Bruce Arians Is Eager To Scout Quarterbacks
January 11th, 2019
Joe was eager to talk to the resident Tampa quarterback whisperer, new head coach Bucco Bruce Arians, about scouting quarterbacks and competition at the position.
Arians seemed just as eager to answer Joe’s questions yesteday.
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, you’ve said before that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none. Do you think that was part of the problem with the Bucs last year.
Bruce Arians: That’s my philosophy. I think sometimes they were both looking over their shoulder. You know, one would do well for one week then struggle and put the other one back in. That’s not me. We got a guy; he’s our guy. Hopefully we can get that room extremely competitive behind Jameis so we can win with them if something happens.
Joe: Do you scout quarterbacks every year in the draft?
Arians: I have every year. Even thought we didn’t need one, I just liked ranking them when they were coming out of college and then watching them be successful.
Joe was intrigued by Arians saying he scouts quarterbacks, and he flashed a broad smile when he did. Dirk Koetter often said he didn’t spend time looking at QBs because the Bucs weren’t going to draft one.
What will Arians think of the 2019 QB class? How much draft capital would he consider investing in a QB? Third-round? More? Less?
And how does Arians’ life motto, “No Risk It, No Biscuit,” apply to the draft?
January 11th, 2019 at 12:05 pm
It’s only January 11th.
I was really looking forward to a healthy offseason of not obsessing over the draft/etc but looks like I’m going to be doing mocks every day and losing my mind for months lol
January 11th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Exciting having some competency in the building.
Dudes gets it.
This is going to be FUN!!
GOOOOOOOO BUCS!!!!!
January 11th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
tyree jackson….
he’ll be a great molding project for bruce….kid has been compared to cam newton….he’s 6’6 and runs a 4.5/4.6…..throws a better ball than cam now than he did in college….played at buffalo and had a knee injury the year before but he bounced back fine….he ran less which helped out his passing and accuracy…..i think he’s coming out too early imo….he can be had in the mid rounds….
#GO BUCS!!!!
January 11th, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Maybe we will “win” the draft this year. It’s the “Real Season” for our Bucs. and it seems to longer and be more interesting than our 16 game and no playoff schedule.
January 11th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
LC
you and me both brother….lol….
i was watch film on greg little and jeffery simmons last night….lol….
#GO BUCS!!!!
January 11th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
The most important $hhiit he said in that press conference was… he was going to have a huge staff and the people will see two practices going on at the same time. Why? Because the dam rookies can’t just be standing around watching getting one rep a practice. They need to learn by practicing and getting reps so he can see which ones can play…. Dam! What a novelty.
#GQ Smooth
January 11th, 2019 at 12:29 pm
“It’s the best time of the year”
Draft Time
January 11th, 2019 at 12:39 pm
I like the hire even tho I am in a wait and see state of mind due to many years of disappointment (decades really).
One thing that is bothering me is that as far as I know there were no current players as the presser and that I have not seen any congratulation messages or tweets from current players.
I thought that I would at least hear of one from Jameis about how excited he is to have Arians there. But, so far its been crickets.
Maybe there have been some that I have missed but I keep a pretty good eye on all the sites with Buc news.
January 11th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
I always said the rookies & FA didn’t get enough practice time to be evaluated properly. That’s why the Bucs & other teams release players & then turn up on other teams & play well.
January 11th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Ira says draft a QB, 3rd round.
January 11th, 2019 at 12:56 pm
I don’t see Arians drafting a QB at all. If anything, he’s gonna have his eyes on Linemen and the Defensive improvement.
January 11th, 2019 at 12:56 pm
If qb is as important as everyone says it is.. and I believe it… then you should at least spend a mid rounder or higher every 2nd year or so even if you think you may have thr guy until you are sure.. even then doesn’t hurt to try your luck at a backup/future every few years
January 11th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Could probably say same thing for a lineman on each side of the ball.
January 11th, 2019 at 1:19 pm
Bucs draft 5, the Giants 6, Jacksonville 7, Broncos 10. All but the Bucs need QB’s. Haskins will likely be the 1st QB drafted. Were it me, I would tell the Giants that we’re working on a trade with J’Ville../make us an offer. Trade with them. Then I’d go to J’Ville and tell them we’re working on a trade with the Broncos, whatcha got? Trade with J’Ville. Screw the Broncos. Then I’d take who we would have taken at 5 anyway, Greedy Williams.
Not a bad strategy, right? Plausible?
January 11th, 2019 at 1:35 pm
Draft Drew Lock from Missouri in 2nd round. No one can fix Winston…
January 11th, 2019 at 1:38 pm
I think if kyler Murray declares that it could put us in a prime position for a big trade or at the very least a better player
January 11th, 2019 at 1:45 pm
Jonah Williams
January 11th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
We need so much more than a QB THIS year…
Best thing BA can do is put together a competent Defense and run game, so we can see if that’s enough to salvage Winston.
January 11th, 2019 at 1:55 pm
Just don’t see Murray as much of a long term NFL QB..what is he..5’8″?
Unless he’s the next Doug Flutie.
January 11th, 2019 at 1:57 pm
@Todd
I like it. Last year there were similar trade scenarios. When the 3 blue chips were gone (nelson/barkley/chubb) everything made sense to trade down.
Guessing the same will occur this year. No one needs to jump us for a QB.
The combine will be big this year. That’s where the DT group will separate themselves a bit in terms of projected athleticism.
As of now it seems the only guys consistently always in the top 5 are
DT Williams
DE Bosa
OLB Allen
If Greedy Williams tests well which he should I’m guessing he’d be considered that next blue chip player, but I’ve also read really good reports on the Penn State CB and the Washington CB. All 3 are at least 6’0. DeAndre Baker is shorter at 5’11 but supposedly has really long arms.
Then at DE/DT all these guys have gone as high as top 2-5 or low as top 18:
Rashan Gary
Jeffery Simmons
Ed Oliver
Clelen Ferrel
At OT Jonah Williams is the consensus best lineman but I’ve read concerns over where he fits best in terms of OT or OG. This is not like Quenton Nelson where you know he would just plug into LG and sit there a decade as an all pro. God dang if only we had that hog mauly next to Jensen and Marpet at RG.
If it emerges that Williams is a consensus LT and a beast at that – he could be another blue chip target.
January 11th, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Lord C., 813- Welcome to the club! LOL!
See, even though some might think all our QB troubles are over, smart organizations/coaches have a ‘plan B’. It’s not an indictment either way, it’s a fact of life in the NFL. Players come and go through injury, attrition, or lack of production.
For instance, if Jameis gets injured in OTAs and is out for the season, who’s the back-up? If the back-up gets injured in game 2, who’s his back-up? Arians was down to his 4th QB in ONE season, ONE!
This is ‘exhibit A’ as to why I thought Arians was a good hire. In fact,it almost seems like it should be common sense for organizations to prepare as such.
January 11th, 2019 at 2:07 pm
I’ll say it again- this team NEEDS Devin White/LSU to be Bruce’s Alpha on D.
January 11th, 2019 at 2:18 pm
Count me as another member of the Lord C mock-draft myself crazy cabal.
LOL.
January 11th, 2019 at 2:36 pm
“Agree with Frank
Trade down and get another 2nd round pick and pick Devin White
presently drafting a linebacker can completely turn your defense around ala
Lenaord of colts, r smih of bears and t edmonds of the bills
FA on dline and corner and devin White and LVD in the middle
January 11th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
bucfanman
exactly….
dont want to get caught with our pants down….
#GO BUCS!!!!
January 11th, 2019 at 3:02 pm
I will echo a strong look at Devin White MLB at LSU. He has until Monday to decaler and hasn’t yet.
Pistol
January 11th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Jonah Williams is a must. Guy can anchor your left side for 10 years. Just look what Quenton Nelson did for Colts All-Pro rookie. Opened holes for Marlon Mack and kept Luck healthy enough said
January 11th, 2019 at 3:18 pm
@Kobe
And don’t forget Leighton Vander Esch or whatever in Dallas.
For how highly touted Lavonte/Kwon are I just don’t see the same level of play as these other guys
January 11th, 2019 at 3:25 pm
@Pistol Pete,
We do enjoy drafting LSU LB’ers.
You could be on to something!
January 11th, 2019 at 3:26 pm
This will be one of the most interesting (and important) off-seasons to follow in my 43+ years of being a Bucs fan. Really looking forward to seeing BA build a winner!
January 11th, 2019 at 3:52 pm
I’m with Lord C,
Any one of these:
Josh Allen
Quinnen Williams
Greedy Williams
Let’s hope some teams trade up for QBs.
January 11th, 2019 at 4:23 pm
Well, it just so happens that we have no backup QB at the moment. Both Fitz and Griff had their contracts run out at the end of the season.
This pretty much tells me that Fitz won’t get another offer though.
Hopefully, he will draft one in the 3rd or 4th round…just to develop as a backup…and if that guy happens to do well if needed, he’ll become trade bait.
Keep in mind…Arians is the guy who turned a kicker into an award winning quarterback.
January 11th, 2019 at 5:05 pm
Even if the keep Winston which I hope they do and even if they keep Ryan Griffin I’d still be in the draft a quarterback camp just because you never know but we traded for JPP and didn’t we lose a third for him? If that’s the case there are just too many needs to be drafting a guy we know will sit next year
January 11th, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Casey GTFOH. You Winston haters are so annoying. This team has so many holes and you want to waste a 2nd rounder on a reach instead of addressing a real area of need. You can’t be a real fan because real fans hate losing and want the team to address real needs and start winning some damn games.
January 11th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
In the draft, I believe the Bucs are in the catbird seat at #5.
The Bucs don’t need a QB. The Giants need one at #6 and the Jag’s are desperate for one at #7.
There is only one very good QB in the draft this year. Haskins from Ohio State.
The 1st four teams to pick don’t need a QB and there are very good picks available to them. Game changers.
The Bucs are missing their 3rd round pick. If Licht plays it cool on Draft Day, He could get the Jags 1st, 2nd and maybe even a 5th rounder to allow the Jags to leap frog the Giants.
The best thing is that with the Jags and Giants (Lock-Missouri) drafting QB’s, they will still have the same players available at #7 that they had staying at #5.
Then the Bucs can choose Greedy Williams-LSU CB, Quinnen Williams Alabama DT, or Ed Oliver Houston DT. There is also an OT from Alabama Jonah Williams.
All game changers.
January 11th, 2019 at 6:46 pm
@caseymorgan stop just stop I’m a Georgia fan free lock sucks he’s another mike glennon I will promise u that also no QB coach by derick dooly never translate to the nfl so I say no to drew lock I say just find away to bring in Drew Stanton if u want a qb cause we need to fix the oline and get Clabe benoch the f€£¥ out of here and feta actual good gaurd and trade djax he gotta go
January 12th, 2019 at 4:23 pm
we do have a third rd pick this year. the trade for jpp gave up a 2018 3rd round draft pick. we still have our 2019 pick.