“We Never Felt Deficient At Anything”
June 18th, 2020
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich
Might the Bucs use more play-action passes this year? Well, it would help if a defense felt remotely threatened by a running back.
On Tuesday, Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was asked if he hoped to use more play-action passes. The Bucs, it was pointed out to Leftwich, did well with play-action passes last season but seldom called them.
Leftwich, in so many words, claimed he doesn’t know what the Bucs’ offense will look like this fall. It’s a work in progress, he said.
“Our offense will be what it needs to be to be successful,” Leftwich said. “I don’t look at one phase of our game and try to determine — I think we need to get better as a whole in every phase. From situational football all the way down.
“So we try to good and exceptional at every phase of our game. We understand there are certain parts we need to get better at. We never felt deficient at anything.
“Our offense will be what our offense is. … We don’t know what that is going to look like now. Our players will determine what our offense will becomes.”
Well, the Bucs have been deficient in one area: rushing. Let’s take a look at how rotten the Bucs run game has been during the Lost Decade in yards-per-carry.
2019: Fifth-worst (3.7 yards-per-carry).
2018: Second-worst (3.9).
2017: Tied for third-worst (3.7).
2016: Fourth-worst (3.6).
2015: Second-best (4.8).
2014: Tied for fifth-worst (3.9).
2013: Tied for fifth-worst (3.8).
2012: Eighth-best (4.4).
2011: Tied for ninth-best (4.2).
2010: Seventh-best (4.6).
So just once in the last seven seasons the Bucs had a running attack with an average yards-per-carry that wasn’t in the bottom five in the league. That’s brutal and frankly, unacceptable!
This deliberate blind spot the Bucs have for the run game just baffles Joe to no end. Maybe if they had a threat to run the ball the Bucs would use play-action more and be more successful with it?
If Leftwich doesn’t think the running game is deficient, Joe sure would like to hear him describe a running attack that is deficient.
Can coaches at the highest level of football really have standards this low for running backs? Good grief!
June 18th, 2020 at 8:42 am
Only BA coaches doesn’t see anything wrong until all goes bad.
And BL is a kid in coaching. He just dont know… just “keep firing” and see what happens
June 18th, 2020 at 9:09 am
He may be a kid in coaching, but he’s got “coachspeak” down perfectly.
June 18th, 2020 at 9:09 am
Leftwich, You are a waste.
June 18th, 2020 at 9:29 am
TB12 and BA have seen it all before. They will be 2/3rds of the triumvirate determining plays each game. BL will be in that trio but certainly have the smallest voice.
Since the GOAT ultimately has the final say when it’s time to pull the trigger I think to a large degree it will be Brady’s offense.
As for running I hear Joe loud and clear and he presents some stats that say a lot. Problem with those stats is they are dated and are the results of totally different teams. But no matter how you slice it or dice it the Bucs have sucked running the ball.
HOWEVER…the 2020 Bucs have clearly at least attempted to at least address that deficiency. They drafted Vaughn…ROJO should have a future here!!!
Most RB’s are able to come into the league and play to their potential from day one and certainly second round pick are expected to contribute immediately.
So as the 38th overall pick ROJO’s rookie year was a bust. He was lost.
So easy to understand Joes disparagement of ROJO based on his rookie season.
Last year was different. He added some muscle and the first year experience seemed to begin showing up. Best of all are ROJO’s trend lines. He’s consistently gotten better and better and may yet be able to turn it up another notch and flirt with the Pro Bowl.
ROJO had good games last year including the opening game against the Niners.
He also disappeared at times in critical situations. Whose fault was that?
In a key matchup with the Saints he produced 13 whopping yards on 4 carries for an underwhelming 3.25 ypc.
Again…he rushed the ball for FOUR times!!! Kamara got 13 attempts with Murray getting another ten. So the combo of the game situation and the coaches play calling gave ROJO ZERO opportunity.
Meanwhile despite an overall lack of opportunity ROJO put up over 1000 yards of offense. Like the defense and Perriman ROJO played well those final two games.
.
He rushed for 77 yards with an excellent 5.5 ypc a longest run of 49 yards and also added a TD against Houston
In the final game against Atlanta ROJO sparkled! 11 carries for a sparkling YPC just a whisker under ten yards per carry. Four first down carries. And again he broke a long one of 33 yards.
So I can accept Joe’s point that we are gambling a bit on a running game that has been historically bad…but I like the odds on both ROJO and Vaughn and adding perhaps the best OT of the draft at RT and picking up Haeg to fortify our OL also hedges our bet.
June 18th, 2020 at 9:34 am
Wouldn’t it be great to see the Running game be top ten this year, and hear Joe gush over the greatness of Ronald Jones and the newly drafted RB’s? What a day that would be.
June 18th, 2020 at 9:49 am
This comment really bothers me. Everyone else sees it. Why can’t the coaches see it? Being hardheaded is not a winning strategy.
June 18th, 2020 at 10:02 am
I think ROJO is going to be a surprise to those who don’t expect us to have a good run game. as St.Pete said he rarely was able to get in a groove with consistent carries, several variables go into why, playing from behind has some to do with that, Barber bein rotated into the game on several occasions when ROJO was just starting to get rolling is another reason. I am all for a 1-2 punch at rb, but I believe in giving each back a chance to go, by that I mean not pulling a guy after 2-3 carries if he does not have a big run. I by no means am a expert or claiming to know more than the coaches, but I do remember last season noticing that the rotation seemed to be odd at times. I would like to see ROJO get a real lead back opportunity ( earned of coarse) with Vaughn spelling him. However lets see who steps up when the bullets are firing, may the best man win with the back up truly being a back up lol.
June 18th, 2020 at 10:02 am
I don’t think the lack of running had as much to do with the rb’s as much as there was practically NEVER a hole for them. You watch the entire line as a whole, and they could never move the pile. In Emmit Smith’s heyday, he’d AVERAGE 3 yards before he was ever touched by am opposing player
June 18th, 2020 at 10:13 am
Why?
So does Joe!
June 18th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Terrible choice of statistical comparison Joe.. Your stats actually counter your point to an extent as it appears we have been inside the top 10 best YPCs almost 50% (4/10 seasons) over the past decade. With a 2nd place once to boot..
June 18th, 2020 at 10:28 am
Great piece, Joe. Honestly I think Byron really needs to get some coaching at interviewing/public speaking. He’s a very articulate guy but his words and logic are too often flawed and contradictory. Not just week to week, but sometimes in the same sentence! He may need more coaching than just at that. Like many Bucs fans, I seriously questioned some play calling last year. He’s got to know many formations and play calls were bad (e.g, 3rd and five with an empty backfield; low probability success plays like fades on long passes when a short slant or crossing route would do). I do wonder how much of a hand BA had in play calling though. If these guys could own up to some of the defiiciecies, like those Joe pointed out, it could really lower fan apprehension/frustration. And comments like not knowing what his “offense will look like” are just bad to make. Instead, “We’re always working on our offense; our intent for our fans to love it and other teams to hate it.” Arrows should be pointing up. Byron’s all over the road.
June 18th, 2020 at 10:43 am
I don’t like his playcalling BA should do it
June 18th, 2020 at 11:10 am
Geez…did Leftwich take a class on empty-talking from a politician or something?! Three paragraphs of quotes without saying anything!
June 18th, 2020 at 11:28 am
Don_RyJo(e):
And the last paragraph was condensed.
June 18th, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Don… if you read between the lines, politicians aren’t empty talking…they are often pandering to someone. And the less factual their comments are, it simply means they are aiming it to the more ignorant audiences.
June 18th, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Roy:
Thank you.
June 18th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Pryda….or Brady!
June 18th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Mark it down, the Bucs will be a top ten rushing team this year. Brady will check to running plays when he sees it’s there. I don’t believe Winston has that skill. Brady will also check out of a bad run call if he sees it won’t work. Again, I don’t think Winston could do that. Then there’s Wirfs, who will be lights out compared to old man Dot in the run game. Mark it down Joe, top ten.
June 18th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
I think there will be a problem with the running game this year. I hope I’m wrong but if we look at the fact that with Jameis at QB with no running game we still were in the top 10 of points scored. Add in the fact that we turned the ball over A LOT. I have a terrible feeling that BL believes the running game is fine if we were able to that and now we’ve added TB12. I hope we see some different formations as well as stop drinking a run up the gut on 1st down that ends up in 2nd and 9.
I remember an interview last year where BA said he lets BL come up with the game plan. I also remember when BL was asked about getting the TEs more involved he said he likes for things to happen “organically” if the play caller doesn’t belive in scheming to the best match ups for the WIN I don’t get why he’s calling the plays. I’m hoping Brady helps all phases of the game even the coaching staff.
June 18th, 2020 at 12:39 pm
Licht has to take some blame here. Koetter obviously did not care and let him off the hook. I know he’s a holdout but we could have had Dalvin Cook and Rojo I do like so lets pray Vaughn is as good as his running history in the SEC would suggest given he was running behind a Vanderbilt line.
June 18th, 2020 at 1:44 pm
13 am
ROJO should have a future here!!!
Why?
Because ROJO has talent, has a RT that can run block (Wirfs) and a TE that can run block (Gronk)
June 18th, 2020 at 1:48 pm
The play-action always works, weather you have a run game or not. Have you ever watched the linebackers on a play action? They are almost standing still, waiting to see what happens.
Everyone who wants a successful offense should employ play-action virtually all of the time, in my opinion.
The offensive line was terrible at opening holes the last few years. These Runners will be fine especially with the addition of Wirfs & Gronk.
Guys please, get off of the Dalvin cook train. As Nick mentioned, he’s holding out and I don’t believe he’s even had one full season of play yet. Not even the Vikings’ fans are completely sold on Cook, as they really like his back-up too.
June 18th, 2020 at 2:12 pm
It’s all JW’s fault that there was no running game.
June 18th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Cleanhouse…maybe you are trying to be facetious. But actually, you might be right. AR makes the GB running game effective, because he knows the best times to adjust to the run, after setting up the pass. A QB can help the running game…greatly.
But just got out of a six weeks Lisfranc fracture boot, so say what you wish..nothing is going to spoil my day..
June 18th, 2020 at 2:44 pm
I think some are taking this out of context. The Bucs ran the football, though not effectively. They were 13th in number of rush attempts. From a “play-caller” perspective, they tried but the RBs didn’t execute.
So, instead of a “deficient run-game”, it was more of deficient RBs.
At least, that’s what I take away from it. Clearly they are not “ignoring” it if they draft a RB in the 3rd with ROJO still here. The question still remains how well will the rookie play?
June 18th, 2020 at 3:17 pm
TOM: Byron Leftwich is an Offensive Coordinator in the NFL. You are a troll on Joe Bucs Fan.
June 18th, 2020 at 3:28 pm
As I’ve asked TheBucsAnthem about his hatred for Byron Leftwich:
1) Have you ever played for him?
2) Do you know him?
3) Do you have intimate knowledge of the Bucs offense, to know to blame certain plays on Leftwich?
If the answer is yes, you have basis for your opinion.
If the answer is no, then you have to ask yourself “Why do I hate someone I don’t know or have facts about?”. Do you not like the way he looks?
June 18th, 2020 at 4:28 pm
ROJO should have a future here!!!
Why?
WHY NOT? He sucked his rookie year…not the first guy to blow it and he was very young…he not only IMPROVED his second year he got better as the season went on. He ALREADY put up over 1,000 yards of offense with VERY limited opportunities.
Enough people have plugged his numbers into comparisons of other RB’s with far more carries and ROJO comes out fine.
Seriously Joe neither the stats and especially not the trend line back up your lack of enthusiasm for ROJO.
June 18th, 2020 at 4:43 pm
If this guy is the second coming of Frank Gore, is it too much to ask that he have more than two good games out of 32?
June 18th, 2020 at 4:44 pm
The very last thing Joe values in a coach is how the guy played. Apples and oranges man.
June 18th, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Agreed, our running back situation is depressing until proven otherwise.
June 18th, 2020 at 4:59 pm
Ronald Jones had 4.2 YPC. That isn’t bad that’s literally average-slightly above average. Joe is talking about him like he is payton barber last year or drugged out muscle hamster.
I am excited to see what Vaughn can do. I don’t know why he seems to be completely written off as a non factor before his first game in here. The man did some good things with literally nothing around him and having to be on Lovie Smith’s abysmal team still performed. Also you are forgetting we have a right tackle who can actually run block now. Another thing that seems to be forgotten a lot.
Granted if this was last year’s off season I would understand the complaint. 2018 we were awful at running the ball. 2019 it got better as the season went on. how good your running backs are is probably the least important part of the modern game. Ours are average.
Now time for the football boomers to REEEEEEEEEEEE at me over saying running backs skill level isn’t that important.
Yes Barber sucked. Is he still here? NO good we moved on. don’t need to keep dwelling on it.
Also you guys take coach speak WAY too seriously.
June 18th, 2020 at 5:30 pm
If this guy is the second coming of Frank Gore, is it too much to ask that he have more than two good games out of 32?
C’mon, Joe
Is 93 yards offense vs 49ers not a good game?
How about 121 yds vs Giants?
Or 82 yds vs Rams and vs Seahawks?
Or maybe 106 yds vs Cardinals doesn’t cut it?
Yes, he’s been inconsistent, but your 2 game narrative is not accurate
June 18th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
They might run the ball and short passes earlier in the season till Tom gets a hang of receiver’s. ROJO and Vaughn can break through holes if they’re there so if Wirfs can do what he does there will be some holes. Cappa will have a lot less pressure on him on the right side and we got Jensen, Marpet, Smith on the left. That’s a heavy lifting oline.
I wanna see a Wirfs vs D.Smith weight room competition.
#RedZoneKillas
GO BUCS!!!
June 18th, 2020 at 5:37 pm
Joe: My point of asking if any of the harsh critics of Byron Leftwich have actually played under Leftwich…There might be an actual basis for the criticism, someone with inside knowledge of the situation, not just some jabroni who thinks they know something when there’s a chance that they don’t have a clue.
June 18th, 2020 at 6:05 pm
Joe in Michigan,
The Joe(s) misread or misunderstood you.
I think. haha
June 18th, 2020 at 6:19 pm
I think so. Also, it could be me that is wrong, by giving Byron Leftwich the benefit of the doubt. I didn’t see anything last year to make me think BL was “a waste”, or “insert negative comment about BL here”.
June 18th, 2020 at 7:23 pm
Bringbucback You don’t know nothing about football with a stament like that . If you don’t have a running game or a threat at running the ball you can’t run playactions plays . Go ask the Rams they will tell you the same thing I’m telling you now . A lot of yall just don’t want to admit that Jamies only had a running game 1 time in 5 years . You can say he couldn’t read the defense to change the play to a run play all you want . But none of the coaches told him to do that he ran the plays that was call . And they never call run plays . So now we are talking about running the ball now that we have Brady . Still no excuses superbowl or bust …..
June 18th, 2020 at 8:17 pm
Oneilbucs…Green Bay Packer top running back the last dozen years. How many running Running backs here?
Just saying…Rodgers has made them all effective than they are talented…
Aaron Jones,Aaron Jones,Jamaal Williams,Ty Montgomery,Eddie Lacy,Eddie Lacy,Eddie Lacy,Alexander Green,James Starks,Brandon Jackson,Ryan Grant,Ryan Grant
June 18th, 2020 at 8:19 pm
How many great running backs among those 12 Packer teams, many of which were in the playoffs, and effective runners with AR at the helm?
June 18th, 2020 at 8:44 pm
Ahman Green was the last truly superior GB running back…about 16 years ago.
June 18th, 2020 at 9:41 pm
Brady is the best QB for running through his progressions. The BA offense emphasizes the long pass as the first option.
Too many times last season the rest of the progression was left on the field. I saw many places where receivers, including RoJo, were waving their arms in an open hole while the ball went to a contested player.
That will be better this year.
Another thing that will be better, hopefully, will be the O-line. Cappa came on strong at the end of the season and caused RoJo to have two good games to close the year. They can expand on that this year. The addition of Wirfs might even make real screen plays work.
It should be fun with a different type of excitement than last season’s sitting on the edge of your seat and waiting for it to all fall apart.