Bucs QB Coach: Tom Brady Will Have Influence on Bruce Arians' System on Offense

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Bruce Arians won't be overhauling his system for Tom Brady, but Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen says he expects the new Tampa quarterback to have his input.

Christensen spoke with The Athletic's Bob Kravitz about how the Brady-Arians dynamic will differ from when Peyton Manning left the Indianapolis Colts for the Denver Broncos:

"You're right, Peyton took his playbook and his way of doing things and when he looked at possible destinations in free agency, one of his priorities was to find a place where he could keep things the same. I'm sure there were some little changes, but for the most part, it was the vernacular he was used to. I think what we'll see here (in Tampa) is Bruce's offense with a Brady influence.

"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."

Manning was the de facto offensive coordinator for much of his time in the NFL. Offensive coordinators would give him options of plays, and then he would break down the defensive coverages on the fly, sometimes audibling two or three times at the line to find the correct look. 

Brady, while inarguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, has had such a level of cerebral control over his offenses. The Patriots have been among the most adjustable teams in football over the last 20 years, going from spread-style attacks, to two-tight end sets, to ball-control, depending on their personnel.

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

Brady's adaptability is promising, but Arians' system relies on downfield passing more than any scheme he's played in since perhaps the Randy Moss halcyon days. Brady has increasingly relied on passes to running backs and shorter, intermediate throws as he's aged—the types of attempts that happen far more rarely with Arians. 

It's likely both the coach and quarterback will have to find a middle ground to make the relationship work.