Recovery Critical Early On
August 22nd, 2019
Ugly schedule.
Most fans know the NFL did the Bucs no favors with a truly brutal schedule this season.
What makes it so awful is that for nearly two months, the Bucs will play away from the Den of Depression. That stretch also includes two trips to the west coast sandwiched around a trip to London.
Brutal.
Well, the schedule pitfalls may begin showing up earlier than folks initially thought. The way Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians talked yesterday, the schedule puts the Bucs in a pinch, perhaps beginning with the season-opener.
With the Bucs playing a road game on a Thursday night in Week 2, recovery time will be critical. Arians said players generally struggle to recover following the first game because it is, well, the first time since December that guys are getting pounded on by real NFL players for a full 60 minutes.
But to play a Thursday night game four days after the first game, Arians suggested, is just nasty.
“It’s really hard because you don’t practice that week – you just have walk-throughs,” Arians said of the Week 2 matchup against the Gerald McCoys in Charlotte.
And the Bucs may get jammed even worse. The season-opener at the Den of Depression against San Francisco is a late-afternoon game. And all of us who live on the west coast of Florida know what happens in the late afternoons in the summer: Rain and perhaps, lightning.
So already Arians is sweating a potential delay.
“If for whatever reason that game gets delayed because of weather – that’s going to be a night game – that throws another wrench into it as far as recovery time. The big thing is recovery time.”
When asked if it is normal for players to physically struggle with recovery after the first game, Arians replied, “There’s no doubt.”
Yeah, sure, the Stinking Panthers are on the same schedule, unlikely to have a weather delay. Difference is, a home team on a Thursday night has an extra day to practice and rest while the visiting team uses that day to travel.
Man, that schedule is a killer.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:08 am
Man, i was thinking getting the Thursday night game done early when we were fresh was a good thing… guess not.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:10 am
It’s an 1 1/2 hr flight. Stop with the excuses.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:11 am
No excuses….suck it up…..
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:12 am
starting the excuses already that’s probably a good thing that being said excuses to justify failure is what bucfan does best.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:14 am
It all adds up. As coaches like to say about the game itself: It’s the little things that add up.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:14 am
Thursday night games are a separate discussion and always create a short week. Also a bonus of 10 days off afterwards.
I see this schedule as a positive. Camaraderie will be built with an us against the world mentality.
So what, we have a stretch of road games early in the season, get over it already. You have the sympathy of the NFL community. Don’t bring it up again and handle it with professionalism and class.
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:16 am
No excuses. Opening day, the 49ers have it worse since they have to fly all the way accross the country to play in hot and humid Tampa. The Thursday night game is a short trip to Carolina who is also playing on a short week. Tired of whining about schedules. The NFL,is hard on all teams.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:18 am
“What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
We get to see what this team is made of early in the season.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:18 am
“Carolina has to plan and worry about the rams in game 1. they won’t have time to plan against BA/Leftfoots offense by thursday
these 2 possible wins can dictate the whole season for the Bucs”
Kobe Faker
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:20 am
Wow! TBBF and I agree, which is common place. Tmax in agreement with us is shocking!
Regular season is approaching fast.
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:21 am
My biggest fear for the Bucs Thursday night game is having to see this God awful ketchup pajamas they call color splash. I would rather see all pewter uniforms if they must wear a one color ugly uniform.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:22 am
Man. Bucs fan culture is so used to losing that we have to find ways to lose again
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:23 am
“It’s the little things that add up”
– Agree, Joe, as in get your mind right to practice, failure is not an option, execution, accountability, stop making mental mistakes…
Worrying about schedule is a loser mentality
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:26 am
Good teams overcome obstacles! Nuff said.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:31 am
Excuses Already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its a cake walk compared to last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real’ fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:35 am
If I were Bruce, I would be more concerned with a delay of weeks due to a hurricane.
Supposed to be a record number of named storms this year, and in a few weeks, they will be kicking up big time.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:35 am
And it starts
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:38 am
The 49ers will be freaked out after that long cross country plan ride, into 100% Humidity !
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:45 am
Simple solution, go all out aggressive against the 9ers in the first half. I mean like plan to score 35 points aggressive. Then rest a few key contributors in the second while heavily running the football and milking as much clock as possible.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:01 am
Schedule for us has been hard every year since 2015 season basically. Nothing new.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:15 am
“The 49ers will be freaked out after that long cross country plane ride, into 100% humidity”
Maybe, we can sprinkle some human urine, feces and used syringes on their sidelines so that they can feel comfy and at home.
Poor Niners.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:36 am
Ghost of Darrell Henderson
i used to love San Fran. visited SF a month ago and almost threw up walking from Bar to Hotel. It was almost as disgusting as watching Cancer93 play the run…
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:38 am
Is there ever an “easy” schedule in the NFL?
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:43 am
Well the panthers have McCoy to worry about and I’m SURE he wont be in shape and ready to stop the Bucs……
August 22nd, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Love to see these armchair coaches here on JBF sputter out “stop with the excuses” acting like they know more than someone who’s been playing and coaching football longer than they’ve been alive.
August 22nd, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Excuses starting before the season! That’s almost as fresh as the Bucs emailing is season ticket holders to send in our money now for any potential playoff game! LMAO!!! PLAYOFFS????? PLAYOFFS????
August 22nd, 2019 at 12:43 pm
That’s great! It will make us better in the second half of the schedule
August 22nd, 2019 at 12:49 pm
i rather have a W in week2 vs gmc and the panthers anyways….
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 22nd, 2019 at 12:49 pm
No matter where we play the other team will still be limited to the same eleven positions as we are…they will pull their pants on one leg at a time…tie their cleats like us….
I get the difference between excuses and genuine extenuating circumstances.
I hope the Bucs get so mentally tough they start to dictate their circumstances between the lines no matter where or when we play.
August 22nd, 2019 at 1:18 pm
One can always find excuses for losing. We need to find the will to win. Yes, the Bucs got screwed by the league office. Hunker down team an adopt an “us against the world” mentality. I have always seemed to thrive when the pressure was on. I’m counting on coach Arians banging on that drum to get the best out of this group.
August 22nd, 2019 at 1:29 pm
the thursday nighter is not nearly as bad as having it middle of the year and we get a division opponent early with little to no tape on us from a new scheme and cam’s shoulder could be banged up, especially against that los angeles line. the schedule is not ideal but there is no reason this team cant be 2-1 ( i think 3-0) after those first three weeks.
August 22nd, 2019 at 1:59 pm
Sport Says:
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:14 am
Well said, Sport!
While little things do add up it is heart and grit that defines winners, champions. You want a turnaround in attitude and a change of culture? This season will provide the opportunity. If we can come out winners with at least a 9-7 record we can say mission accomplished. Next off-season we weed out the lesser contributors and add some quality depth and also plug maybe one or two more holes. Look out, NFC South! Look out, NFL!
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:20 pm
At this point 7-9 would be a major feat….
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:27 pm
Some people come here to make comments so that they can find someone to childishly attack or or fight with. Some come here to discuss the articles and debate various facets of their beloved Buccaneer team.
Thanks, JimmyJack, for going with a positive but realistic approach.
Are we seeing quicker decisions and better results from Jameis under the new regime already? Can’t wait to find out when the real games begin.
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:44 pm
The jet lag from flying to Miami last year was brutal. Players still recovering. What will we do???
August 22nd, 2019 at 3:07 pm
This is why there should be two bye weeks, one before playing TNF, or eliminate Thursday games all together. 18 games is out of the question. Sorry Joe.
August 22nd, 2019 at 3:13 pm
@Jimbobbucsfan:
You got that right. That’s why no one should ever reply to tampaxcon.
August 22nd, 2019 at 3:24 pm
I watched a bunch of games on Game Pass and noticed McCoy played, I believe, at least the entire first quarter. He was in there quite a bit. Noting how little the Bucs starters have played, it does make me worry that those early season games, the Bucs are still going to be knocking off some rust. But, with that said, it sounds like the practices are tougher with real tackling, so maybe it doesn’t matter. We shall see.
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:03 pm
I hate Thursday games. I think it ruins the anticipation for the Sunday game
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Surprised the NFL didn’t have us play on Thursday (after London) and take away the bye week just to make it interesting.
August 22nd, 2019 at 4:38 pm
You think the Pats care when and who they’re playing? Naw. They gonna win.
August 22nd, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Not scared of the schedule I figured it out already.
1st win nuetral site game. mCoy gave Suh a big reason to get up for that game and gave us ammunition. I know which #93 I’m betting on to be a difference maker in a big game.
2nd beat Tennessee. Well prepared teams are expected to win games coming off a bye.
Two wins is easy and 3 is very obtainable during that 6 game stretch.
BOOM EASY!!!
Y’all keep up your farce that the schedule is too difficult. The truth is you are more scared of another bad Bucs team. No schedule has never been too hard for any good team in history. Won’t be any different for the 2019 Bucs.
August 22nd, 2019 at 5:25 pm
And dwell all you like Buc fans. Meanwhile y’all overlook the favors we got on this schedule.
-We are primed to start hot against a weak opponent at home and then vs a Carolina team that we have been studying all summer. Newsflash…….They have no film on us. Firm advantage.
-The most pivitol part of any schedule is the backend and we are loaded with home games.
-We play no team coming off a bye this season. Major advantage.
Admitt it you aren’t scared of schedule. You scared of Bucs being bad
August 22nd, 2019 at 5:59 pm
Doesn’t matter what the schedule is … there’s still as many home games as away games ( regardless of London) you have to win games no excuses