“We Can’t Control How They’re Going To Play”
September 29th, 2020
In two of three games this season, Mike Evans amassed a grand total of four yards receiving.
Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich talked about that today.
Will it continue? Is Leftwich ok with Evans producing like that, even if he had two catches for two yards and two touchdowns on Sunday?
Leftwich seemed to say that’s just fine during his visit to Bucs Total Access.
Simply stated, Leftwich said that like fans, he also views the Bucs as having a multitude of stud weapons. So if teams are going to double team Evans constantly, as happened Sunday in Denver and often in other games, then Leftwich will look elsewhere and not force things to Evans.
“We can’t control how they’re going to play,” Leftwich said of the many more double-teams of Evans this season. “We’re still doing things to try to get him the ball.”
“That’s how we view it,” Leftwich continued, when asked about quickly looking to other pass catchers as a playcaller if teams are over-committing to take out Evans.
Leftwich said his job is to put guys into position to succeed and not worry about forcing things to anyone. That jibed with what Leftwich stressed repeatedly last Thursday, that the Bucs offense should evolve organically.
Evans has elite and well-rounded skills, Leftwich said, and that’s why he was able to make the difficult short touchdown catches look so easy Sunday.
Interestingly, Leftwich said of Rob Gronkowski’s big day. “I do believe he played faster Sunday.” And Joe is sure that will be noticed by defensive coordinators, as well, likely giving Evans less attention going forward.
September 29th, 2020 at 5:53 pm
Gronk is starting to look like a threat. That can only help Evans, Godwin, Miller, Howard, Rojo….
September 29th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
I wonder if losing Perriman has allowed teams to roll more safety help to Evans side of the field.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:05 pm
I wonder if losing Perriman has allowed teams to move more safety help to Evans side of the field.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:11 pm
Exactly…you take what they give you. And make them pay. Brady sees it, and adjusts accordingly, as does B.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Be interesting to see if tbe bucs have a 1,000 yd receiver this year. Offense is pretty boring 😴 lot of dink and dunk. Brady obviously can’t throw the deep ball very well anymore. That defense is going to take us to the playoffs. R.I.P top 5 Offense, i know I will surely miss you.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:26 pm
Kawabunga, go back to Madden and let the rest of us enjoy Bucs football.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Kawabunga……….Whats obvisous is you didnt watch the game. Perfect throws on deep balls to Miller and O.J.
I do agree we see a lot more dink and dunk now(not necessarily a bad thing)……..But for you to say Brady cant throw the deep ball well anymore is just flat out wrong proven as such by Brady actually throwing excellent deep balls.
I dont even understand how you came to such an awful conclussion. Even some of the incompletions(deep sidelines to Miller for example) were beautifully placed footballs. Unbelievably bad statement by you.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:36 pm
Brady works best by spreading the ball around and not having to force it. However, if you leave Evans single covered, rest assured he is going to get the ball thrown his way.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:37 pm
Kawanbunga or Ndog or whatever your name is. Dude, Brady has thrown the prettiest deep ball I’ve ever seen as a Bucs fan. He mortars it to land just over the defender so either they have to interfere or the WR has a play on the ball.
Not sure if you’re deliberately lying or just don’t know wtf you’re looking at but watch it again. Brady is a dime dropping delight man!
As for the sink and dunk, this is not new. We did this last year, lots of screens and the motions. Offense looks the same, just better accuracy and decision making.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:38 pm
Joe why am I still on mod after what like 8 months. Come on man, I’m losing interest in this site when I can’t contribute.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:38 pm
We haven’t seen as many deep throws this year, but I am fine with that – if we win 10+ games and ME13 has 900 yards and 16 td’s – who cares?
With the amount of weapons we have it is a foregone conclusion that all must be in tune with sharing the ball this year – there is only one
September 29th, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Dink and dunk and moving the chains > “exciting” interceptions
September 29th, 2020 at 6:40 pm
The last time I checked, the point is to move the ball down the field until you score. Only casual fans care if it’s flashy or not. Dink and dunk down the field? Whatever it takes to score the most points. Nitpickers gonna nitpick regardless.
September 29th, 2020 at 6:43 pm
i really don’t think teams have another good option other than to double Evans. If you don’t, he’ll destroy you.
I am a bit concerned about Godwin’s hammy…..with Evans doubled and Godwin out……we’ll see what we have with Gronk,Miller, OJ, Brate, Johnson, Watson, Rojo, McCoy & Fournette….
Not a bad list….
September 29th, 2020 at 6:44 pm
JJ, exactly. Anthem the troll keeps spewing that same garbage. TB has thrown it down field plenty of times and connected on at least half of those attempts. I’ll take check downs over interceptions all day everyday…
September 29th, 2020 at 6:54 pm
Hey Ill take the double teams and so will Brady. If you wanna try and let a LB cover Godwin Tom will turn that into a big gain almost every time.
September 29th, 2020 at 7:01 pm
Steven I just dont get it. These guys say Tom cant throw it deep. What the **** are they talking about? Specifically which play?
Are they just talking out their asses to try to get under our skin or what? I just dont get it.
Heck look at the 30 yard would be TD to Gronk. Brady missed cause he put too much mustard on the ball. Harld because he couldnt get it there.
This crap that Brady cant throw deep has no reasoning. Ifso then tell us which play. Spit it out. But they cant cause they wont.
September 29th, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Evans is on pace for 53catches, 576yds and 21TD’s. I’ll take it, TD’s are what win games, not yards.
September 29th, 2020 at 7:08 pm
JimmyJack, someone throws out a stat or an observation that fits their viewpoint/narrative/belief and others with the same line of thought run with it and keep spewing the BS out. Same thing we see in the news, politics, etc. Most people don’t take the time to form their own conclusions. Brady throws an excellent deep ball.
September 29th, 2020 at 7:10 pm
Facts the offense is the same just different QB. The only we ran thts a so called Brady play is the flea flicker.
September 29th, 2020 at 7:37 pm
Yup, this ain’t a skewed viewpoint. This is a fact. Jay Miss 30 interceptions last year and several fumbles.
September 29th, 2020 at 7:41 pm
So far brady has completed 50% of his passes that travel 20+ air yards. That is not a qb that cant throw deep.
September 29th, 2020 at 8:10 pm
God loves, I think Saints fans may argue with that…
September 29th, 2020 at 8:13 pm
JJ, it’s truly just the JW homers. Anthem is another story, he’s trolling and he enjoys it. His game day garbage is worthless. Shame as he occasionally comes up with a decent take but he’s in love with trolling so that dominates his posting.
September 29th, 2020 at 8:15 pm
Yeah, his first game in this o with these recievers was rough. Over the last 2 weeks he has shown he can push the ball downfield just fine when needed. Just because he doesnt chuck it deep every play doesnt mean he cant throw deep. He is jyst much wiser on when to throw it deep.
September 29th, 2020 at 8:16 pm
Kawabunga Says:
September 29th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Be interesting to see if tbe bucs have a 1,000 yd receiver this year. Offense is pretty boring 😴 lot of dink and dunk. Brady obviously can’t throw the deep ball very well anymore. That defense is going to take us to the playoffs. R.I.P top 5 Offense, i know I will surely miss you.
…………….
You miss whatever the heck you want to. When we are in the Playoffs I won’t miss a minute!
September 29th, 2020 at 8:16 pm
Alaskan
I think i got you beat. Been a year for me
If you post on the game day open thread your post never shows up on time.
And people say much worse stuff then me
September 29th, 2020 at 8:19 pm
Was kawabunga ever cool
A “Simpsons “saying back in the 90s
September 29th, 2020 at 8:24 pm
Uh yes Byron you control how team will play you. The best receivers usually get doubled a lot. This team can only go so far with your limited imagination
September 29th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
Yeah who cares about Evans record streak of 1000 yard seasons
Yards don’t matter
Legacy doesn’t matter
Leftwhich is a buffoon
September 29th, 2020 at 8:32 pm
Rest assured folks. Not only will Mike get his G he will also get his just recognition for being the best WR in the game. People, what we have here is a failure to communicate.
This time its the fans failing and not the players. Thank our AMAZING AND AWESOME new old QB for that.
Mike is a predator like weapon. He ia gonna eat one way or another.
2 TDs plus 2 yards over 19 games equals….. Awe you do the math…
Bet which stat line is more impressive. 6 Super Bowl rings or whatever else the best QB in Tampa history did.
Now Bet which stat.line Mike would rather have???
September 29th, 2020 at 8:39 pm
Oh and never mind the best QB in Tampa History dropped to bombs right in Mikes bread basket against the Aints. If not for the P.I.s Mike would not only be leading the league in yards but would likely have 2 more TDs and be leading the league inTDs.
What does that mean. It means the greatest QB in Bucs history knows he can go to the well any time he wants. Right now The Greatest QB in Bucs history is just looking for other places to drink.
Why you ask????
30 – 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 8:41 pm
Oh and never mind the best QB in Tampa History dropped to bombs right in Mikes bread basket against the Aints. If not for the P.I.s Mike would not only be leading the league in yards but would likely have 2 more TDs and be leading the league inTDs.
What does that mean. It means the greatest QB in Bucs history knows he can go to the well any time he wants. Right now The Greatest QB in Bucs history is just looking for other places to drink.
Why you ask?
30 – 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 8:43 pm
My goodness you people are seriously brainwashed.
I truly in my heart feel bad for you all. It’s like you don’t have eyes.
September 29th, 2020 at 8:43 pm
Why does the offense look different? Why not so many deep up for grabs balls? Because Brady reads the D and the adjustments, knows where the open man should be, does the first, second, third receiver, and usually throws it to the open man. And yes, that is different than how Jameis played the position…which was to read the defense before the snap, look for the open man, and if he isn’t open, throw it up for grabs to Evans, or throw it to a defender.
September 29th, 2020 at 8:44 pm
The biggest difference this year is the Bucs have a quality D and a reliable kicker.
Evans will get his stats- he’s too good.
The key moving forward is avoid turnovers and penalties.
September 29th, 2020 at 8:59 pm
Geez, my prediction that Mike would put up Tecmo Bowl numbers this year is going to hell. 😜
September 29th, 2020 at 9:03 pm
For God’s sake keep Brady away from Wyoming. Their Governor has declared open season on GOATs.
September 29th, 2020 at 9:04 pm
mark2001 Says:
September 29th, 2020 at 8:43 pm
Why does the offense look different? Why not so many deep up for grabs balls? Because Brady reads the D and the adjustments, knows where the open man should be, does the first, second, third receiver, and usually throws it to the open man. And yes, that is different than how Jameis played the position…which was to read the defense before the snap, look for the open man, and if he isn’t open, throw it up for grabs to Evans, or throw it to a defender.
This ⬆️ is the kind of lazy, ridiculous and brainwashed comment that simply proves people don’t know what they are talking about they simply spew garbage and believe their nonsense is real.
September 29th, 2020 at 9:15 pm
Oh Doggy…you don’t end up 30/30 without throwing a bunch of balls where you shouldn’t. What I said is true…Jameis can’t read the post snap D adjustments quickly, adjust and throw the ball where he should (and shouldn’t) on a consistent basis. The results prove it. Call what I said lazy…I’ll call what you say delusional worship.
You know who has almost exactly the same career QB rating as Winston? Andy Dalton. A guy you and your like minded lovers thought was garbage…I wonder why?
September 29th, 2020 at 9:23 pm
I want to see Brady play with a torn meniscus, broken throwing hand without Evans, Godwin and Miller and make all these great decisions in the offense we ran last year.
September 29th, 2020 at 9:23 pm
Bucs fans,
Let us all now enjoy a quick moment of silence and thank the heavens we are not Falcons fans.
September 29th, 2020 at 9:27 pm
Ndog
Nobody cares what you want to see….
#clipboard
#league minimum
#all32GM’saresmarterthanyou.
September 29th, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Ndog
Do you honestly think SHAMELESS made “all these great decisions in the offense we ran last year”? Of course you do! Why did I even ask? You lost ALL credibility when you claimed that JW3′ 5000 yard season was better than Mahommes’. Give it a rest already! Maybe SHAMELESS will get another shot when Brees is done and you can say I told you so. Career like Phillip Rivers is all I really see!
September 29th, 2020 at 10:02 pm
Ndog get a life
September 29th, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Better yet stay off Twitter
September 29th, 2020 at 10:50 pm
Ndog,
Go watch the AFC championship game vs the jags then the Super Bowl.
Even with 12 stitches in his hand, Brady was still able to lead the Patriots to a comeback win over the Jaguars.
September 29th, 2020 at 11:16 pm
Avoiding penalties while learning a deceptive complex offensive scheme is difficult but not impossible. It takes good focus and determination NOT to commit a penalty. Sometimes players commit penalties thinking it will help . . . eh lol
I will say that I am proud to have seen a clean team as far as cheap shots.
I haven’t seen any.
I saw the Falcons lay cheap shots in games. They go for the knees, cowards
GO BUCS!!!
If Jameis is so awesome why didn’t he try to stay in Tampa Bay?
Why hasn’t he beaten Brees yet? You say he is AMERICA”S QB?
a 3rd stringer lol
Instead he lied about the team that paid him millions saying that he had learned nothing. Sad devotion some of you have.
September 29th, 2020 at 11:27 pm
So now teams are paying more attention to Evans than they did in the past ???
Better run game, better tight ends , Godwin ?? HHHmmmmmm sounds like the dumb Jock disease for I can’t adjust to get my # 1 offensive talent open looks ……….. Come on man !!! Sorry that line of crap deserves Another !! Come on Man !!
I gonna say it’s more to do with Brady not being comfortable with B A s Offense which is more Evans friendly and btw when Godwins out theBucs have no Slot Rec. I mean NO slot guy !!!
It’s a work in progress
September 30th, 2020 at 1:09 am
Sign Antonio Brown
September 30th, 2020 at 6:45 am
Mike Evans isn’t that good. All he does is catch touchdowns. Lol.