Father Dungy: Brady Getting Better
January 10th, 2021
A little flashback for some of Joe’s readers that never caught this.
At Joe’s first training camp of 2020, Joe didn’t know quite what to expect from park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
Previously, Joe had rarely watched Brady and maybe saw Brady play more for Michigan than New England.
The Belicheats are a handful of teams Joe loathes, so Joe won’t watch many if any of their games. Yes, that means a football freak like Joe even missed a few Super Bowls. Joe watches sports for entertainment, not for aggravation and acid reflux.
The first thing that jumped out about Brady in person was his freaking accuracy. Nearly every pass was on the money.
The second and surprising thing? Brady was nimble. He had mobility, not mobile as a mailbox, like Joe had read about Brady with the Belicheats.
Perhaps Joe respects no broadcaster’s analysis of Brady more than Father Dungy’s, certainly more so than any of Brady’s ex-teammates.
Why is that? Well, Brady’s ex-teammates aren’t journalists and there is no benefit for them to be remotely objective about their old buddy.
(Remember Rob Ninkovich, former Brady teammate, earlier this year raking Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians over the coals saying the two are a bad match and Arians needs to be launched? Yeah, real bright, objective analysis there.)
Yeah, Father Dungy, now working for NBC, isn’t a journalist, either. But he has no incentive to lie about Brady. Besides, who may know about a crack in Brady’s armor more than Father Dungy?
How many gameplans over the years did Dungy craft to defend Brady?
Well, per Dungy, Brady has actually improved his game at 43 years old. In what way has Brady evolved in Tampa? Father Dungy said Brady was never as mobile as he is now.
“What Brady is doing better than when I was coaching against him is moving around in the pocket,” Father Dungy said on last night’s NBC broadcast of the Bucs’ win over Washington. “Just that little step away from the pressure, off the spot but still on target with the throw.”
A guy at 43 getting better, more mobile? That’s wild to think about but it’s true.
How many times have we seen Brady on rollouts this season?
This guy Brady really amazes Joe. And there is no question he’s the reason the Bucs are now two wins from their second Super Bowl appearance.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Father Dungy, was making sure on nation TV yesterday, that Byron Leftwich was the reason Bucs offence is FANTASTIC….., fantastic is my definition 🙂
….not much TB12…..
but we Know… is him, the GREAT TB12 and ME13……
Love it….
January 10th, 2021 at 12:10 pm
Agreed. Weenie Arm is no more!
January 10th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
I think Brady wants to get in the SB as much but probably more than anyone else on the team.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
Just because it was said on national tv doesn’t make it true. For a guy who was never mobile and no he is not nimble, he simply knows how to move around in the pocket sliding a few feet to the left or right is pocket presence, nimble is not a word that describes Brady at all. He had a great great though and if not for those 3-4 drops the game would have been long out of reach despite the defense
January 10th, 2021 at 12:21 pm
Of course not but what did Dungy — a man who was paid handsomely to try to stop him many times — say that was wrong?
All Joe heard was that Brady was a statue when the Bucs signed him, and that his new offensive line would get him killed. Joe saw — with his own eyes while standing right on the sidelines and end zone backline in several practices — that Brady was, in fact, not immobile. Another guy who has seen Brady a lot more than Joe said the same on a podcast with Brady a week after Joe first wrote it.
And yes, Peter King used the word “nimble.”
January 10th, 2021 at 12:26 pm
Brady can stay a Buc until his wheels fall off.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:28 pm
Brady is definitely the reason that bucs made the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and won their first playoff game since the Superbowl.
The reason the may not advance any further ???
The totally fixed secondary that’s been their weakness the last decade.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
Listen. Brady is going to give you Brady. Did he show a downfall to start the season probably, but there’s a reason . New team. New coaching staff. New leftwhich book. No preseason. No training with WR. Etc.
up and down season with consistency but the team show they want to win.
As far as the playoff game in a while
What a down game for the rookie Vaughn.
Secondary couldn’t cover redsking WR
Oline played very good. D. Smith played well but is this the game that takes him to another level or will he have a bad game next week ?
Fournette played really good. Catching and running.
Godwin ? Dropping balls…
hopefully this was a warm up and we got the stars out of our head being first playoff game for ALOt of players.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:47 pm
I’m enjoying all the tight spirals and well placed balls giving targets a chance for YAC.
We haven’t had a QB spin it like this since MG. There’s obviously more than just throwing a tight accurate spiral but just from the standpoint of football beauty it’s hard to top.
Poor tiny hands JW had a shotgun for an arm but no control..occasionally throwing the proverbial dime…just like Freeman…but just like Freeman JW was erratic. Sadly he was also erratic mentally on and off the field. IE he’s a choker.
I do not dislike JW personally at all. Seems like a nice enough guy…never met him..do not know him. But just athletically I think JW would have made a far better dominant relief pitcher in MLB. He has all the talent. An incredible gun you FSU guys can tell me his fastball speed and the occasional inaccuracy would have kept everybody lose at the plate.
JW may have a few more NFL wins left but he should have selected the MLB.
It’s not too late.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:52 pm
Well my two cents worth. The Washington game was closer than I wanted but not unexpected. No matter who or where we play next week, ROJO should be back, Devin White will be back, Gronk won’t only be a blocking tight end, Mike Evans knee will be even more healed (not that it looked like it was bothering him), the over excitement of the first playoff game will be gone and finally, I guarantee Godwin will never drop that many balls again. I don’t care who we play, we can and should win as long as TB stays upright.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
‘Tis true…looking at good, bad, and ugly, Brady was definitely the brightest spot and the biggest reason for this long-awaited playoff trip and win. Now, we need him to take it to the next level. He is definitely gettting better.
The Good: Tom Brady had another strong night. Usually being critical of D. Smith’s blocking and BL’s play calling and game planning, I am quick to tip my hat to both for putting out a very good game. The planning and execution tactics they used tonight can benefit them whether playing LAR or NO next, each having a strong pass rush of their own. The primetime and big game curse was beaten away last night. For a guy with a bum knee, Mike Evans really tore it up, with another 100+ yard game. Fournette did very well when he needed to. It is great Devin White will be back; they need him. Great job stopping the run, making an offense with a QB on his second NFL start in his life one dimensional.
The Bad: In making an offense with a QB on his second NFL start in his life one dimensional, the defensive secondary was shamefully bad. Once again, a no-name QB who injured himself on an acrobatic leap to the pylon, sliced and diced the defense for over 300 yards in passing. The Bucs will get blown out in the next game if they don’t step it up. Chris Godwin would also have had a 100+ yard night if he didn’t whiff on three catches. Highly unusual for him.
The Ugly: The Bucs have no O-line depth, and losing Alex Cappa will be huge up the middle. Looks like they definitely need to grab another O lineman in the 2021 draft.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
Joe, why are you afraid of publishing my comment? Are you afraid I’ll sway public opinion about you with your readership? Insecure much? You preach so much about the awful direction our country is going in yet you censor critical comments worse than our liberal friends in the MSM. C’mon Joe. Grow a pair!
January 10th, 2021 at 1:06 pm
Dungy was terrible last night and sounds like an old kook. He picks 3 talking points and beats them into the ground. We get it, Left Sandwich “deserves” to be a head coach, Taylor Heineken played great.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Father Dungy the turncoat he was biased
Terrible sportscasters
January 10th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Father Dungy was slurping Heineke all night long…deep down he wanted the Bucs to lose…much like Lynch & Gruden do for being “done dirty” by The Bros. Glazer. I bristled when I found out him and Urkel Torico were doing the game. Onward & upward!
January 10th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
If the Bucs defense plays next weekend like it did last night, it’s all over. With that being said, I expect having White back will help significantly. Also, if it’s the Saints as we expect, can Bowles please realize that Brees truly does have a “weenie arm,” and can’t chuck it more than maybe 20 to 25 yards? We can’t simply allow our secondary to play 10 yards off the line of scrimmage or we’ll lose to them a 3rd time.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
Tony dungy most definitely has a reason to lie about brady. Earlier this season he said brady didn’t even crack the top 5 most difficult qbs he had to play against (lie). Lots of head coaches who had to constantly lose to brady and belichick hate both and will try to disparage their reputation at any given moment.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Tony dungy definitely has a reason to lie about brady, he even did it earlier this year when he said brady doesn’t even crack the top 5 qbs he had to game plan against. Any head coach or player that had to constantly lose to brady and bill will constantly try to make them look bad or lie about them. Also dungy said that they shouldn’t even look at replay for the catch on the sideline. Tony what are you on? Such a dumb statement, and the worst part is the on air ref agreed. Jesus.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:53 pm
last night all he talked about was how fantastic heineke was kind of sickening we need a better secondary or a better called defensge just pitiful to watch that kid perform perfectly vs Bucs secondary we will lose by big numbers if we do not tighten up vs saints–why would anyone want to hire Bowles? only thing dominant is run defense FIGURE IT OUT NEXT WEEK TODD BOWLES
January 10th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
I agree. Dungy was terrible. Felt like he was pulling for the Bucs to lose. He was a great head coach…in his own mind. Last night, a few times, he gave his opinion on what the Bucs should do. BA did the opposite and was was successful. Dungy still thought he was right. That’s why he never won Superbowl until he got Manning. Dungy=Defensive guru. Offense, not so much.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:58 pm
Brady played pretty close to perfect last night IMO. I’m guessing 75-80% of passes that were thrown were the correct read and in the receivers hands immediately. He more than impressed me how he kept going back to CG14 even though he must have had jitters with the very unlike Godwin drops last night. I think our offense is firing on all 5 cylinders. From my understanding, the skins are a top 5 defense and other than a few mistakes, we drove the ball at will on them. I think the offense is primed to outscore anyone.
Our defense is a different story. IMO with the offense firing like it is, I think the D should blitz every single down. You are going to win and lose some, but if we could get 50% stops, I think we are going all the way. But no pressure makes any QB look like an MVP. Go Bucs!!! I believe THIS IS OUR YEAR!!!
January 10th, 2021 at 2:00 pm
I like you, Joe, had ignored Tom Brady for many years. I may not have gone quite as far as you in my disdain for the man. I was sick of the Patriots also. I will admit to only watching in a perfunctory way a recent Super Bowl that he was in, however.
I was really intrigued when BA made his remarks about looking behind Door Number Two. I was extremely pleased to discover over the season that Tom Brady really is the super QB as advertised. Likewise I was happy to learn that he is also a fine human being as well.
Go Bucs! Just beat our next opponent convincingly for the benefit of our weaker bandwagon fans. Onward to the Big One!
January 10th, 2021 at 2:26 pm
“…not for aggravation and acid reflux.” Yet as Buc fans that’s mostly what we get. While screaming fu¢k! at the TV I’m thinking to myself, this is what I do for fun. Thank God we won!
January 10th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
HEY JOE,
I think Brady also needs to be given more credit for his influence not only on getting us to add Antonio Brown, but Tom taking an active role in trying to mentor him back into the NFL and to contribute to our team and not cause locker room problems or be a distraction.
I think many are underestimating how incredible it has been to take a guy that was a total loose cannon and quickly turn him into a team player even when he wasn’t getting a lot of targets his way.
It was really nice in that final Atlanta game when AB came off the field after one of his TDs and you can hear Arians say “I love you too.”
AB seems to get better every week. He often draws double teams and has definitely been a huge reason why the Offense is now firing on all cylinders.
The “AB Story” is one that deserves more attention in my opinion.
January 10th, 2021 at 3:09 pm
Priscilla:
Have zero clue what you are referring to. So long as you don’t attack Joe or commit a Crime Against Joe or run afoul of Google, Joe has no reason to delete any comment.
… Other Joe jumping in here, the one who deletes hundreds of comments that aren’t nice … –Joe
January 10th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Dingy couldn’t win it all with a team loaded with talent. He held the team back with his one dimensional vision. He is a very poor analyst. Very boring and not very insightful. He opinions are usually incorrect.
He pushed the Glazers to hire his cronie , Lovie (the loser) Smith. So he set the team back in two different decades. Tony is no friend of the Buccaneers.
January 10th, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Surprised you never realized that Joe. Brady and Manning are the same, they are very good at maneuvering around the pocket and buying that extra half second to get the pass off
January 10th, 2021 at 6:21 pm
PRICSILLA-
If what you’re posting is political and not about the Buccaneers and football then I hope Joe does bandit. Not the place, especially now when we are finally relevant in a playoff. Go Bucs!
January 10th, 2021 at 6:29 pm
I am a nurse who used to attend Super Bowel every year with my ex husband and hated it. In the year of 2001, I was watching TV with my friend and Tom Brady was playing against Raiders. On the snowy day, I fell in love with Football game. Tom Brady demands PERFECTION. If his team did not perform well, he was hard on himself the most and said ” We have to do it better”. Past 21 yrs, I experienced cancer and Covid 19. Both time Tom Brady gave me POSITIVE ENERGY and Thank God I survived. I received “Nightingale Award” for Excellence in Nursing. Thank you Tom Brady for your excellence in football. Go Buccaneers !!
January 10th, 2021 at 6:41 pm
Of course it’s not political. It was about Tony Dungy being insufferable last night. Total anti-Bucs and anti-Brady. But Joe slurps Dungy and thinks Belichick is a fraud, which in my mind speaks volumes about Joe. He decided that my sentiment should be censored. Joe censors lots of comments that are not complimentary of Joe because he has very thin skin.
January 10th, 2021 at 7:05 pm
The best coach the Bucs ever had, knows the importance of having a great quarterback. Peyton helped Tony win the superbowl, defensive head coaches need a great quarterback i.e. Belicheat.
January 10th, 2021 at 7:38 pm
Priscilla it sounds like you need to lighten up and enjoy the playoffs. Like you’re looking for confrontation. Just an Objective observation. Maybe I’m totally wrong, I don’t know.
As for Dungee, great guy, great coach but horribly boring as an announcer. I didn’t think he was against the Bucs or Brady, I just thought he was way too into Wash QB. I think they expected Washington to be blown out were trying to hype up keeping it close. Him and Turico together are enough to put me to sleep though.
Go Bucs!
January 10th, 2021 at 7:45 pm
Priscilla
Paranoia much? I’ve posted here for a half dozen years now. I’ve agreed with Joe and I’ve debated Joe.
Neither of the Joes have ever censored me.
If you had been here long enough you’d realize that the software does most of the censoring which is a major PITA for Joe who has to fish them out. I find that they do well at that even though I’m sure they have better things to do.
I find it amusing you accuse Joe of being liberal..LMAO…I’m liberal and I can assure you Joe is not. But I respect them because they have been very fair in their treatment of BOTH sides despite their own opinions.
January 10th, 2021 at 8:07 pm
Damn, can’t believe you didn’t watch Brady play. I get you hate the Patriots, I was no fan of them either, but as a fan of the game I enjoy watching greatness. And Brady certainly is great. I couldn’t stand the 49ers back in the day, but I watched them to see Montana, Rice, Lott, Craig and company, always with an envious eye. Same with Mahomes nowadays.
January 10th, 2021 at 8:08 pm
Exactly JOE just bc its on media doesnt make it true like you never watching the goat play and making judgments….if you would have watched him play and the most amazing comebacks known to man you would know why he is called the goat….its alot diff when you think for your self..now on to NO we need to hold the line just like against WFT NO Pass rush is also brutal…extra tight ends again quick passing and use a balanced attack with the run game to throw off the D ..if thst isnt working of course have a back up plan….we made good adjustments with our blitzes late in the game bc we could not get through but next game if our blitzes arent working make adjust quicker to get to brees…were gonna have to play tough hard nose defense this. game..we need rojo and LF…3rd time is a charm lets beat the hell out of NO THIS IS WHEN IT MATTERS TAMPA BAY ALL THE WAY
January 10th, 2021 at 9:09 pm
I have to give Leftwich and Arians a.heap of credit where.it is due.The playcalling and execution.have improved across the board. The one part of this team that seems to not be improving and its when and where todd bowles calls.for soft cushion coverage. I feel he goes soft when he should be a little.more aggressive. Every team that plays us simply.send a man in motion to see if our dbs follow and when they dont fire to the sweet spot. This roster thrives in tighter coverage and the long drives they are allow8ng isnt going to hack it against the Saints or Greenbay (I dont care if we beat them before) Its do or die and they will mop the floor with the bucs if they dont nut up.
January 10th, 2021 at 9:29 pm
Hey, stpetebucsfan, I second the sentiments you expressed in you response to Priscilla.
I consider myself an independent and a staunch centrist for the most part. This means I come down on the liberal side on one issue and then on the conservative side on another issue. I look at both sides of many issues as much as is humanly possible for me. I do have strong convictions about many basic things also. I am not wishy-washy or weak on the basic American values that we all mostly share.
I really wish, though, that politics could be “banned” here sometimes. But reality says otherwise for the most part. The reality is that fans, players, coaches, owners, etc. are all diverse human beings with the gamut of opinions. So what!
Hopefully all of us together can enjoy a wonderful ride with our Bucs for many years to come now that we have won our first playoff game in so many years. Go Bucs!
January 10th, 2021 at 9:58 pm
So the guy who writes about football for a living doesn’t watch the Super Bowl? Ok, it all makes sense now doesn’t it. Hilarious. He would have watched if “pro football hall of fame absolute lock” Johnny Football was playing. Hahahahaha
January 10th, 2021 at 10:58 pm
I am Patriots fan and have been since birth but this season I have followed Tom south and been all in with the Bucs. I did this because Brady is my all time favorite player and because belichick screwed Tom out of retiring a Patriot by not offering him a long term in ’17 and ’18 and by belichick being the worst gm in football. You guys can call me a bandwagon jumper but I love watching the man play quarterback and cannot help but to root for him, with that being said the secondary and the injury to Cappa is very concerning but here is hoping to the Bucs continued success
January 10th, 2021 at 11:57 pm
Even at 43 #12 is this season’s messiah…I’ve watched +40 years of Bucs’ football and I’m convinced that we all witnessed the best overall QB play in the history of this woebegone franchise. Sure the GOAT missed a few here/there, but his accuracy is superb and velocity really, really shocked me. When was the last time we had a QB dropping consistently YAC-able balls on target 20+ yards downfield? When was the last time we actually enjoyed the ride and didn’t pucker up every time the ball was heaved downfield?
January 11th, 2021 at 12:14 am
If the defense doesn’t play better next Sunday its going to be a real short night ! Brady isn’t a miracle worker !!!
January 11th, 2021 at 2:37 am
3 & 14 SB 49. 11:00 4th qtr GOAT status achieved. Nobody steps up in the pocket like that guy
January 11th, 2021 at 7:18 am
Sounds like Joe needs to grow up. The Patriots didn’t steal his lollipop and of he truly feels that way he has to have disdain for Tom Brady as well given he “did time” for deflate gate. Maybe he can just grownup and let it go like and adult. They may be too much to ask from the poor boy
January 11th, 2021 at 9:58 am
I can’t understand why Brady isn’t getting more consideration for the NFL’s MVP. Yes, Mahomes and the Chiefs are rolling right along like a well-oiled machine, but after all, with relatively no changes in personnel, etc., that’s what they were expected to do. But with Brady under center, the Bucs have achieved a 180° turn-around. That’s a remarkable feat, especially when one considers that Brady is working with a new team, in a new environment, with a new playbook and coaches and almost no time to practice before the season. Not to mention that his numbers are among the best of his illustrious career and are equal to, or better than most NFL quarterbacks this year. C’mon!!!!
January 11th, 2021 at 11:31 am
When has Tom Brady ever played with a cast this good, aside from some outstanding Olines (but not every year) and a few good receivers? If you’re a New England fan, you wanted to see it. If you’re a football fan, you hoped to see it. And if you’re a Bucs fan, you love seeing it! I’d rather see TB12 play like this in Tampa, than be saddled with a bad team, as Bilichick does whatever. TB12 deserves it. The Bucs deserve it. Tampa deserves it! Football is better for it. Cheers!!!
January 11th, 2021 at 12:46 pm
The thing about Dungy’s comment is that Brady’s ability to maneuver within the pocket has always been well-known as one of the strongest aspects of his game. So, that was a really weird comment.