Prevent Offense
December 20th, 2022
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.
Sunday in the first half playing one of the best teams in the NFL, the Bucs looked like they were supposed to when the season started.
They jumped out to a 17-0 lead. And it was a two-touchdown lead at halftime. At home.
Then, it looked as if failing Bucs offensive coordinator decided he was going to sit on the lead. As some old school coaches would call it, “protect the lead.”
The Bucs did just the opposite. Somewhere in Louisiana, Jameis Winston had to shut the game off he was so embarrassed watching Tom Brady cough up four turnovers on successive possessions.
Jameis never did that.
It was like two different offenses from the first half to the second half. And Jenna Laine of ESPN has data that proves the Bucs changed their offensive philosophy at halftime for reasons unknown.
Joe’s 11th Commandment is “Thou shalt not fix what is not broken.” Someone (Leftwich? Todd Bowles? Brady?) decided to fix an offense that was working just fine at halftime.
We all saw the result.
Of course, Leftwich later this week will stand up before the local pen and mic club and get all haughty and scoff about “fantasy football stats” and claim he has no idea what anyone is referring to when they bring up these play-action numbers — hard facts. It just blows Joe’s mind this guy runs an NFL offense.
Such irresponsible coaching.
December 20th, 2022 at 4:12 am
It was obvious that there was something that had changed the game plan at halftime. I think we all know that Leftwich definitely needs to go,but my question is what happens if he stays and they don’t get rid of him? I’m in the camp that BA didn’t do us any favors with either coach and was obviously just looking out for his buddies
JMO
December 20th, 2022 at 5:07 am
not that anyone would care…if this coaching staff stays…I don’t watch…its not a watchable product
December 20th, 2022 at 5:37 am
Many here were worried about losing BL to be a head coach. I had NEVER thought he was truly running the Bucs offense. He certainly didn’t show any capability as OC in ARI. I smdh people thought he was any good. One big mistake the Bucs made was letting Arians stay on as an advisor and not HC. That alone instantly sent a message to the Bucs players that all these other guys called coaches were lessor beings. Enter: divides where players may not be totally deferrent to their coaches..and have cliques behind certain coaches. Looks like BA is just hanging around getting a paycheck is only F-ing up how a football organization should work. JL is non-existent in all this. TB12 shares some blame with his stunts (Kraft Wedding, etc) but this team would likely have 1 or 2 wins without him. Who let this happen? The owners! That’s right. Out of franchise history, most of which is under the Glazers, the Bucs have the worst…WORST winning percentage in the NFL at 40% of all 32 teams. Enter JL would have/should have been fired 3 years ago. Who saved him? TB!2 happended to want to be in paradise. So, not just the team, but the organization is a dumpster fire. A GOAT can only do so much, for so long. Stew on that a bit. Look at how fan experience in the stadium has taken a dump too? Less stuff for fans, two price increases during a pandemic, and bad concessions 30% higher prices this year. This is ownership and a series of simultaneous train wrecks they oversee has destroyed it. Bank it.
December 20th, 2022 at 5:46 am
yeah jump out to a 17-0 lead…
pour it on in the second half…
and while the other team is playing a forced game of no risk it no biscuit, run up the score…
and finish the game winning 41-21…
welp, that’s the bucs of last year…not this year
December 20th, 2022 at 5:48 am
you would think this offense is built for a shoot out type game…
oddly enough, such is not the case
December 20th, 2022 at 6:11 am
It’s a head-scratcher!
At the end of the day, accountability starts at the top. If every armchair QB and talking head this side of the Mississippi can see it, there’s a problem.
Sadly, the Glazers got some of my coin Sunday. For one half I actually thought I was watching this team emerge from the ashes. By game’s end, every Bengals fan in my section was wondering the same thing I was.
Where are the Bucs?!
December 20th, 2022 at 6:24 am
Seems like Joe has forgotten that there wasnt a play that started beyond the 50 in the 3rd quarter. I am not going to hammer Bye Ron with the 3rd quarter or even 4th quarter play calling. The execution was so bad they didnt have time. And you can’t “protect a lead” when the players are coughing up the ball. Bengalls arent gonna bite on play action when they know youre needing to pass to survive.
What were “America’s QB” (Joe was really prescient with that nickname /rolleyes) stats from Sunday LOL?
December 20th, 2022 at 6:24 am
Lol joes saying winstons name doesn’t work anymore. You guys get plenty traffic you don’t need the shock effect.
December 20th, 2022 at 6:39 am
The league is set up for scoring….Bowles is coaching like we’re in the 90s. All clock management does is signal to the opposing team we won’t be as aggressive while the opposing team HAS to be more aggressive trying to catch up. It’s a formula for losing when you stop doing what’s working and try to coast to victory.
December 20th, 2022 at 6:39 am
Just part of the Bowzo Prevent Game Plan
December 20th, 2022 at 6:41 am
I believe Bowles and Lefty were happy with the lead going into the half and came back after the half with a new game plan of run, run and run some more to try to eat up the clock. As Joe mentioned, why change what isn’t broke.. the first half was obviously successful. Very tired of Byron’s hard headed ways with the run game. Can’t do that in the NFL, especially with a playoff caliber team. Fire Lefty today and we may have a chance.
December 20th, 2022 at 6:50 am
This season has been an unmitigated nightmare.
Todd Bowles is the head coach. He’s steering the ship…..Right into a reef.
I can honestly say the sooner this season is over the better. Get rid of these amateur coaches first thing.
Secondly it’s time to say bye bye to the big salary lazy and brittle veterans. Time to get younger….and hungrier. This product they’re selling right now is straight up garbage. Put this 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team out of its misery.
December 20th, 2022 at 6:55 am
Only when the stands are empty will anything get done. Political correctness is killing this league.
December 20th, 2022 at 6:59 am
That’s exactly what I was afraid of when the Bucs hired a defensive coach. The game has definitely passed Bowles by if he thinks he can sit on a two touchdown lead these days.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:06 am
The best way to protect a lead is to build it.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:18 am
not that anyone would care…if this coaching staff stays…I don’t watch…its not a watchable product
————————-
I care. Right there with you. That makes two of us. We are not alone. Ticket sales will plummet if Bowles comes back. Even if he promises changes to the staff, I am already gone.
We have seen too many turnarounds this year with new coaches to sit back and watch a guy who has driven this bus into the ditch get a second chance to mess it up worse.
Bowles return = Mass exodus.
December 20th, 2022 at 7:45 am
We adjusted to them in the first half even Tony Romo commented on the difference in our offense. But in the second half they adjusted to us, but we never re adjusted!
Again, we were not only outplayed, we were outcoached!
My Son was at the game, and he remarked on the kindness and consideration of the Cincinnati Fans who came down for this game.
There is a WORLD of difference between Cincinnati and Cleveland, and their Fans.
Cleveland Fans will stand up at the Stadium, and Bark in your Face.
Cincinnati Fans just seem to be smiling all the time, probably because they are dreaming of that awesome Skyline Chili back home ?
December 20th, 2022 at 8:19 am
What is becoming more apparent is that BA was able to win games and be successful in spite of the coaching stylings of Bowles, Lefty, and horrendous special teams.
December 20th, 2022 at 9:04 am
Why?
December 20th, 2022 at 9:33 am
Fire Leftwich and let Brady be the on field OC!!!! It’s that simple. He’s only been playing at a successful level for 23 years. If Leftwich stays in control Brady might get his first losing season. He’s already had his worst season with 3 games left. Take off the cuffs and let the man play. It’s not like Leftwich is being sought after for a head coaching gig now. He’ll be lucky to be a QB coach on someone else’s staff at this rate.
December 20th, 2022 at 10:16 am
Not true. He was probably on his way home from the stadium after spending the previous 3 hours holding a tablet on the sidelines.
December 20th, 2022 at 10:18 am
HC Grover … ‘Just part of the Bowzo Prevent Game Plan’.
I didn’t see that at all in the 1st half NOR in the 2nd half. Quite the contrary; Bucs played aggressive football even during those miscues.
o 3rd qtr, Drive 1: White 4-yd run; Brady incomplete pass deep; Brady 5-yd pass to Godwin setting up a 4th-1 … Bucs went for it but screwed up. Result: Bengals FG from short field.
o 3rd qtr, Drive 2: Fournette 4-yd run; Brady 9-yd short pass to Fournette (1st down); HOLDING PENALTY on Kieft (now 1st-and-20); Brady incomplete pass short; Brady 13-yd pass to Godwin (making it 3rd & 8); Brady INT at Bucs 31-yd line. Result: Bengals TD from short field, but not until AFTER LVD penalty on 4th-and-3 that the Bucs had STOPPED AND a DPI on Davis on 4th-and 1 that kept the Bengals drive alive for a SECOND time.
o 3rd qtr, Drive 3: White no-gain run (around right end); Brady incomplete short pass; Brady sacked and fumbles. Result: Bengals TD from short field starting at Bucs’ 13-yd line.
o 3rd qtr, Drive 4: Brady 7-yd short pass to Godwin; Fournette 7-yd run (1st down); Brady fumbled handoff to Fournette at Bucs 39-yd line. Result: Bengals TD from short field.
o 4th qtr, Drive 1: Brady incomplete short pass; Brady complete 11-yd short pass to Gage (1st down); DPI on Bengals; HOLDING PENALTY on Leverett (making it 1st down at Cincy 49-yd line); Brady short pass to Evans INT at Cincy 47-yd line. Result: Bucs defense forced a punt, and our offense returned the favor with a punt of its own.
Bottom line to all those ‘miscues’ is that the Bucs offense was being aggressive (NOT turtling), but players’ execution was bad. There were some very good play-calls in there, but FIVE execution screwups by veterans (4 by Tom Brady & 1 by Gio) and FOUR critical penalties plus the 1 sack on the Bucs doomed that 2nd half. It’s not just coaching and it’s not just players. Losing, like winning, really is a TEAM EFFORT.
December 20th, 2022 at 10:20 am
Every time a picture of Leftwich is posted, those who view it get dumber.
December 20th, 2022 at 10:48 am
Just read Gage now leads the team in TDs with… 4. Four TDs in a SEASON. That’s pathetic. That’s like a game for Kelce.
December 20th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
DR, the first three series the second half were runs for little or NO gain, look familiar? Quite different from the first half. I still don’t understand how a man who is clearly into numbers can justify a fake punt under those circumstances. You write it off as.Bowles being aggressive, I call it stupid and over his head. Run, run, run, short pass, short pass, throw in the turnovers the Bucs are once again one dimentional. A TOP 10 D can’t keep a O from scoring from the 31, 39,47 & 13? 4 tryst? Ever hear of the term GOALINE D?? 79 points, two games. Defense DOES NOT rule!
December 20th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Leftwich is an abomination
December 20th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
I know the Bucs like to hire with equality. Hiring an OC with Down Syndrome is a nice, feelgood, PC move, but it’s not very practical. Perhaps you numbnuts could find a less destructive job for him and hire an OC with an IQ greater than dirt?
December 20th, 2022 at 7:09 pm
THIS IS WHAT I SAID YESTERDAY!
1st half: Play action, pre-snap motion, mixing up play calls
2nd half: Predictable drop backs, no play action, no motion.
WTF!?!?!?!
December 20th, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Right on big Joe!! I’ve been saying all along g that “Left Field” Leftwich is way out of his league. I think next year he can find a high school job. All the cudos the Arians has been giving Leftwich is sick. Arians is a fool who got very lucky when Brady came to town. Very lucky………
December 21st, 2022 at 9:32 am
Why change the best half we ever played?? Why??? We were lilling them!! 17 points is not going to win you a game. Prevent a whole second half?? Seriously?? That comes in late 4th qrt ..this is common sense..you start eating the clock in late 4th qrt wtf…COACHES!!! IT DOESNT MATTER HOW YOU WIN JUST WIN!! YOULL BE FIRED AND SHOUKD BE WITH THIS PERFORMANCE!! FIND A WAY TO WIN