Arians: Leadership On Offense Is Lacking
October 31st, 2019
Early in his Tampa Bay tenure, Bucco Bruce Arians ordered Jameis Winston to dial back the rah-rah stuff, lose the team-leader mentality and just focus on executing at the quarterback position. This approach was met with a public hallelujah from general manager Jason Licht.
And now Arians has the gall to say publicly that he needs a leader to step up on offense.
Anyone know of a mental asylum airing Sunday’s Bucs-Seahawks game. Joe needs a safe space (rather than the fun at the Buffalo Wild Wings watch party in Pinellas Park with Ira Kaufman).
What the hell is going on around here?
You basically told the face-of-the-franchise quarterback to shut up and play football, and don’t worry about leadership, and now you want a loud voice on your offense?
On Buccaneers Radio this week, Arians was interviewed by team reporter Casey Phillips and the head coach raved about Lavonte David’s intense postgame speech to the team in the losing locker room at Tennessee.
Phillips: How important is it to have a vet like him?
Arians: We need more. You know, we have Jason [Pierre-Paul] now back on defense. And Lavonte is now more vocal and knows he has to be. We need someone on offense to step up.
C’mon, Coach. If you really thought your leadership on offense was lacking, then you should have pulled a guy aside privately three weeks ago and demanded that he take on a vocal leadership role. And if you don’t have that guy, then look in the mirror since you freakin’ handpicked the roster.
The problem here is Jameis should be “that guy” — that guy Arians believes the team so sorely needs to right the ship via leadership. But Arians himself neutered Jameis in that capacity.
Arians told media yesterday that the Bucs are two plays from being a 4-3 football team. That also got Joe to Google a mental institution. The same damn faulty we-play-close-games logic from Bucs officials led to the destruction of the Dirk Koetter regime.
The Bucs are also one play from 1-5. See how stupid that sounds?
Our 2-5 Bucs have serious issues. If Arians thinks it’s leadership, then he needs to adjust how he and his staff are coaching/leading/grooming leaders.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:00 am
So much for all that pre draft hype of Jameis being a great leader
October 31st, 2019 at 8:00 am
Lets put the blame on someone else not you.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:05 am
I nominate the Golf Cart!
Bruce “Lack of Preparation H” Arians seconds the nomination.
All opposed?
Motion carries.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:05 am
Haha how can you be the leader when you single handedly lose the team a few games? Jameis unfortunately doesn’t have the NFL cred to be a leader of men.
We thought he had leadership skills but he clearly doesn’t, and when he tried to be a leader (eating w’s), nobody responded….
October 31st, 2019 at 8:10 am
Maybe, just maybe, coach is looking for someone to step up and show leadership by action, rather than words. What kind of leader doesn’t protect the football, or use good play judgment? Winston can yap all he wants, but his words don’t match his on-field actions. Does Winston want to lead the team? I’m sure he does. He truly just needs to SFU and play good, ball protection football. Let someone else run their yap. Joe, you missed the boat on this opinion.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:12 am
I’m hoping the Bucs sign Philip Rivers in the off season to a 3 yr deal then draft either Herbert, Burrow or Eason. You let the drafted QB sit behind Rivers for two years and learn. After two years he’ll be ready to play year 3. It’s almost like a plan, you know, kinda how Green Bay groomed Rogers behind Farve… then use the rest of the draft and free agency to fix the trenches….. but as we all know Licht doesn’t like having a plan
October 31st, 2019 at 8:12 am
I don’t find it contradicting at all. Asking a poor leader to step down and asking a good leader to step up sounds very reasonable to me. I don’t think we have that good leader on the offense tho.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:14 am
The Bucs need a lot more then leadership on either side of the ball. They need good players, a GM with a vision on how to build a team from the ground up, and how to evaluate talent. A young hungry coach who actually coaches instead of riding around posing in a golf cart. Owners who don’t keep repeating mistakes like giving a new contract to a GM with the worst won, loss record in the league. Shall I go on? You get my point. If I was the team owner, and heard the excuses BA has been giving, not to mention what the FOS GM must be telling them, I’d fire every last one of them the minute after the last game.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:21 am
Maybe they can contact Rick Flair and have him roam the sidelines
October 31st, 2019 at 8:25 am
Jameis is not a leader simple as that… he is not an NFL. starting QB either painfully clear
October 31st, 2019 at 8:26 am
the offensive players dont believe in JW…..
simple as that….
look at mike evans body language…..he’s frustrated and mad as hell…..
he went from Johnny football to JW….lol….
even CG has started showing frustration…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 31st, 2019 at 8:27 am
Maybe they shouldn’t have told Jameis to do his best impression of a Turtle.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:28 am
You can’t have leadership when you don’t hold the top position player accountable. He demoralizes the offense with turnovers, yet if a WR misses a catch he gets the doghouse.
this is on BA and JW. If someone got in JW’s face and said WTF is wrong with you….that would be leadership. or bench him……but then he has proven to fold even worse as a bakhup would probably outplay him.
Can’t have it both ways!
October 31st, 2019 at 8:30 am
Oh Jameis, you’re our guy, our Qb. Now, just don’t throw the ball despite having 4 of the most potent weapons in the NFL, and if you have to throw it, avoid all 4 of them and throw it to the guys who just round out the bottom of the roster, but before you throw it, wait a really long time, and make sure you are making a good decision so you don’t throw an interception, meanwhile the pocket is collapsing, the receivers have outran their routes, and the defense has figured out exactly where you are going to throw the ball.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:31 am
The problem with Jameis in a leadership role is the man has no subtlety. He’s either extremely high which we’ve seen and hasn’t worked or seemingly very low which is what he’s doing right now which also doesn’t work. the current approach has worked for some. Flacco in his very short heyday comes to mind. But that was with a killer defense which we don’t currently have.
October 31st, 2019 at 8:40 am
Nobody wants to eat a W when all u got is INT’s
October 31st, 2019 at 8:45 am
I like the rah rah JW better. I remember him chewing the defense out as a rookie but ppl complained fans complained and now complaining he is not…smh
No stop the defense doesn’t need chewing. They are good
October 31st, 2019 at 8:59 am
remove the WinSTUNNED for forward progress….
October 31st, 2019 at 8:59 am
You build leadership by example.Look in the mirror and chew yourself out for failing to act more like a leader yourself BA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 31st, 2019 at 9:02 am
Winston’s kind of Rah Rah leadership is fine in high school, college and Pop Warner football, but when you get to NFL grown man football you have to lead like a grown man. Winston’s best move is to keep his mouth shut and work very hard on his game.
I think Arians is in that “What in the world did I get myself into? Jason didn’t tell me things would be this bad” mode.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:05 am
I would love to see Winston eating some I’s on the sidelines in Seattle. What a Fu’d organization. God we thought Koetter was bad. Like the old saying goes “Be careful what you wish for”
October 31st, 2019 at 9:05 am
You can’t be a vocal leader when your play doesn’t warrant it. He’s one really bad game away from sitting out the rest of the year on the bench and we’re talking about him in a leadership role. That’s insanity if you ask me!
October 31st, 2019 at 9:05 am
How serious do you think guys would take Jameis as an offensive leader when he’s a large part of the problem on offense? Lead by example and guys will follow.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:06 am
Joe,
Could this be the way jason starts spinning another year and laying blame at jasons feet and then at the OC that should never have been hired and that gives bruce and licht another year…..this franchise is a disaster
October 31st, 2019 at 9:13 am
Winston’s rah-rah antics aren’t the same as leadership
October 31st, 2019 at 9:15 am
Joe what is it? You said leadership doesn’t matter but also verbal rah rah is not leadership. Jameis can do whatever and lead by example and play well and call people out privately if need be. He isn’t playing well so why would people respond to him anyways? Arians has not been a good coach but pinning it on him telling jameis to calm down wasn’t the answer because hey that never worked before he got here anyways. All around they are terrible but jameis can at any point step up and play better but he hasn’t.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:15 am
This whole season has been a waste of time and there is nothing to look forward to until Licht is gone.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:21 am
Read between the lines. Jameis’s leadership isn’t effective. You don’t ask an ineffective leader to keep leading or you will get ineffective leadership. Jameis has things he is good at. Evidently his form of leadership isn’t good for the majority of the locker room.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:26 am
I remember being so psyched for Hard Knocks with Tampa. Jameis’s opening scene on that show was observing cockroaches. And I thought to myself, this kid is immature. Who in the WORLD wants their first impression to the general public to be fooling around with roaches? I let it slide, because hey, it’s TV and I suspect you do dumb stuff by virtue of filming your day and feeling under pressure to perform. But in that moment…I thought…this dude is not an adult. And I just have to wonder if it’s his basic nature. I mean, good for him. Be yourself. But if leadership from a dude who plays with roaches and preaches his version of whatever isn’t effective leadership for an NFL locker room, you tell him to put a plug in it. Let him lick his make believe W’s all day…quietly.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:26 am
Leadership from the owners to the GM to the head coach is lacking….
October 31st, 2019 at 9:35 am
Joe…you meant to say “one play away from 1-6”
October 31st, 2019 at 9:46 am
I think you are miss understanding BA. Leadership is not eating “W’s” and looking like a Rah, Rah idiot. BA was a 1000% right to ask Winston to scale back that nonsense. The best way to lead is by example. So far leading by example this season means horrific mistakes. An INT here, a Fumble there, OL penalty mixed in, a huge drop by a WR(Evans wide open downfield going into half getting hit in the hands for no TD / Perriman not getting his feet in the end zone). I mean mentally the team just is not there. The entire offense is collectively failing, sure we put up great numbers but the mistakes are things that cannot and do not happen on good teams. The NFL competition is just too good for us to make this many mistakes consistently so there for I would agree we totally lack leadership or the ability to lead. Who is going to hold who accountable when the whole damn team makes these mistakes.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:48 am
See JPP if we want examples of leading by example. Dude just fracture his neck, first playback sack. People respect the hell out of people like that. Few respect a blowhard who themselves can’t get things done.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:58 am
Jameis can’t really step up and lead others by example because his level of play has been so erratic. Guys like the QB’s in New England, Green Bay, New Orleans, and Seattle consistently play to a high level and elevate the play of those around them, so they naturally can command a leadership role. Our current guy…not so much.
October 31st, 2019 at 9:58 am
A leader leads from the front. He doesn’t fumble the ball and throws interceptions like crazy. Nobody has respect for him because every week he digs his team into a hole. It’s hard to gain respect from people when your decision making is terrible.
October 31st, 2019 at 10:08 am
Leadership starts at the top !!! . @Jameis 1 of 1 fire Licht NOW!!!!
October 31st, 2019 at 10:10 am
You can’t be a leader of men if you suck at being a man. Arians simply wanted him to stop acting like a southern baptist minister in the cotton fields of Alabama. IE: eat some W’s. Lead by example.
October 31st, 2019 at 10:12 am
I also took the over on JW turnovers. Vegas has him at 3. And yes: a snapped ball that hits him in the face mask is his fault. Especially when he reacts like a sloth on the recovery. He should have gone after that ball like it was a Uber drivers crotch.
October 31st, 2019 at 10:26 am
Why would Winston have to be the leader? Why can’t one of our two great WRs be a leader? Why can’t Marpet be a leader? Being a rah rah guy isn’t leadership. Holding people accountable is leadership. Having standards for yourself and others is leadership. Did Joe ever think that maybe Arians thought this was too much for Winston? Maybe Winston just needs to focus on himself and his game this year. Very hard to be a leader when your game is to standard I’d say.
October 31st, 2019 at 11:00 am
A leader walks the walk. Jameis has done a lot talking the talk but not much walking. I’m guessing he told JW to cut the noise and show what you got. I’ve always thought JW is one of those big mouths types that uses his voice to distract from deficiencies.
October 31st, 2019 at 11:15 am
What impresses the Glazers about Licht so much? Didn’t he get a contract extension? Meaning..we are stuck with him.
October 31st, 2019 at 11:19 am
Jay-Miss should be that guy but Joe, you have said it many times on the podcast that Jay-Miss is not a leader. He isn’t, and he hasn’t been since probably 2016.
October 31st, 2019 at 11:48 am
The picture is fitting of the caption minus 2 words. It should say Leadership is Lacking!! Its perfect with these 2 A$$Clowns running the show. Hi Jason Gump-i’m sure you’re reading all the comments from your burner account
October 31st, 2019 at 12:04 pm
The full blame for this nightmare football team falls on the GM. He brought in all the players, sold BA as the coaching genius while locking himself in as the overseer of this floundering mess. All potholes and washed out roads point to you Licht. Some nerve even showing your face publicly. Get a clue, you suck horribly.
October 31st, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Joe,
It’s better to be a leader with your play than with your mouth. Jameis hasn’t been able to back up his mouth much in the last 4.5 years. That’s the point.
You know that guy Drew Brees? He’s vocal, he commands respect, and more importantly he walks the talk and plays lights out.
Nobody gonna respect eatin W’s when the scoreboard says otherwise.
October 31st, 2019 at 12:08 pm
The offense is lacking leadership?
The TEAM is lacking leadership? That’s on you BSA, and of course the man that hired you….
Damn, Glazers the hen house is wide open and you are being robbed blind by Gump and a retiree….
October 31st, 2019 at 12:24 pm
Another boneheaded article for clicks, you got me.
Jameis isn’t a leader. He’s proven that!
You just earn the respect to command leadership.
Mike Evans and maybe Ali Marpet are the most likely candidates to step up and demand greatness from other players on offense.
But then they might hurt Jameis’ feelings…
October 31st, 2019 at 12:25 pm
Oh, and Jason Licht can **** a fat pickle.
You’re an embarrassment Jason.
#lichtmyb**ls
October 31st, 2019 at 12:33 pm
BA needs to take his non stop BS to the dock on his GA lake house and stay there
We’ve seen enough to know he’s a fraud
The second coming of Richard Williamson
Peace, out
October 31st, 2019 at 12:40 pm
If we all think BA is full of BS, imagine what the players think
October 31st, 2019 at 1:02 pm
David….JPP….they have careers others would love to copy. Their body of work each week is their leadership, speaking up is the icing on the cake.
Winston simply doesn’t have the resume to say much. These are grown men, that rah rah crap he did in college was great for teenagers….At the professional level you lead with your play and his play along with his record are terrible, yet he’s the highest paid player in the locker room. Not a great look or dynamic in a locker room and you’re seeing examples of it in other positions. It gives the impression draft status trumps accountability.
October 31st, 2019 at 2:52 pm
There’s just almost nothing to like about this team I’m afraid.
October 31st, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Please give it a rest. James’s teammates have been rolling their eyes at him on the sidelines since way before “eating Ws” was a thing.
October 31st, 2019 at 6:29 pm
The reason you have a QB is to lead the offense. Find one and it will all come together. It must frustrate all of the other players to see Jameis give games away every week.
October 31st, 2019 at 10:45 pm
Crazy thought but isn’t the offensive leader that needs to step up and lead this offense?
October 31st, 2019 at 10:45 pm
BA?
November 1st, 2019 at 11:45 am
Hey Bruce. We need someone in the coaching ranks to step up too!