Bruce Arians: “I Expect The Same Thing From Devin”
May 9th, 2019
Big talk from the head coach
Joe has written many times that the bar has been set extraordinarily high for rookie Bucs inside linebacker Devin White.
Perhaps Joe underestimated the height.
Joe has dubbed White the savior of the Tampa Bay defense. Why? Because he’ll need to an awful lot to pull this team from depths of the NFL basement defenses.
Bucco Bruce Arians told SiriusXM NFL Radio after that draft that he expects White to walk in the door of One Buc Palace and lead the darn football team. Arians emphasized this in multiple ways.
“He’s a leader. That’s probably the biggest thing,” Arians said of White. “He just has natural leadership about him and he’s a very explosive player.
“That’s one of those things that when you build the culture in the locker room, you try to find the veteran leaders and just find out how good you guys want to be. ‘You know, it’s not my team, it’s your team. We’ll be as good as you guys lead us to be.’
“And it doesn’t really come with age anymore. You can have second-year players; Tryann Mathieu walked in as a rookie and was a leader. I expect the same thing from Devin [White] and all these young guys that we got [in the draft] were either captains or leaders of their teams.”
There’s a steady theme pulsating through the Bucs coaching staff: high/higher expectations. It seems White won’t be able to ease into the NFL. He’ll be expected to grab the damn defense by the throat and make those around him better from Day 1.
Gerald McCoy probably won’t like that one bit.
In 2015, McCoy said he didn’t enjoy his rookie year, when the Bucs were 10-6, because of the pressure of expectations. McCoy even counseled America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, to stop trying to lead.
“He’s just a rookie,” McCoy said of Jameis in September 2015. “If he goes too fast and tries to take over that role right now, he might not ever catch up. He might always look back like, ‘Man, I should have enjoyed being a rookie.’
“I never want him to do that, because that’s what I did. I couldn’t enjoy being a rookie because I got thrown in: now I’m the guy, I have to call this, call that, do this, do that. I never want anybody who comes in as a rookie to not enjoy their rookie season because you only get one. Now I’m looking back like, man, I wish I would have.”
Those quotes still perplex Joe.
Anyway, Arians will be demanding his rookies rise to the challenge. He probably needs three of them to thrive in big ways for this Bucs team to have a winning record come January.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:10 am
Speak thru ACTIONS. Devin will be just fine…
But forum riddle me this…
since he WILL be a leader yet only a rookie, McCoy is still a question mark, and now with JPP influx.
Who do you all see with the 2 or 3 C’s on their chest on the DEF side of the ball?
May 9th, 2019 at 11:10 am
You good for coming up with the dumbest narrative. Devin White is not tasked with saving a monumentally bad Bucs defense. Reason being more than half last year’s starters won’t even be on this defense. You not anyone else can claim to know anything about next season’s defense because the staff and parts will by in large be totally different.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Man I have been a McCoy supporter, but quotes like this make me wonder if the haters have a legit gripe on him. What kind of nonsense is that?
May 9th, 2019 at 11:11 am
“Enjoy his rookie season”…that’s what McCoy did his whole career…Enjoy the money and attention and to hell with the football games…
May 9th, 2019 at 11:11 am
you can have high expectations an high pressure on you an still chose to enjoy what you are doing. It’s a choice
May 9th, 2019 at 11:14 am
Gerald McCoy has a weak mentality.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:17 am
Gerald didn’t want to lose his status of face of the franchise. Remember when he wouldn’t participate in pre game huddles and behaved awkwardly for years when jameis was set to be the guy?
I like Gerald. He’s a baller, no doubt. But he’s content with losing as long as he controls the show. It’s obvious and that’s something that needs to be taken away from him from a real leader.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:17 am
Sharks are born swimming. Devin didn’t come into an established locker room. He came into a dumpster fire of an organization to be a leader on defense. I don’t care how gerald feels about it. This defense needs Devin’s leadership from day 1
May 9th, 2019 at 11:18 am
hey hey hey I know how yo turn a franchise around, here is what you do.. LMAO, Oh man only the Yuccaneers, only the Yucs can do this… LETS hire a 67 yr old coach w heart and health issues to turn the Yuccaneers around and be out in 95 degree heat, lol…. Only the Yuccaneers…
May 9th, 2019 at 11:24 am
This is a culture and attitude change that has been missing for a long time. A ship without leadership is doomed to hit the rocks or just go in circles. Talent without leadership is useless!
May 9th, 2019 at 11:26 am
GMC’s quote is telling, I don’t think its a coincidence he wasn’t at voluntary sessions. BA knows leadership and demands accountability, its his team, his way.
GMC just needs to bring it on the field. We don’t need him to do anything else.
2019 Draft Class will be setting the tone for years to come. They know why they were drafted, to lead this team.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:29 am
White does not have to put the team on his shoulders as a rookie. We do have some other guys in place who lead by example or who lead by word plus example.
Oh by the way, leadership and positive character are well represented in this year’s draft class.
______________________
Culture Change, Team=>Fans
Go Bucs!!!!! Win Now!
May 9th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Since when are leadership and enjoying the game mutually exclusive….perhaps they were for GMC…..he simply doesn’t enjoy leading….I believe Devin White loves it….
So, Joe….set the bar as high as you like….he will reach it….if our defense doesn’t improve, it won’t be because we drafted Devin White instead of some edge rusher who brought nothing else to the team with him.
As a matter of fact, I see leadership coming from the entire rookie class. That coupled with a army of coaches who demand it….will win the day.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:39 am
That second paragraph quoting GMC reveals why he is mentally out of the loop. Asked to do so much for such petty money.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:43 am
Im glad BA wants the rookie to come in and be leaders….take ownership….this is your team….dont use” im rookie” as an excuse like GMC..
the “vets” like GMC, gholston, LVD(to a degree) had their chance to turn things around and failed….
time to roll with the youth movement….
GO BUCS!!!!
May 9th, 2019 at 11:44 am
Wtf is wrong with GMC those quotes are cringy, should have traded him as soon as he said that.
Stay out of Jameis ear, dude tells a leader not to lead pffft lol
May 9th, 2019 at 11:45 am
GMC a str8 bum!!!!!
what type of man thinks like that….he was the 3rd overall pick in the draft….lol….
i can only imagine the convo with his son about the birds and the bees….
GO BUCS!!!
May 9th, 2019 at 11:45 am
IF you want to change the culture, you draft players that change the culture. White, hopefully, is one of those players. Were Allen and Oliver? No idea.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:49 am
The McCoy quote tells me all I ever need to leave know about him. GMC had never been driven to be an NFL legend, the best to ever play. He is just a guy who was blessed with a ton of natural physical talent who likes the money he makes and wants to enjoy the ride. The greats in this game have a drive that surpasses even their talent. Sadly that just isn’t the way GMC is wired.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Players who COULD make a significant difference in our D this year.
Obviously Devin White!
If Bunting and Edwards live up to expectations the team will be much better. Let’s hope they grow up fast.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
When you are brought in to do a job whether it’s the NFL or a dishwasher you are expected to not only do the job but do it to the best of your ability. Problem is some of these guys expect to be compensated just for showing up. Whats worse is when you get an employee dictating what they are willing to do and not do and this has been going on with the Bucs for too long!
May 9th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
😁now that was funny. Birds and Bees.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:26 pm
…and then you got a $100,000,000.00 contract. He’s the problem with this culture thing.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:30 pm
This is why, regardless of injuries and depth, this team needs to shed itself of McCoy.
It’s hard to adjust the message to the team and certain players when you have these kinds of guys instilling the opposite message behind the coaches back.
This is why some call him a cancer. No matter how hard you try, it’s always lurking just under the surface. Playing football just for fun stopped after highschool, from then on it was a job.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
McCoys goal was to get to the NFL, beyond that whatever happened happened. Win, lose, or draw didnt matter enough.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
SenileSenior Says:
May 9th, 2019 at 11:29 am
White does not have to put the team on his shoulders as a rookie.
^^^Uh yes he does, that’s what the whole article was about man hahahaha
You ok Senile?
May 9th, 2019 at 12:34 pm
White has to do it, because Josh Allen will be haunting this team if he don’t.
All the McCoy hate has to stop. Because if you think this sorry ass defense is better with out him than with him your a dumbass and don’t know crap about the NFL. Our best D-Lineman could not make the browns final roster.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:37 pm
Funny Capt Blighe you assume Allen will be good yet question if White can step up
May 9th, 2019 at 12:40 pm
Yeah sometimes McCoy says some stupid shat. No Doubt. Some nonsense about his aching knees and crying on the sidelines
Let Devin White do what he does and he will lead–because that is what he does. He is solid.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Sure sounds like McCoy values fun over winning.
And he wonders why fans aren’t happy? He Captained defense that quit. More then once.
Meanwhile Gerald is having fun while we get embarrassed. Wake up Gerald this is the problem. If you want to be the leader of this defense that is horrible year in and out fans are not going to like you dude!!!
And don’t you dare for a second blame Tampa Bay. You would have haters in 31 other cities if you were the Captain of an annual embarrassment……mAnd to be honest you would never have lasted this long in a lot of cities……….The hate would have been so bad you would have been run out of town……….You should be grateful that Tampa Bay is not as toxic towards losing players that some places are.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
So Capt. Blitheringidiot you love McCottncandy and in the same post you say our best lineman couldn’t make the Browns. That’s not a ringing endorsement for his Kimono wearing whiny ass. You are the dumb ass.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Devin White is going to lead this team and hopefully 2-3 of those rookie DBS and that DE will come along and stick with this team. Get rid of GMC and Hargreaves and probably need to trade LVD at the trade deadline this year for a 2nd round or 1st round pick if necessarry. I would even dangle mike evans out there for a #1 or maybe a #1 and a #2, love evans but if he can get some picks as opposed to keep us at 5-11, time to get more value out of him. This team will have a new qb in 2020 if the bucs are 5-11 BUT…counting on rookies will lead to 3 win seasons…and then I hope the glazers say time is up to blow up the franchise and turn it over to real NFL leadership
May 9th, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Dusthty Rhothdes Says:
May 9th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Devin White is going to lead this team and hopefully 2-3 of those rookie DBS and that DE will come along and stick with this team. Get rid of GMC and Hargreaves and probably need to trade LVD at the trade deadline this year for a 2nd round or 1st round pick if necessarry. I would even dangle mike evans out there for a #1 or maybe a #1 and a #2, love evans but if he can get some picks as opposed to keep us at 5-11, time to get more value out of him. This team will have a new qb in 2020 if the bucs are 5-11 BUT…counting on rookies will lead to 3 win seasons…and then I hope the glazers say time is up to blow up the franchise and turn it over to real NFL leadership
^^^This the craziest sh** I’ve ever read on this forum. Congrats Dusthty!
May 9th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
72 Not counting McCoy who everyone wants gone, who is our best D-lineman ?
Nassib did not make the final roster of a team that went 0-16 the previous season.
Vea, who played 2-3 decent games his first season.
Paul, who will probably never play another game for us.
That’s it for 2019 and you want to get rid of McCoy too. Who’s the blithering idiot.
I forgot BA is some sort of magician.
May 9th, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Yes Devin White is a solid guy and will be a solid MLB.
He is not going to help the pass rush no matter what BA says.
If Josh Allen who was higher rated than White turns into a good pass rusher.
while we struggle to get any pass rush that pick is going to haunt us.
May 9th, 2019 at 2:10 pm
diddler why is it crazy to hold on to Mike Evans and continue to be 5-11? If the bucs go 5-11 next year, there will be a new QB and possibly new HC and definitely a new GM. The bucs need players on the defense and build the team in a competent manner building from the inside out. Build a strong defense and a run game that will support your rookie qb or even a short term FA like case keenum or someone that is a one year rental. Evans is by far the best player on the team and probably the best WR in history but if you can get 2 #1’s for him you trade him immediately…look at alll the teams re building they do similar things. The bucs should have dealt GMC years ago and now look at that situation
May 9th, 2019 at 2:37 pm
McCoy always was and always will be soft as baby poo
May 9th, 2019 at 3:01 pm
gotbbucs Says:
May 9th, 2019 at 12:30 pm
This is why, regardless of injuries and depth, this team needs to shed itself of McCoy.
It’s hard to adjust the message to the team and certain players when you have these kinds of guys instilling the opposite message behind the coaches back.
This is why some call him a cancer. No matter how hard you try, it’s always lurking just under the surface. Playing football just for fun stopped after highschool, from then on it was a job.
_______________________
You are absolutely right!
Get rid of Softie and become a mentally tougher team IMMEDIATELY.
May 9th, 2019 at 3:30 pm
You don’t win 6 straight trips to the Pro-Bowl being a soft/poo player or whatever else you nit-wits continue to call him, I got one question for you, where is his replacement, Veta V.?, don’t make me laugh😜We will get another monster D-lineman or develop one, I just hope we learned our lesson already….you have to build around him!!
May 9th, 2019 at 3:59 pm
I’m an totally confident they have learned allot from Gerald in terms of leadership and Arians didn’t buy what all the other GMC Back patters ( Coaches) created over the last 6 years . Lead on the field , not just at practice , ICECREAM and doughnuts . Lead to win football games not Little Boy friendships , ain’t no homecoming votes winning game in the NFL .
May 9th, 2019 at 4:21 pm
Cut or trade McCoy, JPP and Brate so we can focus on signing draftees and combing to wire for bargains
May 9th, 2019 at 6:56 pm
There are certain epoch moments when Ya Just Know. For Josh Freeman, it was when he had a chance to score in his rookie year and he slid at the 3 yard line. With McCoy, it was when I heard the tale of him running into Belichick, and instead of walking up to him like a man and wanting to meet and imbibe his greatness, he cowered and went away from him.
And that’s what one of the Joes never got about the White pick. Josh Allen ain’t leading anyone anywhere (in fact, that’s why Mike Edwards is on this team, scouting Allen they found Edwards’ leadership). I’ve brought this up before, but Baker Mayfield wasn’t drafted first overall just for his talent…he was drafted by the worst franchise in football to turn the culture around. I believe Devin White was drafted to do that.
PS, Albert Breer of SI just ran an analysis that the secondary are on the field way more than pass rushers, to a man…and the Patriots invest most of their money in the secondary. It kinda talks to what Licht is trying to do this year.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:58 pm
^^^^what??? …pass rushers are on the field on every defensive snap. Teams usually carry 10+ DB’s and 3,- 4 DE’s so it’s only natural to have more money wrapped up in your secondary.
May 9th, 2019 at 9:14 pm
McCoy is the losing culture. So sad that some of you don’t get that. Very sad.
His comments about “enjoying” a rookie season are idiotic. You’re not here to enjoy anything. You’re here to win. McCoy tolerates losing. He plays for the money first and foremost.
May 9th, 2019 at 9:19 pm
Dusty Rhodes trade mike Evans for two first round picks. Because we went 5-11. That’s is just crazy. You are acting like a 1st and 2nd are great for a top ten receiver in the game. So if we go back are last two years we would be drafting vea or oj. And jones or Stewart for mike Evans. So you would trade mike evans for Vita Vea and Ronald Jones. I wouldn’t trade him for our entire draft last year. You don’t trade a proven young team first pro bowl player. For picks that you don’t know what you are getting. Becasue the giants and Steelers traded there diva team wrecking receivers you think we should. The giants ended up with a defensive tackle and a small school defensive end with the picks they got from Odell trade. And I bet you will never here dexter Lawrence and oshane ximines names again the two players they drafted with there draft picks. They didn’t get better by doing this.