Leftwich Getting Some Love
October 8th, 2020
Gaining interest?
Though only those who work at One Buc Palace know for sure how involved Bucco Bruce Arians is in the day-to-day mechanics of building offensive gameplans, calling plays, etc., Arians maintains he oversees things and offensive coordinator Bryon Leftwich is the one calling plays and crafting the weekly plan.
If the latter is accurate, could we see Leftwich leave after this season for a head coaching gig?
A.J. Schulte of Pro Football Network seems to think so. Schulte believes how the Bucs play will the next 12 games may determine if Leftwich lands any head coaching interviews this winter.
… his tenure as the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers might put Leftwich up at the top of coaching searches come the end of the 2020 season. Bruce Arians has praised Leftwich’s abilities numerous times in the past, and the Buccaneers are flying high. As a young minority coach, Leftwich would be an opportune hire for a team looking to take advantage of a young quarterback and establish an offensive identity.
Now what Joe (only one Joe) suspects is — pure speculation — when Arians agreed to come out of retirement, Team Glazer agreed to hire one of his coordinators to succeed him (provided the Bucs win) when Arians retires for good.
If the Bucs make a deep run into the playoffs and park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady has a good season (he’s on pace for a very good season), Leftwich’s resume will look strong after you stack on top of that how Leftwich had a guy thought to be a slug throw for 5,000 yards.
It would not shock Joe if Leftwich interviews for jobs this winter, provided the Bucs and Brady are winners.
Bowles is also on this list of top coaching candidates. Joe would personally like to see Bowles succeed Arians (and Arians will likely stay as long as Brady does). Bowles has more of a track record than Leftwich. (Though there is disagreement on this at JoeBucsFan world headquarters.)
Even further, if Bowles was hired to replace Arians and Leftwich left for greener pastures, Joe would be highly inclined to bring in former Bucs backup quarterback and current Chiefs QB coach Mike Kafka as offensive coordinator. Andy Reid knows how to groom coaches and Kafka, who played at Northwestern, is no dummy.
A few months ago, Joe had an NFL source tell him that Bowles’ general manager with the Jets was so lousy, that Bowles really wasn’t given a fair shake to succeed there.
October 8th, 2020 at 5:31 am
“Joe had an NFL source tell him that Bowles’ general manager with the Jets was so lousy, that Bowles really wasn’t given a fair shake to succeed there.”
Thank you Joe; finally someone sees the light. Todd Bowles is an exceptional DC and the Bucs historically are a defensive team. We’re still quite young on that side of the ball & the future looks bright, PROVIDING we’re willing to up the ante to keep this defense together like we did during Tony’s reign. Still have some building to do though over the next several years to eventually replace key guys like Suh, LVD & JPP. Still, a great defense will keep you in every game.
October 8th, 2020 at 5:50 am
Agree, DR
I can honestly say that I don’t look forward to the day when we lose players like Suh, LVD
JPP and Barrett. Its been fun watching these players help our younger players
grow and become a cohesive unit.
October 8th, 2020 at 8:02 am
If the goal is to transition to a young QB, then a defensive coach would make the most sense. Personally i think Leftwich has a lot of similarities to Gase…..his best season may come on the coat tails of an elite QB, how much actual influence did they really have? Rosen looked awful in Arizona, Winston is now a 3rd stringer, what exactly has Leftwich done?
October 8th, 2020 at 8:14 am
I would lean to Todd B as Head Coach. Byron may end being a good HC, But I would go with Todd B when BA rides off into one of those awesome sunsets over on Treasure Island. GO BUCS!!!!
October 8th, 2020 at 9:04 am
Sure, given Bowles has experience as a HC (not necessarily good experience, thanks Jets) it would be the safe option for him to succeed Arians as our next HC. BUT, we are the Bucs, nothing we ever do is safe! Was signing 43 year old Tom Brady safe? Was letting Jameis Winston throw the ball safe? NO, but it was exciting and fun! Leftwich is the young, cool, option, and this is the new wave of the NFL! Defensive head coaches aren’t cool! Go with the high upside in BL, give him a young QB to work with and watch this team have a future so bright, you’ll need shades.
As long as our offense continues to hum, there’s no reason BL shouldn’t be our coach come 2022.
October 8th, 2020 at 9:04 am
I’d be good with either Leftwich or Bowles taking over for Arians in the future, provided the team has a winning record the next couple of years.
October 8th, 2020 at 9:40 am
ive been saying this for weeks!!!!!!!!….lol…
BL will be an HC next……
the question is, will it be with the bucs?….
cant pen rosen on BL…that was all mike mccoy…..he got a #1bust to toss 5kyards….BL had a top offense with a qb that tossed 30INTs….
look around the league….the packers, 9ers, rams, saints….those are the teams we’re chasing….they all have young(outside of the saints) offensive minded HCs….
funny how folks say bowles was giving the short end of the stick with the jets …..BL wasnt giving an even shorter stick when he had to work with rosen for 7weeks after mike mccoy got fired…lol….
bowles wouldnt be bad but i’d prefer something new…someone young…
keep BL in TAMPA as HC!!!!!….
GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 8th, 2020 at 9:46 am
Wonder how snakebit Bowles really feels after his Jets experience? I hope he is the Bucs next HC. The strength of Tampa Bay has always been their defenses throughout their 45 year existence. Bowles has only been here 2 seasons, but look at the defensive improvement.
October 8th, 2020 at 10:14 am
I gotta go with T. Bowles over BL as heir apparent to BA.
And D.R. makes a great point about what this team will look like going forward post Brady. A lot of young talent even after Suh, JPP leave. We should prepare to become the Bucs of old with solid defense.
In the meantime however…let’s enjoy this collection of offensive talent for as long as it last…two…maybe three years?
October 8th, 2020 at 10:56 am
The imperative is to keep Bowles.
October 8th, 2020 at 11:14 am
Let’s just hope that both these guys pledge allegiance to the Pirate flag and stay on board. We need some stability on this team. Listening, Mr. Glazer ??
October 8th, 2020 at 11:20 am
Joe I really think you are accurate when you suggest our next HC is on staff. I also think its a great plan to hire from within after Bruce because of the continuity we havent had for the last 17 years since Kiffen left.
And I hope that is the plan because it means we wont lose both guys. No way both Bowles and Byron are walking away from this orginization when a perfect opportunity is here for them right here in Tampa………..And I dont think Byron or Bowles know yet who will succeed Bruce. I think they might approach it methodically…..They will take all their interviews and survey all the options………If Byron gets a great opportunity for a quality orginization he will take it. If Bowles gets the best opportunity he will take it……This is the best plan in my eyes. Dont just jump on the first opportunity to coach the bext 0-16 Lions…..Wait on a great opportunity thats setup for success.
But as a Bucs fan I hope for the best case scenario which is Byron stays right here and takes over and Bowles decides he loves building up one of the best Defenses in the league and wants to stay in Tampa and do his DC thing…….Im looking for scenarios where we keep both. These two have done great work on both sides of the ball.
GO BUCS!!!
October 8th, 2020 at 11:23 am
And yes just about every coach that took a Jets job was setup for failure……Sadly, you could say the same about our Bucs over history.
October 8th, 2020 at 11:32 am
jimmyjack
i agree…
GO BUCS!!!!
October 8th, 2020 at 12:37 pm
Bienemy will get a job before BL
October 8th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
SlyPirate541 Says:
October 8th, 2020 at 12:37 pm
Bienemy will get a job before BL
EB should already be a HC….he was a no brainer last year….
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 8th, 2020 at 5:18 pm
‘park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady’ Hey Joe. Let’s get something straight. You are a NOBODY. The only reason your readership has tripled is due to one Thomas Edward Brady. Negative non superlatives reflect envy and shows a lack of maturity. Catch some class and put some respect next to the GOATs name. Remember…if you play this right (classy) the sky is the limit. If you limit yourself to sideswiping you won’t be missed