Solving The Offensive Riddle
September 29th, 2022
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.
Joe is starting to worry about this Bucs offense.
The Bucs have scored four offensive touchdowns in three games. Given their quarterback, that’s just sorry sh!t that coaches cannot find more production.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the receivers are injured. The offensive line is in disarray. Still, spare Joe the sob stories.
Out of curiosity, Joe checked what Tom Brady had to throw to his last year in New England. No foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski and outside of Julian Edelman (sort of a high profile Cole Beasley) Brady didn’t have squat.
Yet those Belicheats averaged 25.5 points a game.
Speaking from Miami yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles discussed the struggling offense.
“I think we’ve got to straighten some things out and we’ve got to click better,” Bowles said. “[There is] a lot of football to be played. Like I said, it’s early in the season – we’ve played three ballgames. We want that trend to get better and I think it will get better.
“Obviously, we’ve got to execute better, the penalties can’t happen and we’ve got to play better and that’s the bottom line. So, we’ll practice, try to practice like we’re going to play in a ballgame, like we always have been, and let them come around.”
Bowles has a good point. Take away the weird delay of game and perhaps the Bucs are 3-0. Who is going to whine about 3-0?
Yes, elements of the Bucs offense don’t seem quite right. Maybe Gronk will fix that? Maybe Chris Godwin and Julio Jones returning will fix that? Maybe Beasley getting more involved will be the answer?
Good thing the rest of the NFC South looks like crap.
September 29th, 2022 at 5:52 am
The team needs to peak in December, not September. They are 2-1 not 0-3, and that is playing 3 very good teams. Let’s enjoy this while it lasts. Too much negativity.
September 29th, 2022 at 6:10 am
Joe … ‘Good thing the rest of the NFC South looks like crap.’
Used to tell my pilots … ‘Cocky pilots THINK they’re good; Confident pilots KNOW they’re good’. Your statement kinda falls into the COCKY pile Joe. Saints, Falcons and Panthers could still each beat us this season. Don’t count your chickens before they cross the road.
September 29th, 2022 at 6:22 am
The Patriots had Belichick and McDaniels not Jets Garbage and Bubba Franks, he had Ben Watson at 38 was better than any TE on this team and a good oline. There is your answer, the QB is the same if not better. Please don’t compare 3 time SB winner/SB MVP second to Rice in playoff receptions Edleman to Beasely, I like Cole but that’s an insult to Edleman. He is probably the toughest WR to play the game. Oh and some of you will go to the Super G issue
don’t bother she was up his arse then to.
September 29th, 2022 at 6:25 am
DR, your a hypocrite, all last season the excuses for the bad D were caused to injuries but when it comes to the O it’s more than that. C’mon man you’re better than that.
September 29th, 2022 at 6:48 am
All I want to see is our entire team get off to a quick start. Too many times it seems we have a terrible first half and then a fantastic second half. We need to be consistently great the whole game.
September 29th, 2022 at 7:07 am
“HEEEYYYYY Joe where you going with that gun in your hand”
September 29th, 2022 at 7:11 am
Joe, don’t quit your day job. I hope you aren’t a motivational speaker. you will starve to death
September 29th, 2022 at 7:14 am
Joe … ‘Brady didn’t have squat (back in 2019 with the Pats). Yet those Belicheats averaged 25.5 points a game’.
And there were several good reasons why the Pats went 12-4 that season (and why they lost in the 1st round of the playoffs):
o Pats’ DEFENSE played lights out: Ranked #1 on the season (only 225 Points Allowed). In each of their 12 wins, Pats’ defense only allowed 17 pts in 1 game; all other wins they allowed 13 pts or less.
o Turnover Differential: Huge impact at PLUS 21; defense had 36 takeaways, but offense only had 15 giveaways. IOW they rarely ‘beat themselves’.
o They beat the teams they should’ve beat: Only lost to 4 teams, all but one with winning records. Won 5-out-of-6 of their division games (lost to 5-11 Dolphins in last regular season game). Their other 3 losses were to teams with winning records.
o Pats used the playmakers that they had (and they stayed healthy): James White (908 total yds), Julian Edelman (1144 total yds), and Sony Michel (1006 total yds) carried the bulk of the workload, but several others like Rex Burkhead (581 total yds) also played a key role. And oh ya, they had a 40.9% run-pass ratio on the season, so their offense was relatively ‘balanced’.
IOW, Tom Brady had LOTS of help in getting that team to a 12-4 record enroute to the playoffs. Lost 20-13 to the Titans in Round 1.
September 29th, 2022 at 7:16 am
Joe – enough with the Gronk talk. He’s gone. As for the riddle, you’re right, the play book right now isn’t working. Defense sucked during first half last week, then they regrouped and were lights out afterward. That was all coaching. We need that kind of coaching prowess on offense.
September 29th, 2022 at 7:21 am
Listnfrmafar … Sorry but have no idea what you’re getting at. I’ve acknowledged the Bucs’ offensive injuries time-after-time. And injuries aren’t used as excuses; they impact the offensive or defensive performance. You overcome them IMO with very good DEPTH and excellent coaching (better scheming & play-calling?). We didn’t have great depth last year (especially in the Secondary), but DC Bowles did an excellent job overall of compensating I thought (as evidenced by the #5 ranking?).
September 29th, 2022 at 7:22 am
DEFENSE RULES……Amateurs practice till they get it right. professionals practice till they can’t get it wrong. Having said that I don’t see any Bucs falling into that category except for that goat that you dingalings want to throw under the Bus. Like I said before, before Tom came to Tampa the Bucs couldn’t put their finger up their a*$ if they used both hands. You same dildos will be praising Tom if they can repeat their SB performance against the “Indgenous Americans”
September 29th, 2022 at 7:38 am
Is it just me or do we look slow…..not saying we are slow but look slow……
Especially RBs……but some WR routes……
September 29th, 2022 at 7:44 am
“Maybe Gronk will fix that?” You holding back on your faithful readers Joe? You kinda nonchalantly dropped that tidbit.
September 29th, 2022 at 7:55 am
I wonder if they have had any thoughts of using Beasley as a third down back?
September 29th, 2022 at 8:01 am
The receivers couldn’t get separation on that 2019 Pats team. Sound familiar. Edleman played injured for most of the season. Stats are a good tool but they don’t tell the whole story. Did the running back miss the hole. Did the receiver get the correct depth on his break ? We all think we know what we’re talking about but unless your on that team and know the nuances you really don’t know..
September 29th, 2022 at 8:03 am
No riddle, coaching staff sucks
September 29th, 2022 at 8:05 am
The Bowles Prevent Offense is not going to score much. His plan seems to be a blend of Ray Perkins and Shiano style. 3rd and long is one of the features in a Prevent Offense.
September 29th, 2022 at 8:10 am
What’s the opposite of GOAT? Cuz whatever it is, that’s what Byedon is.
Totally amateur OC and the only head coach job I see him getting is a D2 college team.
FIRE THAT POS
September 29th, 2022 at 8:17 am
I realize the Bucs are down a few starters on offense,however, Leftwich can do a better job of play calling, especially on early downs. Too much running on first downs which puts the offense in third and long situations. Leftwich needs to make it easier for Tom to complete passes also, more rub routes and pick plays. That strategy will definitely work especially when you have a Chiefs defense that plays aggressive man coverage.
September 29th, 2022 at 8:19 am
Jeeze, all aboard the Byron hate wagon….yeah i hate some of his calls too, and when we had our guys, we looked great against a stout Dallas defense. Thing is he plans on having people out there who can execute at the Evans/Jones/Godwin level. He has to adjust that down some when they arent out there…its not simple but it can be done.
September 29th, 2022 at 8:27 am
Leftwurst is an imposter. And a stubborn arrogant coordinator who thinks he is all that, but isn’t, is a soon to be unemployed, failed coordinator.
Let BA and Tom sit together and tell the Boron how it’s gonna be. Give BA the headset and let him call plays for a game. Let Boron watch in bewilderment.
September 29th, 2022 at 8:32 am
Byron is more likely to be a Professor of English at Berkeley than to get a HC job in the NFL…
I hate that because I really wanted the comp picks…..
September 29th, 2022 at 8:35 am
Man, I don’t think we need to worry, as long as BL changes some things and we start to do the following:
-Use hurry up offense early and often. Up tempo, short passes, like our last drive against GB (and the last drive of the second quarter).
-Use chip blockers (TE and RB) at the left side of the line if D. Smith can’t go.
-If Smith is out, avoid long developing routes, except on play action.
-Stop running on first down every time.
-Run downhill, stop using so many counters. Downhill suits Lenny more.
-Unleash the screen game.
September 29th, 2022 at 8:36 am
Fournette s running hasn’t been good and they are clearly trying to preserve Brady with a forced short game that really isn’t what these plays know or fit !! Remember when everybody had a meltdown when Aaron said I need a tougher quarterback to run my offense !!! Well bowls isn’t gonna say it nor does he want that right now…………
Also remember after Aryan said that Brady had two of his best years in this career !!
September 29th, 2022 at 8:41 am
Stodgy game planning. Injuries. Tough opponents the last 2 games. All contribute to poor results. Happier times should arrive as schedule becomes easier soon. Greenbay only scored 14 points. Defense still solid. Sky is not falling! Yet.
September 29th, 2022 at 9:23 am
Getting recievers back isn’t going to fix what has truly been the achilles heal of this offense since Arians and crew got here. A consistent running game.
The recievers can cover up that deficiency sometimes, but eventually you have to be able to run the ball. To truly be a good offensive team you need to be able to run in the redzone.
Fournette has been concerned about his football mortality since day one in the NFL. As soon as he stepped foot on an NFL field and signed that NFL contract he was done running like he did in college. Longevity was his immediate goal. You need to consistently be able to add fresh legs out there that are willing to run through brick walls. That’s why that position out of all positions on the field is a rinse and repeat position. Chew them up and spit them out is the sad reality.
September 29th, 2022 at 9:26 am
Fournette almost had me tricked in that Dallas game. Shame on me for getting hyped.
September 29th, 2022 at 9:29 am
The key to breaking out of the offensive slump is simple. Call and run a clumsy, poorly executed triple reverse flea flicker that takes Brady 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage and then never get the ball to him, instead almost turning it over to the opponent and giving your offense a 2nd and 30. It’s foolproof.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:13 am
Where is Alstott when you need him?
September 29th, 2022 at 11:09 am
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD… PLEASE NO MORE RUNNING IT UP THE GUT ON FIRST DOWNS!
Please can we go an entire game without that happening!!!
I’d rather see ten flea flicker plays, even if they don’t work! Something creative! Something KC isn’t gonna expect!
And how about one fake punt this game!? Even if it fails, us Buc fans will love you for it. We want gutsy, fun, creative play this season!!
September 29th, 2022 at 11:18 am
Onetrickpony … ‘Where is Alstott when you need him?’
He’s playing for Green Bay right now, under the pseudonym ‘AJ Dillon’. Damn I wish we’d drafted him in 2020. Bucs did get 2 potential HOFers in Wirfs (Rnd 1) and Winfield (Rnd 2), but I would’ve loved to have moved up & taken Dillon later in the 2nd Rnd. He had a great college career & is certainly holding his own at the NFL level.
September 29th, 2022 at 11:48 pm
@Kody, yep. And our punter runs a 4.56 40…..just everybody set up like normal, then move right or left for blocking and have him run angle the sidelines for a 1st.
Ive been seeing it since we drafted him.