Bruce Arians Assesses Pass Blocking, Critiques Joe Haeg
November 11th, 2020
Joe Haeg
The Buccaneers’ uncharacteristic train wreck pass blocking was surprising in many ways on Sunday night.
First, pass blocking for Tom Brady collectively had been very strong for Tom Brady all season. Second, veteran Joe Haeg filling in for left guard Ali Marpet was supposed to be a very capable and versatile backup.
The end result was sort of a tale of two lines, as Bucco Bruce Arians explained via his Buccaneers.com show.
“I thought the right side was pretty solid; the left side was very poor,” Arians said of the pass blocking. “You know, we got bull-rushed too much on the left side. Again, losing your game plan that early, we probably could have run it a few more times because we had a little bit of success, but tt was not the left side’s best day.
“Joe [Haeg], he was ok until then once it got to known passing situations he struggled a little bit.”
That Haeg line from Arians drew a chuckle from Joe. The Bucs only handed the ball off four times. So there sure were a lot of “known passing situations.”
It’s unclear whether Marpet will return Sunday. It’s likely, but Joe is not concerned.
The Panthers’ pass rush is hot garbage. They’ve got only 9 sacks all season. In the Week 2 Bucs-Panthers game, Carolina had no sacks and just one quarterback hit as the Bucs jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead.
November 11th, 2020 at 8:57 am
I wasn’t concerned about the giants either.
November 11th, 2020 at 9:00 am
Joe Haeg is a back up. Donovan Smith is a very well paid LT. What’s his excuse?!
November 11th, 2020 at 9:01 am
Ughhh, ok Joe…but I suspect there are several members of the Panthers DL that think out LT is ‘hot garbage’ too. Guess what, they’re right. 76 is a serial loafer.
November 11th, 2020 at 9:04 am
rhule is a good coach….
he gave KC all they could handle….
im sure he’ll cook up something to take advantage of d.smith and haeg if he plays again….
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 11th, 2020 at 9:17 am
Is there a particular reason why we always seem to line up the TE on the right side?
Also….has anyone noticed that practically every pass to our backs is to the left.
November 11th, 2020 at 9:21 am
Concern about line depth while we loaded up on receivers is an old story…
November 11th, 2020 at 9:22 am
I find it really hard to believe that A.Q. Shipley or Aaron Stinnie were not better options.
November 11th, 2020 at 9:37 am
Haeg showed why he was available! If you are any good, you do not reach FA as a tackle! But playing next to Smith probably did not help him either.
November 11th, 2020 at 9:46 am
The Bucs need to upgrade at the LT position in next year’s draft. That said, to all the fools who said to replace D. Smith with Haeg well, now you see why the Bucs did not.
November 11th, 2020 at 10:16 am
813 bucboi is right on. Carolina, against KC, at Arrowhead, almost pulled off the upset. That stupid on-sides kick try, with over 10 minutes to play and down
by 2 ?? If they just punted and let the defense play, what I saw was they win it.
November 11th, 2020 at 10:49 am
So, it’s easy to start looking ahead to the draft this time of year, we’ve been doing it for 10 years now lol. So what’s a better option? Moving wirfs to the left, finding another tackle and letting Smith walk, or drafting a guy to develop behind Brady next year? Cuz i think Kyle Trask may be available towards the back of the 1st round, and he’d be hard to pass up if he’s there
November 11th, 2020 at 10:50 am
The Sucs offensive line is playing better now than it ever has.
November 11th, 2020 at 11:07 am
johnsinclear
BINGO….
rhule wont make that mistake again….he’ll trust his defense…
and im sure rhule will have a fake FG and PUNT ready to go….
joe brady had bowles on his heals the 1st time we played them….
watch for joe brady to use curtis samuel out the backfield vs DW….
i’ll be honest, im nervous….
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 11th, 2020 at 11:10 am
We need to use our first round draft pick on an OT. With what we have already, someone like Alex Leatherwood from Bama would/could potentially give us the best O-line in the NFL. I thought this would be the year D Smith would step up his game. I was wrong.
November 11th, 2020 at 11:43 am
Yea. Lazy ass Smith played so great Sunday. It was all Haeg’s fault. Give me an effing break.
November 11th, 2020 at 2:16 pm
I saw a stupid game plan its eerie how much the Aints remind me of the Eagles our kryptonite back in the day. Their dline is just too good to droo back and look around. We needed quick passes timely screens misdirection. Its frankly bull headed by the staff. They are scheming with pride instead of scheming to win. We need to accept our weaknesses instead of challenging them to do something that they are not capable of. Key word is ADAPT. Confidence can beat talent and the Aints are way way more confident than us. To me we try to beat a dead horse rather than just taking advantage of our talent. Perplex the crap out of them do unorthodox plays we are the losers they are the winners in recent history. Accept your limitations adapt mis direct RUN THE BALL. I think ego played a HUGE part in the Aints loss.
November 11th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
ok fine i can’t stay away…
lol…
the combination of joe haeg (son of sid haeg from the devils rejects) and donovan smith was a complete liability and disaster on the left side…
smith couldn’t make up for haeg’s deficiencies at all, let along contain his own personal new york city subway turnstile that he maintains at 14m a year…
we need marpet back badly – because he does more than hold his own and can help a drop with donovan’s deficiencies…
#MarpetTheBanjoKingIsAnAllPro
is anyone else getting tired of watching donovan smith lend tom brady a courteous hand to lift him up off the turf?
November 11th, 2020 at 3:59 pm
The Saints O line was stellar with excellent double teams. Hopefully our line coach was taking notes.
November 11th, 2020 at 11:11 pm
@drunkinnybor
You nailed.
I also think ego is getting in Arians snd Leftwiches way because they will not let Tom call the plays.
We need the Patriots offense!
Run, run, run. Screen. Hurry up offense. Wuick passes. Slants. Pick-screens like Edelman always did.
We have a stable of running backs and receivers.
Hurry up offense!!! Let Tom be like Peyton at the end.
Let Tom Brady call the offense!!
November 12th, 2020 at 8:55 am
Imagine what Bill could / would do , if the Patriots had the team talent that Bruce has .
November 12th, 2020 at 10:32 am
I say it’s the offensive and defensive game plan. No adjustments made during the game. It was the predictable plays and to much respect for Drew Brees and the saints. They played scared. A defensive player who had 19 sacks dropping back in pass coverage to cover. Coaching not the players.