Tough Job-Security Talk For Giovani Bernard
October 11th, 2021
Giovani Bernard
It’s rare to hear a guy’s job security being talked about after a 45-17 home blowout victory, one in which he scored an early touchdown.
But Bucco Bruce Arians went there after yesterday’s game.
Asked about Bernard’s performance, the head coach went for the jugular.
“I was pleased with it at the end; I didn’t like it when he got run over on his pass protection. That’ll cost him his job if he can’t pass protect on third down,” Arians replied.
Joe did a double-take, considering Bernard caught the opening touchdown and looked great doing it.
In the screen shot below, Joe highlighted the Bernard pass-blocking gaffe in question. He picked up the blitzer but got completely overwhelmed in a hurry and Tom Brady ate a rough red zone sack.
It wasn’t the first pass-blocking issue for Bernard since his arrival as the Bucs’ lone free agent upgrade.
During the same postgame news conference, Arians lauded Playoff Lombardi Lenny Fournette for his pass protection improvement. Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs end up using Fournette as a true three-down back later in the season.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Gio also got trucked by a blitzer in the Rams game. He’s just too small to take on a large man moving at high speeds.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
I think OJ getting run over was just as bad.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
Hey, it’s part of the job description. Produce or step aside.
He looked like he had some burst on a late game run too.
Hat’s off to Lenny! Dude is playing some good football right now.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:33 pm
I thought the wrap on him was that he was good in pass-protection….
October 11th, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Gio, OJ, and Brate gave up some hits on Brady… This is where we miss Gronk the most.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:37 pm
Gio is tiny by football standards and surely the coaches must have seen him getting overwhelmed by our own linebackers and defensive ends in practice? I blame Arian’s for putting him there in there to block in the first place.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Jason,
I agree with u 100%. I don’t see any value in OJ. He’s just to soft n passive for a man with his size n speed. Anytime he catch a pass in open field he flinch or just out right go to the ground without trying to extend the play for a 1 yd or less first down. I’ve watched his play too long to think otherwise. OJ is a dud.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
he got overwhelmed… at least the dude was a lot bigger and had a head of steam. OJ got stood straight up and shoved. guess the were equally bad on those plays…but they both looked good playing and made some nice plays.
October 11th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
I don’t care how good you play, if you allow the prize steer to be in jeopardy, you will have a short tenure.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Marpet went right to double team the nose tackle and left Gio to block the other 300lb DT – what did they think was going to happen?!? That’s either a bad call on the blocking assignment or a screw up by Marpet.
RBs are supposed to pick up blitzing linebackers and safeties, not stop Mack trucks from bull rushing them!
October 11th, 2021 at 1:02 pm
Nahhhh. He’s just using different coachspeak motivational ploys.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:05 pm
Bernard took the guy on and engage him, he didn’t miss an assignment, he was simply overpowered. How much did that guy outweigh him by? Would it have made a difference if he went lower?
How many times does Vea push blockers into the quarterback. They are not missing their assignments, sometimes guys don’t have the leverage to block a more powerful player.
I have to agree with those who were critical of Howards failure to make a block, he has no excuse, he’s a big body. Bernard is a really small back, he can’t try and stand up and take on a big body, has to get lower.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:15 pm
I can’t believe, and NEVER experience such a TV 🤡 HC, to go after his players with media like this, and enjoy it. wow. He thinks that this is his job, and he is proud of it, actually he feels glorious… what a joke HC.
Defense makes countless mistake…he don’t even mention… to protect DC Tooodd 😶. OJ, for god sake… third year with his offence….and still continue to be TERRIBLE. Giovani though, may loose his job… pfffff
October 11th, 2021 at 1:16 pm
Tend to agree with Homer…I think some of the things directed at Gio and the pass rush regarding lack of strength were more to motivate the guys to toughen up and finish their job blocks/sacks. We all know tackling was as big an issue or bigger.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:17 pm
just be glad we weren’t playing the lions. TB12 would have gotten one of his kneecaps bitten off by that Campbell crew !!!
October 11th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
crazy…he knows his guy, who to call out, and who to quietly go after behind the scenes. It is about motivation and knowing your personnel.
BTW… we don’t want to peak too early. I think we certainly want wins…and have guys play better…but he knows it is a work in progress with the peak hopefully to be during the playoffs.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:21 pm
BTW… as we know, Gio has missed substantial playing time. I think the statement about the block was also to let Gio know that we need him to be the reliable and durable guy we signed in the offseason.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Running backs rarely “hold their ground” against blitzers. That’s not typically was it expected of them. It’s more about slowing their path to buy the QB a little bit more time. There aren’t many RBs in the league that will completely stuff a full-speed blitzer in the NFL and not give it up any ground.
But the key is not to get completely run-over and be completely driven back into the QB which is what happened on that play. Gio needs to be able to jam the blitzer for a bit longer before giving up ground.
October 11th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
This is the shat that gets me, the guy played great with a BAD knee. Shut up BA and stop sleeping during the game. Oh by the BA, Brady decides who comes and goes on offense.
October 11th, 2021 at 2:03 pm
GB wasn’t brought in to block, at the best he is going to chip a biltzer, but not lock up and stop a DL. I’d be a lot more critical of the defense as a whole if I was BA.
October 11th, 2021 at 2:19 pm
Gio is doing a good job. Arians has to make an example of him though in this case. Gio can take it, he’s a pro.
October 11th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
I agree with all. It’s not fair to get onto Bernard over getting trucked by someone with 150 lbs on you. The missed block by OJ, should have been a defensive face mask. OJ really didn’t have a chance the defender jammed his neck by grabbing the face mask.
That being said, Fournette is playing great everywhere. He looks like the first round pick he is. I think Bruce may be trying to justify in his mind using Fournette as a 3 down back. When ROJO is in there, it’s most likely going to be a run. When Gio is in there, it’s a pass. When Fournette is playing, it could go either way.
October 11th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Sorry but Gio is a veteran and not very motivating when you’re sitting in a ice bath soaking your knee.
October 11th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Size can’t be used as an excuse. Quiz Rodgers was the smallest guy on the field every game he ever played and he was tremendous in protection.
October 11th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
Keep Gio Dump Howard
October 11th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
I was shocked when OJ Howard was run over, on a pass block!
There is absolutely no excuse for a Man of his size and strength to get bitched while pass blocking.
October 11th, 2021 at 4:05 pm
Music to my ears, I have Lenny on my fantasy team.
October 11th, 2021 at 5:33 pm
More 4Net is all I’m hearing.
He wants and works for it, too.
October 11th, 2021 at 5:54 pm
Lenny is obviously the main guy and his pass blocking and his receiving have improved.
It looks like Gio is on his way up and Rojo is on his way out.
If they have any faith in Vaughn, I would not be surprised if Rojo is traded in the next couple weeks, assuming they could get a 4th round pick for him.
Otherwise he’s a free agent and will simply walk.