Jeff Tedford’s Visit To Study The Patriots Offense

January 30th, 2014

“Greg, I mentor others, too. It’s gonna be ok.”

Joe talked to various NFL types at Super Bowl festivities about new Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, the former University of California head coach. So many describe him as an intense guru type, tirelessly trying to improve his offense and be on the cutting edge, and people genuinely seem to love Tedford.

(His “Cal” players at the Super Bowl refer to him as “Teddy,” and Joe will have more on that this weekend.)

One thing Joe learned about Tedford is that he spent a week or so hanging out with Bill Belicheat and Josh McDaniels two years ago to learn all things Patriots.

Tedford walked away dialed into how the Patriots were using two dangerous (not as in murderer) tight ends with such effectiveness, so he told the Contra Costa Times.

“To be able to be in different personnel groups, especially with tight ends on the field, and still have ability to run your offense and run a spread game and be able anchor the edges down and still be able to run the ball,” Tedford said, “really, that’s what you’re looking for.”

New Bucs quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, 34, a former college quarterback and QB coach for Tedford at Cal, accompanied Tedford on that trip and shared with Joe some of what they learned.

But that kind of educational exploration is nothing new or exceptional for Tedford and Arroyo. For years, they’ve been spanning the country to get an edge, though not every coach is that dedicated during his off time. Last year, Arroyo said the Falcons were the destination. 

“Studying spring ball, that’s what you do in this profession, hopefully, if you want to be the best,” Arroyo said. “I’ve taken the opportunity to do that the past seven, eight years … That’s been my vacations. That’s been my breaks. Finding ways and seeing guys do it, see guys who have success and find ways to do it better myself. And I think you get ‘aha’ moments when you see a couple things: I can do it better this way, or this reiterates the way I do things and makes it feel right.

“It makes you think about doing things differently, or makes you feel better about the way you’re doing things. Whatever it may be, it just gives you introspection. Hopefully, you go home and see what you’re doing versus what you’re doing and make sense of it all.”

Joe came away very impressed with Arroyo versus Bucs QB coaches under the New Schiano Order. This guy is very intense and driven. Later, Joe will share some Mike Glennon specifics he was able to pry out of Arroyo.

27 Responses to “Jeff Tedford’s Visit To Study The Patriots Offense”

  1. bucsQcCity Says:

    Now that’s a nice article Joe! Keep it going!

  2. Kansasbuc Says:

    First!!!!

    What’s the name of this song?

  3. Patrick in VA Says:

    Interesting. Looking forward to seeing more reporting on this sort of stuff. Still pretty excited to see what these coaches can get out of our guys when the season starts

  4. Bucfan77 Says:

    Here we go again with the promise of more anti Glennon. Why can’t we wait for the coaches to decide after the Draft and free agency before all the politicking?

    And what makes you think you’ll read anti-Glennon from the Bucs’ new QB coach.–Joe

  5. Nate_tweetz Says:

    It would be nice if one of these coaches who wants to emulate Belicheat actually take what they see and apply it to the Bucs. Schiano was a Belicheat wanna-be, but couldn’t have had any more different results in the way he ran this team. I think for Tedford to watch the Patriots style of offense is very smart. Especially if they end up sticking with Glennon. They run a spread, but balanced run/throw offense with an immobile QB. That model should be what Tedford should be going after. Glad to hear he realized that. Let’s see if he is able to apply what he observed.

  6. spanishbuc Says:

    I like what i’m hearing from these coaches a lot more than what we heard from our last two regimes. I just feel like we have a lot more professionalism in the building. Maybe I’m just being overly optimistic, but either way, I don’t need us to draft a new QB in the first round in order for me to be excited about the Bucs.

  7. bucbucbuc Says:

    I’m not going to get too excited about what he learned from Belichick, we all got excited about the same types of stories with Schiano and look how that turned out.

    That being said, really excited to see what Tedford does with our offense, I only hear good things about him.

  8. Oil Derrick Brooks Says:

    Other than looking at Cal tape, has he discussed what he intends to run in TB?

    I can’t think of a more important discussion than Tedford’s O. We can blabber about QBs all day, but, it’s truly lip service until the type offense that will be run is determined.

  9. buccanAy Says:

    We all know what you were trying “to pry” out of Arroyo regarding Glennon…something, anything negative…maybe an animal reference or something. Don’t blame us, you’ve done this all on your own, really unfortunate, the site has lost so much credibility, IMO, that even when you have some good material its overshadowed, by the juvenile, disrespectful, “pot-stirring” crap you’ve written previously.

    Really sad take. You have no clue whatsoever as to the questions about Glennon or the new QB coach’s response. Funny how horrible you find this site yet you read religiously. Joe will continue working hard for you.–Joe

  10. Phillip Says:

    @buccanAy and everyone else

    If you have a problem with Joe not liking a QB then read somewhere else or don’t read anything but the quotes? Quit crying because he doesn’t feel like your boy wonder isn’t going to win us a SB

  11. INDYbucsfan Says:

    This gets me so excited for the season to come. It finally feels like we have a real coaching staff that is very good at what they do. And joe I did not get anything negative out of reading that. It actually made it seem like these guys actually really do like glennon. I hope they can get the best out of this kid and we find that he really is a diamond in the rough. Then we don’t have to even consider using a 1st rounder on a QB.

  12. Bobby Says:

    That caption is too funny! 🙂

  13. buccanAy Says:

    @Joe We’ve been going back and forth since the inception of your blog, and not always antagonistic. As a die hard Buc fan,of course,I read all things Buc related. Honestly, IMO comparing Glennon to elephant dung is a “sad take” and a bit unfair. Its your blog, and your opinion, as I have mine. I respect that you have carried this site this far, just not always a fan or your methods.

    Joe really wasn’t comparing Glennon specifically to a steaming pile of elephant droppings, it was more than fecal-like state of having the worst quarterback in the division. Regardless of the QB, that’s a rough spot for any club working on a playoff run. Here’s the link for anyone who wants to look: https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=106241. –Joe

  14. Kevin Says:

    I can’t put it any better than Spanishbuc up above, I personally would be intrigued by some new QB’s on the team this year and cutting Dan O…but I will be just as excited going into this next season without taking a QB in the first round. And why is everyone piling on “JOE”??? Holy crap people actually get upset with the writer of a sports team web page? Wow…..just ….wow.

  15. coolbreeze Says:

    I agree with u spanishbuc we dnt nd to draft a qb. Lets draft a bad tight end a couple slot wrs and olineman and pick up a few players in free agency and we be straight

  16. bigpoppabuc Says:

    Do you find it harder to not believe in Glennon as you talk to more professionals within the league about him, Joe? I mean, you have stated your opinion as everyone else here has, but could a guy like Tedford totally buying in to mike Glennon make you second guess your the conclusions you’ve come to thus far?

  17. Tgregs Says:

    I’ll ask for the 99th time. What QB, either available free agent or draft pick can you GUARANTEE will be better than Glennon, let alone better than the 3rd best QB in the Division which I presume you believe to be Newton? For that matter, what nationally recognized analyst will support you?

  18. Eric Says:

    I kinda hope Lovie Smith dislikes Belichick. I’m pretty sure Chucky and Dungy did.

    I’ve had enough of the guy. Screwed us with that Schiano recommendation then fleeced the rock star.

  19. lurker Says:

    bridgewater, manziel, bortles, carr, garopolo, etc, etc, etc

  20. Tgregs Says:

    Well Joe, good luck tomorrow in your quest to find an expert to bash Glennon. What are you now 0 for 28? Loved the way that Becht shot you and BD down the other day.

    Why not talk about the 3 Tampa connection HOF candidates?

  21. Harry Says:

    I had to go back and re-read to find the Glennon bashing…. I think some of you just look for it.

    I love what sounds like an intense work ethic in Arroyo and Tedford. I cannot wait for them to wave their magic wand over Glennon, say “abracadabra” and turn him int Nick Foles or Brady!!!

    Sorry. Could not help myself. I really need to seek professional help, lol.

  22. Bucfan77 Says:

    @Harry – Have you not been reading this column or listening to Joe on the radio? This mantra that Glennon isn’t as good as Breeze, Newton and Ryan is like comparing The Joe’s to 3 great sport writers who have won numerous writing awards (Breeze winner of super bowl ) and saying they ought to be replaced by some one else. Then there is the constant drumbeat of the “Glennon Mob”. As Jack Nicholson said, “you can’t take the truth”. It’s a little bit like €en is envy, some cannot get over Glennon getting Freeman’s job and his subsequent down slide ( that wasn’t Glennon’s Fault. Besides you can not brush aside the stats Glennon put up this last year. Better than the last “franchise quarterback s rookie year. Oh I’m sorry. He threw mostly short passes to set those numbers, so did France Tarkenton a hall of faimer. Conclusion—-There is no bias. YA! “Want to buy a bridge?”.

  23. Bucs55 Says:

    Lurkers.
    How can you say all those qbs are better then Glennon if they haven’t even. Played a down in the NFL ???? smh

  24. lurker Says:

    as easily as you can say glennon is better than them…smh

    the stats for glennon are a mirage. people, including myself, have shown he is #27 out of 39 in the nfl in qbr. yet others wave it away because they don’t like those stats. also your stats are flawed and have too many variables to compare to manning, et al, but that gets ignored too. remember, liars use statistics.
    all anyone needs to do is look at the film….which is what coaches do, not compare his stats…lmao

  25. pick6 Says:

    Tim Wright has a place in the offense for sure in that case. i really don’t have confidence in the guy as a 3 down TE due to his size and i don’t think he’ll ever be the antonio gates type you need to be if you don’t play running downs effectively. However, given that we seem to have landed an actual offensive guru, there are no shortage of mismatches or “speed in space” situations that could allow Wright to be a key player as a complementary TE or the 4th or 5th guy in a spread formation.

  26. pick6 Says:

    *i’m referring to antonio gates in his prime, not 2013 gates after his 75th foot\ankle\leg injury

  27. Clowney Says:

    The only negative I’m reading is that the dude is wired too tight. He hasn’t had a vacation in 8 years?

    Why do humans gravitate to opposite camps? Freeman-Glennon. Gator-Seminole. Democrat-Republican. Black-White. Christian-Muslim. Hutu-Tutsi.

    Have you ever heard the axiom, divide and conquer?