“The Missing Piece”
May 17th, 2019
Bucs fans shouldn’t fret about a pass rush this fall, despite the very real possibility that both Jason Pierre-Paul and Gerald McCoy may not be on the Bucs’ active roster.
Why is that? Well, Bucco Bruce Arians believes the Bucs will find the Missing Link Piece.
In recent years, the Bucs seemed allergic to bringing in veteran free agents once training camp started, with the exception of Gosder Cherilus, unless the player had some connection to Dirk Koetter. Earlier this month, Arians suggested that personnel trend will end because there are always good players to be had in the final days of preseason.
“It’s easy,” Arians said about why he’s not panicking about the defensive line in May. “When we get to training camp, we will have the guys that we want in there. When I was in Arizona, every year that last week we would always add the missing piece.
“We’re looking for the missing piece right now. There is somebody out there. John Abraham came in, Dwight Freeney came in, guys that really impacted our defense and Todd [Bowles] did a great job of matching them up. We’re nowhere near where we are going to be in September, so we will just wait and see.”
This is comforting to know for Joe on a couple of levels. Arians is clearly not drinking the Kool-Aid and realizes his defensive line, as it is currently constructed, is unlikely to be able to get the job done.
Second, Arians said he’s already working behind the scenes to find help and that help will come as preseason nears an end.
Who is that Missing Link Piece? Time will tell.
May 17th, 2019 at 5:15 am
Definitely refreshing! Constantly trying to improve, and not the “we’re stuck with who we have now” mentality.
May 17th, 2019 at 5:39 am
See, this is the Old Bull speaking. He’s wiser than all us fans combined. Been there, done that…won Coach of the Year.
He’s not impulsive; just strategic.
No rush on McCoy because BA knows there will be a team in need after an injury of some sort…he’ll get us value and free up cap to bring in the missing piece(s).
This is why I’m personally so excited and positive.
The adults are running the show.
Good on BA.
10-6 & Playoffs!
May 17th, 2019 at 5:48 am
Patience is a virtue
Hold your cards until needed, play coy and keep em guessing
Offseason is a poker game and I am so happy we have winner at the table finally
The sky isnt falling, we have a true NFL head coach and staff
Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make, someone else does to your benefit…
Stay tuned!!
May 17th, 2019 at 6:01 am
That’s actually the first thing he said I really like…
May 17th, 2019 at 6:04 am
A real heah coach…..breath of fresh air!
May 17th, 2019 at 6:14 am
@clw JB
“Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make, someone else does to your benefit…”
Nicely said. Spot on. 👍
May 17th, 2019 at 6:37 am
Notice that he said….”missing piece”…..not missing pieces. We simply don’t and won’t have the cap space for multiple players…….RB, OG, DT, DE…..even a veteran CB would be helpful.
If it’s one missing piece….I’d go with Oline…..that would make all of our RBs better.
May 17th, 2019 at 6:55 am
So now the plan is to dumpster dive thru the garbage????? I am just trying to get all of ole stale biscuit’s stories straight around here!!!!!!!!!!!!! The good news is that after a glut of a deep draft, the older vets in that position will flood the market!!!!!!! The bad part is that this is Tampa Bay and GM is licht weight, who will select the wrong guy and overpay him!!!!!!!!!!!!! But don’t worry sheep!!!!! Today is Friday, which means by early next week, we will get to hear of another new plan that was seeming always the plan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 6:58 am
Gordon Solie! Flash from the past.
May 17th, 2019 at 7:18 am
Joe says; “Earlier this month, Arians suggested that personnel trend will end because there are always good players to be had in the final days of preseason.” BA’s comment is somewhat true but is laced with a lot of BS. Why? The Bucs need more than a “missing piece” and the only reason they have to use “hope” as a strategy to get leftovers is because they can’t afford market price now.
May 17th, 2019 at 7:33 am
The immortal Percy Pringle (aka Paul Bearer).
May 17th, 2019 at 7:48 am
Joes, dis video brought back many many memories back of my days wrassthling against the diabolical dirty kevin thullivan, the missing link, abudda dean, perthy pring and always loved talking to my main man gordon tholie. The bucs need to do what i used to do back in teh day and that is get a lil freeeky deeky and throw the bionic elbow on thuckas. Coath Arians has got a lil american dream in him and you can hear it in is voice. The bad part is that dastardly jason licht has to much kevin thullivan and his bad decisions in him, thanks joe for the flashback and RIP BIG DOG
May 17th, 2019 at 7:53 am
Good to see Gordon Solie back in action. Gordon was another Tampa icon from way back in the day for Championship Wrestling from Florida on WTOG. Some of the takes from him and our fellow poster Dusthy Rhodes were classic for kids like me watching Channel 44 back in those days of the TV rabbit ears and very early cable….. Scotty: Dr Paul Bearer: yeah another blast from the past I used to watch as a kid. Spent many a Saturday afternoon in the ’70s and ’80s watching the Doctor on his Creature Feature on 44.
Anyhow, if the Bucs could get someone like the Missing Link, Abdul The Butcher, Freight Train Joe LeDuc or George the Animal Steele to shore up the trenches then what the heck they’d probably play with more heart than some of the slugs that loafed for Koetter and Smitty! Heres to Bucco Bruce going against recent Buccaneer trends and actually finding some pieces/links that make a positive contribution…..
May 17th, 2019 at 7:59 am
Big Dust, I always found that Bawwwstaaaan accent of Kevin thullivan hilarious and the Bucs locker room could use a visit from the bionic elbow to help shore up that losing attitude!. And yeah I second Big Dust in RIP Big Dog, like him or not there was a time when you basically tuned his show on to get your rush hour fix of Tampa sports….
May 17th, 2019 at 8:00 am
Unfortunately, the “real” missing piece is a GM that is prioritizing and fixing the trenches!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 8:13 am
The missing link just may be a new GM. One without beer goggles!
FIRE LICHT TONIGHT!
RIP BIG DOG!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 8:42 am
@Todd … “He’s not impulsive; just strategic.” Perfect BA descriptor Todd. Arians is that wily old coach who’s seen enough to know that the needed players to shore up our weaknesses WILL be available when cut-downs occur. Freeing up the money is just a matter of trade-offs.
Too many don’t seem to appreciate yet that this coaching staff is itself still gelling. Throw in the fact that they’ve only had a handful of underwear-football practices and it should be obvious that they’re still trying to determine what they’ve REALLY got here. More changes are coming, but season start is still almost 4 months away. LOTS can & will happen. Best thing all of us can do is simply enjoy the ride.
May 17th, 2019 at 9:07 am
Gordon Solie was the best wrestling announcer , the guy just cracks me up the way he perfectly played the part !!! The Guy made the old NWA !!! Best Ever !!!
May 17th, 2019 at 9:28 am
The Buc Realist Says:
June 21st, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Huge pass to the coaching staff issued by the “real” Buc fans!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 9:32 am
realist
one teams trash is another teams treasure!!!!!!!!!!!!
the only missing piece around here is a mouth piece for you and momma realist!!!!!!!!!
licht wouldnt look bad had dirk and smitty developed players…..after back to back 5win seasons, it was obvious the missing piece was COACHING!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 9:54 am
I think Shaq Barrett is going to surprise and thrive in this D.
May 17th, 2019 at 10:43 am
Get em 813.
May 17th, 2019 at 11:23 am
The pessimists are just banking on the all time Buc winning percentage to continue just like the bookies in Vegas have done along with a lot of the National Press. We also are in the toughest division. The Optimists see BA’s past miracles in similar situations and his innovations to quickly change our losing culture, and look at the Saints for instance with an aging short QB on the decline if a defensive team is built strong right up the middle such as the Bucs with both 1st picks Vea and White and a Veteran DC like we have to devise aggressive blitzes if we can get to their QB within 3 seconds the Saints will be toast!
May 17th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
813- LoL I once got Steve Kurn’s autograph!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep the good ole 4 channels days!!!!!!! And no remotes!!!! Pay cable was just HBO or Showtime. $30/mth. Now we pay over $100 for 80+ channels I don’t watch and still get commercials!
May 17th, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Agree with the buc realist Jason “very dim ” Licht needs to be replaced asap. As far as being patient they need to release Paul before June 1st to ensure half his salary is off the books. Then file a report with the NFL to get the 7.5 million they guaranteed back. But Jason “very dim ” Licht will sit on him and seem happy if he plays 2 games.
May 17th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
underme
lol….that’s when the remote were the kids….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 17th, 2019 at 3:31 pm
2-14.
May 17th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
BA doesn’t realize this is the bucs not the patriots you can’t find a couple of borderline, at best players and throw them in the team. Because the patriots have a few good people around them. Who have the bucs got, outside of their draftpicks, Vita Veta and Lavonte David.
May 18th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Let me guess Bryant Mitchell is the missing piece? Tell me it ain’t so Joe.