The Red Pen Seems To Still Exist
November 16th, 2022
Attends offensive meetings.
More intrigue to what and how Bucs offensive gameplans are constructed, and who the hell is really calling those shots.
Joe is more confused right now than when Joe first opened his eyes this morning from “sleeping in” after arriving from Germany last night, waking at 2:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. Munich time.)
Who is running the offense? Joe isn’t fully sure after reading a fantastic interview from one of the best NFL writers out there, Dan Pompei of The Athletic. He had a sitdown with former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians at a cigar bar in Tampa.
Yes, Byron Leftwich is the Bucs offensive coordinator. But it sure seems as if Arians still has the ability to pull out his famous red pen.
Nursing a Crown Royal on the rocks (nice — Joe’s go-to drink, too!) Arians described to Pompei his daily routine at One Buc Palace as a high-level advisor to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Arians hasn’t fully stepped away from coaching. Arians explained to Pompei he is involved in offensive meetings with the team. Daily.
In his new role, Arians shows up to work between 9 and 9:30 and is usually out by late afternoon. He meets with Licht to discuss the roster, then watches practice, sometimes throwing in coaching pointers. He attends the offensive meeting afterward and watches tape. He might have a game plan suggestion for Leftwich. In training camp, Arians contributed to the red zone and third-down packages.
He has the leeway to do pretty much whatever he wants, but he tries not to inhibit the people who have earned their titles, especially Bowles.
It’s hard to believe if Arians is that involved that the Bucs offense has nose-dived as it has. Joe just cannot buy that. Unless you are telling Joe that Leftwich is ignoring Arians, which is quite possible. It also makes Joe wonder about the timing of Arians’ October heart illness and the Bucs’ offense imploding.
This current Bucs offense looks nothing like Arians’ no-risk-it; no-biscuit. For example, even after the Bucs converted an insane 66 percent of third downs against Seattle, the Bucs rank No. 20 in the NFL in third down conversations at 39 percent.
The worst third-down conversion percentage the Bucs had with Arians was in 2019 when the Bucs finished No. 13 at 41 percent.
That was when the Bucs had no weapons out of the backfield to throw to (that is, unless you think otherwise and also own a game-worn Dare Ogunbowale jersey).
Until Sunday’s Seattle game, the Bucs were on pace to have the worst rushing attack in over a half-century. The Bucs were a top-five scoring per-game offense in each of Arians’ three seasons yet this year the Bucs are No. 27, despite having the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
If Arians is wielding his famous red pen in these meetings, Leftwich has to be erasing the red whiteboard markings with the elbow of his long-sleeved T-shirt the moment Arians leaves the room.
November 16th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
It looks like the same offense to me, but they can’t sustain drives because the players aren’t executing. Replacing Ali Marpet was always gonna be tough
November 16th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Sounds to me that Lefty is no more than Arian’s puppet.
November 16th, 2022 at 1:21 pm
To me it seems like Arians is involved with the early offensive plays of the game, take for example the Baltimore game, where the offense came out on fire, had a great mix of plays, wasn’t completely predictable, etc.
But as the game goes along, the OC must respond to what is happening, and that’s where you get Leftwich and his wisdom.
Just go back to the Ravens game, the first two series, it didn’t even look like the same offense. They were not being completely predictable. They, shock, ran plays in a different order than usual. Then they ran out of Arians calls, and had to rely on Leftwich, and that was it, game over.
Also, like the last drive vs the Rams, you’ve had Brady get more involved in play calling as he knows how dumb Leftwich is.
I think you have a bunch of people who personally like Leftwich, but know he shouldn’t be in that position, and are trying to guide him, explain what a good call is and what a bad call is, and Leftwich just isn’t able to take a hint.
November 16th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Arians is ugly.
November 16th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
The pens only red if your looking at it through bloodshot eyes.
November 16th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Jensen update??
November 16th, 2022 at 1:56 pm
Joebucsfan has gone viral in the mainstream media for the article on Arians Joe
November 16th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
Obviously he’s not using the pen enough.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Brady and BL go through every play call in different situations every week. I am sure Arians offers suggestions, but the plan is based on conversations between Brady and BL.
Dubcity is right – when you can’t block you get forced into short passes and your offense becomes punchless.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Should add the last drive against the Rams was run against a prevent defense with wide open receivers who had routes that were basically being conceded to them. People ask why that drive was different – it was the defense was different.
Those routes were not open in the first 58 minutes.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:15 pm
First off, with the money BA has, you’d think he’d be drinking single malt. Not that blended crap. On the offense. This team is no where near as talented as the past two years. They’ve lost key pieces. As loaded as they were, just about any experienced play caller would’ve had tremendous success. That’s not to say BL is without blame. But as far as play calling goes, BA stopped doing that midway through Brady’s first year, right? Would they be better with BA still at the helm? Yes probably. But as a motivator and presence, not as a play caller.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:31 pm
This could be Arians trying to take some of the pressure off Leftwich by saying he’s involved……sharing the blame for poor performance…..
November 16th, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Where was the red pen when it came to the very idea of having 45 y.o Tom Brady run 20+ yard downfield routes TWICE in the same offensive series???
November 16th, 2022 at 2:49 pm
Or it could be that game planning and play calling hasn’t been the problem, instead it was execution (as said by coaches) and that the players have been goofing off during games (which is what I’ve been seeing). I’ve seen terrible route running by our #1 and #2 receivers during the losing streak, everyone knows about White goofing off. People were paid and they also have a ring, so they don’t have the Eye of the Tiger any more. That is what I’ve been seeing, except for the Dallas and Seattle game, when some effort was put into winning.
November 16th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Two wins and BA looking for credit. Ironic how BA NOW attends meeting yet was against them as a HC. This is a man trying to be relevant again now that they are winning. Loves the limelight. I wonder if he looks at stats? Doubt it.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:04 pm
they never replaced Probowl level players -Cappa & Marpet…..3 0f 5 players on the )-Line were rookies until Goedeke got hurt . … And in order to protect his boy leftworst –Ba throws Brady under the bus …
BA should go recoup at his Ga lake house…
they should just let Brady call the plays……….
November 16th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
That red pen should be a jumbo red Sharpie.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Dubcity. Same offense? That’s offensive. So instead of deep shots the risks are now double reverse flea flickers and hb passes to the QB?
November 16th, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Not sure who is making the adjustments, but the 7 man protection for TB12 seems to be the one that makes him most comfortable. In his first season, I thought they adjusted to the same scheme at the bye and took off from there. TB12 looks epic when there is a 10 yard circle of free space around him. Lets make it happen.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
yeah when he’s not in the health clinic.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:45 pm
I think BA has had less input than what is being implied. That, along with the injuries, starting with Jensen’s injury and then the receiving corp, it’s really stifled the offense. Throw in BL desperately trying to force a running game that needs the pass first, it’s been a disaster.
Hopefully they can look to the beginning of Seattle and Atlanta and some of the cowboy game and realize they need to open it up more in the first half.
November 16th, 2022 at 3:58 pm
ByeRon he be wanting to be who he be.
November 16th, 2022 at 4:56 pm
One day we will all know what REALLY happened to Arians. Did he just step down when Brady returned because he felt Bowles was left with a great team, or did Brady force him out as a condition for his return, as many people think ?
November 16th, 2022 at 5:07 pm
This isn’t rocket science. The blueprint for offensive success is the Dallas and Seattle games. They will never be the down field passing team from the last two years. It can get better though if they running game improves. This year Brady has the 6th lowest time to throw, according to next gen. Vs. Seattle, Brady had 2.78 sec. time to throw. By far the most this year. He completed 4 20+ yard passes, to 4 different recievers. He also threw 11 play action passes, tied for the most this year. Guess the other game. Yep Dallas. That only happened because of success on the ground. If you’re expecting the offense from last year to ever show up, it’s little more than wishful thinking. They must have an above average to good run game.
November 16th, 2022 at 5:11 pm
Damage control. He sees Leftwich circling the drain and he’s trying to run interference. It’s not going to help.
November 16th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Lol the people saying arians is not being honest and he is not really that involved are truly leftwich and bowles haters… All of you assumed BA has been completely hands off, the media even asked for BA to be a “Consultant”… little that you all know, the man has been involved the whole time (none of you wanted to hear that).. Also the man himself Pointed blame at Tom Brady playing poor(none of you wanted to hear that either) lol. Arians has had his hands all over this offense this year, and with his involvment, and his admission of Brady playing poorly. On that note, leftwich nor bowles will be fired
November 16th, 2022 at 6:10 pm
Sounds like more covering for his guys. Take some of the heat off of them with fans and media. No way Arians was involved when we’re dinking and dunking and trying to run the ball when it’s a waste of time. To me that Bowles telling Lefty how he wants to see the offense run plain and simple.
November 16th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Everyone knows that Brady wasn’t playing good well at least those that really watch the game. It’s also been said by Bowles that he didn’t particularly want the no risk it no biscuit style of play because it wasn’t good for his defense. This has all been Bowles trying to put his stamp on the team and BL not really knowing how to accomplish it due to lack of creativity plus an Oline that was struggling and Lenny missing the hole when it is there(which wasn’t often) and him tap dancing behind the line instead of using his power and running over his own lineman to get those 3rd and 4th and 1s. I believe with the way White played last week after the bye we’ll see a more motivated Lenny.
November 16th, 2022 at 7:41 pm
Nope .. Na …Na-Da, BL and BA are doing just fine, the goal is to win a Super Bowl, things are running smoothly…maybe just maybe defenses have gotten better! …..but it’s a team concept with one goal in mind …WINNING GAMES!
November 16th, 2022 at 7:46 pm
I think Arians has a little bit of the “Let him sink or swim” attitude. He wants to see BL do well, without just walking over BL and running the room behind the scenes.
BUT…. (Red Pen) there has to be a point where you do not let someone just screw up something needlessly also.
I have no inside knowledge at all of whats up, but this could be part of the situation. And obviously BA’s medical issues also do not help out,
Whatever is going on, IDK, but Sunday was a breath of fresh air. Its the first time since the Philly playoff game that the Bucs played decent against a quality opponent.
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 16th, 2022 at 7:58 pm
Crown Royal was Frank Sinatra’s favorite drink also.
November 16th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
Brady is on pace to throw for more than 5000 yards this year.
The issue all year has been Red Area production.
They have moved the ball well between the 20s all season actually.
November 16th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
If this were a video game, BA’s Red Pen would be a sought after Legendary quest artifact of immense power.
November 16th, 2022 at 9:09 pm
Will, IDK what games you’re watching, but Brady hasn’t played poorly. Has he missed a few throws? Sure, all QBs do. Next gen doesn’t lie. Brady has the 6th lowest time to throw, middling separation from his recievers, (17th) and a historically bad running game. This isn’t 06 Brady. He needs help. It’s the entire reason he came to Tampa to begin with. If you give him a decent running game, he’s still elite. All the bucs troubles on offense can directly be traced to their failure to run consistently and effectively. Oh yeah and he’s faced 7 or more in coverage more than any other QB.
November 16th, 2022 at 10:44 pm
Imagine that you is promoted to be the boss of the room, but your retired former boss comes to attend the plan meeting everyday, you certainly cannot control the room and work efficiently.
November 17th, 2022 at 12:49 am
Why does NEfan come on here to hate Arians?
Does he even realize who is responsible for changing the culture here in Tampa Bay?
Arians got here and we started to win the line of scrimmage battles. Seattle game that 1st season comes to mind. Every season he was coach, we won the line battles much more than we lost them.
The line that he is trying to take the credit is absurd. He was asked the question and he answered. During his time here of one of the most prolific offenses, he always deferred that it was others making the calls.
These guys from New England act like they have some insight the rest of us don’t. They are really just sore losers over Brady leaving and being successful here.
November 17th, 2022 at 12:50 am
AbucAway Says:
November 16th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
If this were a video game, BA’s Red Pen would be a sought after Legendary quest artifact of immense power.
Loved this!
November 17th, 2022 at 6:56 am
He needs to just go away. He just couldn’t help himself. He always needs attention. This is Bowles’ team. He doesn’t need BA running his mouth and causing distractions
November 17th, 2022 at 9:12 pm
Love B.A and nothing but respect and admiration for how he navigated The Ship. Maybe he needs more authority?? IJS we need our Swagger back cause No risk-it No biscuit