A Balanced Offense
July 9th, 2014
Anyone now predicting what Jeff Tedford’s offense will look like is simply throwing darts.
Joe has heard this so often, it’s become cliche. You know, like the term “physical defense.” What, a coach wants a lame, weak defense? Please.
The term “balanced offense” is at the same level of empty words. What coach doesn’t want a balanced offense, outside of Father Dungy?
A balanced offense means defenses cannot predict play calls, but it also means the offense is adept at various schemes and can strike and attack in multiple ways, using every square foot of the football field.
In a preview of the Bucs offense by Mike Clay of Rotoworld.com, he predicts the Bucs will pass the ball a little more than they run the ball.
Buccaneers – 2014 Projection: 59% pass (2013: 59%)
After a one-year absence, Lovie Smith is back at the controls of an NFL team. Smith has handed the keys to the offense to rookie coordinator Jeff Tedford. We obviously don’t have any Tedford numbers to reference, but Smith operated a fairly balanced offense in Chicago and the club has already stated an intention to run the ball. The Tampa Bay defense will keep them competitive in most games, so a scheme that leans on its backs will put the Buccaneers on the run-heavy side of the league.
First, this is simply guesswork. Nothing more and nothing less. Not one person has seen the full Jeff Tedford offense, not even the Bucs themselves, since they have only practiced in underwear football where hitting is verboten. That’s not even factoring in that Tedford has never coached in the NFL.
Bucs coach Lovie Smith has joked Tedford’s offense will not be unveiled until the real bullets fly in September, and the full offense may not be displayed until October.
On paper, it seems the Bucs may lean toward running more than passing, at least initially. Of course, games are not played on paper. The fact the Bucs threw the ball 59 percent of the time last year was largely because the Bucs were so far behind in games, they didn’t have much of a choice.
July 9th, 2014 at 11:21 am
Joe, If you look even deeper, and the draft really pointed it out. Is that they really tried to get diverse players. The drafted Big, tall Evans and speedy, short Herron, They had doug martin, so they got Sims, who can pass catch and split out wide. Even the TE they drafted appears to be in a different mold. If used correctly these offensive weapons can be used against the weaknesses of defenses. As all defenses are not the same it will be nice to see the Bucs attack on offense morph to the most adventageous match ups.
July 9th, 2014 at 11:49 am
Run, Run, Pass then Punt.
So that is 66% Run and 33% Pass
That’s the bar folks.
Will the Tedford Offense match up to the past glorious Bucs Offenses? Or be better.
HEY NUMBER CRUNCHERS! have the Bucs ever have a offense in the top 10?
How would the locals handle a offense that was top 10?
July 9th, 2014 at 11:53 am
@TheShaz
Yes, once. In 1984.
July 9th, 2014 at 11:55 am
Help Joe out. He doesn’t remember any “glorious” Bucs offenses.
When?
July 9th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
TheShaz is not a Bucs fan. Or he is a new one…
July 9th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
@TDTB, TheShaz – Didn’t the Bucs offense finish 9th overall in 2012? That’s a top 10 offense just 2 years ago, with Josh Freeman at quarterback and a tyrannical buffoon as head coach.
July 9th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
@shaz
Gruden had the bucs in the top 10 in 2003
July 9th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Wow, for an NFL or any team…..That is way too long. 30 years ago. Could it finally be time?
July 9th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Not having the comments in order really makes the conversation flow.
July 9th, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Meh, forget the percentage of run/pass. It reminds me of MLB when managers get obsessed with pitch counts. Find what works and make them stop it.
July 9th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
BINGO!!!
July 9th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Rich Says:
July 9th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
@TDTB, TheShaz – Didn’t the Bucs offense finish 9th overall in 2012? That’s a top 10 offense just 2 years ago, with Josh Freeman at quarterback and a tyrannical buffoon as head coach.
————————————————————————-
Yes they did finish 9th overall in 2012. But I’ll come back to a point I’ve made repeatedly here. It matters who you play against!
In 2012, JF5 faced only four defenses ranked in the Top Ten for that year, including Den 2nd, SD 9th, and Car 10th x 2 = 4 games. Of the remaining 12 games 6 of those games were against defenses in the Bottom Ten, and 4 of those 6 were against teams ranked in the Bottom Five for the year, including Atl 24th x 2, Wash 28th, NYG 31st, and NO 32nd x 2. The Bucs D was ranked 29th that year which also likely implies they needed to throw more to keep up.
Somewhat similar to Josh McCown throwing for 6 TDs against Minn and Dall, the two worst ranked defenses for 2013.
Just a reminder that MG8 and the Bucs offense in 2013 played FIVE games against the TOP FOUR rated defenses in the league, including Sea, Car x2, SF, and NO.
tickrdr
July 9th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
He ran similar offense to Oregon and Chip Kelly at California. Why would it change in the nfl? Simms will end up being Tampa’s Shady Mcoy … See the picture? Yes o line is not complete, but let’s see what develops. Besides it is the first year. We have been bad for a long time, can we agree to trust Lovie for three years?
July 9th, 2014 at 3:21 pm
@Joe “Find what works and make them stop it”
The SF game would have been interesting with that mindset. Hopefully Lovie thinks this way.
July 9th, 2014 at 3:43 pm
@TheShaz- Judging by some of the responses here there can only be one conclusion as to how “fans “would react to a top 10 offense…complain!
“Find what works and make them stop it”!!! It’s football, and yes, it really is that simple!!!
July 9th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Was it Top 10 Points or a smaller category like rushing?
And no I am a Tampa native. I remember the good olé days when you could find tickets on the windshields of cars in the parking lot
of the Old Sombrero.
July 9th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
@ The Shaz
I sat through every home game from 76 to 96 when my parents sold their season tix. You dont have to be a numbers cruncher but a current fan to know they were no. 9 Overall in 2012. And you dont have to be a genius to use Google.
July 11th, 2014 at 2:19 am
Pretty sure that was sarcasm from Shaz folks.
And I bet he passes more than he runs it lol.
July 11th, 2014 at 2:21 am
And yes, he’s shown his DNA in his college offense so we do know what to expect to an extent.
Same reason his ex players at Cal who are in the NFL are able to explain how they think he’ll be successful in the league “with his offense”. lol