“Pass To Win”
May 22nd, 2014
Bucs coach Lovie Smith talked up TE Tim Wright and noted how successful NFL teams need to be able to pass proficiently.
Many folks have branded Bucs coach Lovie Smith as a stout disciple of Father Dungy: defenses win championships and a backup linebacker can play quarterback, as the quarterback is only good for handing the ball off and shot-putting passes when desperate, so a wide receiver can out volleyball a defensive back.
Well, Lovie put this notion to bed.
Lovie let it slip from his own mouth this week that a team must be proficient in passing to have a prayer.
In talking up tight end Tim Wright, Lovie may have exposed his poker hand by saying teams need to be able to pass the ball in the 21st Century and this notion that he is some neo-Woody Hayes is flat wrong.
“Tim is a guy I should have talked about more because he’s another guy that does something well it seems like every day,” Lovie said. “Nowadays, with the emergence of the passing game and you’ve got to be able to pass to win and this good stuff, the matchup, though, tight end versus safety, tight end versus linebacker – Tim, we have a good matchup with Tim Wright.
“He, of course, can do things in line, but he can split out. He can run all of the passing tree. He’s natural moving out and running routes, too. I’m very pleased with him and all he’s done since Day 1. He’s a guy that’s been here every day and we’ve seen him doing that.”
No, Joe doesn’t blame you if you do a double-take and have to read that second sentence again.
That doesn’t mean Lovie has turned into a second coming of Mike Martz, but it is clear Lovie understands an inability to throw the ball dooms an offense, making it too predictable and one-dimensional, which results in defensive coordinators drooling all over themselves.
This is the second prominent Bucs type that has sung the praises of Wright. Bucs general manager Jason Licht, during the NFL Scouting Combine, told Joe he thinks the Bucs may really have a prize in Wright and that Wright really showed a lot of promise playing tight end for the first time.
It wouldn’t shock Joe if the Bucs find a way to use Wright as sort of a hybrid tight end/wide receiver on obvious passing downs, in order to get the maximum reliable weapons on the field simultaneously.
May 22nd, 2014 at 1:06 pm
So excited to see this offense!!!
May 22nd, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Pablo expects to see Timothy Wright as the #1 tight end on the depth chart, along with Myers as #2.. Lovie will not be handi g rookies the starting spots. but Pablo expect to see ASJ & Wright as the 1/2 combo by the bye week.
May 22nd, 2014 at 1:38 pm
I could understand ground and pound up North. But between the general good weather of 8 homes games in TPA (vs, say blustery Chicago), plus 2 away games in Domes, I’m glad they are moving to a passing offense. Ground and pound never seemed to be taking advantage of your predominant playing environments.
May 22nd, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Totally agree, Wright might very well be used as a hybrid just to get him on the field more. We have all the players on offense to create some serious mismatches. I’d like to have seen Rob Ryan’s reactions as our draft picks were announced, he must be having nightmares.
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:09 pm
With all of our TEs and WRs with RBs, on paper we have the makings of a dangerous offense.
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Pablo why are you talking in 3rd person again?
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:13 pm
I am just a little nervous that the first time we will be seeing this new offense will be in our first regular season game against the Panthers. I really wish they would do some things in the preseason to score points versus waiting as the former philosophy has burned us in the past.
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Speaking of Mike Martz and rams, didn’t Lovie coach DEF under him in STL? He saw modern offense first hand there.
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:39 pm
BBFFC Says:
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Speaking of Mike Martz and rams, didn’t Lovie coach DEF under him in STL? He saw modern offense first hand there.
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Lovie also hired him as his OC in Chicago….didn’t work out too well though
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Has anyone seen the commercial where Drew Brees retires so he can ride a motorcycle…. oh if only it were true!
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:46 pm
@Architek
It isn’t an issue why Joe does it, why does it bother you when Pablo does it?
@BucsfanNJ
[B] Pablo advises that you stay on topic.. [/B]
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:52 pm
Ya know what really gripes me is every time Joe is on the Big dog and big dog has to stand up for Freeman constantly instead of just admitting the guy sucks. He had one good season! I wonder how Joe feels cause you surely don’t say anything when he gets on those tired rants of his. Just like when he talks about Molina. Molina sucks his catching ability does not substitute for the fact that he is batting .100. But back to Josh, we all know he was obviously on something. We will never know the truth but the guy is not everything the big dog says he is and he will soon be out of the league. and yes it’s toom bad because he showed some promise….sometimes. But chasing the white pony (allegedly) got the better of him.
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Mike Glennon…made Wright
May 22nd, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Hmmm, 3rd and 6, Evans and Jackson split wide with Wright in the slot and Martin in the backfield. Good luck matching up with that!
I think you’re right Architek. We might just have the makings of a scary offense.
May 22nd, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Maybe the biggest improvement this year will be ball control and sustained possession. The 3 and outs simply killed us last year.
May 22nd, 2014 at 4:43 pm
Maybe Wright can play guard? Who are our guards again?
May 22nd, 2014 at 5:09 pm
I doubt Rob Ryan is having nightmares about our offense he’s probably licking his chops looking at our O-line.
May 22nd, 2014 at 5:25 pm
@Rasta I thought Glennon didn’t make anyone on the field better? #eyeroll
May 22nd, 2014 at 7:14 pm
The O line will be good enough with all the promising O weapons playing up to their potential. Got to think positive of Lovie and the team. Need to at least defend the home turf and win the home games. Make the home schedule walk the plank, throw em in Tampa Bay, Hey. Go Bucs!!!
May 22nd, 2014 at 8:14 pm
Wright and ASJ will create defensive nightmares.
Add in Jackson and Evans- and Co-donators are forced to pick their poison.
Then with Herron in the Slot, or Sims out of the Backfield- it could well be unstoppable.
Smiling like a opossum. I’ve never been able to say that about a Bucs offensive unit before.
May 22nd, 2014 at 9:59 pm
@ bucncrazy – Oh. Rob Ryan is licking some chops, for sure. Pork chops that is.
May 22nd, 2014 at 10:27 pm
Don’t flip if you see Tim in the slot, just saying. Dood could be a beast!
May 23rd, 2014 at 10:11 am
“Pablo why are you talking in 3rd person again?”
Bobby doesn’t see a problem with this….
May 23rd, 2014 at 10:48 am
If I were Tedford, I would run the ball three times in a row to start the first game, even if it means a 3 and out. Give the enemy the impression that you are a run first team, then line up for the run and pass instead.
May 23rd, 2014 at 10:50 am
I like Tim Wright. Wright makes right.
May 23rd, 2014 at 4:04 pm
All they need to do is throw it to Bert Emanuel. After he catches it, there will be fireworks.
May 23rd, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Or, or, Alvin Harper.
May 23rd, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Or Reidel ‘Gator Arms’ Anthony.
May 23rd, 2014 at 8:58 pm
She-del.
May 24th, 2014 at 5:15 pm
Don’t forget our OL is built for passing primarily, so the facts match Lovie’s words. This is going to be a dangerous passing team, and the pass will set up the run. Teams load up the line of scrimmage and we will pass them silly. They will put in dime defenses for the pass and we will hand off to Doogie or Mike. Third down and they bring the house and we throw a screen to Sims, Demps, or Rainey and its yards after the catch. Get to the red zone and put in two tall TEs and Pruitt behind our rookie 260 pound TE in the backfield, hand off to Pruitt and pound it to the two yard line, and line up again in the same formation, fake it to Pruitt again and throw an out to Wright for the TD, and FIRE THE CANNONS!!!