Byron Leftwich: Small Changes Will Have Big Results
October 25th, 2022
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.
Football coaches like to say little things add up to big things. Failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich seems to think this applies to his offense.
The Bucs offense, aside from one game — a loss — has never really been on track all season. It has yet to break the 21-point plateau except in the loss to the Chiefs.
Despite being loaded at the skill positions, the Bucs have the fifth-worst points-per-game average in the league, 17.7, tied with two garbage offenses Carolina and Houston.
That is simply unacceptable.
But Leftwich, as he has in recent weeks, said the Bucs are close to breaking out.
“I don’t think it takes big changes,” Leftwich said. “The difference in [scoring] 38 [or] 10 is minute in this league. It’s four or five plays in the game. We’re just not making those plays.
“As a group, we just have to get in sync. We have to understand in key moments in the ballgame, where you have to execute, you have to get your job done, and we are just not doing that right now.”
This doesn’t make sense to Joe. Who exactly doesn’t know this who is on the field on offense? How many guys starting on offense won the damn Super Bowl two years ago? Only four haven’t (all on the offensive line if you include tight end) and one is Shaq Mason. He has twice as many rings as any other player on offense aside from his quarterback.
So, please.
Here is all you need to know: If Leftwich knew how to fix the offense, he would have done so by now. The Bucs are hours away from their eighth game of the season.
Until proven otherwise — and Joe really hopes Leftwich does prove Joe otherwise — Joe has no faith this offense gets fixed until Ryan Jensen gets back and/or foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski gets bored (again) with retirement.
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October 25th, 2022 at 4:42 pm
Hmmm
Why didn’t he think of that before
Yawn
I ain’t watching the game
October 25th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
Will be very interesting to see next year how wonderful Leftwich will do without the GOAT.
October 25th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
I guess he has to say things that it make it sound like execution to try and save his job. Either way another lackluster performance should be the end of his tenure as a Bucs coach.
October 25th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Crazy idea on offense. Run Mike Evans as a TE split out, put him in motion, etc. and let him start to get more involved in the short passing game. Put Perriman and Godwin outside. This will make it very difficult for teams to key on Evans and will give him favorable mismatches. Godwin can be used in the screen game or deep outs and Perriman can stretch the field and force over the top help (or Miller in this role as well). Something different is needed and less predictable for sure.
October 25th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Start with changing offensive coordinator.
October 25th, 2022 at 4:47 pm
We have been saving Julio for the playoffs. At present it doesn’t look like there’s going to BE any playoffs, putting Julio in now would be a nice change
October 25th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
How about a small change at OC for big results?
October 25th, 2022 at 4:50 pm
How ’bout him executing and getting his job done?
How’s that lip service working out for you, Brandon?
October 25th, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Wonder if Lefty was refrencing Evans dropped TD?
October 25th, 2022 at 4:59 pm
painful quote from a dude about to lose his job
how about taking ownership of how grim the offense is and then improving by 1 play at a time?
start buffing up your resume my friend
October 25th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
I said it the other day……these guys missed plays or dropped balls.. but IT WAS ONE TINY WINDOW OF BEING OPEN!!!
1/2 the team should be open if he knew how to call plays.
still blaming players. FBL
October 25th, 2022 at 5:11 pm
Fire this bum ASAP!
October 25th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Is it “Let’s go Brandon” or “Let’s go Byron”?
4-43 on 3rd ……..some of that is on Brady…
We need to seriously open it up…..these short passes behind the line to gain are killing us…..take some chances with this offense.
We’re running our defense out on the field by punting instead of extra points.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
How’s about scheming up some easy plays. This offense needs confidence more than anything. It shouldn’t be that hard. I hate the expression, but dumb down things. D-Rok has been talking about identity. Right now, their identity is getting destroyed in the first quarter. You can’t play constantly from behind and hope for success.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:14 pm
Here comes another blowout
October 25th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Just read a fascinating article about the Colts (3-3-1) benching Matt Ryan (they’ll be starting their 2nd-year QB for the rest of the year). Turns out that Ryan has thrown the 2nd most passes in the AFC and leads the league … in throwing interceptions (9).
Colts offense ranks #30, scoring barely 16 PPG average (their defense. They’ve had OLine problems (given up 24 sacks already in 7 games) & their superb RBs (Jonathan Taylor & Deon Jackson) aren’t getting the results they normally do.
Hmmm, sounds a lot like our Bucs. Only difference is that their leadership apparently doesn’t believe that ‘Small Changes Will Have Big Results’. They went nuclear.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:19 pm
Remarkable, insightful stuff.
Thanks for sharing, Lefty.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
Sadly for us unless Brady threatens to go problems with the Leftworstofalltime offense, Bowels isn’t firing him.
So, promote him. Kick him upstairs to hang out with BA on special assignment, to strategically rectify the order as. Even Clos Crustenson’s old Dungy offense was better than this and then he called played with Leyton. And they worked well together. Leftwurst promoted, Clod acting OC. Let’s go.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
“Stubborn and dumb.”
October 25th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
“Dumb and Stubborn.”
October 25th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
If the play calls are so bad, why doesn’t Brady call a better play? Can he override what is called from the sideline? Just asking for a friend.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
I’ll take him at his word – we do play Thursday – we’ll see…
October 25th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Redeemer,
I have indeed been talking about “identity.” There are other names for it, as well. An earlier post by Joe was talking about “juice,” and I made an analogy that until one knows what’s expected of them, they can’t get excited and juiced up to do the best job possible.
This is a passing team, but the coaches have been ramming the run game down the players’ throats to this point. It’s like the coaches THINK this team’s identity is balanced, and that’s a fine and worthwhile philosophy. The big disconnect this year is that the players (o-line) isn’t as good at what the coaches want from them. This is a passing team. The Dallas game was obviously an anomaly.
Any good leader identifies, exaggerates, and accentuates the strengths of those they are leading. None of this has happened to date this season. So yeah, identity, persona, vibe, whatever one wants to call it – we are lacking.
I could offer my take on how to improve, but that would only be an outsiders perspective without privvy to data within the building, and would only be hyperbole at this point.
So I sit here today wondering who will step up and light a fire under this team. It SHOULD be the coaches and team leaders, and for whatever reason, it just hasn’t happened yet.
This team lacks identity.
And yet, I remain optimistic. Why? 28-3, that’s why. Hey, it IS possible to turn this season around, but the bigger question is: WILL THEY?
GO BUCS!!!
October 25th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
Hes in over his head and wont admit it
October 25th, 2022 at 5:36 pm
Jensen and Gronk isn’t going to magically make this dimwit kept in check by BA start doing his job.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Lefty is as Woke as woke can get. He is a woke nitwit.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
Yes, Todd and Byron. The question is WHY guys are “not getting the job done, executing, or making plays”.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
When I read the headline I thought BL was going to announce that he was going resign. Imagine my disappointment when I read the article. Sadly BL just doesn’t have the football smarts or aptitude to be a OC (or position coach probably). It doesn’t help that Bowles isn’t a leader of men either. Put the two together and you have the Bucs 2022 season.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
I will not be watching it either. Watching CW and MeTV. But I will check in on JBF just to see Munch and everyone going WTF was that!!!
October 25th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Lets Go Byron
October 25th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
Guys do you really think he’s in charge and has more pull than TB12? No way and I think Tommy is also to blame, but Evans needs to step up and can’t fix Godwin and Gage because they are made of glass !! We bought into the hype of Lenny ( reason why the Jags said see ya ) and hoping White can get more playing time, but Tommy needs to step up and lead this putrid offense one last time. Sadly this defense is another story and they need to get their ballz back
October 25th, 2022 at 5:46 pm
Joe,
When you type “Joe has no faith this offense gets fixed until Ryan Jensen gets back and/or foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski gets bored (again) with retirement.” – sure, adding those 2 healthy players will definitely help SOME. No doubt. But what about all the inconsistency from a variety of players on both sides of the ball? Actually, all 3 sides of the ball.
Until players start performing consistently, without mental errors, adding a few more elite players will not change the identity of this team. It MUST start at the top, and I haven’t seen much leadership from, well, really anyone on this team.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:49 pm
I like the whole tirade about being aware it’s 4th and 1 and everyone has to know they can’t fail at their assignment
They don’t know that? That’s why we didn’t make it?
Oh… my bad Lefty
I like how he said they needed to work Leverett in a bit to get him ready, but we are starting a rookie getting beat like a cheap rug 70% of the time…okay
Dude is a tool and if it gets fixed it’s because TB takes over
October 25th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
I love the Bucs been a fan since 97 but I have no more confidence in this team. The coaches or the players. This game will be a blowout by the end of the first quarter.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
I can’t wait for the press conference where he states that the stats are wrong and that the offense is roaring…
October 25th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
as a career Brady fan i would normally feel fairly confident about playing the Ravens. He has most of his weapons he’s had for 2 years. Wanna guess the main thing he Doesn’t have? Bruce Ariens Based on the last 2 weeks, we don’t stand a snowballs chance in Hell. For you Fl people, snow is that frozen water that falles to earth when the rain freezes. You have to wear pants and a coat BRRRR
October 25th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
I enjoyed both of your posts, D-Roc. The damn coaches have been saying “better coaching” needs to happen–well how about telling us exactly what they are gonna do to be better instead of empty platitudes? As far as Brady calling the plays. I think he does that, somewhat, but that is NOT really his job, and I don’t think he wants it.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
All Leftwich needs is a fiddle as OPB burns.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Looks like a man afraid of losing his job and about to lose my job lmao
October 25th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
And, my hopes of getting Lamar Jackson for next year have evaporated like one of Bmoron Leftworst’s brainfarts. I mean first plays of the game. No way he’s gonna want to come to this extinction event of a franchise.
October 25th, 2022 at 5:59 pm
The problem isn’t Leftwich or his playcalling, no, it’s the players not doing their job. Yeah, that’s it Bryon, you tell them. It’s not you, it’s never you, in fact, you’re the victim!
October 25th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
This says it all “We have to understand in key moments in the ballgame, where you have to execute, you have to get your job done”. I thought the goal was to execute in ALL moments, no? If only we did really well at key moments, the poor play would be cloaked? Who knew it could be so simple?
October 25th, 2022 at 6:09 pm
Bowles a d Leftwich, dumb and dumber. It’s not the game plan or play calling, if the players only executed those plays we would be 7-0.
October 25th, 2022 at 6:13 pm
wow – this guy is clueless
October 25th, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Blaming execution is such a cop-out.
October 25th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
He thinks his plan is great and only needs a couple small tweaks to solve the little glitches. Well he is a woke moron is alls I can say. Hope he proves me wrong on Thursday.
October 25th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
D-Rok, I haven’t flushed this season down the toilet yet. As sad as they’ve played, they’ll probably win the division. I have no inside info either. I’ve been screaming for them to start in the gun, 5 wide hurry up. They play with zero urgency until behind by two scores. What you want to be on offense and what you’re capable of are two different things. They have the greatest diagnostic QB of all time. Try it until they stop it. Plenty of average running teams have won the superbowl.
October 25th, 2022 at 6:54 pm
Byron is preaching from the famous book “Football Cliches” by T. Bowles.
October 25th, 2022 at 6:55 pm
I think they turn it around starting this week. Go Bucs!!!! Let’s GO!!!!
October 25th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Everyone is against me, in the biggest moments they all let me down. It’s not me, it’s never be me, it’s THEM! THEY’RE TO BLAME!
October 25th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
There is one small thing that would help greatly: re-learning how to sustain drives.
It sounds simple, but there are myriad toe stubs needed to do it. I don’t have faith that Leftie can make it happen, I hope he proves me wrong, there aren’t many good OCs looking for work.
October 25th, 2022 at 7:06 pm
Everything about him reminds me of Mike Smith, just the other side of the ball
October 25th, 2022 at 7:19 pm
i’m gonna go watch north dallas 40 right now :0
October 25th, 2022 at 7:32 pm
I’ve never claimed to be a mathematician but I dont see how four or five plays going differently would equate to four to five more touchdowns. Hmm 🤔 Maybe four to five more first downs and 7-10 more points, maybe. What a joke of a coach he is.
October 25th, 2022 at 7:34 pm
This is the kind of thing a coach with no imagination says.
October 25th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
We can’t even do zone stretch runs against horrible defenses because nobody on the team practices blocking for the looks of it. Because there’s no way professional players can block that bad. Do we even have schemes for pulls with guard + lead HB lead? TE personnel good enough to stick a LB in the chest? It’s painful to watch our offense.
October 25th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
All talk. Inexcusable results. Wish a team grabbed him last year.
October 25th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
Translation: I have to say something to hold onto my job for one more week. Please fire this guy.
October 25th, 2022 at 8:45 pm
What a joke…
Total housecleaning coming after Bready retires.
This staff is complete trash.
Licht is a horrible GM
October 25th, 2022 at 9:14 pm
This team is going to struggle until they back the most under appreciated player from last season it proven they are more efficient in both passing game and run game when he is on the team the real 15 (Cyril Grayson Jr) he wasn’t costing us 10 mill a year and was more productive imo
October 25th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Another embarrassing loss on Thursday night football for everyone to see how bad this team is #!!
October 25th, 2022 at 10:47 pm
Clod you nailed it
October 25th, 2022 at 10:54 pm
I’m pretty sure every player on this team understands situational football. They know 3rd and short is a must have. They also know running the same play out of the same formation that didn’t work the ten times before probably isn’t going to work this time either.
The players don’t trust the scheme or the play calls or both. Either way, let’s hurry up and get into this next lost decade so I can have my Sundays back.
October 25th, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Where’s Jeff Jagodzinski when you need him?
October 26th, 2022 at 1:14 am
41-13 Ravens.
October 26th, 2022 at 3:52 am
Trying to hang around until Jensen returns but at this pace we may be out of it by that time. I think hicks is equally critical to the d-line but an offense clicking can mask a mediocre defense however even a really good defense will struggle to make up for a poor offense.
October 26th, 2022 at 7:42 am
There you go Joe with that loaded at skill position nonsense. Evans, Godwin good receivers, not burners, neither can take the top off a defense. Miller, Periiman, Gage, all garbage. Lenny is a plowhorse, White, meh. Who you got after that Joe? This team is loaded with over rated talent by the likes of media types like Joe. Fake news, it just isn’t true. We’re an old, slow football team. We’re loaded with crap, not elite talent as you say.
October 26th, 2022 at 8:37 am
“The difference between [scoring] 38 points and 10 in this league is minute.” Seriously? That is the same as saying there is little difference between scoring 5 touchdowns and just one touchdown.
Desperate people say desperate things, I guess.
October 26th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
You had to account for Gronk & AB!!! When healthy in most cases you cannot cover Evan’s, Godwin, AB, Gronk one on one. Replaced with GARBAGE. Someone posted this earlier Beasely retiring after 2 weeks said it all.