Jeff Tedford's absence allows Bucs to witness offensive weaknesses in full view
TAMPA, Fla. -- Jeff Tedford's name will conjure up strong reaction for as long as Lovie Smith remains the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' coach. The full impact of Tedford's absence this season is uncertain, but it's a bizarre twist made stranger by the former offensive coordinator's admission last Friday that he has been "good to go" for a couple months after a heart procedure in August.
It's fair to wonder about the level of commitment Tedford had to the NFL all along. It's fair to wonder why Tedford chose never to become a significant part of the Bucs' plans in the regular season, basically sideswiping Smith in the process. It's fair to wonder if Tampa Bay was doomed to fail minus a major piece of its coaching staff, a parting of ways between Tedford and the franchise made official on Dec. 5.
But one positive development has emerged with Tedford rarely seen at One Buc Place since his surgery: No scheme has masked the shortcomings of Josh McCown, Mike Glennon, a non-existent running game and a terrible offensive line.
Members of the Bucs' offense have been exposed for what they are, with zero mirages part of life at 2-13. McCown was right Sunday when he said there's a reason why 31 other teams have an offensive coordinator. But the lack of one for Tampa Bay has served as an X-ray to reveal what's inside everyone on that side of the ball.
As the unit stands, there's a whole lot of hollow space.
"It does matter," McCown said Sunday of the Bucs playing without a true offensive coordinator. "It does make a difference. We've done the best we could to pull ourselves out of it. Everybody has fought and fought hard, but we just haven't been good enough to get ourselves out of it."
The Green Bay Packers were the latest to expose the Bucs' lack of substance. Tampa Bay was without a yard of total offense or a first down halfway through the second quarter. The NFL's 27th-ranked rush defense allowed the Bucs to run for 16 yards. The Packers routed the hosts in total yards, 431-109.
The slog Sunday at Raymond James Stadium was awful, even by the Bucs' miserable standards. As Tampa Bay bumbled toward six first downs all afternoon, it was easy to wonder how Smith could say with a straight face that McCown gives the Bucs the best chance to win.
Problem is, the offense's failures are an unsolved calculus problem. McCown struggles because the running game is unable to add complexity to the attack. The running game is poor because the line has trouble opening holes. McCown strains to make full use of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson because, too often, he's ducking for his life (he was sacked seven times Sunday).
Likely, Tedford's presence would have made the Bucs' offense more tolerable.
With him around, would Tampa Bay rank 31st in total offense (292.8 yards per game), 31st in rushing (79.5 ypg), 28th in scoring (17.1 points per game) and 23rd in passing (213.3 ypg)? With his eyes high above the field, would Tampa Bay have been so quick to abandon the running game, ranking last with an average of 20.9 carries per game?
It's impossible to know, but it's fair to assume Tedford would have had more comfort handling his scheme's nuances than Marcus Arroyo. Tedford may have masked some of his players' shortcomings. He may have schemed to his personnel's strengths.
The lack of efficiency without him is concerning, of course. A new offensive coordinator must be hired after the season, and another adjustment period to learn another system must begin.
The good news is that the Bucs know exactly what they have in the rare success story (Evans) and in the many disappointments (McCown, Doug Martin, Anthony Collins, Evan Dietrich-Smith and Logan Mankins).
There has been no hiding in the shadows on offense this year. All the Bucs' warts on that side of the ball have been brought to light.
If Smith is to enjoy a long tenure in Tampa, if he's to make the Bucs relevant as he desires, then he must crack the code. Little is good about the offense's status quo, but if the Bucs had been average under Tedford this season, such a development would have provided false security.
The failed offensive line overhaul, the lack of explosion at running back with Martin and Charles Sims, McCown's inability to be smart with the ball when under duress -- all of it has played out in full view, like a mushroom cloud rising above the desert. The Bucs can use this knowledge as an opportunity to re-invent themselves in a smart way.
They must make the right call on an offensive coordinator. They must make the correct choices on the next quarterback and on key pieces of the line. They must realize there are no more mulligans, the future of Smith's vision dependent on their ability to evolve on offense in an efficient manner.
There's no doubt the Bucs would have been in a better position to win this season with Tedford. There's a reason he came paired with Smith. For sure, they would rather compete for a playoff berth or seeding this late in December with Tedford as the architect of one of the NFL's top units.
Yet his absence has revealed how low some of the Bucs' offensive personnel can go.
Soon, something can be done about it.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
