Arians Sounds Off
October 7th, 2019
“I can see it plain as day on the replay.”
As a kid, Joe remembers watching live Roger Staubach’s now-famous “Hail Mary” pass to best the Vikings in the playoffs.
It was one of the most blatant push-offs Joe has ever seen. Drew Pearson cleared pushed aside Vikings defensive back Nate Wright to gain an edge and catch the game-winning touchdown.
Yesterday, there was a blown call even worse. Saints receiver Michael Thomas threw aside Bucs corner Vernon Hargreaves to get separation for a key catch early in the second half.
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians challenged the ruling claiming offensive interference. The zebras disagreed.
Arians was livid.
“If that is not the call, then what the hell is?” Arians said in his postgame presser as he chuckled sarcastically. “A two-hand shove knocked [Hargreaves] backwards. [The officials] said they were hand-fighting. Yeah, they were hand-fighting but that doesn’t knock a guy backwards.”
Yeah it was a disgusting non-call that even incited normally laid-back Father Dungy to take to Twitter to protest.
Look, the Bucs have a rotten enough secondary. They don’t need any help from the refs to blow games.
October 7th, 2019 at 5:21 am
Unfortunately, VHIII was beat on that play and others because he’s shorter and slower than the receiver he’s covering. The push off happened after the receiver had already passed VHIII leaving him with his back to the QB.
October 7th, 2019 at 5:36 am
Hargreaves is NOT an NFL caliber cornerback. Nerves was, never will be.
If idiot Licht had drafted him in the 4th round, where he should have been drafted, he would be gone by now. Sorry Vernon but you suck man.
October 7th, 2019 at 5:39 am
It likely didn’t make any difference, you can’t point to one play that didn’t go the Bucs way in that game. They were outplayed across the board, on to London.
October 7th, 2019 at 5:42 am
Unaware if this subject has been broached in another article, but have you ever, ever, ever seen or heard of a call where the “officials” gave a fumble recovery to the fumbling team because they couldn’t discern which team recovered the fumble?
I realize the Bucs picked off Bridgewater and scored shortly thereafter, but I’m tired of referees/officials deferring to incompetence and being granted further employment. Another example of this glaring incompetence holds true with Joe’s post above. Watched the game with a few that hadn’t a dog in the hunt and, upon replay, they were in 100% agreement that it was blatant offensive pass interference.
Juxtaposed with this blatant incompetence, the only week to week given in the NFL is that the Buc’s defense couldn’t stop a sloth from scoring on them–again, again and again.
October 7th, 2019 at 5:48 am
Nothing to see here … BA’s just sticking up for his guys. Chances are his conversation with VHIII today will go something like ‘Yes Vernon, you were pushed. Boo hoo. You were trailing on that play, just like you were on most plays in the game. We’re gonna get you some help. Help packing that is.’
October 7th, 2019 at 6:10 am
“My Dad doesn’t post here no more but
He demanded me to post this because the blind sheep and the high school local media has no clue
Kobe Faker wants to know 1 answer from Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles
WHY DIDNT THEY DOUBLE TEAM MICHAEL THOMAS?
They screwed up not planning to double him in the first half but after MT tore us up on the 1st half,
WHERE WAS THE DOUBLE TEAM IN THE 2ND HALF”
Son of Kobe Faker
October 7th, 2019 at 6:13 am
Actually, VHIII actual had good coverage on that play…so a two hand blatant push was the proper play. Bucs DB’s are not allowed to cover or tackle receivers according to NFL rules. As well as no Buc player will be seen recovering a fumble…even if it is on film.
October 7th, 2019 at 6:13 am
The refs literally cost us a Super Bowl appearance – this is just your normal game to game Bucs-screwing.
October 7th, 2019 at 6:15 am
JA … “Buc’s defense couldn’t stop a sloth from scoring on them–again, again and again.”
Very descriptive, and quite accurate right now. I keep thinking about the difference between last year & this year though. Last year (and the year before) it was all Smitty’s fault. Too much cushion and so opposing QBs completed 72.5% of their passes on the season. That’s horrific … and Mike Smith was the scapegoat.
Yesterday the Saints completed 76% of their passes throwing against our ‘new & improved’ defense, with 3 ‘starters’ (Whitehead, MJ Stewart & Davis) returning (Edwards & SMB weren’t here, and BHIII was on IR last year). Both years we’ve had a meh pass rush in terms of RESULTS.
So who’ll be the scapegoat this year? Rather than break in a new scapegoat, I vote that we re-hire Smitty and have him sit up in the coaches’ box during games. Then every time a player blows an assignment, we can all yell ‘It’s Smitty’s fault’. Or if they miss a tackle? ‘It’s Smitty’s fault’. Or the pass rush fails to put any pressure on the QB? Yup, ‘It’s Smitty’s fault’.
The benefits of that approach are enormous. Bucs’ fans would only have to learn ONE chant. The players would always be blameless. And most importantly, Joe could write his articles to follow each loss week’s in advance of the actual game, with the same bottom line … ”It’s Smitty’s fault’. Oh wait, Joe already does that. My bad.
October 7th, 2019 at 6:21 am
This and the fumble recovery on special team were ridiculous calls. Each caused a timeout to be taken away.
October 7th, 2019 at 6:26 am
Refs made it clear they were on the saints side.It took the life out of the team. Once they legalized sports gambling I said this kind of stuff would get worse.
Fumble recovery was Auclair….turned over and robbed tampa a timeout
Shove off by thomas was denied and robbed tampa a timeout
Holding on defnese by Vea on a RUN UP THE MIDDLE FOR CHRIST SAKE!!!!!!
Ejecting out best press corner for one hit.
Roughing the passer automatic first down on a 3rd and 25 for a not late hit on bridgewater right after he threw an incompletion.
I can make a list just as long on how attrocious the offensice playcalling was (said it would happen) .Sean payton is too good to allow their offense on the filed.Uou have to beat them with time of possession and Lefrwhich did the entire first half was run up the middle and deep vertical routes.ZERO creativity on offense vesides one reverse by miller.
Why is Barber and Obnumbawabwa in the game.when Rojo is FAR AND AWAY the better back in a must win divisional game?
Everything about yesterday was crap and takes the fun out of being a fan.of the nfl.It just feels like im watching a rigged product.
October 7th, 2019 at 6:38 am
Buc Apathy now in full bloom.
Time to find something productive to do on Sundays now.
October 7th, 2019 at 6:49 am
All this complaining for non-calls — it’s exactly what Losers do!
October 7th, 2019 at 6:51 am
Bad penalties? What else is new?!
From what I heard, Michael Thomas is still running down the field…15 hours AFTER the game!
Didn’t watch the game but I listened on the radio. It sounds to me like the penalties wouldn’t have mattered. It sounded like half the team missed the bus to the stadium!
October 7th, 2019 at 6:55 am
The offensive scheme is terrible. Plain and simple. Brate and Howard should be heavily involved. Unreal that those two weapons are irrelevant. Instead they have Winston throwing to itty bitty Scotty Miller. And long developing routes Leftwich is in over his head. He’s basically eliminated two major weapons which just makes it easier on the other team. Really really stupid.
Hard to believe this is the team Licht has assembled and somehow wound up with an extension lmao. Can’t make this stuff up lol.
And the fumble was clearly recovered by the Bucs. You could see Auclair hand grab it and pull to his stomach.
How can the NFL defend that? Same with the PI.
October 7th, 2019 at 6:58 am
The saints had the horrible no call against them last year to be in super bowl. There was another terrible call this year as well (I forget which game )
The saints will get calls their way the whole year. Nfl and Goodell will make sure of that
October 7th, 2019 at 7:00 am
Stfu Tom. Mr holier than thou. The Bucs are bad on their own without the refs making terrible calls. They don’t need help. And it does matter mor on.
There’s a thing called momentum and missing obvious calls even after watching the replay changes momentum and affects the game.
Plus it’s not the point that it went against the Bucs it’s the incompetence of the NFL. It’s the principle of it Tom. They can’t get it right even with replay and there’s no accountability from the league on these kinds of calls.
Did you see the roughing the passer call on Lamar Jackson in that game?
The refs are pathetic and no one is holding them accountable.
October 7th, 2019 at 7:04 am
Refs…#@!%#@….watch they’ll call OPI on a Buc WR at a critical time next week
October 7th, 2019 at 7:11 am
The Davis ejection was BS too…Referee please demonstrate how to tackle with your shoulder without bending and lowering your head….that collusion was at high speed and the head to head was simply part of a violent collusion NOT targeting
October 7th, 2019 at 7:12 am
BucEmUp–
I’m not a believer in conspiracy theories without overwhelming evidence. With that, the average NFL referee makes a little over $25,000 a game–much less than those he is refereeing.
Given that and proven official corruption in the NBA, it’s not within the realm of impossibly to think that a high rolling gambler could slip a referee a great deal of cash to, “make a few calls go his way.”
Hopefully, this kind of thing is not happening and most referees are simply buffoons, but I will agree that an offer of a cash, tax free payment might be tempting to the right buffoon.
Remember the Seattle-Pittsburgh Super Bowl in 05′?
Seattle was penalized seven times for 70 yards, almost always after making a big play and, via replay, rarely committing an infraction. Pittsburgh was penalized three times for twenty yards.
When thinking “fix,” that game sure gave cause to wonder.
Bottom line: do I think NFL games are fixed? No.
Would I be shocked if a referee was caught taking money from a gambler? No.
October 7th, 2019 at 7:17 am
NO invested in the D line and O line and it’s paying huge dividends while the Bucs were drafting DB’s and WR’s. VHIII is Light’s fault. Lack of speed is a huge miss by Light. One of many.
October 7th, 2019 at 7:26 am
Just heard Michael Thomas caught another pass wide open on the tarmac at louis armstrong airport as vh 3 was getting left again
speaking of real conspiracies….how come the bucs can spread #44 out wide but cannot figure out how to get OJ out wide one on one or brate in the slot one on one…that is a real conspiracy or crappy coaching
October 7th, 2019 at 7:28 am
Show Mike Edwards the door. The guy laid down for two Michael Thomas touchdowns. That not how a safety plays. In pee wee football we were taught how to wrap tackle. How the hell did he make it to the pros. He looks scared to make a hit.
Yeah- and Hargreaves can follow him out the door. He can’t seem to cover anybody. I was embarrassed to be a Bucs fan yesterday. Everybody was open. At all times. Did we defend one pass? I’m usually positive but today, not so much.
And where was Mike Evans? Totally out of the game. And Jameis first half? Won’t even go there.
October 7th, 2019 at 7:51 am
Just pointing something out. Did anyone notice the current NFL MVP and NFL golden child look very average last night when he got actual pressure? In fact he couldn’t muster more than 13 points AT HOME last night. So I guess he sucks and KC should start looking for a new QB right guys? Took multiple sacks so I guess that means he held the ball to long, missed guys open deep so I guess he is inaccurate right fellas?
No you see that is what happens when get hit over and over and over you lose your timing, you lose your sense of protection. But you see in KC they understood that and aren’t blaming him they are saying man we need to protect better to give him a chance to do his thing. But then again they apparently don’t have a bunch of clueless fans that know nothing about football. Oh yeah the media too.
Also multiple QBs won yesterday while turning the ball over yet we lost while playing safe and conservative. Are you all happy now? This is the issue, everyone all off-season was worried about our QB when he is the least of our problems. Our issues in order are:
Secondary
Oline
Pass rush
Not enough WRs that get separation
Lack of speedy playmakers
October 7th, 2019 at 7:51 am
People keep asking “where was mike Evans”
Being locked down by one of the best corners in the game that’s where.
And being helped by an inept learn as you go OC that doesn’t know how to get his best players involved. Recipe for disaster.
October 7th, 2019 at 7:57 am
@Ndog
Defensive line should be first on your list.
Games are won and lost in the trenches not in the secondary.(huge need yes)
A pass rush makes all DB’s better.
But it’s pretty much flip a coin on what to address. Plenty of choices. I would give up a draft pick for Patrick Peterson because I don’t trust Licht at all to pick a lock down corner in the draft or a dominant D lineman.
Trade for a top corner draft D line and O line.
October 7th, 2019 at 7:59 am
Had to watch the game on Gamepass, dodged football and turned off all notifications for this BS… And it had a bad vibe from the start. 1st off our secondary sucks duhhh! Especially the CB’s also duh, useless for the most part, just trash. Even the pick was lucky, bounced off their hands and right into SMB’s hands. Sure didn’t help the saaawwwwft secondary that our line couldn’t get home. AND as usual the refs continue to screw us on top of everything. ^What Figures said – STFU TOM, mr holier than thou! These are the facts. Great Sunday up until 7:30 when I got to watch this nightmare continue. Just when you think we’ve turned a corner! Smh, when will this end?
October 7th, 2019 at 7:59 am
Ndog…please do not compare mahomes to winston that is just crazy…chiefs had THE worst defense in the NFL last year and should have been in super bowl
October 7th, 2019 at 8:04 am
See Dusthty you just don’t get it do you. ITs NOT ABOUT THE QB!!!!! It’s about the situation they are put it and that simple concept illudes you doesn’t it?
October 7th, 2019 at 8:06 am
We got beat badly in the trenches…..simple as that……Bridgewater had plenty of time and Jameis didn’t.
Jameis held the ball too long because our receivers weren’t open and we didn’t have short routes for him to dump it off.
I hate to say this but we got beat by a much better team…and that hurts.
October 7th, 2019 at 8:25 am
VHG looks like every other CB when they dont have a pass rush…..lol….
CD got beat deep early by MT and committed the penalty that led to a TD….
whitehead got beat by Cook repeatedly…..
when our pass rush as a whole doesnt show up, the entire defense looks bad….
GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 7th, 2019 at 8:34 am
Poor Homer article Joe. Vernon could not make this years Gators team and you are defending him for quoting on the play. He looked like a damn soccer player when he threw his arms up in the air in an attempt to get a call. This act only slowed him down and kept him from making a play on an under thrown ball
October 7th, 2019 at 8:35 am
^^^quiting.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:05 am
BA made the statement that our defensive backfield is “fixed”. So is my pit bull.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:08 am
@Slugglife
“Show Mike Edwards the door. The guy laid down for two Michael Thomas touchdowns. That not how a safety plays. In pee wee football we were taught how to wrap tackle. How the hell did he make it to the pros. He looks scared to make a hit.”
Yes, I agree he looked terrible yesterday, which surprised me. I thought he has a lot of potential. It looked like he actually tried to avoid hitting MT on one of his TDs, jumped to the side and tried to swat at the ball.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:09 am
NDoggy I’m not trying to be mean, but you are an Idiot man.
I’m sorry bro…… It’s just the truth. Someone had to tell you.
Patrick Mahomes moves like a panther evaded the rush and scrambled 40 yds with a pocket broken down and Throws a dart 🎯 across his body to a spot. BOOM 💥
Touchdown!
QB IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION.
Your America’s QB takes so long to wind up his arm and throw that it’s too late to make the pass meanwhile guys like DANGE-Russ Wilson and Pat Mahomes throw with an improvised flick of the wrist fluidity looking like a Shortstop all over the diamond slinging the ball. I am still trying to give my support to Jameis Winston, but it’s hard to lie to myself and call him a franchise QB…. guy holds the ball and gets paralyzed by analyzing, throws pics and also throws Imaginary Pics ummmmm (2) yesterday……. plus the interceptions the other team drops ☔️ that they had bounce off there hands ALA buccaneers CBs, has no consistency, ITS OVER BRO……
October 7th, 2019 at 9:13 am
If Hargreaves gets the call on this play, he’ll give up the big catch a play or two later. It was inevitable. He sucks.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:14 am
I didn’t hear Arians (or anyone for that matter) even whisper that the refs missed Winston absolutely slamming the Saints’ defenders head to the turf long after the play. America’s QB should have been ejected for that one.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:27 am
I think BA is gearing up for another retirement.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:34 am
“he threw his arms up in the air in an attempt to get a call.”
Yes, the Buccaneers actually hired real referees to school them on the new rules and to coach them to live within the rules.
VH111 was taught to throw up your hands when interferred with or when being held. He did what he was supposed to do. He had MT covered like a blanket and when the ball was in the air, MT cheated to create space. Cost 52 yards, a time out and a challenge.
On the fumble, two Bucs had the ball covered, A Saint came late to the party and stuck his hands in to steal the ball. As soon as he touched Auclair the whistle should have been blown. Play over, Bucs ball. That cost a time out and a challenge.
Later in the game, the Saints punt returner waved for a fair catch and then suddenly backed off clumsily. The ball struck his foot and careened off at a strange angle and the Bucs recovered. The refs true to form gave the ball to the Saints. The Bucs had no challenges left.
I think the Bucs needed some breaks to beat the Saints in the dome, they got those breaks and they were taken from them.
That missed pick at the 20 yard line could have helped.
I believe they got screwed out of at least 13 points. Instead of JW madly scrambling in the 4th, it should have been a steady diet of Rojo and Barber pounding out 1st downs.
For once, Dungy is right. The Bucs are the red headed step child of the NFL.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:36 am
The league has a major problem with Officiating. When it makes a difference how you hit Tom Brady, versus Jameis Winston, when it calls to calling fouls, on top of all the other things, I would go as far as to say that if the league doesn’t straighten its’ act out, it will find itself going the way of Boxing.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:37 am
The team got their butts handed to them, kudos to Godwin . That said the coaching staff was pretty passive ,other than arguing with the refs. We kept the same things over and over with little or no success. Make adjustments. Get extra blocking, get a taller receiver other than Scotty Miller who will block and fight for the ball. VH3 is no Revis island so stop putting him in so many single coverage situations.
Jameis put some extra pressure on himself early on with some throws that were off, and then Saints the Saints applied pressure to make him ineffective
after the first TD.
October 7th, 2019 at 9:39 am
Officiating is killing football and making the games unwatchable and uninteresting.
October 7th, 2019 at 10:43 am
On that fumble they showed a camera angle where Auclair recovers the fumble cleanly. THEN he walks away with the ball! Just total garbage by the officials.
October 7th, 2019 at 11:51 am
Ndog
Was anything about this article JW related?
Talk about clueless. And obsessive. Your JW love is unhealthy.
October 7th, 2019 at 11:56 am
The travesty is that it was reviewed and still not called. If they aren’t going to reverse the call on replay then replay shouldn’t be used. It couldn’t have been more obvious.
October 7th, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Way to many stupid rules. If the OPI would have been on any other team it would have been upheld. But the holy Saints are above the rules. Although through out the league the officiating has been horrible. Officials need to be held accountable for there bad calls along with the reviewers.
October 7th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
#GlazersDontCare
#NFLGamesAreRigged
#SaintsStillCheating
October 7th, 2019 at 1:27 pm
TBTD it was a push off. All day if Evans did that it would of been called. We got who dat by the NFL and there puppet refs.
October 7th, 2019 at 1:46 pm
Point is of there going to let you hand fight. YOU FIGHT VH3
October 7th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
The defencive game plan was crap on a pamper. Out coached all day. And refs wherw going to make sure we lost
October 7th, 2019 at 1:55 pm
Howard is very happy that the Saints had their refs on the field and that they were able to help shift the momentum of the game so their team, the Saints, could win!!
Offense did well, Defense did really well, but it was the Saints ref squad that made the difference!
#Geax Saints
October 7th, 2019 at 1:56 pm
NFL!
Parity and justice for all!!
(and especially no cheating!)
October 7th, 2019 at 4:16 pm
the defensive backs are bad outside of carlton davis.. mike edwads is pretty good, he makes a lot of open field tackles that make you go damn he’s solid.. I think goin forward you roll with Jamel dean at the 2 and Hargreaves at the nickel simple as that. And yea if you think sports aren’t somewhat rigged then its something wrong with you