Baltimore Had Byron Leftwich All Figured Out
November 5th, 2022
Evidence mounting.
It’s no accomplishment like keeping Pat Mahomes out of the end zone in a Super Bowl, but it seems last week the Baltimore Crows had the Bucs’ offense solved.
Not only did Baltimore know what was coming — hell, Bucs fans know what is coming on first downs — but it seems Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was trying to disguise plays with different formations but ran the same plays.
It reminds Joe of an “America’s Game” episode of the old Steelers talking about the Cowboys’ offense with all sorts of weird presnap motion in the 1970s, “You can try all that smoke and mirrors stuff you want but we know where you are going to end up and we know where you are going to be,” the late Pittsburgh defensive tackle Dwight White said of the Cowboys’ pre-snap dances.
The Crows publish a regular video series on the team’s website sort of like “Hard Knocks.” In the recent episode featuring their game against the Bucs, defensive players on the Baltimore bench are openly mocking the Tampa Bay offense. Specifically, they knew the plays Leftwich was calling.
PT1 //
Watching the Ravens “Wired” series on YouTube from the #GoBucs game… OOF
Baltimore defense talking about the lack of creativity on Tampa Bay’s Offense, “It’s the same plays out of different formations, it’s the same plays! Nothing we haven’t seen before” pic.twitter.com/E4EzCTurSl
— 𝗭𝗮𝗰 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿🎙 (@ZacOnTheMic) November 4, 2022
In another scene another Crows defender is saying in the huddle, “Let’s make it manageable for us. … Let’s stop the run on first down.”
Gee, how did they ever guess Leftwich likes to run on first down?
The evidence that Leftwich is over his head is mounting by the week. Forget the results on the field. The Bucs have the worst rushing attack since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. And the Bucs have the worst third-and-long conversation percentage this century.
What more evidence does someone need?
If somehow the Bucs are 3-7 on Thanksgiving Weekend, will that be the time for someone at One Buc Palace to have an epiphany and say, “You know, maybe we might need to have Clyde Christensen take over the offense?” It might be too late by then.
If Leftwich knew how to correct his mess, wouldn’t he have done so by now?
Ravens Defense later in that game, “let’s make it manageable for us, stop the run on first down” 😑 #goBucs pic.twitter.com/wt1ZhGMVRx
— 𝗭𝗮𝗰 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿🎙 (@ZacOnTheMic) November 4, 2022
November 5th, 2022 at 7:21 am
Ask Brady for help, stooge! Nothing worse than a dumb coach. And clueless Todd just let’s it keep happening. Rams 31 Bucs 13
November 5th, 2022 at 7:23 am
SAD.
November 5th, 2022 at 7:25 am
It’s troubling that he’s still employed at One Buc Place. What happened to the accountability w/ this team that was so present and tangible under Bruce Arians? Why is Warren Sapp having to hold Devin White accountable and not the Head Coach – when given multiple opportunities to do so and in fact did the opposite?
Beyond bizarre stuff these days
November 5th, 2022 at 7:34 am
BL sucks for sure but I wonder if JPP had any insight into THE MASTERMIND’S play calling that he shared with his new team?
November 5th, 2022 at 7:38 am
Use this tape for your next round of interviews for a coaching job Dunce. Oh wait, there won’t be one.
Stooge.
Maybe Byron can run 3 receivers into one another tomorrow and allow them to be covered by 1 defender playing zone.
Byron sucks. Carry him off like they did at Marshall.
November 5th, 2022 at 7:41 am
Every team has BL all figured out.
He’s not the only one.
Every Offensive Tackle knows to just ride JTS 5 yards behind the QB.
Every QB knows the backup DB’s can’t cover and can’t stop the run.
Every Opposing coach knows that once they see what Bucs are doing defensively in 1st half, they’ll adjust and kick butt the 2nd half.
November 5th, 2022 at 7:47 am
I was wondering when you were going to pick up on this video, Joe. I was going to tag you in case you missed it one more day. Then again, you probably had this entry written two days ago at least.
November 5th, 2022 at 7:51 am
Wise words Alan.
November 5th, 2022 at 7:52 am
Thanks Bruce.
November 5th, 2022 at 7:54 am
This is almost getting humorous. Bucs’ fans have been able to call whether it’d be a run or a pass since 2019 when BL came onboard. Nothing new there. Every year since Brady came onboard in 2020 we rank near the bottom of the NFL in terms of rushing attempts, and near the top in passing attempts. BL has created an offense with certain ‘tendencies’ that seem to be the very definition of ‘predictable’.
As long as BA was involved, it was manageable. As long as we had the best OLine in the NFL, it was manageable. As long as we had healthy WRs & TEs (like Gronk), it was manageable. But take away BA, the best OLine, healthy receivers … and Gronk … and it becomes unmanageable. BL got exposed. Wow, whodathunkit?
Sorry Joe, but I doubt that turning the OC reins over to Clyde will make a world of difference. You’re still left with just an average OLine. Our WRs still aren’t healthy. Our TEs are still 2 newbies. And there’s still no Gronk. We can certainly be better than we are, but our offensive problems go much deeper than just the ineptitude of the guy doing the planning.
November 5th, 2022 at 7:55 am
At bottom, what WILL be our Achilles heel this season is one (traditionally positive) character trait — LOYALTY.
Todd Bowles will not throw Leftwich under the bus (BL is doing a fine job of that himself).
Loyalty will cost Bowles his job in the end.
November 5th, 2022 at 8:01 am
Any drunk on a couch has Leftwich figured out. This shouldn’t be news
November 5th, 2022 at 8:01 am
Seems we haven’t adjusted since the superbowl.
November 5th, 2022 at 8:18 am
And there it is. On tape. What other proof is needed?
“Doesn’t anybody notice this? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills”
November 5th, 2022 at 8:32 am
With Krupp and Akers likely back tomorrow, look
For the Rams O to suddenly get back on track at RayJay
We will score at least 10 points then go back to the John McKay offense we are running in 2022
Rams 34 Bucs 13
November 5th, 2022 at 8:33 am
There’s so much wrong with this team…
Add locker room problems (which will come out AFTER the season), and you have a 3-14 record or something as embarrassing.
November 5th, 2022 at 8:36 am
49 – 28 Rams
November 5th, 2022 at 8:37 am
As did Carolina, Pittsburgh, KC & GB. How this guy still have a job? Doesn’t Bowels & Licht know how to read??? Waiting on SOEbuc, Oneilsucyall, Mike Johnson, beanbag etc come up with how they can spin it so it’s Brady’s fault. If anything we should be giving him more praise for one, not getting killed and two playing at a high level when the DC knows what’s coming. Before college I was a RB in HS, we would practice plays over and over again like all teams do. After a while the D knows what’s coming and to no surprise it wasn’t uncommon to meet a dlineman or LB in the supposed to be hole. This O has NO Chance as long as BL is OC.
#BAkldtheBucsBLkldLenny
November 5th, 2022 at 8:39 am
How low of a bar will Bowles, and company have to get under to keep their jobs? I would think if they can’t win this division, and thus fail to make the playoffs a total house cleaning would be in order. So where have the Glazers set the bar?
November 5th, 2022 at 8:47 am
What keep talking about it we all know how uncreative his play book is talking about it aint gonna help just fire his as already geez
November 5th, 2022 at 8:51 am
Reminds me of the sideline video from Super Bowl 37 where Lynch is telling Kiffin and Tomlin that they know every play the Raiders are running. In fairness to the Raiders, our coach ran their offense for the previous several seasons and knew the personnel. What’s Byron’s excuse…
November 5th, 2022 at 8:52 am
Ask Bowles about it.
“We don’t really look at how simple our offense is here”
November 5th, 2022 at 9:01 am
This is BA fault….he hired the guys who are in place and keeping them employed. These are his homes. They won’t be here if it wasn’t for BA.
November 5th, 2022 at 9:10 am
LOL – Joe found the perfect pic for this article…
What a dunce. I seriously hope this team can find a real NFL caliber OC next season.
This is embarrassing.
November 5th, 2022 at 9:11 am
It’s the players Brady had people wide ass open. He was not seeing the field and when he did he missed. Brady better get his spit together this week. He’s leaving a lot on the field. Go and watch Kurt warners film breakdown of Brady it’s crazy.
November 5th, 2022 at 9:11 am
This explains why no huddle works so well. So what have we learned this week?
1. Bowels and Co. doesn’t look at stats which most likely why he blitzed Stafford and probably will do the same this week.
2. Leftnuts game plan is so basic opposing DC’s and players are laughing all around the league.
3. Glaizers & Licht are balless.
4. BA screwed this team over BIG TIME!
5. Oneilsuckyall, beano, SOEbuc, Mike Johnson have not played past the middle school flag football coed gym class.
November 5th, 2022 at 9:17 am
Boring Lostwich the flat brimmed failure.
See how many times tomorrow our receivers can run into one another due to this imbecile drawing up plays where they occupy the same space on a route.
November 5th, 2022 at 9:18 am
BA’s silence speaks volumes!!!
November 5th, 2022 at 10:14 am
That’s embarrassing for sure but hey the head coach says we just need to execute better and we’ll be fine. Todd Bowles era is already a train wreck. Neither leftwich or Bowles know how to make adjustments. Season may be over and Tom Brady can’t save you when defense knows what’s coming
November 5th, 2022 at 11:09 am
I feel like all Bucs fans and opposing teams know how predictable the plays are but the Bucs coaches seem oblivious to it. It’s truly baffling! How was leftglitch getting consideration for head coaching jobs in the offseason??
November 5th, 2022 at 11:21 am
Lol, that’s sad and this has been a wasted season so far.
November 5th, 2022 at 11:29 am
Boring lostwich. I like it
November 5th, 2022 at 11:59 am
test
November 5th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Agree @Lamarcus, this deserves a 2nd look.
“This is BA fault….he hired the guys who are in place and keeping them employed. These are his homes. They won’t be here if it wasn’t for BA.”
So why would we cry for his return, or worse yet, the poster child of cronyism, Christensen?
Hold out for quality. This good ol boy coaching tree is played out.
Payton & Lamar 2023
November 5th, 2022 at 12:14 pm
Yeah does feel like past years other teams knew what was coming but bucs would line up and just on talent say try and stop us and they couldn’t. I do think a more creative oc can scheme around the weakness happens all around the league no one team is elite everywhere just doesn’t seem like leftwich can and Todd the loyalty to the coaching staff may end up biting them in the rear end.
November 5th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
I agree that Leftwich does not have a clue, when it comes to play calling.
I have said it before that other teams have figured out the no risk it no biscuit offense a long time ago.
Combine an outdated offense with players who are very out of shape equals disaster.
That said, we should still beat the Rams tomorrow here in Tampa.
They are but a shadow of their former selves.
I see this team as being right on the very brink of Implosion, so IMHO a win tomorrow is an absolute must to prevent that from happening.
November 5th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Thanks for posting these Joe!
I’ve been trying to tell everyone how predictable he is for years.
No creativity. No misdirection. No disguise.
November 5th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
When the Bucs go to 3-6 after this Sunday’s loss, Licht should start looking ahead to the 2023 draft, maybe even look for another head coach.
November 5th, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Why don’t we just roll the clock back about 40 years and let Brady call his own damn plays! Who doesn’t think Brady could run circles around any OC. He has played more football, been in more games and probably would be a top notch OC if he decided to go into coaching. The man knows football, and knows defenses. It can’t be any worse than letting Byron stumble trough another game with his predictable offense.
November 5th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
I agree -let Brady call his own plays ..–he knows a lot more than leftworst
November 5th, 2022 at 2:50 pm
I’ve literally been saying this for years, and yet people here would actually argue with me about it.
I warned, when/if Leftwich ever gets a job on his own, doesn’t have Arians in his ear telling him to stop running the same play over and over again, he’s going to be exposed. There’s a reason that in his only other year without Arians, as the Cards OC in 2018, he finished #32nd in offense, that means last place, the worst offense in football.
November 5th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Let’s guess who the Glazers will interview to coach the Bucs in 2023.
November 5th, 2022 at 3:20 pm
Defense Rules – I agree with you, up until you say changing who is calling the plays won’t make a difference.
Could not disagree more. If the offense was just slightly more productive, the team is at least 5-3. Now, saying Clyde Christensen is going to fix things, that’s a long shot. Again, he’s the guy who was so awful in 2001 as the Bucs OC, he got Dungy fired, but I sat through both eras, and I’d take my chances on Clyde. He doesn’t need to ‘fix’ the offense, he just needs to be a bit better than the worst OC in the game – and Clyde did have his run in Indy with Manning where I’m sure he learned a thing or two.
November 5th, 2022 at 6:55 pm
“We run whatever plays give us the best to win” Byron Leftwich
He can’t avoid the criticism any longer, Ravens said what we’ve always been saying so how will they respond I would love to be in the media press conference just once so I can make him sweat
November 6th, 2022 at 7:38 am
Bowles stinks too though, awful head coach
November 7th, 2022 at 9:04 pm
Just saw this. I’m not even sad or angry anymore. I just feel humiliated as a Bucs fan after watching those players ridicule our coaching and playcalling.