Byron Leftwich Named Again As A Top Jacksonville Candidate
December 27th, 2021
Amidst the CBS chatter yesterday that Todd Bowles is flashing brightly on the Raiders’ head coaching radar, there was also news about the Bucs coach on the other side of the football.
NFL Network insider reporter Ian Rapoport shared on air Sunday that the Jacksonville Jaguars’ priorities include interviewing Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, former Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, and Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson for their open job.
The Leftwich-to-Jacksonville chatter has been around for a couple of weeks, but Rapoport labeling him a priority yesterday makes it more real.
Joe’s not too worried about Leftwich leaving, primarily because Bucco Bruce Arians would have himself, Tom Brady, Tom Moore and Clyde Christensen to lean on in Leftwich’s absence. Joe’s confident that foursome could overcome the loss of Leftwich or at least closely replicate his performance.
Bowles is a different story. He’s more irreplaceable in the organization. However, it is said that Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote is a true coaching up-and-comer.
The real problem would arise if both Leftwich and Bowles left One Buc Palace this offseason. That would put Arians in a bind and possibly push him into retirement.
Regardless, Joe is not worried. Joe thinks it’s likely that Bowles’ age (58) and brutal four-year track record as Jets head coach will keep him from getting a head coaching job.
December 27th, 2021 at 11:50 am
Bowles will be the next Bucs’ head coach. He likes it here, has already earned one super bowl ring in Tampa and not much incentive to leave.
December 27th, 2021 at 11:51 am
I totally agree with Joe. Bowles is a great coach. He was set up to fail in the miserable Jets franchise and has always been the architect of a good defense. He was not set up to fail and his Jets defenses got progressively worse.–Joe What he is doing this year has really won me over. The defense had ups and downs last year but when it mattered they went nuclear in the playoffs. I do not want to lose Bowles but it’s likely inevitable. I’m still hoping that he gets alley ooped to take over when Bruce hangs up the coaching cleats.
December 27th, 2021 at 11:53 am
One of the perils of being a winning team. Other teams circling like buzzards for your coaches.
December 27th, 2021 at 12:02 pm
Not sure why Leftwich would want to coach for the future London Jaguars. He’s got the most stacked offensive talent in the league and I continually see underachievement. How many times this year have we said, “Yeah, but they should have scored 40” or “Why can’t they put 4 quarters together?”
December 27th, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Tampa is a nice place to be. No state income tax. Warm 12 months out of the year. Proximity to the Gulf. Traffic could be better.
Bowles has been to NY.
Bowles knows the Glazers.
Davis is a strange man.
If there is a chance he could take over after Arians, why would he leave for a place where the owner can be pushed into doing things against his will by the NFL?
December 27th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
I want the third round draft choice if we lose Leftwich
December 27th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
I believe the coaching cast will remain the same as long as Brady plays. When he is done, they will be done too and move on. Todd could end up with the Bucs so I’d stay for that. The Bucs are a great organization to work with. Go Bucs
December 27th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
Joe, to be honest with you, I am not so sure about TB12 returning next year…There is something about several things that makes me wonder…..
December 27th, 2021 at 12:39 pm
If Leftwich is offered the Jags job…he should take it. His “stock” will never be any higher. He can be added to the list of Brady benefactors…Charlie The Weis, Bill O’Brien, Gosh McDaniels…our very own site janitor Bengreen…
December 27th, 2021 at 1:15 pm
Leftwich might do well in Jag country. The same thing is happening to their rookie QB that happened to Jameis. No mentorship. And he is being eaten alive. Often times when you throw these rook QB; s out there without any NFL experience, You are throwing them to the Wolves. If I were Leftwich, I would take the jags job if offered.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Please take the Jags jog BL. We beg of you.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
After the game he called in NO, they can have him. I’ll even drive him over there.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:00 pm
both of them good luck. Hope not here. Hire a young guy, with desire and stamina.
Glazers get ready, is coming sooner than you think. If you can lure Tom, it will be a great experiment/interesting, if not go for NE OC or someone similar.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
The Bucs have plenty of talent in the key positions… What they NEED is an OC to complement such talent… Leftwich stalls out on drives way to much and constantly leaves points out there that this level of talent should NOT keep whiffing on!…
I am not a fan of Bowles BUT he has had to put up with a lot of injuries on his side of the ball this year so he should get the benefit of the doubt!
December 27th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
I look at a lot of the calls he makes and think, yeah, Jags can have him…..Brady could call a game on his own….I did see him give BL the stink-eye after one series where the calls sucked…
December 27th, 2021 at 2:30 pm
I wish BL the best of luck in whatever decision he makes. Bowles was brutalized by the Jets. Not sure he wants to go through that wringer again. He still has plenty to do here with this Defense. BA is the big ?
December 27th, 2021 at 2:36 pm
I don’t know if many caught it yesterday but the camera’s zoomed in on Arians and he was actually looking at the play call card or some type of document. First time I’ve seen that. Perhaps he was more involved in game plan than usual, one of the few games that Bucs tried to establish the run.
I believe it was the most yards rushing by any Bucs team this season.
They need to establish that identity because their offensive line can run block. I think Jones did tire somewhat but still, running the ball opened up the play action and kept the Panthers off balance. That running game minimizes mistakes, penalties, interceptions and sacks. When the Bucs don’t turn it over they are very hard to beat.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Go, after watching all these other offensive schemes and creative plays I don’t see his value.
December 27th, 2021 at 4:14 pm
I’m a Bucs fan first and foremost and as such I want stability in this good coaching staff. However as a fair minded man I root for both Coach Leftwich and Bowles to get the opportunities to advance their careers that they have more than earned. As a Black man I look forward to seeing them both do exceptionally well when given the opportunities so as to further throw cold water on the biased opinions of so called experts commenting who clearly have opinions based on more than football. Given where the offense and defense rank among other NFL teams and the success they have had here, to imply either is not an outstanding coach is just not supported by facts.
December 27th, 2021 at 4:21 pm
Bye Leftwich couldn’t give a crap about that guy
December 27th, 2021 at 6:04 pm
@Joe,
Do you really think he had a fair shake in NY? His first season he had stars or good players. 10-6 with Fitzpatrick, Ivory, Brandon Marshall, Decker, Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Steve McLendon.
Yes, search and you’ll find the defense quit on him. It hurt that his offensive coordinator quit on him, but what kind of coaches did Bowles hire in his tenure? Anyone familiar with his four-year coaching tree and what they’ve gone on to? How does Bowles answer an owner’s question in a passing league. “What’s your plan for our offense, Todd?”– Joe
Next season, 5-11 with no Chris Ivory, no Decker (due to injury), no McLendon, no Cromartie, and an offensive line with 3 new starters.
Third season, 5-11 with Josh McCown at QB, Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse replacing Marshall and Decker. 3 new offensive linemen AGAIN. 3 out of 4 new LBs. Morris Claiborne replaces Revis.
Fourth season, 4-12 with Sam Darnold at QB, new center and 2 more new LBs. Yeah it’s wasn’t a sp(!)t show after his first season at all.
December 27th, 2021 at 8:45 pm
Interesting debate. It seems that if anyone, GM Mike Maccagnan quit on Bowles the most. No wonder he has no coaching tree! I think with this team he has a core on defense that we all know darn well won’t quit on him. It’s true he does need to have an answer to who’s running things on offense if/when he gets a HC job again.
I’d wish Leftwich Godspeed in Duuuuvaalllll if he decides to coach a qb who we all thought was the top of the elite this time last year. In the meantime I think the coordinators emeritus can handle if he goes. If Gronk, AB and Godwin are back next year, Brady’s back. Shoot they can let Brady call the plays and all they gotta do is just keep him in the guardrails.
December 28th, 2021 at 12:37 am
Assuming of course that Brady is back, if Leftwich left, the only thing that concerns me is Arians retiring. I don’t know if he really would, but he has said he doesn’t want to coach without Leftwich and Bowles. I’d be really concerned if Bowles took over as HC, I think he might do OK, but I also could see it being a disaster, and who is to say if Arians retired, even if Bowles came back, that Brady wouldn’t just say seeya as well.
Also the idea of Clyde Christen, a guy so bad he got beloved Dungy fired, being back as OC again… NO NO NO NO NO. Yeah I know that was 20-years ago. NO NO NO NO NO.
December 28th, 2021 at 1:46 am
Boron still needs to atone for the inexcusable Shutout loss to the Saints at home. That was the most atrocious gameplay and play calling in Bucs recent history. Let’s drop back and pass 20 times in a row against an excellent pass defense that is susceptible to the run. Newsflash – the stupid dolphins just scored 20 on the Saints.
Boron’s Leftwurst has some big warts, I doubt he’s a head coach next season.