Byron Leftwich Said Referee Tendencies Are Very Much Factored In When Developing A Gameplan
October 20th, 2022
Do referees influence gameplans?
There were so many head-scratching elements of the Bucs offense in Pittsburgh on Sunday. One, of course, was the reluctance to test the Steelers’ beat-up secondary and to target Mike Evans.
Evans caught all four of the passes that went his way. (On the fifth, he drew a defensive holding call). Sadly, weirdly, the Bucs connected with him only once in the second half.
One reason Joe was beyond frustrated — “angry” is a better word — is that Evans draws a lot of defensive pass interference calls. And the referee crew that worked the game, Shawn Smith’s gang, is known as being flag-happy when it comes to defensive pass interference.
Based on this, Joe thought at the very minimum, the Bucs would do what famed JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman always harps on: Throw the ball up to Evans and if he doesn’t come down with the ball, there’s a great chance he will draw a flag.
So Joe asked Leftwich today how much he crafts a gameplan with referee tendencies in mind. Leftwich said a lot.
“It is huge,” Leftwich said. “We have a great awareness of who is reffing the game, tendencies, what they are doing collectively as a group. So there is work every week on who we are going to have.”
This makes the lack of throwing in the game at the Steelers’ secondary all the more baffling; Pittsburgh was down three starters as well as missing perhaps the NFL’s best pass rusher in T.J. Watt.
Either Leftwich was using bad intel or bad data about Smith’s gang, or he fully ignored it.
Most likely, practice squad dudes who are starting would tend to get frustrated after getting burned a few times and then start grabbing.
That gameplan by Leftwich was simply one of the biggest #Fail jobs Joe has seen from a Bucs offense in a long, long time.
Ira Kaufman Enters Multiple Tom Brady & Todd Bowles Debates, Talks State Of The Bucs And Picks One Reason For The Steelers Loss, And More
October 20th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Just factor in your players’ strengths and getting the ball in the end zone 4-6 times a game.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Endless run plays against a defense that started practice squad players in its secondary, was also factored into the game “plan”
October 20th, 2022 at 3:32 pm
I ultimately blame Leftwich for the gameplan and playcalling…….but are we going to let Brady off the hook completely?…..Are we going to let Mike off the hook?
It seems to me they had a hand in this.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Please stop giving this brain dead boob a microphone, and honestly, the media needs to just stop asking him intelligent questions. Start asking about his golf handicap and what he plans to do after his coaching career ends. Subjects like that.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Tampabnaybucfan.
We have to throw the fooball at Mike. He caught 3 of his 4 targets.
Seeing how we ran the ball instead of throwing it when throwing the ball would have won us the game against that outright decimated team this is on Leftwich more then any other factor.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:55 pm
sorry he did catch all his targets my bad.
October 20th, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Crazy talk
October 20th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Joe, did you followup and ask him why then they didn’t put it up to Evans? Were they aware of those referees’ tendencies?
October 20th, 2022 at 4:17 pm
Wow, gotta say that quote is a really bad look byron. Refs very much factored in” to targeting pass attempts at the most prolific reciever over the past 8/9 years. You base a gameplan on refs? translates to me into not believing in your gameplan, a non convicted mindset. Even if he said just “factored” in I would be pissed. refs should be no factor!
October 20th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Any question the brain dead boob gets asked will be answered with predictable simpleton rhetoric. Done with this boob.
October 20th, 2022 at 4:45 pm
Evans was doubled most of the game. They have to make teams pay for dedicating an extra defender. Godwin caught 6 on 12 targets, Lenny had 6 and white 3. No other bucs reciever had more than 2 catches. Teams will continue to double Evans. Gage should be that guy who benefits. 2 catches
October 20th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
How about asking him if he’s on the hot seat. If he thinks his job and reputation are in jeopardy.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Boron: “ We gotta do what we do to win”
Journalist: “Sure. Given global energy prices, what do you think your golf handicap will be after baking cakes at home for a year?”
October 20th, 2022 at 5:08 pm
Shoot me now, that’s what he builds his game plan around? So what he is saying is that group doesn’t throw many PI flags so don’t exploit a depleted secondary. I change my opinion, I vote BL coach of the year.
#beanoBLidiots
October 20th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
BL is a genius. I mean, beano is the smartest of all the village idiots so it’s possible. At least if you compare BL to, um…..? Can’t think of anyone he is better than. Sorry.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
I’m sorry, I don’t want Brady to go full Winston and start YOLOing balls to Evans. It leads to turnovers! Brady only has one pick this season. They need to move Evans around. They’re making it too easy to double Mike. This is where we miss Gronk and Julio. Their presence creates more opportunities for Mike
October 20th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
How about you stop over-thinking it, while you’re trying to show how smart you are. (You’re not)
Hand the ball to Brady and tell him that you’ll meet him in tje locker room in 3.5 hours. Then go up to the coaches box and watch the game.
In other words, get the hell out of the way!
October 20th, 2022 at 6:55 pm
KuKu
October 20th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Oh cut the crap, Leftwich. Your offense doesn’t even prepare against their weekly opponent, let alone the zebras.
October 20th, 2022 at 7:02 pm
I don’t quite buy into the double coverage excuse for not going to Evans .The 40 yard
pass in Atlanta game that set up the touchdown was in between double coverage . The pass Godwin got hurt on had two or more people in the area. He also threw a number of passes to Gronk with a crowd around him in the rams game. IMO the the backs are two involved in the passing game and not enough in the blocking
game. Maybe, Then Brady would have more time to find our big play receivers.
That is where Byron needs to protect Brady better with better blocking schemes to help the O line and Brady out. AT only 6.7 yards a catch Brady is very near his worst season .
October 20th, 2022 at 7:02 pm
Geez this guy.
Why doesn’t he start factoring in Lennys moonwalk dance after 2 yds.
Guy bulldozed straight against Dallas and I was proud.
Now he looks like the 30th best RB out there.
The 1st down where White caught the ball and spun to his right for a 1st down was a play Lenny can’t make, plain and simple.
Lenny is on the field too much when you have a guy like White behind him.
Don’t even get me started on the O Line.
It’s borderline belligerent to have sold the fanbase the narrative they did about these guys. The middle is where Tom HATES pressure and our worst position group on the Team.
This team is weak, and a reflection of Bowles and Leftwich’s demeanor.
Bowles didn’t blitz once when it was 3rd and 16,15 and 11 in the fourth quarter against Mitchell freakin T. What a mess.
Someone tell me what makes Bowles and Lefty “valuable” and not some leftovers from a Super Bowl winning coach?
October 20th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Our best receiver needs more throws!! Yes Joe you are right about that!! Someone should tell TB12!! Several times Last Sunday, ME was wide open and would have converted 3rd downs had he been thrown the ball. And how about in the Red Zone!! Nothing else is working and ME almost always makes that corner catch, sometimes one handed!! LFG!!!!!!
October 20th, 2022 at 7:51 pm
Complete tool OC – idiotic is the only comparable adjective to describe the gameplan
We are determined to run the ball while the opponent is missing 5 starters- 3 CB, S, DE – top 3 corners, pro bowl FS, and All-Pro DE
Ummmmmmmmmmm….Bruce need the red pen!!!!!!
To say his influence is missed would be a major understatement
October 20th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
Byron bygone is see weak… It’s pathetic… Madden NFL has a better game plan
October 20th, 2022 at 9:21 pm
So weak
October 20th, 2022 at 9:21 pm
Joe did not. But he was asked that. Same ol’ answer: He and the coaching staff are calling plays based on what they believe gives the team the best chance to win.
October 20th, 2022 at 9:51 pm
thanks Joe… there ought to be an electric buzzer to zap guys when they give that silly non-answer, like at the beginning of Ghostbusters
October 20th, 2022 at 10:17 pm
This guy is a clown. Can’t gameplan without the red marker and can’t handle the media at all. He’s low energy, too. This team needs a Gruden in his prime to get them rolling!
October 21st, 2022 at 1:48 am
Ya, when Left gave that answer someone should have asked him why we didn’t win, then.
The guy is really not very smart, himself, and Gilbert isn’t either. Maybe they know football, but not one of these games is proving it.