It’s reasonable to suspect the Tampa Bay offense will have a New York Giants lean.
But new offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said (via JoeBucsFan.com) that such expectations would be premature.
The former Giants quarterbacks coach emphasized the wide-ranging experience of the rest of the offensive staff, but the reality is Tampa Bay has some of the parts to copy the Giants template (which, if you’ve noticed, isn’t a bad idea).
By drafting Doug Martin to go with LeGarrette Blount in the backfield, and adding a vertical threat in wide receiver Vincent Jackson, the pieces are there for Sullivan to do familiar things.
“And so it’s really been a very dynamic process, and we’re still trying to finalize and really hang our hat on the things we’re going to be good at, that we’re going to feature,” Sullivan said. “So I would just say that while there are some components to a New York system, I think what it boils down from a fan standpoint. I think they just need to anticipate and expect that the product that is out there is a unit that is tough, that is smart, and that is explosive.
“That’s going to be our marching orders to what we want out there on the field.”
The style can be as similar as they want, or not. But until quarterback Josh Freeman plays a little more like Eli Manning — or at least the 2010 Freeman — it only makes sense to streamline things and play the kind of physical style that makes it easier on a quarterback.