad to hear we have been working on the back shoulder throw, among other things….with Evans, Jacksons, and OJ’s talent, in addition to Brate and Humphries, can you imagine the slice and dice we can do on corners and safeties?
June 19th, 2017 at 9:09 am
You jam the running back into the line to keep the defence honest, Pluse a multitude of other things that this game of football calls for! RB may be devalued but by no means are they extinct!!
June 19th, 2017 at 9:51 am
If you look at the Packers, Ty Montgomery is averaging over 5 yards a carry. And how is that? Not because he is a great RB. It is because Rodgers keeps them thinking Pass on every play, so the run is never certain. Hopefully that is what Jameis can do as well, and if he can, I’d almost bet our running average would go up at least a yard a carry…possibly two or more. You need a good RB…but not a great one if you can keep that D off balance.
June 19th, 2017 at 11:06 am
@Mark
Agree completely and in addition to that gain I’m also very hopeful that our OL is going to shock some folks this year…certainly Lakeland. LOL
June 19th, 2017 at 1:29 pm
I like what Mark said. And agree with Defense. Good article Joe.
June 19th, 2017 at 3:47 pm
We are kind of working on throws that we didn’t work on the past two years but it is the next step of learning this offense….
maybe this explains why their are so many ints by Winston in practice…..GO BUCS!!!