Faust
MVP
Tedford, Frazier share visions for Bucs schemes
By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff
Excerpt:
By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff
Excerpt:
TAMPA — Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford has barely had a chance to adjust the seat behind his desk to the proper setting, so still isn’t sure what his plans are for quarterback Mike Glennon.
Tedford’s plans for Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin are already starting to take shape, though, and that could be where the biggest change in the Bucs offensive attack is taking place.
Unlike former head coach Greg Schiano, who preferred to give the bulk of the carries to a single back such as Martin, Tedford plans to use a two- and maybe even three-back scheme that constantly forces defenses to adjust to his personnel.
“When I was at (the University of California) we were always very fortunate to have two very good backs, whether it was J.J. Arrington and Marshawn Lynch or Lynch and Justin Forsett, or Lynch and Jahvid Best or Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen,’’ Tedford said Wednesday.
“We really had a good one-two punch in the backfield there and I think that’s what you need. For one guy to carry the load the whole time, especially as physical as this level is, is a lot. So (we’re looking) to have two and probably three backs that can provide different things for you.’’
Tedford and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier held news conferences Wednesday at One Buc Place, taking questions for the first time since joining new head coach Lovie Smith’s staff. While Frazier suggested his defense could look familiar to longtime Bucs fans, Tedford indicated his offense might include some new wrinkles.
Whether the Bucs have the backs in place to add those wrinkles is hard to tell, Tedford said. He’s only been breaking down film of his new players for a few days and the limited work that backs such as Mike James and Bobby Rainey received last year has made it hard to gauge their true abilities.
Tedford does believe, however, there is “talent and potential’’ in those and other runners on the roster.
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