— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 19, 2023
TROUBLE IN PIRATE BAY
In 2020, Byron Leftwich carefully guided Tampa Bay’s offensive attack to a Super Bowl championship.
Now, as questions and uncertainty churn around the Buccaneers, Leftwich headlines a group of assistants and staff members departing from One Buc Place. In 2019, Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston-led offense was ranked as the third best in the NFL. Tom Brady and Gronk arrived the next year, and provided a spark for that year’s championship run.
Things peaked in 2021, with the Leftwich offense averaging no-less-than thirty points per game. Meanwhile, Tom Brady’s retirement saga provided intrigue, but also guaranteed a series of big free agent signings with his commitment. Unfortunately, the attrition of an NFL season, and injuries to the offensive line, health became a big concern for the Bucs by the end of the season.
Last year’s fall-off was shocking, but was in no an exclusively play-calling issue.
With a healthy offensive line, Byron Leftwich and Tom Brady won the SB and Leftwich was in line for HC jobs. Without a healthy offensive line, he's fired. That's an indictment on roster construction – not the OC.
— Wildes (@kevinwildes) January 19, 2023
The first changes to the Bucs’ coaching staff came three days after the Buccaneers’ season ended with a 31-14 playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys, in the Wild Card round. During which, all of the Buccaneer’s bench-related weakness were put on full display, exposing Leftwich’s run-heavy play-calling style. Yet, despite everything, Tampa Bay still finished 8-9 during the regular season and won the NFC South title for the second year in a row.
OH, THE PLACES HE’LL GO
Byron Leftwich has the championship pedigree, and resume, to pick the landing spot that suits him the best. As he leaves Tampa, several opportunities has also opened up — including Baltimore, coaching Lamar Jackson.
THE CONVERSATION.