“We Will See The Real Gronk Somewhere Around Midseason”
May 26th, 2020
Can the Bucs avoid going 3-5 or worse for the eighth consecutive season?
That’s a big-money question and, yeah, it’s been that long.
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are supposed to deliver what Josh McCown, Mike Glennon, Jameis Winston, Tim Wright, Brandon Myers and O.J. Howard couldn’t do.
Two-time Super Bowl champ QB Phil Simms thinks Brady will be firing on all cylinders on opening day, but he was adamant that Gronkowski will need serious time, so Simms told SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio.
“He’s not going to pick up where he left off. That’s a myth,” Simms said of Gronk.
Expect a “slow integration” of Gronk, Simms said, noting extensive practice time is what Gronk needs whether he wants to admit it or not.
Simms is very hopeful, however, because he believes Gronk is healthier than he’s probably been in years and the Bucco Bruce Arians regime will have lots of great communication with him.
“I think we will see the real Gronk somewhere around midseason, and we’ll see if that really fits that offense, which I know it will,” Simms said.
Arians should understand that pushing Gronk too quickly and too hard likely isn’t the Bucs’ best bet for winning a Super Bowl, but it might be the Bucs’ best chance of jumping out to the fast start the team so desperately needs.
It’ll be quite a balancing act for Arians. Hopefully, O.J. Howard looks revitalized and Cameron Brate and Antony Auclair are fully healthy. That would make Arians’ Gronk calls a lot easier.
May 26th, 2020 at 8:07 am
After taking some time off from the NFL, Gonk should be refreshed. Unlike many players who retired from the game, Gonk kept his body in pretty good shape as a pro wrestler star.
May 26th, 2020 at 8:22 am
The “real” fans agree with “seeing the “REAL” gronk by midseason” !!!!!!! But that will be about the time he will want to re-retire, and go back to making bad “reality” tv shows!!!!!!!!!!!! The “real” fans just hope that bronk will be able to limp of the field on his own broken down legs!!!!!!!!!!
This is the “no excuse” season of all “no excuse” seasons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!
May 26th, 2020 at 8:25 am
If he’s ready at mid-year….perhaps he should receive $5 mil instead of $10…..
I didn’t think we really needed Gronk……he’s an expensive luxury……but if somehow it makes Brady better, he will be worth it.
Here is what we should be looking for with our offense……Better use of TEs, better running game, fewer penalties & fewer interceptions…..If we can improve on those, even minimally, it should bring wins.
May 26th, 2020 at 8:34 am
Imagine how boring this offseason would be without Brady and Gronk…
And knowing America’s Turnover Machine was back with a fat monied long-term deal.
May 26th, 2020 at 8:51 am
We seem to be loaded at the TE position. Should be a good thing no matter how the workload is divvied up.
May 26th, 2020 at 8:57 am
I still don’t understand why we have THREE great TE’s on this team. Any one of them could be a starter. Trade one.
May 26th, 2020 at 8:59 am
tampabaybucs…If gronk helps us get into and deep into the playoffs at the end of the year, and just isn’t the old gronk until midseason, I’m fine with the 10. On the other hand, if we don’t make the playoffs, the 5 is too much.
May 26th, 2020 at 9:02 am
Morgus…. I think the rational for keeping all three is because OJ isn’t worth much now, and wouldn’t start elsewhere earning us good draft or trade compensation. If he becomes what we think he can be, we will have him the fifth year and keep gronk or brate…depending on where those guys stand. If he doesn’t we won’t have lost much..much to gain, little to lose.
May 26th, 2020 at 9:43 am
PLEASE LET FANS IN THE STANDS!!!! I NEED THIS!!!!!!!!
May 26th, 2020 at 9:51 am
We do have some depth……the TE position usually sustains some injury…..
May 26th, 2020 at 10:00 am
How serious are we? Do we believe?
I absolutely can believe in a playoff run…SB’s require some good breaks, bounces and calls but I honestly believe we are a playoff team.
If we believe that and are serious about making a run in the playoffs we won’t just look at the season. We’ll look carefully at how the season sets up for the playoffs. We’ll wants as much health and fresh legs.
Given our depth at TE we should easily be able to protect Gronk and keep him fresh for a playoff run. I hope he doesn’t hit form until mid season and peaks in the post season.
May 26th, 2020 at 10:04 am
Early season tactics will be different than late season tactics (hopefully)
I see Gronk used as a blocking distraction early on. If defenses key on him then all the better for OJ and Brate provided they don’t “drop the ball”. If defenses don’t respect Gronk, then he will have some easy yardage and show OJ just how much fun it can be (Brate already knows). And that’s just the TE side of the equation.
My bigger concern is the opposing defense “knowing” our first 8-10 plays of every game. Please please please change up the scripted plays every week based on the defense we will be facing, Pleeeeease!
May 26th, 2020 at 10:27 am
Got a feeling Brady is going to love Tanner Hudson.
May 26th, 2020 at 10:41 am
Mid-season? YGBSM … for what we gave up to get Gronk, he’d better be firing on all 8-cylinders starting in Game 1. Stop with the excuses!
May 26th, 2020 at 10:55 am
LMAO here. Yes, you will see the real Gronk near midseason. And the real Gronk is a player who has not..completed a season since 2011. He will be on injured reserve after 10 games or so. wasted acquisition. Bucs got hoodwinked.
May 26th, 2020 at 10:56 am
Cuz he brings pizzas to the front door in a timely manner?
May 26th, 2020 at 10:59 am
“We have been Sweezeyed once again
JR Gronk aka the white Chris Baker
These thieves get millions and Kobe only gets a food stamp card and a Joebucsfan Tshirt”
Kobe Faker
May 26th, 2020 at 11:37 am
If Gronk hits his stride mid-season, the timing will be perfect. Week 9, first game of the second half, we take on the Saints in a Sunday night home game. This is the game I feel will foretell of our team’s readiness for the playoffs. A very critical game insofar as we’ll probably lose the Week 1 game to the Saints in NO.
May 26th, 2020 at 1:50 pm
A forth round pick for Gronk…a guy that can help change the culture and immediately connect with Brady and contribute. And a forth round pick is too much go give up? Don’t think so.
May 26th, 2020 at 3:01 pm
@Defense Rules Says:
May 26th, 2020 at 10:44 am
Really Joe? The dungeon for THAT? It’s starting to appear as if even slightly contrary opinions have to be ‘approved’ before (and IF) they get posted.
DR I also feel the wrath of what appears to be inconsistent approving of my comments. There is a little bit of a bipolar nature IMO. I have not figured it out.
Also: I vote you DR to do a new Buc’s blog. I do not mind all the time you would spend creating it!
Anyway thanks for the guys who put this together for us as well.
May 26th, 2020 at 3:21 pm
Colonel_mp Says:
May 26th, 2020 at 8:03 am
“..heather than he’s been in ears”… come on Joe. Can we get some proofreading done?
Joe doesn’t anyone whose health isn’t improved be a good ear cleanse with heather.–Joe
—————————————————————————————
Is ONeilBucs editing your writing now? LMAO
tickrdr