Deaf Ears?
September 25th, 2019
Bucco Bruce Arians had an interesting — but hopefully not telling — comment during his Monday news conference.
The head coach was asked about having a young team learning how to win and about how the Bucs came out flat and coughed up a 28-10 halftime lead very quickly to the Giants on Sunday.
Arians waved off the youth issue and said he warned the team about complacency in a big way in the halftime locker room.
“It’s a good excuse. I don’t like excuses,” Arians said. “We talked about it at halftime. I was doing a lot of screaming – I’m a little hoarse because of halftime – for that reason, and it just didn’t get done.”
That Arians quote really made Joe take pause.
Imagine Arians screaming his lungs out at halftime, pleading with his team to keep their foot on the gas and choke out the Giants like they did in the first half. Picture Arians turning purple yelling about pushing yourself to finish off the Giants and not let up.
And then the Bucs come out flat in the third quarter — at home. And lose.
Joe has to wonder how that happens to a team that’s fully bought in to the head coach. That Sunday crumble smells like the Bucs haven’t replaced enough players with losing mentalities.
September 25th, 2019 at 12:05 am
New era of players. Its next to impossible to get through them nowadays. For the most part it’s “me before team”.
September 25th, 2019 at 12:10 am
I can imagine some of these players talking among themselves saying ‘this old man is crazy.. was he not watching the game.. we own the Giants’…
That kind of attitude is common and heard all the time from today’s generation…
September 25th, 2019 at 12:16 am
The Joe’s have expressed many times in the past how it was odd that such a bad team would bring back so many players from the previous year. It obviously just wasn’t coaching and though I’m glad he’s gone, Koetter’s grin gets a little wider with each Buc’s losss. Licht may not be a good gm, but he sure as hell is good at conning the rotten owners we have no way of removing.
September 25th, 2019 at 12:18 am
I think the plan was ” alright guys you came in on fire and stomped them out. Now let’s run out the clock and run the ball more. Let’s pack this one in and off we go to L.A. 2-1″
Even Mike Evans said he thought he was going to LA 2-1 so he did look ahead. They look ahead and got beat the first play after halftime. Offense was very non chalant not aggressive no sense of urgency any longer…..
September 25th, 2019 at 12:20 am
Praying for Donald to twist Jameis’s ankle on Sunday enough to put him on IR for 6-8 weeks.
Don’t worry you’ll still have time to trade for a real franchise qb or let rg4 take the Bucs to the playoffs. I mean anyone is better at this point.
I’m sure they’ll easily hit Evans in stride and score 4-5 touchdowns. They don’t no excuses like an oline, running game or defense.
I just want Winston out of Tampa. He’s young his ankle will heal. He’s got a whole career ahead of him if not the nfl then mlb. What a loser ammirite?
September 25th, 2019 at 12:32 am
Can we just accept we root for the historically worse franchise undisputed Kings of all sports basement? This is the Bucs and will do Buccaneer things. You can be Mike Tyson in his prime in a Bucs Jersey and WWE Rhonda Rousey 1st round TKO him. You can put a rabbit and put him in a cage with most Savage lion with a Bucs Jersey on and the rabbit will kill the lion. There just something about this team I love and losing is just in the Bucs DNA. Let’s just accept it and why expect winning from them? They re losing team that the league either gets good players from like a farm league, to jump start a player like Truibusky 6 tds or Danny Dimes or just putting Ws on other teams so they can make playoffs.
September 25th, 2019 at 12:44 am
DB55-
I wish you were wrong, but you are right.
But I don’t wish injury on anyone.
September 25th, 2019 at 1:25 am
you nailed it joe..arians is not really beet red…he is purple…
this team better do right by his or he could keel over on the sidelines…
arians needs to keep xanax on hand if this team tries to punk out on him
September 25th, 2019 at 1:38 am
Comments so painful to read. But then so is watching Bucs football since the day Monte Kiffen left.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:08 am
Byron Leftwich’s playcalling in the 2nd half is what doomed us. Didn’t give our team a chance. Yes there is enough blame to go around, but with our weapons, it is absolutely atrocious that we would play so conservative and only score 3 measly points in the 2nd half. Inexcusable. Joe (Lee) was right when he pointed to Arizona and Rosen’s struggles last year. BA sold the Glaziers on BL. Time for BA to take the reigns back and prove that he still has that Coach of the Year gusto.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:11 am
I don’t think it was more the players but the Giants figuring out what Bowles was doing and how best to defeat it. They made the adjustments at halftime, Bucs did not.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:30 am
@DB55: You have proven to be an imbecilic homer many, many times, but now that you’ve wished for the Bucs QB to be injured, you are simply disgusting.
@Joe: How do you tolerate this?
September 25th, 2019 at 3:15 am
Buczilla: while agree with your post Koetter can only start grinning when his Falcons actually play well and get some Ws. Besides an upset of Philly the ATL has looked pretty sad. Todd Wright has them summed up well. Great plays on fantasy football for their passing game but meh otherwise, similar to how he views the Bucs except he likes Matty Ice more than Jameis. So far I believe that we can blame Winston for the SF loss, Arians for trying to lose @ Carolina and the secondary, Gay Stenerud’s kicking along with low 3rd down/red zone conversion in that trap loss on Sunday.
September 25th, 2019 at 3:39 am
If he was screaming in the locker room why did our offense go full turtle in the second half? This dude is so full of it. Lovie 2.0
September 25th, 2019 at 4:31 am
Arians has walked back too many comments in the last two games. this happens again, he earns the title of “liar.” If he is sreaming to keep their foot on the gas, why his is OC not calling plays that let it happen. If he is screaming at them they are not listening. Probably not just players that are ineffective. It is Arians. So far his net effect on this team is NEGATIVE. The D has gotten better, thanks to Bowles. O and ST are just as bad or worse. Triscuit ain’t no biscuit.
September 25th, 2019 at 4:50 am
@DB55 … “Praying for Donald to twist Jameis’s ankle on Sunday enough to put him on IR for 6-8 weeks.” Agree totally with Piratic … that’s disgusting. And sick BTW.
And Joe, I don’t think it’s ‘deaf ears’. This is a young team that still lacks leadership on the field. Coaches can make all kinds of adjustments from the sidelines, but there were breakdowns on the field … missed tackles, players taking themselves out of position, guys missing ‘opportunities to make plays’. That’s on those players, not on the coaches. Some guys simply didn’t step up when the opportunity presented itself.
And give the Giants credit … they did step up when the chance arose. They were THREE scores down at the half, adjusted, made plays, and won. That 75 yard pass play to open the 2nd half … topped off with a 2-point conversion … was most likely the Giants taking advantage of something they’d seen in the 1st half. That one play opened the gates. Nothing more than a short pass to the left, but Engram took it to the house. Jones to Shepard sealed it with the 2-point conversion … THAT ended up being the difference in the game.
Bucs offense had a chance to respond in kind, but folded. Leftwich called a run to Barber up the middle (1 yd), Jameis deep to OJ (18 yds), then TWO Barber runs (for a total of 7 yds). Pressure’s on Jameis now … incomplete short right to Perriman (who hasn’t made a play all year?) and we punt. NOBODY STEPPING UP.
On the very next series, our defense gives up a 46-yard deep pass from Jones to Slayton (tackled by VHIII, yippee) and the Giants go on to score another TD. So less than 7 minutes into the 3rd qtr, our defense surrendered 15 points thanks to TWO huge pass plays. And the Giants are back into it, trailing 28-25.
Our response … 3-and-out. Run (2 yds), incomplete short right pass to ME13, sack, punt. NOBODY STEPPING UP. Defense holds the Giants this time … 3-and-out.
Great opportunity for our offense to re-assert themselves. And we start to. TWO first downs, then … WHAMMO. Jameis sacked. Dotson false start. On 3rd and 17 we gain some yds but end up punting. Defense holds the Giants again … 3-and-out. Backed the Giants all the way back to their own 4-yd line then force them to punt.
Another great opportunity for our offense to excel … we have the ball on our own 46 yd line. Bucs get one 1st down (3 straight passes), then we go turle again with 2 straight runs (for 5 yds total). Jameis’ 3rd down pass is intercepted. BUMMER. But the Bucs’ defense responds beautifully, forcing a Jones’ fumble on the 2nd play. Bucs with the ball at the Giants’ 40-yd line.
ANOTHER great opportunity for the Bucs’ offense to seal the deal with a tad over 10 minutes left in the 4th qtr. SIX straight running plays to RoJo … 37 yards all together. Ball on the Giants’ 5-yd line … 3rd-and-2. In comes Barber for no gain. Bucs had TWO downs to go TWO yards for a 1st down. Instead, we gain nothing on our 3rd down and kick the FG to go UP BY SIX POINTS.
We had a great opportunity to put them away right there. Yes, our offense didn’t get the job done in that series. Yes, our defense later gave up a TD. Yes, our kicker blew a kick. But it was COACHING … SETTLING for a 6-point lead instead of GOING FOR THE THROAT … that screwed us the most in Sunday’s game. NO GUTS, NO GLORY.
September 25th, 2019 at 5:13 am
Screaming is one thing. Adjusting the game plan to not be run/Barkley focused is another. How much of the blame is on the DC?
September 25th, 2019 at 6:03 am
The teams trust in the GM and coach will not change until we cut ties with JW. His antics followed by continual lies to his teammates and team ownership is still in the back of his teammates heads. Not all of them but enough to allow complacency to creep into their heads.
September 25th, 2019 at 6:22 am
Somebody on that field needs to step up and be the leader. Coaches coach and players play. Accountability!
September 25th, 2019 at 6:49 am
The Bucs didn’t come out turtle in the second half, rewatch the second half, and pay close attention. Leftwich dialed up plenty of passes, and Evans can be seen running up the field uncovered many times. The O line gave protection, the problem was Jameis. He held the ball to long, and took to many bad sacks. Watch it again. He was afraid to pull the trigger, why, the only reason I can think of is he’s a head case. Then there was that God awful pick. Yes, after that they decided to play it safe, and not let Jameis implode like he did against the 49ers. Like he did against Cinn last year, like he always does. Ask yourself this. Are the K.C. fans debating if they have a franchise QB after only 19 games?
September 25th, 2019 at 6:52 am
Its the culture!!
While he was screaming they were dreaming about their Monday morning press clippings and came out of halftime with the game already won in their minds.
If he keeps this up he’ll get through to them. Koetter knew it too. His weak minded ass gave up too soon. Just keep it up, AB. It will take more than one swipe to take down that demon!
September 25th, 2019 at 7:04 am
When a team has no player leaders… these things happen. Sapp and Brooks would never have allowed this. Until the bucs find those kind of guys youll get these results. I consider evans and winston part of the regime that ran Shiano so i will never consider them leaders….good players? yeah but good leaders? naw.
September 25th, 2019 at 7:07 am
Great post @Defense Rules
September 25th, 2019 at 7:11 am
Oh come on I’m not the one trotting Demar Dotson out there every week and not a damn one of you give two chit about the beating the kid takes week in and week out.
Gfy and your morality.
But but but if only he’d thrown a perfect pass….blah blah blah. GTFOH
September 25th, 2019 at 7:15 am
Maybe at halftime the Giants’ coach yelled louder.
September 25th, 2019 at 7:18 am
DB, Why do you take Jameis criticism so damn personal? You act like theyre talking sht about your mom.
September 25th, 2019 at 7:29 am
It’s just DB55 being DB55
September 25th, 2019 at 7:33 am
DB55- Gotta side with Clod on this. You take that Jameis stuff a little far.
September 25th, 2019 at 7:57 am
DB55
why dont you just wish JW has an alex smith type injury and he never plays football again…..that’ll solve his and the bucs problem permanently but WTFDIK….STFU!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 25th, 2019 at 8:00 am
DR
i agree….
imo, the leaders, captains of the team have to step up and get the message across to the team that they have to play 60minutes of football….
im looking at SUH & LVD on defense and ME, JW and the linemen on offense…..
GO BUCS!!!!
September 25th, 2019 at 8:13 am
@ hodad you are right on the money
In the second half Jameis continued to hold the ball and take bad sacks. Whether a result of play calling to many long developing plays or his unwillingness to get the ball out, I don’t know. I will say this, in the first half, when Jameis honestly looked the best he has in a Bucs Jersey, he was actually getting the ball out on rhythm and with touch at times. Something I have complained about since he got here.
September 25th, 2019 at 8:28 am
1Gr8Buc Says:
September 25th, 2019 at 12:05 am
New era of players. Its next to impossible to get through them nowadays. For the most part it’s “me before team”.
.
bingo !….sad too…sh*ting on the foundation built by the players in the early days not that long ago….which is why college football is more fun to watch these days.
September 25th, 2019 at 8:48 am
jeebs says: Time for BA to take the reigns back and prove that he still has that Coach of the Year gusto.
you do realize BA called that dumb @$$ RPO with 13sec left instead of a pass play?…..
that was probably the worst play call of the game and it came from BA himself…..
time for BA to let BL do his job and worry about clock management….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 25th, 2019 at 9:02 am
@Defense Rules – Very keen analysis.
September 25th, 2019 at 9:10 am
DB55 still crying
September 25th, 2019 at 10:58 am
DB55
That last post describes it beautifully. You are projecting!!!!
D.R.
I agree totally and I appreciate you reviving that all time great cliche….No guts no glory. So far our coaches have been far from brave.
September 25th, 2019 at 11:00 am
GMC called. He wants his soft ass attitude back
September 25th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Prague Bucs Fan Says:
September 25th, 2019 at 1:38 am
Comments so painful to read. But then so is watching Bucs football since the day Monte Kiffen left.
————————————————–
Correction – you meant to say “since 4 weeks before the day that Monte Kiffen left”.
Let me refresh your memory – Bucs were having a great season in 2008. Record was 9-3 coming into December. Kiffen, then decides (for no good reason to steal a line from Joe) – to tell his defense and the team, that he is leaving at the end of the year – defense literally falls apart with that news. Bucs lose 4 straight games, miss the playoffs, Gruden gets fired and – well – we all know how the next 10 years after that turned out.
I have never forgiven Kiffen for that. Still have mad respect for what Monte accomplished here as DC – but torpedoing our season like that and the subsequent firing of Gruden as a result is pretty unforgivable in my eyes….
September 25th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Belichick doesn’t yell at half time for more than 15 seconds.
He is too busy working with his staff to correct problems.
I doubt this rah-rah stuff ever works. I read Jerry Kramer’s book about the Packers. Vince Lombardi never yelled much at half – Kramer (in 1969) said the half time speech went out with Knute Rockney.
September 25th, 2019 at 1:57 pm
So he’s screaming at them to not let up in the 2nd half, yet they immediately went turtle conservative on offense?
Once again, the actions of Bullchit Bruce are not matching up with his coach speak at the podium…
September 25th, 2019 at 2:35 pm
@DB55:
You really sick not only as a fan but more so as a human being… Football has NEVER BEEN THAT IMPORTANT as to wish another human being gets hurt just so you are satisfied that he cannot play, especially a player on the team you so called love and cheer for… Sadly coming to JBF is the only real source of news i can get about my favorite team, but reading some of the commenters here make me disgusted that we root for the same team…
September 25th, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Deaf, slow and dumb is no way for this defensive backfield to go through life.