So What’s The Offense Going To Look Like?
May 24th, 2023
Joe knows the onslaught is coming.
So far, Joe has seen three underwear football practices. Two at Bucs rookie minicamp, the other was OTAs with both veterans and rookies.
What can Bucs fans expect from the new offense? Joe knows that question is coming. So Joe will leave that up to the words of Bucs tight end Cade Otton.
“With this offense in general, there will be more bootlegs,” Otton said after OTA practice yesterday. “That poses different challenges and getting the ball to different places.”
If Joe is to judge what the offense will look like after just two underwear football practices, this offense seems like it will be more horizontal than vertical. Fantasy football folks may want to consider taking fliers on Deven Thompkins or Trey Palmer (especially since Russell Gage is hurt, again!), not necessarily for their receiving abilities.
It’s been a long time since Bucs fans have watched their team have its quarterback and receivers attack the flat and have a moving pocket. Probably not since Chucky was here.
May 24th, 2023 at 5:50 am
Did you mean to say “Offensive” in the title?
May 24th, 2023 at 6:09 am
It will look like swiss cheese without Brady”s quick release and quick decision making.
May 24th, 2023 at 6:14 am
My preference is vertical, but you gotta do what works.
May 24th, 2023 at 6:59 am
Interesting how you termed vertical VS horizontal. I might be perceiving that the wrong way but it doesn’t sound great. Kinda like “flat on our backs”. Is that what you mean? Ooof!
I must not be reading that right…. Right?
And as far as Gage down and out at the start of the season, AGAIN!?!? I’m getting Pinched off! What in the Sam he!! is going on with that guy? What EXACTLY is the training department doing??? I’m not pleased with this news AT ALL!
Man, if Gage can’t keep himself in better shape!!! He ALREADY took a pay cut to keep a job. HIS NECK IS NEXT IF HE DON’T GET IT FIGURED OUT D.A.N.M. QUICK!
It “almost” feels like he’s doing it on purpose. And I would say that’s preposterous BUT my patience is THIN with that guy! We’re “actually” counting on you to be there Mister! Show up or show yourself to the door!
May 24th, 2023 at 7:23 am
I think this new offense will look more like the “No risk it” of Arians than whatever that was last season.
So far it is still working on getting people into the right holes and going in the right direction, but I think more downfield passing might show up soon.
It is just nice, right now, to see something that looks like it might be actually working to mitigate and exploit match-ups.
May 24th, 2023 at 7:41 am
Do we save any money cutting Gage? If so do it. Joe keep an eye on Sir Dennis. Is he lining up at MLB? How does he look next to David? Trading White would save 11.7 million, and hopefully add a second round pick.
May 24th, 2023 at 7:49 am
So What’s The Offensive Going To Look Like?
Oh man. ok well how bout – words that hurt your feelings…
May 24th, 2023 at 8:00 am
Hopefully no complex option routes which caused many miscues throughout the last few years
May 24th, 2023 at 8:03 am
Here’s the short answer: DIFFERENT!
We KNEW this day was coming; A Brady-less Bucs team. IMO, we needed to be less vertical. My proof? Well, how did it work out for us last year?!
I’m optimistic about the offense just from the standpoint of better (cross fingers) play-calling in general. That Baker or Trask is leading the offense doesn’t scare me when lesser talented QBs have gone on to win SBs.
Run the ball, play defense, and don’t turn the ball over. It’s that simple!
May 24th, 2023 at 8:16 am
Seattle still went plenty vertical to Metcalf & Lockett despite running lots of boot legs. I think it’s more about helping the O-line, avoiding sacks, and spreading out the defense and getting different passing angles but we shall see.
May 24th, 2023 at 8:26 am
Arians’ playbook was seen as a throwback even when he was in Arizona. It’s not modern in any sense. And that was on the heels of Koetter’s offense, which was also pretty oldschool vertical passing with stationary QBs. Not a fan of pure running QBs, but modern football requires a little mobility from the position.
I know Canales has limited playcalling experience, but he’s fresh, energetic, and wants to exploit matchups. It’s invigorating to finally have a modern NFL offense in Tampa. Hoping all the new parts come together sooner than later and at least give us something entertaining to watch. Win or lose.
May 24th, 2023 at 8:28 am
LOL… more bootlegs
2 would be more than the last 3 years
May 24th, 2023 at 8:31 am
I think the offense will definitely be different, in a good way.
Run game will be more creative with wide zone scheme and more pulling guards too.
Passing game will still have plenty of deep shots that will be set up by the run and short area passes
I expect more roll outs with more mobile quarterbacks and more playbaction.
May 24th, 2023 at 8:46 am
So no running up the middle as the first play of every half of every game?
Already better.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:03 am
Modhairken 😂😂😂😂for real. SpongeBob was so predictable
May 24th, 2023 at 9:09 am
🙁 You are not reading that correctly at all. Think more east-to-west, spreading the ball from sideline to sideline.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:13 am
The Bucs offense this season is going to look like whatever the rebuilt offensive line is capable of delivering, period. The scrub O line we fielded last year was clearly the limiting factor on offensive performance.
If the new O line can pass protect and run block well, then the OC can open up his playbook and run anything and everything in it. If the O line sucks then it absolutely doesn’t matter who the OC is and what is in his playbook.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Arians was about matchups too. Heard him talk about this often.
Best Joe can tell, Leftwich thought a “matchup” was something you light a cigar with.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:57 am
Joe thats FUNNY😁😁😁
May 24th, 2023 at 9:59 am
If Gage is really injured, it is from a non-football-related injury.
Maybe he has the flu or something?
May 24th, 2023 at 10:10 am
I think a lot of fans need to look up what a West Coast offense is.
It is not ONLY throwing the ball 5 yds every play, all though if you run for 15 yds after the catch even that is better than a 30 yd contested throw every time.
Because our offense has been vertical for so long, defenders were playing off coverage and swarming to the ball against us.
It always looked like our receivers couldn’t get separation.
Add to that an O Line that NEVER worked on zone running schemes, and you get the worst team in 20 years running the ball.
This offense will NOT have a tell pre-snap, so the defense will be guessing based on cues.
Then you show that cue and do something different next time.
The formations look the same every time.
Can’t wait to see men in motion every freaking snap, and a pocket that exists outside of a 4 yd square right in the middle every play.
May 24th, 2023 at 10:14 am
And GAGE is pissing me off.
As of now it looks like he took the money and doesn’t even want to play.
Kade Warner will be a better receiver than him this year if this continues.
How much did we guarantee this clown? I was excited for his skill set too.
Just think about what DE we could get for 10 Million dollars.
May 24th, 2023 at 10:19 am
Ok Joe, I will take the bait. So, we are going back to the Gruden style you.
Kyle Trask = Brad Johnson
Baker Mayfield = Garcia, Simms, the other really short guy(s) etc
Which style are you referring to exactly?
May 24th, 2023 at 10:37 am
I for one am really excited about a fresh look on offense. Can’t wait.
May 24th, 2023 at 10:52 am
When do the new plays show up in practice?
May 24th, 2023 at 11:12 am
CrackWise:
Garcia.
(Joe is pretty confident you know Brad Johnson rarely played in a moving pocket or did a bootleg. smh)
May 24th, 2023 at 11:12 am
We finally appear to putting together a decent o-line that can run and pass block only to have our QB’s moving out of the pocket and exposed to the defense and with Mayfields propensity to fumble under pressure is surely a recipe for disaster. Hope I’m wrong, but hopefully that won’t be more than 30% of our game plan.
May 24th, 2023 at 11:16 am
“Finally?” Really? This could be the worst offensive line the Bucs have had since 2014. There are very real question marks up and down the line. At every position.
Jimminy Christmas, the Bucs had three Pro Bowlers on the line just two years ago and Bruce Arians was all hot and bothered that a fourth, you-know-who, should have been in the Pro Bowl as well.
What IS this fascination with folks who talk themselves into thinking/believing something quite good if not elite is awful? Joe simply does not understand this. In any way. Other than folks must think each and every GD lineman on each and ever GD play must have a pancake block. smh #Sad
May 24th, 2023 at 11:21 am
Yesterday probably. Certainly the first rookie minicamp practice a couple of weeks ago.
May 24th, 2023 at 11:22 am
@Joe
You’re going to eat your words
May 24th, 2023 at 11:42 am
I just hope Trask is ready. He will get his shot much sooner than many think. Baker has a rep for starting out nicely. And then…
May 24th, 2023 at 11:55 am
Bootlegs are great but why would any player share that information or anything else about the offense? I think that any information shared about the offense should come from the Coach and not the players. Players need to play and keep their mouths shut. The best information they can share should be 100% disinformation. Why would you give opponents anything to help them scheme defensively against you?
May 24th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
I don’t know what to make of a zone scheme.
No play calling experience is equally troubling.
I like the energy.
May 24th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
“If Joe is to judge what the offense will look like after just two underwear football practices, this offense seems like it will be more horizontal than vertical.”
We’re gonna need you to elaborate a bit more than this as OTAs progress Jose. Horizontal movement run and pass? What personnel packages have you seen? Is there OL movement? Pulling on runs? I’ve seen a few different vids from other sources that cover the Bucs that have shown a good amount of downfield passing, oddly enough one clip where a leaner Ko Kieft snagged a pass out of the air, and cocooned to keep both feet in on the way to the turf? Doesn’t sound “horizontal” to me, when I hear Horizontal I think the bubble/smoke screen throw a yard or two behind the LOS for a paltry net gain of 2.66 yards.
May 24th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Joe did elaborate in the comments.
Well, Joe witnessed the practices. Anyway, it’s borderline irresponsible to say after three underwear football practices (and just one with starters and veterans) that this any sort of definitive tell on what will happen once September rolls around.
May 24th, 2023 at 1:14 pm
^^^
Fair enough, stay hydrated out there Joe
May 24th, 2023 at 1:49 pm
This offense will be better for two reasons:
Any OC will be better than the last guy! UGH!!!
So far the line is healthy.
Brady is the GOAT and is hard to replace but last year his arm was not as accurate and tended to struggle more as the game went on. It will be nice who ever is our QB to see more deep balls, hopefully opening up the field more.
May 24th, 2023 at 2:29 pm
It’s frickin May relax couch warriors
May 24th, 2023 at 3:13 pm
Popgun offense is with a check down charlie QB
May 24th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
IF Gage is already hurt & can’t participate; I’d put him in a trade package with White & get some draft picks for nxt yr when we start the serious rebuild without bowleszo ..
May 24th, 2023 at 3:20 pm
Sounds like a zone running attack combined with bootleg and play action passing, attacking open spaces and letting playmakers get YAC instead of trying to throw it 20+ yards downfield every other play. This is ball-control offense. Keep the defense off the field (and therefore fresh when they are on the field), chew up clock, move the chains, and give the other team limited opportunities to make their own plays. It can be an effective offense when talent is limited (like ours) and devastating when talent is superior. Keys will be limiting turnovers and making sure the running game is effective. Jensen’s comments after the draft make me think he’s ready to take out a year of frustration on opposing defenses. I have to think Evans will like not having to sprint downfield every other play. And Godwin is already a beast over the middle. Otton needs to grow some, and White needs to catch it out of the backfield. And he and Vaughn need to run to daylight. As dubious as I am of Bowles, it looks a little promising. I don’t see another Lombardi, but we’ll be competitive and maybe even sneak into the playoffs in a weak division. 4 seed beats no seed!
May 25th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
We need some YAC. Get our playmakers in open with some space. I am expecting a monster year from Godwin
May 25th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
AKA: ‘dink & dunk’ (but with movement)