Todd Bowles And The Bucs Offense
September 6th, 2022
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
If Joe was Bucs coach Todd Bowles — and Joe’s not — Joe would hand the keys to offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and say, “She’s your baby. Just make sure there is gas in the tank.” That would likely be the last time Joe talked offense with Leftwich the rest of the season.
Now Joe understands some folks would wince at this, but hey, you think Leftwich isn’t going to do what Tom Brady wants him to do?
All kinds of things about this season intrigue if not fascinate Joe. One is what or how much (or if) Bowles will impact the offense? In a piece typed by Ira Kaufman’s friend Judy Battista of NFL.com, she ranks the heaviest of heavy hitters with influence in the NFL.
So it comes as no surprise to Joe that Tom Brady is on the list. Battista, who spent a day at One Buc Palace this summer talking to Bucs’ movers and shakes, may have received input from Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht as to how much or how little Bowles will have his fingers on the offense.
Todd Bowles knows better than anyone how influential Brady is. The Bucs coach has said he will not try to get as involved with the offense as he did during his Jets tenure, in large part because offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Brady are already simpatico.
“He doesn’t want to mess up a good thing,” GM Jason Licht said of Bowles.
This is just smart. And as Joe typed before, you really think Leftwich is going to overrule Brady?
Think back to last year’s season-opener against the Cowboys. It was late in the game and Leftwich sent in a play. NBC cameras had a close-up of Brady and you could see him look at his wristband playoff reference and then quickly look at the Bucs bench. Everyone not using a white cane could read his lips as he shook his head back and forth.
“NO!”
Joe suspects that if the offense is tinkered with too much, Brady may have a similar reaction.
At the end of the day, Joe trusts Brady with everything Bucs.
September 6th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
As far as coaching, I’d rather Bowles be more Gruden than Dungy.
September 6th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
Brady’s not immune to having a bad game once in a while but between Brady and Leftwich they should be even better this season after 2 seasons together already. I don’t think we will see Brady shaking his head no because Leftwich will know exactly what Brady would like from the start.
September 6th, 2022 at 12:45 pm
Wait a minute….you’re telling me that Joe is not Todd Bowles?! As Nicolas Cage would say “Face Off 🤯”
Snake Eyes!
September 6th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
Take away Brady and these two coaches aren’t qualified to run a taco bell food truck. It will be laughable once TB12 retires.
September 6th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Take Brady away and these two coaches aren’t qualified to run a taco bell food truck. It will be laughable once TB12 retires.
September 6th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
I think we have had this discussion & an article on this previously…..and the conclusion is the same……”Don’t fix what ain’t broken”…..
Only a coach with a huge ego (and there are many) would mess with BL & Brady……and in particular a defensive coach would not….
September 6th, 2022 at 1:59 pm
I have no problem with Bowles getting involved in the offense . Bowles is a great defensive mind. His input from a defensive mind will help the offense. Tom and Belichick used to spend countless hours in the film room. There is an infamous clip of Brady and Bill discussing ways to attack Ed Reed.
Todd could say, “Hey, guys the Saints and Rams are doing X to us on defense. Maybe we could try Y.” Todd knows the weaknesses on our offense more than anyone. So i do welcome his input on our offense.
September 6th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
AS long as we’re putting up W’s; bowles will leave game planning to BL & TB.
But if we falter ,or TB gets hurt; then bowles will be involved…..
September 6th, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Bowles is unfortunately involved in the offense by default . Because he is not pounding the table for more offensive lineman he is meddling in a way that is detrimental to the teams interest
September 6th, 2022 at 2:18 pm
The fact that Bowles is head coach makes me very nervous. Game and clock management. When to go for it on 4th down. The demonstrated lack of understanding of his DBs what their assignments are. Holy yikes.
September 6th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
If Bowles wants to win he needs his defense to come out hot. The offense will then take care of the rest.
September 6th, 2022 at 2:30 pm
Bowles helped win a Superbowl for us with his great defensive plan against KC. He proved his worth at the biggest time. Not sure that he does it every game but can never take that away from him.
September 6th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Pitchers historically shake off the catchers signs, am not sure this is a story. Maybe if jameis or trask did it….
September 6th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
Bowles is the head chef now… he will only put his finger in the soup to taste it.
Got enough cooks to get it done.
It goes Brady Leftwich Ba Moore…n bunch of position coaches.
They will put a good playback together.
I just would like to see us upgrade a LG and grab another dline beast like suh or gmc if he has it in him.
Also would love to see gronk in 4 or 5 weeks…n Edelman in 8 or 9.
September 6th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
Just glad that AB is gone and no longer able to blow up the team again at the worst possible time.
September 6th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
I hope he will be able to light a fire under Leftwich on those days that the offense looks lackluster and BL keeps running on first down.
We had three games and half of an NFC divisional game like that last season, and we can’t afford any this season.
September 6th, 2022 at 5:21 pm
George … ‘Bowles is unfortunately involved in the offense by default . Because he is not pounding the table for more offensive lineman he is meddling in a way that is detrimental to the teams interest’.
I get what you’re saying George, but folks can’t have it both ways. If Bowles gets involved with the offense, he’s meddling? If he doesn’t get involved, he’s still meddling?
Fact is that Jason Licht is in charge of personnel & salary CAP. I read so many JBFers who say ‘In JL we trust’. Good, it’s his job. Let him do it, but if things go awry because of lack of depth, don’t be pointing fingers at Todd Bowles and let Jason Licht off the hook. Put the ACCOUNTABILITY where it belongs.
September 6th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
I think we have a let’s see how they do week 1 attitude with regard to the OL
If it’s a crap show expect some immediate signings
As to Bowles, he is a player, then coach- he isn’t getting in Brady’s way – if TB12 wants it he gets it, including in game calls on offense / 4th downs etc – it’s Tom’s world and we all live in it – don’t hinder the GOAT!!!!
September 6th, 2022 at 7:23 pm
” you think Leftwich isn’t going to do what Tom Brady wants him to do?”
Didn’t you see how many times Brady would be yelling at Leftwich and changing the plays during games? Leftwich would run every play up the middle if it was up to him. I really can not wait to see when Leftwich is a head coach, and is super conservative (ie Mike Shula level conservative), how people are going to be scratching their heads and wondering how they ended up with a wishbone offense instead of the Arians offense they thought they were buying.
September 6th, 2022 at 7:49 pm
Throw the dam ball on first down !
September 6th, 2022 at 8:46 pm
“ Leftwich would run every play up the middle if it was up to him. I really can not wait to see when Leftwich is a head coach, and is super conservative”. This is a awful and atrocious take.
September 6th, 2022 at 8:47 pm
“ Leftwich would run every play up the middle if it was up to him. I really can not wait to see when Leftwich is a head coach, and is super conservative”. This is a awful and atrocious take.