Did Tom Brady Take Control Of The Offense?
January 2nd, 2023
Took control?
Very, very, very interesting intel from the pride of Seminole High School, Jeff Darlington of ESPN.
When you work for the four-letter (and the Fort Knox-like vault of cash they drop on the NFL each year), you get access that most of the local slobs like Joe in the Tampa Bay pen and mic club don’t.
So Darlington passed along information from stud receiver Mike Evans. It seemed Tom Brady was bound and determined to light up Carolina’s secondary on Sunday, and Evans was going to be his main target. No matter what.
As Darlington Twittered, “[Evans] said Brady kept telling him, ‘I’m gonna keep coming to you no matter what.'”
Hhhmmm?
Most of the season Joe has been trying to figure out who changed the offense from no-risk-it; no-biscuit to a power running team specializing in short passes, Bucs coach Todd Bowles or failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich?
This has been the main reason why the Bucs were fighting for their lives to win the lousy NFC South.
Well, based on Evans’ words to Darlington yesterday, it sure smells like at least for one game, Brady put his foot down and decided to take control of the offense.
The way the offense played yesterday, Joe would be perfectly fine letting Brady call the plays the rest of the way out, if Brady was calling the shots on Sunday. Or maybe he’s been in charge for weeks?
What I found most interesting talking to Bucs WR Mike Evans today: He said Brady kept telling him, “I’m gonna keep coming to you no matter what.” Evans hadn’t scored a TD since Week 4, but Brady was ready to ride or die with him in this pivotal game. 10 catches, 207 yds, 3 TDs. pic.twitter.com/7U2MndfGrO
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 2, 2023
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:18 am
Something good happens it’s because of Brady, but anything bad is due to Leftwich. Pathetic agenda from Joe. Perhaps you missed this story. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2023/01/new-year-new-byron-leftwich/ It’s you with the agenda. –Joe
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:58 am
It was probably something in between. BL clearly knows things haven’t done well with him calling plays, and Brady is frankly, more experienced in the game, period. So Brady had perhaps more input than usual is my hunch. However, the clock management and that 4th and 1 decision in first half to do a FG (as well as the 53-yarder) is aggravating, especially with the Bowles rationale…”we will get it first the second half” (which was a flop). Not to mention the classic run, pass, sack, punt sequence we are so familiar with in the first half. They still haven’t clicked in all 4 quarters on the offense, no matter who is at the helm of play calling. This team is still not “Tennessee-ready,” much less playoff-ready. Go Bucs!
January 2nd, 2023 at 5:09 am
What’s pathetic Chris is having Lefty autograph a pair of kneepads for you.
January 2nd, 2023 at 5:13 am
The most interesting part is we look comfortable out there and defense seems pumped up
January 2nd, 2023 at 5:16 am
A couple times the Fox broadcast noted that BL tried to sub personnel in and Brady waved them off and called his own number to execute qb sneaks.
About dang time! All year they couldn’t rush for a yard on 3rd or 4th down, finally someone took some initiative to break the insanity.
January 2nd, 2023 at 5:17 am
Sucks how Brady made the playoffs for his 19 time while the BUCS is just a guest to the his party.
January 2nd, 2023 at 5:52 am
Lamarcus. The whole NFL has been a guest at his party for 23 years. Why hate? We are nearing the end for him. Might as well enjoy it while we can. The NFL is better with him in it.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:07 am
BTW. The media creates that narrative. Brady is the ultimate team guy. He always gives all credit to teammates and coaches. He’s a We guy not a Me guy. Look past the media narratives and you’ll see why every guy who has ever played with him has nothing but praise for him.
The media narrative has created a lot of haters along with the supporters. He took an average skillset and worked his azz off to become the best we’ve ever seen. We’ve never seen a competitive drive like his and we likely never will again.
I didn’t like Jordan until later in his career when I got a little more mature myself and realized what he was all about.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:36 am
Come on Joe. I get the need for click bait but sheesh. Doesnt every play have multiple options? You know, the QB has to go through his progressios? What you wrote can mean a lot of things. But most likely Brady was telling Evans to be ready despite what Bradys progression keys might be showing him. Or maybe Brady too over the offense 🤔. But he hasnt seemed to make any noise in that regard in 3 yrs.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:40 am
Look at the splits between hurry up and non-hurry up in that game. It’s massive and clearly shows less Leftwich is better.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:47 am
lol, Chop block
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:48 am
Lamarcus is Oneilbuc’s little brother. Both would rather the Bucs suck than have to watch Brady every week. Truth hurts don’t it, Hater.
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:05 am
Kentucky Buc; From a former WV boy and career Brady fan let me say “YOU NAILED IT”
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:17 am
Well, he (Brady) continued to refer to his “wrist” play break down/ options guide all game long. He had for the previous years referred to it a lot in the past. Not so much and or as much through this year until this game. Says a lot I’m sure. Also the coaches through this week declared that “the shackles” were coming off. It seemed to me that the coaches Finally came to their senses or they were “forced to” do so as Joe stated a few articles back. Obviously Something changed. We went back to as close as possible, “Buccaneers Ball”. Forced? Might well be the truth. It SURE DIDN’T SEEM LIKE Bowles had any intention of changing back to what got us there the previous 2 years before this game.
On Brady waiving off personal. It was clear that Brady was finally “willing” to risk his own body and decided to Go For It on the QB sneak options. And did. Worked Every Time…..
Not sure if the coaches were forced to “play nice” but it sure was nice to see. To watch to Bombs fly again….. Good for the soul. Bowles stile felt like death via slow poisoning. And Leftwich… Nobody is really saying why the drama and self deficating offensive product he’s been puking out there. Sure was nice to see him playing ball as well…
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:30 am
Evans is open on every play at 6-5 230 , so it begs the question-Where was this determination to feed Evans the rest of this season? Brady calls his own game , so please..
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:33 am
It’s clear Brady and BL are friends so it’s probably as simple as him telling BL, if I see it I’m taking it. What is BL gonna do tell him no? BL probably said, just don’t let Todd know. Don’t p@ss off the haters insinuating a white man is calling the shots.
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:34 am
The defensive coverage is what dictated those deep shots to Mike Evans. All three times, even in the stands I saw Mike with the CB playing off and the safety focusing elsewhere. I knew Brady would see it too. To the amazement of the folks around me, I called all three TD’s. Not because I’m so smart. It was obvious.
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:36 am
All 3 of Mike’s TD’s came while Brady called his own plays running a no huddle. Need to do more of that during the game. Been saying all year, mix in no huddle and with Brady calling his own plays this offense will score points.
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:49 am
Scubog, you mean there’s no conspiracy and Brady was just opportunisticly reading coverage against a favorable matchup?? Heresy!! You should be banned for your use of eyeballs and logic!! Brady has never done that in his career.
January 2nd, 2023 at 7:56 am
The Bucs will limp into the playoffs and maybe even win a game. A meaningless meaningful season that started with the moniker of “unfinished business” and will end with it, too.
The downside to all of that is Bowles is coming back. Yeah. No way the owners let him go. Leftwich will be gone. But so what? Brady will also be gone. A lot of vets will be gone.
Get ready for a return of 6 won seasons.
Unless … Brady tells the owners what it will take to bring him back. We will know within 48 hours of the final loss because if the Glazers are going to get Brady a coach, they have to move quickly.
With Tia’s concussions, Miami is back in play.
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:05 am
Brady showed that you have to respect Evans and the deep ball again. That is key for allowing the Bucs offense to get back on track.
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:20 am
Brady and Leftwich are really good friends. Brady hugged Leftwich on the sidelines, and you could see the Love Brady has for him.
Arians said he missed coaching, but was done. He also said he cussed out a couple of our players yesterday, because he misses that so much!
The 3 TD Passes to Evans will help our running game I think. So glad the No Risk It No Biscuit appears to be back!
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:24 am
@Macgruder Joe. Cool story bro. What your readers really want to know is whether or not there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll.
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:46 am
Lol Good one
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:59 am
Kinda makes you wonder what the OTHER Carolina secondary people were tasked with on those 3 td’s, was reminding me of CD3 vs the Cheetah in that horrible game
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:00 am
Good friends or not. It’s clear that one guy knows how to run an offense and the other guy is in over his head. Maybe it took BL 17 weeks to realize that. Brady’s hurry up offense has been successful because BL can’t get in the way. I hoped there would be a point where Brady told BL that he is in charge. We could be in for a good run if this continues into the playoffs.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:06 am
I agree with Chris and was thinking the exact same thing reading this article. Good offensive game = Brady must be in control, Bad offensive game = Leftwich is the problem. Running every 1st = Leftwich is the problem despite the QB having the ability to audible at the LOS.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:19 am
I think it’s more likely that someone at the executive level told Bowles to let go of the offense and let BL go back to NRNB. I’m starting to think that Bowles has been the biggest problem with the offense all year.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:34 am
The best way to honor BA’s ring of honor ceremony. I’m so happy. Go Bucs!
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:41 am
I could only get the game via live radio. BA was interviewed after Mike’s first TD he was asked if he thought the offense should have been playing like this more often. His response was I prefer to take a more approach. A definite shot at Bowles.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:41 am
Sorry ” take a more AGGRESSIVE approach!”
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:44 am
Brady hasn’t had a running game all season. The guy has 716 pass attempts. The bucs have to find a way and keep teams honest at least. They have been one dimensional all season.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:52 am
Bruce Arians stepped in because he couldn’t stomach being made a fool for advocating for Leftwch and Bowls.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:47 am
It’s what the matchup dictated. The panthers secondary was beat up and ready to be shredded. It’s what should have happened in Pittsburgh as well.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:11 am
This is similar to the announcers thinking it was a mistake that the cannon fires inside the red zone. Brady has been reassuring Evans that he’s not lost confidence in him all year. National people come in and think it’s something that just happened.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:17 am
Brady did waive off a call and run a QB sneak. I guess that could be called taking over and running the offense for that play.
I got to agree with all the others. This site is all about giving Brady all the credit for the wins and Bowles and Leftwich credit for the loses. It’s getting stale. It’s not lost on us why either.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:22 am
YES, & “Play-Action,” Cchead!!!!
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:29 am
Stanglassman, I am sure coaching is a part of the victories but Stan, when the team gets a beat down or any loss it’s always on Brady. The narrative for the 49ers after that game was how a 3rd string QB beat Brady, NOT the Bucs and their coaches. Brady gets it more than most due to his age. It’s no surprise he would be credited for the win as well. In KC it’s Mahomes, Bill’s Allen, etc. It’s always on the QB. Even in the 2017 SB, Brady threw for over 500 yds and 3 or 4 td’s but it was the final strip sack with a minute left that shifted the loss to Brady. Nick Foles a backup QB, beat Brady in the SB. It is what it is.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:34 am
The Fox Broadcast said several times, that Leftwich and Brady told them they were changing things before this game and that the shackles and reigns that had been placed on the offense all year were coming off. That they were unleashing the offense, which had been shackled all season…..
It was obvious all year they were running that old Jets offense. It’s been obvious all season. It’s also obvious, that with the season on the line, Leftwich and Brady were playing how they wanted to, and were not playing in that old Jets offense.
The big question now is, will they keep playing this way going forward, or are the shackles going back on, like they did in the second half against the Bengals? Or is Brady just going to do what he wants (as he should) going forward?
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:41 am
You jokers are so funny. Blasting Brady for EVERY missed pass even though his line sucks (except for most of this game), worst running game in history of merged NFL, and throws the most BY FAR the most passes of anyone in the league. To you, he is the problem every time he misses a pass. EVERYONE misses passes. He is less than 1% away from Mahomes in completion percentage and at his career %. But when he has a great game… its the coaches? WTF is your malfunction? Can you not understand how football works? The line blocked better and the coaches got the h$ll out of the way is what happened.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:47 am
Can Brady take over Special Teams too? How can it be that the Bucs coaches don’t know that Succop can’t make 50+ yard field goals?
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Chris is right. Everything good is because of Brady and Everything bad is Leftwich, at least in the fans eyes. Brady SHOULD have more control and say in the offense with Arians gone. This mess is as much on him as it is Leftwich.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Brandon Says:
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Chris is right. Everything good is because of Brady and Everything bad is Leftwich, at least in the fans eyes. Brady SHOULD have more control and say in the offense with Arians gone. This mess is as much on him as it is Leftwich.
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Not even sure if this is intended to be serious, or if it’s sarcasm?
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:30 pm
“As Darlington Twittered, “[Evans] said Brady kept telling him, ‘I’m gonna keep coming to you no matter what.’””
I’m pretty sure Tom Brady said that because he wanted to make sure Mike Evans continued his consecutive years 1,000+ yard receiving. Brady was doing his best to support Mike Evans hall of fame career
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Lemarcus…. how many people give everyone and Jordan credit for all those Bulls championship? When you have the GOAT, it kind of goes with the territory.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:37 pm
Spot on observation, they are giving the mob the red meat they want to believe. Ego cannot accept Brady misses open receivers, throws ball in dirt right away to avoid contact and was the starting QB of an underachieving offense. He gets credited (as he should) for the great comeback victories, but his failures are all on the coaches as far as these people can see.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Just like half way through the first season Tom had enough and he knows he’s not getting benched. Do what you need to win the game and disregard unqualified coaching
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:31 pm
I starting to wonder if the same person on this site is posting comments under different names. Obviously that easy to do based on how you enter your name.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:31 pm
I starting to wonder if the same person on this site is posting comments under different names. Obviously that easy to do based on how you enter your name.
see
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:10 pm
Yup, they “Gave Brady the ball .”
It wasn’t announced, of course, but the owners (the only ones with the authority and inclination to do it), imo, said something like: “Byron can call-in the plays as usual, and Tom can do it, or execute the play he wants for this game, and we’ll see what happens.”
Something that makes good sense finally happened, and with great results.
Do it next week, again, and the Buccaneers should have a winning season of 9-8.
That looks good in the standings, doesn’t it?
They make the playoffs with a winning record.
January 3rd, 2023 at 8:56 am
So, here’s a thought. The big story coming out of last year and the off season was that Brady and Leftwich were against BA coming in with his red marker and dicing up their game plans. Given that Brady seems to be pushing against Leftwich now, was it Byron and BA with the rift all along and Brady was on the BA side of things wanting to push the ball down the field? Would make sense with what Brady and BA saying as he was walking out the door that the two had a great relationship and there was no issues there.