FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots
• In his autobiography, “The Quarterback Whisperer,” Bucs head coach Bruce Arians scripts the first 30 plays in every game, but admits that he strays from the script depending on the flow the game. But whatever audible he makes – and ultimately the audibles from the script that offensive coordinator and play-caller Byron Leftwich will make this year for Tampa Bay – they will be from plays that were successful in practice that week.
“I’ll make about five or six gut calls a game. And they are rooted in feeling, in sensing how the game is unfolding and recalling something from memory that could work. The gut calls aren’t on the play call script, but we’ll have practiced them enough so our players will know how to execute the ‘feel’ calls that I’ll make.
• Nose tackle Beau Allen came to the Bucs as a big man last year, listed at 327 pounds on the Bucs roster, but in reality he wasn’t that big last year. In fact he was even under 320 pounds at times last season, but Allen looks noticeably bigger this year in his arms, his legs, his chest, his torso – everywhere. I asked Allen, who will be playing nose tackle, three technique defensive tackle as well as defensive end this year, where his weight currently is this offseason after Tuesday’s practice.
“I think I’m trying to play closer to what I was two years ago, which was 329-330,” Allen said. “I was more like 320 last year. We were in a 3-4 defense in Philly my first year and I was closer to 340, but I think 327-328 is a good number for me this year.”
• The Bucs released nose tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, the team’s seventh-round pick from the 2017 draft, this week, but will consider re-signing him at a later date if he’s available. Tampa Bay likes the talent and depth it has along the defensive line right now, and Tu’ikolovatu was the third-string nose tackle behind starter Vita Vea and Beau Allen.
Unlike Vea and Allen, who have some position flexibility, Tu’ikolovatu is strictly a nose tackle as his versatility is limited. If there is an injury to either Vea or Allen, Tu’ikolovatu, who didn’t play a down in two injury-riddled seasons in Tampa Bay, the Bucs could bring him back.
• My daughter Ellie and I had a great time at the Mike Alstott Family Foundation Celebrity Outdoor Weekend dinner Thursday night. Alstott, his wife Nicole, and MAFF executive director Rich Clements do such a great job with this event every year as it raises money for the several local charities that the Mike Alstott Family Foundation supports. In addition to seeing Alstott and former Bucs players like Brad Johnson, Earnest Graham, Reidel Anthony, Anthony Becht and Martin Gramatica, current Buccaneers Jameis Winston and Will Gholston and head coach Bruce Arians were also on hand to support Alstott.
For more information on the Mike Alstott Family Foundation and the charities it supports, visit MikeAlstottFamilyFoundation.org. Click here to make a donation.
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• BUCS OTA OVERLOAD! We will be recording ANOTHER new Pewter Nation Podcast Friday afternoon following Friday’s OTA, which will be the final one before the mandatory mini-camp, which takes place next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
In the meantime, Pewter Reporters Mark Cook, Taylor Jenkins, Matt Matera and yours truly recorded the latest Pewter Nation Podcast, which is presented by Chris Garrido of Westshore Financial, after Tuesday’s Bucs OTA practice and talked about what we observed, as well as the arrival of new Bucs defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Don’t miss this podcast!
Click here to listen to Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 123: OTAs AND Suh
If you missed our previous Pewter Nation Podcast, I told the story about how former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris called me up and was angry that I put Ndamukong Suh on the cover of our Pewter Report 2010 Bucs Draft Preview instead of Gerald McCoy. Listen to the podcast for all the details.
Click here to listen to Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 122: End Of The McCoy Era
There is no better time to listen to a new Pewter Nation Podcast than on your drive home from work on Friday or running around doing errands or at the gym on Saturday. The next Pewter Nation Podcast will be taped on Friday afternoon following the team’s OTA practice.
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• Bruce Arians has some deep ties to the Buccaneers dating way back to his days in college. Arians was a quarterback at Virginia Tech and roomed with James Barber, the father of Ronde and Tiki Barber. Arians and Barber were the first non-segregated Hokies roommates at Virginia Tech, too. Here’s a passage from Arians’ “The Quarterback Whisperer” autobiography.
“James and I became graduate assistants together at Virginia Tech,” Arians wrote in “The Quarterback Whisperer.” “We grew so close that Chris and I babysat James’s twin boys, Ronde and Tiki – future NFL stars. Tiki was sick a lot as a kid – he had fevers and convulsions – and so Chris and I would take care of Ronde when the family was at the hospital with Tiki. I’ll never forget bouncing Ronde on my knee for hours. Even today, I get a big kick out of hugging those Barber twins.”
As he details in “The Quarterback Whisperer,” Arians also got his first head-coaching job at Temple thanks in part to Jim Gruden, Jon Gruden’s father, who was a running backs coach at Tampa Bay under former head coach John McKay.
“Arians was on a recruiting trip visiting Howard Tippett of the Bucs. Jimmy Gruden, the running backs coach stopped by and suggested they all get a drink. Howard said: ‘By the way, Jimmy, this is the guy they should hire at Temple.’ Gruden was friends with the men who were on the Temple search committee.”
• I got to see one more Bucs legend at the Mike Alstott Family Foundation Celebrity Outdoor Weekend dinner. It was a treat to see legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, and it got me thinking. The 79-year old Kiffin isn’t getting any younger and it looks like his health is fading the way he was walking uncomfortably, a bit hunched over.
If the Glazers have any notion to put Kiffin, who was the architect of the Tampa 2 defense, in the Bucs Ring of Honor, it needs to be next year. Kiffin deserves to be in the Bucs Ring of Honor because no other coach has won more games in Tampa Bay than Kiffin has, as he served as the defensive coordinator under both Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden.
One could make the argument that former Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice, running back James Wilder and linebacker Hardy Nickerson deserve to go in ahead of Kiffin, but I think Kiffin is right up there in that group of Bucs legends. The fact that Kiffin will turn 80 next February should create a sense of urgency with the Glazer family. Their father, former Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer, had to be inducted posthumously, and the great Lee Roy Selmon passed away suddenly at the age of 56 from a stroke just a few years after being inducted into the Bucs Ring of Honor.
Kiffin helped fellow Bucs Ring of Honor inductees Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also presided over a host of former assistant coaches that later became head coaches, including Herman Edwards, Lovie Smith, Rod Marinelli, Mike Tomlin and Gus Bradley. Kiffin certainly put his stamp on the Bucs franchise.
It’s time, Glazers. Put Kiffin in the Bucs Ring of Honor – in 2020.
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“If the “Quarterback Whisperer” can’t do it, I don’t know who can.” The answer is, no one. If Winston does not stop making the silly errors this year he will not be resigned, and he will most likely be relegated to a backup role with another team. This is do it or lose it time. All the nice words won’t make a difference if the play on the field doesn’t represent it. This is close to beating a dead horse now as we have all heard the same story with each head coach he has worked with. In year 5… Read more »
Nice article Scott, can’t say that I’m not excited about this season! I believe we will be a much better unit on both sides of the ball with Arians and his staff. Kiffin definitely deserves to be in the ring of honor..no Super Bowl win without his defense.
Yeah Monte deserves to go in the RoH soon.
Overall, the Bucs are going to be a different tempo offense looking for fast starts which also helps the defense out.
Biggest question mark that remains in the o-line blocking IMO. But other than that I feel good about the offense. Now about the defense…lets hope Bowles can put together an NFL average unit.
Was it stars aligned or was it his former coaches all got fired last year Bowles defence allowed over 400 points Leftwich offense scored 220 points that to me is not a good formula for success but we all know I am a ass for speaking of these things.
Bowles 400 points leftwich 220 and a QB with huge heart that won 6 games in 2 years must be the stars all lined up in perfect order.
Sources Carolina clearing 11 million to sign McCoy
I look forward to Jameis having a better season this year. The “QB Whisperer’s” first order of business was perfect: remove the fake QB controversy between Winston and Fitzpatrick while D.Jax fuels the argument. There’s not a single player (or fan) who will be clamoring for Gabbert to go in. Key 2: Complimentary football. I like the additions on defense (Suh! White! Barrett!) in correlation with the scheme change. RESET the MINDSET. Winston is at his best when he isn’t expected to do it all by carrying the offense AND defense. Running the ball and playing to O Line player… Read more »
@B-A-B If Carolina signs McCoy for $11 million(or any amount), that would be great! New cellar dweller in the NFC South GUARANTEED! SWEEP!! If he isn’t injured, Bucs fans who miss sweet and soft GMC will get to watch him twice a year. Bruce Arians has CLEARLY identified the problems with his game. While it will be tempting to run at him every time for many, many yards, don’t forget, he won’t bat down passes so it will be equally easy to whiz passes right by him! Rate this item:Thumb UpThumb DownSubmit Rating00 No votes yet. Please wait...
GMC is gone lets leave him alone.
Go Bucs !!!
Thanks for the Fab5 SR. Hope you get a small % off the sales you just generated for Ariens’ Book. I just bought one. Got a little time to kill before August.
Ha! Thank you!
No, I don’t get any commission on the sales of Arians’ book. It’s definitely worth a summer read, though. The quotes I used just scratch the surface. He’s a very interesting guy. There is plenty more to read in the book and I do recommend Bucs fans read it.
“By the time a college QB is twenty-one or twenty-two he either has a well-developed sense of anticipation and accuracy or he doesn’t. The cold truth is that NFL coaches can’t develop those skills. Winston’s accuracy has improved every year he’s been in the league from 58.3 percent as a rookie to 64.6 percent last year.” I think you are confusing completion percentage for what Arians meant by “accuracy”. Completion percentage is affected by factors like: Mike Evans growth; Adam Humphries with hands of glue getting increased reps; the drafting of OJ Howard; Desean Jackson’s speed taking safeties out of… Read more »
Big Sombrero best thing for Bucs is McCoy in AFC
@eastendboy why is it people
Continually compare Brady’s stats to our quarterback. They are completely different systems. Have you watched New England at all? Most of his passes are extended handoffs so of course it’s easier to complete passes. Winston led the league in air yards and yards per attempt. Brady was 14th and 11th in those categories. Let’s stop with the silly comparisons to two totally different offensive schemes
@chefboho , I suppose the use of Tom Brady as a reference point is because he’s been unquestionably the best QB in the league in recent years. I was not trying to compare Winston’s overall performance as QB to that of Brady….I was simply using Brady’s INT/Attempt as a reference point – lazily on my part for not calculating every QB’s and picking out the one that actually had the lowest (the point of reference)…I sort of assumed Brady would be among the lowest…maybe that was incorrect. If it helps clarify the point for you, you could go calculate them… Read more »
further, @chefboho, I suppose the argument underlying your comment (leaving out the snarky bit about “silly comparisons”, which is just misreading what i wrote) is that you believe it’s okay – perhaps even good – that Winston is less accurate than Brady because Winston throws the ball down the field more. Two points: 1) that’s not what Arians quotes above state….which is the point of this article. 2) if you want to make that assertion, that’s fine but what would help your case is to compare completion percentage, INTs/Attempt and YAC between a number of QBs that follow that sort… Read more »
Great Fab 5. Now I will have to pick that book up and read it before the season. The only part of Winston’s grit is that he gets to emotionally involved in the game but I think we saw him make improvements on that last year as well. I don’t know if anyone with a rational objective who didn’t think Winston was going to be replaced by Fitzpatrick except DumbAssBob and Meshwan Jackson. Fitzpatrick, like McClown before him, soon reverted to his old form and in fact already had in his two prior starts against the Steelers and Bears. That’s… Read more »
Kiffin ABSOLUTELY has to be in our ring of honor and the fact that Coach has ties to a couple of our beloved legends just makes him that much cooler! It really is now or never for Jameis, seems like the coaching staff is gonna put him in the best positions to win…his bad decision making needs to at least clear up enough to the point where it’s not going to compromise the effort of an anticipated improved defense!
DrDn I clearly understand Leftwich was a quarterback coach for three years under Arians and he took over as offensive coordinator Midway through and the offense got worse the second half of the season scoring 108 points in eight games. Yes I live in Dunedin and wouldn’t live anywhere else this is the team here I have no plans to go live any where else. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the local team here I am a fan but will not be conned by this BS unfortunately the glaciers have no interest in winning their agenda is not to win… Read more »
Why don’t you take your negativity to the mistake on the lake. Then, you can bash your local team while wearing a dog mask. That is if you need one.
I love this team. I grew up loving this team. I don’t just feel like I have to be a fan because this is where I live – my family is deeply connected to the program and the history. No one is twisting my arm (nor any of our arms for that matter) forcing us to be Bucs fans. We love this team because we love this team – through thick and thin. I also enjoy this site and the great job they do. If I didn’t, I could simply just not come here and instead stick to one of… Read more »
Scott, you left maturity off of your list. Mr. Winston needs to grow up quicker than he is. I am talking about bad passes. Not on the field. I am referring to bad passes after getting a snoot full of booze and throwing a shitty pass to an Uber driver. All the men on this site have thrown the same crappy pass once or twice in their life, I know I have. We might escape with a slap in the face, but Superstars getting slapped with a lawsuit. I feel good that he has learned from that episode. Hopefully his… Read more »
I saw some significant sign of growing maturity on Jameis Winston’s part during the course of last season. The way he handled himself during press conferences after he was benched. The offhand remark about how he had taken up the practice of meditation. (If he sticks with sticks with it he will learn how to direct any bizarre inner impulses. He will leave behind any “deviant” inclinations such as he exhibited on previous occasions.) He announced that he was engaged to be married. I have not heard about any wedding yet, but the responsibilities of fatherhood change most young men… Read more »
EastEndBoy’s posts are the kind of critical thinking and fact-based analysis that’s always missing in SR’s articles parroting what management tells him and spinning blue sky scenarios.
Winston is not accurate. I wish that was fixable but there’s no reason to think it is. The one thing that could have helped is putting top flight talent in front of him on the OL. But BL & BA chose to forgo that in order to redo BL’s 2018 draft. That’s where we’re at.
You know, I down voted your post Buc-Ass-Bob but I see where you are coming from. To me though, these guys will be held accountable to Bruce Arians, and there is a huge, and comprehensive coaching staff all preaching the same msg. At least according to most articles I’ve read anyway. Also the GM in New York didn’t last to the following season after Bowles was fired, and Leftwich had a rookie QB behind a, by all accounts, atrocious OL. Given all that I am willing to trust in Bruce & his staff for a few seasons if only because… Read more »
Eastendboy, Ints are not always an accuracy issue. I’ve seen many Ints go because the ball bounced off a receivers chest or hands or because a receiver ran the wrong route. Accuracy can also be measured mostly by watching a QB, not just stats. When you watch Winston and see him drops balls and thread balls in between defenders to a spot only the receiver can catch it you can see his accuracy. It may not be there on the deep ball as much, with Jackson at least. Overall I’ve seen Winston be Amazingly accurate the majority of the time.… Read more »
Ass, you obviously don’t read. Leftwich was WB Coach in 2017 and beginning of 2018 when he then had to take over as O.C. in 2018. You keep saying 3 years and you keep being wrong. Also, reports say the Offense improved under Leftwich despite coming in mid season with someone else’s playbook. The team obviously didn’t do enough to keep the Head Coach from being fired but I think anyone but you would admit after doing actual research that Leftwich did a hell of a job in the position he was put in. And now he has an even… Read more »
Spitfire, Ass-Bob thrives on negativity, apparently takes pride in receiving down votes.
Spitfire, I’ve definitely seen Winston make the type of throws you describe. It’s the throws like that which make many willing to overlook the numerous flaws and hope he can realize his – dangerous word alert – *potential*. But I watch all of the games too and pay a lot of attention to where the ball is placed when it reaches the receiver (or defender). For every great throw you describe there are five that only a receiver with Evans’ catch radius could make, or that could have been a bigger play if the receiver didn’t have to do the… Read more »
So many f***king coaches and experts here. Most have never put on pads. SMGDH!!!
Nothing like a Fab 5 based primarily on Winston to get all the Negative Nancy clowns roused up…… EastEnder(Boy), you obviously havent been a Bucs fan for as long as many of us. You give Mike Evans credit for much of Winston’s success (his “growth” as you put it). First, Evans was drafted a year before Winston. If Evans had been unfortunate enough to play WR in Buc eras that included Jack Thompson, Josh McCown & Luke McCown, Vinny Testaverde, Chris Chandler, etc etc, I doubt he would have the same numbers, contract, Pro Bowls, etc. I am a HUGE… Read more »
“There’s not a single player (or fan) who will be clamoring for Gabbert to go in.”
What about buc-ass-bob?
It’s really very simple. When the defense rises to mediocrity, the running backs aren’t an afterthought, the placekicker capitalizes on the opportunities and the offense isn’t playing from behind the entire game, Winston’s accuracy will improve. Might even have a few less turnovers. I remember the days hoping Doug Williams would get to 50%. I remember the 30+ interceptions Vinny tossed. Ahhhh the memories.
@76buc Who says B-A-B is a Bucs fan, besides B-A-B? I feel like the Bucs could be 10-6 and his mantra would remain the same. He hates Winston. Hates the owners. Hates the GM. Hates the offense. Hates the defense. Hates the draft. Hates the other fans. I guess we’re all wrong and he knows best.
I think that about sums it up.
Great article Scott. Jameis could not have a better coach to elevate his game or a better system to show off that he is indeed an elite QB. I think playing San Francisco in the first game is going to be an ideal test. I think BA knows that D. Smith’s kripton is speed rushers and San Francisco knows it too and they will have Speed Rusher Dee Ford lining up out wide facing D. Smith but if BA comes out first in a two TE set with Humphries on the right and Auclair on the left and Auclair keeps… Read more »
Owlycat, I think you meant O.J. Howard-not Humphries?
Can you feel the love. I say CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE !!!
This article is not even about GMC. Yet..some have managed to inject their hate against him. Why.. baffles me. But..then again, A losing team has to have a few scapegoats. Our 3 this past season have been Koetter, Smitty and GMC. I Luv how you ended your great articled here Scott..ON PAPER. Winston has had it better than any Buc QB in our history who..for the most part..had to..Run for lives when playing for us.. Dilfer, Young, Doug Williams..just a few who could have been much better with the Bucs sans an Offensive line. Jameis has yet to..live up to… Read more »
Good grief bucfan-circa76, where did all of that come from? Let me recap this for you: The article, and my response, were all about how: 1) Arians wrote a book describing his theory that by the time QBs reach the NFL they are either accurate passers, or they are not, and coaching cannot really change that. 2) PR wrote a response saying (essentially) Arians is wrong, Winston has become a much more accurate passer over his career. 3) I responded with: the stats don’t really seem to support that argument PR. 4) you decided to attack me with “you obviously… Read more »
Yes @spitfire INTs alone is not a good way to look at the issue – my point was really that any single stat (Comp%) is not the best way to look at, but that a better approach is to gauge several stats around the issue (INts/Attempt; Comp% and YAC – as an example of a 3-set). I also was not seeking to compare Winston to Brady – as I mentioned above, and again you pointed out, there’s a lot to that analysis. Rather, I suggested above that if one did not appreciate the Brady comparison – because the two systems… Read more »
Matador, I’d love to know what games you’ve been watching. Because I absolutely, positively, don’t see Jameis throwing bad balls left and right. Considering he was at the top of the league in air yards per attempt, his completion percentage looks that much better. Also keep in mind, when your defense sucks at the level the Bucs defense did, it changes the way you play offense as a QB. You’re constantly chasing the game, and forced into trying to gain chunk yardage, rather than letting the game come to you, playing smart football, and taking what the defense gives you.… Read more »
Dave @bucball02: again, again…if you prefer the comparison of Brees or Mahomes that’s fine…the accuracy point is unmistakable in the stats. As for the difference to Brady – well, 1) let’s not kid ourselves that anyone is in Brady’s class as the GOAT – I hate the guy, but he’s clearly the best of all time; and 2) the difference in percentage points is closer to 2, and that’s like saying nearly a 1 INT per game difference….kind of a big deal really. But again, again, again, if the Brady comparison is causing challenges, then just go look at how… Read more »
Hmm Brady – 65.8, Winston – 64.6. 65.8-64.6 = 1.2. Last time I remember in 2nd grade, closer to 2 would be 1.6 or higher. I guess i learned something new today. Also, saying the Saints OLine is worse than ours is borderline comical. Keep in mind they lose their best OLineman halfway through the year in Armstead. They were still ranked as a top 10 OLine, while we were ranked outside the top 20. While the Saints(with no Armstead) allowed the 2nd fewest QB pressures in the league, the Bucs( with 2 different starting QB’s, which can negate any… Read more »
Dave, your looking at completion percentages again….same mistake that PR did in the article. The (nearly) 2 percentage points difference is in INts/Attempt as I noted in my comment. That’s where I – and the ONLY place where I – brought up the name Brady. Which, again, again, again, again I did because Brady was likely to have (and does have) one of the best INTs/Attempt stats. I could have left his name off and just said “versus the best INTs/Attempt starting QB at 1.5%”….the point would have been the same. As for the difference in OLines…well that’s always going… Read more »