No Longer “Totally Fixed”
July 10th, 2019
Today was a very bad day for Bucco Bruce Arians, dealt his second crushing blow in the past two months.
And yes, if one believes the words of Arians on May 31, today’s news of Ryan Smith getting busted for using performance enhancing drugs (did they work?) is a crushing blow.
At the conclusion of 10 days of OTA practices, Arians told the world his once suspect secondary is “totally fixed.” And that included love for the guy who was just suspended for four games.
“Yeah, probably secondary, we’re really, really good,” Arians said with extra energy in his voice. “With Carlton [Davis] and Vernon [Hargreaves], we knew we had two solid corners. Now we got five solid corners. Ryan [Smith] came along. So yeah, earmarked as a problem set back in January, it’s totally fixed. Just knock on wood they stay healthy.”
What magnifies the Smith loss (if it is one) is that now the Bucs are down to four solid corners, per Arians. Keep in mind Smith was the corner with the most experience, 31 games at the position versus 24 for Vernon Hargreaves. And perhaps he had improved under better coaching.
Joe’s not about to cry over the loss of Smith, but Arians did call out his value to the team. At this point, the Bucs will be in a real bind if they lose another corner to injury or suspension. Those first four games are so critical to this team’s collective psyche.
It’s Bucs legend Derrick Brooks and media legend Ira Kaufman on an all-new TAMPA TWO, a production from The Identity Tampa Bay & JoeBucsFan.com.
Brooks gives great insight explaining “all you need to know as a player” and what he looks for in practice, and much more. Enjoy!
July 10th, 2019 at 5:52 pm
Do they finally go out and sign a veteran CB for camp?
July 10th, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Maybe now we hear Claibornes name coming on even stronger.
July 10th, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Zzzzzzzzzzzzź
July 10th, 2019 at 6:00 pm
Its statements like this that the “real” fans worry about ole coach stale biscuit!!!! I think some really need to keep an eye on him!!!!! I hope joe will tell some one if stale biscuit keeps repeat the same old stories!!!!!! At this point, would not be surprised that in Nov-Dec to see a silver alert for a golf cart with a description of an ole crazy fool with a funny hat driving down some highway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a disaster this year will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 10th, 2019 at 6:01 pm
I didn’t even know he was still here with saying that. No sweat. Since when did we ever relied on Ryan Smith? He is nothing but camp meat
July 10th, 2019 at 6:03 pm
Joe you are on drugs my dude!!!! It’s a far cry from stating the value of a special teams guy and backup. Who cares how much game experience he has if he is garbage and rookies outplaying him anyway…..apparently you dont realize you are saying secondary is fixed because ryan smith was suspended lol and only 4 games. Seems like you didn’t really read what is written here. –Joe Your saying that his impact on this team is that significant hahaha wow please let the season begin already
July 10th, 2019 at 6:05 pm
BA doesn’t strike me as the type to worry about low impact guys and will go hunting for guys before the season anyway why not a veteran corner I’m sure some will be available, everyone is just assuming they will only go hunting for pass rushers on cut down day
July 10th, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Maybe we’ll see, welcome to Tampa Morris Claiborne.
July 10th, 2019 at 6:17 pm
How stupid…..not sure Smith was on the bubble….but now he should be.
July 10th, 2019 at 6:20 pm
Arians knows how to fix this. Joe does too! lol.
July 10th, 2019 at 6:20 pm
Imagine if Joe had gotten his way and we drafted only defensive and offensive linemen! Why would you make things up when there are so many other things to write about? –Joe
We’d be TOTALLY FCKED instead of totally fixed.
July 10th, 2019 at 6:29 pm
I’m crushed!
How could a non-factor like Ryan Smith boost his insignificance in this horrid manor?
Is there no honor in this world? How can we move on from here? I’m so upset I’ll need sleeping pills tonight for this one.
What’s next, a sex scandal between NFL mascots?
July 10th, 2019 at 7:04 pm
Smith is set to make 2 mil this year. Cutting him gives you 150k in dead cap leaving 1.8 to sign an effective corner.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Cut him and sign a decent Corner. The guy isn’t worth keeping.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:08 pm
It not fair to write off a player cause he is a backup or Special Teamer. These players matter way much more then y’all give credit for.
I think I will just blame Madden for this line of thinking.
Yet when the season starts you will cry about poor Special Teams and how injuries derail our season………..Last time I checked we had a bottom roster player that steps up every year and becomes a good contributor. Nassib stands out from last year.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:11 pm
JA – LOL!
July 10th, 2019 at 7:11 pm
And here come the excuses again.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:12 pm
Lamarcus. We last relyed on Ryan Smith last year. Started out as our 4th CB and had to start a handful of games due to injury.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:12 pm
JimmyJack – he’s didn’t die, he’s just suspended.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:21 pm
This will just be one of the many statements that will come back to bite ole stale biscuit this season!!!!!!! all that trash he talked will be his down fall!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 10th, 2019 at 7:22 pm
#ItsABucsLife
July 10th, 2019 at 7:24 pm
Seems like just yesterday Buc fans and even the Joes were calling out Ryan Smith as a virtual bust.
I would have thought Smith’s suspension would be met with sighs of relief.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:28 pm
Yes it was a “bad day for Bucco Bruce Arians” but I wouldn’t label it as a “crushing blow” Joe. I seriously doubt that Ryan would’ve won one of the starting CB positions, but he does make a credible (and experienced) backup. He’s solid on S/Ts, but so are any number of other guys. And since he won’t count against the roster while he’s on suspension, Bucs will be able to keep (and further evaluate) someone who they would’ve had to cut prior to Game 1. Who knows, maybe that ‘someone’ will turn out to be a beast and never relinquish the roster spot. The one who’s REALLY hurt here is Ryan Smith, much more-so than the Bucs.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:36 pm
74 fair enough. Maybe a bit too dramatic but I get that way with my Bucs.
I agree with what Defense Rules wrote above. Smith was a solid football player. It’s hard to find backups in this league that aren’t liabilities when they are on the field. Sounds like a lot of fans take that for granted.
July 10th, 2019 at 7:53 pm
There goes Ryan Smith’s huge Nike endorsement deal!!!
July 10th, 2019 at 7:54 pm
Sucks enough to lose anyone, even Smith. But invoking one of my favorite all time movies, “The Principle” I have to use Jim Belushi’s words “No more!” Arians needs to make this clear that it won’t be tolerated from ANYONE, and he should turn to his man, Winston, and make the point so the whole team knows NO ONE will hurt their team in such a selfish way and still be a Buc. They are razor thin at most positions. I hope like crazy no one else joined in. And let me guess….adderol?
July 10th, 2019 at 8:05 pm
When teams would go to 4 wide outs, I’m sure R Smith would have been on the field, if we cut him he may end up in the ATL and come back and bite us in the a$$! Keep him if we can!! GO BUCS GO SUHY!!
July 10th, 2019 at 8:07 pm
Joe! What do you mean I made things up!!!
Not true.
There are a ton of articles and podcasts where you were very aggressive on “demanding” and edge and an offensive lineman. Not to say those weren’t areas of need, but I recall you saying something like, “I’m done! Giving up on the Bucs if we draft Devin White over an edge!”
So please don’t manufacture history. Joe has deleted the remainder. Look at what you wrote not what you believe. The reality is Joe wrote many times about drafting a running back and the pressing need to do so this year, as well as the desire for that to happen at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. The archives are there. –Joe
July 10th, 2019 at 8:35 pm
Joe
I’m not convinced the Bucs medical or training staff didn’t have a role in this. Remember kwon got suspended for ped too. Something ain’t right at obp
July 10th, 2019 at 8:47 pm
This IDIOT needs to be made an example of. CUT HIS A$$!
July 10th, 2019 at 8:57 pm
thinking on it, seeing some posts, and see what Joe said, just trying to rationalize why the Bucs would have any notion of keeping Ryan Smith. We got Davis, Stewart, VHIII, Devonte Harris, and of course Bunting and Dean. Plus at least one no name rookie. For the guys that we had last year, Smith didn’t (or would not have) beat any of them out for starting job, for a D that was one of the worst in NFL history. And in camp, there are precious reps to get looks at so many, and all of them are in brand new D. Why should Smith even share in those reps? Sure, he’s minimal cap space but about week three or four, isn’t there a better chance of picking up someone on the garbage heap who is at least as (not very) good as Smith if needed, who will be there for all games? It’s not like Smith is an old head on this D…and a lot of experience at not ponying up to start in a terrible D is not a ringing reason to keep him on at all. I guess the only reason they’d be araid to cut him is another guy gets popped who is more important (God forbid it’s a starter somewhere) and they don’t want to be pressured to cut that person too? Sucks.
July 10th, 2019 at 8:58 pm
The loss of Smith equals improved job security for VH3. I think VH3 was on the bubble more than Smith after hearing some of the OTA comments from Arians about VH3. VH3 has a few things not going for him; he is not very good at any scheme but bump and run, lacks mental toughness (a surprise for a coaches son) and his cap value does not equal his production.
Todd you are wrong. It was an opinion; you may consider it strong but thats your interpretation.
July 10th, 2019 at 9:31 pm
Magadude … Fans said a lot of the same things about Bradley McDougald during his last year here. I thought he had turned the corner in 2016, but Licht decided not to re-sign him (after he started 16 games for us that year). Seattle picked him up for $2 mil in 2017. Seems to be having a pretty good career with the Seahawks now (they raised his salary to $3.3 mil in 2018 and now he’s making $4.7 mil this year.
Ironically, McDougald’s 2016 stats were better than what he’s had in either of his 2 years with Seattle. Instead of re-signing him, our illustrious GM brought in TJ Ward, drafted Justin Evans and held onto Tandy & Conte. Good eye for talent Jason.
We’ve got 3 years invested in Ryan Smith. Let’s not ‘cut off our nose to spite our face’ as the old saying goes. I’d like to see what this coaching staff can do with him this year. Hopefully he continues to improve because next year we’ll have a LOT of bills due & we can’t afford to keep creating holes in our roster.
July 10th, 2019 at 9:49 pm
DB55…you think Kwon got busted for an energy drink? Naive or stupid?
July 10th, 2019 at 9:56 pm
He’s cheap and showed just enough on a few plays to wonder what he might do with real coaching.
Remember, the circus clowns who ran the defense since he was drafted couldn’t figure out if he was a safety or a corner for two years. That couldn’t have helped his development.
July 10th, 2019 at 10:01 pm
This is more of an issue than most fans will understand. I get that Ryan Smith has been burned more times than a blowtorch but he has shown promise. All the failures have to be taken with a grain of salt if we are to believe that coaching was abysmal, particularly on defense. Our secondary has been hot garbage for years. So much so that Arians, Bowles and Licht made it a mission to draft 37 cornerbacks and safeties this past draft. They weren’t necessarily wrong. We have had thin depth and talent in the secondary and this will thin us out more in the first 4 games.
July 10th, 2019 at 10:10 pm
Ryan Smith is a boo boo player. Smith play is garbage and huge reason we sucked. Just because he had below average play from being horrible doesn’t justify his stay.
He can tackle good but that’s it
July 10th, 2019 at 10:12 pm
Are we really supposed to freak out that RYAN SMITH is missing four games? Seriously? Do not care.
July 10th, 2019 at 10:14 pm
Joe you are giving clowns a bad name
July 10th, 2019 at 10:51 pm
I couldnt tell if this piece was written as satire or not. I hope it is because all Ryan smith has over the rookies is experience in getting smoked.
July 11th, 2019 at 7:10 am
Gotta get this audio in podcast form. Would love to get this on the run! Great job guys!
July 11th, 2019 at 7:11 am
/\ The Tampa Two /\
July 11th, 2019 at 8:56 am
Meh. 4 games without a maybe solid #3-4 corner ain’t that big of a loss.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:14 am
Hopefully they will offer Claiborne a one year prove it Contract. Yes Smith has a lot of experience but it is mostly bad film. His value is as a Special Team Player and a backup if someone is hurt. Not an impact player.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:20 am
Something is up with this guy. If an NFL player is unemployed on July 11, and has been unemployed since the end of the season, that’s a major red flag.
Another defensive back who has been unemployed since the end of the season? Chris Conte.
Maybe Claiborne is (so far) unwanted by 32 teams for a reason?
July 11th, 2019 at 10:29 am
is it me, or does bruce kinda have this kuala bear type thing going on ???
#BruceTheKuala “KualasAreKindaCute #BruceIsOnTheLoose
July 11th, 2019 at 10:40 am
JA
I’m with you bro. I could use a story about team mascots caught in a sex scandal.
July 12th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
The dummies were desperate for Trent Richardson back in the day, and the less stupid wanted Mo Claiborne. I was the extreme minority that wanted Luke Kuechly. Now the buffoons want Claiborne back. The same overreacted, under fast, very low IQ that was an average at best CB in NY under Bowles. If Claiborne had any shred of hope of being able to help this secondary, he would’ve been here a long time ago. Stop pining for below average players simply because of name recognition. Most of you dunces don’t know squat about NFL personnel and it shows on the daily.
July 12th, 2019 at 8:43 pm
Meanwhile Derwin James is a pre-season pick for NFL Defensive Player of the Year next season. Fireeeee Licht!!!