The Other 80 Percent
August 24th, 2014
Offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford says he has “to get used to” it.
Joe has poked fun at how the Bucs have done their best to keep offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford’s offense under wraps, as if it is a design for a revolutionary new stealth fighter. Tampa Bay all but promised fans will only see 20 percent of Tedford’s offense in the preseason.
In a sitdown with former Bucs great Ronde Barber broadcast on WFLA-TV Channel 8, just after the smackdown of the bungling Bills yesterday, Tedford confessed that, yeah, 80 percent of his offense hasn’t been showcased, and yes, he’s sort of uncomfortable with that.
Ronde Barber: [Mike] Evans said we have only seen 20 percent of this offense. My question is, if we have only seen 20, are you practicing the other 80?
Jeff Tedford: Yes, and that has been the challenge. That is something I’m going to have to get used to. In preseason, you practice your stuff during the week and when you get into a game, you only have one day to prepare for a game. It is a little awkward for me. People have explained that preseason is just about seeing if your guys can play and execution and things like that. We can’t have it all. When you go into a game, we have to limit it so we have to make sure we know what we are doing. So, yeah, there are more facets of the offense that we haven’t gotten into, but we have practiced.
There are interesting nuggets in there. Tedford, aside from a stint in the CFL, has laregly been a college coach. There are no preseason games in college; every game mattered, so coaches crafted gameplans using every play at their disposal in a playbook. That’s not happening now with the Bucs, which is what Tedford mentioned he is getting used to.
So we have been teased here or there with interesting plays — Joe actually saw a screen pass yesterday if you can imagine — so that has sort of whetted the appetite of Bucs fans. Count Joe in as one who is intrigued for the full offense to be displayed in September.
Of course, without blocking, it doesn’t matter how pretty a play looks on a whiteboard or seems in a walk-through.
August 24th, 2014 at 7:53 am
I loved what I saw last night. Still a little too much running for my tastes, but thats Lovie. The offense looked great, very exciting stuff. A huge improvement from what we have suffered thru for many years. And Martin looked great. Unfortunately, Rainey did not so there is not much behind him. Hope he stays healthy.
August 24th, 2014 at 7:59 am
I don’t recall them going long yet. Of course with our OL perhaps they were afraid they’d get McCown killed.
Last night gave me comfort. Not world beaters but efficient. And I think this team has a genuine chance of improving significantly during the season.
If we can get into the playoffs and be peaking at the right time I’m not suggesting a Super Bowl but we will be that dangerous team that the contenders do not want to face in the playoffs.
August 24th, 2014 at 8:12 am
I suspect that much of the offense will be about TEs……we haven’t really seen much use of them in the preseason. Also I suspect that we will be using the slot reciever position more.
The Oline looked better but it still needs some work. I am very impressed with our starting Defense……STOUT!!! But, I am concerned about our depth…..ouir 2nd & 3rd string seems to get spanked everytime they play.
August 24th, 2014 at 8:56 am
Offense looked better yesterday, like the idea of Tedford getting Martin the ball as much as possible. Defense definitely looks ready for the season. Ready to see how they do when we play the stinkin’ panthers !Hope to see Scam spending a lot of time on hos back .
August 24th, 2014 at 10:01 am
The TE’s have to be vital part of this offense. You could just sense from watching the game in person that the offense is being held back to just a set amount of plays. I’m telling you, if ASJ stays healthy, he will be a monster for the Bucs. This is a man amongst boys out there.
August 24th, 2014 at 10:04 am
They seem to be trying to use Demps in for some of the passes (dropped TD pass) for Sims but he is a poor substitute.
August 24th, 2014 at 10:07 am
Any news on verner?
August 24th, 2014 at 10:23 am
I’m not really too concerned about depth on the defense. Yes, as a UNIT the second and third teams stank but depth is about individual players and not entire units so I’m sure there are players at every position that can be plugged in if someone goes down. I hope our starting D stays healthy because they are playing at a high level and the season hasn’t even started yet.
August 24th, 2014 at 10:29 am
StPeteBucsFan Says
“I don’t recall them going long yet.”
They have several times. Last night at least a couple times. Demps was one of the recievers (pass was off). McCown threw at least 2 deep passes that I recall. There might be more, I just woke up.
August 24th, 2014 at 10:33 am
Bobby Says
“I’m sure there are players at every position that can be plugged in if someone goes down.”
Don’t be too sure. Cornerback is pretty thin right now. And it GMC goes down, there is no way Bowers does well consistently or even stays healthy. I would wager that is David went down, we would have issues as well. Or if McCown goes down, since the offense is tailored to fit him.
August 24th, 2014 at 10:37 am
So far as seeing so much running, Lovie said during his press conferences that we would see a lot of it during the preseason. I think he feels that developing the oline begins with blocking for the run, which does make some sense.
What I like is that even if our QB is picked off, our defense can get the ball right back.
That and the starters have only allowed 3 points this month. That is so good I feel like cheering (of course, in hte previous games they barely played).
August 24th, 2014 at 10:49 am
Stinks that I had other stuff going on and couldn’t watch the game. Hoping to catch it on replay, but it sounds like the first team O did a decent job. That’s a relief since last couple if weeks looked like crap out of that unit and I was starting to wonder if Tedford was going to suck. Glad there is some signs of life
August 24th, 2014 at 11:25 am
The pass to Demps should have been caught. If you watch the replay from the end zone camera, the ball clearly hit him in the hands. After showing that angle, Ronde Barber said that it was a ball that Demps should have caught.
August 24th, 2014 at 11:33 am
The pass to Demps looked a little short to me. He barely got his left hand on it. Also on the touchdown throw to Evans, a bit underthrown as he had to reach back for it.
August 24th, 2014 at 11:43 am
It was definitely not a perfect pass, but when Ronde claimed it should have been caught, which he did, well, he’s not a casual fan of the game. He knows what is and what isn’t catchable. I value his opinion more than my own, that’s for sure.
August 24th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Tedford seems to like to throw to the RB’s, which explains why they drafted Sims. DM22 showed he could catch as well. Good to see that,
August 24th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
Bucfan37 is right. The ball to demps was behind him as was the pass to Evans. Hard to reach back to make a one handed catch when the defender is on your hip.
McCown still looked like hot garbage to me. The sack, interception and the 20 yrd run, looked like he went to the Peyton manning school of running and dancing. And that’s not to say that Glennon looked any better.
Hope this year doesn’t consist of the defense having to score all the points and trying to get the ball back after turnovers cuz so far that’s what we got.
August 24th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
McCown Int was because the TE Myers slipped while the pass was in the air hardly his mistake. If hot garbage is 13-16 (81%) QBR 91 give me hot garbage every week. I think you maybe confusing the two QB on the Buccaneers, McCown is the athletic who completes the passes.
BTW the pass to Demps was a back shoulder pass exactly where it was suppose to be thrown. At least the was the way it was (to Sims) executed in practice.
August 24th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
The only thing that DB55 got right was that Glennon did not look any better than Josh. You are correct, and that is why he is not starting. Also, I think it only makes sense to value the opinion of a former NFL defender for multiple seasons versus someone who was not.
August 24th, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Whatever man, first series wr screen for loss. Next pass play, 3rd and long sack fumble if oline doesn’t grab it we got a TO.
2nd series
1st play roll out. 87 wide open. McCown keeps it runs for 2 yrds almost gets decleated. Next play INT. Myers slips yes but the ball was thrown too inside plus mike Evans wide open on the other side. “A bad decision by josh. Throws off back foot, inaccurate delivery Just like his delivery against Jacksonville an int that went for a td” according to a former nfl defender with multiple seasons.
3rd series
Pass to Vjax. Yey a completion. Next pass is high to Martin but great focus and catch by Martin to the 1 yr line.
4th series
1st down to Evans. Yey! Next play barely avoids a sack by getting rid of the ball. Mike evans running wide open behind the linebackers should have dumped it to evans but instead dances around and almost gets sacked. Barely avoids the sack. Next pass, screen play for no gain, holding call, 4th down.
You want some more? 4 series 2 completions for a gain, sack fumble, and an int. yea he is definitely pro bowl ready.
August 24th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Tedford will be a head coach one day in the NFL.
August 24th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
That pass to Demps was under thrown. Just because Ronde said it wasn’t doesn’t mean he’s automatically right. The issue to me was the fact that Demps didn’t adjust to it. But I can’t hold that against him, running full speed while trying to reach back with a linebacker on his hip.
I am concerned they weren’t able to practice their offense with live bullets. It’s gonna be a while before they actually “click.”
August 24th, 2014 at 5:18 pm
I get Lovie’s preference to start the season with McCown, but Glennon is the real deal. I’m looking forward to when McCown passes the torch, hopefully it’s after wining a Super Bowl, not after losing 4 straight like that other QB last year. What was his name, anyway?
August 24th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
@Dhutch
– exactly