Overthinking Brady
April 7th, 2020
Offers his two cents.
One former NFLer is thinking that too many NFL fans are overthinking how future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady will work with Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
That would be former star wide receiver Steve Smith. Appearing recently with NFL analyst and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah, the two discussed how Brady fits with the Bucs.
Jeremiah noted Brady won’t have his trusty safety valve at running back to dump off passes to like he had throughout his years with the Belicheats. Unless the Bucs add a pass-catching running back.
Smith sort of dismissed Jeremiah’s concerns, saying in so many words, hey, it’s Tom Freaking Brady.
“Don’t you think having a guy like Tom Brady erases all of those questions, even at quarterback?” Smith asked Jeremiah. “Then you look at Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who can stretch you down the field but also carve you up underneath as well. They are dangerous. They are just missing the guy who was throwing to the other team.”
You can see the full discussion in the NFL Network video below.
Had a blast talking about Brady/Bucs with Steve Smith. pic.twitter.com/fUVfrcUlb6
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 30, 2020
April 7th, 2020 at 12:25 am
Steve Smith has ZERO credibility w/me. A loud network mouthpiece.
ME13/Godwin are key for QB — DUH!
TB12 will NEED his outlet RB….period.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:08 am
Every time I hear about Brady’s need for an outlet running back, my mind says, “How about an outlet tight end?”
I mean, if we find a perfect pass-catching back, then great, but there is more than one way to skin a cat.
April 7th, 2020 at 2:08 am
Have you guys looked at the running backs that Brady has played with? Blount is probably the best guy he’s ever had. James White was almost the Super Bowl MVP. Brady makes guys like Rex Burkhead into decent running backs.
Now, I’d love to add a real stud to the backfield, and we definitely need more talent there, but I’m not sweating
April 7th, 2020 at 2:57 am
Can Akers.
April 7th, 2020 at 4:42 am
F Steve Smith
April 7th, 2020 at 4:52 am
The last time I checked we own 7 draft picks……I’ll start getting concerned if we don’t draft a RB……we also have perhaps $10 mil in cap space to buy one…
April 7th, 2020 at 5:53 am
Ya’ll mad at Steve Smith for telling the truth?! Hilarious! Smith is easily one of the toughest WRs to play the game, and one of the best sh!t-talkers to boot!
April 7th, 2020 at 6:46 am
I assume from Smith’s comments that he wasn’t a big fan of Jameis Winston (“They are just missing the guy who was throwing to the other team”).
Jeremiah’s comment about Brady not having “his trusty safety valve at running back to dump off passes to” is not necessarily valid. RoJo can catch the ball, and he can be explosive so Jeremiah shouldn’t dismiss him so quickly. Plus nearly everyone it seems expects the Bucs to use a Rnd 1-3 pick on a RB (one who can catch, run & block hopefully).
Another thing not to dismiss too quickly is that Brady and the Patriots put up 420 points last season (ranked #7) with really only 2 receivers: WR Edelman (153 targets, 100 catches, 1,117 yards) and RB White (95 targets, 72 catches, 645 yards). None of the rest of their WRs, TEs or RBs even had 30 catches or 400 yards. Bucs in comparison put up 458 points (#3 ranking) and had 2 RBs, 3 WRs & 2 TEs with over 30 catches & 4 of them had over 400 yards. IOW, we already have weapons, and we’ll surely be adding even more. And now we’ve got someone tossing the rock who can spread the ball around very effectively … to our guys. (Sorry Ndog, Smith made that one too easy).
April 7th, 2020 at 7:14 am
I get that some folks are butt-hurt that Steve Smith made his career w the Panthers, but the dude just defended Brady/Bucs. Take the blinders off, and ease up the hate!
April 7th, 2020 at 7:32 am
Steve smith makes numerous comments not so positively about jameis and he is clueless…possible HOFer. Questionably the Best small sized receiver to ever play the game
Michael clayton who was absolute garbage says some nice things about jameis and receivers running crap routes and Now he speaks the truth
Just ask ndog
Its definitely entertaining
😂
April 7th, 2020 at 7:39 am
Rojo will possibly solidify himself this year. The kid showed he’s willing to work hard to get better. Watch him have a Pro Bowl year.
What we really need is a hard hitting, pass catching halfback who can also block. That would free OJ up to catch passes.
April 7th, 2020 at 7:44 am
Redzone BA-
Couldn’t disagree more. Steve Smith is one of the All time Great Gamers. He was the Ultimate team player and gave 110% at all times.. “ You better Ice up son” & he had some of the best trash talk. Wether or not you like him as analysts is one thing but he Definitely knows the game and can provide great insight. He used to tear the Bucs up… Now Steven A Smith is annoying but Steve Smith I actually enjoy his rants because they are filled w passion. You can tell he still wants to lace them up, kinda like I feel when I hear Chris Spielman do a game, that guy has passion for football.
April 7th, 2020 at 7:47 am
I’m still in shock that Licht got Tom Brady. I see nothing but success with him as our QB…though this virus is delaying him beating the team into shape.
My two biggest concerns are:
• Protecting him in the pocket
• Getting a young QB who can develop and take over when he retires
Consider this:
If we win the Superbowl this year, will Brady retire? He’ll have proven what he wants to prove.
We MUST have a backup plan, and it isn’t Gabbert.
April 7th, 2020 at 8:01 am
Didn’t Rojo have like 7 receptions in a game with a bunch of yards, or am I just hallucinating again.
April 7th, 2020 at 9:04 am
I think folks are overlooking the fact that Rojo came into his own at the end of the season last year. The kid was drafted in 2018 at the young age of 20. Koetter didn’t know how to use him or build the kid’s confidence. Instead, he ridiculed the young when he needed a mentor or someone to work with him one -on-one. He has all the physical attributes of a three down back. His pass catching improved last year (thanks to BA) and he put up decent numbers. Now let’s continue to work with him and not use an early round pick on a rb. Rojo will show all the naysayers that his hands have improved and he can be your James White, Kevin Faulk, Dion Lewis, for TB12. Rojo is a diamond in the rough.
April 7th, 2020 at 9:13 am
“They are just missing the guy who was throwing it to the other team.” — Priceless
April 7th, 2020 at 9:23 am
steve smith HATED winston. i hated steve smith on the field because he owned the bucs but i respected him and he was highly underrated. as an analyst though, the guy is an absolute blowhard and he has his favourite players and his opinion is made up about guys. same with michael robinson with him on gmfb weekend.
i always watch nfl network but unfortunately too many of their analysts are just there for hot takes and think by yelling at the TV, they get their point and opinion carries more weight. the thing is, none of these guys watched any true buccaneers games aside from maybe a couple last year so they really have no idea what goes on with this team like us and you joe.
April 7th, 2020 at 9:56 am
If you’re one WR injury away from becoming a mediocre team, you’re a mediocre team. This team lacks depth at ALL positions.
April 7th, 2020 at 9:58 am
How come no one EVER said Jameis needed a pass-catching running back?
It kills me that the media and fans are clamoring for Brady to get all the tools that the Jameis DIDN’T have.
April 7th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Let me poke the hornet’s nest since Smith started it.
WHY do we suppose there is so much “hate” for JW if that’s what we call an observation about his “excitability” or as Smith says…”throwin’ it to the other team”?
And puhleeze stop with the race bs. In case you haven’t noticed Smith is BLACK!
Why are so many people peeing on JW’s first five years here? Across racial lines.
Could it possibly be that other athletes recognize a “choker” when they see one?
April 7th, 2020 at 10:18 am
Brady has a field vision that is second to none, he knows where all of his receivers are supposed to be. That allows his progressions to go by in the blink of an eyes.
That means Watson and Miller will also be in the mix. A couple of crossing patterns across the middle will open up Evans further down. He might even up his YAC this year.
Jameis is still gone and it is time to move on, but no one said anything about an outlet RB because Jameis never got that far down his progressions.
April 7th, 2020 at 11:20 am
I respect Steve Smith as a player, but he is garbage as an analyst. So biased it’s ridiculous anyone even gives him the time of day.
April 7th, 2020 at 11:58 am
They kept the backs in to block and the TEs too because we had such a great O-Line (rated 5th by PFF, such BS and anyone who watched the games knows this is true), so there was NO OUTLETS, they were not even in the progression in our offense last year. Now they will change the offense for Brady, Pissed they didn’t do it for Jameis but I agree it needs to change for Brady or he isn’t finishing 8 games.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:22 pm
jjbucfan
It’s only an observation…others have made this here as well…too many times you could see open receivers that simply were invisible to JW.
Of course he has had eye surgery in the off season. Perhaps that will help. In his five years with us his lack of vision and awareness of DBs baiting him were his downfall.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:25 pm
I was never a fan of his brand of swagger while playing (and talking) but my new favorite quote is… “They are just missing the guy who was throwing it to the other team.” Exactly. Sometimes its actually that simple.
April 7th, 2020 at 1:48 pm
I’m not high on Steve Smith as an anal-list.
April 7th, 2020 at 2:03 pm
So is Craig a Tom Brady nut hugger? There seems to be a double standard when it comes to nut hugging.
Asking for a friend.
April 7th, 2020 at 3:12 pm
I supported Jameis and actually liked him but not blind to his short comings. When I read what Steve Smith said I was weak, but it was the truth. Jameis threw a lot of passes to the other team