Byron Leftwich Talks “Becoming One” With Tom Brady
June 26th, 2021
Some might look at Byron Leftwich’s job as easy last season. Hell, he was coaching Tom Brady and calling plays for a loaded offense.
Others saw a huge challenge under immense pressure in a unique environment.
Joe certainly leans toward the latter.
In came Brady, and Leftwich needed a deft touch to not screw things up and get Brady and the offense peaking at just the right time.
Speaking on NFL.com earlier this year, Leftwich explained that he had a solid relationship with Brady before he arrived, so there was never any fear of clashing. It was all about bonding as quarterbacks and Leftwich understanding how Brady’s body would respond.
The first goal was discussion — followed by more discussion.
“Let’s start talking football so we can combine our thought patterns and become one,” Leftwich said. “Because year-in and year-out, the offense is what the quarterback is. So I just wanted to build on our quarterback relationship as quick as possible, with the understanding that unless you know a guy, you can’t really put him in position, or you can’t really call plays for him and have consistent success. So I knew I had to learn him. I had to figure out what he likes, what he does well, how he sees things, how his body is going to react in certain situations, from a situational football standpoint.”
As for the famous meeting at Leftwich’s house, with Brady possibly violating NFL pandemic rules by meeting a coach (Brady mistakenly walked into the next-door neighbor’s home), Leftwich said it was nothing more than a five-minute chat and handing off stacks of paper.
Leftwich said he and Brady are no fans of studying football on a tablet, so that meet-up was all about old school notes and playbooks.
Count Leftwich’s synchronicity with Brady as perhaps the most underrated aspect of why the Bucs can be better in 2021.
June 26th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Agree with Joe’s last comment. If Brady stays healthy this offense could be amazing. Fun days ahead.
June 26th, 2021 at 10:22 am
On a different note:
That was one hell of a series with the Bolts taking the Islanders in seven.
Game seven was a Master Class in defensive execution.
On to the Habs, goin’ for TWO Stanley’s!
Great time to be a Tampa Bay sports fan!
June 26th, 2021 at 10:30 am
Go Bucs Go Bolts Go Rays
June 26th, 2021 at 10:33 am
Watching last season’s games: did anyone notice that early in year Shaq Barrett was playing on the LE & JJP was on the RE?
June 26th, 2021 at 10:34 am
Joe post about the throwback helmets and unis approved for 2022. Looks like Brady will get his wish, playing at 45 in the creamsicle unis !
June 26th, 2021 at 10:46 am
We are going to win the Superbowl wearing creamsicles. That would be kind of cool actually.
June 26th, 2021 at 11:41 am
yah Pete, I think that hurt Shaq for awhile. I think coaches felt Jason is stronger against the run than Shaq plus they like to drop him into pass coverage now and then on that side. Shaq got better on the left side by playoff time.
June 26th, 2021 at 11:43 am
Way to go BOLTS!
June 26th, 2021 at 12:42 pm
If the Bolts pull off a repeat. You know they will have to up the standards on the boat victory parade. They started the tradition last year, and the Bucs took it to the next level.
This could be fun.
June 26th, 2021 at 1:04 pm
Shaq is good, but when Vita plays Shaqs dominant
June 26th, 2021 at 1:12 pm
Sticking on topic, when you both want to win and that’s your main goal, the rest comes easy. Brady could t have chosen a better team or situation to be in. GO BUCS.
June 26th, 2021 at 2:58 pm
See the GOAT, be the GOAT.