The Calmer Arians
April 12th, 2019
Not always frothing in games.
Joe has decided to document highlights of Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians captured when he coached Arizona during the inaugural season of “All or Nothing,” a “Hard Knocks”-like miniseries by NFL Films that follows a pro or college team throughout a season and is exclusive to Amazon. Some highlights Joe hopes will help fans learn what to expect from the 12th coach in franchise history. This series of posts will appear periodically until the days leading up to the draft later this month.
In a previous story, Joe noted he could understand how Arians had health problems because the guy nearly had coronaries on the sidelines from blowing up so badly.
But that doesn’t happen each game.
In the second episode, a much calmer Arians was featured. With the Cardinals hosting the St. Louis Rams, rookie running back David Johnson fumbled the opening kickoff. Arians is surprisingly calm as can be, softly clapping his hands (because he doesn’t want to cut them on his laminated playsheet). Arians hugs Johnson coming off the field, consoling him saying, “You can never lose the game on the first play. You’ll be good.” Arians then hugs Johnson and pats him on the helmet as if to reassure him.
The Cardinals made a myriad of mistakes and lost to the Rams 24-22. Only once did NFL Films show Arians blow up on the sidelines. That came after Carson Palmer got sacked by Aaron Donald. But the blowup was very brief. Arians only hollered one GD-curse and one MF-bomb in a sentence.
After the game, Arians made sure none of his players hid in the shower or trainer’s room as he addressed the team. But in a calm tone, Arians said, “We let somebody come into our house and be more physical than we were. Make more plays than we make. Let’s make sure that never happens again.”
It reminded Joe of a scene in “Gettysburg,” where Martin Sheen, playing Robert E. Lee, scolded Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart.
Later in the Cardinals’ week during preparations for the next game, Arians had interesting words for his team.
“You are going to lose one sooner or later,” Arians said. “But you never lose two in a row if you have true character and leadership on your football team. It’s only happened once here since we’ve been together.
“Twenty-four-hour rule: that game is gone. It’s over. Can’t do sh!t about it. Respect the process and let’s go to work.”
The Cardinals won their next game and finished 13-3 without consecutive losses. However, they did lose consecutive games three times through Arians’ first two seasons there.
So teams with true character and leadership do not lose two in a row, eh? What does that say about the Bucs who twice last year lost four games in a row, or in 2017 when the Bucs twice lost five games in a row?
Guess you could say the Bucs had characters but didn’t have leaders.
April 12th, 2019 at 8:12 am
Good work and valuable insight Joe, thanks.
April 12th, 2019 at 8:37 am
The Bucs have all these “lead by example” guys (like GMC). Such crap. I want a get in your face leader. Nothing like peer pressure to set the tone in the locker room. HATE “lead by example”!
April 12th, 2019 at 8:54 am
This is a good read, Joe…thanks. I wonder if this series is available on Netflix for something. But yeah, while it’s good to know about the coach’s past, I’m a haunted dude by getting my hopes up too often. So many fans like me called to get discipline back after Raheem (who in retrospect, gave us the best record in the post-Chucky era). Oh, we got it all right, straight from Rutgers. Then we wanted Bucs nostalgia and a guy who coached and won in the NFL. we got it with a hell of lot of non-emotion and pure nepotism (Lovie). Then we wanted new blood at HC with a proven record as an OC that could continue to develop Jameis–didn’t want to mess Jamies up by bringing in new offense, right? Well, we got it. So when I see 4-4 or better with Arians, I’ll believe. Right now, I look at him as a bridge to whereever it is the Bucs will be in two or three years, and Licht as a failure that overstayed in Tampa. It will be a bridge to rebuilding that happens too late or maybe something special. I doubt there will be an in-between.
April 12th, 2019 at 8:56 am
@Harry…thing we got that “in your face” guys with JPP, but that might be about it.
April 12th, 2019 at 9:05 am
I guess you will get it this year when we all find out haow bad our coaching has been in the last 3 years
April 12th, 2019 at 9:13 am
Not to be that guy but I think you meant Martin Sheen, Joe. Love the site, go Bucs
April 12th, 2019 at 9:29 am
That was Martin Sheen playing General Lee, not Charlie.
April 12th, 2019 at 9:44 am
Bucs have ZERO leadership from ownership therefore no matter who they hire it will never workout. Leadership starts at the top…. pee wee herman has more leadership and spine then all 4 of the glazers losers combined. Bucs will never compete at a nfl with the glazers in charge. bucs will always be a small market nonfactor dependent on league charity (revenue sharing) to survive….
April 12th, 2019 at 9:47 am
YES!
Thanks for catching that terrible oversite! This is what Joe gets for posting at 1 a.m.
April 12th, 2019 at 10:10 am
@ tmax,
ownership is not in the locker room all the time. We need many players in there that will not tolerate their teammates doing anything other than going ALL out on EVERY play. That is when things will change, when players are sick of all the hard work they put in going to waste because of inept play on the part of their teammates. I just don’t get how it is tolerated.
Why, for example, did it take all friggin year for someone to get in “tree hugger’s” face? WTF?
April 12th, 2019 at 10:16 am
I can really see the “Sweat” equity!
TEE HEE
April 12th, 2019 at 10:22 am
Calm Arians
What about the Tomblin conversation
I’m interested in his Loud comments to Joe
April 12th, 2019 at 10:23 am
Thanks! It’s an exclusive for Amazon Prime. They also have other series including Cowboys and Michigan football (Rashan Gary a freshman).
April 12th, 2019 at 10:27 am
Joe says “It’s an exclusive for Amazon Prime.”
Thanks! I will have a look.
April 12th, 2019 at 10:32 am
Ah, I think my timing is right but I recall there was a time about 2016 when we lauded what a great job Koetter and Smith were doing? I remember the calls to not let Smith go to a HC job and to stay in Tampa because we were abouit to get something big in 2017? Wow. It is just stunning how quickly things that seem right turn south.
April 12th, 2019 at 11:00 am
that showed who the true leader was in ARZ…..
and it was BA……
true leadership starts with the HC and then trickles down…..if your solely relying on player leadership you’ll be below average…just ask dirk….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!