Motion Sickness
December 17th, 2022
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.
One reason recently deceased Mississippi State coach Mike Leach was so popular is because his offenses were so damn fun to watch.
Leach created a Frankenstein of sorts some 25 years ago with his “Air Raid” passing offense when he was an offensive coordinator at Kentucky and Oklahoma before taking over Texas Tech. And then he moved on to Mississippi State.
Fans enjoyed Leach’s Air Raid. Players loved it.
Leach’s brand of ball spread throughout the country like a Texas brushfire in a drought. His passing offense is now all over college (along with the spread-option) and dominates high school ball. Yes, it has even reached the NFL.
One trademark of a Leach Air Raid is to put guys in motion at the snap in an effort to create space for other receivers, forcing defenders to move and the offense then exposes the space created by the defender(s) moving.
Leach’s Air Raid sort of had the same principles as a motion offense in basketball: The more you move the ball, the more the defense has to move to guard the ball, which increases the chances of a defensive mistake leading to an open shot or creating an open lane to the bucket.
In short, Leach’s “Air Raid” is creative.
That brings Joe to Bucs failing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. The Tampa Bay offense right now is anything but creative and mostly is just flat boring.
(Remember: Leftwich’s offense with Tom Brady averages 17.2 points a game. The 2014 Bucs’ ill-suited Marcus Arroyo offense led by Stewart McClown and Mike Glennon that tanked to win the Chase for Jameis averaged 17.3 points a game.)
Seth Walder of BSPN, who never met a number he didn’t like, pointed out how Leftwich rarely uses anyone in motion at the snap. Try dead last in the NFL.
(As Jenna Laine of ESPN pointed out, the Bucs have motion almost half the time, just not often at the snap.)
So while other teams use elements of Leach’s Air Raid, teams like the Belicheats (prior to this season), the Chiefs, the Lions, the Eagles, the Jags and the Cardinals, to name a few, Leftwich is allergic to staying ahead of the curve of football evolution and is mired in the 20th century.
That’s one reason the Bucs offense this season has been slightly better than trash, despite all sorts of talent at the skill positions.
No creativity. No foresight. No adjustments. No success.
Mike Leach's thoughts on running a balanced offense: "There's nothing balanced about 50% run, 50% pass. That's 50% stupid." pic.twitter.com/oL89qE2HWP
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) October 2, 2018
December 17th, 2022 at 10:13 am
Lack of motion is nothing new here though. If I remember correctly, there has been this discussion before and it was dismissed by the staff for whatever reason. Clearly, for better or worse, Arians and by extension, Leftwich, do not use motion in their offense, and as we’ve come to find out, no adjustments or changes to this offense will be made so I wouldn’t expect this trend to end.
December 17th, 2022 at 10:15 am
The only player in motion before the snap is Donovan Smith…..
December 17th, 2022 at 10:23 am
TBBF – Right your are.
December 17th, 2022 at 10:27 am
Bucs are running the Random Dumbshlt offense. You tailor your offense to its players.
December 17th, 2022 at 10:33 am
Haha good one TBBF!!
December 17th, 2022 at 10:43 am
I watched the BUCS and then painted a wall, let me just say that watching that paint dry was so much more enjoyable.
December 17th, 2022 at 10:46 am
Motion on the sideline is Bowles Leftwich circle jerk sheet show.
December 17th, 2022 at 10:49 am
This is worth repeating, has been said here many times, Einstein said the definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Einstein had never even met Bowles or Leftwich!!! Not only was Einstein a genius, he was phychic too!!
December 17th, 2022 at 10:54 am
Wonder who the new HC will be
December 17th, 2022 at 11:00 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“The only player in motion before the snap is Donovan Smith…..”
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LOL
December 17th, 2022 at 11:01 am
It’s weird. He has been an offensive coordinator for 4 seasons in the NFL.
His offense is like any one of three of the recommended plays on any madden game.
Granted that’s more creative because on occasion we would run slants that Leftwich doesn’t really understand.
I just don’t get how this man can be so bad at his job.
December 17th, 2022 at 11:01 am
Todd Monken for offensive coordinator.
December 17th, 2022 at 11:22 am
If the bucs ever get rid of him he will have to go back to college ball because no nfl is going to sign him.
December 17th, 2022 at 11:49 am
Bowles & Leftwitch should both be fired at the end of the season if not sooner, but I’m afraid it might be only Lefty. So sad.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
RIP Mike Leach. Would you be available to call our offense?
December 17th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
No controlling gaps, No holding blocks, and how about No holding
December 17th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Anytime you see motion it’s gonna be a WR who is going to stop next to the tackle for run blocking, dead giveaway it’s gonna be a run
December 17th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
‘Mike Leach’s thoughts on running a balanced offense: “There’s nothing balanced about 50% run, 50% pass. That’s 50% stupid.”
Mike Leach is 100% right in that 50-50 isn’t a ‘balanced offense’. But then again, very few view a ‘balanced offense’ in those terms.
Ian Boyd wrote an excellent article back in Feb 2019 based on that very line by Mike Leach. Here’s the link Joe for your reading (I know you don’t include links in comments):
[Sooner or later Joe is hoping you figure out links haven’t been allowed in the comments for over a year? — Joe]
In that article, Boyd wrote this that kinda sums it up …
‘Mike Leach prefers to think of balance in terms of how many skill players on the field have to hold the attention of the defense. If all five skill players are a threat to receive a pass from the QB and do damage with the ball, it becomes very difficult to account for everyone on every snap.’
Boyd also went on to talk a lot about the HUNH offense (hurry up – no huddle). In explaining it, he wrote …
‘The HUNH spread offense has changed the game somewhat in terms of what balance is or needs to be and there are still diverging theories on what’s important. I would like to suggest that most forms of “balance” are valuable and that none of these theories of balance is really the key to successful offense. The real goal on offense is to be able to over stress a defense and present more real threats than they can defend at the same time. The breakthrough of the HUNH (hurry-up, no-huddle) spread offense is in accomplishing that goal while giving the QB clarity on which of the threats the defense is focusing on from snap to snap.’
I personally like the way Boyd explained it.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Lol TBBF nailed it.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
TBBf, that was a beer up the nose post. Good one. Any motion in the 9ers O?
December 17th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
[Sooner or later Joe is hoping you figure out links haven’t been allowed in the comments for over a year? — Joe]
And that’s why I said in my comment that the link was for YOUR READING Joe (and that I know links aren’t allowed). Didn’t know if YOU had seen that article before. Figured that your algorithm wouldn’t let the link through and that you’d edit it out, but still get to read it.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
That picture says it all, if it is new. He’s ready to be fired.
December 17th, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Pathetic
December 17th, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Who needs Tom Brady? He’s a 45 year-old, immobile QB with diminishing skills. And, he’s a stat-padder with a big head from all those SB wins from yester-yore. Bye-bye Tom! Get some family time.The Bucs need talent and youth, someone like a Brock Purdy. But, whatever the Bucs do, it seems like they’re screwed. It’s like that TV commercial. When you’re in a horror show everyone makes the wrong decisions. So, be honest. When did all the current problems start with the Bucs? When did everyone go from winning big-time to horror show? When did everyone start making the wrong decisions? I know when. But, shhhh! Don’t talk about it.
December 17th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
If nothing changes nothing changes
December 17th, 2022 at 8:17 pm
Beej Says:
“Anytime you see motion it’s gonna be a WR who is going to stop next to the tackle for run blocking, dead giveaway it’s gonna be a run.”
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It is so maddening. I have never seen Leftfoot throw out of that formation. I might have missed one, but it’s really just so maddening. If I know it, and you know it, then everyone on the field also know it.
December 17th, 2022 at 10:38 pm
TBBF comment of the day!!!! DSmith indeed
Uh, great take Joe – imagine actually letting CG or ME get a running start before catching the quick slant or flare instead of standing flat footed waiting to get smashed
No creating in the run game either/ just follow the lead blocker or in single back it’s only going in the 2 or 3 gap- always and forever amen
December 17th, 2022 at 10:53 pm
Brazen Zebra Says:
“When you’re in a horror show everyone makes the wrong decisions.”
.
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“I know… Let’s hide behind the chainsaws!
December 18th, 2022 at 10:28 am
CONSPIRACY THEORY …
The NFL owners were sued in the off-season for racial discrimination amongst coaches. It was bad pub for the whole league. A week later BA stepped down, Bowles was hired by the Bucs, and the lawsuit died.
The Bucs had been gifted hosting the Super Bowl, had the most prime time games, so it was time for them to take one for the team.