Bruce Arians, Derrick Brooks & The Rookie Wall

December 6th, 2019

What next for the Bucs secondary, which has risen from painful-to-watch to almost acceptable?

Bucco Bruce Arians talked about this subject on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week. Arians said he’s concerned that the heralded rookie wall will hit his defensive backfield. The rookies there include safety/nickel Mike Edwards, and cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean.

However, Arians stressed that the “rookie wall” is very much a mental thing in addition to physical — the mental fatigue of a professional season that began long ago and already has surpassed its college counterpart.

Joe was intrigued by the mental aspect.

Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks also talked about the rookie wall this week on TAMPA TWO, seen at JoeBucsFan.com and The Identity Tampa Bay. Brooks leaned more toward the physical side of the rookie wall in a discussion about how rookie savior linebacker Devin White is likely to bypass the wall because he sat out games early this season with a minor knee injury.

Regardless, the coaching legend and the playing legend agreed that the wall is real. And that doesn’t bode well for the Bucs secondary in the final four games.

Arians said he had a discussion with the rookies about it and the Bucs will hope to avoid the wall’s ramifications.


TAMPA TWO dives into Bucs-Colts and more!!! Derrick Brooks, Ira Kaufman. What more do you want? Presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating, another gem from The Identity Tampa Bay.

5 Responses to “Bruce Arians, Derrick Brooks & The Rookie Wall”

  1. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    I’m not sure they have enough snaps in games to be a gig factor……some absences due to injury….etc.
    Doesn’t look like Devin White is hitting a wall…..looks like opponents are hitting a wall when they run into him.

  2. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    big factor

  3. miken Says:

    Dean won’t hit the rookie wall till next year because for some reason wouldn’t play him.

  4. JimmyJack Says:

    Almost acceptable? Have you not watched Julio Jones totally own us for the last half decade plus? What our secondary did to him & also Ridley is a huge accomplishment. Well above acceptable and the new standard we should be holding them to henceforth.

  5. SOEbuc Says:

    Think SMB is going to continue to develop into a good nickel the more time goes by in Bowels defense. Jamel Dean has to stay healthy but he’s already shown in a few games can be a starter on the outside. Pretty sure White’s not just having good luck in a few games. Hoping Edwards will grow with time. He had an early season hamstring injury as well.