The Byron Leftwich Power
November 28th, 2021
Tom Brady rushed over to Byron Leftwich for a chat during an injury timeout today
Interesting official words after today’s thrilling victory that speak to the power of offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
Joe is intrigued by the loud crowd that routinely disses the power and importance of Leftwich within the Bucs offense. The guy’s production in a Tampa Bay coach’s uniform over three seasons is astounding. It cannot be argued.
So how much power does Leftwich wield over the offense? Consider Bucco Bruce Arians was asked after the game about the great day had by Rob Gronkowski. Arians replied, “There was a couple of times I wish he was in earlier on a couple of drives. But, you know, we began by watching his snap count pretty good so he’s successful.”
Arians is the head coach and yet he was wishing Gronk was in earlier.
Certainly Gronk wanted to play more early, and Brady always wants his football BFF on the field. So by default, that’s Leftwich calling that shot. And Joe will maintain Leftwich certainly got a monster of a day out of Gronk, 7 catches for 123 yards.
Before the Bucs dropped 38 points on Indianapolis this afternoon, they were leading the NFL in scoring at just under 31 points per game. And now they’ve morphed into a balanced offense relying more on a workhorse running back and underneath throws while defenses continue to play two deep safeties in coverage.
Leftwich isn’t perfect, but Joe also thinks Bucs fans don’t realize how good and in command he is.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:08 pm
Agree
November 28th, 2021 at 7:08 pm
This was such a huge win for the Bucs. The Colts are a solid team all around and it was great to see the Bucs handle business on the road.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:11 pm
Great post, Joe. Agreed!
November 28th, 2021 at 7:14 pm
“Before the Bucs dropped 38 points on Indianapolis this afternoon, they were leading the NFL in scoring at just under 31 points per game. And now they’ve morphed into a balanced offense relying more on a workhorse running back and underneath throws while defenses continue to play two deep safeties in coverage.
Leftwich isn’t perfect, but Joe also thinks Bucs fans don’t realize how good and in command he is.”
All the crap said about this offense, and they lead the league.
I guess that makes the other 31 teams just idiots by default because the Bucs have the #1 offense but BL is just another Bum.
Sorry folks, BL is better than so many so called “Play call Geniuses” posting comments on this site.
Have I screamed at the TV many many times when a play call did not work? YES and Yes I have, like others.
But the proof is in the pudding.
It is not all Brady, Jameis is part of those numbers that the offense under BL has put up since he took over the reigns of the Offense for the Bucs.
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 28th, 2021 at 7:16 pm
Our run game isn’t fancy but there were some nice wrinkles in there today that I enjoyed seeing. The balance was great and had been needed. Normally if we fall behind BL starts throwing on every down. That wasn’t the case today and look at the result. Plus we didn’t see a lot of run to the left on 1st down.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:26 pm
Byron called a pretty good game overall today. Hard to argue with those stats Joe.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:28 pm
We needed every last turnover for this win. Glad we got it, but Holy crap we got alot of breaks. It was the Gronk and Lenny show today. Lenny gunna get a FAT extension
November 28th, 2021 at 7:29 pm
Leftwich is unimaginative, predictable, and doesn’t realize the need for play action, more first down passing, more tempo, etc. He benefits from unprecedented talent–the talent is emphatically not in the playcalling.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:29 pm
This was a good win but why little to no Evans or Godwin? Dink and Dunk offense seemed odd but somehow worked..
Maybe just my view
November 28th, 2021 at 7:45 pm
Who gives a sh!t who gets the ball in a victory? It was nice to see the Bucs run the ball down somebodies throat.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:46 pm
Whether they complete it or not, that play call to Scotty at that time in the game was horrible. Left him go one more easy NFC win for the Bucs. Best QB ever has to run a high school offense.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:47 pm
Zwak must be Anthems twin saying same thing as he did. Did you ever think he proved that even when our 2 top receivers are taken out there’s someone there to pick up the slack? My biggest problem is if they’d put in intermediate to deep cross routes for Evans he hits on them. Deep slants for Godwin are good too.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:50 pm
Last drive was a thing of beauty. The epitome of take what they give you.
November 28th, 2021 at 7:51 pm
Eat that W lamboy. Dont buy into the preseason “bucs will go undefeated and bucs will win it all again every year.” Eat your alphy soup one dub at a time. Nobody cares how its won
November 28th, 2021 at 7:56 pm
Sorry, I just don’t see it. Brady and all these weapons and we have the ball 5 times in the first quarter and can’t do anything….. I just don’t see it. Imagine if Payton, Shanahan or McVay had this team…. I hate Payton, but man could he build an offense game plan that would be crazy good. I think BA has beat into BL head that it’s just run our plays, instead of building a plan against the team you’re playing and building it around match ups.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:01 pm
I know that we are 8-3, and have the best offense in the league. We also leave points on the field, have huge flat spots, and have receivers that don’t get the benefit of deception.
We are the number 3 seed and have struggled against teams that are close to being good. Leftwich isn’t perfect and I would like to see him progress a little, but the offense just keeps looking the same, and that will be bad when we get to the playoffs.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:03 pm
12 > BL + BA
Simple math
November 28th, 2021 at 8:09 pm
You dwarves that”don’t see it” are beautiful in the context of the ugliest girl in school. What utter maroons. The Bucs play in the NFL. Every team has lost a stinker to a lesser team on paper. The Bucs – defending champs – lead the league in offense. They beat a playoff team in their crib and had to come back from multiple scores down with key injuries all over the place. They run for a buck fifty plus and won – that’s great football. Idjuts.
“High school offense?” You must really know your cricket cause you sure don’t do football. Wow. Bucs could win 51-15 and these muppets would say the same twaddle.
Great win. The experts who know think highly of Leftwich. But you maroons know more. Certainly. Apply now at buccaneers.com
November 28th, 2021 at 8:09 pm
“Best QB ever has to run a high school offense”.
OK then what does that say about the other 31 teams in the league?
They are the current #1 offense, and NOT playing near their ability.
Again if this offense is High School, then the other 31 teams must be complete idiots. No they are not.
And do not forget that Jameis and his turnovers the Bucs still had the #3 offense in BLs first year.
There is ALWAYS room for improvement, I wish they would not leave points on the field every game like they do. They should have scored 50 at least by now.
But to deny what is happening is just not being honest.
Again if the are #1 offense in the League with idiots coaches, then with that logic, the other 31 teams must just be a pile of crap.
GO BUCS!!!!
November 28th, 2021 at 8:13 pm
True words
November 28th, 2021 at 8:18 pm
Leftwich sucks at his job.
He’s bailed out by Brady, and by Arians forcing him to open things up. He’s what holding this back from being the greatest offense of all time. If Arians’ health could take it, he’d have this offense putting the boots to the 2008 Patriots offense, and it wouldn’t even be close. Instead Leftwich’s new ‘wrinkle’ is to run screen passes on 3rd and long and hope Godwin or Gronk can make someone miss or just run them over.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:23 pm
This thread is proof of the negative effects of close relatives reproducing.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:27 pm
He reaps the benefits of having Brady and a ton of weapons. He isn’t very creative or unpredictable. Kinda like Phil Jackson having players like Jordan, Pipen, Kobe, etc. Kind of hard not to win while you have the goat.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:30 pm
The other 31 teams don’t have TB12. If they did they would be contenders. I almost fell off the couch, I think I saw a counter run play today.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:34 pm
Sorry Muncher, but like it or not, he has done better than your statement.
Have I screamed at the TV many many times when a play call did not work, to many to count.
But this offense was number 3 with Jameis and his turnovers.
Do I wish the line could run block better, Yes, do I wish Brady would not go into Check down Charley mode yes. Lets not forget, that many times, Brady does not follow the play called, and does what he thinks is better. Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not. Like the pass to lose the Saint Game. That is on Brady, not a lunk headed play call. What about Tom not even knowing the play book for half the season last year? Again I wish it was better, but it is what it is.
But in spite of all the inconsistencies they still are a #1, not 31st like so many seem to say. At least that is how the words come across.
GO BUCS!!!!
November 28th, 2021 at 8:43 pm
August 1976 – What does turnovers have to do with the offensive rankings? Those turnovers generally came after the team hadn’t done anything on offense and the defense had them behind by 3 scores in the 2nd quarter. In large part the offense hadn’t done anything because Leftwich was so ultra predictable. This offense is as loaded as any offense in the history of the NFL, and we’re running screen passes on 3rd and 9, like it’s the 1999 Bucs offense.
Lately Leftwich has been less predictable, but that’s only because Brady kept embarrassing him on live TV, yelling at the sidelines and dismissing the stupid play call he sent in. I mean it’s possible that Leftwich has actually gotten better, but as we know, zero x anything is still zero.
Also, remember, Leftwich is calling the plays or Arians offense — this is not Leftwich’s offense. When he’s in charge, and can call whatever he wants, and doesn’t have a gunslinger like Jameis or the GOAT Brady, his offenses are going to be somewhere between Mike Shula and Clyde Christensen.
In any case he will get a job somewhere else and we’ll find out what he can do then. If he goes to an awful place like Chicago, then you can go ahead and put your money on the offense finishing 27th or worst. If he goes to a place with a better QB and RB, say the Vikings for example, then maybe he cracks the top 20.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:47 pm
Yeah. Soooo… The guy hired to run the offense has a great deal of power over the offense. Got it.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:48 pm
There is just a lot of ignorance out here. They expect seven drives a game ending in a touchdown, no mistakes, no dropped passes, no penalties, no bad throws etc…. very unrealistic.
Average over 30 a game and get some healthy cornerbacks, that’s all I ask for
November 28th, 2021 at 8:50 pm
Those who argue against Leftwitch argue against fact. As Joe pointed out, its been consistent great offense for 3 years……So saying its just Brady is flat out wrong.
November 28th, 2021 at 8:59 pm
lefty’s pretty good…
but this uber talented team is like a well oiled machine…
so it would take real work to be pretty bad
November 28th, 2021 at 9:05 pm
Rod my point about Jameis and his turnovers, that they still were #3, was because so many say it is just because of Brady for everything being done now. And it is not just Brady.
BTW…5 of James’s Int’s happened on the first drive of the game.
4 were the first pass attempted in the game and the 5th was on the first possession.
You can make statements about what BL would do without Brady or a gunslinger like Jameis, but I am just going by what has actually happened.
We do not know what would happen somewhere else. Maybe he would be terrible, or great, who knows. But you cannot knock results.
Do I wish it was better YES, but to say BL sucks, it does not correlate to what has happened.
Can BL do better YES, but he is not terrible. We have the evidence of that.
GO BUCS!!!
November 28th, 2021 at 9:05 pm
Adam Gase was the OC for the 2013 Broncos that averaged 38 points a game.
Leftwich, with a more talented offense, is avering 7 points less a game than Adam Gase.
November 28th, 2021 at 9:22 pm
It is 3 years now Rod. Not just one year, that this offense is top 3.
Results are there.
In Spite of this offense leaving points on the field every game.
That is not on BL.
Stupid penalties and turnovers, dropped passes.
In spite of BL’s love for running up the gut lol lol as you and I have written in previous posts, they still should have scored 45+ in more games, if not 50
But again #1 current offense. Far from being terrible. Just saying.
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 28th, 2021 at 9:44 pm
I mean between him snd Monken I think are the two best OCs the Bucs have had since Gruden.
November 28th, 2021 at 10:34 pm
2010 Broncos, OC Mike McCoy, PPG #19
2011 Broncos, OC Mike McCoy, PPG #25
2012 Broncos, OC Mike McCoy, PPG #2
2013 Broncos, OC Adam Gase, PPG #1
2014 Broncos, OC Adam Gase, PPG #2
2015 Broncos, OC Adam Gase, PPG #19
Hummm…. what happened in 2012? Let me think…
November 28th, 2021 at 10:36 pm
HomerSimpsonRocks Says:
November 28th, 2021 at 9:44 pm
I mean between him snd Monken I think are the two best OCs the Bucs have had since Gruden.
————
The Bucs, pre-Winston, were by far the worst offensive team in the history of the NFL. It was only with the arrival of Winston that they started finishing in the top 5 in terms of yards year after year.
As much as I don’t think Leftwich is anything special, he’s better than Gruden at calling plays. Want to talk about your all-time overrated d-bags, it’s Gruden — and no, I’m not a woke warrior, I’ve always hated Gruden since he destroyed an all-time great defense in order to sign Charlie Garner and a bunch of 35-year old offensive tackles to prove to everyone he could win without Dungy’s team. Guess what, he couldn’t.
November 28th, 2021 at 11:05 pm
Gruden is god
November 29th, 2021 at 1:23 am
Munch what team have you ever played on or coached? A lot of criticism of a guy who has won at every level by a guy who has likely never won anything
November 29th, 2021 at 1:27 am
The results speak for themselves. Super bowl win last year and outside of that abomination against wtf I think that Leftwich has been good this year.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:31 am
Mike Evans is invisible because he is not quick and doesn’t get in the open much. He is overrated.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:34 am
Brady used to get better pass protection at New England.
November 29th, 2021 at 7:22 am
We’ll be lucky if Byron is still here to take over when Arains hangs it up. That will be after the 2022 season.
November 29th, 2021 at 8:25 am
August, stop right there. How dare you mention Tom Brady and Jackwagon Jameis in the same sentence. You puke. Shame. SHAME. Shame on all Winston nugglers. Dude was a narrsistic ego-maniac completely convinvinced his sh!it didn’t stink. It verifiedly, manifestly did, as evidenced by being the sole member of the 30-30 club. Do us all a favor, and refrain from the stain.
LFG Bucs!
Let’s Go Brandon!!
November 29th, 2021 at 10:02 am
What’s missing is Brady being allowed to play more up-tempo, no huddle drives with imaginative, low risk plays which keeps the opponent defense off-balance. I believe that the key here is the lack of concentration and discipline on EVERY play. Missed blocking assignments, not lining up correctly (with TB having to tell you where to be. smh. Brady NEVER had to do that in NE), turning up field before securing the catch, not knowing your route exactly….ALL these miscues are making the difference. I HATE watching Tom Brady having to flip open his forearm play card to translate the play being called in. Brady hardly ever did that in NE. You can just sense the momentum draining from a drive knowing that the defense is getting a breather and the opportunity to adjust to the next play. While the huddle just stands waiting and wondering what’s coming. Too much darn interference and “noise” from the sideline which Brady had little of in NE. Just let Brady be the natural Field Leader he is and WANTS to be. Just the way Peyton Manning was. This isn’t a slow game of chess where a well thought out strategy for every move wins games. The GOAT can sense the best play needed on every down. If anything, BL/the sideline can suggest a play quickly which Brady can “shake off” and run the one which BL likely knows he WANTS to run.
November 29th, 2021 at 10:16 am
Stevie, exactly, the receivers aren’t used to this that’s why they struggle with the up tempo offense. High percentage passes not 20 yard curls or back shoulders, the routes take too long. Many of you are blaming Brady and yes he’s not perfect but why can Gronk always seem to get open? Is he faster than Evan’s and Godwin and don’t say he isn’t covered because if a DC is ignoring Gronk, he should be fired.
November 29th, 2021 at 11:30 am
Somewhere, 813 just creamed his pants after reading this. Lol.
@listnfrmafar- the scheme does allow our TEs to get open a lot, especially in the middle of the field, in large part because our receivers are clearing out that space by drawing DBs away, plus the fact that tight ends can block/chip and then release, usually resulting in softer coverage.
November 29th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
Was that final kickoff by the Bucks planned to let the Colts have a runback to take time off the clock. Every other kickoff went too deep into the endzone to allow a runback. We would be better off with the Colts starting on the 25 yardline with 20 seconds left on the clock, than chance a runback.
If so who made that call ?
November 29th, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Stevie you are judging a QB that hasn’t even played 2 full years with a team yet. GEEZE. Comparing that with NE team..C’mon man!