Byron Leftwich Said He Can Do Better
September 16th, 2022
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.
The Bucs made three trips to the red zone in Week 1. What did they have to show for it?
A field goal and one touchdown, a crazy catch by stud Mike Evans.
So this week when Bucs offensive coordinator made his forced-by-bayonet weekly appearance in front of his friends in the local pen and mic club, Leftwich said working out the kinks in his third down and red zone offenses were keys in this week’s practices leading up to the game with the slimy Saints.
It isn’t just players who need to do a better job, Leftwich said. He said fingers should be pointed at him, too.
“I can do a better job of putting us in position better to have more success down there,” Leftwich said. “That’s really how I see it. I think I can do a better job of putting us in position to have success.”
What were some of those things? As usual, Leftwich loathes specifics and if he’s in a good mood, will ramble jibberish.
“A couple things happened that are really irrelevant but we can’t allow [them] to happen, really,” Leftwich said. “We can’t allow those things to happen.”
If these “things” were so irrelevant, why waste three seconds on them? Why worry about them? Why bring up these mystery elements in a press conference streamed to the world and put your foot down and claim these “things” cannot be allowed to happen?
Seems pretty relevant to Joe. What those are? Be Joe’s guest to figure them out.
September 16th, 2022 at 11:06 am
I’m fine with him keeping the details inside the house. Why tip the Saints off? Or anyone else for that matter.
September 16th, 2022 at 11:08 am
Leftwich talks about putting guys in favorable position to make plays, but he has done a poor job of attacking the Saints defense since he’s been with the Bucs. It’s time for him to come up with some new schemes and not depend on Brady to save the day. The Bucs defense also has to step up if they have any hopes of beating the Saints, unfortunately the Saints are just better coached, especially on defense.
September 16th, 2022 at 11:10 am
Specific and relevant:
3rd and 1
Hand Off to Pancake Lenny behind left tackle
He runs behind the line of scrimmage to try and find a hole near the right tackle???
All for one yard.
That was 100% play call relevance
September 16th, 2022 at 11:11 am
Marx Bros movie:
Chicolini: Now I ask you one…What is it has a trunk but no key, weighs two thousand pounds, and lives in a circus?
Prosecutor: That’s irrelevant!
Chicolini: A relaphant? Hey! That’s the answer…There’s a whole lotta relephants in the circus.
September 16th, 2022 at 11:12 am
I think the play calling in the red zone puts Brady in a position to hold the ball too long. Sometimes in the red zone it’s better to just run the ball when you are faced with a team that is going to bull rush, especially since the WR’s can’t get open. Gronk isn’t here and Brate has gone downhill fast so not sure our TEs are a weapon anymore in the red zone? What happened to Rudolph?
September 16th, 2022 at 11:13 am
🙂
FYI, Jason McCourty of NFL Network had never heard of the Marx Bros. smh
September 16th, 2022 at 11:16 am
We got to the 25yrd line and lost a yard on 3rd and 1..FG
We got to the 8yrd line and gave up a sack on 3rd and 5…the play where Smith got hurt…then missed the FG
We got to the 4yrd line and gave up a sack on 3rd and 3…FG
September 16th, 2022 at 11:20 am
It’s called, not hanging your backup LT out to dry against defensive ROY who just beat your starting LT for a sack on 3rd down in the redzone. Line a TE there or help Wells so that Brady gets more time. That’s what’s irrelevant (if D Smith plays and there’s no Parsons opposite) but also relevant to mention. Wells may handle Saints DE for power better than Parsons for speed.
September 16th, 2022 at 11:38 am
The real red zone problem was us giving up sacks!
That is the problem we need to fix.
September 16th, 2022 at 11:38 am
Unfortunately he not very creative.
September 16th, 2022 at 11:59 am
I like how after games you can call a play caller “unimaginative” or “bland” but in real time nobody can call what’s coming with any surety or anticipation. Every play that gets drawn up doesn’t work as it’s always gray because some calls may work in spite of the call or some plays may not work because the players did a crap job executing it, but trying to split those hairs on a play-to-play basis are a fools errand.
I actually like Leftwichs’ pressers, because he talks more like a player and kind of deflects some of the ridiculous questions right back at the asker just by being and staying as vague as possible. One question might get you a witty no-nonsense Mike Tomlinesque answer, the next might give you some of the brashness of BA, but all of it is Leftwich giving you what he’s thinking without giving you much of anything.
September 16th, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Joe, I don’t mind the coaches or players being vague in interviews. You don’t know what they could say that may tip off the team they are playing on how the Bucs are preparing and what they may do or change. You also have to be careful not to give the opposing team any bulletin board material. I know it doesn’t help you guys reporting and makes your job harder, but we all want the Bucs to win.
September 16th, 2022 at 12:12 pm
For reference…last night the Chiefs first three plays were runs and a couple were up the middle!! Just sayin. LFG!!!!
September 16th, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Cut BL some slack, he took ownership for some of the red zone issues! Let’s see how Sunday’s game goes. The season just started!! NO has been near the top in red zone defense the past several year so this should be a good indicator of any progress!!
LFG!!!!
September 16th, 2022 at 12:23 pm
Simple equation
ME13 + max protection of TB12 = red zone success.
September 16th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
I’m glad he is looking at the little things that were irrelevant. That means TB12 has taught him to be a better coach. He is asking for perfection. I am good with that.
September 16th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
It’s not after the game, that I’m saying he’s not creative.
It’s in general. Ask Dennis Allen.
September 16th, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Ish I’m tired of the saints. This ish is really bothering me.
September 16th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
@Dooley. I agree about your assessment of Leftwich. I love his demeanor. He doesn’t run his mouth and isn’t looking for attention. He’s boring and he likes it that way. I think that’s why Brady loves Leftwich. He’s not throwing his players under the bus. He’s all about football. He’s a film junkie like Brady.
I think we got too predictable in the red zone. I didn’t like the runs on first and second down. It was an interesting revelation on NFL films. On that TD to Evans, Brady nixed the original play call, and asked Evans what route he wanted to run. The chemistry in the RZ between him and Evans is elite. Unfortunately, Mike is the only RZ threat right now.
Our RZ struggles come down to one thing: Gronk is no longer with us.
September 16th, 2022 at 2:07 pm
It’s not rocket science. The left side of the line got blown up on passing downs in the red zone. Cowboys stunted and blitzed to the side with the weakest links and, most importantly, made sure Parsons was unleashed against our backup tackle. I think we will adjust to the stunts and blitzes and we won’t have to deal with that demon from Dallas anymore. So we will be good. Bank on Tom adding to his inhuman red zone stats this weekend.
September 16th, 2022 at 2:11 pm
I’ll believe it when I see it, his style of play is pretty conservative and tends to repeat itself.
September 16th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
Wowww
September 16th, 2022 at 7:54 pm
Something I’ve learned over far too many years. When guys weren’t glib or particularly articulate I just assumed they were perhaps not the brightest.
But I’ve learned people process at different rates. Some guys who are quick with a quip are not really great critical thinkers…other guys who need more time to process sometimes appear dumb but they are actually quite bright.
My point is that Leftwich will never be BA or John McKay but it doesn’t mean he is isn’t very bright and certainly football smart.
And again…this offense is BOTH BL and TB. You can’t really throw BL under the bus without including Brady. I respect them BOTH.
September 16th, 2022 at 10:18 pm
Sorry, Joe, but your requirement for specifics on what the Bucs will do different is akin to the White House announcing the time, date and location of a military strike.
Insisting that Leftwich provide you with more details is akin to sending our enemies a blueprint for how to defeat us.
September 17th, 2022 at 12:12 am
If BL Got specific with any of that, I’d be concerned. Good answer.