Snap Counts And Load Management

July 30th, 2021

Too much in 2020?

Two days ago Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians gave some older Bucs a vet day so they could have a two-day weekend of sorts to rest.

Arians referred to it as “load management,” which he said was an NBA term. (“Load” and NBA seems to fit.)

Park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady, foot-rubbing, car-littering Rob Gronkowski and sweaty hands Ryan Jensen got the extra rest.

“Yeah, I mean when you have guys 30, 32 – or 43 – you’ve got to manage it for them and help them,” Arians said. “For us right now it’s not how important it is right now, it’s getting them to those games healthy and fresh.

“So yeah, the NBA coined the term ‘load management.’ I always just said ‘day off.’ It is, I think, a very smart thing for those guys who hit that certain age and experience. It might be a repetition day of something that’s already in. They don’t really need it.”

It is not lost on Joe that very important players are not exactly spring chickens. The Bucs have several guys on the wrong side of 30. Ndamukong Suh, furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown, Lavonte David and others. And, oh yeah, a guy on the wrong side of 40: Brady.

David had the 11th-most snaps in the regular season for any NFL linebacker with 1,073. Other old Bucs who had over 1,000 snaps per Football Outsiders database, were Jensen (1062) and Brady (1,025).

David’s total sort of worries Joe. Remember, these snap counts do not include playoff games. The Bucs had four additional games. That’s a ton of football, especially for a guy who loves to run and hit like David.

Will that toll catch up with David and other vets?

The 17-game season begins this year and the Bucs have an early bye. Is Arians going to have to find a way to cut snaps for David and Jensen so that they are fresher when the Bucs will need them the most, in November and December and into the new year?

This is something Joe will keep an eye on once the holidays roll around.

7 Responses to “Snap Counts And Load Management”

  1. Casual Observer Says:

    Good point. But we have some pretty good backups. Get them some more snaps in the pre-season games and we’ll be fine.

  2. Kalind Says:

    The most important 30something that isn’t Brady? JPP. And it’s not close.

  3. Bird Says:

    I did load management first thing this morning

  4. SlyPirate Says:

    Joey Galloway comes to mind. Under Gruden, he barely practiced. He was terrific on Sunday.

  5. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Get ahead by 30 at half, play second string the second half. 50% load management

  6. SOEbuc Says:

    You might be the only NFL fan/player that’s worried about Lavonte David, Joe. Other teams on Sunday are worried. And you forgot our lone pro bowler but the “over 30” is total bullspit now a days if you’re good enough, and our older guys are pretty damn good.

  7. John Sinclear Says:

    Joe doesn’t seem to get it!

    17 regular season games + 3 pre-season = 20 games.
    16 regular season games + 4 pre-season = 20 games.

    It’s the same number of games!