In wake of the reports of tension growing between Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels in 2019, there will be increased attention upon how the newly-minted Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback will build a relationship with his new coach, Bruce Arians.
During the free agency process, Brady committed himself to Arians’ system, and before signing with the Bucs, Brady began selling himself as a quarterback who could and would operate the Tampa offense. So it seems there’s not question there: the Bucs will not be bringing Brady’s offense from New England to Tampa. But there are ways they can give Brady a say on how the Buccaneers adjust the offense to suit him (which was something Brady reportedly didn’t feel like the Patriots were doing enough last year).
Buccaneers quarterback coach Clyde Christensen reflected upon how he anticipates Brady and Arians making adjustments to the offense.
“I think what we’ll see here (in Tampa) is Bruce’s offense with a Brady influence,” Christensen told The Athletic’s Bob Kravitz. “Bruce wants to keep the offense the same. We did some good things last year. Tom has been terrific as far as saying, ‘Just tell me what you want to do.’ And honestly, there’s a lot of carryover from all these offenses; it’s just what you call certain things.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how he can influence the offense. He’ll make it better. That’s what the great ones do. He’ll have some great ideas so we’re anxious to get his take on things.”
Arians’ system — which comes with the tagline, “no risk it, no biscuit — is starkly different than what the Patriots were running in 2019, which featured a horizontal passing attack, led by receiver Julian Edelman, with an (ineffective) heavy dose of running, led by running back Sony Michel. But Brady couldn’t elevate the play of his supporting cast last season, and it showed in his production, with one of the worst statistical seasons of his career.
Surely, Brady will be looking to Arians for answers on how to get the quarterback back to his high level of play. But it’s not like Brady is non-plussed. It sounds like he’ll have some say in making 2020 better than 2019.
