Bigger Leftwich Challenge In Rearview Mirror
December 14th, 2019
OC Byron Leftwich
O.J. Howard made a few strong points early this week talking about his teammates and his offensive coordinator.
Some might say OC Byron Leftwich has a big game-plan challenge ahead without hamstring-challenge Mike Evans available tomorrow in Detroit.
But Howard suggested on Buccaneers Radio that establishing a full game plan with Evans and then having it go out the window after one quarter of play, like it did Sunday when Evans got hurt, is much more of an ultimate test for an offense and its playcaller.
So much revolves around Evans, Howard noted, that it’s not just a next-man-up situation.
That said, Howard dropped mad praise on receiver Justin Watson for rising off the bench into a receiver role Howard said he didn’t get many, if any, practice reps to execute. Howard added that reserve tight end Tanner Hudson also played receiver last Sunday and Howard was sure Hudson had zero practice reps for that.
The readiness of those players, Howard said, goes back to Bruce Arians long ago stressing that all his pass catchers have a very deep understanding of each other’s positions and philosophy of the offense. So they can all execute when in-game situations change in a heartbeat.
Kudos to Leftwich and his team for scoring 24 points Sunday after Evans was lost scoring a touchdown to close the first quarter.
That was readiness on display.
December 14th, 2019 at 11:54 am
Thank you BA for bringing in BL as OC…he has done as good a job as could be expected. Could he be next Buc head coach? Why not?
December 14th, 2019 at 12:10 pm
BigHog (if that is your real name) you can’t praise Byron, one of Joe’s other personalities hates him…as does half the fan base. That’s just silly talk. –Joe
December 14th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Buc’s have been outstanding in Red Zone offense. A lot of that credit goes to BL for excellent play calls.
December 14th, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Arians coined Leftwich as a rising star before the season, and I’d say he’s correct. As of now, he has to be the leading candidate to take over when BA retires.
In Leftwich We Trust!
December 14th, 2019 at 12:52 pm
“Without MeMe
the offense should scheme more toward OJ and double his targets
However we are dealing with the QB coach intern
Perriman who cant run a route will be targeted 10 times”
Kobe Faker
December 14th, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Glad to see Leftwich get some praise. Lots of shade has been thrown his way most of the season & haven’t seen many give him much credit when it’s due. The last few weeks have been great and Byron has gotten very little mention.
@geno…..Great point about the red zone offense. An area where Byron has his unit excelling yet gets very little credit. If you go back to the first month of the season we were struggling in the red zone. All signs point that Byron has gotten better and better as he has learned these players.
December 14th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
Another thing I’ve noticed with the offense is we were struggling to get the playcalls in on time early in the year and we’re getting a lot of delay of game pentalties……This is not an issue anymore and is a thing of the past.
Been a lot of fun watching this offense just get better and better every week. All of the critism thrown at the OC sure looks now like it was impatience in waiting for the offense to learn a new system while coaches learn their players.
Very exciting heading into the future to see the offense get even more comfortable & get even better. This is why there is no doubt you must bring Winston back next year and just watch him improve along with the rest of the offense!!!
GOOO BUCS!!!!
December 14th, 2019 at 1:36 pm
Joe – you’re right, hate is too strong, would occasional confusion or befuddlement with certain offensive calls be more accurate? Because even I can admit to that feeling. Sorry again for assuming the worst of you haha
December 14th, 2019 at 3:19 pm
OC Leftwich is in his first full season as OC from start to finish and as you can see, with a mediocre o-line, middling running play and inconsistent play from QB, he has helped engineer TB to the 3 highest scoring offense in the league.
December 14th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
What is exciting is that game planning and play calling stand to improve significantly for next year.
BA and BL will have the entire off season to review what worked and what didn’t and make some fine tuning to their offense.
Or some major tuning like a stud RB and a generational OL in the draft.
December 14th, 2019 at 3:42 pm
How is it possible for a QB to be labeled as inconsistent and be in the top 2 in the league in yards and TDs and lead a top 3 scoring offense with basically no running game?
That’s like the definition of consistent!
December 14th, 2019 at 5:28 pm
23 interceptions 12 fumbles is not consistent. Jameis has played better but the turnovers have not abated. I stand by my opinion. Jameis has reached his peak and will not get significantly better at this point. He will hurt you more than he helps you.
December 14th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Who would you realistically replace Jameis Winston with at Qb next year that would give the Bucs a better chance to win immediately?
Fumble lost is 5.