Bruce Arians: (Some) Injuries A Blessing In Disguise
December 27th, 2021
Roster depth chatter.
No sane coach wants injuries. Especially for a team with one goal to repeat as champs.
However, some injuries the Bucs are fighting through will make the team stronger just in time for the playoffs.
That’s the word from Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians in his day-after presser.
When asked about guys like the immortal Cyril Grayson, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Kenjon Barner coming from nowhere to contribute to a win, Arians said they will make the Bucs deeper and stronger for the postseason.
“Oh, I don’t think there is any doubt,” Arians said when asked about receiver depth. “Same with the secondary. All of those guys have played. Pierre [Desir] started a couple of games, played a bunch and he was inactive this week. So as we get guys back we will build some great depth through the injuries.”
And Joe has already expressed hope that guys pulled off the practice squad making big plays sends a blunt message to some, such as Tyler Johnson and Jaelon Darden, to get off their rear ends and make an impact.
Whether these guys get the message or are simply unable to raise their games, we will find out soon and it may be a window into how the Bucs plan to add to/trim the roster this offseason.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
GO BUCS !!!!
December 27th, 2021 at 1:05 pm
I agree with this to the extent is coincides with a favorable part of our schedule. We can beat the Panthers and Jets with backups and practice squad players. If we were playing playoff caliber teams right now though, that’s a different story and we would need all hands on deck. As it stands though, it’s a great opportunity to rest our veterans while gaining invaluable experience and game auditions for some new guys.
December 27th, 2021 at 1:09 pm
Ok Bruce. But Who..Who do we have to step in and replace Shaq on Defense? He is almost irreplaceable. Our injuries to key players just keep on coming. Next man up can only stretch so far. You gotta be healthy to win a Super bowl
December 27th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
We will probably win the next two regardless, but it will give guys like Minter and Nelson some needed playing time
December 27th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
A ton of panthers tested with covid today and sent home.
Brian burns one of them . He went up against Wirfs
I wonder if it is coming here. Saw one buc coach tested positive
December 27th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
The next two games will prove the worth of our back ups. They’re back ups for a reason. Sometimes more playing time can expose even more why they’re back ups, but hopefully it will only make them better
December 27th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
obviously this hasn’t worked for Blow J Howatard
December 27th, 2021 at 1:40 pm
That’s absolutely true but now they have Shaq gone and JPP’s barely himself and LVD out to the playoffs and Winfield… and Godwins and Evans and Fournette and Bernard…
How healthy are they going to be in the playoffs?
December 27th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
Let’s not forget this was the Panthers they beat
December 27th, 2021 at 2:04 pm
Never down play a divisional rival win
December 27th, 2021 at 2:06 pm
yeah team is proving to be deeper than one might think…
also if note:
tom appeared to be a little under the weather for the game – sounded like he had a cold or something in the post game presser…
and AB provided a presser from pluto…heehaa
December 27th, 2021 at 2:19 pm
Why would you have an expectation of a healthy team for the playoffs when they haven’t been healthy as a whole all season?
December 27th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
It depends on how healthy players are when they return….if they are still nursing the injuries then that’s certainly not good.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
To the best of Joe’s knowledge (last time Joe read this was in the Wall Street Journal a few months ago) there is no documented case where a player infects another on the field of play at an outside stadium.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Gosh bigbucsfan, where’d you come up with that one?
December 27th, 2021 at 2:30 pm
Joe
Good to hear. Thanks for insight
I guess bucs coach tested positive. No players so im guessing we would have heard by now
December 27th, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Actually there is no verifiable way to determine where anyone got COVID from since the Omicron is pretty much everywhere and the symptoms also do not show themselves for as long as 24 hours after catching the sickness.
The worst part of this whole stinking mess with COVID is how we as a nation have let it divide us along ideological lines instead of pulling together as one to defeat COVID.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
As bad as the panthers looked we could have ran the ball every down and beat them easily.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:44 pm
Johnson may be able to lift his game , IF , he seriously wants to ..
I would send Darden to Jags with BL ..
December 27th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Hoping Barrett is a fast healer. Some players are only out a couple of game with ACL sprains.
December 27th, 2021 at 2:58 pm
Johnson was a disappointment yesterday. Not sure what is going on with him. Vaughn had his moments but dropped an easy pass. Grayson looks good every time he is given the chance. Miller better watch out.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Is it just me or is the Bucs record super impressive considering the number of all-star or near all-star player they’ve played without this season?
In the past two games alone I think they’ve lost five keys player for at least the regular season but they still won easily yesterday. I really think they aren’t getting enough credit for that and I think if these guys get back healthy during the playoffs they are still a strong Super Bowl contender.
Since the 17th game was added, I’ve thought this season may end up being a “war of attrition” and I wonder if this late season forced rest for many key players may end up helping them be fresh in the post-season.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
There is one guy that would end this season if he went down and it ain’t OJ Howard.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:50 pm
We have not been a healthy complete team all year. Probably the most injured team from all the rest and here we are 11-4. If it wasn’t for pro officiating maybe 14-1. Like mentioned in the previous post this added extra game could be a blessing in disguise for resting our players.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
ACL and MCL for Shaq Barrett. Probably out rest of year including playoffs.
December 27th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Rest Shaq, we can roll with part-timer Anthony Nelson. Against hapless Jets and hopeless Panthers I aint worried. Give Barrett some time to heal. We’ll be fine.
Go Bucs, Division Champs!
December 27th, 2021 at 7:57 pm
Tom can roll with this receiving corpse, just give him protection.
December 27th, 2021 at 8:50 pm
The schedule for the remaining regular seasons games is finally in our favor. I am sure the brain trust is way ahead of this and will use it accordingly!
December 27th, 2021 at 11:18 pm
Your right Joe, Tyler Johnson and Darden need to step up and play big. Johnson has made a couple of ridiculous catches but at times seems out of it, like he doesn’t know the play or maybe smoked too much weed the night before. I don’t know what the Bucs coaches see in Darden. I think they are confusing potential with actual play with for him with exception of a couple of returns have been abysmal. They let Mickens get away when Mickens clearly was the best return man. Now Mickens wasn’t great but Darden is still not as good as Mickens. Barner plays in one game and has equal to almost half the yardage Darden has had during several games.
December 29th, 2021 at 9:25 am
Get Well Coach!!!
Go Buccaneers