Byron Leftwich Talks Normal “Leakage”
December 7th, 2019
A lot of Bucs fans wept and ran to their local Hooters bar when they learned the Bucs were going status quo on their offensive line for the 2019 season.
How could that be, these fans yelped? The Bucs’ O-line was hot garbage, they bellowed, along with ‘Donovan Smith sucks, Alex Cappa is a nobody and Demar Dotson has always been subpar.”
And here the Bucs are — with a potent offense, ranked fourth in scoring and fifth in total yards through 12 games.
A prominent ex-Buc has been telling the world the offensive has not been the issue in the Tampa Bay running game. And in August, the Joe typing here told fans and colleagues to quit whining about the Bucs’ O-line because it was not among the Bucs’ chief concerns, and that Alex Cappa would be fine and Jason Licht wouldn’t shop the waiver wire for a starting O-lineman.
Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was asked about Cappa this week and the offensive line in general. He praised Cappa (who won’t play Sunday with an elbow injury) for getting the job done against a slew of stout defensive tackles this season.
Leftwich added he would call the Bucs’ offensive line performance very good this season but not great. He said the “leakage” seen has been “normal.”
Like it or not, this is the attitude in the organization.
It’s why Bucco Bruce Arians went with the status quo. It’s documented that Arians is not a fan of drafting rookie offensive linemen, and Arians believes in o-line chemistry and liked the fact the Bucs seemed to have that, even if they needed work as a whole.
December 7th, 2019 at 11:58 am
leakage… bucs love justifying leakage…. joe what was the name of that fake Potato Chip that sported the “May cause anal leakage” on the warning labels…. watching byron leftwich call a second half of any game with a lead coupled with BA’s clock management skills it is guaranteed to cause anal leakage from even the most die hard of fan.. that oline is garbage regardless what is said publicly by the puppets at one buc circus tent or the one joe who blindly defends the oline like they were his children. this line sucks… leakage is acceptable sewage is not this line is sewage….
December 7th, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Donavan Smith is lazy and slow, he blocks enough just to get buy and he has a don’t care attitude, I think the only reason we keep him is because he is there every game, that is a good thing but it’s the only thing. I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten Jameis injuried yet. He needs to learn how to play right tackle so we can get a better left tackle in free agency.
December 7th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
I’ve been saying in for a couple of years that the Bucs O-Line is average to above average. They need to upgrade at RT but the O-Line is not “the worst line in the league” like many of you mouth breathers out there claim that it is.
The running game issues are issues with the RB, not the O-Line. Jameis Winston has more time in the pocket than 20 other starting QBs in the NFL. Jameis’ high number of sacks is because:
1. He holds on to the ball too long.
2. He’s the 2nd most blitzed QB in the NFL next to Russell Wilson.
Teams have to blitz because they cannot get pressure with a 4 man rush. That should tell you something about the quality of the Bucs O-Line. The Bucs have played over 900 snaps on offense and most of the mouth breathers only remember the relatively few breakdowns the offensive line has. You guys never remember all the clean pockets and time they give Jameis to throw the ball.
December 7th, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Tmaxcon-
It’s was actually called olestra…
or in the Bucs case O-linestra
December 7th, 2019 at 1:59 pm
So should we just assume they will completely ignore the o-line yet again this draft / off-season?
Neither Gump nor Arians believe in building up the trenches?
We’d have at least 2 more wins if we had a better o-line… SMDH.
December 7th, 2019 at 2:00 pm
why is it we never ever see Ndog and T…….pad in the same comment section…..really causes one to ponder.
December 7th, 2019 at 2:07 pm
Correct D- Rome…average…and replace Dotson with a good young RT whose body isn’t breaking down, and definitely above average. Of course, they won’t give a QB 5 seconds to throw, or running lanes a truck could drive through…but certainly good enough…assuming they stay healthy.
December 7th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
I’m watching the Oklahoma-Baylor game.
To those saying we should draft Jalen Hurts…..
Sorry, hard pass.
We already have a QB that lives to turn the ball over.
December 7th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
Finally, we agree Doosh. Say NO to Jalen Hurts.
December 7th, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Figures Tampax comments first, the expert on leakage he is…
This Oline is inconsistent, there have been plays this year where I count the time from snap until Jameis is under pressures and I can’t get to two. That’s just not good enough. Other times Jameis has 6 seconds to throw but nowhere to throw it.
December 7th, 2019 at 4:48 pm
Agreed. I implore you to rewatch the games if you think this O Line has been better than average. Jameis had been under absolute siege for at least half of the games.
December 7th, 2019 at 5:00 pm
I played OL all through HS.
THERE WAS NEVER ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF LEAKAGE, BOZO!!!!
December 7th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Pugs…this isn’t HS football.
December 7th, 2019 at 5:35 pm
Cmudra…most QB’s are under siege. Some recognize the D, adjust and handle the ball accordingly…some don’t.
December 7th, 2019 at 5:39 pm
^^^^^^^^
December 7th, 2019 at 6:13 pm
I’m sorry Mark… which level of play (Pee Wee/Pop Warner thru NFL) actually has an ACCEPTABLE amount of OL leakage? Which OL Coach or team is fine with defenders blasting through the OL to destroy plays in the backfield.
I am anxiously awaiting your reply, Mr Summerall.
December 7th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Pugs
I got your back man. I’d take the word of a high school lineman over 99.9% of the dinosaur washed up senile hack analysts that the one joe bucking for AARP man of the year force feeds us….
December 7th, 2019 at 6:54 pm
Are you guys nuts? The leakage is is normal amount….Christ , your QB has been sacked 40 times, knocked down over 125 times, average run gain is 2.7, offensive pass blocking is ranked 31st, and the offensive line leads the league in holding penalties.
The offensive line may not be the singlular problem, alone with a weak secondary, but it sure as hell is part of the problem.
December 7th, 2019 at 8:08 pm
If tmx got your back…….then you have arrived!
December 7th, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Better coaching has made somewhat of a difference. Now if we draft Dot’s replacement in the 2020 Draft.
December 7th, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Boombang,
18 sacks , which is almost half the total number, have come against 2 teams.
Obviously, this high number of sacks against 2 opponents will skew the overall results if , as you have done, batch totals are the only way to evaluate the protection.
Side note, I ve only heard “leakage” associated with a few things. Mainly adult diapers. So perhaps that’s telling.
December 7th, 2019 at 10:09 pm
At my age, leakage is pretty normal for me too…
December 7th, 2019 at 10:21 pm
I think the lesson for fans this year has been to not judge draft picks until after at least more than one season.
• Rojo is not the bust many here assumed
• White is starting to role
• The secondary is improving with experience
• The kicker many complained about drafting is turning out to be our best in years
Player development is a real thing.
Also, some complain about Byron calling plays. This season is his first as a coordinator, and while he has room to improve, he has us in the top ten offenses.
As for my part…I knew nothing about Shaq when we got him, but many here were excited and predicted he would lead the team in sacks. Knowing nothing about him, I was skeptical. Glad he has proven me wrong.
But Shaq is yet another good example of player development. His former team made the mistake of assuming he should not start, and after a few years, he was ready to make a leap.
Good stuff!
December 7th, 2019 at 10:22 pm
White is starting to ‘roll’
December 7th, 2019 at 11:10 pm
DooshLaRue Says:
December 7th, 2019 at 8:08 pm
If tmx got your back…….then you have arrived!
True!
December 7th, 2019 at 11:43 pm
Average? If anyone thinks this OL is average they just doesn’t understand what an OL is supposed to do. The 5 blocks of silly puddy are all Beta’s. There isn’t an Alpha in the bunch but I’m holding out hope that Cappa becomes one.
December 8th, 2019 at 12:28 am
Well said Bonzai
December 8th, 2019 at 10:32 am
SpotOn Boom Bang
Repeat that Avg per carry 😂😂😂
Lefty is clearly showing just how truly inept some of these meathead jocks are at their jobs !!! The numbers just don’t lie !!! Thank goodness for them they compete against each other .
You cannot be striving to be the best and winning the whole deal with an outlook like Lefty’s .
December 10th, 2019 at 10:13 am
TX.. you still didn’t answer my question. What O L coach, Head Coach, etc will be content with his line “leaking?”
The acceptable amount of leaks is ZERO. And you’re a moron if you think otherwise. Maybe my experience playing football isn’t so far off base.