“There Is A Culture War In Tampa Bay”
December 2nd, 2020
Fingerpointing.
No, this isn’t about some old dude on a cable news show that advertises hearing aids, mobility scooters and Jitterbug phones and constantly hollers this time of the year about the death of Christmas.
No, this is about clashing football cultures.
It seems everyone these days has an opinion on the Bucs’ offense. And almost unanimously folks agree that something is off.
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians is catching a lot of flack by people thinking he’s jamming his type of offense down the throat of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, jet-ski-losing, handshake-stiffing Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
They say the blend is like oil and water, which is one reason the offense looks disjointed and inconsistent.
Well, an assistant coach with Brady’s former team while Mr. Six Rings was there has weighed in. He’s also the same guy who got the Bucs to a rare playoff game 15 years ago. That would be Chris Simms of NBC Sports.
Simms, using information gleaned from others, his own experience and All-22 tape, thinks the guy to blame for the Bucs’ offense sputtering isn’t Arians or even offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
No, Simms said on his podcast, “Unbuttoned,” if you are looking for a culprit, look no farther than Brady.
For weeks Simms has said a two-tight end set is best for the Bucs and Brady under center, and at least a threat of running the ball.
Simms challenged fans to re-watch the Chiefs-Bucs game for evidence (though Simms this has been clear to him for weeks). For those who re-watch the game, late in the first half and early into the second half the Bucs went to two tight ends and ran the ball more than in the first quarter.
All of a sudden, the play-action opened up and the offense began moving the ball. This happened, in part, because the Chiefs adjusted their defense for the Bucs going to the ground more.
Simms also said to study Arians’ history. He’s never been a “spread-it-out” guy, Simms said. Arians, at least his past base offenses, have always had the threat of a run and often had two tight ends.
Early in the game against the Chiefs, Brady was mostly in a shotgun. That, Simms said, is Brady’s influence.
(Note Arians has said on several occasions that Brady picks the plays the team will run. So that lends credence to what Simms is detailing.)
Simms also had another piece of evidence the disjointed offense is on Brady.
Just look at the roster.
“[Brady is] the one who wanted Antonio Brown,” Simms said. “I don’t need to think about it; I know. So Antonio Brown is there because Brady wanted another target for shotgun and spread.
“I think Leftwich and Arians are going, ‘No, that’s not what we want to do. We want to kind of run it and protect you and take some shots and hope you hang in there and do it.'”
Simms is completely convinced if the Bucs went to a two-tight end formation with Brady under center, this Bucs offense would explode. Again, as Joe wrote earlier, Simms has been saying this for weeks.
“To me, that’s when they are at their best,” Simms said.
Simms also gave Bucs fans a pat on the back. Despite the team looking anything like a playoff team the past month, the Bucs have the horses to get to the playoffs and maybe be a force.
It seems what the Bucs will do in the playoffs, if they get to the playoffs, will depend on who wins the Bucs’ culture war.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:08 am
The Bucs haven’t shown they can win four games in a row. That’s exactly what they will need to do in the playoffs if they are going to win a Super Bowl.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:35 am
I like Simm’s commentary. He actually took the time to look at the All-22 and break down what he was seeing. A little homework lends credence to what he’s saying.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:38 am
Well Chris, if the culture war needs a battlefield they could certainly use your enormous forehead…… lots and lots of room there.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:38 am
I don’t know who to blame, but they have a history of abandoning the run. The offense did the same thing last year.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:51 am
The O does work best with play action, for sure. Seems to be guys wide open AND Rojo runs best.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:59 am
Excuse me but isn’t that what a coach is for? If he sees his player(s) doing something that isn’t working to change it up. Doesn’t matter who’s fault it is its up to the coach to identify the problem and correct it not throw players under the bus, FIX IT DUDE OR RETIRE AND TAKE LEFTY WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2020 at 9:10 am
Joe’s- I don’t know if you guys are planning on talking about this with Ira on the next pod but who do you guys think is to blame for the sputtering offense? I’m convinced it’s Brady that’s messing it up. You guys said there’s a lot of egos in this league and it wouldn’t surprise me if Brady’s has gotten in the way a bit. He hears he can’t throw the deep ball so he wants to prove everyone wrong. He wants to show that he’s 43 and still has what it takes to be a gunslinger. Maybe it’s just his competitive drive or a mix of the ego and competitive drive idk but he needs to get it together.
December 2nd, 2020 at 9:22 am
On the Bucs’ 2nd quarter TD drive, Brady hit Gronk on a deep middle route when Gronk beat the LB who had fake blitzed. Gronk was the only TE.
Then, Brady hit RoJo in the left flat who was wide open and RoJo beat the LB and did the rest to score.
There were 2 TE’s on right side of scoring play – Auclair blocked and Gronk went down and right.
I don’t know about 2 TE’s making much difference- I think it’s more creating favorable matchups – and Bucs did that on their 2nd quarter scoring drive.
December 2nd, 2020 at 9:27 am
“Brady’s influence”? I do not get this. I totally respect Chris Simms..he’s forgotten more football than I’ll ever know. I also respect that he played the very position we’re discussing.
But Simms…nor very few QB’s in the history of the game…have had the leverage that Brady has…perhaps Brett Favre with the Jets.
Seriously!! What is BA going to do if Brady goes “rogue”? Is he going to bench him? Trash him for insubordination in the press? Really who has the power in this relationship.
BA’s power is all on paper…he’s the head coach…Brady’s power is in REALITY…he’s the guy who last touches the ball and decides where to go with it.
In reality I suspect that there is mutual respect given…there are probably debates over game plans and play calling…but NOBODY can really tell Brady what he has to do. Brady touches the football last and in the words of a man I’m respecting more and more with the passage of time…Brady is the “Decider”
The buck stops with Brady…just like the ball is snapped to him not BA.
I think our offense is now an amalgam of what the GOAT QB and his veteran coach concoct. Too many chefs spoil the broth…and so perhaps there’s a little of that going on as well.
December 2nd, 2020 at 9:37 am
Not if you’re running cam brate on vertical routes like on the last play of the Rams game no it won’t work if the right concepts aren’t there it won’t matter who is on the field
December 2nd, 2020 at 9:54 am
Win ! Stop trying to fit a square peg in a round hole!
Take it up in the off-season!
December 2nd, 2020 at 10:16 am
Third and 2 and long pass twice early against the Chiefs. Can’t happen and BA
Is the coach. Can’t just say Brady is calling the plays
Didn’t happen in New England
December 2nd, 2020 at 10:40 am
Run the ball!
December 2nd, 2020 at 11:15 am
This is BAs offense. BL does the game planning and calls the plays. They let Brady pick his favorite plate off the menu that BA and BL design. Period. And it’s a dumb, long ball heavy offense with little motion. The same one BA has used for decades. Bucs won’t win with a Super Bowl with it.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:50 pm
Let’s see a QB with no rings criticizing a QB with 6 rings who has been to the big dance 9 times. Yeah ok
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:55 pm
Just off the top of Joe’s head, guessing if you re-watch Sunday’s game, Tony Romo just may have had one not-so positive comment about Brady.
And willing to bet in the past, so has Rich Gannon.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:11 pm
I cant say lostwich is instilling any confidence in the offensive planning….
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:48 pm
Just listened to the Legarette Blount interview on McAfee, which prompted me to watch his highlight reel. When he was on the Pats, most of his big runs came from running to Gronk’s side. Hmmmm.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:54 pm
I call BS on the claim that a Brady is calling all the plays and formations.
The exact same problems you’re seeing with the offense this year are the exact same ones from last year.
We rarely used 2 tight end sets, hardly ran the ball, and most routes were all verticals… Just like this year.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:00 pm
Simms is right. Two tight ends, one Rojo, who is our best threat on offense, and lots of play action. The spread stuff with Fournette in is trash and is an easy out.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:13 pm
Brady is not everything , Brady and the Patriots were a complete set up , the bucks has no chance , The Patriots are so much bigger …
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:45 pm
It’s not a culture war unless that’s your way of saying it’s a conflict of egos ? It happened here in Arizona as well . Excuse my NBA reference , do yo remember when the Lakers were stuck and Lebron wasn’t happy ? He was bumping heads with Magic Johnson and was not able to take over and ask for what he wanted ? When Magic bowed out Lebron was able to do what he had a history of doing . He brought in who he wanted and you know the rest .
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:58 pm
Correct Joe although I don’t remember Rich Gannon or Tony Romo being quoted as a source in this post or being as frequent of a source of information as Mr. Simms. I think we need to stay on subject here. Just my opinion of course.
December 2nd, 2020 at 10:39 pm
[You figured wrong. Whoops! — Joe]
December 2nd, 2020 at 11:49 pm
No rings:
One reason you don’t see Gannon or Romo quoted often is that neither does a twice-weekly podcast that often discusses the Bucs nor are the two a co-host of a popular weekday morning cable network show.
Judging whether one knows football or has sources based on their NFL resume really is lazy thinking.
December 3rd, 2020 at 3:29 am
D-Rome, how many years have you (and many of us Buc loyalists) here at JBF been waiting to say, “the Bucs haven’t shown they can win 4-win a row yet”? Feels good to be able to think that’s even possible, doesn’t it. Thanks man!
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:57 pm
If you took that as Simms blaming Tom Brady, then you are hearing what you want to hear. That bring said, Chris Simms has been trashing Tom Brady for years. Not sure what Tom did to him. Maybe he ignored him when he was with the Patriots, and he got his feelings hurt. He doesn’t have a lot of credibility.
December 3rd, 2020 at 1:59 pm
The other thing is, Brady calling the plays is a bunch of BS.
December 5th, 2020 at 7:23 am
Wow! You bucs fans suck! I have been a pats fan my whole life, and continue to be a Brady fan even as he plays for another team, and you guys want to blame him for your troubles!!! Are you kidding me!? You guys had a losing record and only 7 wins on the whole season, and you have 7 already but it’s somehow Brady’s fault you don’t have more!? If I were you I would be putting my complete faith in that man, there is no one, I repeat no one, who gives you a better chance to win a ring. So let him do his job and continue to make adjustments. I would also like so point out that, the 2nd quarter drive where they scored, you can thank Bellichick for that drive, and Tom Brady for running them. This offense, and defense is suffering from a lack of coaching and dicipline, anyone who can’t see that needs a new pair of glasses.