Arians And Licht Should Welcome Help
March 11th, 2020
Once upon a time in 2006, Ben Roethlisberger was a third-year quarterback who threw 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
And then his head coach resigned and a new offensive coordinator arrived in Pittsburgh, Bucco Bruce Arians, who decided to let Roethlisberger help write the playbook and call his own plays.
It became well established that Roethlisberger often called plays under Arians, and it worked damn well.
In their first season together, Roethlisberger made his first Pro Bowl (32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions).
NFL.com wrote all about how 25-year-old Roethlisberger helped Arians craft a playbook that gave the QB more responsibility and options, adding more no-huddle looks, spread formations and multiple receiver sets. Roethlisberger also upgraded to making all line calls for blocking schemes and checks at line of scrimmage.
In 2009, after a failed game-winning drive, NFL.com documented how Arians took over playcalling on the final drive and Roethlisberger didn’t throw him under the bus.
… Late in games, Roethlisberger is usually at his best when calling his own plays out of no-huddle sets.
This time, Roethlisberger went 0 for 4 and the Steelers didn’t gain a yard after taking over at their 33 with 1:56 remaining — more than enough time to mount a winning drive.
“It’s just something where I’ll never second-guess Bruce and he’ll never second-guess me,” Roethlisberger said. “He wanted to call them, and I believed in him and the calls, and I just had to execute them.”
Joe brings this up because there’s a divide at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. The Joe typing here absolutely thinks Arians would and should embrace having Tom Brady come to the Bucs and call a hearty chunk of his own plays after learning the offense and personally helping change the playbook. But that’s not a view shared by everyone at JoeBucsFan headquarters.
ESPN’s Diana Russini claimed yesterday that she talked “to Tampa Bay” and the team is prepared to give Brady what he wants and needs: “control over roster, he wants to be part of making decisions on the play-calling.”
Of course, it’s unclear who Russini talked to or how she might be interpreting or misinterpreting what she was told.
There is consensus at JoeBucsFan world headquarters that “control over roster” for a quarterback is ludicrous. But the Joe typing here believes general manager Jason Licht has done such a horrible job in some areas that he should welcome Brady’s influence with open arms and a tub of avocado ice cream, Brady’s favorite dessert.
Maybe Brady can be assigned to fix the running back position? And Joe suspects Brady has studied a hell of a lot of safeties in his day and could serve up evaluations that would avoid landing the next T.J. Ward.
March 11th, 2020 at 8:03 am
recipe for “further” disaster with this….
March 11th, 2020 at 8:05 am
Glazers will be cleaning house once again after this latest washed up regime fails miserably setting this franchise back even further
March 11th, 2020 at 8:13 am
This is ridiculous.
March 11th, 2020 at 8:15 am
Why not!!!!!!!!
Don’t forget that this is the franchise that gave talk show dominik full control!!!!!!!!! And the first thing he did was interview and hired Defensive coordinator jim bates and offensive coordinator jeff jagodzinski!!!!!!!!!!!! Bates was fired not even half way thru the season, and jagodzinski did not make it thru preaseason!!!!!!!!!!! And the wasted money in free agency was one of the worst in buc history!!!!!!!!!! Only incompetent loser lovie surpassed the incompetence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 11th, 2020 at 8:18 am
1 Pick QB 2 Cent Brain Says:
March 11th, 2020 at 8:06 am
Still waiting for a team to break the bank for Jameis…
So has broke the bank for Brady, Rivers, Prescott or Bridgewater?
If you haven’t figured it out yet smart guy, NO ONE has signed anybody cause of the CBA!!!!!!
March 11th, 2020 at 8:23 am
Love my team, hate the disfunction…
We’re stuck with these owners…Licht on the other hand, imho has been a average GM at best at drafting and free-agency… Although I do think he did well in both areas this past season…
Personally I thought he should have fired already for his body of work pre BA…At this point, all we can do is sit back and see how he handles this QB situation…As the World turns…smh
March 11th, 2020 at 8:28 am
Totally stupid… this is not based in fact…totally fiction. It true, they need to fire the GM the entire front office and all the coaches. The follow year all the fans!
March 11th, 2020 at 8:31 am
2 Cent Brain Says:
Still waiting for a team to break the bank for Jameis…
Professional sports franchises do not spout off about thier intentions or interests in players the same way that arrogant loud mouth washed up senile has beens that never were like BA or freshman in high school do… BA and his nonstop BS plays well with the redneck fanbase but just proves how dysfunctional this minor league franchise truly is.
March 11th, 2020 at 8:33 am
everyone is hanging onto this “control of the roster” quote…there is no way this means total control like people are freaking out over. I’m sure its things like “hey don’t trade my offensive linemen, don’t trade my receivers or tight ends, hey i need a better pass catching running back” anyone who thinks tom brady would be defacto gm is just laughable
March 11th, 2020 at 8:34 am
saying brady won’t come here because it’s a small market is wrong…
new england is a relatively small market team as well…
yes they have grown into a somewhat larger market with brady and bill, but with grogan and bledsoe, wasn’t it just a small market team near big market new york ?
March 11th, 2020 at 8:37 am
adam from ny
Comparing boston and Tampa lol dude you have zero credibility. I hate boston with a passion but to compare a major market like boston to the adult diaper capital of the world is pretty damn funny. Nice job….
March 11th, 2020 at 8:37 am
Ndog,
All QBs listed other than Jameis will get paid more. Bank on it “smart guy”.
About to see the “clueless” one exposed. If so, can I call you “Claire”, Alisia Silverstone’s character on your favorite movie: Clueless?
March 11th, 2020 at 8:40 am
I highly doubt Tom is even considering Tampa. But ifTom came… the pieces are here. The floor would be the wild card, the ceiling the Super Bowl.
March 11th, 2020 at 8:42 am
SteveK
What’s truly Clueless is the fact some of you narrow minded folks believe this pathetic franchise is 1 player away from a championship when it has not even participated in a meaningful game in 13 years.
March 11th, 2020 at 8:47 am
Adam in ny
Ill give you one thing Boston doesn’t have that Tampa bay boasts and that is Golden Coral in the area’s top 5 restaurants….
March 11th, 2020 at 8:51 am
This is ridiculous now licht should let Tom help find a running back yea because after all what is the coach going to do. Brady didn’t break down damn college film and scout those players or nfl players for that matter. This is completely pathetic going in depth on an idea that is insane to begin with. Example when was the last time Brady played 49ers because if he wasn’t on their schedule why the hell would he waste time studying Jimmy ward?
March 11th, 2020 at 8:51 am
Npuppy slurper of Jameis you got something on your chin
Where are the rumors or agent leaks of teams clamoring for Jameis? We hear Brady, Rivers, Bridgewater and evening Tannehill linked to teams but nothing for the turnover prone, banned from Uber, LASIK needing, 14th alternate Pro Bowler Jameis Winston…
If he was so great wouldn’t team be dying to sign him?
March 11th, 2020 at 8:59 am
2 cent
You should seek professional help. Your jealousy and hatred for another man is pathetic. Don’t worry jameis will be just fine and bucs will continue to set new lows for professional sports franchises. Bucs were a complete embarrassment prior to jameis and will continue to embarrass the sports world long after he is gone.
Bucs bucs bucs has been replaced with Jerry Jerry Jerry
March 11th, 2020 at 9:09 am
he took the bait at 8 am 🙂
March 11th, 2020 at 9:11 am
I think this is an exaggeration. I believe if anything, all Brady is asking for is some autonomy to call plays on his own (Arians playbook of course with some Brady tweaks). He may have opinions on the offensive scheme and players but he won’t be making crucial personnel decisions on the roster.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:17 am
@tmaxipad
No hate or jealousy towards anyone. Just not a fan of his game, decision making, stretches of inaccurate passes or staring down receivers. If you can’t see that from the film I can’t help you.
Said all off season bring him back at 20-22 million. But not for a crazy salary that doesn’t allow you to improve the defense
March 11th, 2020 at 9:17 am
“Ill give you one thing Boston doesn’t have that Tampa bay boasts and that is Golden Coral in the area’s top 5 restaurants….”
You’re right, New England is more a Dunkin’ Donuts kind of place.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:26 am
give Brady the keys to the kingdom if that’s what it takes to get him. He knows more about winning than all of OBP combined.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:34 am
Brady might be looking for the first step towards buying a team. That would make the Bucs a possible, in a year or two.
I doubt Brady will walk away from N.E. until they have is replacement ready, they don’t/
Brady is not known as one to walk away so the Bucs need to look elsewhere for someone to distribute the ball to the right people. Hope they are moving that way.
By the way Prescott and the Cowboys are at a 105 million guaranteed, the Bucs and Jameis aren’t even sending each other love notes.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:40 am
Speaking of safeties, did I miss that Bucs return former safety, Keith Tandy to the coaching staff, this must be a non-story, because he is only the ST assistant. I remember Joes writing articles on Tandy and his wanting to get into coaching.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:45 am
I am still on the Pass on Brady. Why do we think Brady wants to come to Tampa? The sun, the tax free state, the beaches, being that close to Disney world, we should all wonder why Brady the GOAT wants to come to Tampa. What factor do we possess that would make him want to come here? How much will Brady being here cost our team. Brady surely will not accept less that 20 million, and we all know we need all the money we have to sign our own Defensive players back. What do we give up to get Brady? Will Brady be worth all that here in Tampa? What if he… stinks it up, can’t throw the deep ball our HC&OC use in their game plan. Oh yeah Brady will have the ability to help call and create his own offensive game plan. Have we seen any of his experiences in doing just that? I wonder if Belicheck let Brady run the show on the Patriots? I have heard nothing that leads me to believe that he has. I say thanks for the offer Tom but no thanks.
Go Bucs!
March 11th, 2020 at 10:14 am
The obvious is clear licht needs to go.
March 11th, 2020 at 10:26 am
Tom Brady signing in Tampa would be like LeBron James signing with the Sacramento Kings.
March 11th, 2020 at 10:31 am
I would rathwr see Jamies given some control at the line of scrimmage.Our backs and recievers will go.into motion but jameis never audibles at the line.How can you know what he is capable of without taking off the training wheels especially going into his second year of the system
March 11th, 2020 at 10:59 am
Translation: Tom I would like to play with the Bucs weapons, but I don’t want to hold the ball that long and get smashed.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:24 am
brady aint coming here….and brady doesnt seem like the control freak type of guy…imo, brady just wants to play football and contend for championships….thats it….brady may have a suggestion or 2 regarding a player or play call but im sure he doesnt want to stress himself out about making roster moves….
teddy is the play for the bucs….
GO BUCS!!!!
March 11th, 2020 at 12:28 pm
941scott Says:
“everyone is hanging onto this “control of the roster” quote…there is no way this means total control like people are freaking out over. I’m sure its things like “hey don’t trade my offensive linemen, don’t trade my receivers or tight ends, hey i need a better pass catching running back” anyone who thinks tom brady would be defacto gm is just laughable”
~~~~~~~~
100% AGREED on ALL counts.
And no, I don’t think it is a ridiculous thing to imagine.
March 11th, 2020 at 12:29 pm
#1 Pick QB 2 Cent Brain Says:
“slurper of Jameis you got something on your chin”
—
Man, that is disgusting. You seem to be preoccupied with this activity.
To each their own, I guess.
March 11th, 2020 at 12:53 pm
Maybe it was a ploy by Camp Winston. I wouldn’t put anything silly past them after watching that terrible knee rehab video they posted.
March 11th, 2020 at 2:03 pm
@Ndog
I hope you’re not taking this article out on Joe…
I also question the why with this video promoted by the JW team. This is not your typical home video to show your progress on a rehab cycle.
Seems like a well orchestrated and choreographed video production to entice something about his return from rehab.
I wish him the best outcome but having difficulty understanding your attitude towards Joe especially since this video production is all on team JW.
March 11th, 2020 at 2:25 pm
@Ndog
My above posting was meant for the Odd choice for Jameis article. Not sure how it made it here though lol
March 11th, 2020 at 4:07 pm
IF Brady comes here of course he should have a major voice in all that is the offense…personnel…how they’re used etc…
“major voice” is not the same as the final decision. That would remain with BA but BA is smart and he’ll not only listen to Brady he will incorporate some of his ideas into his “new” offense like he did Roethlisberger back in the day.
Brady is a student of the game with decades of championship football to draw upon…who wouldn’t listen to him. I expect Brady to move up the offensive food chain past Leftwich in terms of play calling and play design…Brady will be the defacto OC and does anybody really have difficulty believing Brady’s two decades of actually WINNING make him more qualified than BL?
March 11th, 2020 at 4:57 pm
Brady isn’t going to play beyond 2-3 years. Hell, he is probably more talented than a 38-year old washed up Jeff Garcia when Jon Gruden brought him in to start after he failed as a back Browns QB. But if Brady wants to remain in the game as an executive, either as GM or as Director of Operations, fantastic. There is a lot of Super Bowl winning knowledge in that head that is missing in Tampa.
March 11th, 2020 at 7:45 pm
What exactly was Bruce Arians doing 2004-2006 as PIT WR Coach???
It’s not like BA just showed up out of thin air as PIT OC & let BigBen “rewrite the playbook”, while riding BigBen’s coat tails to QB Guru Status. (BA had a built in 3yr relationship w/ BigBen before getting the bump OC.)
Before joining the Steelers in 2004, BA had also already developed a reputation for having a touch w/ 1st rd talent QB’s – while mentoring Peyton Manning (who did PM things) & Tim Couch (who took an expansion roster to the post season in yr4) as QB Coach for the Colts/Brownies. (1998-2000 / 2001-2003)
His QB Guru lore only grew w/ what Luck & Palmer were able to accomplish under his tutelage….I’d expect the same kind of growth&performance improvements from JW3, if brought back.