Is The Offense Better?
May 17th, 2019
Offensive analysis.
Bucco Bruce Arians likes to boast he’s never had the kind of weapons he now has as he prepares for his first season as Bucs coach.
Even if Arians claims he’s never had such a packed offense to work with (Joe is slightly dubious of that claim because Arians’ Steelers offenses were loaded), the Bucs offense may not be as dangerous as it was last year.
If you wonder who has the most influence in the makeup of the team, remember when Arians was introduced as Bucs coach, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said he would do everything in his power to keep Adam Humphries. Instead, Humphries left. Scuttlebutt is Arians preferred more speed at slot receiver than Humphries possessed.
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com is of the mind the Bucs are not as stocked on offense as they were last year.
The offense is mostly intact from a year ago, although replacing Adam Humphries and DeSean Jackson with Breshad Perriman isn’t exactly a win. Despite a sub-standard running back room led by Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones, the depth of weapons here still isn’t the problem. Winston has plenty of talented folks to throw to.
One way to make the offense better is to have more balance. Yes the Bucs had the best passing offense in the NFL last year. But the running game was horrible. Their 3.9 yards per rush (including two good scrambling quarterbacks) was second-worst in the league.
If somehow Arians can wave a magic wand and come up with a better run game, that might blow the doors open for the offense. Last year, opposing defenses never had to worry about the Bucs’ run game.
Imagine if defenses had to play the Bucs honestly?
May 17th, 2019 at 7:06 am
Yeah, Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer were not weapons. LOL
May 17th, 2019 at 7:13 am
This is why we drink. What Rosenthal says is not a Captain Obvious moment. The best hope is that chemistry is better with Perriman and Winston than it was with DJax. A second factor is that salary cap issues don’t mean Brate goes (don’t let GMC do this to us, JL!). The fact we didn’t address the run game is another testament to why JL’s departure is overdue. Right now, I say the offense is indeed worse–on paper. That can change though.
May 17th, 2019 at 7:15 am
If I keep reading the JBF OTA reports and they keep saying JW under throw/over throw combined with Ryan Griffin was on the money all day, we may have a new future headline brewing..
May 17th, 2019 at 7:17 am
It is true go watch almost any highlights of our games over the past two years and our passing game was sick BUT you also notice that despite all those great plays and yards the score rarely went up. The lack of ability to run the ball shows up in the red zone and that is what Dirk could never figure out. Teams would just sit back with 7 guys in the end zone daring us to run and we still couldn’t do it. If BA fixes that this offense will be unstoppable. Plus having Evans and OJ on the field at the same time might be one of the best 1-2 punches in the league now that the Cheifs are broken up. But the Saints have a great 1-2, so do the Falcons and several others as well, so the key is Chris Godwin, if he performs the way he is capable watch out.
May 17th, 2019 at 7:30 am
The Old Bull is not concerned. He’s working with what we have and will solve for any last minute needs with the right fits once his other chess moves are made.
“In BA I trust!”
May 17th, 2019 at 7:31 am
It’s not a magic wand-
It’s better coaching and better schemes
May 17th, 2019 at 7:40 am
@alannucsfan
And a winning attitude from Jump Street.
May 17th, 2019 at 7:40 am
@ joe
Arians said he never walked into a team that was as talented as the bucs are offensively. He didnt say he has never coached a more talented offense. Thats how false narratives get started by the media. Fyi…palmer and fitz are only two players compared to about 8 quality players for the bucs. Also, palmer was on his death bed when arizona signed him and was not considered a quality qb at the time. Hence the qb whisperer.
May 17th, 2019 at 7:42 am
The bucs had one of the best offenses in the NFL last year and then lost 2 of its weapons and still have the same stale running attack…there is a reason perriman is on the bucs and its not because he is any good
May 17th, 2019 at 7:54 am
The truth of the matter is that tolwes will be a slightly better DC than Coach Smitty, and the big difference is that DC-TB will be allowed to employ his flex scheme, unlike the previous Coach was allowed to!!!!!!!! But what gains in the defensive coaching is offset by the step back in offensive coaches!!!!!!! I would take Coach Koetter with Coach Monken over ole stale biscuit and no first down/ slow windmill byron leftwich!!!!!!!!!! But it is all mute points because the trenches will do in the coaches as in previous seasons!!!!!!! And they can change coaches next year as well, and still they would have not addressed the “real” problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 7:59 am
🙂
May 17th, 2019 at 7:59 am
When will this team address the trenches in a serious way ?
SMF’n head….my expectations are realistically LOW
May 17th, 2019 at 8:05 am
Would you rather have Koetter & Djax
or…..BA & Perriman?
May 17th, 2019 at 8:20 am
The offense is still very talented, especially with the pass catchers: wr’s and TE’s, the only remaining questions are how will Winston and Oline perform?
May 17th, 2019 at 8:27 am
The previous JBF article about ‘starting faster’ hit the nail on the head. Jameis is the key there IMO; IF BA & Byron can get him into a groove quicker, the Bucs will have a much better chance of controlling the game (as opposed to ‘being controlled’ because of slow starts). Our offense has the weapons (although I do wish that our running back stable was more robust). It’s all about better game preparations, improved play-calling and getting Jameis to ‘play within himself’ (as opposed to ‘reaching’ & overdoing it). If BA can pull that off … and with a couple more ‘tweaks’ to the offensive roster (RG & RB) before the season starts … the Bucs offense will be OK.
May 17th, 2019 at 8:35 am
“He’s never had the kind of weapons”. What?
——————————————————————————————————-
The 2015 Arizona Cardinals:
1st in offensive yards.
2nd in scoring offense.
Carson Palmer had 4671 yards, 35 TDs (6.5%), 11 INTs (2.0%), and 104 QBR.
Chris Johnson 814 yards rushing.
David Johnson had > 1000 all-purpose yards, and 12 TDs.
Michael Floyd had 849 yds, and 6 TDs.
John Brown had 1003 yds and 7 TDs.
Larry Fitzgerald had 1215 yds, and 9 TDs.
I think those look like pretty good offensive weapons.
tickrdr
May 17th, 2019 at 8:45 am
BA seems like a fun guy but he is just plan full of S**t… he knows damn well he is walking into an organization that has ZERO hope for the future and one that has been the brunt of league jokes for 40 out of 42 years. small market franchise with an irrelevant fan base that is so stupid for buying into the hype once again just to get nutpunched and collect another basement title. anyone that truly believes this team has hope is closer to the nut house than reality…
are you people not tired of the roller coaster and the fact the glazers have NO intentions of fielding a team that can compete at anything higher than a high school level.
May 17th, 2019 at 8:47 am
The sky isn’t falling guys; we have a better coaching staff by far…Adam Humphries will be easily replaced, as well as the most overrated receiver in NFL history Desean Jackson…
Imo a little more effort, accountability, and chemistry by the offensive line will go a long way…also balancing out the offense in general; Payton Barber isn’t flashy but he’s solid…Only 23 carries by Rojo last season (shame on you Dirk for not being innovative enough to find different ways to use his speed)…
I fully expect our offense to be better, especially in the redzone…I think our issues in the redzone the last few years was on Dirk Koetter; from his days in Jacksonville and Altanta he’s consistently been a below average play-caller in the red zone; he has a tendency to be very predicable…Thank goodness he’s gone…
May 17th, 2019 at 8:47 am
@tickrdr
Valid point. That said, I bet if we could go back in the way-back machine, there would be negative, malcontent Cardinal fans prior to that season bitching about how horrible they would be.
You know, kind of like in here.
10-6 & Playoffs, Baby!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 8:48 am
Patrick Peterson popped for PED’s… This is DEFINITELY NEWS for a BUCS fan… Come home to poppa BA… We’ll give u another chance;)))))
May 17th, 2019 at 9:11 am
2018:
Evans (4.53 40 time)
Godwin (4.42 40 time)
Jackson (4.35 40 time, 5,9-5,10. 175lbs) -gone
Humphries (4.58 40 time, 5,10-5,11. 194lbs) -gone
Wilson (4.57 40 time)
Watson (4.42 40 time)
Brate (4.77 40 time)
Howard (4.51 40 time)
2019:
Evans
Godwin
Perriman (4.27 40 time, 6,2. 220lbs) – added
Watson
Wilson
Miller (4.39 40 time,5,9?- 5,11? 175lbs) – added
Howard
Brate
Just from looking on the surface we got faster and bigger targets without the distraction and malcontent. If their hands are the same or better and what roles they play might be the factor in how our vertical offense produces. I would love to see Watson have a bigger role this year and could fill Hump’s role quite nicely being the bigger, faster, and more physical receiver just don’t know if he has the YAC ability like Hump but I think he could do well in the slot IMO. Miller can play special teams and has the stretch the field capability like Jackson, but Perriman has the size and speed to be a great deep weapon just hope he can be consistent in this system.
BA has his receiving toys, no doubt, the biggest question mark on offense is the O-line, RB production as well as QB consistency….still. Looking forward to what these coaches can do with what we have this year.
May 17th, 2019 at 9:45 am
Until we have a solid run game. A RB that can take it to the house we will not be complete. Defenses will sit back with 7 dB and chew up the offense. Yeah we can get yards and be top 5 but no score. but how many rushing Td we had last year oh did we have a 100 rushing yd game. It can be oline to blame too or scheme/ coaches.
But at the end of the day. Defenses know we don’t have a threat in the backfield.
May 17th, 2019 at 9:53 am
No one knows yet what our OL will be able to do in a power blocking Offense (old school like the Patriots used to win the last Super Bowl easily) plus two excellent OL Coaches compared to incompetent Warhop who couldn’t develop any OL players. We have five players on our roster who may be the answer to our RG woes—Watford, Liedtke, Holcomb, Bailey, and Cappa and all five have played Tackle before too. My bet is our two new Coaches can develop one of the five to be much improved from Benenoch last year and develop another of the five to be a replacement to Dotson. I am no fan of D. Smith, as you know, but BA will know he can go two tight ends with Auclair on the left side who can chip block any speed rusher on D. Smith’s side and Auclair can still go out for a pass—a solution that never crossed clueless Koetter or Warhop’s small minds. Give BA the benefit of the doubt as I am.
May 17th, 2019 at 9:53 am
The Buc Realist Says:
June 21st, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Huge pass to the coaching staff issued by the “real” Buc fans!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 9:56 am
So the Buc inheritors have been failing so far
That doesn’t mean they aren’t learning
Quitters never win
Keep pushing and things usually turn
Go Bucs!
May 17th, 2019 at 10:01 am
realist
duffer was slightly better than smitty!!!!!!!…lol….
TB is far more competent than the man who got canned mid way thru the season!!!!!!!
TB has a scheme that puts players in position to be successful and plays to their strength!!!!!!!!….smitty was mr. coach my scheme in the flesh….no flexibility….no creativity……
TB has a job in the NFL!!!!!!…..the NFL wont touch smitty with a 10ft pole!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 10:07 am
imo, the offense will be fine….it will have more balance because there will be less cooks in the kitchen….
in addition to so creativity with formations and personnel….
BA & BL > DK & TM…..all day everyday and twice on sunday!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 10:37 am
Buc realist
You really don’t know Jack about this squad lol. I can’t wait to call u out when jameis balls. Bruce is the perfect marriage.
For everyone second guessing things, mark my words, the bucs are back.
Offense will be top 10 and defense will improve to top half.
Joe, read the article about Devin white on pff. It’s all about how ILBs can rush the passer and how successful they’ve been under Bruce and bowles and how perfect white is in this system. Dude is going to be a Swiss army knife.
May 17th, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Jason “very dim” Licht had several changes in the draft to get a running back , thought when they traded down in the 3rd round thats what one of the picks would have been. Then when the 5th round came up I thought here’s our running back and of course you know what happened then. We basically have know running game Dotson and Cappa can’t run block, Barber can run only strait ahead at 3 yards a carry and can’t catch. Jason “very dim” Licht 2nd round pick in 2018 Jones looks he’s scared to take a hit.
May 17th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
Hup will be missed and a loss. DJax leaving is a plus no matter who you put out there.
1. The guy is a wussy, alligator arms
2. He was a cancer
3. He is a quitter.
May 17th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
Question for The Joes: what is the word on how Ron Jones is doing in underwear football? Does he seem to be catching on? Or lost?
May 17th, 2019 at 2:57 pm
Don’t know about “word” but did see him catch a short pass and race through the defense for a touchdown. First play Joe has *ever* seen him make where you think, “This guy might be an NFL player.”
That’s one play. In underwear football. But, you know, babysteps.
May 17th, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Is The Offense Better?
Whose their qb this season? Winston
Winston? STILL?
then NO!
May 18th, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Limp biscuit needs to worry about the defense. The offense finished third overall offense in the nfl. The defensive, on the other hand, finished a solid twenty seventh. It actually improved a little later in the season after parting with Mike Smith or the ranking would have been a lot worse. Now you have JPP status unknown and Mccoy status unknown need I say more.
May 18th, 2019 at 1:27 pm
Bucs defensive finished twenty seven, Jets defensive finished twenty fifth two ahead of the bucs. So I wonder if the 3-4 is going to be some kind of godsend. Maybe we will move from 27th to 25th. So maybe the biscuit eater sees a need to move the offensive up two spots to be equal.