Still Standing

January 20th, 2023

Bucs senior offensive advisor Tom Moore.

It’s rather intriguing that the Bucs fired their offensive coordinator yesterday but the senior advisor to the offense, 84-year-old Tom Moore, survived the Grim Reaper.

That’s certainly a unique occurrence. And Joe doubts the Bucs are just waiting on a retirement announcement from Moore. He’s an all-in kind of coach still working long hours and sweating his ass off on the field without a golf cart.

For those unaware, Moore has an incredibly long and successful history in coaching after his run as a college quarterback at Iowa and a stint in the military.

So why is Moore still on staff after playcaller Byron Leftwich got booted?

That’s unclear. Joe was told years ago that Moore was the initial architect of the weekly offensive gameplan and then handed it over to Leftwich very early in a game week. Then Leftwich would rework it as the next step in the process before it would go to Tom Brady and then Bucco Bruce Arians would see it.

Joe suspects in addition to Moore being good at his job, he has a great relationship with Brady and would be viewed as an asset to whomever becomes the next Bucs offensive coordinator.

That coordinator would have no reason to worry about Moore taking his job, and he should have the ultimate respect for Moore’s resume that includes several Super Bowl rings.

Joe thinks it’s cool that a soon-to-be 85-year-old dude survived massive layoffs on his side of the ball.

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48 Responses to “Still Standing”

  1. D-Rok Says:

    So, it would appear this year that BL was “red-penning” Moore’s gameplans? I wonder if the NFL practices traceability like we do in the science field…???

  2. mark2001 Says:

    I don’t think it has to do with Brady, per se. He has worked with and been involved in developing some great CB’s. And he needs to be in Trasks ear if the guy is going to have a chance to develop into someihing. I really think it is that straight forward.

  3. Goatfarmer Says:

    I remember an interview where Tom Moore said he will die on the football field, that he has no plan to retire. Good the Bucs keep him for many reasons.

  4. zzbucs Says:

    I wonder what BA has to say about all this….I guess he will be pissed…What do you think Joe?

  5. Kenny Says:

    hmmmmmm???

  6. mark2001 Says:

    D Roc. The problem with traceability in the scientific field is that scientists live in different countries. And in many countries, trying to get to the bottom of the truth or accountability is a difficult thing to do. Heck, it even is in America.

  7. Simeon97 Says:

    This is meaningless to guidance in what May happen., guy is a legend and only an advisor. And really old. They aren’t going to fire him.

  8. William Walls Says:

    Why am I imagining Tom Moore in a long coat dancing to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standin’?”

    (Yeah, yeah, yeah!)

  9. SB~LV Says:

    No one gave him a wake up call?
    WTF is this NFL gravy train?

  10. R.O. Says:

    Someone will have to explain the value he brings if we had the Offense we had this past year?

  11. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    If you need it explained to you then you probably wouldn’t understand anyway.

  12. mark2001 Says:

    Why do people miss that he is most likely the guy in Trasks ear. Without him helping Trask to continue developing and make the transition to the new offense, you might as well cut Trask and put him in the basket on top, with Jameis and all the other failed Bucs QB’s.

  13. Defense Rules Says:

    Joe … ‘Joe was told years ago that Moore was the initial architect of the weekly offensive gameplan and then handed it over to Leftwich very early in a game week.’

    Have never heard that before Joe. Very interesting tidbit that either explains everything or nothing. Bucs ‘game planning by committee’ approach seems suspect, especially in light of this year’s results.

    In any event, planning is all well and good until you get punched in the mouth & the dogfight begins. At that point, the one who can best adjust to the realities of the fight usually wins. We didn’t seem to be very good at adjusting this past year. Maybe we just need a meaner dog.

  14. Allbuccedup Says:

    He needs to retire sorry Joe.

  15. Jack Sparrow Says:

    maybe he offers his wisdom and knowledge for free….. who knows….. nobody knows what the Bucs coaches are doing…..

  16. AB Says:

    F what Bruce Arians thinks of all this. He is the one that saddled us with these frauds.

  17. Jack Sparrow Says:

    BA is overrated. He thinks he is a genius. He just rode Brady’s coattails. He has not accomplished a thing until he got Brady.

  18. Tucker Says:

    Sometimes you only need one beyond 50 to win you gotta cut succop need every advantage he isnt worth what they pay him with that limitation.

  19. KC Buc Says:

    Tom Moore has likely lived through and experienced first hand just about every scenario, play call, strategy, etc. that’s ever been used in the league. That alone is worth having around as a sounding board and to see things that younger coaches might have never encountered. He knows his place and the new OC would be wise to utilize that resource who can be a competitive advantage. Whereas I don’t believe Leftwurst was listening to anything the man said…

    As far as the gameplanning, I look at that as an efficiency benefit. As a consultant, Moore can focus on gameplanning and scouting the next week’s game while the coaches prepare for the current week. Monday morning rolls in and the OC has a comprehensive gameplan starting point already on his desk.

  20. Tucker Says:

    Oops wrong thread lol

  21. SufferingSince76 Says:

    Not so, Jack. Look at his resume.

  22. Allbuccedup Says:

    Does Licht have a list of OC candidates to interview or is going to wait until the other teams select their coaches then select one of the leftovers.

  23. David Says:

    Absolutely no issue keeping him. He’s been an offensive guru a long time. This was all BL

  24. David Says:

    Well Jack Sparrow just proved some serious football ignorance.
    BA’s only fault in this is his loyalty to a fault.

  25. Tony Says:

    You know how BAD things must of really been for there to be a chance that you might end up running Brady out of there? You know you’ve got some problems then. It’s not like you’re talking about some random player. Talking about a hall of famer & somebody who’s gonna be known as one of the best players in all of sports overall. Would be interesting to know how Bowles & Leftwich got the team pumped up for gameday every week.🙄 Same with Licht. Would be interesting to know how he just goes about things before the season started.

    Licht: “Now Todd & Byron this is what we’re gonna do. We don’t want to have a successful year or a successful franchise. The leprechauns & I talked about it some & we feel like it’s no big deal if we lose as long as we keep getting everybody’s $$$$.”

    Bowles: “OK. So just stand there & keep looking clueless?”

    Licht: “Yes.”

    Byron: “So if I don’t risk it anymore nobody’s gonna get any biscuits. So just run things the way I think they should be run?”

    Licht: “Yes.”

    Bowles & Byron: “OK.”

    Glazers: “That was good work Jason.”

  26. Arians4President Says:

    Getting rid of an experienced advisor (not a coach) like Moore just because he was affiliated with Bowles for a year is silly. That’s like voting for a county property appraiser because of their party affiliation (Hills. County lists this as a party-affiliated position on the ballot smh).

    What I’m getting at is… whatever problems you’re concerned with, the solution isn’t to quickly slap a label everyone and use said label as your measurement for good and bad.

    Does anyone really think that Tom Moore significantly contributed to the Bucs lack of execution in 2021? C’mon now…

  27. Allbuccedup Says:

    In 2019 Licht ranked 29th in GM rankings two years later 2021 after Brady he ranked number one. Lets see where he ranks after 2023 season that will tell his true ability as a GM.

  28. NEfan Says:

    This could be the reason for the archaic game plans.

  29. Izod Says:

    This will be great news for Moore–assuming he can remember his way back home.

  30. Orlando Kevin Says:

    Byron had 2 advisors in Bruce Arians and Tom Moore and 3 if you include Brady. Our offense still was terrible.

    It’s like when you have too many quarterbacks vying to start… it means you really don’t have a QB. Was the same true this year at offensive coordinator? What good coordinator needs 2 advisors?

    Please get a bad ass offensive coordinator and unleash them.

  31. Oddball Says:

    Byron wasn’t listening to anybody. Heck, his mom probably told him to stop running up the middle on 1st down and he wouldn’t listen. Therefore Moore survives.

  32. DJB Says:

    I don’t think Tom Moore even knows what sideline he is on.

  33. Allbuccedup Says:

    Byron is going to have a hard time finding a job. Hes on the Chargers do not hire list to replace Lombardi.

  34. Kentucky Buc Says:

    Wing T incoming this year.

  35. firethecannons Says:

    obviously waiting and expecting for him to retire

  36. TAMPA BAY DEMON™ Says:

    DJB Says:
    “I don’t think Tom Moore even knows what sideline he is on.”
    ____________

    Such a piece of s**t, disrespectful thing to say about a guy that has tremendous respect not just on our sideline, but all around the NFL, and has for many years.

  37. Redeemer Says:

    James Carville once said, it’s the economy stupid. For the bucs, it’s the offense stupid. It’s an ancient system. While I respect Tom Moore and his resume, I think an 85 year old is the wrong guy to develop a gameplan. It happened to Bill Walsh too, when the shotgun became commonplace. He was still preaching under center offense.

  38. Aceofaerospace Says:

    If BA is pissed about leftwich’s firing, then he can pack his bags also. Apparently, his opinion stopped mattering the day he stepped down. So what use is he now anyway.

  39. PopsMalone Says:

    I agree with you Aceofaerospace on BA!! As for Tom Moore, I think he is a good guy to have around and am glad he made the cut. As for Keith Armstrong, should have been fired a long time ago…clueless idiot that he is.

  40. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Surprised he hasn’t been labeled “failed senior offensive advisor”….

    Advisors get passes because it’s never really known what the advice was and if it was followed or not.

  41. lambchop Says:

    @Jack Sparrow,

    BA has been successful in his own right in multiple places.

  42. Tbbucs3 Says:

    Moore wasn’t fired because firing a soon to be 85 year old isn’t good PR for an organization that seems to only care about good PR.

    Let’s be honest, Tom Moore isn’t bringing much value to NFL offenses these days.

  43. Crickett Baker Says:

    Tom Moore’s brain is just fine. He gave a great interview last year and MANY things in NFL games have NOT changed. AND putting down BL (who won coach of the year 2x and has many other awards) is just plain stupid (Jack). This site needs to become more positive other than just continually saying “FIRE whomever”. SOO boring at this point.

  44. Goatfarmer Says:

    Fire Toad Blowes. He’s more boring and incompetent than the posters calling for his firing.

  45. TAMPA BAY DEMON™ Says:

    Tbbucs3 Says:
    “Let’s be honest, Tom Moore isn’t bringing much value to NFL offenses these days.”
    _______________

    I can understand why you might say that, based on age, but do you KNOW that? Marv Levy was near that age when he COACHED the Buffalo Bills to 4 straight Super Bowls. — Tom Moore may still be a VERY viable part of a coaching staff in the NFL in 2023.

  46. steele Says:

    The sagely Tom Moore knows more football than Arians, Leftwich and Bowles combined. Steelers glory years, Colts/Manning glory years, architect of Arians’ own offense for both AZ and Bucs.

    Wasn’t aware that he was on the staff at all, but I can’t imagine that he was responsible for the zombie playbook, or approved of the results on the field.

    Making him OC would not be a disaster. But he needs the roster to be upgraded.

  47. garro Says:

    Moore has more than earned a Mulligan! Bowles and Armstrong…umm not so much 🙂

  48. Lakeland Steve Says:

    So is B.A. retiring too? I can’t imagine he is too happy about how the season went or his coaches getting canned.