“Attacking Defenses”

May 25th, 2023

Chris Godwin explains.

Are there hidden messages to be found here?

On Tuesday, wide receiver Chris Godwin was asked about his new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Of course, Joe didn’t expect a standup guy like Godwin to ever say, in so many words, man this dude has a ways to go before he can design an offense or call plays.

Still, Godwin’s candor about Canales was very interesting.

“You can tell that he, No. 1, he really loves ball, but he really knows like what he wants to do in terms of installing offense and attacking defenses,” Godwin said.

“And I think that really comes off in meetings. It comes off in how he delivers the messaging to guys in the meeting room and on the field. And I think the guys really respond well to that. You know, he’s not really like a yeller. He’s not trying to like cuss guys out. He’s not trying to like berate guys. He’s a teacher and he wants to effectively communicate that. And it’s been working so far.”

Joe knows some people will link what Godwin said about a “yeller” to Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians. Sure, Arians hollered and cussed, but only if someone screwed up.

Players liked and respected him and Joe believes that was demonstrated by how well the Bucs won games for Arians, including a Super Bowl.

Hearing Godwin talk about how Canales is focused, knows what he wants and how to attack a defense, Joe wonders if former offensive coordinator SpongeBob was none of those things and perhaps there was a disconnect between him and his star players.

Look, the offense obviously way underperformed last year. Maybe it was because SpongeBob thought he could roll a ball out, call cool plays and all would be well?

24 Responses to ““Attacking Defenses””

  1. Hodad Says:

    Attacking defenses? Why don’t we just do what we do?

  2. Jill Says:

    Hodad is Leftwich!

  3. Allbuccedup Says:

    Get a new picture he looks like just another screwball in this photo.

  4. Who Says Says Can't Say Says:

    Well, it is still May. I would venture a guess that Leftwich’s first or second or third season here, you could hear players saying those same words about him too. It is Optimist Season.

  5. lambchop Says:

    @Joe,

    CG could very well be referring to Tom Brady.

  6. Cobraboy Says:

    Coaches yell and cuss because they love players and the game.

    I mean, Lovie never yelled, and Dungy hired guys to yell for him.

  7. Joe Says:

    CG could very well be referring to Tom Brady.

    Perhaps. But it’s Brady. Would be different if it was just about any other quarterback.

    Do believe some (several?) Bucs tuned Brady out last year.

  8. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    I was shocked Leftwich lasted a full season last year. No more excuses…it falls on Bowles shoulders this year.

  9. LakelandSteve Says:

    Usually when guys notice something like that so strongly it was something that was missing before. You kind of feel like, oh yeah this is how it’s supposed to be. My guess is Leftwhich wasn’t much of a teacher and did not know what direction he wanted to take the offense. Because you know, ‘ we just kind of take what the defense gives us, we just do what we do’.

  10. Craig Says:

    There are so many ways we are ahead of last season.

    If Canales believes in match ups, we have won round one.

    If he can make adjustments to exploit defenses we will win round two.

    If he can get the O-line in on the running plays we might win the battle.

    If one or both of the QBs can work the system well we might be above 500 this season.

  11. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    LOL “We do what we do, because we is what we is”
    IMHO, Brady was playing scared last year, and hurt us in some ways.

  12. PSL Bob Says:

    “And it’s been working so far.” And therein lies the key. Let’s see if the walk matches the talk. I sure hope so, but he’s yet to game plan for an opponent. The first game (Minnesota) will be a good test. Come on Canales you can do it!

  13. Hunter's Crack Pipe Says:

    “Maybe it was because SpongeBob thought he could roll a ball out, call cool plays and all would be well?”
    .
    .
    LOL you are working from the assumption that Leftfoot was calling cool plays, and not the SameSpitDifferentDay every week.

  14. Hunter's Crack Pipe Says:

    lambchop Says:
    “CG could very well be referring to Tom Brady.”
    .
    .

    I think that he was just comparing coaching styles and not necessarily saying one was better than the other.

  15. FlBoy84 Says:

    There aren’t many “cool plays” that come to mind from last year, if any…

  16. BuckeyeBuck Says:

    Maybe it was because a 45 year old statue threw a lot of dirtballs because he had inside pressure.

  17. Bobby M. Says:

    Leftwich couldn’t succeed without an elite/talented unit. All the mismatches dried up when Gronk and AB left.

  18. Bucsfan13 Says:

    @Buckeye. Yeah, that was the biggest problem and not the OL that couldn’t stand up to interior pressure. People had no problem with the “statue” when he was putting up MVP numbers.

  19. Christopher Says:

    Maybe Coach Byron Leftwhich deserves a little more respect as a man irrespective of the record ladt year. You people are so funny until you are sad. When they are winning it’s Brady’s team and all on him, but when they lose it’s “Spingebob” doesn’t know what he is doing…. How about he called the same plays ladt year as he did when they won a Duper Bowl and followed it up wit their best record ever. Difference was the QB was old, immobile and playing scared behind a patch work O-line. You know I’d really respect you and your followers if you were man enough to roll up in Coach Leftwhich face and call him Spingebob. Kinda cowardly hiding behind a keyboard after he is gone. But about what I’ve come to expect…

  20. ATLBuc Says:

    One thing that we need to understand about Brady is that he had very little experience in playcalling and game planning. In New England, Bellicheat took care of all of that. We also know that while Bruce Arians was the coach, he crossed out a lot of the game planning that Brady and Leftwich’s did last year, Ariens was not there to cross out all the bad plays. And you see the results

  21. gp Says:

    Considering Brady’s numbers last year, saying he threw nothing but ‘dirtballs’ says quite a bit about you.
    The real problem last year was that every team we met after the third week already knew what our game plan was. This is entirely on coaching, whether “Lefty” or Todd, and ultimately falls on Todd’s shoulders.
    We had enough talent last year, and with a few adjustments, we have enough talent this year.
    Let’s see what our coaching staff can do with it.

  22. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    It’s not fair to say Brady threw nothing but dirt-balls, last year.

    He threw a lot of balls high, and wide also.

  23. Mike S Says:

    If Trask blows up – the Bucs could be a very interesting team indeed.

    Mayfield’s high water mark is probably 7-8 wins – more like 6.

  24. steele Says:

    1. “Attacking defenses” is what an offense is supposed to do.

    2. First thing these mentally untough, pampered guys say is “he isn’t yelling at us”. Sure, guys “respond” to having it easy and getting paid. Then they get mad and refuse to play and complain to the NFLPA when coaches legitimately hold them accountable and yell at them for poor execution and poor attitude.

    Wait until things really start happening. Watch them mentally quit.