Comfort Zone
October 16th, 2021
Fresh data
The Buccaneers’ run game is back in the spotlight in a backhanded way.
Yes, Leonard Fournette has been a versatile force through the past three games games. The numbers do not lie.
But perhaps what that run game indirectly produces is more important.
Tampa Bay’s offense has been lethal in play-action passing since Tom Brady arrived, and that thriving run game makes the play-action fake to the runing back credible.
The official NFL NextGen Stats, derived from technology in game equipment, spit out more play-action data on Brady from Thursday night. (See the Twitter graphic below) For those wondering, CPOE is a wacky human-created figure for how tough a throw is. So Brady’s +CPOE is impressive, too.
Also, Brady releasing the football in less than 2.5 seconds is tough to do in play-action, which is a slower developing play. So this graphic shows how Brady is thriving in all areas. But as usual, it’s play-action where the big plays are coming.
Tom Brady Passing Chart 🎯
Brady was at his best on pass attempts when he got rid of the ball in under 2.5 seconds and on play action…
🔹 Quick: 24/25, 179 yards (+16.1% CPOE)
🔹 Play Action: 10/12, 116 yards, 2 TD (+14.0% CPOE)#TBvsPHI | Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/zInhPN0c0v— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 15, 2021
October 16th, 2021 at 12:26 pm
And that’s why BL should stop calling plays with an empty backfield on 1st down when the Bucs are leading late in the 3rd quarter.
October 16th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Brady is the Master. Different feeling as a fan when the game is on the line.
October 16th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
Have now read several articles elsewhere about the floundering somewhat in the 2nd half of the Eagles game. Perhaps a little, but I think some might be missing the bigger picture.
Bucs were up 20-7 at the half, and had really controlled the game to that point. Bucs had had the ball for over 21 mins TOP in that 1st half. We’d had 6 drives in the half, scoring 3 TDs on a total of 40 plays. Eagles were the ones floundering; they’d scored 1 TD (largely because of a 45 -yard PI penalty), punted 4 times, and been intercepted once. Bucs were in control.
We went ahead 28-7 on our 1st drive in the 3rd qtr, reeling off 12 plays on that drive (6 passes/6 runs), eating up nearly 8 mins TOP. Philly responded with a TD, but again it was based mostly on a 50-yard PI penalty this time. Bucs next 2 drives stagnated, but were both pass-heavy, and ended up giving the Eagles great field position that they scored from. Bad play-calling in both those drives. Our response though, to close out the game, was to go heavier on the run, and we kept the ball for almost the last 8 mins of the game, ending up with 3 kneeldowns inside the Eagles’ 10-yard line. We could’ve easily scored on that last drive if we’d wanted to (ran out the clock instead).
The score might show a 6-point difference, but realistically it was never THAT close. Bucs were in control. To a degree I think they sacrificed points in favor of eating up the clock. 40 mins TOP is hard to … top.
October 16th, 2021 at 1:21 pm
Tell that to Arians at 4th and 2.
October 16th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
I know you have to mix up formations so as not to be predictable but I hate it when we go empty. Brady is so lethal with play action and with the running back behind Brady the defense has to respect the run. We will be even more lethal when Gronk comes back. Better blocker than O.J. And he is another legitimate threat the defense has to account for.
October 16th, 2021 at 1:54 pm
@Tell that to Arians at 4th and 2.
————————
TV 🤡 is terrible on 4th down calls, but on that particular 4th and 2, the play calling was horrible wrong.
I really dont get it what BL was trying to do….
October 16th, 2021 at 2:19 pm
One announcer remarked that the Bucs could be a power running team, if we wanted to be.
Brady and all our receivers are enough for opposing defenses to worry about, but when we run all over you too, that really hurts.
Fournette was gashing the Eagles so badly, that one of them got in his face, out of frustration.
October 16th, 2021 at 2:22 pm
I, for one, would never turn the game off if 20-7, Bucs. I love to watch them dominate. I would not turn it off it it was 49-7–just awaiting a great play to break 50.
October 16th, 2021 at 3:08 pm
I think it’s hilarious when people solely put the blame on Leftwich. 1. You have no idea what play BL called. 2. if you think Brady does not have the Green light to change the play at any time you are delirious. 3. If Brady thought it was a bad play call he wouldn’t run it. C’mon…. You just WANT to blame BL when things are bad and Praise TB12 when things are good. That’s what people do. They blame the people they don’t like even though they don’t know why they don’t like that person.
October 16th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
Brady had 3 options at least that I could see on the 4 and 2 play. He chose the hardest one, and it was not even close to being caught. That is not on BL, 2 WR were open for quick passes that Brady could have thrown easily.
GO BUCS!!!!
October 16th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
Yet once you get past the opening drive in the 2nd half, when the game is getting tight, that idiot Leftwich doesn’t run a single first down playaction pass when the Eagles were just stacking the line. Wasting downs on every series makes the game a lot harder than it needs to be, and it wasn’t like late in the game they were afraid to throw, since they had to throw because it was always 2nd and 9.
It’s amazing how many times Brady bails out that talentless dope Leftwich.
October 16th, 2021 at 5:09 pm
I sent my play-calling resume to Bucs, the other day.
I haven’t heard back from them. My phone ain’t ringing.
They prolly don’t need my advice. I’m thinking.
October 16th, 2021 at 5:12 pm
My advice to the arm-chair QB’s : don’t quit your day jobs.
The Bucs don’t need you.
October 16th, 2021 at 7:12 pm
The fourth quarter was weird and I’m not talking the kneel downs at the end. The Bucs stalled themselves offensively. Why?
October 16th, 2021 at 7:29 pm
Brinksmanship
October 16th, 2021 at 9:42 pm
Beer Whisperer — beautiful takes man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What beer are you whispering to right now, BTW?
October 17th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
Happy Nana here… since I’m takin this risk and it’s my first probably my last trip into Bucs Place 101.. it’s only fair to tell ya all that IF your your mean spirited with me… (I swear. ask my children) your karma is screwed, messed up sometimes for days. I ask you to be nice not for myself but for my kids. They be hurt( ain’t love grand😃) So after reading Joe for quite awhile now I know you folks can get pissy. Control yourself now. And I thank you all. OK.. this is about all those knee’s that were taken in that game.. from this coaches perspective.. Murphy’s Law. One snap and it’s an ankle it’s a knee an elbow a hamstring.. another boo boo. For nothing. That looked pretty ok with the losers to. Survive to play another day. Gooo mighty Bucs 💫
October 17th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Ps I know it’s the love a powerful love of the game.. (My kids and there kids love it to. Our youngest Brady Mac is five his Sis Peyton eight..) and it’s a lot about them”Stats” .. so that’s why all the knees were a bummer for Stats folks.
October 17th, 2021 at 6:44 pm
R.O. – That is the most INTELLIGENT comment I’ve seen in a while on here !! If people remember , B.L. was being interviewed for head coaching jobs after his first season here !! And that was with J.Winston at QB !
October 17th, 2021 at 6:47 pm
Cricket Baker – What are you talking about ?? Who said anything about turning the TV off ?? 🤨🤔
October 18th, 2021 at 9:17 am
We need to keep lenny healthy for the playoffs. Lets not over use him. If we can win by passing it saves lenny for end of season where we need him the most.
October 18th, 2021 at 9:22 am
We need to keep lenny healthy for the playoffs. Lets not over use him. If we can win by passing it saves lenny for end of season where we need him the most. If he goes down we don’t have anyone to replace him. It takes both rojo and gio to do that. But you can’t play with 12 guys