Bruce Arians Gave A Rest Hint Yesterday
December 27th, 2020
“We will approach this game as if it were Game 1 of the season and treat it like that every game. We don’t want to set a pattern of different behavior. I don’t think you get anything out of resting guys, especially playing a team that’s in our division and we haven’t beaten them at home in a couple of years. We don’t want to start a precedent.” Bruce Arians, Dec. 28, 2015.
So our beloved Buccaneers are in the NFL playoffs.
Hallelujah! Joe is so damn happy and relieved.
But what now in Week 17? The Bucs have locked up at least the No. 6 seed by virtue of the Cardinals’ loss to San Francisco yesterday. The Cardinals are two games back of the the Bucs with one game remaining.
Next Sunday, if the Bucs beat the Falcons in the season finale at the Den of Depression (nickname ends with a “W), then the Bucs lock up the No. 5 seed and will travel to face the NFC East winner in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. If the Bucs’ finish at No. 6 in the NFC, they’ll be off to Los Angeles or Seattle (and have lesser chance to host the NFC title game, if they got there).
One could argue the Bucs would rather face the Rams or Seahawks, versus the ferocious defensive line of Washington, though Joe doesn’t think that’s a good argument.
Would Bucco Bruce Arians consider resting key players Sunday and value health of playoff seed? That’s unclear.
Yesteday, Arians talked about wanting to get Mike Evans a new NFL receiving record in Detroit so he could rest Evans next Sunday. And you can read the quote above, which was Arians talking after the last time he clinched a playoff berth with the Cardinals during the 2015 season.
Arians also added back then. “Some guys get very stale quickly.”
But to be fair, those Cardinals clinched a playoff bye, so the rest situation was different, though Arians did make that Evans comment. So Joe isn’t sure what’s in Arians’ head.
If Joe were Arians, Joe certainly would at least rest Jason Pierre-Paul and Rob Gronkowski. JPP has chronic knee issues and Gronk is used to getting playoff bye weeks playing for the Patriots, so he certainly shouldn’t fall into the stale category.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:04 am
It’s the Football Team, not the racial slur.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:09 am
REDSKINS!!
December 27th, 2020 at 9:09 am
I’d say let the backups get some work just in case., but only JPP, TB and maybe Gronk, ME, Godwin and 24. guess thats a few
December 27th, 2020 at 9:20 am
Like Herm Edwards taught us…you play to win the game. Number 5 seed is worth shooting for…
December 27th, 2020 at 9:21 am
If he were going to rest JPP….it should have started yesterday in the 4th quarter…..there we had JPP at full steam all over the field like a maniac…
I’m not a fan of resting players unless they have injuries……
We need to get Mike his 1000 yards & to a lesser extent….>Rojo’a 100 yards & Devin White & JPP’s 10th sack…..
December 27th, 2020 at 9:22 am
Seeding scenario isn’t that simple, playing around w the Playoff Machine. If the Bucs mess around and drop the game next week, they indeed could lose the 5 seed to the Rams or Seahawks, and road trips to Green Bay or New Orleans are still possible in the opening round.
The Bucs just had their bye week 3 weeks ago, and got plenty of rest yesterday in the 2nd half. How much rest does a team that needs to be peaking really need in week 17?
December 27th, 2020 at 9:24 am
Get Mike his record!
December 27th, 2020 at 9:26 am
To win a SB, you have to beat good teams….there’s no way around it. I dont think having a mindset focused on the weakest opponent will serve much purpose. If anything it sets you up for failure with that opponent or the next. My guess is Brady will be focused on Atlanta….and that will be it. Whatever the outcome of that game/week, then they’ll focus on who they know is their next opponent.
I also think this team needs quality reps, they seem to be clicking now, particularly on offense. Taking that away seems like it would be setting ourselves up for a set back.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:31 am
I would treat it like the main preseason game…the one used to determine what we really have and tune it up.
Play the starters until it was no longer necessary. Hopefully like Detroit they could sit down at the half with the game in hand. If we blow it so be it. At least we’ll know the starters are ready and rested and the backups would have faced fire in real action.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:31 am
No rest. This team has been inconsistent and needs to stay sharp. Atlanta’s offense is a challenge for any team. The secondary needs more work to stop Calvin Ridley. Ir they get a big lead by the 3rd quarter, that when you rest them.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:32 am
It would be dumb to not do all you need to win this last game to ensure the top seed. It’s not out of the question that the Rams could beat any of the Seahawks, Saints or Packers. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if the Bucs and Rams are the last two teams and they play both the NFC Championship (a la 1979 and 1999) AND Super Bowl in Tampa?
December 27th, 2020 at 9:41 am
You don’t “rest” world-class athletes when they are on a roll…
December 27th, 2020 at 9:45 am
I understand writing the article about resting players, but I don’t think it is something the Bucs are even considering.
The 5 seed may be better than the 3 and 4 seed. It is hard win NFL games and it will not be easy to beat Washington, but they are an average NFL team. It’s much better to have a first round game against them and then go up against New Orleans and Green Bay the next round of the playoffs.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:52 am
This is a good opportunity to get younger players valuable game experience. Guys like Davis, Vaughn, Miller should get a lot of playing time this game. As much as I would like Evans to get 1000 yards this season, it’s not worth seeing him get hurt for the playoffs. You want to see Tom get hurt, Godwin, Rojo? I want to see them wearing baseball caps next week. Let the young guys have this game. If we win with them it’ll set us up better for next year.
December 27th, 2020 at 10:04 am
I think BA, BL and TB opened up the vault in the second half last week and first half yesterday. The offense looked anything but “vanilla”. Perhaps they’ve been holding back a little. Now you can polish some of these packages and give playoff opponents that much more to prepare for.
Brady has always been one to try and beat teams with formation. Setting them up for the unexpected. With all these offensive weapons you know they’ve still got some stuff up there sleeve. Gronk is looking like he did three years ago. Evans looks 💯 for the first time since week 2. AB has put enough on tape to scare ANY DC. I think this offense is just starting to unleash it’s true potential.
December 27th, 2020 at 10:13 am
You start the starters. You replace them frequently. You take them out in the second half.
And for people who now think they are so superior morally by correcting everyone on the use of “Redskins,” where were you the last 50 years?
December 27th, 2020 at 10:18 am
Had their chance to rest guys. If you rest them now short of another blowout it’s foolhardy. When your rolling keep rolling.
December 27th, 2020 at 10:20 am
Mort. Stick that PC dung where the sun don’t shine. And stay away from the ballot box as well. Team monikers, names, logos, etc., are NOT racist. Tell us, do you think Apache helicopters are racist? Hint, they are flown into combat by black soldier pilots. Does that offend your tender wokeness? Personally, I like to think teams identify with the representitive traits that team’s namesake reflects. Dan Snyder may have caved to misguided leftist pinko syncophants of your ilk, but I pray it goes no further. Leave the Braves, Jaguars, Chiefs, Bengals, Seahawks, etc., out of your PC delusions.
Go Bucs
#StopTheSeal
December 27th, 2020 at 10:21 am
Have to say the idea of getting the playoff jitters out of the way against a lesser opponent does sound better….
December 27th, 2020 at 10:29 am
TBBF, with you all the way. If players are nursing injuries that are keeping their performance at less than 100%, let them sit. Everyone else should play. If the Bucs get out to a big lead, as they did yesterday, then sit the starters and let the backups get some game experience.
December 27th, 2020 at 10:54 am
Brady will likely want to play – he did even when the Pats had clinched the number 1 seed.
Getting the 5th seed is definitely worth it.
December 27th, 2020 at 11:05 am
Don’t matter who we face in the playoffs. That is IF we are thinking Superbowl. After that 1st rd, there is no ducking. You gotta face the best.
December 27th, 2020 at 11:13 am
Def bring on the Redskins. They’re awwwwful
December 27th, 2020 at 11:46 am
They should rest the “play callers” so other coaches can prepare to be the interm coach when they fire old stale biscuit mid-season next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy it now sheep, “reality” is right around the corner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 27th, 2020 at 11:51 am
The offense looked as good as it has all season Saturday. I say keep it going then if we get a big lead then you can start resting players.
December 27th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
If Washington was so “ferocious” they would be better than 6-8 just sayin.
December 27th, 2020 at 12:02 pm
Embarrassing for the NFL to have a team with a losing record even in the playoffs.
December 27th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
I agree we don’t want rust for the playoffs but if we put up a half like yesterday I think we enter the playoffs with confidence even if we rest our thoroughbreds.
Go out and establish that indeed slow starts are a thing of the past…get ME his record and we’re golden. If we’ve done that by the half they will have earned the rest. The score of the game is unimportant it’s how we play. If we play like yesterday a half will be enough.
December 27th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
With the exception of the chronic knees of JPP and maybe Gronk, I would not be so worried about rest as much as injury. Play everyone for about a half; keep them in rythum, then rest them
December 27th, 2020 at 1:27 pm
I’m not a fan of resting either. I think it’s always better having everyone on the same page by getting more reps together. We all know the Bucs could use it so at least that is not an excuse. Go Bucs!
December 27th, 2020 at 3:20 pm
The Bucs need/want the #5 seed, they had better play full out – and the Falcons are playing KC really tough today on the road. If the Bucs lose this game they will end up playing on the road against either the Saints, Rams or Seattle. No thanks.
December 27th, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Please NOT the Saints!
December 27th, 2020 at 7:51 pm
The Red Tape lost, so we could possibly end up playing Dallas or even the Giants. Play to win, baby.
December 27th, 2020 at 8:12 pm
Start them to keep the flow growing, once that is a achieved don’t risk injury. Atlanta just held KC to 17 points, they are not lying down. Dallas still in the hunt.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Washington should keep the name Redskins, but change the Mascot to a potato. There, fixed it for you. LOL
December 28th, 2020 at 5:21 pm
One thing for deeyham skippy..Play Gabbert and we will lose.