Biggest Opponent Not On Bucs Schedule
September 3rd, 2021
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians
Some believe complacency will be the highest hurdle for the Bucs to repeat as Super Bowl champs.
Others think it will be the Chiefs. Or the Packers. Or the Rams. Or perhaps the Bills.
Jenna Laine of ESPN is thinking outside the box. She believes, much like last year, the biggest, toughest, most unpredictable foe will be The Sickness.
… … And now they play a much weaker schedule in 2021 (ranked 29th in strength of schedule). That bodes well for their chances to repeat and hit that ceiling. But the team must, as coach Bruce Arians put it, “beat the virus” again in one of the biggest COVID-19 hot spots in the country right now. Only four starters missed a total of six games while on the reserve/COVID-19 list, among the lowest in the league, but the Buccaneers have four players on it now. Discipline off the field will be a must. “Our guys are very, very aware of the situation and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn’t affect our team,” Arians said.
Joe doesn’t know what more the Bucs can do since everyone in the building has taken the jab. Surely the Bucs cannot be locked up in a biodome of some sort.
If the virus comes, it comes. As long as the Bucs are following protocols, no sense in worrying about something they cannot control.
Worry about your opponents and hope for the best away from the field.
September 3rd, 2021 at 8:13 am
As long as Brady doesn’t get covid we will be alright. We have good depth all other positions.
September 3rd, 2021 at 8:30 am
Exactly allbucce
September 3rd, 2021 at 8:30 am
RB1 Leonard Fournette showed that he cares about humanity. Way to go Champ!
September 3rd, 2021 at 8:54 am
They are being as careful as they can. On the road, BA has already laid down the law that they can’t go out cavorting about town. In Tampa, they have to go home to their families, and that is where the exposure comes in, particularly if they have kids attending school (BRADY)!
September 3rd, 2021 at 8:55 am
The vax doesn’t assure a negative test result….but it helps greatly….and for all others…the vax all but assures survival & a lesser degree of symptoms……for that reason alone, it’s worth it.
I think you could say that injury is the greatest opponent….the sickness is a 10 day temporary sit out…..
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:01 am
Covid will strike other teams as well. But Jenna does have a point as Florida is a glaring hot spot. That will be a major factor in facilitating the Covid threat to players.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:03 am
Tell you what, Devin White was a different player when he came back from the COVID. He transformed into a monster. If that’s what happens to Bucs players who get it, have at it man! 🙂
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:05 am
Follow the protocols- good advice, Joe. Because the vax sure as hell doesn’t stop the spread.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:06 am
What could easily tank the season for any team is the 10 day holdout. Even fully vaccinated and with no symptoms, teams could still be missing key players late in the year or for playoff games. Testing positive on the wrong day and that’s 2 games.
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:40 am
Schedule the testing where it only effects one game if possible.
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:44 am
When does suh come up off the list
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:27 am
The more they test, the more + they’ll find. You’re going to have a lot of asymptomatic people test positive. I don’t know what else to do about it. It is what it is. People also have to take a measure of personal responsibility. No strip clubs, eat in, don’t go to the bar. Cam Newton had a cavalier attitude about it, got the vid, derailed his and the pats season, now is on his way out the league. If you’re careful and vaccinated, you’re not going to get it
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:34 am
I would say do testing every day that there is practice, so that players don’t spread it to each other more than necessary. We know that positives will happen, but don’t we want to know as soon as possible?
September 3rd, 2021 at 12:08 pm
We should be concerned about Suh for the Dallas game.
Suh is a big part stopping Zeek. Vea and a healthy Suh are a problem. Without either, Biadasz is freed up to go downfield to block White.
September 3rd, 2021 at 1:17 pm
If you’re careful and vaccinated, you’re not going to get it –
Actually, if you’re careful and lucky, you’re not going to get it- vaccines don’t keep you from getting it.
September 3rd, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Bruce has said he thinks the formula last year worked. So I would expect that to be the fallback position if thing become more dicey.