Don’t “Try To Be A Guru”
September 21st, 2011
"Maybe being your best self is just sticking to our core beliefs, Olie."
The persistent question/concern swirling around the Bucs is, of course, the team reaching new depths when it comes to horrendous starts to games.
There’s no debate that it’s a huge problem, and not some sick string of bad luck brought on by black magic and other sinister forces.
Former Bucs DE Steve White believes there could be a very simple fix. Speaking on Two-Hand Touch on WQYK-AM 1010 last night, White said that would be sticking to what works on offense over the prevalent trickery-of-the-week playcalling seen in the first half against Minnesota.
“In the first half we tried to trick them for whatever reason,” White said. We “tailor our gameplan off their tendencies instead of doing what we do best.”
“The only thing we did in the second half was run the basic plays that we’re good at, isos, counters, power-O, mix it in with some play-action and some bootlegs and that’s it. That play sheet was short. … It’s like they’re saying let’s grab 75 percent of the stuff we have on this play sheet and run the stuff that we do well, and whaddya know.”
“Starting fast will take care of itself because we’re doing what we are used to doing; we’re doing what we do best. Instead of tailoring our gameplan for what the other team is doing, let’s make them adjust to us. And that would be my philosophy. I know it’s unheard of to stick to your own guns and not try to be a guru and come up with these plays specifically for other teams. But I really think that’s the best formula for winning for us.”
In addition to the Bucs’ core plays, White said he’d like to see the Bucs take more homerun shots for Arrelious Benn who “seems to be able to get by corners whenever he wants to.”
Joe’s all for a more simplistic approach to open games. Raheem Morris’ stated goal is for the team to play “fast, hard, smart, and consistent.” And it’s way easier to do that when you run your core offense.
September 21st, 2011 at 9:54 am
I agree with Steve White, impose our will on them, and let them adapt to us. With Blount, we are a power running team, so let’s act like one right from the start. Once we get Blount going, then all other things are possible. That was a real pretty TD pass from Freeman to Benn last game. Hope we see more of them vs Atlanta this Sunday.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:02 am
“White said he’d like to see the Bucs take more homerun shots for Arrelious Benn who “seems to be able to get by corners whenever he wants to.”
I have been thinking this since the start of preseason. I went back and watched some late season games from last year and I saw Benn had some really good speed. If we can get Benn to stretch the field, the safeties back off and Blount would have a monster game.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:02 am
We’ve been outsmarting ourselves. Good advice Mr. White.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:25 am
exactly, it’s much easier to just get really good at running a smaller portion of your playbook than being mediocre at the whole thing. kind of like the old saying, jack of all trades and a master of none. we are a power run / play action pass team.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:32 am
Wasnt this the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins philiosophy back in the 70s? Have their players get REAL good at a small play book (constant reinforcement) and have teams adjust to them. Seemed to work real well for them.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:34 am
Olie better do something. If slow starts equal more loses, Olson will ot be around next year.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:36 am
I agree with stretching the field, just remember Benn is coming back from ACl surgery, and he came back fast, like a few months faster than anyone thought he would, so lets just let him get back to game speed before we ask him to turn on the afterburners to often, just for now.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:38 am
it’s the only problem i’ve really seen this year… PLAY-CALLING! fix the god damn coaching decisions already, getting way to cute.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:44 am
I don’t always agree with White 100% but I do here. keep it simple and do what you do best. It is how the Cowboys and 49ers built dynasties. It is how the Steelers have ben good for 20 years. Even the Colts (with Manning) have a pretty simple offense).
The Patriots gameplan every team differently and change things alot, but they have an offense with a vet leader that is to the poin they can do that. Someday maybe the Bucs can, but right now it is simple: find your strengths, play to your strengths.
September 21st, 2011 at 11:03 am
Pound the rock!! Again.
Lombardi and the Green Bay packers had a basic offense and they won alot of games with it becasue they perfected it to the point that you knew it was coming but it was executed so well you couldnt stop it.
This is what we need to do. We dont need anything fancy, just shove the damn ball down the opposing teams throut. Rinse, repeat.
September 21st, 2011 at 11:35 am
I’ve been following Steve White on Twitter for 2 weeks now and if you are an Xs and Os Bucs fan, having his one-line commentary is a fantastic companion because he’s basically watching game film at high speed.
I’ll tell you, I’d cook and feed Steve White if he would come to my house and watch a Bucs game with us, just so I could hear his commentary on the game.
September 21st, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Totally, completely agree with everything Steve White said here. From the start of the game against the Lions until the second half of the Vikes game I kept shouting at the screen for the Bucs to stop trying to be so tricky and do what they do best. They tricked themselves out of a win against Detroit and almost did it again last Sunday.
This team is so young that you can’t put too much on their plate at once. If you want them to run a huge playbook they’re gonna be mediocre at best. If you get them focused narrowly on a small playbook that they can master, they will be very good very quickly. Then you can expand the playbook after that, little by little.
Whenever I see a team get too tricky and try to make major adjustments in their style of play to “fit” what the other team’s tendencies are, it reeks of desperation and a lack of confidence in their own game. It’s fearful football. These young players need to be taught by example that what they do best is good enough to win, not the opposite. They need to be playing confident football, doing what they do best.
Stop the fearful football and play with courage & confidence in your own brand of football.
September 21st, 2011 at 1:22 pm
As always- Steve White, the intelligent voice of common sense for all things Buccaneer! It’s great being able to read your comments. We really appreciate them- so “Thanks!”
That reminds me , Joe. About a week ago, you said you’d post Steve’s breakdown of Black and McCoy. I’m dying to read them. Are they still “upcoming”? Thanks!
September 21st, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Joe here,
@Capt. Tim. — Sorry about that. Joe ran out of gas and didn’t finish the transcribing in time. In a nutshell, following Detroit, White was very down on Black and upbeat on McCoy’s play against the run.