Man-Focus Versus Arizona
November 6th, 2019
“Larry, take it easy on us.”
So how will the Bucs defend against the Arizona Cardinals?
Bucco Bruce Arians offered a strong hint yesterday.
Speaking on Buccaneers Radio, Arians was asked about covering receiver Larry Fitzgerald in his 16th season. Fitzgerald isn’t the superstar he used to be at 36 years old, and Arizona spreads the ball around well with Fitzgerald leading the team with 42 receptions for 485 yards.
Arians said Fitzgerald knows how to get open consistently against zone defenses and he projected lots of man coverage on the Fitzgerald all over the field.
As Bucs fans know, sadly, man coverage is not the Bucs’ strong suit.
Joe’s very eager to see the approach by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles on Sunday. Russell Wilson is extremely mobile but passes up several chances to run. Arizona QB Kyler Murray is much more likely to take off.
Arians noted the Bucs pass rush was a little too worried about Wilson running and lost some of its aggressiveness later in the game. Joe senses the Bucs will order more attack-mode from their pass rushers and rely on Devin White and Lavonte David to keep Murray in check on the ground.
November 6th, 2019 at 5:11 am
Does anyone really believe this crew of DBs can cover Fitzgerald? Man, zone, combo coverages might be too much to ask for this group of football geniuses.
November 6th, 2019 at 5:16 am
So Kyler Murray is gonna run all over us
November 6th, 2019 at 5:33 am
I’m sure that Arizona was one of those penciled in wins before the season started. Does everyone still have that view now?
November 6th, 2019 at 5:34 am
No faith in the coaches or players to execute a winning game plan.
November 6th, 2019 at 5:53 am
With FAMOUS leading the way…BUCS WIN …BUCS WIN …BUCS WIN!!
November 6th, 2019 at 6:19 am
We have got to tank in order to draft one of the better QBs. NFL.com has our number one need as QB.
November 6th, 2019 at 6:28 am
Kyler Murray gets knocked out of the game in the first quarter after meeting our pass rush up close and personal. His running will be a non-factor. Heard it here first.
November 6th, 2019 at 6:29 am
Bucs win 52-20.
November 6th, 2019 at 6:31 am
I’m starting Fitzgerald on my fantasy team. That’s a no brainer.
November 6th, 2019 at 6:41 am
Drafting a QB in the first round has worked out well for us.
November 6th, 2019 at 6:43 am
kyler murray is:
better at foosball than football
November 6th, 2019 at 6:44 am
I’ll be there to see with my own eyes !
November 6th, 2019 at 6:45 am
Maybe one of these days we will get a chance to see how our backup QB plays in regular season game speed. Not like we have anything to lose at this point.
Draft picks can be used in more meaningful ways than another QB.
November 6th, 2019 at 6:54 am
This franchise has become so accustomed to losing they measure progress in Jamyth’s Stats year over year…meanwhile the good teams are measuring year over year progress in Division wins, Division championships,Playoff wins, Conference Championships and Super Bowl appearances…Stats are for losers and Jameis is a 5 year loser ! Stat that !
November 6th, 2019 at 7:00 am
If we lose this game…..I have a feeling the fans will have seen enough and start booing their own team.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:01 am
Starting Murray in FF this week. He’s going to go off. Arizona D better than Bucs D. Cardinals 27 Bucs 17.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:06 am
I’m hoping the Bucs play great on defense, but I want to confess in the open my desire for Winny-Pooh to throw 3 interceptions and fumble 2 times…. Once in the red-zone please??? It’s so sad that I’ve stopped this low, but it’s for your own good Buccaneers fan……
“Trash” Licht will never draft a QB again unless his hand is forced by the Glazers due to complete embarrassment.
Maybe even then the weakling owners will still give “FATSO” the carte Blanche on a SHINY NEW DB with the 5th overall pick…… LOSER
November 6th, 2019 at 7:13 am
The same Todd who predicted a 7-0 start!
November 6th, 2019 at 7:18 am
“The Biggest Game for Bruce Arians tenure
Tampa bay is favored-4.5
Finally at home at RJS in front of the waiting loyal Bucs fanbase
Against his former team and the new youngster college offensive guru HC
Bruce!
You Lose Sunday????
Kobe is going to run over the first golfcart he finds with his 1989 Chevy Beretta”
The Kobe Faker
November 6th, 2019 at 7:23 am
This game should have been a gimme at the start of the season. Arians former team, playing at home against a suspect team. If Arians loses this one he should take early retirement.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:23 am
It’s funny how so many of you think the biggest issue with this team is the QB position. Name me 1 corner that has proven they can half way be reliable. They’re all young and for some reason Bowels refuses to give any help over the top. Dean was our weak link on Sunday. 2 of Seattle’s touchdowns in the 1st half came because of PI. Along with the winning TD in OT. Run defense is stout AWESOME. NEWS FLASH it’s a passing league. Ig the pass defense could perform better on a more consistent basis the record would reflect that. If we stay in total man on Sunday look for crossing routes and double move and we’re in trouble.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:24 am
Jameis ain’t going anywhere so start looking for another team to root for. Thanks! This team has far bigger issues then QB.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:34 am
I agree….I think they will resign Jameis…..and I expect him to have a very good game Sunday.
Look for Devin White to stand out.
And….it’s time to unleash Rojo.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:42 am
“…sadly, man coverage is not the Bucs’ strong suit.”
hahahahahahaha, nor is zone! The best coverage for the Bucs D is for them NOT to be on the field AT ALL!!
hmmmm, that statement clearly says the Bucs should have gone for 2 in Seattle.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:45 am
Fitz will look about 10 years younger on this defense.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:49 am
Az has done something already this year with a rookie QB, and HC that we can’t seem to do, win three games in a row. We on the other hand have a four game losing streak. This should be a no brainer win for the Bucs like the Giant game, and we know how that turned out. Lose this one, we should fire everybody, blow the whole thing up, and start from scratch.
November 6th, 2019 at 7:52 am
I will be there to witness the whole thing. I might need to start drinking, though.
November 6th, 2019 at 8:12 am
If the bucs have another 5-11 season or close to it, and then sign Winston to a long term deal, I believe ticket sales will suffer.
November 6th, 2019 at 8:33 am
Bucs should play to loose for the draft finding a better qb after 5 yrs and try again with defense ….Give me hope for next year !!!
November 6th, 2019 at 8:34 am
“Man coverage is not the Bucs’ strong suit.”
Well at least we back that up by being terrible in zone coverage.
November 6th, 2019 at 9:01 am
Might as well let the rookies take their lumps now so there are no excuses next year, no benefit in playing zone top help them out if you are a man coverage team which is what everyone wanted. Ain’t going anywhere this year might as well test you’re guys
November 6th, 2019 at 9:11 am
JW is not going anywhere….UNLESS the Bucs cut him. I think that decision is yet to be finalized…but obviously I do not know since I do not work at OBP.
For those JW sycophants who see nothing but greatness in JW and hope he goes to another team to succeed…
Stop and think this through. The teams that are going to be in the market and willing to pay the $$$ just dumps JW right back where he started if he signs with them. It’s long been bemoaned for JW and virtually every QB drafted high end up with crappy teams by definition…hence the high draft pick.
That same situation exists for teams in the FA market. JW would literally be taking a five year step back. The Bucs have far more talent…especially on offense than folks wish to acknowledge. JW sees that talent. He’s not going to walk.
In addition…although this is really out there on the limb trying to gauge JW’s mind…but I think he is a FIERCE competitor. He WANTS to finish the job here in Tampa. Obviously I might be totally wrong it’s just the feeling I get watching JW over the past five years.
November 6th, 2019 at 9:26 am
BTW Just surfed several sites ranking NFL OL’s. The Bucs are rated in the top half of the league in all of them.
The Bucs could find ONE stud OL and one stud RB to go with ROJO and this offense is complete. The last debate is only at QB and you all can decide which you prefer.
Our defense is getting much closer as well.
I’m now not as concerned about our actual talent as to how we’re going pay for it. If we could afford to keep all the talent we have…JW…Suh…Barrett..and certainly JPP we might have enough left over if we find that stud OL in the draft and can pay him a rookie contract salary…same for RB.
Bottom line. As a Bucs fan I worry about money and our bet on JW. I am so on the fence about JW that a slight breeze would knock me off. But if he plays like Seattle and LA….
November 6th, 2019 at 9:28 am
I’m telling all of yas, this kid Murray is not Jameis Winston. He’s agile, quick, has hella zip on the ball, accurate and can run better than Mike Vick use to. They better be ready for this kid or he will run them right out of RayJay. Not worried about Fitz because great receivers get theres. But this cardinal team is 3-4 and 1.
Just a tad better than us. We need to win a GD game. Ruck up Bucs!
November 6th, 2019 at 9:45 am
I’m predicting that we will see bad Jameis in the Cardinals game and I can look forward to coming on JBF and reading the excuses on why he played so poorly. Will it be the O-line? Or the lack of a running game?
November 6th, 2019 at 9:45 am
By the way, I hope I’m wrong, but Jameis has stunk the place up when he shouldn’t against opponents the Bucs should destroy.
November 6th, 2019 at 9:48 am
Another team Bucs should beat….
Sadly, another loss
Peace, out
November 6th, 2019 at 10:46 am
I think the Bucs win this game and settle in at their lifetime overall approximate win percentage going forward.
November 6th, 2019 at 10:52 am
I really appreciate all of the post from most everyone here. It has become such a tragic comedy show now all i can do now is laugh. I used to get pissed but i have learned that it does not do any good. I expect our teem to lose. I feel much better on Monday. Fire the GM. Demand BA call the plays.
Go Bucs
November 6th, 2019 at 11:27 am
will JW ever beat a back up or rookie QB this season?….lol…
GO BUCS!!!
November 6th, 2019 at 11:28 am
Only way to semi salvage this season is to go win this game and then beat the Saints at home. Then we at least would have a chance to get back to .500 against a bad Falcons team at 6-6. THERE’s A CHANCE AND I’M A CRAZY HOMER F*CK IT.
But ultimately there is no hope if the defense can’t make a magical leap similar to the 2016 5 game stretch. We need that kind of turnaround rest of the season to have hope in this whole regime going forward..
November 6th, 2019 at 11:29 am
Hard to blame Winston for losing to Daniel Jones when he threw for 380 yards and we scored 31 points.
He single handidly lost the panther game. Put that game on him. Put the 49ers on the offense. Other than those 2 games Winston+Offense have done enough to win another 6 games basically. Oh well.
November 6th, 2019 at 11:58 am
This is the exact type of game the Bucs lose in painstakingly fashion. Arians former team…perhaps a missed kick or two by The Gay Blade…Murray having the best game of his young career…we all know the drill. This is basically the same defense who revived the career of Just In Case Keenum and gave Bears false hope with Trubisky ( anyone else remember the 6 TD passes they surrendered to him last season?! ) Cardinal D licking their chops at the prospect of facing phenom Limpwich who showed just how lousy he could be with them last season.
November 6th, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Todd Bowels needs to retire with Arians. If you could get all the corners on the Bucs to watch the “Wizard of OZ”, especially the scare crow{“if I only had a brain”!} maybe they would get the message.
November 6th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
Anyone hoping “their” team loses is not a fan. Sad. Agree w/ MikeJohnson, this will be a tough one on Defense, if we don’t manage the game we will be in trouble. There is a blueprint for countering Murray but you have to cover the initial moves on the back end. We have the skills to do that, but you have to execute in the game consistently. On offense, we need to maintain TOP and score TDs. We can win this. True fans root for a win (not a loss). Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2019 at 9:49 pm
Blah Blah same old story