Play-action success.

You could probably count on one hand Super Bowl era teams that won multiple Super Bowls with a legendary offense.

Off the top of Joe’s head, the Packers, Steelers, 49ers, and maybe Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys.

Noted handicapper and stathead Warren Sharp believes the Bucs could join that list.

Sharp groused all last year about how predictable the Bucs offense was, especially running on first downs. That began to change when later in the year (when Brady knew the playbook better — if you believe that?), the Bucs began using a lot of play-action passes.

And the offense exploded.

Sharp, typing in his Warren Sharp 2021 Football Preview, believes the Bucs are on the cusp of a legendary offense if offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich would just use play-action passes.

…Increase the play-action rate from a league average 37% to top-10 in the NFL. Teams with offenses in that range include the 49ers, Rams, Chiefs, and Ravens, to name a few. That’s the company to be in for the Bucs, particularly with their receiving corps.

Another tip for the Champs: jack up that play-action rate from 12 personnel, specifically. After the bye, when they raised their usage, look at the play-action splits from 12 personnel:

12 with play-action: 0.68 EPA/att, 12.8 YPA, 70% success
12 without play-action: 0.10 EPA/att, 5.5 YPA, 50% success

For those unaware, 12-personnel is one running back and two tight ends.

Averaging 12 yards a pass play is pretty damn impressive. As Sharp also notes in his preview, the Bucs have to sell the run from 12-personnel.

Let’s hope during the offseason Leftwich figured out why and why not play-action passes were called.