“Much Easier, I Believe”
January 10th, 2019
“Dirk, we’re gonna double you up in a hurry.”
Back in 2013, new head coach Bucco Bruce Arians got his first gig leading an NFL team. It was the post-Kurt Warner Arizona Cardinals, a bad 5-11 football team.
They went 10-6 with a revived 34-year-old Carson Palmer and a top-10 defense.
It was a remarkable turnaround that was no one-year wonder. A year later, Arians’ Cardinals were 11-5 despite Carson Palmer playing only six games because of injuries that season.
All that history and Arians thinks the Buccaneers’ job will be a smoother turnaround.
He was asked directly about that when he met the Tampa Bay media today and said the Bucs fix will be “much easier, I believe.”
Off the main stage, Arians’ eyes opened super wide when asked about the various targets Jameis Winston has. And he said he likes two of the Bucs running backs.
It’s clear the big key for Arians is his staff. He’s an extreme believer in their ability and he’s pumped they were all available with various head-coach firings around the NFL in recent days.
Arians also was asked about the Bucs’ big names on defense. He said they can all fit in his defense because the defense is about attacking and fitting players.
January 10th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
I believe they have the talent too. All you lack of talent whiners are about to see the impact of a great coaching staff. Love the hire. Love the Bucco Bruce name too. Man if they will fix the helmet issue and at least go orange once a year, if not more, I might get the season tix back. Bruuuuuuuuuuce!
January 10th, 2019 at 4:04 pm
Talent wise we are much better than our win-loss record
BA can take us to the playoffs next season!
January 10th, 2019 at 4:05 pm
The part about building around the talents of his players was pretty cool. Something about, when he asks his coaches who they have they better make sure they tell him what they can do rather than not. From there a defense is built.
Really trying not to get too hyped for this but what a foundation the Bucs are building for next season.
January 10th, 2019 at 4:11 pm
Draft OLine!
Look at the Colts, Saints, Cowboys, Eagles, Rams-
They win in the trenches!
January 10th, 2019 at 4:18 pm
“Agree, we might have the talent everywhere except the …
cover corners
Bowles need a Patrick Peterson type player to make the whole defense work”
Kobe Faker
January 10th, 2019 at 4:20 pm
My first thought was the NFC West was not like the current NFC South but that’s inaccurate.
In 2013 the Hawks/49ers both had 11+ wins and the Rams were 7-9.
They were the best overall division that year in terms of W:L record.
Same thing in 2014.
Hawks – 12-4
Cards-11-5
49ers – 8-8
Rams – 6-10
He didn’t have anything easy.
January 10th, 2019 at 4:20 pm
@ Kobe
Is that CB in this draft? Greedy?
Or do we need to go get Peterson?
January 10th, 2019 at 4:22 pm
we have good front line talent at many positions, a couple of obvious holes (RG/LT)
The issue we have is depth everywhere except TE without Mesean, we have exactly 3 receivers, none with true deep speed.
There is still some work to be done
January 10th, 2019 at 4:22 pm
bucsfaninchina Says:
Really trying not to get too hyped for this but what a foundation the Bucs are building for next season.
I know the feeling. Pessimism is a defense against disappointment. I am a little bit hopeful, though. 😉
January 10th, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Coach speak out front w talent on the bucs but BA will flip this roster w his guys this is a 10-22 team and he will get his players & right the ship and rid the losing players
January 10th, 2019 at 4:29 pm
“LC
Looks like BA is a “formula” type of guy
He knows a formula that works
He is bringing his same old but working staff in…
and he will have a roster similar to his winning teams rosters
no doubt he has a winning model he will try to replicate
Im sure BA promised Bowles he will get his players because the bucs are not the bears in talent…
Dont mind if we are the Tampa Bay cardinals as along as we are 13-3″
Kobe Faker
January 10th, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Patrick P. will be on this team in the Fall. Mark it down. YUCS will trade for him. Peterson loved playing for SQ Smooth.
January 10th, 2019 at 4:39 pm
Lord C
I really like Greedy but one poster here said let’s go for the whole enchilada. Let’s get Petersen and draft Greedy.
That would be awesome but as I told him it’s also pretty “greedy”. We would immediately have the best cornerback duo in the league and with any rush at all let’s see how many picks we could come up with.
I think Evans is a decent safety…and I really like Jordan Whitehead and think he could have a breakout year in Bowles defense. You add in Hargreaves and our other young guys and we could have go from the worst defensive backfield to one of the best.
LOL I’m not holding my breath though that we can get both Greedy and Petersen.
January 10th, 2019 at 4:45 pm
“Patrick Peterson ,from Pompano Beach, Florida, wanted to be traded last year and wanted out of that 4-5 year rebuilding mess in arizona…
no doubt there will be talks”
Kobe Faker
January 10th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
I just hate giving up premium draft capital and I’m guessing Peterson might cost a future 1st or something at least.
Also not sure Greedy is a safe lock down prospect or not. I’ve seen him kind of mocked all over.
January 10th, 2019 at 4:53 pm
i think we’ll see a totally different VHG and c.davis….both love playing man press and thats something bowles loves to play….bowles played to pat p’s strength and im sure he’ll do the same here(hopefully)….
secondary has talent, they’ve just been playing in an outdated scheme that didnt match their skill sets….
no need to draft a CB @ #5 or trade away draft picks…
GO BUCS!!!!
January 10th, 2019 at 4:58 pm
greedy is good no doubt but not at #5….hell pat p went #5 and he aint even close to that imo…..ive seen him play numerous of games being a gators fan….great talent but not at #5…..
GO BUCS!!!
January 10th, 2019 at 5:08 pm
It’ll be so great when he goes 7-8-1 and then 8-8 and then retires so Todd Bowles can guide the team to 6-10 greatness!
January 10th, 2019 at 5:15 pm
I hope he’s talking about Shaun Wilson as the second RB he likes. Fix the oline including Jonah Williams at five. Trade for Patrick Peterson. Trade back into the second round for another pick, get darrell henderson and a RG/RT. Let Henderson and Jones and Wilson battle it out in TC and preseason. Whoever comes in last takes the walk.
January 10th, 2019 at 5:16 pm
NN
LOL….
careful, “they’ll” nail you to the cross….lol….
wise woman once told me, if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
January 10th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Lord C
Yeah I don’t think there’s anyway we get Petersen…waaaay to expensive in terms of draft capital.
I’ve seen Greedy as high as 3rd as low as 8 or 9 but I’m not seeing any other DB’s being touted ahead of him. Like Petersen his size sets him apart from most CB’s. The ones behind him are all like 5-10. I’ve seen enough 5-10 CB’s here to last me a lifetime.
January 10th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
@813
I understand what you mean by saying he’s not close to being Pat Pete, and for the most part you are right. He isn’t 6’0 220 with 4.34 lightning speed.
But he is without a doubt the best corner in this draft class, he’s damn near 6’3, granted he’s a bit skinny at 185 but that didn’t stop Denzel Ward from being a very good as a rookie like I correctly predicted he would but back to the point.
It’s VERY easy to see on film that Greedy is aptly named. Simply put he is a ball hawk. And there’s a reason why. He has looong arms and big hands, has the athleticism and intelligence required to mirror receivers routes, and is a highly cerebral player with the ability to read and anticipate where the QB is going target.
Now, I’m not saying for sure that we should absolutely pick him yet. The offseason is long and we have a lot of crucial information yet to be revealed. And I’m very intrigued with the impact several other prospects like Bama OT Jonah Williams, Clemson DE Clelin Ferrel, or Bama DT Quinen Williams could have on this team.
But there is absolutely 100 percent an argument to be made that CB is the most pressing need. And it’s ridiculous to suggest a player with Greedy Williams talent and skill would not be worth a #5 overall pick just because he’s not as physically gifted as Patrick Peterson.
January 10th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
And btw LSU plays against many more teams than just UF.
January 10th, 2019 at 6:03 pm
SchiftyBuc
“And it’s ridiculous to suggest a player with Greedy Williams talent and skill would not be worth a #5 overall pick just because he’s not as physically gifted as Patrick Peterson.”
We need an All-Pro vet much experience in Bowels defense to come teach the rest of this secondary that has no one out of their rookie contracts (excluding an always busted up VH3).
January 10th, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Look you’re not gonna catch me saying we shouldn’t trade for Patrick Peterson unless the asking price is something ridiculous.
And other than that, getting an All-pro vet with much experience in Bowles defense isn’t realistic.
Plus as Arians made a point of mentioning several times today, the coaches on this team are going to craft the best possible scheme to fit what the players they have can do.
January 10th, 2019 at 6:48 pm
Didn’t Mike Smith say the same thing..,
Done with talk let’s see it in games
January 10th, 2019 at 6:48 pm
I really want to get excited but it’s not easy. The 2008 collapse and the decade that followed has me a broken fan.😢
January 10th, 2019 at 6:52 pm
@Loyaltotheend
Yeah Smith said that, but it was very clear after the end of the second year that he was just lying.
I agree with your wait and see stance, and I’m definitely not going to go get myself all hyped up for this season just because we now have the best Head coach we’ve had since Chucky.
Let’s win some damn games and then get excited! And I aint talking about just 2 either!
January 10th, 2019 at 9:49 pm
Koetter is trash which is why he was fired. They do have talent enough to which is why they started 2-0 with mike smith running the defense. Any fan debating Bruce Arians can easily be ignored. And he likes tow of our running backs. I’m sure he’s not talking about jackass Rodgers. He believes in teaching and working around players abilities and high is why he’s every bit of the coach Koetter can never be
January 11th, 2019 at 11:42 am
DJax and McCoy to AZ for Peterson and a 4th and 5th…
Problem solved