“Our Young Secondary Has To Get Their Head Out Of Their Ass & Do What They’re Coached To Do”
October 28th, 2019
Apologies to M.J. Stewart (center) for the photo inclusion. Last year’s second-round pick was a healthy scratch yesterday.
Bucco Bruce Arians delivered extremely powerful words in the bowels of Nissan Stadium yesterday after Ryan Tannehill and the Titans’ defense mowed down the Bucs.
In fact, it might have been the most enlightening and powerful thing he’s said since the game ended.
Arians was talking about his secondary, which featured Carlton Davis getting flagged for two pass interference calls and allowing two touchdowns. Vernon Hargreaves struggled as well.
“If we play the right technique, both times, we hold them to three [instead of seven points,] Arians said. “But we played the wrong technique. That’s frustrating. Our young secondary has to get their head out of their ass and do what they’re coached to do.”
And there’s the kicker, “do what they’re coached to do.”
Joe has no idea why Jamel Dean and Ryan Smith aren’t getting any snaps outside cornerback. (Yeah, Joe just typed a call for Ryan Smith. How far we’ve fallen.)
Arians is supposedly all about accountability. Well, then pull Hargreaves and Davis for a series or two when they don’t follow coaching and see if their backups will listen to the giant, experienced Bucs coaching staff. It really can and should be that simple.
There should be changes at corner in Seattle. And if Arians doesn’t think Dean and Smith can play, well, then that’s an entirely new set of problems.
How do you have an accountability-based regime and not make lineup changes? It was one giant red flag before the bye when Arians said not to expect lineup changes after the bye. And here we are at 2-5.
October 28th, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Where is the Veteran presence? I’ve been asking ever since they got rid of Robert McClain.
By all means coach, ride these kids asses while coddling Jameis.
October 28th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
BA’s wife is chiming in on social media. Throwing hate towards Goodell, by a head coaches wife, will not help the cause. She probably got into the Vodka a little early today..
October 28th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
^^^ Arians also got some support from his wife, Christine, who also weighed in on social media.
“NFL officiating needs fundamental fix,’ Christine’Arians said. “It does not need a poorly-trained part-time officials who suffer no consequences for not doing their jobs. Instead, we get new collective bargaining agreement. Shame on you Roger Goodell.”
October 28th, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Our secondary has been our week point for a while and getting burned seems to be the norm for this secondary. If you go back and look at our records from 2015 to 2019 (licht’s tenure), then look at if the secondary stops one TD in each of our losses you can see we would have a winning record every year.
2015 10-6
2016 9-7
2017 12-1-1 (week 16 has us tied @ Saints with 24 pts)
2018 10-6-1 (week 16 @ Dallas puts us tied at 20 pts)
2019 4-2-1 to current (week 5 @ at Saints puts us tied at 24 pts)
Drafting competent players matters especially in the secondary.
October 28th, 2019 at 2:58 pm
No need to apologise to MJ Stweart Joe, if he wasn’t good enough in practice to earn playing time over horrible DBs, then that’s on him.
October 28th, 2019 at 2:59 pm
This is extremely concerning. I hate Mike Smith but the last thing he said before he was canned was he went to the press and said “The players just aren’t responding to coaching”. Is everyone on the team just stupid and cannot follow instructions or did we whiff on coaching again?
October 28th, 2019 at 3:01 pm
give them 5 years BA, aren’t they above berating like americas grouper?
October 28th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
^ Its not coaching.
Todd Bowels is a proven DC, it’s the players. These are not talented players it doesn’t matter how well coached you are.
For Example, I could the best coached DB in the NFL and if you throw me out there on Sunday I will be burnt and won’t belong. These Bucs DBs simply do not belong.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
These are not talented DBs***I should say
October 28th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Eh, our defense has been mostly lousy all season, BUT they played pretty decent for about 75% of the game yesterday.
Much better than what we can say for our regressing, imploding offense.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Tannehill threw for 193 yards..secondary was not torched, at least not by Buc standards.
Two TDS were 5yd and 6yd passes after TO’s. Carlton Davis missed badly on one TD, but all day he was right there. Vern doesn’t get PI because he’s never close enough to a receiver.
I have been down on CD and his penalties, but I think he balled yesterday, and might be better for it.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Fair point whew imagine spending 5 picks in the top two rounds on DBs and only one can play corner at a marginally acceptable NFL level.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:05 pm
One buc place = Malfunction Junction
October 28th, 2019 at 3:08 pm
*correction
2017 12-3-1 (week 16 has us tied @ Saints with 24 pts)
2018 10-5-1 (week 16 @ Dallas puts us tied at 20 pts)
October 28th, 2019 at 3:09 pm
Somebody please tell me why he doesn’t bench Vern?
October 28th, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Amazing that he continues to blast a secondary mostly made up of first, second and third year players. Yet he will continue to make excuses for Winston who’s a five year vet. Not saying the secondary doesn’t deserve some of the heat they are taking. But Winston deserves a lot more than Arians gives him. This team is a train wreck and the coaching / front office isn’t doing its job.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
^^
Exactly Arians has sad he is publicly supporting winston. he better be absolutely blasting him behind closed doors.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Roger Goodell has all but ruined football. He’s a buffoon! The “crisis” we are experiencing with the refs is a direct result of his leadership. I’ve been watching football for over 40yrs and have never seen it this bad. I have no idea what a catch is, what pass interference is, what a fumble and a fumble recovery is, what constitutes holding, what a legal tackle looks like. The refs are all over the board, because all of these calls are arbitrary and/or ambiguous. Furthermore, the schedule they gave the Bucs this year is almost criminal.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:18 pm
Draft better coach!
October 28th, 2019 at 3:20 pm
The refs are bad. It’s so bad even players look for a flag after they make a play
October 28th, 2019 at 3:21 pm
It’s pathetic when your HC is worried about the refs blowing a call than not being in that position to start with.
Fire Licht, Fire Arians, Fire Lefty, Fire Jameis, Fire Dare, Fire Barber, put the entire secondary on notice.
Janoris Jenkins is up as trade bait. He would bring some veteran presence and be hands down the best corner on this team with one hand tied behind his back.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Our secondary is garbage.
Every time JW gets ready to throw the ball when it releases I think it’s gonna be int
Every time the other qb throws the ball I don’t think so much. I know it’s a completions
October 28th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Yup, not making any changes after the bye…Watson, Dean, Jones as starter, hell even MJ at FS…IMO it cost us the game. Oh, and BA at OC. Not having that cost us the game too.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Jmarkbuc I agree! I think the DBs did a good job yesterday outside of a few plays. I’m very encouraged after yesterday
October 28th, 2019 at 3:32 pm
So I guess the answer over the off season was to quietly sign Licht to a 5 yr extension at the behest of the coach that later handed the offense to Leftwich leaving the Glazers with their pants down. And we wonder why this franchise is a joke.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
All good…. we can just draft 3 more secondary players in the 2nd round in next years draft… LOL
October 28th, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Lamarcus
The QBs throwing it might have something to do with that, too.
October 28th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Jmark
CD had 2PIs and gave up 2 tds and you think he balled?….lol….
GO BUCS
October 28th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Defense came to play yesterday…
Pass rush and secondary did a good job IMO….
Maybe if they didn’t have to defend short fields constantly they would be a little better….lol…
GO BUCS
October 28th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
Gee 813
Read your last comment.
And at least CD didn’t fall on his a$$, when a tackle approached
October 28th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
“8 weeks now
BA never talked bad about his organic lovechild Byron Leftwich
Why is that
to say he is incompetent means he is wrong?
our season down the toilet because of the last year fired QB coach intern?
This child actor couldnt look like a college offensive coordinator and he is running a NFL offense?
Gary coleman should be replaced
where is the outrage?”
Son of Sam
October 28th, 2019 at 4:17 pm
It’s been 7 games…..do we have 1 sack by a CB or S?…..I don’t think so…..all the blitzes and nothing to show for it.
Speaking of Dean……it seems like he is constantly getting penalties on ST…..
I guess that means he’s trying.
October 28th, 2019 at 4:18 pm
Jmark
He fell on his @$$ in the end zone we he got scored on twice…
GO BUCS
October 28th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
This is my major problem with BA, he keeps talking about accountability but doesn’t seem to think that includes Davis and VH3. You have the 32 nd ranked pass defense in the nfl. Whether or not Davis and VH3 are making mistakes is irrelevant, at the very least guys should be losing snaps. They are playing VH3 as if he is doing enough to get a second contract or something. If he does I’m out on the bucs because I’m not watching that guy in 2020 and wojt waste my time hoping these guys will ever be better than last in the division
For the record with Atlanta’s receivers and our secondary I could email see us losing both games to them and ending up last in the division
October 28th, 2019 at 4:24 pm
“healthy scratch”, meaning benched. About time, M.J. Stewart is one of the worst CB’s on the Bucs, the guy looks like he’s running in sand. Another horrible Jason Licht pick.
October 28th, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Bull spit
Sick of Arians talk now
There is accountability for everyone but #3
The quarterback who is more accountable for today’s nfls wins and losses
Done with arians.
Pretty sure the players will not care for getting rheamed when an untouchable player commits mistake after mistake and gets a free pass
Athletes hate that special treatment when someone cannot back it up
October 28th, 2019 at 4:29 pm
Those comments by BA are bullspit. If I was Todd Bowles I’d be thoroughly pissed off right now, not at the players but at the HC. That’s not having your players back in any way, shape or form.
Comments like “Our Young Secondary Has To Get Their Head Out Of Their Ass & Do What They’re Coached To Do” should NEVER be said publicly to the media. No exceptions. I can’t think of a faster way for a coach to lose a team. He’s constantly defended the turnovers by the NFL LEADER in that category as being someone else’s fault, and then he verbally attacks his youngsters in the Secondary after what was probably their best performance of the year? And doesn’t say a word about the horrendous impact of those 4 TOs or about what a ludicrous job his offensive coaching staff has done. That’s total horsepuckey. BA’s out-of-touch with reality right now far as I’m concerned. He should’ve spent the Bye week FIXING HIS TEAM instead of golfing.
October 28th, 2019 at 4:29 pm
His tds are what 102 now
I’m not saying the Bucs would be in the playoffs but just imagine for one second that Jameis had 50 turnovers compared to his actual 92 or more that he has . You know the ideal goal of 2 to 1 td to int ratio that most teams want their AB at or around
Jameis currently has 14 tds and 18 turnovers.
You know how many more games the Bucs would have won with 50 instead of 92. ?
How many close games they have lost over the years ?
I mean Tennessee was begging us to win that game.
October 28th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
What Defense said…
October 28th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Bird … Didn’t see your comment until after I posted mine, but it sounds like we’re pretty much seeing the same thing. If anyone above me had ever berated my pilots publicly when I was their leader I would’ve probably gone ballistic. That simply wasn’t done.
October 28th, 2019 at 4:36 pm
813
At least you could see him in the same frame as the WR
October 28th, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Defense Rules
I’m sure BA is sorry he hurt the DBs feelings yesterday. But I’m sure he’ll make them some warm cookies and tuck them him tonight for to make up for coaching his team.
Bucs losing culture folks. Mentally weak from players to fans. Here BA is calling out horrible play and peoples feelings are getting hurt. BA is changing the culture.
October 28th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
Tbbucs3
What BSA is doing is deflecting from the real issue
October 28th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Jmarkbucs
So our XFL DBs are a bigger issue than the QB that scores 25 points a game? Laughable.
October 28th, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Are not*
October 28th, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Bruce is just lashing out; this loss wasn’t on the Secondary. Not a good look, Bruce…
October 28th, 2019 at 5:26 pm
Maybe the GM should quit drafting guys that have to be “coached up” and just get the guys that are athletically capable. NINE draft picks in that secondary…..total garbage. Noah Spence….couldn’t even make the game day roster. Cappa didn’t even see the field last year when we were terrible at RG. Jones couldn’t learn the playbook. Aguayo is out of the league and needed mind coach.
Licht has always been too cute with his picks….when he just picks the obvious talent staring at him in the face, they at least make the field.
October 28th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Hey everybody, how’s life doing ya or are you doing life, this BUC defensive backfield is young very young with no deal veteran leadership, it’s just a matter of keep at the GRINDING stone, sure some will fall off but I believe these same guys will be better as the season wears on!! Keep coaching BA….a better day is coming!!
October 28th, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Tbbucs3 … Has nothing at all to do with ‘hurt feelings’. Has everything to do with treating people with respect. These kids, and they are only 21-23 year olds, have worked hard over many years developing their skills. They’re busting their butts no doubt to prove that they can play in the NFL. And they’re doing it with ZERO veteran leadership in that Secondary, making it far more difficult than it should be.
Another way to say it is that these youngsters have been screwed by Bucs’ management & by BA himself far as I’m concerned. And so have the defensive coaches; they’re being made to look like ‘the bad guys’ when they’ve been given a bunch of kids barely out of college to work with. it doesn’t get much more unfair than that. Meanwhile the NFL’s most expensive offense continues to poop all over itself, and in the process leave it to the defense to clean up their messes. Not impressed; not impressed at all.
October 28th, 2019 at 6:42 pm
Secondary is playing like a bunch of rookies and 1st year players.
Which is exactly what they are!!!!!
What did that idiot expect??
Why not trade for an Experienced CB, instead if destroying these kids confidence?
Nope- not the Bucs way.
Wanna help the secondary, Arians?
How about getting a QB who doesnt turn the ball over 60 times, usually around our own 10 yard line.
Arians is too old to coach this team. Senility is setting in.
Its already time for a coaching change.
Waaaaay past time for a QB change
October 28th, 2019 at 6:59 pm
The secondary did not play bad. This is the best we’ve played on defense since the 1st half of the Giants game. This loss is completely, 100% on the offense. Point blank period. Disgusting effort by them, and our season is lost because of it.
October 28th, 2019 at 7:22 pm
Why are we tossing out DBs from the likes of Central Michigan University out of the frying pan into the fire that is the NFL? If the secondary was so dire entering the season, I will ask again WHERE ARE THE VETERAN DBs??? This team hasn’t had a quality Veteran Corner in Years!!!
When you are a corner on the outside you get bullied more than any other position. You’re on an island by yourself against the other teams WR and the trash talk is relentless especially in a league that favors the offensive so much more than the defense. If you get burned and disrespected you don’t have a Linebacker close by or a lineman to hype you up. You are out on an island by yourself getting constantly torched and made fun of it by the likes of Michael Thomas and Julio Jones.
Veterans know how to handle it. They have seen and heard it all. They know how to handle the mental aspect of the game. Rookies not so much unless they are already NFL ready talent coming out of college like Jalen Ramsey. We don’t have any Jalen Ramseys on the team in case anybody was wondering.
Our Corners are turning into the puppies who get kicked so damn much, when they finally grow up into dogs they are broken and can’t stop pissing and pooping on the carpet no matter how much you train them.
Screw Licht for ruining so many careers by his inept building of the backfield to the point where he should be fired with cause and his contract voided.
October 28th, 2019 at 8:06 pm
A lot of the problem goes back to the QB. JW can not keep the offense on the field long enough.
I thought the defense looked better yesterday. They contested a great many passes, but they were on the field too much. The Bucs have drafted something like seven DBs of late, they need some time to grow into the system.
The biggest problem for coaches is the collective bargaining agreement the NFLPA got last time, it cut training camps in half.
October 28th, 2019 at 9:03 pm
The whole team is a tragedy but I believe that the defense didn’t play too bad. I think the offense committed so many mistakes that there is no way the young secondary could save the game. Also, the refs are ruining the game. The whole NFL is unwatchable thanks to Goodall. I love the Bucs but I’m just about done with the NFL as the refs now determine the outcome of games and their calls make no sense and seem to be arbitrary. The NFL is getting like the WWF.
October 28th, 2019 at 9:15 pm
wow that’s some nice finger pointing by BA. That’s heck of a team atmosphere they have at Buccaneer Corp.
October 28th, 2019 at 10:50 pm
Thanks for the blog, but I can’t read more. We will not play meaningful games in December, and even if we do scratch out an fringe scenario that could land us a road wild card loss, that could land Jameis a long term deal and this team has too many needs for an expensive “veteran” (non-rookie deal) contract.
So the year, since August, needed to be either:
1. Clear progress from Jameis and the defense that he’s the man and with an improved D, we have 3 to 5 years of relevance and deep playoff runs ahead.
OR
2. A 16 week search for who we are keeping and Jameis’ final audition for that big contract, because we’ll turn the roster by 30 players in the offseason and wins this season are not how the staff is measuring things.
I believe we are seeing option 2 play out, and extended looks at guys like Perriman are BA’s way of saying “show me why to keep you” for brighter days. In Perriman’s defense, he had a tackle for loss.
October 28th, 2019 at 11:16 pm
We haven’t even faced an elite QB yet this season and these DBs got torched. Wait till Wilson carves them up. And why Jameis continues to get coddled by this coach is a mystery