“I Don’t Think We’ve Ever Really Struggled”
June 28th, 2021
Byron Leftwich and Tom Brady
Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich often uses clichés and, like many coaches, isn’t known for candid and clear talk to the media.
But Joe found a different Leftwich during a chat with NFL.com.
Joe shared a couple of takes over the weekend, and this one speaks to how Leftwich views the maturation of the Bucs offense.
Of course, that’s primarily about Tom Brady.
“As a coach, my whole mindset is all about the quarterback. You know, it’s about the quarterback all the time so you do what the quarterback do best,” Leftwich said, noting he’s played for coaches who didn’t get that concept.
The Bucs’ OC threw cold water on the notion that the Tampa Bay offense hit hard times in 2020.
“I really don’t believe we ever struggled throughout the year,” Leftwich said of his Year 1 with Tom Brady.
“I think we had bad moments within games, we had bad plays within games. Listen, we were 6-2 scoring 30 points and people were saying something’s not right because we lost to good football teams.
“So I don’t think we’ve ever really struggled. I just think we had to learn. … It was all about Tom, but we needed that experimental period and we only got it within games because it was brand new. Our first opportunity we had to showcase was [against] the New Orleans Saints, you know, Week 1. You don’t want to be trying to figure things out against that caliber of football team. So we had bumpy patches throughout the year because of things like that. I think halfway through the year we got a good understanding, once I got a good understanding of Tom, I kind of knew everything of how he’ll react.
“It’s really about reactions, right? What you do on paper and what your body reacts to are two different things. So once I got the understanding of where he’ll go with the ball, and how he’ll see certain players in certain spots. Because it’s not really about, you know, the concept, it’s who we got in that concept and why we got him there as opposed to being over somewhere else. It was just all that communication had to happen.”
Joe liked Leftwich talking about the next-level stuff of gauging Brady’s decision-making and reactions, combined with understanding receivers capabilities.
It all adds up to reasonably expecting the Bucs offense to be better in 2021.
It’s a new Ira Kaufman Podcast, presented by Bill Currie Ford.
June 28th, 2021 at 10:39 am
are folks happy with BLs pressers now?…lol…
KEEP WORKING MAGIC BL!!!!!
#BL=BUCSnextHC!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
June 28th, 2021 at 10:39 am
If I’m a GM reading this, I’d never hire Leftwich as a head coach bcuz he’s flat out in denial & lacks self-awareness
June 28th, 2021 at 10:55 am
813 The Byron critics dont know what to say or what to think. Their whole world crumbled and they are trying to reprocess everything. Once you witness MAGIC it changes you forever……….But I love to see them squirm HAHAHAHA
GOO BUCS BABY WOOO HOOOOO!!!!
June 28th, 2021 at 11:02 am
When you discet what Byrons saying here you can see how this offense is primed to get even more potent….When I think about Bradys career he almost has a robotic feel to running an offense and is extremely efficient.
The efficiency was really not there for much of last year and it makes perfect sense that we will only get better and better in that department over time.
The Bucs offense looks like it will evolve and will be unstoppable against many teams this year.
June 28th, 2021 at 11:03 am
I expect Brady to break the Club record of 55 points. I predict we score 56 points this year and break it.
June 28th, 2021 at 11:46 am
I saw some struggles. But then again I’m on the outside looking in.
The Bears loss still chaos my ass and the 38-3 thrashing is still fresh. Hills 3 TDS STILL piss me off.
But after that- all Golden.
June 28th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
JIMMYJACK
BINGO!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
June 28th, 2021 at 12:16 pm
They wasted time trying to fit a round peg in a square hole. Brady was being asked to do things that didn’t suit his game. You got away with it, because home field didn’t mean much.
You could tell when Brady took over. They ran motion, no more stupid out routes from the far hash, and everyone benefited. Arians offense isn’t very qb friendly, while the pats offense is. Simple short completions is the best way to sustain offense. That and running the hell out of the ball. Both things increased as Brady installed his offense. Arians and leftwich were reduced to cheerleaders. It’s all Tommy, and anyone who says different simply doesn’t know football
June 28th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Fools here still talking about the pats offense. There’s no help for some of you the Bucs where still a vertical offense. The Bucs still ran the ball at the same rate from the year before. Of course the added some wrinkles Brady was comfortable with. It’s no different than any sport you get a pg in basketball who is dominant in pick n roll guess what his new team would do.
June 28th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Um, yeah. So Brady was actually #1 in deep throw attempts (passes over 20 yds) in 2020.
They didn’t “shorten” the game. They learned what Brady likes and dislikes.
Consider this, as I will respectfully partially disagree with BL, Other than the SB, when did the Bucs TEAM show up for 100% of 100%?
It was fits and starts. My point being, this team is likely to improve this year.
Scary!
June 28th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
So they threw some deep balls. What the hell do you think set it up. They were playing backwards. Tom Brady learned how to play NFL football from bill belichick. Go on believing he played in Arians has a great offense, go on believing leftwich can coach. I can’t wait to see your team after Tom Brady, right back where you belong.
The offense changed. Arians offense doesn’t utalize motion, that’s a little more than a wrinkle. It allows Brady to diagnose defenses. It looked very much like the offense he ran in NE. If Jim Nancy can see it, the rest of you should. Tony Romeo thinks so too.
June 28th, 2021 at 3:40 pm
Ben- I didn’t use hyperbole when I mentioned he was NUMBER ONE! It is a statistical FACT. So “some”?! Right.
Second, all offenses (at least the ones with smart coaches) adapt. BL adapted to Brady and vice versa.
Lastly, with all due respect, this is a Buc fan site. We know Brady’s history but, if you want to talk about Belichik and the Pats there are certainly other places to go.
June 28th, 2021 at 3:56 pm
@Bucsfanman
This isn’t a restricted site where you need to take a blood loyalty oath. It’s a football fan site where people wish to discuss Bucs football, of which Brady is a major part. If anyone has a right to restrict discussions, it’s Joe, who can easily step in and moderate or IP ban.
June 28th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Youngbucs you hate to admit that they change the offense lol 😆😂. It’s not a knock on Brady It was the smart thing to do. You setup your offense on what he does best , that’s been the main reason why the bucs haven’t developed their own quarterback. And when it came down to the running game it was not the same the year before. The problem yall have is you want to keep the Jamies was the main problem narrative going. And I’m tell you this again if BA comes with that no risk it no biscuit offense with no running game with Kyle Trask it will be the same results with all the other quarterbacks this team drafted. And it will be official that Tampa is the team where young quarterbacks careers come to die rather you believe or not . You can’t keep blaming the quarterbacks when they come to your team they all of sudden they become bad quarterbacks.
June 28th, 2021 at 4:31 pm
look at the accompanying pic…
imagine being byron and trying to coach tom up…
he must be like “tommy go out there and do you”…
tom has hands behind back like he’s waiting for a drink in margaritaville…
any more coaching is just over-coaching
June 28th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Taped and fast watched a 2018 New England game from NFL network.
Brady has to be so happy he came here. The Leftwich/Arians offense is so much more imaginative than that 2018 New England offense. Just piss poor play calling on offense – so predictable.
Sure as this article said, there was transition of Brady and Leftwich and Arians. They all worked on it. It improved. New England and Belichick had no clue what they were missing with Brady gone. Bill can coach defense, but he has had a vanilla offense for years. He got by on Brady and Gronk’s greatness along with an offensive line coach beyond reproach along with a great defense.
But he gave Brady Nothing in OC play calling and elite players on offense.
Now Bill B is stuck with Cam and a crazy weak OC.
We are the kings and champs. They are the chumps now.
June 28th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
There are still fools, like the ESPN crowd, that just think Brady installed his own offense mid season. Right, he drew up all the schemes and plays since week 9. Very mind numbing that goof balls think that is even possible — how little they really know about football teams and coaching.
June 28th, 2021 at 5:02 pm
Judge BL after TB retires.
June 28th, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Joe,
This article turned me on. BL saying what you want to do on paper vs what your body will do, is two totally different things is the god honest truth.
June 28th, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Oneilbucs please grown men are talking hush up. Why would I admit to something that the coach has shot down Brady has shot down!!!!! I’m not you I live in reality. I don’t have a grudge in my comments I try to be honest as possible with the info I have. You on the other are a butt hurt fool who has denied fact even when everyone on the team has said other wise no matter the topic. Imagine not even being able to admit winstons game is flawed so far in his career smh kick rocks dude.
June 28th, 2021 at 6:45 pm
By the way everything points to jameis being the main problem. Change QB look at the results. Same team just won a super bowl. Oh oh he didn’t ab was ab our leading wr no. He didn’t have Lenny was he our leading rusher no. He didn’t have the rt did the rookie make us go from almost 50 sacks to 20 no. The biggest thing the Bucs did was upgrade QB and honest fans know that’s the difference now go in the corner little man.
June 28th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Now watch his stupid response!!!!
June 28th, 2021 at 7:44 pm
People get bogged down on which offense was used but the fact of the matter is that all offenses have similar plays. Just different terminology that the QB – Brady – learned Bruce’s terminology as opposed to having the whole team learning the Pats terminology. Beyond that, the real question is how do you call plays. Clearly, within the Bucs offense they started calling plays that suit Brady and eliminated the ones that do not. Simple as that. Same offense, different plays having more emphasis.
June 28th, 2021 at 8:12 pm
Geno wrong. According to the legacy Brady installed a new offense at halftime vs the Chiefs. Nothing is unpossible if you are the GOAT!!
LETS GO LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!
June 28th, 2021 at 8:15 pm
I dont know how many times brady, arians have to say that brady had to get comfortable in ARIANS offense before fools will stop saying it was bradys offense. Even brady says it was not his offense. Some of you are both clowns and fools!!!
June 28th, 2021 at 8:53 pm
The bucs did not install a new offense at halftime of the chiefs game wtf? I really believe some of you drink your own urine smdh
June 28th, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Brady even said let’s do it a different way and it was a topic on this site. And by the way Youngbucs I never said Jamies game didn’t have flaws in it . Of course he had flaws he was the youngest player in the NFL at that time. Goff , Wentz , and others were drafted after Jamies and were still older than him . But Jamies is gone now and just like you said he didn’t have everything Brady had so you can’t compare the two. How many yards Rojo had last year vs in 2019 ? Lol 😆🤣
June 28th, 2021 at 9:08 pm
Webster it’s because they have nothing some feelings are hurt because of winstons departure. So they just move to the next thing. They were hollering super bowl or bust we won the super bowl. Feelings still 😢
June 28th, 2021 at 9:16 pm
Yall need to get off the false narrative that the media tell yall . It’s funny for the first time in 3 months I watch underspuid and you can see the narratives they push . Skip Bayless said that the defense and Belichick lost 3 superbowl . It’s funny how Brady gets all the credit when they won the superbowl . But gets no blame when they lost . Lol 😆🤣 I told yall they have narratives and all yall bought it 🤣😂 . There go’s your proof on their false narrative that they tell yall . And Sharp refuse to tell Skip Bayless that he can’t It’s a PR move . That’s why Deaon Sanders said he turned down those jobs at ESPN, Fox , and the NFL network . He said he wanted his own content. Because he said you can criticize this player but you can’t criticize that player. He exposed the media go look at the interview!! That’s facts !!!
June 28th, 2021 at 9:27 pm
This dude is slow he keeps talking about media. The team talks u fool you just don’t want to acknowledge it. The only person with false narratives is you nobody here mentions stupid talk shows but you.
June 28th, 2021 at 9:29 pm
Oneilbucs give us the link to Brady saying let’s do it a different way you talk out your a$$!!!!!!
June 28th, 2021 at 9:31 pm
Hit him with facts he talks about sports soap operas smh.
June 28th, 2021 at 9:39 pm
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡rojo 2019 724yds 6tds 31 catches rojo 2020 978 7tds 28 catches
254 difference wow big deal. The Bucs run gm as a whole was at the bottom of the league in both years. Try again dude now if you wanna be honest and man up the biggest difference is turnover differential but I know that don’t fit your narratives 😂
June 28th, 2021 at 11:35 pm
Brady never said lets do it a different way. Brady did say micd up to BL call what u want because u r on fire. Brady did say he did not even know the offense for over half the season. Brady did say the bucs will be better next year after the super bowl because he understands the offense and players better. Arians did say they had to teach brady while it was cool you hit the 5 yard check down, u missed the 40 yard completion. Arians also said it is easier to teach ONE player the GOAT a new offense than 22 players a new offense. Which means brady had to learn what evans and godwin etc already knew. Give BA and BL credit for coaching. No, this is not brady’s offense u fools
June 29th, 2021 at 11:03 am
Youngbucs Brady said that 90 percent on the comments that he tells the media is not how he really feels Lol 😆🤣😂 !! And that’s what every player does when they talk to the media stupid. Even when they are ask about other players on their team. When they ask a question like did Brady make you a better player what you think they’re going to say no lol 😆lol 😆🤣 !! You are the fool that believe they really feel that way lol 😆😂🤣
June 29th, 2021 at 11:10 am
“The problem yall have is you want to keep the Jamies was the main problem narrative going”
ONeill some inescapable FACTS!
The Bucs went 7-9 they made a CRITICAL change and win the SB..in ONE year!
Same coaches…same philosophy…added an awesome RT in the draft and an excellent DB…but the REAL change came at the MOST important position QB!
Oh and stop embarrassing yourself with Manning comparison. I checked “the sheet” for you. And while Manning had a poor rookie season and certainly tossed his share of ints that’s where the comparison TOTALLY falls apart.
Let’s start with the only stat that really matters…winning.
Manning…42-38 3 winning seasons JW 28-42 1 winning season.
Statistically speaking JW is a CONFIRMED LOSER…your only hope O’Neill is that Sean Payton is truly talented and it wasn’t all Drew Brees.
The Saints have as much talent as we do. IF JW starts there he should win 12=13 games and compete with the Bucs for the title and make an SB run in the process. Let’s see what happens.
June 29th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Oneilbucs all of your responses are always straw man!!!!!! Before you respond go check what that means. Because I’m sure you don’t know what it means.
June 29th, 2021 at 11:38 am
He’s to scared to say it’s when time for winston with the saints. He won’t ever put any standards on winston. But he will be a front runner after the fact.
June 29th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
Stpetebuc . I don’t believe a win lost record is a quarterback stat. Payton Manning played with 2 hall of fame runningbacks that played a major role in those wins . How many times did our defense let us down? Wins and loses are a team stat not a quarterback stat. Who fault was it when we lost against the Bears, saints, and Kansas City was it Brady fault that line couldn’t block or what about the Rams game? You see how you ain’t blaming Brady for those loses and I will agree with you if you look at the team. Just like the Gaints game in 2019 was that Jamies fault are what about going up 21 to 3 against the Seahawks and I think we lost 34 to 41 in overtime when Jamies never touch the field. Are what about the last game if the kicker make 1 kick he missed 4 feild goals that’s a 10 and 6 season easy . So that’s why loses will never be a quarterback stat because it takes a team to win.
June 29th, 2021 at 2:09 pm
For the people stating to judge BL after Brady, subtract JW 30 interceptions, he still orchestrated a 5,000 yard passer and a potent offense(3rd in points scored) 2019. How did that happen without Brady?
June 29th, 2021 at 7:47 pm
This was a very much needed debate about Byron. He got raked under the coals for the entire season by fans and many Bucs outlets as well. It is very sad to see him take the offense to the promised land and many fans still cant give him credit. Their opinion got showed wrong so rather then admitt they instead make up a bizarree conspiracy that Brady(midseason mind you) stole the playbook from Byron and installed a complete new one……..The funny thing is that the actual signs of the offense that one could point to happened during 2nd half of the Chiefs game…..In order for the conspiracy to be true that can only mean that Brady installed a new offensive system during halftime……..Of course its perfectly rational to think they didnt install a new offensive system but instead used different plays and concepts that they were working on and preparing to use. And that the adjustments made at halftime during the Chiefs game is when they started using more of the concepts they had been working on. Of course if you say that it means Byron deserves credit, and we cant have that now can we.
As far as the media outlets that criticized Byron all year have all went silent on the subject of Byron. Instead they decided to go silent on the matter all together. Kinda pathetic really.
June 29th, 2021 at 7:55 pm
Oniel you are sorely mistaken there buddy. In the Bears game Brady literally lost us the game all by himself because he didnt know what down it was.
In the two Saints games our offense was anemic in the entire 1st half. In one of those games our offense was completely shutout until they mustered up a single late score.
The fact is that our offense was very much to blame for our failures when our record was 7-5 and we had our backs against the wall. At that time our offense was wildly inconsistent and was starting most of their games very slowly and digging themselves into holes.
All of this is very well document right on the site and you can see all the fans opinions for yourself in the comments.
Point is that the narritive you are trying to sell doesnt even cone close to matching reality. Its alnost as if you just made it all up.