“Squeezing The Interior”
December 25th, 2021
Playcaller Byron Leftwich in the spotlight.
Joe sometimes enjoys listening to longtime NFL offensive coordinator and former Chiefs head coachTodd Haley on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
He’s very laid back and not one for hyperbole or criticism, but he will talk plenty of Xs and Os and occasionally wag a finger at playcalling.
One Haley finger wag this week was the Bucs offense abandoning Ronald Jones against the Saints when it seemed RoJo was getting hot and the Saints defense was loosening up.
“[RoJo] just disappeared,” Haley said while explaining his disbelief.
Joe was flummoxed, too, primarily because the passing game was ugly.
Haley talked about how the NFL is loaded with receivers who coaches think can play outside the numbers but in reality they can’t get the job done on the outside.
Per Haley, the Bucs’ receiver depth was exposed quickly and he praised how the Saints defense was “squeezing the interior” and the Bucs couldn’t take advantage. And he included Rob Gronkowski as a guy unable to win on the outside.
Of course, furniture-hurling, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown is a guy Haley coached for many seasons in Pittsburgh. Haley noted how Brown’s extraordinary work ethic should have him ready for whatever the Bucs need on Sunday, even if Brown has missed several weeks.
Haley also chuckled a bit at those who were surprised that the Bucs let Brown return after his fraudulent vaccine card escapades. The best NFL coaches, per Haley, are all about winning first and that drives all decisions.
The Panthers defense certainly will respect Brown running as an outside receiver, but they have a pass rush and cornerbacks, so Joe very much believes the Bucs’ will be leaning heavily on their inside receivers and tight ends tomorrow. Hopefully, Brown will soften up the interior for them.
Enjoy Today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast
December 25th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Gronk AINT dropping 3 ball tomorrow.
December 25th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Pete’s been saying for weeks that the Bucs gameplan has been to get TB12 the MVP. It’s totally blown up in their face with 3 bad losses. The players on the team realize what’s been going on. Now, they should get back to normal b/c Brady isn’t winning the MVP now smh
December 25th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
So –why did BL pull Rojo when he was running pretty well ??
hope he takes darden with him to Jags….
December 25th, 2021 at 2:47 pm
Sometimes medicated pete makes valid points.. other times he talks out of his ass..like today..He talks to hear himself..He is a Brady hater from day one.
December 25th, 2021 at 2:55 pm
I’ve said it here before.
In the old days RB’s got better as the game on, I don’t know why. They warmed up, found their mojo, defense got tired. Who knows? They didn’t get gassed.
December 25th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Feed RoJo the rock till he’s gassed, then gas him some more.
December 25th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Inside receivers?
Who beyond TE’s?
That was Godwin’s domain.
The only guy close is Johnson.
December 25th, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Agreed Pete had a little too much eggnog, do you really think Brady gives two caps about MVP. Roger’s yacking it up again, says doesn’t care where they play no team beating the f@#king Packers. I love it, keep talking.
December 25th, 2021 at 3:32 pm
Brady only plays for 1st place trophies.
December 25th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Better do everything they can to win that game on sunday. Need players to step up.
December 25th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Tyler Johnson this guy has to be step up. I had high hopes for him and he has been disappointing.
December 25th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
Run the ball early and often set up the play action with it. STOP taking deep shots on 3rd and short so often. Let our defense rest so they can get after the QB. Simply keys to winning the next 3 games.
Who’s going to be returning kicks?
December 25th, 2021 at 5:17 pm
I would agree about abandoning Jones. Those Packer’s Sweeps were really grinding on the Saint’s D.
I don’t know about Jones being “gassed”, but the O should have stuck with them even with Vaughn and whatever other RB on the field.
December 25th, 2021 at 6:06 pm
folks we’ve all heard the expression “never poke the bear” They said that about Tom. But now Joe has bad names for other teams. The stinking Panthers, Slimy Saints, Bilicheet. Joey stop poking the bear. They are aleady kicking our arse. They don’t need any more motivation
December 25th, 2021 at 6:09 pm
Anyone watching the Packers and Browns? Get Mayfield off the field please. What a disgrace. Can’t believe he was drafted first.
December 25th, 2021 at 6:21 pm
Baker needs to stop doing all the commercials and get to concentrating on football.
December 25th, 2021 at 6:39 pm
Baker is trying to safe his neck ,so he hopefully can get a contract that works.. Time s not on his side as games are just about over!
December 25th, 2021 at 6:57 pm
Cleveland COULD have beat Green Bay, by running the ball down their throat, but instead they put the game in Baker Mayfields hands, and he has thrown 3 picks!
December 25th, 2021 at 7:44 pm
Baker single handedly lost that game.
December 25th, 2021 at 8:46 pm
The only thing that Baker is good at is getting commercials.
December 25th, 2021 at 11:07 pm
And that’s 4 picks for Baker’s Mungfield, the overrated overhyped overly self impressed cousin of Johnny Manziel, although better than Johnny – he sucks and will always suck. It’s the Browns they’re supposed to suck.
December 25th, 2021 at 11:31 pm
Inside receivers????
BL is stubborn and deserves to be the next head coach of the jaguars. He tried that same nonsense the second saints game of the season last year which was an epic fail too but here he is another year trying the exact same thing that didn’t work except he tried it with backups!!! Pass rush and decent corners call for heavy dose of rojo but does anyone expect to see that at all?
December 26th, 2021 at 8:04 am
Fun fact. BUCS are undefeated when Rojo gets at least 20 carries.