Head Coach Audition Game For Leftwich
November 29th, 2019
It’s the time of year when hot-seat talk picks up for NFL head coaches and hot names emerge as candidates.
And that’s one reason why Sunday is a critical game for Byron Leftwich and the Bucs.
A logical person might conclude that Leftwich calling plays for a top-4 offense in scoring and yards, in addition to his endorsement from beloved-in-league-circles Bruce Arians, would make him a hot young candidate for a head coaching gig if he can finish this season strong.
Hey, 40-year-old Matt LaFleur is the top rookie coach in the NFL with his 8-3 Packers. Did LaFleur really have more experience and success than Leftwich when he got the Packers gig?
Chuckle if you wish, but Leftwich, 39, already stated he’d like to be a head coach. And NFL owners have been obsessed in recent years with young offensive-minded coaches.
The Bucs head to Jacksonville on Sunday to face a struggling defense and a team whose head coach likely will be fired. Leftwich played years for Jacksonville. A big showing by the Bucs offense Sunday could open the eyeballs of Jags ownership.
The Bucs still have games against poor pass defenses in Detroit and Atlanta, too, and Indianapolis and Houston aren’t exactly the 2000 Ravens.
Joe believes it’s a big game Sunday for Leftwich’s coaching aspirations. It could put his name in the mix and sometimes that’s all it takes.
Now Joe realizes a bunch of Bucs fans will scoff at this notion or cheer the thought of Leftwich moving on so Arians will take over playcalling. But this isn’t about what Joe or fans think; it’s about what NFL owners might think.
November 29th, 2019 at 9:19 am
What a joke the NFL is becoming, when a middling QB can be an OC for a season and a half (and not a great one), and be considered for an HC job.
How did that work out for Dork?
November 29th, 2019 at 9:34 am
I thought the Storm and thus Arena League folded recently? I kid of course…had to despite multiple disclaimers in the above post.
November 29th, 2019 at 9:43 am
B.L. as a head coach? Dude, I wasn’t able to get any weed last night, can I get some of what your smoking? Seems like it’s some really good ish.
November 29th, 2019 at 9:44 am
Ummm, a quick glance at the talent on the Jags O should alleviate any thoughts of Byron replicating what ME13 and CG12 have allowed him to put on paper
November 29th, 2019 at 10:12 am
Only if he was white!!
November 29th, 2019 at 10:23 am
If that happens would be great……We can br¡ing backk Dirk Koetter as an OC again…….!!!!!!
November 29th, 2019 at 10:24 am
Lord please, let the Saints hire him.
November 29th, 2019 at 10:25 am
You cannot argue with the bottom line of what our offense is doing (unless you are one of those obsessive JW haters, that no matter the positive outcome you wish for Andy Dalton).
BL has our offense near the top of the NFL. Yeah, as a Bucs fan we scoff at the overuse of Dare and Perriman, but is an NFL owner going to see that? BL is a lot like Licht; both get to clever and outsmart themselves with crazy decisions, like drafting a kicker in the 2nd, or having Dare run up the middle at the 1-yard line in back to back plays (heck, what DC would really expect that?!). But that is also how we get VV catching a touchdown pass – BL “thinks outside the box”.
And that is fine BL, just quit think of truly stupid ideas like Dare up the middle at the 1, and Perriman running into Dare on a motion play. Here is an idea no DC would think of… how about a focus of OJ, Brate, ME & CG with VV in the backfield on goal line situations, and keep Dare and Perriman on the bench?!
November 29th, 2019 at 10:40 am
My only consistent problem with Leftwich as OC is neglecting OJ Howard and Brate and the overuse of Scotty Miler and Perriman. Also can you imagine where we would be in scoring and yards if the turnovers were at the NFL average.
November 29th, 2019 at 10:48 am
“LOL
You think other GMs and owners are idiots like here in TB
They look in detail at his philosophy, scheme and play design and laugh”
Kobe Faker
November 29th, 2019 at 10:51 am
I believe and hope he gets a HC gig. May not be next year however. 4-7 still speaks pretty loudly at the moment.
November 29th, 2019 at 10:55 am
So true Harry. Notice above how Clw gives all the credit to ME and CG for all the yards and TDs this team has. He purposely makes no mention of the QB that has thrown all those balls to them. Our fan base just wants to run him off so that we can have our very own Mitch Trubisky or Josh McCown again. If you are a true fan I find it hard to believe that you really think these are better options than Jameis. The team is a top 5 offense even with his miscues. They claim there is no cure for his picks. I think a player can always improve. As it is he is the only guy that would be able to put a 40 spot out there for this team in 2020.
November 29th, 2019 at 10:58 am
Kobe, or son of Kobe,
Yes, see Redskins, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Giants, etc. Any other questions?
November 29th, 2019 at 10:59 am
Kobe Faker
You know damn well every nfl owner wishes they were the glazers.. no expectations, tiny fanbase easily impressed, fanbase that calls 500 ball with no hope in postseason glory years, 1 good year McKays nfc championship game, 1 great year sapp and grudens glory year…… bucs are perfect example why revenue sharing (wealth redistribution) never works…. glazers have no intention nor incentive to field a respectable product….
November 29th, 2019 at 11:03 am
@TouchDown,
Yes, and I have wanted to mention Hump. He was a star last year. JW get any credit for that? How is he doing this year? How about Brate’s success last year?
I agree with the TOs. They need to be vastly reduced. But the cry for Andy Dalton, Tannihill, Bridgewater, etc is just stupid. I saw one dumbazz comment mention the LOSING virgin QB for the Lions last night. Lets give him a couple of games before he anointed the next Brady. How many QBs getting their first start light it up, then flame out? Just simply dumb
November 29th, 2019 at 11:16 am
Byron is going ti be the buca next head coach once arians leaves.
November 29th, 2019 at 11:21 am
The NFL have pretty much all gone “EL Cheapo” mode
…… I mean, why pay an established coach twice salary of a rookie HC???
It makes perfect sense with the players skyrocketing salary to save as much money as possible
November 29th, 2019 at 11:49 am
I don’t think Leftwich is ready plus he will have a job next year.
An interesting candidate who will be unemployed next year will be Kellen Moore, OC for the Cowboys. Jerry will probably cut that entire staff loose this off season.
Kellen Moore is 31 years old. His father, Tom, was the head coach at Prosser High School in Washington state from 1986 to 2008,[1] winning 21 league titles and four state championships. Every day during football season, he and younger brother, Kirby, who also played at Boise State as a wide receiver, went from the elementary school to their dad’s football practice. As his father remembered in a 2011 interview, “He’d always have a little notepad with him. He was always drawing plays.” In his final two years of high school, his father let him call his own plays.
Kellen is the winningest (50-3) QB in NCAA history.
They also have some interesting names from the defensive side that will become available, like Rod Marinelli and Kris Richards
November 29th, 2019 at 12:12 pm
OK, I’m chuckling Joe (you said we could if we wished) because of you bringing up ‘young offensive-minded coach’ Matt LaFleur of the Packers. Or in your words, the ‘top rookie coach’ in the NFL.
So far this year the Packers have scored 258 points in 11 games … 23.5 PPG … under LaFleur. In contrast, last year they scored 376 points in 16 games … 23.5 PPG … under Philbin & McCarthy. The increased offensive production is startling. Oh wait, no it’s not; it’s exactly the same. And with the same Aaron Rodgers no less.
What is different with the Packers though is their DEFENSIVE production. This year the Pack has allowed 242 points in 11 games … 22.0 PPG … under DC Mike Pettine. Last year they allowed 400 points in 16 games … 25.0 PPG … under (wait for it) the SAME DC Mike Pettine. They’re ranked #14 this season, but were #22 last year. And BTW, LOTS of new players on their defense, including a VERY young Secondary averaging about 2 years experience each.
Oh I forgot, this was about Byron Leftwich getting in the HC line. Nope, can’t see it.
November 29th, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Ghost
No way the boys let go of Richard or Marinelli, at least not both.
Richard may very well be the Heir apparent. Would I love to have Marinelli here? absofrickinlutely, but no way BA let’s Bowles go..unless BA gets fired.
November 29th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
We could only be so lucky he gets a head coaching gig somewhere far away….
…like Canada.
November 29th, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Who knows what NFL owners think? Bob Kraft getting caught going somewhere instead of ordering in; makes no sense.
November 29th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
The Glazer’s need to fire themselves. That would be a good start. BL as a HC. Now that was funny. Made my day.
November 29th, 2019 at 1:23 pm
I know every body wants Jamies gone. And I’m riding with Jamies until he’s not a buc no more. I don’t care about turnovers like you guys do the guy still help his team put up a lot of points. All we need is a defense and please run the ball more and we will be a winning team again. I didn’t know Payton had 120 turnovers in his first 5 years. But his team still won. The turnovers didn’t matter because he helpe his team put up the points just like Jamies is doing. Now the difference is Payton had a good running back and his defense was not as bad as Jamies has since he been with the Bucs. That’s 1 main difference the second thing is he had the national media backing him and they set the narrative that Payton is good regardless of the turnovers he had at the time. BA was his offensive coordinator at the time. Sometimes I wonder if Jamies was white what will be the narrative with the national media and this fan base?? I just don’t see no other quarterback coming in and putting up the same numbers that Jamies is putting up with no running game.
November 29th, 2019 at 2:15 pm
I wish Byron Leftwich the best, but I don’t believe he is ready for a HC gig just yet. He’s calling the offense for the first time. He has not been privy to HC duties yet.
If a team hires his, it’s setting him up for failure. He needs a little more time.
And, btw, teams should not be permitted to sign away coordinators after they only serve on year. It should be a 2 year minimum.
November 29th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Oneilbucs, I agree about the turnovers. If Winston we incapable of winning most games despite his turnovers, I would be concerned…but so long as the defense can hold teams to turning them into touchdowns, it could be much worse.
I’m not opposed to drafting a QB, though I would prefer a 2nd round or later guy and get RT in the draft.
November 29th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Bucs fans will cheer the thought of Leftwich moving ….. there is a sucker born every minute…………… lmao
November 29th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Jameis Winston is only as inconsistent as the offensive line protecting him.
November 29th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
…… bucs are perfect example why revenue sharing (wealth redistribution) never works
TMAX your hilarious but sadly so spot on …….
November 29th, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Joe is right a logical person would understand why Byron might be considered for a HC gig. Goes to show you how illogical some fans are……….Consider this. Dirk was a hot canidate for a HC gig before the Bucs hired him & Byron is producing more then Dirk did.
Also like to wag a finger at all y’all who criticize Byron mercifully & when he calls a great game like he did in Atlanta……crickets. And who is going to give Byron credit for producing a Top Ten red zone offense? And we are top ten after struggling badly in the red zone first month of the season………He identified a problem and fixed it rapidly. We are probably one of the best red zone teams in the NFL over the last 2 months or so. But I’ve heard nobody credit Byron for that. Instead y’all regurgitate the same boring notion that we don’t use OJ. Meanwhile OJ sucks and he can’t catch.
November 29th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
Itll be the best thing to happen to us sort of like hoping mike Smith had gotten the giants head coaching job. Then someone with experience can take over
November 29th, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Remember when everyone was worried Mike Smith would get a HC job? Ha ha ha ha
November 29th, 2019 at 2:58 pm
He’ll be gone before Winston takes him down too 😂
November 29th, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Yeah call Byron, when he has produced a top 20 QB. This is the NFL. Where to be successful you need to be able to build a top flight team and having a top 20 QB is a great way to start. We have seen Byron as our QB, and now as our OC. I think he needs to learn more to be a HC. Yes 1-1/2 seasons of OC experience will help him in his job hunt. Yet how well has his QB’s produced you know what fans and owners want. Wins? To few and far between back to back wins.
Keep working it Byron. Not yet. “WAIT FOR IT”
November 29th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
Looks like the Cowboys will be in the market too. Dak would be a lot better pupil than Jameis is too. Naw, Jerry Jones is not a fan of sloppiness on his football team and BL has some very sloppy habits.
November 29th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Snicker snicker yea OK….. Lefty a head coach! I think he needs to get the play calling down first.
November 30th, 2019 at 8:59 am
Byron seems like a good guy. Maybe he’ll get his shot right here when Bruce retires. By then, he may be ready. Did you all think that maybe that’s the plan here? If it is the plan, it seems like a good one.
November 30th, 2019 at 9:11 am
Sumo
Bite your tongue…