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Jagodzinski's Offense Is Player-Friendly

News Channel 8 photo by BOB HANSEN

Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski speaks to the media for the first time on Tuesday at One Buc Place.

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: February 17, 2009

Updated: 02/17/2009 11:38 pm

TAMPA - New Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski takes a very simple approach to moving the football. It's so simple, kids could use it out on a sandlot. In fact, that's where its roots lie.

In the Milwaukee neighborhood where Jagodzinski grew up, Bruce was the slowest, least-athletic kid on the block. There's a Bruce on every team in every league and, just as he did as a kid, Jagodzinski still targets that opposing player in an effort to move the ball and score touchdowns.

"You had a guy that you picked on all the time when you played; give me his name," Jagodzinski said Tuesday as he met the Tampa Bay media for the first time. "Ed? OK, we're going after Ed. That's our philosophy."

There's a little more to it than that, of course. But beyond the details of the zone blocking scheme he intends to install, it really is pretty simple.

Jagodzinski, 45, employs something akin to a West Coast passing attack, much like former coach Jon Gruden. Jagodzinski's version, however, is easier for players to understand.

"I was brought up in that system, but what I have tried to do with it is limit the terminology," he said. "You can say the same things without saying them with a lot of words.

"I think it's going to be a lot more player-friendly. I don't think it's going to take three years for guys to learn the system. And we've had success doing it with a bunch of different types of quarterbacks."

Jagodzinski likes to get aggressive in the red zone: "When you get to that point, you need to throw it in the end zone."

He intends to lean on a downhill, power running attack with backs such as Earnest Graham. The zone blocking system he employs requires linemen to be athletic and mobile, to move in harmony on an angle to create a variety of holes from which the running back can choose.

It differs from man blocking schemes in two ways: Linemen are not assigned a specific man to block, and the back is not assigned a specific hole to run through. If one player misses a block, the play is not doomed.

"The zone scheme is dependant on one unit, not just one guy," Jagodzinski said. "With this scheme, you really limit the negative-yardage plays."

And when the running game draws defenders close to the line of scrimmage, he likes to throw deep.

"You're going to have your opportunities to take some shots," he said.

YOU BE THE BUCS GM, Page 4

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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