Kyle Rudolph Explains Difference Between Bucs’ Playbook And Tom Brady’s Playbook

July 28th, 2022

Bucs TE Kyle Rudolph.

So Kyle Rudolph wasn’t quite finished with his first day of practice as a Bucs tight end, and already he blew Joe away.

No, Rudolph didn’t really do anything on the field that was otherworldly. He probably wasn’t the third-best guy catching passes from Tom Brady.

What very much impressed Joe was Rudolph’s demeanor, his smarts. He really approaches football in a cerebral way.

(Joe only listened to Rudolph for maybe 10 minutes and became convinced Rudolph will be working for FOX or CBS calling NFL games and may someday end up as a No. 1 crew’s analyst. He really sounded a lot like fellow NFL tight end and current FOX NFL analyst Greg Olsen. Very polished.)

Rudolph admitted that perhaps his biggest challenge between now and the season opener is getting on the same page as Brady. And it isn’t just timing.

Rudolph explained there is the Bucs’ playbook, which playbook diagrams each play and how and where receivers should run routes, block, you name it. But the playbook is just a diagram, Rudolph said, because Brady may want that play run with small modifications.

Brady knows what works and what doesn’t depending on personnel and the defense. So in a sense, Rudolph was saying he has to learn two playbooks, the original and how Brady actually wants those plays run.

Rudolph referred to this as “nuance.”

So far, it appears Rudolph has all the attributes head coach Todd Bowles desires in a football player.

“He brings intelligence, he brings toughness, he brings savvy, and he’s played the game for a while,” Bowles said of Rudolph. “So. he gives us an extra guy. He can block, he can catch the ball.”

Joe senses the Bucs offense won’t be fully oiled until late in the season. Think 2020: Everything was brand new to Brady and Brady was brand new to the team. No offseason workouts and it not until late November did the offense purr.

That could be the case this year. With three key targets new to the team (Russell Gage, Julio Jones and Rudolph), Joe doesn’t think it is a stretch to suggest the offense will be better in November and December than in September and October.

13 Responses to “Kyle Rudolph Explains Difference Between Bucs’ Playbook And Tom Brady’s Playbook”

  1. Defense Rules Says:

    ‘Joe senses the Bucs offense won’t be fully oiled until late in the season. Think 2020′.

    Great observation Joe; concur totally. Could also take that long for the Bucs’ defense to really gel also, just like in 2020.

  2. MadMax Says:

    I couldnt agree more Joe! We’ve got a great mix between vets and new/lightly used guys. Use them mostly, early, then we come on strong with the vets.

  3. Delusional Intelligence Says:

    And to the think the scoring record could still get broken by the ‘Dunkaneers’

  4. Ausgust 1976 Buc Says:

    Does not matter how talented you are, Chemistry, mesh, whatever you want to call it, it has to happen for the QB and Receiver to play with excellence.

    BTW Evans, Godwin, Gage, Kyle and Julio in the Red Zone are going to nasty to defend. Pick your poison defensive coordinators.

    The TB12 led Bucs should be the #1 Red Zone offense again for a 3rd year in a row with this nightmare for defensive coordinators to try and stop.

    “Me and Julio down by the Endzone” for another TD baby!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  5. bucschamps Says:

    thats what gronk brings to the table. he knew Tom’s tendencies

  6. Dooley Says:

    That was a javelin

  7. Listnfrmafar Says:

    This is exactly what I meant when I said it took a while for Evan’s and Brady to get on the same page where AB as much as a moron that he is could see the same things Brady did and Gronk on knew one way and that was the Brady way. You could see some signs of this with Johnson & Brate last season not being where Brady expected them to be.

  8. Joe Says:

    “Me and Julio down by the Endzone”

    Nice! 🙂

  9. HC Grover Says:

    “The OLD GOATS’

  10. Cobraboy Says:

    Wanna bet we’re entering the Dolph-a-Day era?

  11. SB~LV Says:

    That “nuance” is what made Gronk and Brady so special

  12. Wild Bill Says:

    Brady should be a very happy camper with the new additions (that he helped pick)?

  13. Smashsquatch Says:

    That wasn’t a dart, more like a bomb. Darts are on a rope and bombs drop out of the sky.