Battling Complacency

August 23rd, 2021

Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians

The greatest opponent for a defending champion is complacency.

You have finally reached the mountaintop, a goal of every player since he was a little boy. It’s almost natural to expect some players to take a deep breath and admire their journey, even if a new challenge is at their feet.

In a sitdown with almond milk-sipping, hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowlingL.L.-Bean-wearingSecond Amendment abolitionistMike-Florio-arguingparrot-insensitivechewing-with-his-mouth-opensoup-gulpingCalifornia-train-romancinganti-football proliferationouthouse-admiringairline-nappingsteerage-flyingYogi Berra-worshipingurinal-picture-takingvideo-game-playingTaylor-Swift-listeningpickpocket-thwartingBucs-uniform-frowningAllie-LaForce-smittenBig-Ten-Network-hatingpedestrian-bumpingolive oil-lappingpopcorn-munchingcoffee-slurpingfried-chicken-eatingoatmeal-lovingcircle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watchingscone-loathingcollege football-naïvebaseball-box-score-readingNPR-honkfilthy-hotel-stayingfight-instigatingbarista-trainingBudweiser-tolerantbaseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring, pineapple-upside-down-cake-eating social activist and NFL insider Peter King of NBC Sports, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians confessed for most championship teams, complacency is a true foe.

But for his Bucs, Arians is confident he has enough veteran leaders that complacency won’t be an issue. Why? Because certain players won’t allow it.

King asked Arians what may be the biggest obstacle to repeating.

“Everybody’s thought would be complacency would be a problem,” Arians said. “I gave all the veterans the entire spring off. We brought in 45 young players looking for about 10, 15 spots. And mostly [for] special teams.

“So we spent the entire OTAs with them. Then we brought the vets in for the mandatory minicamp. When you have Lavonte David — and I will even throw Devin [White] in there — Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaq Barrett, all the leaders we have on defense, there’s no complacancy.

“The competition between our offense and our defense is relentless everyday. Because they are both top-five [offenses and defenses]. So they want to win every day. And with [Tom] Brady on offense, there ain’t going to be any complacency, I promise you.”

No, Joe doesn’t expect Brady will tolerate any loafing on offense. Just a hunch if some guy is dogging it, Brady will see to it that said player won’t be on the field much longer.

Joe found something very interesting last week from linebacker Devin White. Just about every starter is asked for a breakdown of rookie Joe Tryon.

White really likes Tryon but White also added that Tryon cannot expect to get many snaps if he doesn’t defend the run. The Bucs have built a standard of excellence in rush defense and it is a sense of pride for the defense to finish No. 1 against the run once again.

White said the defense has no room for one-trick ponies and until Tryon defends the run, he will be just a situational player.

That doesn’t sound like a complacent linebacker to Joe.

5 Responses to “Battling Complacency”

  1. Buxszntkt Says:

    Geez Joe , this post is long enough without your long winded intro, knew it was Peter King from the length.
    You should make the first three words “in a sitdown” black so those of us who choose to skip the crap can read just the actual content. Had to go back to the beginning to make sense of the words after the blowhard intro.

  2. B4L Says:

    How many drops from the starters against the terrible at football and at life Texans? And how many excuses from BA (Covid positive?) and the players?

  3. Bird Says:

    Devin white will never be complacent . I love it
    He still wants 3 things and knows he needs to be a savage to get it

    1. Another ring
    2. First 100 mil inside linebacker
    3. He wants his name up there with best ever

  4. DavidBigBucFan99 Says:

    It’s called truth

  5. Mike Says:

    Devin White is definitely chasing greatness. He wants to be the next Ray Lewis.