Will Byron Leftwich Target A Weakness?
January 13th, 2023
Please throw deep.
This game still makes Joe toss at night and periodically have to eat TUMS in the wee hours of the morning.
The Bucs were headed to Pittsburgh to face the reeling Steelers in October. Pittsburgh’s secondary was decimated by injuries. They were basically starting practice squad dudes. Even All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was out
With the Bucs having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, this was going to be one of the greatest mismatches of mismatches. So what did failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich do? He dinked and dunked and tried to pound the ball on the Steelers, whose bread and butter is stopping the run.
It was the most irresponsible gameplan Joe had ever seen.
Naturally, the Bucs lost in overtime.
(The next week Leftwich and his offense played even worse against a team that just canned its head coach, the Stinking Panthers. And it was then that Joe was fully fed up with Leftwich as the Bucs offensive coordinator and called for the Bucs to make a change to save their Super Bowl aspirations.)
If you believe the words typed by follically-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN, if the Cowboys have a weakness on their defense, it’s the longball. Therefore, if Brady launches deep passes to Mike Evans (or Chris Godwin) like the offense did against the Stinking Panthers two weeks ago, the Bucs should pull off the upset Monday night.
Dan Quinn’s defense is the sixth-best unit on short and intermediate passes, but it ranks 21st in QBR allowed when teams throw deep. Brady needs to get time to throw those passes, but he can identify those matchups before the snap and get the ball out quickly to nullify Dallas’ excellent pass rush.
Of course, this makes all the sense in the world. Evans is now on the same page as Brady (they weren’t most of the season) and strike while the iron is hot.
Problem is, Leftwich has demonstrated this year he’s not big on matchups. So will Leftwich see the light?
Joe sure hopes so but Joe doesn’t trust Leftwich one iota.
January 13th, 2023 at 4:04 am
Leftwich is a weakness in and of himself ! you expect him to see the “light”? he would need a stadium spotlight behind his ear, and would probably reach for his sunglasses ?
January 13th, 2023 at 4:31 am
Nor does the rest of humanity. If he goes into a Pittsburgh game plan against the Cowboys I hope the fans in the stadium boo him right out of OneBuc. If that’s what happens, infront of a national TV audience, it will be a long night. Boring to be exact.
January 13th, 2023 at 5:20 am
Say all you want about Gruden, but he was all about exploiting match ups. Leftwurst seems to have one set of plays and is unable to look at matchups or even adjust during the game. That’s ok if you have a team that can exert it’s will on the defense. Bucs no longer have a dominant OLine or TEs, they need to innovate play calling. Leftwurst is unable to do that. Looking for more of the same on Monday night. We all know how this is going to play out. Sad really…..
January 13th, 2023 at 5:34 am
I was at that debacle in Pittsburgh. The “Yinzers” thought the Bucs would dominate so much we could name the score. Sadly, as you noted, the baffling game plan couldn’t have been a worse strategy if Mike Tomlin had devised it. Totally out-coached that day. Steelers fans were literally shocked that their team won.
January 13th, 2023 at 5:45 am
Yesterday on the Cowturd show Greg Cosell said the Cowboys biggest weakness is also Tom’s biggest weakness: Deep left.
January 13th, 2023 at 5:51 am
Only if Bruce tells him what to do.
January 13th, 2023 at 6:12 am
Ahem…paging Byron Leftwich…it’s time to open that playbook and exploit Dallas’ defense.
I’m available for after-school film study and tutoring if you need help!!!
No, seriously.
January 13th, 2023 at 6:19 am
At least he might be brighter than Matt Patricia.
January 13th, 2023 at 6:27 am
Mg. Not a chance.
The coaching staff has done great Joe. Why would he start targeting weaknesses now?!?!
January 13th, 2023 at 6:43 am
Tompkins 2 long ball TD’s.
Assuming our line can protect for 2.75 seconds.
Bucs shock the world & score a ton.
Suh.
January 13th, 2023 at 7:36 am
You’re kidding yourself. The game plan will continue to be run behind guard on 1st for 2.5 yards, incomplete pass on 2nd, sack on 3rd and punt.
That’s game at Carolina was an anomaly
January 13th, 2023 at 7:42 am
NO!!!
January 13th, 2023 at 7:43 am
Of course not — he is the biggest weakness in the game
January 13th, 2023 at 7:47 am
Afraid will see more of the Bowles Leftwich circle jerk shet show. Prove me wrong please.
Go Bucs in spite of these coaches.
January 13th, 2023 at 7:49 am
Byron sees weakness in the mirror every morning.
We suck.
Thanks for the memories Tom.
January 13th, 2023 at 7:49 am
I already have a headache!
January 13th, 2023 at 8:03 am
The only bright spot is Leftwich will be history on Tuesday. OL has to be the top priority in the draft. There should still be decent options at 19th.
January 13th, 2023 at 8:09 am
Leftwich will run straight at Micah Parsons just like he ran straight at JJ Watt. Why should he do it differently? He knows that he won’t get fired.
January 13th, 2023 at 8:20 am
The Steelers game was a mix of poor Oline play- Brady was sacked twice in addition to Fournette getting stuffed for a 2 yd loss on a 2nd and goal on 1 yd line, costly penalties , and a Defense that gave up over 100 yards of offense to Trubisky in 4th quarter which kept the ball out of Brady’s hands.
True, Leftwich made some poor play calling choices, especially in 3rd quarter- but to put it all on Leftwich is crazy.
January 13th, 2023 at 8:24 am
Can’t help but wonder if he is able to get “buy-in” from the players.
January 13th, 2023 at 9:00 am
Much like trying to run without a run blocking line, trying to pass with a line that can’t provide time is a risky proposition. I do know we have the calls in place to go deep on most of (not all) of our pass plays called, as well as the ability of TB to check into a long ball if he likes the look. The key this game (IMO) is to preserve the option by chipping the ends and delay sending the RB into the check down pattern to influence the LBs delay-blitzing up the middle. To do these things we’ll need to run some hurry-up or just get to the line faster. When we’re on offense, I’ll be looking for how much time we have pre-snap to get into the best play. Does not need to happen all the time, but at key times(situational football). On defense I look for Dallas to try to run counters and try to get to the edge. I also see wheel routes to the RB and deep play action over routes to Lamb. We can cover these (and maybe get a pick) as long as we don’t have any out and out coverage busts. Go Bucs!
January 13th, 2023 at 9:07 am
Queue the dream sequence music. Byron is shaving and has an epiphany….
“I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If they wanna make the world (BUCS) a better place (TEAM)
Take a look at yourself and then make a change”
– MJ
January 13th, 2023 at 9:09 am
Look closer at the runs vs Arizona. They were to his side, but when he made plays it was because he beat linemen across their face. Basic concept that should not happen (unless you are facing a highly motivated JJ Watt). When he got tired and our line figured it out technique-wise, we were more effective. BL: if you let a guy like Watt cross your face, it doesn’t matter if you run right at him or away from him…he will wreck the play. Go Bucs!
January 13th, 2023 at 10:41 am
Leftfoot IS the weakness.
January 13th, 2023 at 10:55 am
Bingo…..Jmarkbuc
January 13th, 2023 at 11:06 am
1st down up the middle for two yards, 2nd short screen pass to Godwin for two yards 3rd sack four yard loss net gain zero, punt.
January 13th, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Define weakness
January 13th, 2023 at 2:18 pm
Just look at his picture, it says it all. Bucs are doomed.
January 13th, 2023 at 3:22 pm
Buc players need to overcome their horrid game plans and have a mutiny on the pirate ship. Throw Leftwich overboard and put Bowles in the brig.
January 13th, 2023 at 6:51 pm
Byron couldn’t figure his way out of a wet paper bag 🙄