Two Second-Year Players, Two Different Arians Takes
July 31st, 2021
If there are serious position battles on the Bucs, they lie at running back and among the bottom of the receivers’ depth chart.
And two second-year players are in the mix in those areas, running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn and WR Tyler Johnson.
Bucco Bruce Arians was asked about both after today’s first-in-pads practice and shared sort of contrasting views.
“Ke’Shawn’s been spot on. You know I really like where he’s at,” Arians said, adding preseason will reveal a lot about Vaughn’s progress. But “he’s where he needs to be.”
On Johnson, well, “He came back a little heavy and he’s getting back in shape, which is his own fault,” Arians said, noting Johnson has made big plays and the Bucs look forward to him returning to game fitness.
Joe’s not about to criticize a guy for mowing down too much food or getting soft, two things Joe is good at. But damn, that’s a bad decision by Johnson on a team with a loaded receivers room and a speedy rookie at the position, fourth-round pick Jaelon Darden.
Vaughn and Johnson certainly are guys to watch closely through August.
As Joe shared after leaving the White House with the Bucs, there’s a lot of good feelings about Vaughn among Bucs’ power brokers.
July 31st, 2021 at 11:33 am
Maybe Tyler Johnson married into an Italian family & they constantly make him eat.
July 31st, 2021 at 11:34 am
Both have excellent careers in store. Glad they are Bucs.
July 31st, 2021 at 11:36 am
Not your best effort Pete.
July 31st, 2021 at 11:49 am
We’ve come to expect better (or worse) from u Pete. 😂
July 31st, 2021 at 11:49 am
He very well could’ve just put on some extra muscle and needs to lean down. Arians is a good motivator. I’m sure Tyler will do his best to comply.
July 31st, 2021 at 11:50 am
Lol … nothing but coaching 101 lighting a fire, firing a reminder shot that he has to WORK and earn his spot !
July 31st, 2021 at 11:54 am
Bruce says a lot of bullstuff, but it sounds like he’s starting to play the head coach role, and that’s a very good thing.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:02 pm
Might be 5 pounds.
And yes I agree Arians seeing these minute details is great.
Let the coaches coach and you manage.
LFG Bucs!!
July 31st, 2021 at 12:03 pm
TJ would start on a lot of other teams, but he will probably start the season on the practice squad.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:08 pm
I guess we know why Tyler Johnson doesnt get more snaps. Banged up last year to start training camp and shows up heavy to this one. Of course BA has to say something about a second year skill player that shows up heavy expecting to make this roster. Put him in the dog house.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:26 pm
Johnson has enough tape to make him valuable in a trade. The 5th/6th receiver on this squad might be 2nd/3rd on a lot of others.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:28 pm
If any of you think the bucs are going to risk cutting johnson to try to put him on a practice squad, then u clearly have not paid attention to how the bucs have built this team.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Tyler Johnson is not considered a speedy WR. Five pounds is a big deal when you are one of the slowest WRs on the roster. I bet BA was hoping he lost few pounds during the offseason.
July 31st, 2021 at 1:29 pm
Red Flag #1.
July 31st, 2021 at 1:38 pm
He can & will lose at least 5 pounds at the first practice in pads……
TJ ain’t & I said ain’t goin’ nowhere!!!
July 31st, 2021 at 2:05 pm
test
July 31st, 2021 at 2:35 pm
Now that I think of it…Johnson did look heavier in the post with him & BA sitting in his signature, customized cart. Not a smart way to try and move up the ranks of a SB winner with a stacked receiver room ( who added a speedy draft pick ).
July 31st, 2021 at 2:58 pm
Interesting article Joe, love to comment but I am fed up with every single comment in moderation. Wonder if it has anything to do with being on a permanent twitter ban also.
Bet that Vaughn and Johnson both get opportunity next preseason and season as it is long. Hoping we do not play our main guys in preseason!
July 31st, 2021 at 3:12 pm
In Florida in August you could lose 5lbs. Walking to the mailbox.
July 31st, 2021 at 3:37 pm
Tyler should be working to get better … not to get back to his rookie form. Hopefully he learns how to be a professional athlete.
July 31st, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Johnson is a gamer, he will be fine. And this FL heat will cause a lot of Bucs players to lose weight, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. This is just Arians pushing everyone on the team to achieve their full potential.
July 31st, 2021 at 3:43 pm
Pete might be onto something. I dated an 115# Italian young lady in my youth. By the time the main course was served I was bloated. Momma would pinch my cheek and drop another spoon of pasta on my plate. And then there was desert! Things didn’t work out … I couldn’t eat enough LOL
July 31st, 2021 at 6:32 pm
Hey Pete, Kinda like the character Richie in the movie “The Wanderers” when he gets the xxxl Hawaiian shirt and the boys tell him ” don’t worry you’ll grow into it”
July 31st, 2021 at 9:18 pm
And Ke’ will likely get the most touches in PS. Excited to see.
August 1st, 2021 at 3:28 pm
Keyshawn flashed last year with some very good runs look forward to him stepping it up this year. TJ coming into camp out of shape shows he’s not pro level. He already hit his sophomore slump but he’s making plays out of shape bodes well. He makes the team hopefully doesn’t make the same mistake next year.
August 1st, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Yeah Joe your moderation is ridiculous at times. Last post had nothing even slightly mod worthy yet still went into moderation
August 1st, 2021 at 8:36 pm
The better Vaughn looks in camp and preseason, the more Fournette might want think twice about this refusal to get vaccinated thing.
Arians isn’t going to want to deal with any avoidable dilemma’s during the regular season, and these unvaccinated guys are putting themselves squarely in the cross hair’s come final cut time.