Does Confidence Mean More Playing Time?
December 27th, 2021
Hidden message?
Joe is thinking that some players may have had a rude wake-up call yesterday. Or at least should have.
Look at the snaps “ferocious blocker,” immortal Cyril Grayson had (53) compared to Tyler Johnson (36). And Ronald Jones sort of shared time with Ke’Shawn Vaughn, the latter you really didn’t know if he could play in the NFL since he had such a small and unimpressive sample size.
One guy who should be concerned about playing time is returner Jaelon Darden. He missed yesterday’s game on the dreaded COVID list. Kenjon Barner came in and did just as well as Darden. Maybe better.
The words after the game from Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians rang loud for Joe with the praise he heaped on Barner.
“I thought he did a hell of a job,” Arians said of Sunday’s return man. “He slipped on the one play where he took it off the hop and I thought that he was going to split it.
“But he played really, really well for us back there last year and so I’ve got all the confidence and trust in the world in him.”
So if Arians has this much confidence in Barner, why is he so chained to Darden and his non-production? Or is Arians?
Joe thinks a message was sent to underperforming players yesterday. That message was the Bucs have one goal in mind. And just being a warm body won’t cut it the rest of the way.
Produce or step aside.
Or at least, Joe hopes that was Arians’ unspoken message.
December 27th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
‘Produce or step aside.’ No unspoken message there Joe. BA started off the year with RoJo but when Lenny produced better, RoJo ended up having to step aside. Pretty much the same situation with Scotty; the production hasn’t been there this year & so he’s not getting many snaps & very few targets.
December 27th, 2021 at 12:28 pm
OJ Howard is a ghost too
December 27th, 2021 at 12:50 pm
I currently have darden last on return job role for this team Well second to last. Last is brady 😂
December 27th, 2021 at 1:14 pm
Its prime time make those dreams come true
December 27th, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Joe is nuts over Darden. Kid is doing fine. Our blocking is garbage. Focus on the real issue.
December 27th, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Bye bye Mr. Six Million dollar mistake. See ya Jlo Darden, and maybe you can ride-share with Tyler Johnson. All ex Buccanneers. And one more prediction: Sean Payton heads out of New Orleans, replaced by Josh McDaniels. You read it here first.
Go Bucs!
December 27th, 2021 at 5:12 pm
Darden is as bad as a pick as Matt gay was
December 27th, 2021 at 6:59 pm
^ The same Matt Gay who made the pro bowl this year?
December 27th, 2021 at 7:10 pm
Bird, you REALLY made me laugh! I was so glad not to see Darden in that game I almost missed Barner slipping. Arians praised Darden, too, when he was slipping almost every play, so Idk where he is coming from at this point.