Can The Bucs Adjust On Offense?
December 17th, 2022
“No Byron. ‘Downfield’ means throwing past the sticks.”
Joe is willing to bet he knows the answer to the question in the headline.
And the answer is: Hell no.
Last week the Bucs got woodshedded by the 49ers defense. Part of this is that, as Derrik Klassen of Football Outsiders pointed out, the 49ers defense is very good against short passes.
The Bucs, for reasons that have escaped Joe, decided it was a smart move to go from one of the best offenses in the league last year that relied on downfield passing to a dink-and-dunk offense — despite not being built for that.
Klassen maintains the Bengals will stomp the Bucs offense worse than the 49ers did last weekend. Why is that? He says advanced stats show the Bengals have one of the best defenses in the NFL at stopping short passes. Better than the 49ers’, even.
Only the Chiefs (duh) and the Saints have generated positive EPA against the Bengals on short throws. The Bucs just don’t have a single YAC threat that suggests they will be the third team to crack into that group against Cincinnati. They don’t really have any other modes of offense right now, though, so they are going to have to pray the Bengals forget how to tackle for a few hours.
As Joe looks back (so far) on the 2022 season, perhaps the biggest mistake was for Bucs coach Todd Bowles to stray from the no-risk-it; no-biscuit offense. You know, fix something that is not broken?
Bowles stated he didn’t want to run the same offense that worked so well the past three seasons because, in part, he was convinced the Bucs were out of gas in January running that offense. Bowles wanted the Bucs to have fresh legs for the playoffs.
At the rate things are going, the Bucs will have fresh legs next month all right. Fresh legs for hanging on beaches throughout the Caribbean and Central America while other teams play in the postseason.
Can failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich adjust?
Yeah, right.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:02 pm
No.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:05 pm
What’s the temp tomorrow?
December 17th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Top 3 worse coaching staff in the nfl.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
No. Leftwich doesn’t believe in adjusting. Brady and our receivers have lost their rhythm. They’ve been out of sync most of the season, and it’s not going to magically reappear in the last month. We’re toast.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:10 pm
These players haven’t been held accountable all year as well. I would say this team is the most disappointing team by far in this nfl season.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:12 pm
It’s Bowles fault as much as BL.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
It’s probably what they want, no post season…
December 17th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
No rhythm because they are band from practicing 1 on 1’s. The Bengals lost to some shat teams. They beat the Jets early and Miami when Tua was out. The only real team they beat was KC, apparently they match up well against them.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
No. Unless Brady picks up his game and we play a really crappy team. Not tomorrow…
December 17th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
If only we had a real coaching staff maybe they would have a chance. Sad watching this crap. Feels like a wasted year.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Aint a chance,its all over but the crying
December 17th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
No chance,its all over but the crying
December 17th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
I feel that there are coaches in the local Pop Warner, and Mid Florida Elite leagues that could out coach Leftwich.
At least some of those coaches know how to craft their scheme to the talent they have on the team and how to adjust the game plan mid game lol.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
Brady needs a blocking fullback, the o line needs all the help it can get
December 17th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
You think Leftwich will make adjustments?
Bahahahahahahahahaha
The only thing Leftwich has shown he’s good at is playing directly into our opponents strengths. Example:
Pittsburg missing the best pass rusher in the league + their top 3 defensive backs. But they were still stout against the run. What does Leftwich do? Runs it up the middle for no gain the entire game.
SF is excellent against short passes. What does Leftwich do? Calls short passes and WR screens (with no one blocking) over and over all game.
He is beyond incompetent. Can’t wait for him to be fired this off-season.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
If they could adjust I’d think they would have done it by now. Given the state of our O-line, they’re not able to just switch back completely to the 2020-2021 offense. If they can’t give Brady time then it’s impossible to fully execute the no-risk-it-no-biscuit offense.
At the beginning of the season when they realized that it was 2022 and Marpet was gone, Jenson was on IR, Gronk was gone, and the continuity of the O-line was gone, that’s when some major adjustments needed to be made to the offense. If they began working on it back then and continued to tweak it over the course of the season maybe they’d get to the point where they could put a competant offense on the field by now.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Did anyone notice they never keep the back in to block? It’s always a chip then into a pass route? They used to keep the back in from time to time. That was the demise of Rojo.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Yawn… sorry Joes
I return out of habit and then can’t bare to read
The Lost Season
The most bizarre chapter in Buccaneer history
It’s like trying to crank a dead battery and expecting it to start the next time you turn the key
December 17th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Yes as long as Brady don’t bring the red pen and change the plays back to dink donk passes the night before.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Joe are you saying the Bucs are choosing to throw short by design, as opposed to Brady having to check it down and throw short because of the offensive line?
December 17th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
I think the lack of a running game has killed this offense as well. They’re dead last in rushing. They need to find a way and get a running game going.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
I keep seeing these articles failing to mention the O line weakness. Go full time heavy sets might be the only answer . That or hurry up . Something has to be done to compensate. I have little faith this will happen this late in the season.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Watching the colts this afternoon – looks like a guy with no coaching experience can come off the street and get a flailing team fired up in only a couple weeks. Refreshing to watch the ability to improve and play tough.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
On any give Sunday … .
December 17th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
Just a little imagination with the offense would go a long way. Have we seen this year a time when there was a receiver wide open because the the defense was confused on assignments because of receiver routes. A Bucs receiver anyway, we have seen other offenses do it all year.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
The real story of this season is how OL injuries and bad OL play is preventing Brady from having time to throw. I just don’t buy that Bowles actually ordered them not throw it deep. Also, Brady has been throwing deep, just not connecting.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:32 pm
bowleszo is the main problem . leftworst is calling plays to fit bowleszo strategy of no more of the ” no risk,,no biscuit”
Unfortunately Bowleszo is not going anywhere for 3 yrs..although he looks like he’s throwing Leftnut under that bus
December 17th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Maybe….just maybe he brings it back when it counts? I think the challenge is our o-line is super avg, we just can’t pass block long enough to let a plat develop without a high probability of a holding call negating any long completion.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:37 pm
Bucs don’t feel so bad, Indy beating g Minn 33-0 at the half. You’re no longer the laughing stock of the league.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
NEfan i think everyone and their momma knew that the Vikings where overrated. Meanwhile the bucs have should have a better record than 6-7 even with some flaws.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
It’s obvious that Leftwich has a low football IQ which was hidden by BA.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Is it possible that the Bucs are “resting” players this Sunday, as a loss to an AFC team is rather benign? Isn’t tomorrow’s game a throw-away game? The Bucs will be more interested in winning on Christmas Day and totally focused when they meet Division rivals. Just my blink.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:57 pm
Can they adjust? Absolutely.
Will they? Obviously not.
The fact that they can buy refuse to makes it all the worse.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
Licht: ” “. (Silence all year, no action)
Bowles: “We understand…”
Leftwich: “We do what we do.”
It all starts with the Trio of Travesty, then it goes downhill from there.
If we get smoked tomorrow, even if we miraculously win 2-3 more games after that to “win” the division, still will have no hope for this team.
What a lost season!!!
December 17th, 2022 at 3:09 pm
The advanced passing metrics are telling. Brady ranks next to last in yards per pass attempt. 27th in air yards per pass. The man vs. Zone numbers tell another tale of woe. Brady ranks 29th in completion % vs. man. His numbers against zone are all middling. Bucs recievers also rank 4th in dropped passed. his ranking in deep ball attempts is good for 5th with 60. But the completion % on those throws is ranked 25th. The lack of a running game has basically scrapped the play action game. I think they intended to do a ton of that. Instead of modifying the scheme to fit what they are, they’ve continue to pretend nothing is wrong.
December 17th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
#FFSFL
December 17th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
(ffs fire Leftwich)
December 17th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
The o line sucks. All in the trenches.
December 17th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
You’d think the glazers would be embarrassed but somehow I doubt they even watch the games
December 17th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Agree, Redeemer. It all starts and ends with the O-line. NO running game this year, at all!!! Horrific. And it hasn’t been addressed, at all.
Biggest problem is definitely the line, and nobody can convince me otherwise. Nothing will work with such a pathetic line.
Thanks, JL, for ignoring glaring holes.
Thanks, Bowles, for being so stoic and dull.
Thanks, Leftwhichdidhego, for being pathetically predictable and felonious lack of adjusting scheme to players actually on the team.
Thanks, players, for realizing the Suck starts at top and matriculates itself down to the Assistant Water-Boy internship program.
Thanks. Thanks! THANKS???
Geez man I’m pessimistic today.
December 17th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Sorry, typo. Meant to type, “Leftwhichwaydidhego.”
December 17th, 2022 at 3:35 pm
Haven’t adjusted thru 13 games, don’t see it happening now.
December 17th, 2022 at 3:36 pm
Players are setting t times for January
December 17th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Lamarcus Says:
December 17th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Yes as long as Brady don’t bring the red pen and change the plays back to dink donk passes the night before.
—————————————————————–
Bowles is the one that wants to dink and dunk. He even said himself he wasn’t allowing no risk it no biscuit when he is the head coach. It wasn’t Brady’s decision, it was Bowles’ decision.
December 17th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
@Redeemer i wanna know where the bucs ranked in terms of wideouts getting separation. I believe there’s a stat about that. Anyone have any ideas?
December 17th, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Drink at every dunk. More fun that way.
December 17th, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Lol. Same question every week. No they can’t because they choose not to. Let’s stick to our BS scheme with a huge amount of injured players. But I can agree with others that I’m interested in seeing Hall on the outside.
December 17th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
I give up I tried to make a post 3 times. Watch this one will work. Lol
December 17th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Only now are Buc Fans understanding the Bowzo Prevent Game Plans.
December 17th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Redeemer … Thanks for the stats & for ‘looking deeper’. Gets really boring when folks do nothing but bitch & either don’t take the time to look deeper at the WHY or just parrot what BS that some media & fans spew.
BL is who he is; no surprises there. Same with Todd Bowles; he’s been here for 3 years & was never demonstrative on the sidelines during games. Fans knew that. BA knew that. JL knew that.
Teams have figured out BA’s defense & the 45-year-old GOAT. Not that hard considering that our OLine can’t protect him long enough to make the ‘bombs away’ offense work. Thus a lot of 2-safeties high? Thus a lot of man-to-man? No running game took away any options that we MIGHT have had.
December 17th, 2022 at 4:57 pm
Hilarious?
6-7 and folks want to know of the Bucs can adjust?
HA!
December 17th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
Amaury, last in separation
December 17th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
After we lose tmorro I’ll be looking forward to Bowles presser for critical analysis. “We have to coach better. We have to execute better and stop beating ourselves”.
December 17th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Wow, talk about making adjustments at half time. I’m not sure if the Vikings are really good or the Colts are really bad.
December 17th, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Such a joke coaching staff. Bowels is a straight asshole who ruined a really good team. Yea yea I know we lost a few players but to be this bad is sad
December 17th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
Agreed, Captain. I did not get to watch the game but the Vikings coach must have REALLY done some adjusting with the plays and fired up the team. Unreal!
December 17th, 2022 at 6:06 pm
NEfan that’s not a good stat to have and it has to be a reason for the struggles offensively.
December 17th, 2022 at 6:20 pm
Amaury, part of that is on the oline. 4 out of 7 of Bucs losses are one possession games and 4 out of 6 wins are one possession games. That’s really sad for team that 31points a game was the standard. Somebody should have brought some olinemen in once Jensen went down. I guess when you’ve lost so much the winning learning curb ain’t so easy, from the top down.
December 17th, 2022 at 6:24 pm
@NEFan
What about the New England Patriot classic play from Bill O’Brien called empty “Juke?”
Evans is lined up wide on the numbers on the 2 WR side running the Gronk special of a fade/hitch/slant option route and the slot receiver is running a seam.
On the trips side put Godwin in the slot and have him run the “Juke” route against a slow MLB, with the outside WR’s run seams up the hash and the numbers.
TB12 made a killing off of that play, and what I just described would be just as devastating as Gronk/Edleman or Welker or White.
You’d be playing to the strengths of ME13 as a physical one on one matchup and capitalizing on Godwins superior route running and separation.
Unfortunately I doubt Leftwich lacks the intellectual curiosity to seek out creative solutions that have worked in the past for TB12.
December 17th, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Boat
Its hard to believe that a coach looking for redemption is going to cancel a high scoring offense in his first year. With Brady!!! That’s hard to believe.
December 17th, 2022 at 6:32 pm
The bucs offense is a joke.
1) Run on 1st down.
2) Run to where the motion guy goes
3) Run over left tackle/guard.
4) Get 1 yard.
5) If the have 2 backs then hand it off to back on right side.
Byron just doesn’t get it. If I can call what they will do on offense 9 out of ten times then so can the other coaches. He’s a joke. he just keeps doing the same thing over and over. If it doesn’t work, then do something else.
December 17th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
NO Risket… No biscut, BOMBZ AWAY BABY..
December 17th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Notice how many are calling for BA? This has his sabotage stink written all over it. He wants to claim Bucs couldn’t win a SB without him. The truth is the Killer B’s that he left the Bucs with can’t win without him.
December 17th, 2022 at 6:41 pm
Aha! The plan has worked. The entire NFL has been led to a false sense of security when playing the Buccaneers! Now, when no one expects it, Tom Brady-the GOAT will reappear, Ryan Jensen comes back and Gronk rejoins the team! What a plan!
December 17th, 2022 at 6:53 pm
Wishful thinking
December 17th, 2022 at 8:42 pm
@Kentucky –
I’ve been pounding my fists for weeks about going max protect / heavy sets!
We did it all the time in 2019 and 2020, and it was super successful! This year? Barely at all! Against SF, perhaps the best defense in the league? Not even once!
Leftwich has go to go.
December 17th, 2022 at 9:13 pm
I don’t know what to say about the Bucs anymore. I am very disappointed in them all around. Poor coaching. Poor execution. Poor Effort.
December 17th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Nope! Not with that guy calling the shots!
December 17th, 2022 at 10:22 pm
The OC is still running his preseason playbook – about 20 plays and maybe 2/3 new ones a week
There is a 11 year old kid in Section 220 about 2 rows up and to the right of us that tells his dad and all of us the play call correctly about 70% of the time pre snap when we are on O
Words can’t describe how basic, simple, archaic, old school, slow, inconsistent and pitiful our run game is
And although we chuck up a bunch of yards passing, we can’t score to save our life
Red zone play calling is criminal- how many times have we watched 3 passes from inside the 10 and every one of them is sideways or backwards????
Bengals are licking their chops
December 17th, 2022 at 10:42 pm
How many times do you people need to realize no risk/nobiscuit was tossed away in 2020 halfway during the season to go back to Brady ofence. Intermediate routes with a setting up shots down the field. Arians was a loud mouth with a huge ego. Would he be doing better with this roster? Probably because the two guys they have right now are a complete fiasco. But not much better. Without Brady he’s another borderline good coach.
December 17th, 2022 at 11:24 pm
Get over the Tom Brady groupie crap. He’s too old and he sucks. If the team shows up tomorrow, they need to behead his worthless butt if he helps the Bengals.
December 17th, 2022 at 11:49 pm
Oral same post since he arrived at One Bucs Place, you left out your signature word fossil. It’s you that needs to drop the Brady hate.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
Is the line going to approve from their performance the last 13 weeks? I doubt it so, Brady is going to have to continue to throw the short passes because he doesn’t have time to throw the 20-yard ones.