No Extra Plays For Antonio Brown
December 18th, 2020
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.
This may surprise some people.
Off the top of your head, guess who led the Bucs receivers last week?
It was Antonio Brown. He was tied with Mike Evans for five targets and had the most catches, grabbing each pass thrown to him. And he had the second-most receiving yards (49), second to Mike Evans (56).
So yesterday Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich not only said Brown is doing just what the Bucs want him to do, but Leftwich groused about how folks outside of One Buc Palace are rarely satisfied with his offense.
(C’mon Byron, don’t try to con us that you are peachy keen with your offense. If you are, that says more about you than it does Bucs fans.)
“He’s making the plays that we’re asking him to make, so he’s fine where he’s at,” Leftwich said. “Obviously, it’s week in and week out, right? One week we throw it down the field and we’re throwing it too much, [then] we don’t throw it enough. We’re just trying to get these guys the ball. Put him in position to make plays to help us win. That’s what he’s doing.
“That’s one thing I’ll say – our guys are in position to make the plays and they’re making the plays that we’re asking them to make week in and week out. I’m fine where he’s at.
“Those type of [big statistical] games will come just because of the talent that he is, the plays that he can make [and] the things that he can do. We’re fine where’s at. He’s making the plays that we’re asking him to make.”
Joe isn’t harping how the Bucs are using Brown. Remember, the dude was out of football and the Bucs went and got him off the street in the middle of the season. It’s likely he doesn’t have the entire playbook down.
Joe just cannot believe Leftwich is all good with the way the offense sputters too often. Are you trying to tell Joe that Leftwich goes home at night, checks to make sure Tom Brady hasn’t beaten him home, stares in the mirror and pats himself on the back because his (?) offense has scored one touchdown in the first quarters of the past six games?
You good with that, Byron? Joe doesn’t believe you or anyone you work with or for is. Nor should you be.
December 18th, 2020 at 8:08 am
The comment of Brady beating him home almost made me spit coffee onto the screen…
December 18th, 2020 at 8:18 am
🙂
Thank you!
December 18th, 2020 at 8:35 am
No one watching was happy in the Saints game, KC game. If the offense would have actually scored in those games in the first Qtr, they might have been competative but 4 3 and outs to start the Saints just killed the defense that has become average, and treads water so much. There is a lot of simple plays that they could run and get 1st downs, instead of trying low percentage plays on 3 rd downs. So many times you shake your head or yell at the TV lol when you see simple easy plays they could do that would keep drives going. Come on BL step up, just call a smart game for however many minutes the offense has the ball. GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2020 at 8:47 am
I think Brown was a good pickup for us, and seems to be behaving himself
December 18th, 2020 at 8:49 am
Couldn’t agree more August. So frustrating.
December 18th, 2020 at 8:52 am
the offense could certainly run the ball more…..offense if as bad as joe and others try to make it out to be…..execution is the offenses problem….brady has missed several golden opportunities with the ball….and it always seems to be early in the ball game….
GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2020 at 8:57 am
I think we’re getting close. After all the screaming about running it more we did.
I simply question the way we did it. Some stat freak can tell me how many times we ran on first down with a vanilla play between the tackles. Then tell me how many times we immediately fell behind in down and distance and failed to move the chains. Perhaps it’s just a gut or anecdotal feeling but in the first half in particular looking at a slow start, we kept diving ROJO on first down. I’d also like to know ROJO’s YPC on first down versus the other downs.
Isn’t first down the perfect place to use Brady’s vaunted play action skills? He has three great playmaking targets…four if you count Gronk. But I love AB and ME getting the same targets and CG got his as well. Spread the ball around.
But how about a possession pass on first down instead of a dive up the middle or play action fake to a long bomb. We have THREE playmakers. Get the ball into their hands immediately and let their legs and athleticism do the rest.
No big plays from YAC, worst case scenario we move the chains and eat clock.
December 18th, 2020 at 9:18 am
BL continues to be lost.
December 18th, 2020 at 9:30 am
Brady has been the reason for the slow 1st quarter starts, he’s been missing wide open receivers. He’s missed some passes that would be sure TDs. Hopefully he changes that this week.
December 18th, 2020 at 9:43 am
@august
The bucs defense for the past 5 years has always been average or worse. Most of the time worse. Im am so confused why many people (locally and nationally) were so high on this defense coming into the season. I know why nationally. Its because they do not watch the bucs so they just were repeating a false narrative adding to the hype of brady’s signing. But for locals to be so high was just down right disgusting. They acted like they hadnt seen this defence consistently finish 30-32nd, allow 70% completion for the season, allow the most passing yards and blow more 4th quarter leads with 3 minutes or less to go etc. But to let people tell it, the bucs defense coming into this season was suppose to be the 85 bears. Come on man
December 18th, 2020 at 9:47 am
He’s full of it, just like his HC.
Or they just have mediocre expectations. In which case, yea I guess he could be satisfied…
December 18th, 2020 at 10:25 am
Leftwich is almost on Lovie level with me when it comes to press conferences!!!
December 18th, 2020 at 11:42 am
Brown is still fast and elusive, I hope the Bucs find more ways to get the ball to him. Hope he re-signs next year and Leftwich learns to use him to his full potential.
December 18th, 2020 at 11:54 am
TB has been off on early drives as others have said……..but then again I see no short routes starting games either….might want to warm him up a bit.
and stop overthrowing Gronk… he aint that fast lol
December 18th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
The problem is early in the game Brady is missing guys wide open on the deep to intermediate stuff. The solution to me would be during the 1st couple of drives just try to move the chains dink and dunk and let Brady get warmed up at game speed and run the ball on the 3rd and short sometimes. Hate to say it but I remember Koeter use to say at the start of games Jameis was to amped up and wouldn’t let the game come to him. Seems the same is going on with Brady except it’s the play caller that’s too amped up and forcing things. Just move the chains go back and look at the opening series against New Orleans to start the season. That was a thing of BEAUTY!
December 18th, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Evans is 331 yards from breaking/setting an NFL record.
Not saying we should force it to him but I think he should be given the opportunity to cement his name in the record books.
Perhaps “given” is the wrong term to use because he has earned it.
December 18th, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Agreed Will Says
December 19th, 2020 at 12:49 am
Smart coach builds a first down machine that grinds down the field and scores while wearing out defenders. Then the deep shots open up. Bucs haven’t figured this out is very disappointing.
December 19th, 2020 at 6:50 pm
His offense was scoring on the 1st quarter last year with less talent on it.