The “Elite Clock”
April 4th, 2020
Listeners to the new episode of The Ira Kaufman Podcast heard Bucs quarterback Clyde Christensen talk about the “elite clock” of Tom Brady.
The Bucs are counting on it being plugged in with a rechargeable battery backup.
Brady will be changing his approach in many ways, one will be more reading receivers from high-to-low versus low-to-high. That might have him holding the ball longer than he did with the Patriots, but it’s no given. And that’s where the clock comes on.
Brady will know just when to pull the trigger to avoid taking the number of big hits Jameis Winston absorbed — at least that’s what the Bucs believe.
Total hits matter, but any hit at any time can end any quarterback’s season. So it’s not worth worrying about too much, although with Blaine Gabbert as a backup, perhaps it is worth scheduling a counseling session or two.
Joe thinks a lack of familiarity might throw off Brady’s “elite clock” just a tiny fraction. Familiarity with receivers, opponents, sensing how your offensive line holds up, lighting in unfamiliar stadiums, they’re all small factors. It’s a very delicate balance between absorbing a shot and narrowly escaping.
April 4th, 2020 at 11:14 am
Time will tell……
April 4th, 2020 at 11:33 am
If Gabbert puts up numbers like he did with SF in 2015…check yo sheets…he’s more than adequate as a backup…at least a backup who can fill in like Teddy did last year with NO.
If Brady goes down for the season all bets are off anyway. I’m as comfortable as BA with Gabbert if he’s healthy.
Wouldn’t mind taking a shot at a QB in the draft…but not a high pick..perhaps another Gardner Minshew type to work as a “project”.
I’m not sure many teams have a backup as good as their starter or even close…just enough to carry the team in an emergency
April 4th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Still need to draft a QB of the future….do we take one at 14 ?..no risk it ?
April 4th, 2020 at 12:09 pm
Damn every year it’s new drama. Every quarterback takes hits. Because he’s 43 he’s gonna get hit and bones will break or he will suddenly get senior citizens discount at ihop? Stop with the exaggerating
He will not take the number of hits Winston did. He will not have demar Dotson he will have someone much better. He will get rid of the ball faster. Dude is not brittle morons, he is not injury prone and that doesn’t suddenly change because it’s a new league year.
You cats can’t think of brittle 20 something year old players, it’s not exclusive to players his age. GMC was brittle
April 4th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
To play in BA’s vertical “high to low” read offense the way he wants it ran, QB’s have to be willing to let the play develop & take some hits.
April 4th, 2020 at 12:53 pm
Blaine Goober is a travesty. He is HORRIBLE.
Arians’ loyalty to that scrub is dangerously misplaced. No one is going to be the starter but Tom, so why not sign Flacco?
Bucs beating Bucs.
April 4th, 2020 at 1:13 pm
This dosen’t tie in with this article, it was just a thought while I was reading. Why can’t the NFL have OTA’s if they give each player a physical when they report thus knowing if anyone has the COVID-19 before they hit camp. If the players can maintain distance while their waiting. Could work?
April 4th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
BA told Winston to gain 20 lbs last offseason because he would take more hits. Has BA mentioned this to Brady? If not why not?
April 4th, 2020 at 3:43 pm
Dapostman, are you sure about that? I thought Winston decided to gain weight and Bruce & team staged an intervention… where did you read the exact opposite?
April 4th, 2020 at 4:33 pm
@Westchap,
I’m pretty sure I read that somewhere right here at Joe’s Place.
Winston was 231 and Arians wanted him up to 250.
Maybe Joe can chime in with the article.
April 4th, 2020 at 4:37 pm
@Westchap,
I found this online.
New Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians said that Winston might be able to withstand more hits if he’s a little heavier than the 231 pounds he weighed when he entered the NFL.
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So I guess Winston wanted to gain weight and Arians was ok with it as long as it was weight room and not kitchen weight.