Summing Up The Bucs Offense
January 10th, 2023
The wizard!
Regular readers of this here website know Joe has typed many different times about how the Bucs have been saved by Tom Brady’s magic.
One clever national NFL writer has taken that a step further, saying Brady is some version of a wizard of a popular science fiction/fantasy literary/movie series.
Joe’s not a movie guy. They bore Joe. Unless a movie has one of three elements, Joe will likely never see it: sports, history or the mob.
(Joe does inhale a s(p)itload of documentaries. And one Netflix series Joe recommends is “The Defeated,” a rare offering that actually deals with both a crime boss and history.)
The last movie Joe saw in a theatre was “Darkest Hour,” so Joe has never seen any of the J.R.R. Tolkien flicks such as “The Hobbit” and the “Lord of the Rings.” But apparently there is a character in these movies/books that resembles Brady on the field.
If not for Brady’s late-game magic, this Bucs team would be in a world of hurt and picking in the top-10 of the April draft. And Joe is guessing there would be significant chatter locally about C.J. Stroud.
But because Brady can snap his fingers and rescue the Bucs at the last moment, Joe’s good friend Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders referred to Brady as the NFL’s “Gandalf,” a wizard in the J.R.R. Tolkien novels and movies.
Tanier was describing the offenses for each playoff team and basically said the Bucs offense is not unlike a non-basketball association game: Ungodly boring until the very end when Brady uses his wizardry to make the game fun and exciting.
Buccaneers Vibe on Offense
Fifty-five minutes of a running game that would bore a 1950s high school coach and lots of creaky-cranky Brady scowls, followed by five minutes of Gandalf sh!t.
That pretty much sums up the Bucs offense in the most colorful way Joe has read. And it’s true. The Bucs run game is actually more boring than the Father Dungy offenses. At least Father Dungy had Mike Alstott, and who didn’t enjoy Alstott trucking linebackers or watching Warrick Dunn weave through defenses?
The current Bucs run game? It has all the sizzle of those infomercials near the end of 11 p.m. newscasts where someone calls out the winning lottery numbers.
The Bucs run game is way too often, as David Byrne of “Talking Heads” once sang, a road to nowhere.
January 10th, 2023 at 3:51 am
Gandalf is younger.
January 10th, 2023 at 4:46 am
And Bucs’ running game would bore even a pee wee football coach.
Go Bucs.
January 10th, 2023 at 5:13 am
You’re forgiven for not watching the movies, although the first trilogy was well done. However, to have not read Tolkien and make a living at a keyboard? It hurts the heart. Tom Brady is without a doubt Aragorn.
January 10th, 2023 at 5:47 am
I know that this’ll get me thrown in the cooler, but I’ll say it anyways … this article is another example of what JoeBucsFan has become lately: article after article of chirping that start (or continue) bitch sessions about everything that’s wrong with the Bucs without any DEPTH. …Bucs’ offense has the LEAST number of rushes this season of any team (386). Coinciding with that, we’ve put up the LEAST number of rushing yards (1308), have scored the LEAST number of rushing TDs (5), and have the WORST yards/rush average (3.4) of any NFL team. Them’s facts fellas. Really don’t see how your slapping of Joe here is fair. Literally just wrote about this yesterday. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2023/01/clean-flush-in-the-run-game/ — Joe
And who’s at ‘fault’? Well of course … the coaches. And we all know that Todd Bowles, being a defensive coach, much prefers to run, run, run so that the defense doesn’t have to spend as much time on the field. But wait a minute; why then have we run LESS than any other team? The rationale doesn’t add up.
How many times have we seen Joe finger the OLine as the CAUSE of our poor rushing performance? Relatively few (It is but we won’t go there).
Joe has never written that this is a good run-blocking line, but it shouldn’t be worst in the NFL and what Joe has stated is that the right side of the line is more than good enough to have an effective run game. The Bucs’ is not effective. –Joe
Or finger Jason Licht for not doing a danged thing to shore up the OLine when Jensen & Stinnie went down? To shore it up, you need to believe you had a better option available. Joe can’t say with certainty there were better options. –Joe Or, heaven forbid, finger Tom Brady as being A cause of our rushing woes. Before all the Brady-backers-no-matter-what start screaming and label me a ‘Brady-hater’ for that statement, look at the rushing performance for QBs for each of the top 3 teams in the NFL in terms of records (all 14-3): Bills, Chiefs, Eagles.
o Josh Allen: 124 rushes – 762 yards – 7 TDs – 6.1 Y/A
o Patrick Mahomes: 61 rushes – 358 yards – 4 TDs – 5.9 Y/A
o Jalen Hurts: 165 rushes – 760 yards – 13 TDs – 4.6 Y/A
Now look at Tom Brady’s rushing stats:
o Tom Brady: 29 rushes – MINUS 1 yard – 1 TD – 0.0 Y/A
All 3 of those QBs made the opposing defense’s job much more difficult by representing a threat to run. But don’t misunderstand, Tom Brady has never been a running QB. But if opposing defenses KNOW that your QB is zero threat to run, that has to make their job a LOT easier. And if they also KNOW that the Bucs’ OLine can’t win their one-on-one match ups and run block CONSISTENTLY, AND can’t hold their pass-blocks for all that long either, their job just became even easier.
Tom Brady has passed MORE this season than any other QB: 733 attempts (not counting his 22 sacks that were also passing attempts). That may look impressive on paper, but THAT’S a major problem, especially when that same QB isn’t gonna leave the pocket (which collapses pretty quickly very often?). Kinda makes this offense quite PREDICTABLE me thinks.
Oh and another fact is that Tom Brady leads the NFL all-time in 4th quarter comebacks with 46. He has 4 this year, but so do a number of other QBs. The QB who has the most this season? Kirk Cousins with 8. Maybe one of the reasons why the Vikings went 13-4?
January 10th, 2023 at 5:54 am
What are you drinking?
Wow … crazy trip
January 10th, 2023 at 6:23 am
Summing up the Bucs offense: Gandalf is doing good when Saruman is not at the helm anymore in Isengard.
January 10th, 2023 at 7:00 am
DR, thanks for the DEPTH AND ANALYSIS. Very refreshing! Go Bucs!
January 10th, 2023 at 7:10 am
Defense ?- What are you rambling on about? He’s a pocket passer. And the greatest winner. In the history of sports. And you’re worried about his running the ball. What are useless take. He’s won 5 playoff games the past two seasons more than the those 3, with more TD passes 7 Super Bowls the past two decades more than three of those guys combined Another useless troll. Do you Brady trolls stay up all night thinking of the stuff? Consuls compared to, Tom Brady. Laughable.
January 10th, 2023 at 7:26 am
Wow Joe, I just watched the first half of the National championship game and was extremely impressed with the play calling of the Georgia Bulldogs. Hmm, Todd Monken. Where have I heard that name before? Rumors have it he wants another NFL gig, can the Buc’s rehire him, we shall see. I hear when Leftstiff is fired Pittsburg wants to hire him to replace Matt Canada. Wait this just in, Canada is gone, Leftstiff is running out of options. Maybe The Little Sisters of the Cross.
January 10th, 2023 at 7:28 am
And lastly, you’ll have your athletic quarterbacks in here soon enough as TBay go’s through five or six quarterbacks over the next 20 years. Real Bucs fans who complain about him have short memories. This franchise was a laughingstock for almost 20 years before he came here he’s put you in primetime games. Won the friggin Super Bowl, had another historic comeback last year that should have resulted in another bowl if the nitwit Todd B Didn’t call 0 blitz with a free safety covering the best wide receiver on the planet. . Some of you in this fan base deserve what’s coming as soon as he leaves.
January 10th, 2023 at 7:47 am
Brady has been the Bucs’ Gandalf since 2020. None of the last 3 years great Bucs memories happen with Famous.
The interior Oline has been improving with experience playing together, especially at pass protection, but they have never been nor are they now good at run blocking, including Mason.
January 10th, 2023 at 7:58 am
Defense Rules says:
” …. look at the rushing performance for QBs for each of the top 3 teams in the NFL in terms of records (all 14-3): Bills, Chiefs, Eagles.”
NOW, look at the QB rushing performance of the last 3 Super Bowl winners
January 10th, 2023 at 8:16 am
blah blah blah wah wah wah. It’s going to stay that way till they get rid of Lefty and Stonehenge. You know being a 60 year fan of the NFL and seen all the magic that Tom has performed from fighting for the starting job at Mi. from the #6 QB on the roster to the GOAT. Todd did something that will NEVER be forgotten. I worked 15 years in the coal mines under 40 inch roof and i have enough freak’n common sense to know better. One would think Todd would get to know Tom after 17 games. Actually he does but he wants everybody to know he’s on top of the mountain
January 10th, 2023 at 8:18 am
OK guys, what do you think the score would have been in the NCAA champ game if Todd was HC and Cletus as the OC??????????????? COME ON DON”T BE BASHFUL
January 10th, 2023 at 8:19 am
DR- I think you are in love with Bowles as a coach. I’m certainly not. I blame him for the offense. I think he pushes the run. I think he ties Lefties hands with the running game. Brady has played well here and there but for the most part he’s been off this season. I hope he gets it together for the playoffs. I do think if he was on this year, we win 13 games but some of that has to go to the injuries on the offensive line. I praise licht. He brought us out of the list decade. It’s been awesome being a Bucs fan lately.
January 10th, 2023 at 8:24 am
DR, don’t you get put in the cooler!
January 10th, 2023 at 8:30 am
In regard to Bowles pushing the run…yes, it does give the defense time to rest…but with this offensive line, going pass heavy would have resulted in more turnovers.
Brady can easily pick apart a defense…when he has time. No qb would have had enough time behind that offensive line this season.
So…while him resting the defense is a very good point…it also protected our QG.
And frankly, the runs being unsuccessful did not allow the defense all that much resting time.
January 10th, 2023 at 8:52 am
Defense only gets a rest if you get first downs. Run it up the middle twice, get 4 yards, miss the pass on third…D is right back out there, prolly took 2 minutes off the clock
January 10th, 2023 at 9:18 am
Bucs went from 13-4 last year to 8-9 this year, with the roster largely intact. How can this coaching staff return next year?
January 10th, 2023 at 9:44 am
I didn’t know there were that many words to say ugly. I am starting to blame Brady because of the short drops and quick releases that only allow short passes.
I think he really doesn’t want to get hurt, like that was his point against Giselle being afraid for him.
I hope the playoffs still have some meaning for him, it would nice to see some semblance to the old Brady.
January 10th, 2023 at 10:53 am
Brady hater dummies… Name the last 20 super bowl winners. How many were pocket passers… ALL except Mahomes (who also lost to a pocket passer named TB12 when his OLine sucked), Rodgers, Roethlisberger, then you’re back to Elway and Young. you’ll soon get what you want… and endless string of running QBs who dont know how to win.
Coaches’ responsibility to put players in a position to be successful… does anyone really think that has happened? The coaches jobs are not to run their schemes come hell or high water. Both should be let go with this showing.
January 10th, 2023 at 11:03 am
forgot to add Wilson to that list
January 10th, 2023 at 11:23 am
I’m not sure what some people are talking about here. The Bucs are not a good running team because they don’t practice running very much, or at least not very well. Simple as that.
January 10th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Better plays and timing would help but we wouldn’t practice them anyway.
January 10th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Let’s be real honest…Bucs would not need Brady’s 4th Qtr Wizardry if he still played better than a mid-tier game manager during the 1st 3Qtrs of games.
The “risk it, no biscuit” vertical attack has been replaced by the 2019 version of the “Get it out your hands” New England Dink & Dunk…And the results are basically the same. A lack of explosives that has led to a lack of finishing drives with TD’s. (The excuse in NE was a lack of offensive weapons…But Tommy has had those in spades in Tampa!)
The fact that Succop had the 2nd most FGA’s in the league & Camarda had 7th most in Punts + Bucs 18.4 pts/gm avg = prime indicators of Bucs lack of finishing drives w/ TD’s.
Bucs wouldn’t need to have all the 4th Qtr heroics if they were scoring at 2021/2020 levels. (30.1 / 30.8)…Vs the 2022 (18.4).
Now, some will say it’s the OL’s fault…But I’d counter that the 2021 Bengals OL was trash & Burrow was either getting sacked or running for his life…& Bengals avg. 27pts a game & made a SB run…& the JW3 2019 Bucs in same Leftwich system avg 28.6 w/ JW3 throwing 30picks – while being protected by an equally sketchy line. (D.Smith loafing, Cappa starting at RG for 1st time & an aged Demar Dotson on bad knees)
January 10th, 2023 at 5:03 pm
OH! I finally figured out (from this article) where Todd is a trailblazer. Blazing the trail on the road to nowhere.
January 10th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Once AGAIN DR gives you the Bowels side of the story.
Less rushing attempts-BECAUSE BUCS ARE FORCED TO GO ONE DIMENTIONAL!!!
Fewest rushing TD’s-THEY CANNOT GET A YARD IN 3 ATTEMPTS!!!
3.4yds per carry- ANSWERS THE QUESTION, WHY FEWER ATTEMPTS!!!
DR, stop spinning it, Bowles killed this team.
January 10th, 2023 at 6:15 pm
catcall202@ Answer this ONE question: What do you believe will be the first offensive play Monday night? EXACTLY!!!
January 10th, 2023 at 7:37 pm
NEFan…Probably a run up the middle, out of 11 personnel with no pre-snap movement. But that has little to do with Bucs being 70-30 pass heavy, dinking and dunking the other 59m 45s of the game.
You also can’t tell me that the GOAT doesn’t have the freedom to take advantage of what the D gives him…& if the run game is not respected – that means less guys in the box…But Bucs keep throwing and throwing and throwing.
Throwing more than any other team in the league. Which is totally counterintuitive.
January 10th, 2023 at 8:17 pm
Catcard@ so they should just keep running for no gain. What would be their record then?
January 10th, 2023 at 10:25 pm
You don’t get better at it by not doing it…But the biggest problem is not the run game, it’s what TB12 is not getting done until the 4th qtr this year…That’s ending series with TD’s, instead of settling for Succop FGA.
TB12 passing yard total & completion % might look fine…But it’s not putting TDs on the board at a winning rate. Compare 2019 NE to 2020/2021/2022 TB. What do you see in the data? I see TB12 regression after the 2yrs of risk it-no biscuit of 2020 & 2021…Then 2022 TB12 revert to 2019 NE TB12 Dink&Dunk check down game.
January 12th, 2023 at 11:22 am
3 and outs are 3 and outs. If Bowles has to rest defensive players … um.. first downs might accomplish that don’t ya think?