It’s never stopped amazing me how people will say something to fit their agenda, then say the opposite a few minutes later when it holds a different meaning. Case in point: Comments abound that call for Bucs QB Mike Glennon to have a chance: “You don’t know what you have
until you give him a shot” …and comparisons to Tom Brady who also was a lower round draft pick when he came out. Essentially Brady was a longshot who proved himself once given an opportunity.
Yet one spot over, the new Offensive Coordinator “MUST be replaced with a veteran play caller” . These same people who want to give Glennon a shot won’t give Bucs QB coach Arroyo a chance as a play caller.
Granted the evidence isn’t impressive: The Bucs are one of the lower ranked offenses in the NFL, but how much of that is Arroyo’s fault? The Bucs Head Coach Lovie Smith has said that Marcus Arroyo will have an EXPANDED roll now that Tedford is out indefintiely.
What does that mean? Did Lovie restrict Arroyo on game day? It seems to me the Bucs felt Jeff Tedford was ‘right around the corner’ from being able to take over. Now that there has been a shift in strategy knowing Tedford will probably miss the whole season, there should be no restrictions on Arroyo to attempt to run this offense the way Tedford was going to.
Keep in mind there is a reason Arroyo is taking over the offense, not other older, more experienced assistant coaches. The reason is simple, no one has more knowledge of or experience with Jeff Tedford’s offense than Marcus Arroyo; He worked under Jeff for two years at Cal, and worked hands on with Tedford’s installment of the plan here in Tampa Bay. Thus no one knows it better.
Of course Arroyo is NOT Jeff Tedford, but keep in mind that Tedford had never called plays in an NFL offense before either. But with his experience Tedford had created what he felt was an NFL Ready scheme for the offense. Arroyo meanwhile has called plays for 10 of his past 12 seasons, so its not new to him, just at the college level, not Pros.
For Bucs fans this should sound somewhat familiar. In 2009 Bucs head coach Raheem Morris had to fire OC Jeff Jagodzinski because he failed to institute an offense that was capable of competing in the NFL. QB coach Greg Olsen stepped up into that role with mixed results. Any way you look at it, in 2010 the Bucs had the 19th ranked offense and 17th ranked passing attack: neither great nor poor. It did however result in a 10-6 regular season record many dismiss too easily as a fluke. The game of football is determined by the bounce of the ball- sometimes it bounces your way, sometimes it doesn’t. In 2010 it bounced our way; and Josh Freeman had a skill at bringing the Bucs back in the 4th Qtr.
It doesn’t matter if anyone interfered with Arroyo’s play calling in the past, as long as they don’t get involved any more. Lovie need’s to give his new offensive coordinator the same trust and faith he was prepared to give his original one! Then, and only then, can we come at least close to seeing this Hush Hush Tedford secret offense we’ve missed all year.
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